Five Days Later, Midday: June Fourteenth…
The sun rose in awe and glory, with the exceptions of a few clouds coming and going, blocking parts of its ray to temporarily shade certain areas of the Earth and gust out calm, soothing wind before Summer comes and takes over for Spring. The animals knew the coolness wouldn't last for very long and have to use their time wisely to find ways to endure the heat of the Sun's scorching heat. And so, many were on the prowls in search for new bodies of water that would help last them through the Summer.
In afar distance to the south of the forest, five shadows as swift as the rustling leaves made their way towards the river where a crocodile resides as its turf. The five shadows didn't stop for a drink, however. No, they merely ran beside the trail and made their way towards upstream, where they came across a plunge pool formed by a waterfall. A couple of elephants were residing beside the fall, taking a moment to rest and drink in peace. The shadows weren't interested on taking down an elephant; mess with one member of the herd, and the rest won't hesitate to trample the attackers.
A few herd members stared at the five figures, mixed feelings of boredom and being intrigued going through the pachyderms' heads.
"Uuuuuaaaa…" *Snort*
They didn't seem to feel threatened by the visitors, but they weren't comfortable on having carnivores being their company next to the water. Luckily for the herd, the five shadows didn't stay for very long, taking their time crossing to the other side of the river, and vanishing to the trees. The sun's Ray's shined down through the parting of clouds, bringing the five figures out from the dark and into the light.
The five shadows revealed to being a pack of Saber-tooth... And a three year-old human/Saiyan hybrid. A child who's been left in the wild to fend for himself in order to become strong to defend the Earth from a Saiyan threat, which is to occur within a year.
Days had passed since his first experience on living with a pack of Saber-tooth and during his stay, the child made sure to take as many mental notes as he could to remember all he has learned from the large felines. Many of which were very helpful information, even though it took some time for him to figure it out: He's learned to be more cautious and be on high alert with his surroundings, including places that may seem calm and peaceful. Listen more closely to the wind for any calls or prey and/or predators. He was even taught how to climb trees, proper way to swim and even read body language to identify mood behavior and health condition.
Everything he had read in books, from understanding the vast distance of space to learning the never-ending discovery of human mind developing, were nowhere near interesting, let alone fun, to learn and try to attempt than play fighting with the cubs or observing the best way to get fish out of the water. While daytime was all about playing and nudging from time to time, nighttime has always been bath time or partial grooming before bed and constant snuggling… Gohan has never felt so secure than he had back at home, and gets to enjoy having a similar experience on what a sleepover was like each night with the cubs.
While he's been improving his survival skills, there are still some lessons he still hasn't quite gotten the hang on: Trying to fall asleep when the sun starts to set and waking up when the skies began to lighten up. Having to deal with the cubs using his gi as a chew toy or taking his scabbard and his sword whenever he removes the weapon off his back to hide it from him. But the one thing that gets him easily frustrated, was the pouncing from behind and being pinned to the ground, which seems to become a favorite sport for the twins.
Gohan has also been having problems with eating raw-meat, especially since the Saber-tooths prefer to eat the same thing everyday, twenty-four seven, some being from different kind of preys from time to time. One moment his stomach would feel content and satisfied, then the next it'll force the food out of his body and make him not wanting to eat for hours until the next day. Luckily for him, the milk from the female Saber-tooth always help ease his stomach's distress.
And speaking of the milk, it has become more to being his food source than the meat has. There are times he still became hesitant to nurse off the white-feline whenever she or her mate pulls him over with the twins, on a count he shouldn't be nursing as if he were still an infant When he's three years old and must act more mature. Though, the same thought couldn't be said for the adult felines, since they made sure he gets his body to develop along side with their cubs and regain whatever nutrients he lost from his first five days being unconscious.
Yes, the boy still has a long way to go and there are still many things for him to learn and improve, but he was doing a whole lot better than he was when left on his own. And right now, he and the cubs are being introduced to a new lesson: Scent-marking.
Unlike the usual marking, which involves urinating on trees, rocks and other parts of the land to initiate the extension of their territory should trespassers were to try and take what is theirs, scent-marking involves rubbing one's self against trees, rocks, or even chewing at the branches and leaves from bushes. It's a method used when younglings would eventually venture away from the den as they get older, either from scavenging on their own without the aid of their parents or when they one day leave to find their own turf to claim for themselves. In case they get lost and need to retrace their steps, the scent they leave behind will be strong enough for them to guide back to their last location, but will also be too faint for other predators to detect if they sought for land that hasn't been claimed.
Relying on his sense of smell was starting to become a breeze to the Saiyan-hybrid toddler, along with hearing. His sight could use some more work for improvement, but it was a lot better than it was nearly a month ago and are a bit better at seeing in the day than at night. Detecting sorts of scents that goes around him became like a game to him, though it's taking longer for him to separate all scents and picking which one he wants to focus on.
"Rrraawl!" The male Saber-tooth alerted the pack on finding a faint scent-mark from a tree... The scent didn't belong to any of the felines, though something told the boy the rubbing scent came from another Saber-tooth; so far, from what he realizes, the Saber-tooth seems to always add an additional scent onto their body and mixed into their own scent: Charcoal-tree, a Trema orientalis, from the leaves… Or, from what was coming off the faint scent, Veronica, a Veronica officinalis.
Because of their need to track prey and Enemy-Predators, the spicy scent, even the taste, from the Veronica helps clears the airway and deal sinus problems for the nose. While the Charcoal-tree insures self-habit to better hygiene when dealing with toothache and implant the urge to chew wood or bones to improve healthy gums. Gohan was lucky to have found a Neem Tree nearby the den and has been using its branches to help clean his teeth and gums since he recognized the bark and leaves of the plant, four days ago. He may be at a lost when learning survival instructions, but he clearly shows his worth on knowing his trees from books.
*Shake-shake* ~Rustle~
"...Snap!"
*Rrruummbbbllee*
The male Saber hunched forward, his fur on his back rising and his eyes forming into slits, his mate going into the same protective stance as he. The cubs and Gohan made their way to stand behind the mates, sensing the feeling of threat going through the adult felines' bodies and that whatever is causing the insecurity, the younglings must stay back and remain behind the two parents. Gohan stood beside the male, placing a hand on his back to ensure the feline his understanding to remain behind.
'It must be the unknown Saber-tooth,' he thought out. 'The scent it left on the tree is nearly nonexistent, which possibly means it's coming back from being lost or relocating to take another path… Well, whatever its reason to come back,' he laid his right-hand on the hilt of his sword from behind, grasping it but not pulling it out until he knows to take it out, 'it'll probably end up being a threat to us.'
~Rustle, rustle, rustle!~
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump…!
…WOOOSH!
A large figure leaped from the bushes and landed a mere three feet from the pack, standing underneath the shade of one of the clouds in the sky. Its silhouette slowly rose from crouching when it landed back to the ground, its posture signaling to a dominance/threatening position. The figure was large, though appears to have the very same characteristics as the Saber-tooth or at least a large, female lion. The low, rumble-like growl, almost matching to thunder rumbling, match the very tone as the Saber-tooth.
The cloud above them pulled away from the sun and the light shined down to the shadow-figure… Revealing to being massive, scar-covered Saber-tooth… Gohan instantly knew that feline, on account it tried to kill him after waking up to finding his tail removed and no longer stuck on top of a pillar-shaped plateau*… However, unlike last time, it was missing one of its canine fangs. And now… It has two canine-fangs*. The child was stunned and confused from the discovery, especially since he read a book about Prehistoric Creatures Facts and Discoveries, which claimed that Saber-tooth fangs are very weak to break off and can't regrow.
'But the book said they can't regrow their teeth…! Unless the researchers lied on purpose to keep this information a secret from poachers and hunters, could they have mistaken their claim without knowing the actual time length it takes for their fangs to grow or even mistook one of their felines for another?' As he pondered on what he found to being false claim from one of his books, the three adult felines were having a conversation of scowling and snarls.
Desert Sun's POV
…Enemy… Rival… Agro*, once known, referred, called… Blood Fur!
Mate nervous, unease, trembles towards rival, fellow Crescent-Fang… Threat! Blood-Cubs uncertain, confused, Shadow-Sense. Eyes, sight show Ally… Yet mind, Instinct scream, yowl Enemy, threat… Death! Man-Young paw clamps, clung Desert Sun's hide… Fear… Young's eyes met, connected Desert Sun's sight, expression: Pale, submissive gaze towards, against rival… Cub knows, met Agro… Agro, Enemy threatened, harmed Human-Cub… Mine! Eyes slit, fangs bared… Anger, rage expand, flow, surface through being.
Agro copy, mimic Desert Sun. Mate back off, away, aside. Females, mothers protective, shield cubs, Younglings, New Life. Males, fathers… Alpha fight, guard, protect Pack from, against threat.
Threat threat Enemy leave leave gone Enemy leave gone gone gone threat leave Desert Sun warn, demanded Agro, Enemy away, escape, spare life. Despise, hatred towards rival... Yet, Desert Sun must show, appear, extend chance, withdraw battle.
Agro refuse, rejected offer, compassion, chance. Eyes, sight set, locked on, focused towards Mate, Blood-Cubs... Man-Young. Fight claim claim kill fight Death claim kill kill kill Death fight kill fight Death Death Death fight Death kill Slit eyes, vision, sight glare, stares down cub... Man-Young. Bad evil bad bad Human kill evil bad bad bad Human kill kill Death Human kill bad evil evil evil Death kill Human
Ears flattened, hackles raised... Instinct roars, yowls, demands blood... Life. Agro want, claim Mate... Desert Sun's Mate... His. Agro chant, demands Blood-Cubs... Human-Cub's Life offer, exchange for, towards Death... Desert Sun won't, shall not allow, permit Death. Desert Sun's Pack, Mate, Blood-Cubs... Human-Cub... Belong Desert Sun... Only Desert Sun!
Muscles, being, Desert Sun move, sprang, leap. Mind, thoughts not connect, contact, command being, body... Instinct control Desert Sun... Demands Desert Sun objective, order... Attack... Kill Agro!
Claws extend forward, fangs clamp, muscles wrestle Enemy, rival, Agro towards Earth. Agro strong, massive, dominant strength... Yet, lacks strategy, plan, accuracy, speed.
Mate knows, understand meaning, action, own objective. Take, escort cubs towards safety, territory, Den. Slit eyes, sight lock, gaze met Mate's eyes, partial slit vision. Swear, promise… Life-Bound fight, protect, win... Survive!
"Nnnuuaah!" Man-Young call, yowl Desert Sun action. Tries, attempts aid, interference. Mate grab, pull, prevent cub, ushers, instructs Blood-Cubs follow, obey order.
Agro struggles, squirm Death Sun's hold. No stay Death Death kill stay no no stay kill kill kill stay kill no Death stay! Permission, access refused, denied, not approve! Fangs meet vulnerable, claws pin rival. Not allow, permit release.
Mate left, escaped, gone like, as wind. Cubs follow, copy Mate. Pack safe, secured, guarded.
Desert Sun removed, leap off Agro, stood way, path towards Pack. Desert Sun provoked, chanted Mine mine mine weak leave go go mine leave go weak weak go leave mine go go go weak leave
Agro stood, stand tall, gather strength. Mark, wounds small, minimal, not effected. Can, still fight, battle Desert Sun. Rival fell, listen, heed taunt.
Enemy bellowed Mine mine take claim take take Frost Fur mine claim claim Frost Fur claim mine take
Anger burned, singed, scorched Desert Sun's being... Instinct yowls, cries bloodshed, Life-spill... Agro's Death... Yet, Desert Sun stay, remain calm. Attack, damage focus, control, sense... exploit weakness!
Sense guide, aid, offer assistance. Sight shows, reveals strength... Meaning, finding slow, weak, restrained movement. Ears, hearing detects Wind Soarers, far, above... Alone, no safety, aid from Pack... Lone Life*?
Stunned, confused, mixed. Agro lead, control, Alpha Pack... Succeed, victor, overthrew... Slain Past-Alpha... Taken, stolen, offer… Tree Fang… Sire… Death. Reason, decision name changed, reintroduced Earth, Fate, Life Blood Fur, reborn towards Agro... Pack gone, vanished... Death...? Pack cast, banished rival...? Enemy left, abandoned duty?
Scent tells, reveals secret, hidden past, decision... Agro, rival... Enemy... Mated, bond females... Other Crescent-Fang.
...Fool! Never claim, take Desert Sun's Mate! Desert Sun's only... None!
Desert Sun rise, raised forearms, paws above, in Wind. Wrong fail fail mine Mate Mate fail Mate mine mine wrong wrong wrong Mate mine fail mine Mate
Agro charge, force forward, towards Desert Sun, below, underbelly, weak-spot... Lacks knowledge, wisdom. Desert Sun slams, stomps Earth, dust, sand... Land, connects, implant rival's sights, smell, senses. Sight blurred, incorrect, Mist-like. Scent blocked, covered, restricted.
Enraged, fury, yowls Pay blood Death Death Death revenge blood blood pay revenge blood revenge revenge pay! Claws swipe, slash, cut air, wind… None reach, contact, interact Desert Sun. Agro lost, confused… Temporarily. Desert Sun must, shall lead, astray, distract rival far, different area, location. Instinct calls, yowls blood, Life… Yet, demands Pack, Mate Cubs… Human-Cub safe, shielded, protected.
Desert Sun sprint, become Wind, jabs, push, ram Enemy. Weak fail weak weak coward weak fail fail fail coward fail weak fail coward weak fail weak!
Agro follows, charge, sprint towards, after Desert Sun. Rage guide, mislead rival. Confused, lost, missing trail, tracks, tracks. Desert Sun continue, push forward, sprint towards Mountain Young… Earth Ledge… Must, shall succeed, victor… Survive!
Normal POV
The few clouds in the sky somehow grew and combined with the other clouds, blocking the sun and covering the blue-sky with grey-clouds. Deep, low rumbling from afar announced a storm is upon them… Mother Nature has decided to bring forth an unpredictable change of weather and chose for rain to come forth before Summer starts. A perfect way to described the pack of Saber-tooth going through the calm before the storm moment.
"Uaah! Gwaauk! Haa-Mnuuah!"
The white Saber-tooth kept a firm, yet gentle grip on her adopted human-cub's gi, as she continues leading her twin cubs back to the den as swiftly as they could keep up with her. She wasn't going to let any harm come to her cubs, even if it meant her death should her mate ended up defeated by Agro, even though she has high hopes that Desert Sun won't lose that easily.
"Suuaaa! Mau-pah doou…! Leea-mnaa gaah!" Gohan was making it a bit difficult for Frost Fur to get him to settle down, even when he knows the danger they're all in and must stay out of the way of the fight that was going to end in blood and death. Despite that knowledge of fact, the three year-old couldn't let his guardian caretaker/animal friend die because he was possibly a cause of this to happen, even though he wasn't exactly the reason for this brawl to commence.
"Rrreeww!" One of the cubs, the female twin, alerted the arrival to the den and made a beeline to the entrance beside her older-twin brother, ahead of their mother and human-brother; rain began pouring down and the cubs hate having water hitting them in the air like pebbles falling from loose rock. They do like water and enjoy swimming, but rain messes with their sense of smell from smelling water everywhere and seem to like hitting inside their ears.
Once they were all inside the small cave, the female finally sat down and let go of Gohan's gi. However, she placed a paw on his back to pin him down and went to grooming his hair.
"Geeooa!" His voice was getting a bit better to speak from not speaking much and finding some plants that help with sore throat made the progress help more, but he can't speak any form of syllables and he has to speak a bit louder to be heard and causes the discomfort to slowly rise. 'Let me go!' He thought, trying to pull himself off the ground and away from the white-Saber. 'I don't need my hair to be groomed! I need to get out there and help Mr. Tiger!'
"Rrraawwl…" Claws dug through the material of his clothes and scraped at his skin, pressing down slightly harder to force his squirming to a minimal to proceed with cleaning his hair and pulling at whatever tangles or dirt that still lurks in the thick, black-mane.
"Gnah!" His head raised high from the uncomfortable pulling of tangles and the pulling the Saber-tooth was doing to his head. His cry made the white-feline flinch and pull away from her grooming task, which the toddler enough time to get back to his feet but not enough time to make a run for the exit when she stood in front of him.
"Grrrr…" Her tone sound a bit threatening that would've made him think she's going to attack him, but her eyes tell another story: Stay. Protect. Safe. Not leave. He know she's only trying to look out for him and shelter him from a threat that'll come to him and the rest of the pack… Almost, in some way, his mother would react whenever he wants to go out and play in the forest*. To the boy, however, he has a feeling that he, somehow, caused the scarred Saber-tooth to find them and why there's a brawl between the two, male felines.
'I need to go help,' he thought out. 'I don't know how to explain this, but somehow, I'm the reason we're in danger.' Placing a hand against his chest, lightly thumping it with his hand. "Mmuh Faahhl…!"
Frost Fur stared at him like he was chasing a shadow of a bird, her Ice-blue eyes wondering why he seems to act like he should put his young life in peril when he, himself, is just a cub and doesn't know the proper way to fight that isn't involved play-fighting with the cubs. She could feel some form of guilt building inside of him, even sense the regret and fear coming off his scent. Frost Fur made her way in front of the boy and nuzzled his face with her own.
*Rrruuummble* ~Mmmmuurrr~ She felt scared, herself, though she pushed that feeling back to calm her blood-cubs and not make any more nervous than they are from the possible danger that'll come for them should Desert Sun be defeated in combat. Afraid? Guilt? Self-blame? Why thoughts?
She can't read his mind, but by eye expression, the feline can read some meaning to his words and action. Gohan is going to try and explain the best he could to her, even with him being incapable to speak for the moment.
'They can read through eye expression, which is how they're able to understand through facial expression without vocalizing concern to distress other members of the pack.' Thinking through this, he may have found a keyway to silently speak with the Saber-tooth. 'They're physically expressive and affectionate, but can read and communicate through body language and eye expression. They don't actually roar and let out call that often, only as distress call or signaling other non-packmates to back off, so I don't have to worry about making meowing or even roar-like sounds… But I may still need to make some whimpering and/or low, rumbling.'
"Ooooaar?" ~Puuuuurrrrr~ Frost Fur licked his cheek and nuzzled him against his chest, gently pushing him to sit down and get him to keep his focus on her. Alright? Ice-blue eyes kept full focus on the boy, resting her head in his hands, her ears flattened and directed to the twin cubs who finished grooming themselves from the rain and practicing their pouncing on each other. Gohan has her undivided attention.
'Okay… Let's see if I can get this.' His onyx-eyes shined sadness and guilt, but they didn't hold any tears. 'My fault. I'm to blame. My fight.' *Whimper*
"Rrawl?!" The female-feline pulled away, her eyes wide and stunned. That wasn't the reaction he was expecting, but… Was it the right signal?
'Did… Did I get the message through?' He got to his feet and, this time, made his way to stand straight to her face. Their eyes kept locked to each other. 'Let's try, again…' The sadness left and held a calm, mature gaze, but the guilt still can be read. 'Scarred Saber-tooth. Hunted me… Tracked me?' "Grrrmnph… Rrrauu-gh! Mmmrr."*Whimper* Ice-blue eyes' pupils went slit.
"Grrrr…" *Rrrrummmblee* Anger and concern flashed in her eyes and immediately sniffed at his body for any signs of wounds she and her mate may not had taken notice. Gohan pushed her back a bit and held her head to keep her gaze on him.
'Not hurt. Got away… Followed scent mine? Lead here?' "Nnnuurr. Gooowauuh mmnaawh ceeeiiih… ~Uuuur-~ *cough* *cough* *cough*" Trying to make a purr sound was a bit of a challenge, especially after trying to talk. Although, she seems to be getting what he's trying to say. The slit eyes went partially normal, but her concern didn't go down until she knew for certain he wasn't hiding any information. The white-female appeared confused by his words on suggesting Agro tracked him down, when no Saber would ever hunt down a predator that escaped from them for over two weeks.
Not you. Direct else. More towards Man… She veered her eyes away, looking rather ashamed but more nervous and uncomfortable. …Attempt Mate… Force attempt Mate. Desert Sun true Mate.
Gohan may have not interacted with many humans and doesn't watch that much television, but he read in books on how people would feel shame towards themselves or even holding back fear when being forced into something they don't want to do… Animal books don't really say much about their reactions, but it's very likely they feel just as humans do… Chi-Chi made sure, when he 'goes out to help people', that her son understands one of the darkest secrets humans can never hide… Including rape.
'That Saber tried to force her to be his mate…' A sudden realization came to mind. 'If Mr. Tiger loses and/or that Saber-tooth comes here, he can force her to be his mate… And,' he turned his gaze to the twin cubs. 'kill the cubs.'
We must go and help!
'I know, but how do I get her to let me go?'
…Tell her you have to leave… Convince her it's the only way to save her, her mate and their cubs.
It wasn't going to be easy, but he was going to do whatever it takes to go help his feline friend. Resting a hand on top of her head, gaining her attention to gaze back at him, Gohan gave her a clear message.
'I must go. Aid friend. My fight.' "Muurrrrrgaaooo. Aaahiiiennn mmmyyiiiieeh." 'Am I even making sound anywhere near how they speak? Maybe they understand how other animals speak and I could be speaking one of those language? If not, she can still read through my eyes.'
Partial slit eyes widened. Yep, she definitely understood what he just told her.
"Rrrrawwl! Rrawll rrraw!" *Rrrruuumbllee* She gently, but firmly, grabbed a hold of his gi on his right-shoulder with her smaller fangs, giving him a serious look. Not go. Cub Stay. Safe. Protect Cub.
The boy's eyes softened at her gaze, holding great sorrow but happiness of her concern for him. For a moment like this, he can sort of see why Chi-Chi would be hesitate, at times be against the thought/idea, to let him go outside… If only she'd actually let him go out and play longer than half an hour, and more than one day every few weeks in the Spring and/or Summer. Right now, that wasn't important at the moment.
'Pack safety. Important.' His hand extend towards the confused cubs. 'Your cubs. Important. Need protection.' "Prrrroooaa…!" He then laid a hand back on his chest. 'I go. Must go.' He bang his hand over his heart. 'Must protect. defend pack… I'm not yours.' "Prroooug ceeeipph… Mnnnooa huucck-ha!"
Frost Fur wasn't taking his word well.
~Mmmmuurrr~ Cub Frost Fur's. Belong. Pack. Love!
Tears were formed in Gohan's eyes.
'…Love pack… Can't stay. Protect. Safe without me… Know I'm right.' "Rrruuam… Ssseeeiiiwf gnnnaahhhp." He gently coaxed her to let go of his gi and, when she didn't pull away from his hands… Laid his forehead against her, his eyes closed and letting one tear fall into her fur. 'Love all pack… Love my pack' "Mmmmmnnnph." He couldn't copy the purring sound at the moment, but it was the closest that he could make for her to know he returns her feelings for him. When he pulled away, two sets of small teeth tugged at his pants.
"Rrrew! Mrrrreew!"
The cubs knew their human-brother was going to leave them and they didn't want him to go, when he belongs with them. Even though they knew he's human… Well, half-human, actually. They don't know why but the Saber-tooths knew, from his scent and blood, that he isn't all-human and that he smelled close enough to be considered an animal like them. To them, if he doesn't small like a purebred human and has traces of animal inside him, no matter how different it compares to them, then he is an animal and has every right to stay.
Gohan turned his attention to his Saber-tooth siblings, kneeling to be more eye-level with them -even though he wasn't taller than them when standing and is shorter when kneeling in front of them- and rested his hands on top of their heads.
'Thank you,' he said in his head. 'Love. Care both. Listen well. Behave… Take care pack. Watch over backs… Be strong.' "Huuuurrhk pffffiiiinnm lllooooeeg… Cyy-aaah biiiirrrehp." He gave each the twin a quick hug around the neck and, after getting to his feet, he stared back at the mother. 'My fight. Me go. Help.' 'Gnnaaoow!"
Frost Fur's eyes stared into his own, as if looking into his very soul… Before she walked around him, away from the entrance, and stood in front of her cubs.
"Ooooaaarrr…" ~Mmmmuurrr~ She wasn't happy or accepting to his decision… But she was very proud of him and knew, somehow, that he would be okay and will come back to them… Someday. Be careful. Safe… Not suffer Death… Survive.
That was all Gohan needed and, without a second later, took off out of the den and towards the last location he last saw his friend and the scarred Saber-tooth.
You did the right thing.
The boy sighed, not stopping for a moment to talk with the voice in his head.
'I know… But it's still so hard to just leave them.'
…You know, as well as I, that you can't stay with them any longer; they'll only hinder your training progress, if you chose to stay… You've wasted enough time living with them, all because you don't want to be alone.
'…Yeah, I know… But at least they taught me to survive in the wild, a whole lot better than I was a while back ago.'
BOOOOOOOM!
*CRACKLE*
…Rrrruuummmmmblee...
The storm was picking up and because of the rain getting worse, finding their scent and trail wasn't going to be easy.
"RRRRRRRAAAAWWWWWLLL!"
…But hearing their war cry, coming from the top of the eastern cliff towards the wasteland of the Dinosaurs, would make a perfect substitute to find them.
'Mr. Tiger! He's in trouble!'
So, what are you waiting for?!
Gohan picked up speed and ran straight through the forest, jumped over the river and a few boulders, and began scaling the wall of uneven rock. Hopefully, he wasn't too late to save his feline friend.
Desert Sun's POV
Plan, idea, strategy backfired, rebound… countered.
Agro regained, recovered sight, smell, senses. Sky Water aid, assist Enemy, clear Earth, dust, sand away, off. Sight restored, scent cleared… Restriction removed. Rival, Enemy, Agro free, allow fight, attack… Kill.
Desert Sun succeed, accomplished lead, astray rival away, from Pack… Battle, fight commence Earth Ledge… Flesh, blood… Life Spilled, drawn. Fangs tear, stained Life. Claws coat, covered Earth with Sister.
Desert Sun, Agro, scarred, marked, wound being. Desert Sun's Right-paw damaged, left hind-leg struggle, trembles hold, weight. Agro's left-shoulder grazed, hide sliced… Vulnerable bit, clenched.
Agro's Life spill... Yet, better, stronger, Alpha fight, battle. Desert Sun weak, damaged, wound more, serious... Near Death.
Fear... Shadow-Sense taint, consume, Mist judgment... Mind. Flee. Flight. Escape. Chant, repeat, demand Desert Sun. Choose survival... Life...
Instinct disprove, deny, reject option, Shadow-Sense words. Protect Pack. Fight rival... Till Death!
Desert Sun refuse, prevent surrender, defeat, submit... Omega.
Limbs tremble, struggle pain, injuries. Agro block prevent escape, relocate surrounding... Desert Sun near edge, cornered... Trapped!
Enemy, rival... Agro bashed, rushed against Desert Sun, forced down towards, upon Earth. Desert Sun pinned, held down, underneath Agro. Claws dig, clung Desert Sun's chest... Flesh.
Anger, rage roars through, behind gaze, eyes. Defeat defeat admit surrender admit defeat surrender. Pain bit, cut flesh... Desert Sun refuse yowl, call, weakness. Only, kept glaring, fighting. Displeased, furiated... Corrupted.
Desert Sun respond Never no surrender no no surrender never no never never no surrender no never. Never, refuse Death. Continue, keep fighting, combat… Fight.
Agro, rival angered, hate, displeased answer, call, reply... Attack, harm Desert Sun... Fangs sank, clamped, crushed vulnerable... Spill Life... Desert Sun yowl, bellowed, call sky, Heaven... Sisters... Pack, apology.
Desert Sun felt, discovered, knew fate, destiny... Agro offer, present Desert Sun towards, for Death... Rival, Enemy won, victor combat, battle... Yet, Desert Sun succeed, able protect, hidden Mate, Blood-Cubs... Human-Cub away, afar Agro.
Die die Death die suffer die fate suffer suffer Death fate fate suffer fate die Desert Sun... Not attack, mark rival. Never find, locate Pack. Fail task, plan, objective. Instinct yowl, howls Fight! Keep fighting!… Yet, knew Desert Sun can't, unable, prevented continue, still fight.
Desert Sun swore, promise, Life-Bound Mate, cubs return, survival, victor… Yet, not spill, drew, force Life initiate, proceed, present Life-Bound… Desert Sun knew, learned, understand possibly lose, defeated… Offered towards Death.
Enemy, rival… Agro bit, clenched vulnerable harder, tighter, forcing air, breath out Desert Sun… Near, close towards Death.
"Huuaah!" Call, howl… Yowl… Know, recognize sound, call.
Agro stilled, froze… Released, relinquished grasp, hold vulnerable. Steps aside, away Desert Sun, exposed hide, weakness. Pain, wound, injuries prevent Desert Sun standing, moving, attacking rival.
Shadow-Sense command stay, remain Earth… Instinct bellows, yowls Desert Sun Move! Up! Help! Kill!… Save Human-Cub!
Normal POV…
This was it. He knew there was no going back. The scarred Saber-tooth has him deadlock on sight and wasn't going to let the boy escape this time, even if it meant sprouting wings and chasing him in the air -which he obviously can't- should another bird whisk him away like last time. Gohan knew this wasn't going to be like playing with the cubs, with small fangs pinching and nail-like claws scraping his skin… Nope, this was going to be fangs chomping on bones and claws slicing flesh with little effort to kill him.
This time, after so long, he pulled his sword out from the scabbard and held it out towards the larger-feline… Which, to the toddler, felt oddly foreign to be using to fight instead of his teeth and body.
'Wait, my teeth aren't as sharp or tough like an animals… So, why do I feel more to using them instead of my sword, which can do more damage than biting and ramming myself into him?' An immediate answer popped in his head. 'Being raised like them, makes me even think like them and how to fight as I was taught.'
"Grrrrr…!" *Hiiisss*
If he thought he was small compared to Mr. Tiger, then he felt like an ant compared to the scarred Saber-tooth. And seeing the look of promising death in a slow, painful manner made him began to regret coming and taking him on.
Don't back down! You can do this!
'But how? I haven't used my sword in so long and I always ended up ganged up by the cubs when they play rough with me!'
Doesn't matter how long you last used your weapon, or brought down by two cubs! You've gained experience. Use it to your advantage. If you can't beat him… Lure him to his own demise!
'What?! I can't kill him!' His arms trembled, shaking the sword in his grasp.
He tried to kill you! Don't get all sentimental right now!
Having a discussion with a voice in his head wasn't the smartest thing to do in a battle, because Agro took the moment to charge and leap in the air to pin the child down.
Here he comes. Move, now!
His body felt detached from the boy and… Without any thought or instructions, he rolled underneath the Saber, without a single hair on his head cut off. The scarred feline didn't seem fazed, but looked a bit surprised that he actually dodged.
'W… What just happened?' One moment he was standing where the Saber is standing, and the next he's a foot away from his spot.
What do think happened? You dodged. What else? Finally decided to tap in to your training, from all those play-fights you had with the cubs.
"Rrrawwl!" The Saber-tooth's golden-red eyes flashed in rage and decided to mad dash the boy, his fangs exposed and ready to grab for the boy to tear him limb from limb.
Gohan's fear coursed through his spine… But it didn't paralyze him like it had long ago, and immediately changed into energy that forced him towards the feline and bashed his head underneath Agro's jaw.
"Rrrraaaaawwl!" The feline pulled away and shook his head, giving the three year-old the perfect time to lay another attack.
"Huuuraah!" He raised his sword over his head and ran.
Stop! Pull back!
His muscles froze and a feeling of somebody grabbing him from behind pulled him back… At the same time, the Saber swiped for him with his claws in an attempt to grab for the boy and dig his canine-fangs into his right-shoulder. Agro recovered from the head-bash and dashed after the boy, snapping his fangs and swiping his claws to grab and tear at the Saiyan-hybrid.
Duck! Right! Roll! Pull back! Under! Jump! Left!
The voice in his head seemed to know what it was doing, because as Gohan dodged and maneuvered his way to avoid being hit, it began to get easier for him to read the feline's movement and dodge on his own occurred.
The only problem he's been having is keeping a firm hold on his sword and avoiding the blade from hitting him when he rolls or duck.
Being reacquainted with the heavy weapon to swing and not carrying it on his back was a little difficult for the child... Which lead him to losing his balance when he made a hard right to dodge and pulled him down to the ground... At the ledge of the cliff.
The instant he went down, Agro didn't hesitate to spring himself in the air and deliver a killing blow. Time seemed to slow down for the petrified boy, wasn't sure how to the dodge or even block the oncoming arrival of a deadly attack by the scarred Saber-tooth.
'I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die!' His mind repeated the sudden thought in his head.
Not unless you do something about it, Runt!
'But what?!'
The voice didn't give him an answer and was left to watch his demise coming closer. Only one thought came to mind: Scream!
"Nnnuuuuahh!" He didn't even know what was happening when he screamed, except that the impact of the scarred Saber-tooth hit him like an oversized gorilla chose to bellyflop him instead of the water... And pushed the both of them off the ledge, falling through the air and towards the bottom.
TBC
I kinda feel it was a bit rushed, but I'm betting you guys want me to speed this along. In some happy news: I think I'm getting out of my writers block! So far, I'm getting more inspired to keep writing, even though work is killing me and (so far) am updating this story. However, soon, I'll be getting back with my other stories (along with some future stories).
...Yep, I just pulled a cliffhanger on you guys. So, looks like you'll just have to wait and see what happens next time on Dragon Ball Z: The way Life Raised Him!
*: I know that the Saber from that episode was (most likely) the same Saber-tooth that took his hat from the first episode, but in this story, it was a different Saber-tooth.
*: Yes, I also looked online and found that Saber-tooth can't regrow their fangs. However, in the Dragon Ball world (at least, in my story), they can regrow their teeth… But only the long-canine teeth.
*: There will be time where a creature shall have their names changed into something more human-like; natives and those who, in terms, can still hear and speak to the animals, give them names and explain meaning to their fellow creatures (the birds understand them more and are, mostly, the ones to give creatures new names and explain the meaning to the name). The only time an animal's name will be change is when they: Commit a great sin, being named after an ancestor (if share resemblance, abilities, etc)… Or, has done a great deed that saved the lives of many or change to something good.
*: Lone Life is like Lone Young, only it could also mean they chose to leave the pack of their free will. However, should they choose to leave, they're not allow to join another pack or even rejoin their old pack; they decided to leave the safety of the family... Even to abandon their duties to help care for the pack members. So, this is to be their punishment till the day they die. They can start their own pack, but only if their mate had also left the safety of their own pack (should that mate still be staying with their pack, the Lone Life can't join and aren't allowed to make any contact with their young [if female, they must surrender their cubs to another who can raise and provide for them]).
*: Just as I said in my last chapter, I'm not a big fan of Chi-Chi… However, there are some (not always, but some) time where she does act like a mother. So remember, though there's going to be showing of her being more controlling and not like a mother would ever do with their child, there's going to be moments that she has done what an actual mother would do for their child… Still, not proud of Chi-Chi's parenting skills and (in this story; wish this would happen in the show) she needs to learn what she can and/or can't control do to get her way.
R&R
