06-26-2015, 05:24 PM
Sierra caught up a few seconds later. Either she was fast, or Elias was equally slow. He didn't turn to look at her when answering, keeping his gaze on the settling surface of the water. "My best judgement? The ship bay caught on fire and the crew jumped overboard rather than burn to death."
That was the obvious answer, and he knew Sierra wasn't asking for an literal explanation. But he didn't have an answer to the underlying problem: what caused the fire?
As though in answer, someone else emerged from a hatch upon the back deck of the burning tugboat. A girl in schorched overalls and smoking hair frantically ran to the edge and clamped onto the handrail. She peered overboard like she considered jumping herself. She apparently didn't notice anyone watching her, but given the burden of having to choose one's mode of horrible death, Elias doubted she was paying much attention.
Rather than escape, something made her abandon the rail and run toward the burning wheelhouse. Flames popped and roared from the windows. A column of black smoke churned overhead. "She's crazy!"
Elias gasped as she plunged into the fire that seemed to waft away from her path.
He stared in awe at the sudden lack of her presence. Thirty seconds later, she lept from the structure once more, cradling something small, and covered in a blanket, in her arms. Impossible! She should have melted alive in the inferno!
But this time she didn't hesitate as she ran to the edge to jump overboard.
She jumped and Elias cringed at what must be a painful plunge into icy waters. A mess of black hair surfaced quickly though. In one arm she held a small dog as high on her shoulder as she could, and with her other she tried to swim.
Elias frown deepened as a chill crept under his clothes. "I suppose I should save her."
He said to no one in particular. "I'll need your help dragging her out of the water,"
he said as he stepped forward, preparing himself to anticipate the pain to come.
Beneath his feet, the water solidified as it had previously. His boots gave him good traction on the snow, but were of minimal help crossing the smooth surface. So he altered the flow of power that touched the glassy pathway rendering it ridged and bumped.
In seconds he was half way to the girl, and by then she was aware of his presence. He quickened his pace and slid to his knees when he reached her, kneeling to grab onto her arms. Big eyes begged him for help as her arms flailed and splashed. Plunging his own hands into the icy water, he tried to find a way to yank her out.
He absently wondered if it was possible to warm the temperature of the water as he had the air, but it was too late a thought to be useful now.
That was the obvious answer, and he knew Sierra wasn't asking for an literal explanation. But he didn't have an answer to the underlying problem: what caused the fire?
As though in answer, someone else emerged from a hatch upon the back deck of the burning tugboat. A girl in schorched overalls and smoking hair frantically ran to the edge and clamped onto the handrail. She peered overboard like she considered jumping herself. She apparently didn't notice anyone watching her, but given the burden of having to choose one's mode of horrible death, Elias doubted she was paying much attention.
Rather than escape, something made her abandon the rail and run toward the burning wheelhouse. Flames popped and roared from the windows. A column of black smoke churned overhead. "She's crazy!"
Elias gasped as she plunged into the fire that seemed to waft away from her path.
He stared in awe at the sudden lack of her presence. Thirty seconds later, she lept from the structure once more, cradling something small, and covered in a blanket, in her arms. Impossible! She should have melted alive in the inferno!
But this time she didn't hesitate as she ran to the edge to jump overboard.
She jumped and Elias cringed at what must be a painful plunge into icy waters. A mess of black hair surfaced quickly though. In one arm she held a small dog as high on her shoulder as she could, and with her other she tried to swim.
Elias frown deepened as a chill crept under his clothes. "I suppose I should save her."
He said to no one in particular. "I'll need your help dragging her out of the water,"
he said as he stepped forward, preparing himself to anticipate the pain to come.
Beneath his feet, the water solidified as it had previously. His boots gave him good traction on the snow, but were of minimal help crossing the smooth surface. So he altered the flow of power that touched the glassy pathway rendering it ridged and bumped.
In seconds he was half way to the girl, and by then she was aware of his presence. He quickened his pace and slid to his knees when he reached her, kneeling to grab onto her arms. Big eyes begged him for help as her arms flailed and splashed. Plunging his own hands into the icy water, he tried to find a way to yank her out.
He absently wondered if it was possible to warm the temperature of the water as he had the air, but it was too late a thought to be useful now.