Dark on the Waters [Dark Data]

[Belle]

Stampy's once friendly eyes turned towards her. Baleful, they scorched with hatred.

Good. That would make her stupid plan a little easier.

Taking her time, Belle turned, bent over, and slapped her bottom. “Missed me~.”

The gasping thrum of the elephant's cry curdled the air, the sound of it like a blast wave, flattening the grass nearby. Belle's hands went to her ears, eyes squinting. Come on, you big bastard, she thought. In the seething crowd, through the pile of pressing bodies, she saw the mother of the child and a small hand that was reached up, clutching at the back of her neck. Come on, you tub of lard! Let's fucking do this!

Stampy took the bait. Pulling its whole body around, it leveled itself at Belle, and charged.

Fast!

Whether or not the beast's power was fueled by its anger or not, Belle didn't know. She just knew she had to move, and quickly. With a brief crouch, filling her legs with energy, she sprinted in the opposite direction of the boats, pausing occasionally to make sure that the crazed animal was following her.

It was. The smaller of Sabaody's trees were exploding, collapsing before the enraged elephant's stampede. But as long as she could stay ahead of him, she would be fine.

As if on queue, the ground suddenly lurched. A deafening explosion assaulted her eardrums as her feet faltered, a root that she had been intending to hop over catching the tips of her toes. She sprawled, rolled, her earns ringing and vision swimming. Had it been the right? The left?

A dark shape bore down on her. Stampy's humongous frame reared in her vision, blocking out the treetops and sky above, front hooves in the air prepared to earn his namesake. Belle pushed off with her hands, but came to a sharp halt, her ankle entangled in roots.

At least she had led it a good distance away, she thought, as the elephant's frame paused in its rearing, ready to descend.

A sharp whistle pierced through the ringing in her ears, and BOOM. The elephant sharply lurched to the side, screaming as black goo showered off its smoking, flaming back. It landed on its side, flailing legs fighting to find purchase.

Belle didn't question it. She sat up, pulled her foot free after a few seconds struggle, and continued running. Whether or not the elephant would get up, it was too far from the clearing to make its way back now.

She hoped.

The island's green colors were mottled into a swirling shade as she moved, favoring her foot until she was sure it hadn't been injured. All she could think of in that moment was putting as much distance between herself and the monster as possible.

Fire continued to rain down – shells, she guessed – shaking the island. More of those things were pouring out of some of the craters left behind, but she was fast enough to leave them in her dust.

Was there anyone else on the island? Should she search for them? She considered doubling back, making for the evacuation zone. A poor chance, but it might be her only one.

Through another set of bushes, putting her arms up. Instead of going through, however, she slammed headlong into something solid, sending it sprawling, herself on top of it.

Shit...!

Panic rose in her throat as she pulled up, raising a fist as she pressed down with her other hand, ready to deliver a quick blow before it could sink its teeth into her.

She froze. Eyes widened. It wasn't a darkling. It was...

“B....Blues?” she asked, looking down at the preteen machine.

There were others around, some weapons being pointed towards her. Mouths opened to answer, to ask questions... But there wasn't any time to answer before the next explosion rocked the ground.