Oak River: Look out below!

[Leda]

The sound of footsteps, slow and soft, bounced along the boardwalks on whisps of serene forest air. Shafts of light fought their way through the leaves here and their, highlighting the path high above the woodland floor. Insects buzzed and birds sang. Far below and just ahead, the waters of the Oak River frolicked happily among the rocks. The wood itself seemed to sing with its own unique melody.

Abruptly the footsteps cut out, and were replaced by a muffled whimpering.


Rouge's face disappeared into her shivering palms. The bat's hands pressed into her face tightly, as though attempting to physically force the outburst back. A lump lodged in her throat, and choked her for breath, as the painful images took control of her mind.

I should have done something. I should've done anything... I shouldn't have just... stood there.... shouldn't have just... watched...

She couldn't do this here. Not here, not now. Rouge finally managed a breath and drew it quickly, wiping her face and clenching her trembling jaw. Chores first... I can't be selfish.

The bat's listless footsteps resumed, carrying her in a haze until she reached the well. Rouge picked up the bucket from the floor, but paused to gaze down at the rushing waters several stories below the platform. It was a long way to haul water to be sure, but certainly easier than going down and retreiving it oneself. Wiping a stray tear with one hand, the bat slowly lowered the bucket down to the noisy waters, then began the more challenging task of hauling it back up.

No... That ache had begun to radiate from her breast again, and Rouge's nose began to tingle. Not now. Not now! But despite her efforts, the guilt and emptiness bled from her heart, and her hands shook with despair. The sound of the roboticizer rang so loudly in her ears, Rouge could've easily guessed there was one running right there with her on the platform. Her eyes filled with tears; the sound of a scream had accompanied the grinding gears and sizzling electricity...

Suddenly the rope slipped from the bat's hands, and Rouge's attention was abruptly jerked back to reality as it plummeted back toward the ground.

[Jamie Lee]

As that was going on, Rob was currently standing out in the river waist deep. On the shore his cloak and gloves were hanging from a tree branch where he'd earlier finished washing them, his boots sitting at the trunk, and now he was focusing on cleaning the rest of the cream pies he'd been hit with out of his fur.

He had a look of deep contemplation mixed with frustration on his face, running over the day's events again in his mind. He let off a sigh and wondered just what he was going to do with everyone. Manic, Espio and Bean needed to be dealt with. He had to speak with that liger girl. And then of course there was Nik to deal with. The human was terrified of everyone for some reason, and he had a sneaking suspicion that nobody was going to help.

What a long day.

He blinked suddenly, noticing a shadow was quickly obscuring the shaft of sunlight he'd chosen to stand in. He looked up just in time to see a full bucket of water slam him right in the face. A yelp escaped him as stars flew everywhere, quickly followed by a curtain of darkness as the river came up to meet his face.

[Leda]

Rouge reached out to snag the rapidly whizzing rope, but it burned her hands whenever she started to grasp. The bat let out a patient sigh. Guess I'll just have to wait for it to get to the bottom and start over. Serves me right for getting carried away--

Instead of the splash she expected, Rouge's keen ears detected a pained yelp from below. A gasp escaped her as she looked down the well opening with alarm; someone was down there!! Worse than that, they appeared to have fallen into the water! Without even a nanosecond of thinking, Rouge darted to the edge of the boardwalk and leapt over the side, streamlining her body to hasten her descent. Just a few feet above the rushing waters, her wings popped out to either side and jerked her to a stop. The bat's eyes scanned furiously for signs of whomever had been hit.

There was the bucket! But even though it was out in open water, the current failed to carry it downstream. Her brow lowered as she closed the gap; something -- or rather, someone -- had snagged it. Rouge dropped from the air into the chilly water, relieved that it was not very deep, and hauled the body back into the air with a grunt. Her eyes widened when she realized who she'd found. Oh no!! Rob!!

Rouge gritted her teeth and dragged the hedgehog back to the shoreline, and in no time had begun performing CPR.

[Jamie Lee]

At first he was just laying there motionless, his eyes not completely shut. A moment passed, and he gave a sputtered cough, spitting out water, which was followed up closely by a groan. He shifted, reaching a hand up to his throbbing face before he noticed a pair of bright turquoise eyes staring down from over him. He blinked hazily.

"Wha... happen?"

[Leda]

A gigantic breath of relief escaped the bat's lips when Rob not only began breathing, but also seemed to be coherent. "Rob, thank goodness... How do you feel?"

That was close, Rouge thought, a wave of guilt washing over her. Why do others always have to pay for my carelessness?

She tenderly examined Rob's furry forehead, noting that it was already beginning to swell. Her lips thinned into a tight line. "You've taken a nasty blow to the head. I hope it's not a concussion..." Rouge's facial features didn't change, but her eyes dimmed as they half-closed. "I... I dropped the bucket... I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'll make up to you, I promise."

[Jamie Lee]

The hedgehog blinked several times, the haze slowly dissipating as Rouge spoke to him, realizing who those eyes and that voice belonged to "I feel... Like a bucket just fell on my head," he groaned, gingerly pressing his fingers against the throbbing mass rising on his forehead, grimacing as he did so. He chuckled embarrassedly "You know Rouge, there're easier ways to get my attention,"

He groaned again. Shifting, he began moving his opposite arm back and slowly began pulling himself up into a sitting position, grimacing as the weight of his head shifted and increased the ache "Don't worry yourself about it... I'll just have a headache for while. Nothing new about that..."

[Leda]

Despite Rob's assurances, the bat seemed to wilt. She COULD have stopped that bucket. She'd realized her mistake in time. But she'd chosen not to. She chose to let it fall all the way back down. And because of that choice, Rob had nearly drowned.

"I won't be so careless the next time," she mumbled, more to herself than to the hedgehog. Helping him to sit upright, Rouge opened her mouth to apologize again, but felt choked for words, and in the end remained silent.

[Jamie Lee]

Rob leaned forward, holding the weight of his head in one of his hands, his eyes closed as he continued to grimace against the throbbing ache. He allowed a minute or two to hang in the air like that, before glancing back over at Rouge and noticing her expression. His mouth twisted to one side "Please don't feel bad,"

[Leda]

The bat was already rising to her feet and brushing the dirt and twigs from her wet fur and clothing. "Can you stand?" she asked, offering him a hand up. It wasn't clear whether she just hadn't heard his comment, or didn't acknowledge it. "You should go to your lodge and lay down. I'll finish your laundry for you. It's the least I owe you."

[Jamie Lee]

"Aye luv, I think so," he said, clasping his hand into the one she offered. With a grunt he pulled himself up from the riverbed floor, wincing as it added to the pounding throbbing in his head. Once again he gingerly pressed a hand to his face, swaying slightly as he gained his balance "Laying down sounds about right... Don't worry about my clothes though. I already washed them up... Just left them to dry is all..."

He glanced over at his drying clothes, then over at the elevator back to the village, then turned his focus back on the grieving bat "Listen luv..." he said, gently scooping her chin up so he could look her right in the eye "It's alright. You made an honest mistake, but I'm fine. Please don't be so hard on yourself,"

He ran a hand briefly through her bangs to push them aside and smiled reassuringly at her, then turned and began to walk off toward where he'd left his cloak hanging.

[Leda]

Rouge froze when he'd raised her face. Not necessarily out of fear or shock, but moreso surprise and... no, just surprise. Sometimes Rob's courteous and gentle mannerisms caught her off-guard, what with the rambunctious and explosive natures of most of her other neighbors. This, apparently, was one of those times.

The bat remained frozen in place for a moment once Rob walked away. A breeze fluttered against her damp fur, and Rouge shuddered hard, wrapping her arms around her chilly body. It still didn't feel right; it wasn't fair that Rob should take the brunt of her folly and she not suffer any consequences. She ought to do at least SOMETHING...

"Rob?" she called weakly, turning and shuffling somewhat in the hedgehog's direction. Her white ears remained flattened against the back of her head. "Let me at least give you a lift back up... It'd be faster than the elevator, and... less stressful on you." Rouge shivered again as another gust of wind assaulted her.

[Jamie Lee]

At that moment he had been in the process of feeling at his cloak. It was still slightly damp, but if he was going to be laying down he figured he could take it off to let finish dry once he was in his lodge... less hassle than trying to carry it. As the bat addressed him he glanced over his shoulder as he began reaching for his gloves, slipping them back on. He arched his brow, mouth thinning. When he grabbed his boots and sat down to put them on, he let out a rough sigh "If you really insist... I don't want to burden you. Though the offer is appreciated."

[Leda]

"It's no burden," Rouge replied quietly, almost to herself. At last her demeanor seemed to brighten, even if only slightly, as she cracked a dim smile. "I want to do it... So you can rest sooner." The bat waited silently as Rob finished gathering his things, then braced her arms around his torso. Although her upper body strength was relatively weak, her wings were able to bear quite a bit of weight, and Rouge lifted her passenger into the air with only minimal trouble.

As the pair touched down on the boardwalk not far from the hedgehog's lodge, Rouge made especially sure to keep Rob's landing gentle, so as not to bother his already aching head. "I'm sorry again for what happened," she panted with a small bow of her head. "If you need anything, just call. I'll take care of it for you."

[Jamie Lee]

Rob turned, readjusting his cloak and and giving a warm smile to Rouge. His forehead continued to throb and pound horribly, but he repressed the urge to groan and massage it just yet. Instead, he took the bat's small hand and gently lifted it, encompassing it in his own.

"M'lady, your smile was all I needed. Thank you," with that he bowed forward, despite the extra throbbing it caused, and gently pressed his lips against the back of that delicate hand. He held it there for a moment, and then easily released it, standing back up straight again. With a final smile that beamed reassurance, he turned and began walking toward his lodge.

[Leda]

It didn't occur to her that she'd held her breath until she finally let it out. Rouge watched Rob walk away with a mixture of relief and guilt. He was such an understanding man... but she still would've liked to repay him. Perhaps she could discreetly mend his cloak for him; it had looked a little tired when she flew the hedgehog up to the boardwalk.

I don't have time to fret about this right now, she somberly reminded herself. I have to go get that water and boil it, so the overlander can have something to drink. Turning on her heel, the bat departed and made her way once more toward the well, hoping that this trip would have better results than the first.