The Tallest Tower!
Chapter 2: An Unlikely Friend
A/N: Ah, hopefully I didn't keep you guys waiting too long! Here's another chapter for your delight! Don't forget to REVIEW!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HEY ARNOLD!
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Arnold slowly opened his eyes. There was dew on the ground before him. He got to his feet and stretched, breathing in the crisp morning air before adjusting the blue cap atop his head.
"I need a plan," he said to himself. "I'll find some breakfast first, and then I'll get to work making a hut."
Taking a better look at his surroundings now that it was light out, Arnold noticed how many berry bushes were around. He gratefully walked towards one of them, thinking about what Grandpa had told him about eating wild berries.
"Remember, Arnold. Red and sweet are good to eat, but I swear on this sonnet that green will make you vomit."
Arnold began picking only the red berries and gathered them in his tunic, eating a few as he went along. His grandfather taught him well enough about the wilderness. There were times when they would camp out in the woods for a few days. Grandpa knew a lot about the woods and how to survive. Arnold was glad for his grandfather's lessons.
While collecting the berries, Arnold heard a soft growl.
"Huh. I must be hungrier than I thought," Arnold said as he ate another berry.
Just then, he felt something nuzzling the top of his head. When he looked up, a large black bear growled loudly into his face. Bear saliva splattered on his nose.
"AHHHH!" Arnold dropped all of his berries and started to run in the opposite direction.
The bear followed Arnold through the forest.
"I should have made some weapons first thing! Why oh WHY didn't I make some weapons?! OOF!"
Arnold tripped over a tree root and fell to the ground. He looked up and saw the bear approaching him. He scrambled onto his back so he could face the bear. His heart was pounding through his chest as the bear was on top of him. He snarled and opened his mouth wide. Arnold closed his eyes in fear.
The bear roared loudly and was thrown to his hind legs. Arnold opened his eyes.
"Wha – ?"
The bear started to howl in pain before he was thrown yet again. Arnold saw an arrow in his left eye and shoulder. The bear stumbled back as a third arrow went into his side.
Arnold looked around the woods, but saw no one. The bear fell to the ground and was whimpering, his movements slowing down. Suddenly he saw someone jump onto the bear's back. He had a loaded bow in his hands and aimed it straight into the bear's head. When he let go of the arrow, the bear went completely silent.
Looking closely, Arnold's hero had deep brown skin with a column of black, curly hair. His tunic was dirty and torn. He jumped off and kicked the bear. When it didn't move, he began pulling out his arrows.
"Thank you for saving me," Arnold said, suddenly catching his breath.
The mysterious person eyed Arnold for a moment, looking him up and down before pulling out a small knife from his boot.
"I said thank you for saving me," Arnold said again.
"I didn't save you," the stranger said point-blank.
Arnold was taken aback.
"But – but I was in trouble and – ," Arnold watched him skin the monster, "and you killed that bear!"
The stranger looked at Arnold again as he began tossing his knife in the air casually. It did a few flips in the air before he caught it by the handle.
"This pelt will do me some good this winter. You were just a good distraction."
Arnold sat and pondered his intentions. The stranger was swift with his knife. His dark skin glistened like the dew on the leaves as he concentrated on the bear. He cut several large pieces of meat and placed them in his knap sack.
"Well, regardless, I give my thanks."
"I don't need thanks from a citizen of the kingdom of Hillwood."
"What? How did you know I was from Hillwood?"
The stranger rolled his eyes. "You're not much of a rogue. You don't even have a weapon on you."
"I didn't have time to make any weapons," Arnold said. "I was only banished from the kingdom last night."
The stranger stopped what he was doing and looked at Arnold.
"Banished?"
"Exiled! By order of King Scheck."
"What did you do?"
Arnold pondered for a bit.
"Honestly, I have no idea."
The stranger dug his knife into a piece of meat before approaching Arnold. Arnold scrambled to his feet and backed up a bit, intimidated. He wasn't much taller than Arnold. His hair just made him seem that way. The stranger put up his hand for Arnold to take.
"The name's Gerald."
Arnold slowly shook it. "Arnold. N-nice to meet you."
Gerald grunted before turning back to finish scraping off bits of bear.
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"Are you a rogue?"
Gerald kept moving without so much as a sideways glance as Arnold.
"Yes."
"How long have you been independent?"
Gerald sighed in exasperation, cutting through a few twigs with his knife before answering.
"Many years."
"Why?"
"Must you ask so many questions?"
"I'm sorry," Arnold said. "It's just that I usually have a lot of company to talk to, but now – "
Gerald pinched the bridge of his nose.
"King Scheck doesn't like my kind."
"What do you mean?"
"Arnold, look at my skin. It isn't pale like yours."
Arnold felt embarrassed for having asked. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen any other people like Gerald in the Kingdom.
"Are there other people like you?"
Gerald nodded, "I have my entire family."
"Where are they?"
Gerald looked at Arnold suspiciously. There was a look of utter curiosity behind his bright green eyes.
"I left them for the time being – to seek revenge on King Scheck."
"Revenge?"
Gerald nodded.
"Don't you think revenge is a bit, well, much?" Arnold asked.
"After what he has done to my family, I don't think so."
Arnold thought about his own family. He wondered how Grandma and Grandpa were getting along without him.
"My grandparents are still in Hillwood, but I wouldn't dream of seeking revenge."
"It's still your first day from the kingdom."
"How will you seek revenge on King Scheck?"
Gerald stopped in his tracks. His eyes went wide.
"Huh," he said. "I guess I haven't even thought about that yet."
Arnold chuckled slightly.
"Well, winter is soon approaching."
Even though Gerald was dark, Arnold could see a slight reddening of his face. He was embarrassed that he didn't even think this through.
"Maybe I shouldn't have come," Gerald said suddenly. "I don't even know how to build a hut. How will I survive the winter?"
"I know how to build one," Arnold began. "My grandfather owns an inn that I've helped maintain throughout most of my life. I think I can build a decent hut with my knowledge. I can help you if you'd like."
Gerald looked into Arnold's bright green eyes. He didn't see a reason why he shouldn't trust him. And he seemed to like Gerald enough to stick around. Gerald gave a small smile.
"You're a bold kid, Arnold."
Arnold smiled broadly at his comment.
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Aw, poor Gerald! I realize he is a bit OOC (Out of Character), but then again, this story is set in a completely different era with completely different circumstances. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for more to come! Don't forget to REVIEW!