Leaving Reality behind

[Midnight]

*Her pace was slower with holding the man with her keeping him up out of water shaking her head slightly as she watches the other man before coming to the shore, pressing her feet against the shifting ground, , continuing to carry the mans wait until they are only ankle depth in water then places him back down on the ground and pulls him by his shoulder a few feet next tot the other before collapsing on the ground herself taking in a deep breath before moving to the side of the unconscious one ignoring her soaking clothes and aching body to see if he was still breathing or more injured.*

[Julian Lapin]

Julian had fallen unconscious at some point during the ascent, and Midnight could tell by the lack of any rhythmic movements of his chest that he was not breathing. She didn't know how much water he had swallowed, but if something wasn't done and fast, then there would be little to no hope of any revival.

[Midnight]

*She shakes her head slightly as she tilts his head back slightly, having the pleasant job of looking up hise nose and then down his throat as sheopens his mouth looking for any possible blockages not finding any she nods her head slightly seemingly to herself, before taking a deep breath and parting her mouth bringing her lips against his and breathing as much air into him as she can watching the chest rise slightly then fall before breathing into his mouth again then breaking the "kiss" and bringing her hands to his chest one over the other and pressing down in a short push several times in a row.*

Come on now I have had enough people die on me I am not having you add another one to the count.

*She mutters quietly to herself as she goes to bring hermouth against his again trying to get him to dothe simple task of breathing.*

[Ed Kenji]

Kenji stared at the woman as she attempted her resucitation. He felt like striking her! If it weren't for that damn dragon, none of them would be in this mess. They could be laughing in a public house, enjoying a quiet drink.

He stood up, and leant over the woman's shoulder. It was wrong to be angry at her, really.

She's trying so hard to save his life, isn't she? She even carried him all this way... by herself.

If anything happens... it's my fault, not hers.

Kenji didn't want to say anything. He didn't want to disturb the careful process of CPR, but he also felt as if there was nothing he could say. How do you start a conversation at a time like this? Kenji began to wonder how long Jules had been underwater. No... he didn't feel like talking.

So he sat on his haunches near Jule's shoulder, and watched silently.

[Julian Lapin]

With the last push, Julian finally spluttered, and hacked up what must have been a pint of freshwater. He coughed inelegantly, wheezing like a grampus yet remaining sprawled out on the ground.

He opened his eyes grogily, seeing strange shapes and colours darting about his vision. Blinking, they swam into some form of coherance. Unfortunatly, this was more than can be said for his thinking processes.

'Ah, hello again Miss Central' he murmered. 'We really need to stop meeting like this...'

[Ed Kenji]

Kenji leapt to his feet and broke into a meaningless dance of joy.

"Are you okay? How are you feeling man?"

He could hear Julian mumbling something incoherent.
"Did you get some water in your brain?" he laughed.

He turned to the woman.
"You," he said. "Well, thanks first of all. I don't know what we would have done without you. The dragon though... the dragon I could have done without."

He laughed, and stepped over to a nearby tree and hung his sodden jacket from a low branch.

[Midnight]

*She sat up right as the man began to splutter up the water from his lungs smiling faintly to herself even at the incoherent comment that came from the mans lips. watching him closely though still just incase. She tuned her gaze to the other man who was curently hanging his coat up on a tree branch.*

The dragon may be a pest but she meant no genuine harm. Hurt or danger was not her intention. Just seeking amusement but after who knows how long in a cave you would as well.

*She moved back slightly from the revived man giving him some breathing space while she scanned the areaand the water, her gaze narrowing slightly as she took in as much detail as possible trying to get a beeter guess at how far she was from Wolfenden.*

Besides no thanks is really needed nor required if it wasnot for the dragon and her amusement well you would probably be in Wolfenden Inn hving a quiet drink.

[Julian Lapin]

Julian blinked twice at hearing Kenji's voice.

'Damn it all' he sighed. 'You're even invading my heaven now, Kenji...'

He shook his head, trying to shake to cobwebs from his mind. Presently, he began to ascertain where he was and what had just transpired.

'We fell... I was underwater. I saw...' he began, and with this recollection he immediatly sprung upwards to a straight sitting position.

'Where's the panther?' he exclaimed, eyes wide.

Before anyone could answer, another memory flashed at him, and swiftly took precidence.

'Actually, skip that. Where's the dragon?' he asked, darting around wildly. Again, before anyone could respond, his mind offered up one final nugget of recollection, this one causing him to leap to his feet within the space of a second.

'To hell with everything. Where's my COAT?' he gasped, his voice filled with genuine panic.

[Midnight]

*Rhiannon blinked once, twice then a third time each at Julians questions little surprised by the last one about a coat.*

Well seen as you don't want a answer to your first or second questions I will not give the answers. As for your coat I believe it is some where in the lake.

How do youmanage to walk around in that heavy thing anyway? It was either your life or parting with your coat and well your coat was not as important as your life though with that emotion in your voice I am begining to wonder on that.

[Julian Lapin]

Julian leapt up and began dashing back towards the lake. He got about three seconds closer when he doubled up and started hacking again. From the sound of things, he was in danger of regurgitating most of his respiration system.

'Sodding... Marks and... sodding... Spencer... that was' he spluttered, punctuating his speech with involuntary gurgles.

As the curious stranger continued to talk, Julian's mind began to slow down to its normal rational state, and her words of reason finally clicked. Standing up, he attempted to restore his former dignity, or at least his manners.

'I apologise, ma'am' he began, trying to alleviate his awkwardness by brushing some pond weed off of his soggy waistcoat. 'Here I am blithering about my wardrobe, without even giving a thought to the one who saved us both.'

He humbly fell down onto one knee, a respectful gesture slightly diminished by the amusing squelch his waterlogged shoes produced.

'Our sincere thanks to you.'

[Midnight]

*She raises a eyebrow slightly in curiosity and puzzlement.*

Marks and Spencers? Did you say? Was it a coat handed down through the family? If so I am sorry you have lost something of sentimental value though I have to say it is not very practical clothing for travelling in terrain such as this.

*Her eyes brow rises higher up into her forehead and for a moment she wished Coriolis was alive and here she was never sure how to handle this sort of situation the raised eyebrow was rapidly followed by a light nipping of the teeth along the edge of her bottom lip.*

My name is....*She pauses briefly unsure which name to give.* Midnight. You two rather strange, strangers are?

*She looks from one to the other before bringing her attention back to the one kneeling in front of her.*

You can stand up now please. You don't need to kneel and your welcome. I help when I can.

[Julian Lapin]

He sighed deeply, but shook his head with a smile.

'It is of no bother. Another one I am sure can be easily purchased. And quite frankly, it needed a really good scrub.'

He stood up, feeling warm sensations flooding back into his limbs as his got his body under control again.

'Ah yes, introductions are in order. My name is Julian Lapis, Professor of Classical Civilisations at the University of Reality-on-the-Norm. The fellow in the in the fetching deerstalker behind you-'

'Yo!'

'- is Edward Kenji, Professor of Esoteric Quantum-Theoretical Runamology of the same. No, don't ask what it means, I have been for the last year and every time he tries and explains it makes even less sense.'

As he spoke, Julian removed his half-moon spectacles from the bridge of his nose and absent mindedly patted his waistcoat for a handkerchief. Realising the obvious, he rolled his eyes and attempted to dry them on the sleeve of his shirt.

'Please forgive our rather odd looking appearence Miss Midnight' he continued, regaining some sense of composure now they were on familiar ground. 'I apologise if this sounds bizarre, but you could say we are strangers to your world. We arrived not long before our encounter on the path, where we tried unsuccessfully to ascertain where we were. Judging by everything that has happened up to this point, we can safely assume that we have left our home far behind.'

His speech was now steady and maintained, completly different from the paniking high pitched yammering of a minute before.

[Ed Kenji]

Kenji chucked to himself. Esoteric Quantum-Theoretical Runamology was quite simple really, but the English language lacked a several vital tenses making it nigh on impossible to describe easily.

"Nice to meetcha, Midnight," Kenji crooned, and broke into the slow series of emphatic hand gestures that punctuated his speech.
"I don't suppose you could tell us," he waved, "just exactly where we are? I mean, I had a fivespot that said this was the Cotswalds, but since the pony trekkers have been replaced by dragons I may well possibly have to adjust my view, slightly."

He paused, and then launched into the summative statement which most people needed to comprehend his rambling sentences.

"Where are we? Can we, for instance, expect to see Ghengis Khan and his mongul hordes racing over the hilltops? Or are we looking at a more Relto-y situation?"

He pushed his sodden quiff into a wiry semblance of its former glory, and tutted.

[Midnight]

*She turns her gaze to Ed looking more than slightly puzzled.*

Cottswalds? Ghengis Khan? Relto what?

*She shifts slightly and stands up properly bringing her hands up to ehr hair twisting and squeezing it to try and dry it of water, the best she could currently do.*

Have you two ben eating something you shouldn't? Or did th water go to your heads moe than first appeared?

As for where you are, your in part of what is known as the Knightmare realm. Not too far from here is Wolfenden. Dragons are some times seen but not oftern. Though there is other creatures to watch out for. Goblins, ogres, theives, bandits, giants...*she laughs quietly* large felines.

Though I do suggest if your wishing for dry clothing, good well reasonable ale and food we head to Wolfenden.

[Julian Lapin]

'Knightmare...'

The name was unfamiliar to Julian, but something else quickly after caught his attention.

'Realm... you said realm? As in different world?' he asked, enthusiasm creeping into his voice. Realising that they were clearly overwhealming the poor stranger with their otherworldly terminology, he quickly changed tack.

'Sounds easy enough to handle' he said nonchanlantly, referring to the list of creatures. 'Although, you don't have any... grues, do you?'