Chapter 4: Welcome to the Jungle

"Well," suggested Toren, "we could wait until nightfall and follow the North Star." Tira shook her head in disagreement and said, "That would be great, but we don't know if Copenhagen is to the north."

The twins sat down near the waterfall trying to think of a plan when the sun began to set. Coyotes began to howl as Tira began to cower in fear. Tira had been afraid of coyotes ever since her father was killed by a pack of trained coyotes during a mission. Toren seemed indifferent towards coyotes, even favoring them over other animals, partly because he hated his father and upon hearing his death, smiled.

The coyotes howled again and as Tira hid behind Toren, he smirked as he said, "Looks like my old buddies have returned. Let's just hope they don't have the taste for the same bloodline." Toren continued smirking until he realized that Tira was hiding behind him.

"Don't worry," he said to Tira, "I'll protect you." Toren began to walk with Tira close behind as she whispered, "I don't need protection. I'm on this mission to prove my worth." The siblings walked on arbitrarily until reaching what appeared to be a jungle with a sign nearby reading: ENTER IF YOU DARE!"

Tira, still cowering behind Toren, said, "You know, I really don't like jungles. I'm more of a desert kind of girl."

"Fine," said Toren. "Stay out here in the dark with potential coyotes, because I'm going in. Toren began to walk in without even glancing back at Tira, but stopped to see that Tira was exactly one step behind him. Toren scoffed as they continued to walk on. The walk was uneventful for a long time, which gave Tira confidence, confidence that was quickly destroyed with the growling of the coyotes, growing that seemed to be getting closer.

"Wait," said Toren stopping abruptly. "We were just here. Look." Toren pointed to the dead rabbit in the corner, which Tira also remembered passing.

"What now?" asked Tira. "We can't just keep walking in circles."

"You won't have to," said an unfamiliar, menacing voice. Tira and Toren stood back-to-back, ready for battle, when a fierce-looking coyote dropped from the trees and said, "You two are invading private territory. There are steep consequences."

"What are you going to do?" asked Toren still unmoved and unafraid, which is the complete opposite of Tira who was now hiding behind Toren. "You're outnumbered."

"Correction," said the talking coyote as a swarm of coyotes enveloped the twins. "YOU'RE outnumbered."

Toren clenched his fist and in desperation launched himself at the talking coyote. Toren injected his teeth into the coyote's flesh, but was pulled off him and dragged off into the darkness. Tira was unaware of this as she was cowering on the ground with her eyes closed while covering her ears.

Another coyote was about to grab Tira, but was persuaded not to by the talking coyote. The coyotes gave a long howl before they ran off.

Minutes passed until Tira realized she was alone. "Oh no," she said to herself while staring at the coyote tracks. "They have Toren."

Meanwhile, Toren was locked in a cage made of bamboo with a cellmate dress in rags, cowering in the corner. The man wore oval glasses and no shoes, whispering something. Toren leaned over to hear what the man was mumbling. The man continued to repeat the same thing over and over again, disregarding Toren's presence repeating, "It's all my fault. My fault. The world will be in chaos and I'm to blame."

The man continued to repeat the sentence over and over again, and Toren soon lost his patience and punched the man and seemed to snap him out of his trance. Toren angrily stared into the man's eyes and commanded, "Tell me everything."

"No," he replied calmly. "It's not safe to tell anyone else."

Toren began to lose his patience and punched the man again. The man turned around and said, "It doesn't matter what you do to me. The world is over and there's nothing anyone can do about it."

Toren was quickly becoming murderous and asked in a loud voice, "Who are you?"

The man, still shaken, replied, "My name is Logan. That's all you need to know." Logan turned around and returned to chant "It's all my fault," over and over again. Toren realized that Logan wasn't going to tell anything else and began to watch the coyotes. Coyotes dotted the all possible entrances and exits and kill any animal that passed their path quickly and efficiently.

"Not even super coyotes know defense strategies like that. They're obviously trained." Toren thought hard on what he just said before spinning around and grabbing Logan by the through and shoving him against the cell what yelling, "You! You did this! You're responsible!"

"I told you," said Logan calmly, despite the fact Toren's fingernails were dug unto his throat and his blood was trickling slowly from his body. "This is my creation. This whole forest is my world. All who trespassed were killed, but the rumors of me killing for fun aren't true. I killed your father in self-defense."

"So you know who I am," said Toren, releasing Logan from the chokehold. "I guess that means I owe you a favor."

"I need nothing," said Logan tranquilly. "In a matter of days, the coyotes will begin their total world conquest, and all because I tampered with black magic."

"Well," suggested Toren, "what about getting out of this cage?"

"I already know how to get free, but there would be no point because the coyotes would just capture me. The only reason I'm still alive is because the coyotes know I only wish for death, and they want me to see what my creation will do to the world."

"Irony," said Toren, "but how would you like it if we gave the coyotes some irony of our own."

Logan, though still indifferent, thought about what Toren said and asked," Okay, what's your plan?"

Meanwhile, Tira was walking haphazardly around the jungle, before sitting on a tree stump and began to give up hope. "The coyote tracks led me nowhere and at this point I'll never make it out of here alive." Tira's hope continued to dwindle until she heard a nearby raven in pain. Tira looked up and saw that the raven was being attacked by a wild boar.

Tira stared at the battle saying to herself; "That poor little bird doesn't stand a chance. It's too bad, black's my favorite color."

The battle seemed unilateral until the raven used her brain. She flew up and began pecking at the boar's side. The boar could not retaliate and was soon bleeding on the ground. Tira's eyes widened in disbelief as the raven stood atop the dead boar. Tira crawled over to the raven and said, "You just taught me a lesson. I need to use my skills to face my fear, not run away like some coward." Tira stooped talking and noticed that the boar had injured the raven's wing to the state of not being able to fly."

"Well," said Tira, "I owe you a favor, so until you can fly, you're coming with me." Tira put the bird on her shoulder and said, "Now that you're my friend, you'll need a name." Tira thought long and hard before deciding, "I know! Your name is now Liv. It mean's life in Danish." Tira then continued her search for Toren.

Toren, meanwhile, was beginning his escape plan. Logan removed the false bamboo bar and slowly handed it Toren. Toren then squeezed through the empty space without being detected. Toren and Logan didn't get far before they were noticed and the battle ensued.

Toren utilized his Kendo skills and successfully fended off the coyotes, but the coyotes attacked again and were knocked back again. The coyotes continued this over and over again and appeared uninjured. Toren, on the other hand, was extremely fatigued. Toren still showed no mercy until Logan was bitten on his left shoulder. Toren knocked back the coyote and dragged Logan to a nearby tree. Toren ripped off his sleeve and tied it around Logan's gash.

"Why are you helping me?" asked Logan. "You said you're an assassin."

Toren didn't look up as he responded, "I only kill if I get paid for it." Toren fished tying up Logan's wound just in time to be tackled by the head coyote. Toren wobbled up to see that coyotes surrounded him. Toren put his hands up in surrender as the head coyotes said, "I warned you not to escape. Now you pay the price."

Toren closed his eyes when the coyotes leapt towards him. Toren opened his eyes to see Tira seemingly fly through the trees on a vine and grabbing Toren's arm before the coyote's fatal blow.

The siblings landed in a safe ravine. Toren stood up to see that Tira was now coddling the raven and asked, "What's that?"

"You like her?" asked Tira. "Her name is Liv. If it wasn't for her I'd still be lost and you'd be dead."

Toren chuckled before remembering about Logan. Toren shuffled off without a word and Tira followed close behind. By the time they returned, Logan was gone and the coyotes had already cleared out.

Tira was in an ultimate state of confusion before Toren explained it." After hearing the whole story, Tira suggested, "I know! Liv can help. She can find anything anywhere!" Toren shook his head and they were off to search for Logan and the evil coyotes. Hours passed without any luck before the twins decided to pitch up camp there. They slept through the night (or what they thought was night. Trees engulfed the sky, which gave the appearance of an all-day darkness.)

They woke up to see their camp was surrounded by napping coyotes. Tira almost screamed, but was stooped by Toren. They began to tiptoe backwards, but failed when Tira stepped on one of their tails. His yelp of pain quickly awoke the others, including their leader. The head coyote stepped forward and calmly said, "Relax. I'm not here to hurt you. Our new friend explained everything." The siblings stared at the coyote confused until Logan stepped out of the shadows yelling, "We did it, Toren! As long as I treat my coyote friends with respect, they won't try to take over the world. It's a win-win situation."

"Well," said Toren," that that everything is perfect for you, how about helping us get out of here?"

"After all that you've done for me, it's the least I could do." The group straddled on until they reached the jungle's exit. Once Logan gave them directions to Copenhagen, they began to walk off until Liv, whose wing was now healed, flew onto a nearby tree branch. Tira called to her, but she didn't move."

"She can't come with us," clarified Toren. "This is her home and we have no right to take her from it."

Tira reluctantly accepted the fact, despite shedding a tear as they walked on yelling, "Thanks for everything Liv, and don't worry, I'll be back for you someday!"