"The Dark Cloud"
In the magical world of Chima, the animal tribes have become divided in pursuit of the mystical orbs of chi. In order to save his friends, Laval stole an orb of golden Chi and as punishment was exiled. After Laval was exiled the crocs captured Lagravis, and were planning on keeping him prisoner until Skinnet appears and offered the power enraged Cragger the pledge of the pack in exchange for Lagravis's freedom. With Lagravis free weapons are in mass production as both sides prepare for battle. These are the legends of Chima.
POV Eris:
'I swear I don't have any tears left in me.' Yesterday was a tough day for Eris, it was the day her best friend was banished, for stealing an orb of golden Chi, to save her.
'My best friend was banished, all because he saved me and our friends. Sure he stole an orb of golden Chi, but it was the only way to get us out of that fog of destiny.' The only sources of relief to her mind were that Laval was alive and that Lagravis was safe. If Laval didn't find that pledge, well that wasn't a possibility she wanted to think of.
"Laval. You should have been the one to save your father. You should have not sent in Skinnet." She spoke to the moon, hoping somehow her voice would be carried to her lost friend. Even though Skinnet was able to get pass the crocs, the poor boy didn't realize how big of danger he was in. Stretching her wings, Eris prepares to enter Eagle Spire.
Eagle Spire was the utopic home for the eagles, where everyone shared with each other. Everyone only took what they needed, that is why Eris had a small private home for herself, despite being the princess. It's not as if she wanted a bigger room or anything. She was happy with what she had. Landing on the balcony of her house, the house seemed to be lacking something, or maybe it was the void she felt in her heart. Being an eagle, she didn't have any personal possession, to avoid attachment.
"Laval, are you sure your destiny was to go into exile? " That whole fog of destiny, that can't be accurate she reasoned with herself.
"If your destiny was to go into exile, then what does mine mean? I was shown that I'm supposed to lead the way into the fire! What does that even mean?!" She shouted in frustration. This destiny stuff was just crazy. Was she supposed to lead people to their death by walking into fire?
'Maybe this will make sense in the morning.' Eris was tired from the flight and crying can take a lot out of a person. Resting her head on the pillow she hoped sleep would come quickly. Despite her wish, sleep evaded her that night, with only an empty pit in her stomach for company.
Eris opened her eyes to be greeted by darkness. Not many people know this but eagles are early risers, they are usually up before the sun to do their studies and duties. Eris was no exception. Today was a few sparing drills, and she was never late to showing up early. Greeting her sparing mates with a wave, she flew to the sparing ring on one of the upper peaks. "Hello Ewar. Good to see you're my opponent today." Eris speaks to the male eagle.
"Salutations Eris, let us do some sparing practice today. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind." Ewar responds.
"Okay, let's get this going; I want to get over to the Lion's City."
"Okay Eris," Ewar picks up his lance and finishes, "Let us begin."
"Alright Ewar, let's do this." Eris says while picking up her halberd.
Ewar slides back on the area, so he was on the far edge of it. Eris glared as her opponent, watching his every move for an opening. She noticed that Ewar's wings twitching, a sign he was about to take off. Eris sprung forward; hoping to catch Ewar before he takes off. To Eris's surprise, when her halberd gets blocked by Ewar's lance. Ewar uses her momentum to do a flip over her and hit his lance on Eris's back.
Still in the air Ewar says, "One to zero Eris, you remember first to five wins."
"That was a lucky shot, Ewar. You won't get another one." Eris jabs back. Ewar rushes forward, lance swinging. Eris parries the blow and tries to fall down, to use moment against him. Instead of falling forward like she suspected, Ewar plants the pole of his lance into the floor of the ring and springs forward instead of falling forward.
Ewar using the forward motion pulls into a frontal roll, and then using his legs as a spring when he touches the ground. He jumps back towards Eris. Eris still on the ground from the attack remains stationary, as Ewar once again moves above her. As their gazes lock, Ewar lands a blow on Eris's chest guard.
Ewar waiting for Eris to stand up, asks, "Eris are you alright"
"I'm fine." Eris replies curtly. Ewar rushes again with his lance; Eris uses her halberd to parry one attack after another, but keeps on stepping back with each attack. Launching a counter attack, Eris swings her halberd for Ewar's chest. Ewar closes his wings, and drops below the swing of the weapon. With a quick kick, Ewar kicks Eris's legs from beneath her. Feeling another slam on her chest, she looks up to see Ewar's lance on her chest guard. "Three to zero."
"I know that!" Eris replies getting ticked off.
"Are you sure you feel alright Eris?" Ewar asks with concern in his voice.
"I'm fine!" Eris replies.
"If you are not feeling up to up to battle Eris we can end this session. It would not be wise to continue if you are feeling upset about Laval's exile. We can do this another day." Ewar states passively.
It was if something broke in Eris. "Shut up." She whispers. "What do you know? Were you there when he was banished?" Her voice grows in volume. "Were you there hoping he would come home?" She was seeing red as she yells "Well were you?!"
The next minute, Eris could never remember. She hit Ewar five times in rapid succession. First fainting a forward attack, she side steps and hits the male on the side. Recovering quickly, Eris preforms a spinning turn and attack the male's exposed back. The solid whack to his wings, unfurls Ewar's wings and temporarily paralysis them. With Ewar suddenly being grounded, Eris side steps again, slashing his other side. In front of Ewar again, she kicks Ewar's chest knocking him down. Swinging her Halberd with all the strength she could muster she slams her weapon into Ewar's chest guard. "I believe the score is now five to three." Ewar's eyes open in terror has his mouth opens in awe. His look is soon mirrored in Eris's eyes. Never had she defeated anybody so quickly, and to be honest it frightened her.
"Ewar, I'm so sorry." Eris whispers.
Groaning in pain, Ewar replies, "It's alright Eris, I may have said something that I shouldn't have." Reaching forward, Eris helps Ewar to his feet. Placing away their weapons neither of the two eagles talked.
Looking out from Eagle Spires, to her horror, Eris sees a strange black cloud circling Mount Cavora. "What. What is that?!" Eris exclaims.
Several eagles' jaws fell open at the sight of a black cloud, that twisted and turned unnaturally while it circled Mount Cavora. Never in Eris's life had she seen such a cloud. The fact that it was circling Mount Cavora like a predator didn't make her feel any better.
"I hope the crocodiles aren't behind this." Eris whispers. She had prayed that it would be a while before the crocs launch their attack that they were planning on the lions. If this cloud was part of their plans, then the lions and all of Chima may be in serious trouble.
"Eris!" Turning around, Eris spots the dark blue elder of the eagle clan.
"Egar, what is that thing?"
"I don't know Eris. That is why I was looking for you." The blue eagle responded worry on his face
"Why do you think I would know what that is?" Eris asks, confused.
"No, we need you to go and get a sample of that cloud."
"A sample? Of a cloud? Why?" Eris couldn't believe it. Were the eagles becoming as dumb as the rhinos. 'What's next? We'll be we kicking books, to get a kick out of reading?'
"Yes Eris. Lagravis asked if we knew what that cloud is. We have several eagles searching through our library, but if we could get a small piece of the cloud. We could see what it is and maybe even see if this cloud is harmful to the chi or not." Egar replied sagely.
"I can't believe they are sending me out for this." Eris grumbles to herself. Granted she was interested in the cloud too, but she wasn't some errand girl. With a sigh she resolves herself. If she was in a mood, imagine what the lions, let alone Lagravis is feeling right now. They must be so restless, and anxious. Sure lions may be patient, but when an attack maybe launched soon, that puts anyone on edge.
"Lagravis fears for Mount Cavora and its life giving chi. And to be honest I don't blame him." Egar replied worriedly.
"Don't worry Egar. I'll get some cloud in a jar, and then we can do something about that cloud."
"Thanks Eris." Egar replied starting to fly away. "Oh by the way, if you ever want someone to talk to, I'm told I am a good listener."
'Why would I need a listener?' Eris ponders to herself. No one has ever said that before, and to be honest it troubled her. 'Am I really showing that much about missing Laval?' Shaking her head, Eris approaches her jet, with a small glass jar.
"Well I guess it's time to get some cloud in a jar."
In her jet Eris approaches the cloud. Its' erratic movements, confuse her. She has never seen a cloud like this before. Usually they are slow and smooth, this one moved sporadically and in random directions at the slightest indication.
"Wow check it out. It's almost as if this cloud is alive." Eris says to herself as she approaches it.
"Now time to get the jar and." She never was able to finish as the black cloud zooms and collides with her jet. 'No cloud attacks!' she thought.
Soon her jet was being tossed and turned by the cloud. As Eris looks out through the black forms surrounding her, she hears screeching, clicking, and scratching. "What? What is this? Hey?"
With a violent jerk, Eris momentarily loses control of her jet and it goes into a spiral. With determination in her eyes Eris, doesn't flinch. Holding onto the choke, she levels out the jet, about a good 100 kilometers from where she was hit. As she searches the sky for the cloud, she encounters nothing. This confuses Eris, clouds don't just disappear.
A brief glance down only adds to her confusion, the cloud had descended too quickly, clouds take minutes to fall in altitude, not seconds, and they seem to be following someone. Looking ahead of the cloud, she notices a cloud of dust, the dust from a speedor. Her heart raises a little bit as the thought of it may be Laval, coming to help. That idea was short lived though, as she sees the figure on the Speedor is wearing a dark armor with a black and red helmet.
"Shadow Wind?" Eris voices, before putting on her jet's thrusters. 'Maybe he knows about this cloud.'
Eris follows the cloud and Shadow Wind. While they are moving fast, Eris was confident that she could catch them in her jet. She was soon proven right, as the brash eagle not only caught up to them, but soon entered the cloud again. This proved to be a flaw for Eris, as the sound of scratching, clicking, and screeching assaulted her ears. Whatever this cloud was, it did not like her jet or her. With a violent shove, Eris and her Jet were launched from the cloud, heading straight for the Lion City.
Still suffering from vertigo, Eris, recognizes the Lion City. Determined not to damage it, Eris began an emergency landing. Her jet lurches and groans under her demands, 'Come on you fly piece of junk, stop!' With a landing she, promised never to tell anyone about, Eris lands/crashes her jet, outside of the city.
Frustration was the way to describe how Eris was feeling right now. Not only did she fail to collect any of the cloud, but now she got her jet banged up. She was not in the mood to listen to the eagle elder's lecture about not destroying public property. Getting out of the cockpit, she was greeted by Lagravis.
"Eris." The royal lion shouts. "Are you okay? What happened? It looked as if that cloud attacked you."
"It did. Smashed up my Jet, right before it took off after Shadow Wind." She explained to the king. He really seemed a bit worse on the wear. Sure his clothes were a bit dusty from running up here, but his eyes those were different. In all of Eris's life, she only saw compassion, in the king's eyes, that and a little bit of frustration whenever Laval did something stupid. Now though, they look red and tired.
"Shadow Wind. The masked rider that won the last race for the golden chi?" The King asks, with a bit confusion on his face.
"That's him. When I was up there, I couldn't tell if he was being chased or leading it."
"This is most troubling Eris. We don't know anything about Shadow Wind. All we know is that he appeared, won the golden chi and then gave it to my son to fix the city wall." With a sigh, the king lets his shoulders slag, as a defeated look appears on his face. Eris felt sympathy towards the king. She had always respected him as a leader, and to see him hurting like this…
Putting on a scowl, and with a rush of determination, Eris speaks to Lagravis, "I'll try again to find him. While we can't get to Mount Cavora due to the massive energy field, I may be able to find Shadow Wind, and find out what this cloud is."
"Good luck Eris. Please though, remain safe." The elderly lion pleads.
Determined young eyes meet older worried ones. With a nod Eris flaps back into her jet and to start it up. "All fight systems check. Let's find some answers about that cloud and Shadow Wind." Eris vows to herself, as she takes to the skies one more.
Few things gets under Eris's feathers. The list includes Cragger, someone stealing her diary, and now this black cloud. Once she was air born, that cloud returned from the outlands, and started to travel all around Chima. Since the cloud was her only link to Shadow Wind, she naturally had to play follow the leader with it. That cloud moved as if it had a mind of it's on.
First it kidnapped the bears, and then it dropped them off with the rhino's after it stole both tribes chi. Then she had to chase it to the raven's race track where it swallowed two raven jets, and spit out the raven. Then it took her to the mellow grove where it stole several of the gorilla's machines, chi, and surprisingly a bunch of banana's and spit out the peels on her jet. The only good part was when it went to the Crocodile Swamp and took the crocopter, and their chi too. "This is too much, why is it stealing the chi and the machines?" Eris speaks to herself in frustration. None of this makes any sense!
After another hour of the wild goose chase, she was elated to see the cloud starting to curve to the outlands. Now that the cloud moved in that direction, she looks down to see a figure on a black Speedor in front of the cloud.
"Oh no! I am not letting you out of my sight again!" Eris vows and sends her jet into overdrive. Once again Eris races after the cloud which is following Shadow Wind.
"I'm not losing you again." As she bridges the gap between herself and the cloud, the cloud suddenly stops following Shadow Wind and zooms towards her.
Eris screams as she starts to lose control of her jet. The clicking, scratching, and screeching assaults Eris's ears, making her cringe at the intensity. "Get off!" She shouts, and turns on the blasters. At first there seems to be no effect, but soon the hisses of pain rings in her ear. 'This thing is alive, but how?' A pair of red eyes becomes visible in front of Eris, screaming once again, she pulls down. The blasters seem to have done some damage to the cloud because at last she is able to break free of it and descends below the tree line.
Eris smiles as the cloud didn't try to engulf her jet again. It seemed as if the cloud was having a hard time traveling through the trees. "Oh please, it's just a few trees." She jeers, and continues to zoom between the trees. Now that she was losing the cloud, she could focus on her target Shadow Wind. 'Who are you? And, what is your connection to this cloud?' Eris could feel her eagle instincts coming in. She was the hunter that rider was her prey and she was going to get that rider!
Eris made her jet dance as she dodge tree after tree in her pursuit of Shadow Wind. Eris moves her jet to the right, then to the left. Doing a quick barrel roll to get around some dense trees, she sees she is nearing Shadow Wind. "Just a bit more. Almost caught him!" Eris encourages herself. Eris gets her hand over the grappling button. In just a few more meters, she would be able to grapple that masked rider and get some answers from him.
"Ten meters." Eris narrows her eyes, her vision of Shadow Wind becoming clearer.
"Seven meters." She sees that they are approaching the croc's swamp. Pressing on the gas to get closer to her target, Eris continues to stalk her prey.
"Three meters." She sees they are about to get to the creek on the outlands. No one has ever been able to get through there. This rider was as good as hers.
"One meter." She grins as her hand lifts slightly over the button. To her shock though, Shadow Wind doesn't stop at the water, instead using an old log, he jumps over the creek into the green fog that separates the outlands from Chima.
"NO!" Eris screams at the top of her lungs as she loses sight of Shadow Wind. Determined still, she pulls up on the joy stick and gets above the tree level again. After she levels out, she sees that the green mist extends far and wide, and that she had lost Shadow Wind.
'Not again. Who is this guy? What's up with that cloud? And what connect do those two share?' Eris ponders. Seeing a clearing on the non-foggy side of the creek, she moves to land her jet on the banks of the creek. 'Let's see if I can't follow his trail from the ground level.'
Eris examines the creek again, looking for any signs of Shadow Wind coming out of the fog on the other side of the creek. She lets out a sigh. 'Still no sign of him.' It would be foolish to try and follow him into the outlands without supplies or back up, Eris reasons. She didn't want to move from this spot though. She feels if she were to leave this spot, she would be admitting that this was a waste of time. She wasn't going to let that happen.
She lost her best friend because she was lost in that fog of destiny and she wasn't going to waste time again. She was going to find Shadow Wind and get some answers on how to stop the black cloud. The only question was if Shadow Wind would be coming out of that fog.
Eris jumps when she hears voices from behind her. Drawing her halberd, she prepares for a battle. When she turns around she notices Cragger, and two of his lackeys. Seeing Cragger, right now, it felt like every part of her body was on fire. Every part of her body and heart was telling her to attack Cragger, he was the reason Laval was gone. He even kidnapped Lagravis. According to the old lion, Cragger is even planning on attacking the lions. Eris gripped her weapon more tightly, as her mind fought with her body. She wasn't going to be the one to start an accident, but if one did occur, Cragger would be on the punishing end of it.
"Cragger." Eris speaks to the croc king. If words could kill, Eris would have just killed Cragger ten times over.
"Hello friend. What may I do for you this find day?" Cragger speaks, in a polite, slightly higher pitched voice. This event causes Eris to loosen her stance and her hold on her weapon.
"You sound weird. Is everything okay?" Eris asks, staring at the croc incredulously.
"No it." The croc begins in his normal voice, but suddenly his jaw shuts. Eris believes she saw something blue in the Cragger's mouth, but she can't be sure.
"It's more than okay. It's fabulous." Cragger continues in a higher pitched voice. Eris notices that Cragger didn't move this mouth during that last part. 'What up with him now?'
The dark green croc next to Cragger, suddenly slaps the Prince on the back causing the croc to spit out a blue and white ball of feathers. 'What in the world?'
"Sorry, had a little bird stuck in my throat." Cragger says coughing. After the fits subside he points at her accusingly. Eris could feel her anger ignite again. "And what are you doing here Eris?"
"I'm looking for Shadow Wind, and you?!" Eris snaps at the croc. In Eris's mind she is surprised that she was losing her temper again, but looking at Cragger, rage instantly replaces concern.
"I'm also looking for Shadow Wind, you dumb bird." The two stare at each other, causing the two other crocs to stumble back. Neither had seen Eris so angry, and with Cragger's antics lately, neither one wanted to be around incase anything happened.
"Why are you looking for him?" Eris growls while looking at Cragger's neck, chest, and arms, noticing the life pumping arteries on each of them, and how easy it would be to claw at one. The neck was the most exposed, but Eris doubted she could reach it before Cragger would raise a weapon to block her. Shaking her head, Eris focuses again on Cragger. 'I may need to talk to the elders. I'm really not acting like myself.'
"I just learned it was Shadow Wind, who gave the pledge to Laval, who gave it to that skunk. I want to know how he got it. That pledge was lost in the Gore of Eternal Depth." Cragger rants.
"I don't know how that pledge got out, but not that it matters. I'm going to find Shadow Wind first!" Eris snaps at the King.
"Why do you want to talk with him?" Cragger snarls at her. Eris could see something was agitating the croc, but right now she didn't care.
"Well, if you would look behind you. You would have seen that a black cloud has been attacking Mount Cavora. It has been stealing chi and mechs from everyone, all day long. That cloud has been following Shadow Wind for some reason. I almost caught Shadow Wind, but he jumped over the creek and I can't follow him anymore. I have been waiting here for a good hour and when Shadow Wind comes out, I'm going to find out what that cloud is and what Shadow Wind wants!" Eris yells at the croc. Cragger just stares at Eris, jaw opened. Eris tries to take in deep breaths to calm her nerves, but nothing seems to help.
Plovar, the small blue and white bird comes walking in. Eris could see Polvar eyeing her cautiously. 'Great, now I scared Plovar too? I really need to talk with some one.'
"Told yah I would bring you to Shadow Wind. You mean coughing feather butcher you." Plovar speaks pointedly at Cragger.
"And you know exactly where he lives on the other side of the creek?" Cragger asked incredulously. Eris raises and eye brow. If Polvar really knew where Shadow Wind lives then it would be easier to find him in the outlands.
"Well I wouldn't say exactly." Plovar begins, and with this Eris's heart drops. It looks like that bird didn't know where Shadow Wind lived. "I mean Skinnet told me he resides in the outlands. Somewhere." Plovar ends haughtily.
"So you actually don't know Shadow Wind at all?" Cragger shouts outraged.
"Well I know Skinnet, and he almost knows him. Sort of. But let's not get bogged down with the details. You still going to do everything I ask, Right Craggy Pie?" Cragger shook with rage. A deep growl comes from Cragger's throat, and Eris can feel herself tensing up with Cragger's threatening manner. With a sudden movement, Cragger punches Plovar. Eris can only grimace as she hears Polvar's voice getting fainter with her last phrase. "Same time next week Craggy Wag."
"We don't need that bird anymore, Crug, Crawly, cross the creek and follow Shadow Wind's path." Cragger spoke, his tension visibly relaxing now that the pesky bird is gone. The dark green croc and brown croc start to cross the creek on a floating log.
'Good. Go in there and get lost you scaly idiots.' Eris thinks and with a quick shake of her head dismisses those thoughts. Sure she hated Cragger, but she didn't want him dead, or his two lackeys. She resigned herself to a least voice a warning. If Cragger continued after that it was his own fault.
"Hold on Cragger. You can't' just run into the outlands. The ground is toxic and the plants eat you alive."
"Well, maybe the ground is toxic to you, and you're scared of a few flowers, but not us crocs. We don't stand around whining about danger. We embrace it head on." Cragger boasts to be interrupted by a complaining underling.
"Do we have too? It looks dangerous." The brown croc, whines, looking over into the green fog ahead and visibly shuddering.
"Yes, now move it." Cragger shouts, his eyes glowing red again. Eris can't help but start to feel sorry for the crocs. Maybe if Crominus, or Crunket were still around, Chima wouldn't be in the big mess it was in now. Eris once again shook her head. She had already too many what ifs in her head, and a lot of them revolved around her best friend Laval. What if he stayed? What if he saved his father himself? What if she had been able to break out of the fog instead of him? Too many thoughts. She had to focus on the here and now, not on what could have been. She was shaken out of her thoughts by two confused voiced now emanating from the green fog in the outlands.
"Can you see anything?"
"Yeah I think this nice plant is following us. Pretty teeth."
"Plants aren't supposed to have teeth. They probably aren't supposed to give us piggy back rides either."
Soon the silence was pierced by screams as the two crocs were facing some unforeseen danger. A sickening crack and a loud slurp made Eris visible flinch. What was in that fog? Looking at the crocodile king she could see he was having the same reactions she was experiencing.
"How did we get into this giant balloon, and why is it all squishy and wet?"
"It's no balloon, we're in its stomach."
"Stomach! Since when do plants have those?" Eris shrieks. That isn't possible, she was an eagle and in all of her life of studying she had never heard of a plant having a stomach. Soon a burp and then a belch were heard, followed by the screams of two crocs.
Looking ahead Eris saw the two crocs, suddenly soaring into the air. Eris couldn't believe it. Those plants just ate and spit out the two crocs as if they were a bad appetizer. It looks like it would be suicide for her to travel alone, but she had to find a way to stop that cloud. Eris could only shake her head as she found herself between a rock and a hard place.
"No More. They're green and their mean." Crug and Crawley moaned to Cragger, who didn't show any sympathy.
"Quit your gripping. Some over grown salad can't stop us crocs. Now get back in there and find the one rider who knows where my parents are." As Cragger shouts at his two friends, the dark cloud zooms out of the fog and tackles all four citizens of Chima. Eris was knocked back a few feet, while Crugg and Crawley seem to be taken by the cloud until they were dropped several meters away. 'I don't see Shadow Wind here. Where is he?' Eris thought to herself. This could have been her best lead to Shadow Wind, but since he wasn't here, it looks like she wasted a large amount of time.
"That cloud looks like its heading back towards the mountain." Crug or Crawley spoke. Eris didn't' care, she never could tell those two apart, to be honest that didn't matter now. Looking at the cloud, she can tell it is bigger and seems to be moving even faster.
"Yeah and it looks bigger and nastier than it was last time. I'm off to face that beast. You coming Cragger?" Eris turns and glares are Cragger.
"The cloud's not my problem." Cragger responded curtly. Eris's eyes narrow. 'That jerk!' Does he not realize that that cloud is destroy his home and his chi, not just the lions. Of all the selfish people out there, why was she cursed to stand around with a complete and selfish moron? But saying this wouldn't help. She needed his help. They have to stop that cloud before it destroys Mount Cavora.
"Yes it is. That cloud is attacking Mount Cavora. Without Mount Cavora there is no chi, and without chi there is no Chima. There will be no home for your parents to come back to. Your people will perish, and everything will die, unless you put your pride aside and help someone besides yourself!" Eris knew she hit a low blow, but she didn't care. Cragger didn't care about anything and it was time for the idiot to take some responsibility.
Cragger turned to her, fuming. He looked like he was going to attack her at any moment. Eris was tensing her wings; ready to dodge if the croc did try and get to her. With a deep sigh Cragger spoke.
"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah."
"Good now, tomorrow, go to the Lions City. I'm going to gather up the other leaders. One of us has to figure out a way to stop that cloud." With that Eris turns her back to the croc and walks towards the jet. She was still fuming and realized that she needed to contact the other leaders quickly. If she didn't beat Cragger to the Lion's City tomrrow then she couldn't exactly guarantee that he would walk out of there alive.
Eris barely made it back to the Lion's City before Cragger got out of his speedor. Heading to each of the tribes took the rest of the day and most of the night, but she made it to the lion's city. What chilled Eris to the core when she got to the city, was to see the lions point their weapons at Cragger without any hesitation. They have never done that before. They must still be tense after what Lagravis revealed last night.
"It's alright guys!" She calls out to the lions. The lions look to her with confusion. "I invited him. I asked all of the other tribes to get here quickly so we can find a solution to the black cloud." The two guards returned to their sentry position, but both had their eyes drilling holes into Cragger.
"Yeah. I'm the king of the crocs, and I'm here to help. So buzz off hair balls." The two lions stared at the teenage croc.
'I guess I'm going to have to play nanny the whole time Cragger is here? Great.' Eris thought sarcastically. "Come on Cragger. Let's get in there and wait for the other tribes to arrive." Eris speaks while pushing Cragger through the doors. If she didn't get him out of sight of those guards, then there may be a war on their hands.
It didn't take long for the other tribes to arrive. Soon Eris, and another representative of the Eagles, Lagravis, Cragger, the gorilla leader Grumlo, the bear king Balkar, the king of the ravens Rawzom, Worriz the alpha wolf, Rhigor the leader of the rhinos, and the beaver representative Breezor, were all at the Loin's City inside the lion's council chamber. Unfortunately none of the leaders were working together right now.
Balkar was asleep. Lagravis was trying to get order to only be questioned at every turn by Cragger. Worriz and Grumlo were about to start fighting and Rawzom was setting up bets who would kick who's butt. While Rhigor kept breaking stuff and Breezor, keep yelling "Fix it." and start to repair it. This isn't how they should be acting. They need to come together.
"That is why I think that we should." Lagravis was speaking only to be cut off.
"Shut your trap old man!" Cragger interrupted. "You lions had the duty of protecting the chi and now you guys failed at your responsibility. And when you failed you came to us. Let us take care of the ideas; you couldn't stop the cloud on your own so butt out."
Eris saw Lagravis's fur stand on end. The king was at the end of his rope. His emotions have been crazy since they arrived. This isn't good, she had to get these guys to work together. Unfortunately for her Rawzon was now taking bets to see who would land the first punch from those two.
"Dudes. Come now dudes, let's all just mellow out." The silver gorilla proposes.
"Shut up, banana head. I want to see what happens next." Worriz cuts in. A gleam is in his eye, looking for a show between the two leaders.
"Not cool Dude!" Grumlo replies.
'At this rate we will never be able to save Mount Cavora.' Eris sighs. She was tired from the day's excitement and activities. Her wings felt stiff and heavy, same with her arms and legs. Even after all her work, it seems like there isn't going to be an answer any time soon.
"Lagravis! Lagravis!" A lion guard shouts while running into the throne room. Unlike the rest of the guards this one lacks the chest plate and has three long gashes across his chest.
"What is it Longtooth?" Lagravis asks, still keeping his eyes focused on the crocodile king.
"The cloud. It's attacking Mount Cavora." Longtooth responds with his voice laced with terror.
"We know that fur ball. That thing has been taking chi from us all day long!" Cragger shouts at Longtooth. Most of the other conversations stop, due to the other leaders paying attention to the guard's and the king's conversation.
"No. It's not only after the chi. We just looked through the glass. Several pieces of Mount Cavora are missing and we have spotted some stones inside the cloud."
"What?!" All the leaders shout.
"Why would it be after Mount Cavora itself, and not just the chi." Lagravis asks, worry across his face. Eris couldn't blame him. This cloud has changed. At the beginning it was only taking chi. Then it started taking machines, and now it is taking pieces of Mount Cavora itself. That cloud was taking her home. If nothing was done, there will be no home for anyone.
"Who cares, we got to stop the cloud now." Surprisingly it was raven who was trying to get everyone together. "If this threat continues, my tribes businesses will be bankrupt in less than a week!" Eris could only face palm. Apparently the ravens were more concerned about money than the actual safety of Chima.
"Sure but how?" Eris's eagle councilor, Ewald asked. 'That is indeed the question. If we knew that, we wouldn't be here.' Eris thought to herself.
"Just blast it out of the sky." The rhino leader answered. Everyone just looked at the rhino as if he said lets have hot fudge sundaes or what is he thinking?
"Dude, that wouldn't be nice to shoot down a cloud, dude." Grumlo voiced.
"Rock head, it's a cloud, it can't be shot down." Worriz speaks. All the other tribes start to shake their heads at that statement. At the same time Eris's mind races. Shot down? When I was inside I shot it and it… 'That's it!'
"Yes it can." Eris spoke quickly. Now everyone was looking at her as if she was an idiot. 'Well I started talking. I should explain myself before they really think I'm crazy.' She continues, "When I was inside of it, I fired by blasters a few times to try to get it away from me. It hissed. It felt pain and started to leave me alone. I think we could knock it down."
The attitude in the council chamber changed with that. Many of the other leaders were voicing support. Plans were being drawn up about how many blasters would be needed and where to position them all. Of course there was one person who ruined the mood.
"Yeah. We knock it down so we can have the chi to ourselves again. I'm glad I thought of that." Cragger spoke arrogantly. Eris wanted to take Cragger and throw him out the window. It seemed like most of the other leaders shared that sentiment. Like Eris though they all swallowed their pride so they could finally do something to solve the problem with the cloud.
"All that agree to forming a blasting squad to take down the cloud raise your hands." Lagravis asks. The motion was unanimous. Eris breathed a sigh of relief. They may be able to save Chima after all.
"Good. Go to you tribes and bring as much fire power as possible we are going to need it to get rid of that cloud before it takes away Mount Cavora." With that the meeting ends and Eris flies off of Eagle's Spire to help prepare the blasters and jets.
With a mighty roar the signal was given. Eris never saw this before in her life. All the tribes were working together, sure it took a whole day to gather all the blasters and rally everyone, but they did it. If only Laval were here to see it. He would be telling her how; he knew that they could all come together again. 'Knowing Laval afterward he would try for peace talks again.' Eris shook her head of the bittersweet thought. Laval wasn't here and he may not be coming back. But if he was to come back, she would make sure he had a home to come to. With that Eris continued to blast that cloud with her jet.
She could hear and see it. The cloud was shrieking in pain. It was alive. She could even see inside of the cloud. She could see some machines, chi, and even stones from Mount Cavora itself. The cloud's movements became more agitated. It no longer moved cohesively. It was twitching and pulsating. Time to drive it away!
"Take that you cloud!" Eris shouted at the top of her lungs, and fired one last blast at the center of the cloud, hitting a gorilla suit. Upon impact, the machine exploded. Scattering the cloud, and having the machines, rocks, and most of the chi fall on to the ground below.
The cloud didn't come back together; instead it left in smaller patches reforming itself as it traveled back towards the outlands.
"Yeah, run and don't come back." Eris could hear Cragger shouting from below. Eris didn't have to worry about listening to that croc because soon all the tribes let out cries of victory. Everyone was shouting: lions, gorillas, rhinos, eagles, ravens, wolves, crocs, bears and even beavers. They did it. They save Chima. Many tribes were even hugging each other out there.
'Who knows Laval. Maybe peace can finally be achieved. Then maybe we can convince you to come home.' Eris thought to herself. A happy smile stretches across her face. The future she could see was one full of happiness.
"We have defeated the black cloud. Mount Cavora is saved. Thank you tribes of Chima." She could hear Lagravis shouting below. An idea formed in Eris's mind. She would approach the king tomorrow about an appeal about Laval's exile. She would go to each tribe tomorrow, try to get a peace talk sorted out, and get them to agree to the appeal of Laval's exile. Maybe if they can show Laval that everyone wanted him back, he would come back. After all a good leader has to listen to everyone.
Over the cries of the citizen's below she thought she heard something was wrong. It wasn't that something was there, that shouldn't have been. No. Something was missing, but what? Scanning towards the outlands she didn't see the black cloud returning. Looking around further, she spotted Mount Cavora and could only gasp at the destruction she saw.
Several of the heads of the animals looked deformed and fragmented. It appears that the Dark Cloud was trying to eat mount Cavora. While this thought made Eris's stomach drop, the next one froze her heart. The falls. They stopped. "What? What happened to the falls?" Eris asked.
Hey everyone. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It took a bit, but I got it out. I will explain. I hope to post a new chapter every two weeks but with school schedule that may change. Also please follow, favorite, and review if possible. I would really enjoy reading any comments on how to improve or what parts of the story you liked. Please though no hate comments. If you see a way for the story or my writing to improve feel free to suggest it and I will consider what you tell me. On a more personal note I have a friend who wrote a good story for Chima, but not many people read. I will warn you it is rated M for gore, but I still think it is good, if you are above 18 years or older. The author's name is Destroyer of Skulls and his story is called, The Rise of Zanatos Part 2. See you guys in two weeks. Best of luck.