Chapter 4 - Our Differences

The sky was clear, and the moon shown brightly while stars twinkled. Unfortunately, the inhabitants of Nova Australis were all asleep, instead of enjoying the beautiful and peaceful night. But there was one creature who was still awake.

Despite the holding cell she was placed in had a rather comfortable cot to sleep on, Thorn couldn't seem to fall asleep. It was likely because of the fact that she couldn't stop thinking about Caz, and about how he pushed her into the lake.

Caz was the one person Thorn thought she could trust, and he left her to drown. Whatever the old scorpion was planning, Thorn was starting to question it more and more.

And speak of the devil…

"You look comfortable," a familiar voice spoke, and it nearly made Thorn jump out of her carapace in surprise. After turning around, though, she was instantly furious when she saw none other than Caz standing on the other side of the bars.

"How dare you show your sleazy face after leaving me to drown?" Thorn hissed while pinching the bars in anger.

"Settle down, Thorn. I knew those Kulipari were gonna save you anyway, and it was all part of the plan for them ta take you in," Caz protested nonchalantly.

"Against my own will?"

"How else was I going ta make it look like you were abandoned?"

Thorn opened her mouth to protest, but failed to find the right words and stayed silent.

Eventually, she sighed and shook her head, "I'm guessing getting me alone was part of your 'plan'."

Caz nodded, "You guessed correctly."

"Then, what're you doing here?"

"I've come ta tell ya what you've gotta do next. I need you ta get as close as ya can ta Stinger, and make him think he's more scorpion than frog."

"That's because he's not a frog."

"But he'll be as soft as one if he stays here with 'em. If he's gonna be our lord, he's gonna have ta toughen up, and that's where you come in. Show him what it means ta be a true scorpion."

"I'm not gonna try and be his friend, Caz."

"Ya don't need to. Ya just gotta get under his carapace."

"Uh-huh. And exactly are you supposed to be doing while I'm stuck here?"

"Oh, I think I'll let you figure that out on your own. That bein' said, I've done what I've come ta do, so I'll just be leavin'."

"Hold on, I'm not finished with you!" Thorn called out and pushed against the bars, but her yelling fell upon deaf ears.

Caz turned away and disappeared into the night, much to Thorn's dismay. She grunted in aggravation, and started banging against the bars in an attempt to escape. The bars wouldn't break under Thorn's force, despite her limbs and tail no longer being restrained.

Thorn continued to thrash around in her cell for what seemed like hours, and she finally gave up when she had exhausted herself. The sun had just barely started to peek over the horizon when she settled down, so she knew there was no point in trying to sleep anymore.

"Hey."

The voice was calm and new, but Thorn snarled and whipped around, preparing to fight since she was still very much irritated. A few seconds later, Thorn realized that it was Stinger who was playing her a visit this time, and he held a wooden bowl in his claws.

"Easy, Killer. It's just water," Stinger calmly pointed out, as he slid the bowl under the bars.

"I don't need anything from you," Thorn argued bitterly, as she pushed the bowl back out.

"Fine. Die of thirst. That'll really show me."

Stinger then turned to leave, but Thorn suddenly spoke up again.

"Wait! …I'll take it."

He carefully pushed the bowl back in.

"Thank you," Thorn stated flatly.

"Ya know, you have a way of saying 'thank you' that makes it sound like 'drop dead'," Stinger deadpanned.

"It's a gift," Thorn added playfully, "And you're pretty soft, for a scorpion."

Stinger scowled at her in annoyance, "Excuse me? I am not soft. I happen to be a fearless warrior."

"Oh, Stinger-buddy!" the high-pitched and cheery voice of Tipi rang through the air, as she skipped up to Stinger and threw a flower crown onto his head, "I made you another flower crown!"

Tipi paused and winked at Thorn, "He keeps losing them."

With a giggle, Tipi left with a peppy skip, leaving Stinger to cringe at the crown while Thorn grinned with great joy.

"Yeah, I think I'm starting to see why you're not in an army," Thorn taunted.

"Hey, I chose to leave my army!" Stinger snapped.

"Congratulations, warrior princess. So did I."

Stinger's expression softened at that, "Really?"

"What?"

"N-Nothing, I just…I know what it's like to leave everything that's expected of you behind."

Thorn rolled her eyes, "Oh, great. What? Are we gonna braid each other's tails now?"

"Funny. Really funny," Stinger began sarcastically, "Can I tell you what the difference is between you and me?"

"I wouldn't still be wearing that crown?"

Stinger's eyes widened in realization, as he yanked the flower crown off and tossed it away, much to Thorn's amusement.

"No! We both might've wandered out of our old armies, but at least I didn't trade one army for another. I got something more," Stinger argued firmly.

"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Thorn asked out of curiosity.

"A family."

"Scorpions don't do families."

"You think I don't know that?"

"I don't know. Maybe spending so much time with these frogs has softened your poor, little brain."

Stinger grabbed the bars in annoyance, "Say what you want about me, but it's not gonna work."

"What won't work?"

"You tryin' ta butter me up, so I'll let you leave. And even though I still want you gone, I'm can't now 'cause I've got some questions for you."

Thorn cocked a brow, "And they are?"

"Caz stopped by last night. He said Marmoo's back."

Thorn's eyes widened in surprise. She wanted to ask why Caz was talking to them, and that he didn't tell her. But she decided to stay quiet about it, as to not raise any suspicion and ruin Caz's plan.

"What?" was all she could say.

"I was hoping that since you were a rogue soldier, too, you might know something about it," Stinger added with hope.

Thorn shook her head, "Well, you got out of bed early for nothing. This is the first time I'm hearing this news, and I'm just as surprised as you are."

"Well then, I guess you won't mind comin' with us ta look into it."

With that, Stinger unlocked the door and opened it, stepping aside to let Thorn out. But she remained in one spot, and stared at him in confusion.

"What? You're not gonna chain me up again?" Thorn deadpanned.

"Nah, it's too much work. Besides, you could've tried attacking me through the bars earlier, but you didn't," Stinger replied with a shrug, "All I ask is that you stay where I can see you."

"Whatever you say, Mom."

Stinger found Thorn's undying sarcasm, but he fought his urge to smile as he walked with her. And as they walked, Thorn still couldn't see whatever Caz was seeing in Stinger to make him think he could be a lord.

At this rate, there's no hope for him…or me, Thorn pondered.

Once the sun had risen some more to really begin the day, the two scorpions and the triplets rushed to Jir's hut to tell him what they found out about Marmoo.

"Jir, Jir!" Tipi called out, as she was running ahead of everyone else.

"Tipi, wait!" Thuma shouted at her sister.

"Yeah, hang on, Tipi!" Tharta yelled in an attempt to make her slow down, but to no avail.

"I honestly don't understand how you keep up with these guys on a daily basis," Thorn commented between huffs.

"It's not easy, but it's a hell of a workout," Stinger panted.

Tipi soon reached Jir's hut and reached for the door to knock, but Tharta was quick to grab her hand.

"Jir's not feeling well. We shouldn't just barge in yelling," Tharta explained in a hushed voice.

"But Marmoo's alive!" Tipi argued while struggling to pull herself free from her brother's grasp.

"It's a rumor! One we heard from Caz. And let's face it, Caz is a…" Stinger began reassuringly, but failed to find the right words for the last part.

"Scorpion?" Thuma guessed.

Stinger scowled at that, "I was gonna say shady character, but I see where your head's at."

"And no one talks crap about Caz except me, so watch it, Red," Thorn hissed threateningly at Thuma.

"C'mon, guys, you know what I meant," Thuma quickly argued.

"And this isn't about you. It's about Marmoo, the most dangerous Scorpion Lord ever, maybe being alive and the Kulipari not being here," Tipi added with fear.

"I agree with Tipi. Jir should be told—but quietly," Tharta pointed out.

"Is this what we're gonna do?" Stinger scoffed, "Go running ta that grumpy, old frog every time we hear something scary?"

"I hate to say it, but Softie here's right. Where I'm from, we wouldn't rely on our elders ta solve a problem because we'd go and take care of it ourselves," Thorn explained while bringing her claws together in a punching motion.

"Well, this isn't some scorpion army, and we don't know what else to do," Thuma stated firmly.

With that, Thorn didn't argue anymore and Tipi tried pulling on the handle to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.

"It won't open!" Tipi grunted.

"Maybe it's locked?" Tharta suggested.

"Jir doesn't have a lock. His personality keeps everyone out," Stinger stated mockingly.

Thorn let out a small chuckle at that, "Ain't that the truth?"

Tipi continued to grunt loudly, and pull as hard as she could on the handle.

"No, it's blocked with something heavy. Help me push," Tipi instructed while bracing herself against the door, Thuma and Tharta quickly doing the same.

Stinger merely rolled his eyes, "Hey, if he wants privacy, then we should leave."

"Yeah, I'd hate ta walk in on an old man's private time. Trust me, it's not a pretty picture," Thorn added with a grimace.

Just when the scorpions turned to leave, the triplets slowly but surely managed to push the door open and peer into the dark hut.

"Something's wrong. I can feel it," Tipi panted after pushing so much, and she screamed in terror when she looked down to find Jir lying motionless on the ground.

They managed to bring Jir out of unconsciousness, and bring him to Coorah's medical hut to be taken care of. But even when he was lying down with a hot rag on his forehead, the violent coughing didn't cease.

"I'm telling you, I'm fine…just old," Jir tried to reassure them, as Coorah rubbed the hot rag against his forehead, "I was a Kulipari once, and don't anyone forget it—especially you!"

Stinger turned to face the old frog at that, realizing Jir was talking about him when he pointed his walking stick at him.

"We could dump you back home," Stinger muttered flatly.

"No, he'd better stay here," Coorah pointed out.

"Why? Is he sick?" Tharta questioned.

"What gave it away? His sudden inability to stand on his own, or the fact that he's been coughing his lungs out since yesterday?" Thorn rambled sarcastically.

"He isn't just sick," Coorah cut in, "He's been poisoned—deliberately."

"What?" the triplets gasped.

"Who would…?" Thuma began to speak, but stopped when she glanced at Stinger and Thorn. It wasn't long before the other two frog siblings caught on, and they gasped in realization.

Mere seconds later, both Thorn and Stinger noticed their accusing stares.

"Oh, come on!" the two scorpions snapped in unison.

"You really think I'd waste venom on a shriveled piece of meat like him?" Thorn asked angrily.

"And you think that just because Jir was pissing me off lately, I'd poison him?" Stinger added with just as much aggravation.

"Well, no, but someone did," Tipi replied softly while shrugging.

"If we were playing detective, you did have motive, means and opportunity," Thuma told Stinger.

"After all, you're a-," Tharta added, only for Stinger to cut him off.

"Scorpion."

"That's all you frogs ever did, blame it on the scorpions. I'm surprised you didn't make a sport out of it," Thorn huffed in annoyance.

With a loud grunt, Jir sat up and whacked both scorpions on the tail with his walking stick, instantly getting their attention.

"Moldy mint-flavored mud worms, stop it, all of you!" Jir boomed, "Yes, you're scorpions. And yes, I've been hard on your, Stinger. But I train you for one simple reason: I sense Kulipari in you. I still do. And that means you would never stoop to a cowardly, despicable act like poisoning."

Although Stinger felt reassured and smiled at Jir's words, Thorn couldn't believe what she had just heard. Stinger was Kulipari this whole time, and Caz never thought to tell her.

Why would he hide something like that from me? Thorn thought in great befuddlement.

"You might get mad enough to punch me someday, and I'm not saying I wouldn't deserve it. But whoever did this, it wasn't you—neither of you," Jir continued with a soft smile, "And we all know it—right?"

Everyone else muttered half-baked agreements.

"Now, give us the room, you three, scram. Stinger and Killer will be right out," Jir instructed with a wave of his walking stick, and the triplets left with disappointed sighs.

Coorah stood to look for the right medicine, which gave Stinger some room to sit on the foot of Jir's bed when he motioned for him to take a seat. Thorn refused to show any kind of sentiment, though, so she instead leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.

"Tipi's probably listening," Stinger pointed out.

"Eh, it doesn't matter. Just wanted to say one thing," Jir began with a shrug, "It's why I know neither of you would do something like this. You, Stinger, are too much of a scorpion—in all the best ways."

"Never heard someone put it that way," Thorn admitted.

"And you, Killer? You may not be best friends with frogs, but I sense that you might have potential to be an honorable warrior," Jir went on while pointing at Thorn.

She merely looked away at that, "Don't get your hopes too high. I'm just a prisoner, remember?"

"Of course."

"Maybe you're not so bad, after all. I mean, you are a good teacher—for a smelly, old frog," Stinger added jokingly, "We good?"

Jir nodded and smiled, "We're good."

Thorn felt the slightest twinge of jealousy at Jir and Stinger's teacher-student relationship, just barely wishing she could have something remotely similar with Caz. After all, Caz wasn't just her higher ranking officer, he was her only family.

But if Caz was a lost cause, then maybe she should look elsewhere. Starting with Jir.

"Just for the record, old man," Thorn eventually spoke up, "My name's actually Thorn."

"Well, it's nice to finally make your acquaintance, Thorn," Jir stated while extending a hand to shake, to which Thorn awkwardly grabbed it and grimaced at the unfamiliar gesture.

"Glad that's settled," Coorah cut in flatly while examining Jir's water jug, "In any case, this isn't scorpion venom. It was in Jir's water jug. Scorpion venom doesn't work if you drink it."

"Then what kind is it?" Stinger inquired.

Coorah sighed, "I'm not sure yet. Something plant-based. I'd need bunyip flower to even know how to treat it. Bunyips are rare, I've never even seen it."

"If you need bunyip, we'll get it," Stinger stated firmly, "How do we find it?"

"All I know is that it needs extreme heat," Coorah began to explain, as she rolled out a scroll with pictures and descriptions of the bunyip, "It's almost crystalline, heavy with minerals. Grandmother found some once on the Eucalyptus Hills after a fire, but…"

Coorah was then interrupted when Jir started coughing again, but it was much weaker after he had already lost so much energy.

"But we may not have much time. He's getting worse."

With that, Stinger stood and promised to find the bunyip flower, but he was greeted with a toppling tower of triplets when he pulled the doorway's curtain aside.

"Get all that?" Stinger asked flatly.

"Uh-huh. Eucalyptus Hills," Thuma replied with determination.

"We're on it!" Tharta added.

"Then let's move out!" Stinger announced while sprinting off, the triplets following close behind.

Thorn considered staying behind instead of going on a hunt for a plant, but she knew this was her best chance at gaining Stinger's trust like Caz asked. So, she sighed heavily and ran after them.

"So, your name's 'Thorn', huh?" Tipi asked with excitement once she caught up.

"Yeah, what about it?" Thorn inquired with a glare.

"I liked 'Killer' more, but 'Thorn' works, too," Thuma admitted with a smile, "I'd say it's time we were properly introduced."

Thorn let out a much longer and louder sigh, unable to recall sighing up for learning the odd names of multiple weirdly-colored frogs.

Yay. Another Ice Age reference, and a much more obvious one at that.

Also, holy shit! This chapter was way longer than I thought it would be!

Until the next chapter, I'm TRikiD, bye-bye!