Chapter 6: Call of the Wild!

"Man… this sucks…" Lamar groaned as he laid on his back on the small raft. Fitts was reading his book from a few days ago when they left Bunbo. Lamar was rather upset that he had something to do and he was left with nothing but to keep watch on the high seas.

"Something the matter, Lamar?" Fitts suddenly spoke from behind the pages of his book. This caught his friend by surprise as he quickly huffed and spun around to face out at the waters. "If you need something to do, why don't you read one of my books."

"How many books do you have?"

"Enough to keep me occupied for a good while. Did you not pack anything to entertain yourself?"

"No… I thought this would've been more exciting than this."

"Not everything is going to happen within a day, Lamar. You should've known that." Fitts set his book down as he leaned down his bag to search for a book more to Lamar's liking. Something that action and suspense. Did he even had anything like that?

"It's fine, I don't need a book. I'll just keep an eye out for pirates and other things. I'd fall asleep if I read a book. Besides only nerds read."

"Excuse me?" Fitts raised his eyes. "Nerds? Oh please, that's pretty childish to think that. Reading reinforces the mind, keeps my imagination going."

His friend laughed suddenly. "You have imagination?"

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Eehihi! Never." Snickering, he pulled out a sandwich from his bag and took a bite. Eyeing the seas he said nothing more. Fitts glared for a moment before bringing the book back up to his eyes.

A few minutes pass with nothing but the sounds of waves hitting the raft. The boat rocked back and forth gently. Obviously this was the boring part of being a pirate in a small boat with no crew and nothing to do. It was painful for Lamar as after an hour he was already groaning and complaining that he was bored, wanting to go out and do stuff. This would go on for hours to the point where Fitts would know exactly when Lamar would say something, cutting him off before he can say it.

"Hey Fitts…"

"I know you're bored with nothing to do but look at the waters."

"How'd you know?"

"It's not hard to figure out…" Groaning, he slapped the book onto a knee and gave his friend such an annoying look that Lamar squeaked and spun his head around. As Lamar sat he blinked seeing something off in the distance. Looking over his shoulder he tried speaking but was only interrupted. "Lamar, please, we've been out at sea for hours and the only thing you tell me is that you're bored. If you have anything else to say besides that then go ahead but if it's anything to do about boredom and stuff to do I swear I will throw you into the sea."

The two stared at each other…

"Well…" Lamar started, licking his dry lips. "If it interests you I see something off my side of the boat. Maybe it's an island off in the distance."

His friend's eyes widened, quickly tossing his book into his bag and scrambling over to other side of his boat. Sure enough it was… it was hardly noticeable but it definitely was an island. Squinting to see anything more identifiable, Fitts could see smoke rising. Civilization! Thank the gods that there are other people out in the sea besides Lamar to talk to. Leaning back he grabbed an oar and threw it to Lamar as he grabbed on for himself.

"C'mon, we can't waste another minute out here." Fitts sounding excited. "If we stay at sea any longer I might lose my mind."

"It's not that bad."

"You've GOT to be kidding me. Row fasting and drop the sail."

Less than hour and the small raft was arriving in the shallow waters of the mysterious island. Fitts raised a brow as he looked at the map he had on hand. The island wasn't located anywhere on the paper and Fitts couldn't stop scratching the back of his head. Just before they left Biijin, he bought a map and other documents that were quite recent. Perhaps because of the small size of the island it just wasn't registered. Rolling the map up he placed it in his back pocket. Taking off his hat, he squinted at the tree tops. There was no smoke like before...

"That's strange…" Fitts noted quietly. "I could've swore I saw smoke coming from the trees."

"You sure you weren't hallucinating?"

"No, I knew what it was I saw. Just keep an eye out for anybody on the shore."

No one was there though. The two landed easily enough and with nothing in sight, Fitts' morale dropped. Sighing, he only rubbed his eyes before walking down the beach with Lamar watching him go. Saying something about disappointment and leaving. Lamar rushed up next to him throwing an arm around his shoulder.

"You shouldn't fret! Let's just go looking around and see what we can find. We have a whole island to explore!" Patting Fitts' on the shoulder trying to reassure him. "Who knows maybe we can find someone to join our crew."

"Yeah… we'll see about that. I'm going to head down the shore more and see what I can find out. Why don't you head into the forest. Don't go far though. The last thing I need is to search for you while you wander aimlessly." Saying this while Lamar rolled his eyes. The two went their separate ways before Fitts yelled back to Lamar. "If you find trouble, yell as loud as you can and I'll come running."

"Likewise buddy!"

Minutes after entering the forest, Lamar had the strangest feeling he was lost and walking around in circles. He never was good with directions… even though he wasn't following anything in particular but rather just walking until he could find something. The trees around him though made him feel secluded… he thought he had been lost for hours. Lamar wished it was him walking the beaches and Fitts in the forest.

"I always seem to end up doing the things that's the hardest or the most difficult. Fitts knows I don't do well with navigation…" Lamar groaned as he stepped past a tree. "Maybe I should yell for him to come over. At this rate I'm just going to get lost and he'll get all upset and scold me."

Shaking his head, Lamar just kept walking in one general direction. His head turned this way and that only seeing trees, vines and branches. Nothing out of the ordinary… that was until he saw something shaped differently. Was it a rock? No…

"Hello?" Lamar asked quietly at first. Silence. He said it again but this time louder. Suddenly there was a shift as if it turned around towards his voice. "Gah!" Shrieking, Lamar nearly fell back. A rustle in the bushes sent the young man into a sprint in the opposite direction trying to get away from the creature. Turning around he tried to see if it was giving chase but the only thing visible was the endless amount of trees. Is he going the right way?

"Did I go this way already?! Damnit, why didn't Fitts take the forest?! He has a better sense of direction than me!"

"Lulaalaalaa!" A laugh came from above. Wait… from above?

Lamar looked up with a quizzical expression and all he could see was a dark shadow looming overhead. "Aaahhh!" He screamed as it crashed into him. Hitting face first in the dirt, he shot his head up in pain as kicked went into his side.

"Lulaalaalaa! Keep running! Keep running!" The voice cheered on and on. It had a strange accent to it. Almost broken English.

"What?" Trying to look over his shoulder he saw a woman.

She looked about his age, fairly thin and a little shorter than him with big bushy red hair that went to her waist and green eyes to go with. The woman wore unusual clothing, much different than Lamar's. A fur bikini went over her chest and wrapped across her back and around her neck to form a scarf. Around her waist was a knee length fur sarong and bikini bottom to go with. She wore no shoes but had some sort of ankle bracelet on her right foot. All around her outfit seemed rather primitive. A native of the island probably… Another kick sent a jolt of pain up Lamar's body as he tried to get out from underneath the barely dressed woman. For a small frame she sure kicked hard.

"Stop! Stop kicking me crazy girl!"

"Stop? Stop?! You stopped!" She shrieked almost. Kicking again in an attempt to get Lamar up and running again.

"Why are you kicking me?! I'm not an animal!"

"Your running makes for great chase!" Laughing, she started jumping up and down on his back. Each time Lamar let out a gasping wheeze as he tried to squirm away. She continued anyways trying to get him to sprint off.

"Oof! Ow! Grr… Jet Jet Launch!" Lamar cried out as the bottom of his shoes opened up and his body blasted across the ground. The woman who was in the middle of a jump hit the floor with a bit of shock and then with amazement as Lamar skidded across the ground and smacking face first into a tree. For the thrusters on his feet continued until they died out, feet falling flat against the ground.

"Oooh!" The woman gasped. "That was amazing! Do it again! Do it again for me!"

Standing up wobbily, Lamar turned to the woman who was already on her feet making a beeline towards him. Gawking, Lamar spun around and maneuvered around the tree and started to run. "This girl is crazy!"

"Now you're running? Oh well! I like a good chase!" Laughing, she spun around and kicked the tree in two with her heel. Lamar who was looking over his shoulder screamed out in shock at the bizarre strength. It was more shocking knowing that it was just a bare foot causing the damage.

"No wonder kicking me in the sides hurt! Your damn feet have some oomph!" Cried out Lamar as he ducked under branches and jumping over bushes.

As Lamar ducked under a large branch, he jumped in surprise as another swift kick crashed through the tree where his head would've been had he not ducked. Gawking, he quickly activated his Jet Jet Launch ability and took through the tree tops. Looking down, he tried to find out if the woman was going to give chase in the air. While he floated, the thrusters on his feet kept going on and off. Cursing to himself not being able to master his jump yet. Being too busy with his devil fruit ability, Lamar didn't even notice that the woman chasing him burst through the tree top laughing.

"Lulaalaa! You're full of surprises!"

"Oh shit!"

The waves washing ashore barely touched Fitts' boots as he casually moved down the shoreline. There was absolutely nothing… walking for at least half an hour he could only see crabs and some Laskas who fled when they saw him coming. Seeing miles ahead he knew that it would've been a waste of time to walk any longer.

"I knew what I saw and it was smoke. That usually means people and yet I don't see any signs of civilization." Fitts said. "Sure hope Lamar is having better luck than I am."

Before he continued though he stopped hearing screams further inland. Turning his head he could see nothing… that was until he looked up and saw Lamar with something clinging to him. His eyes widened when he noticed that there was arms and legs wrapped around his friend's body making him unable to control his devil fruit. The two were plummeting back towards the ground causing Fitts to rush towards the location.

"Didn't I tell him to yell if anything should happen?!" Fitts thought to himself. Flustered, he could only watch helplessly as his friend fell back through the tree tops. "Don't worry Lamar, I'm coming."

"Lulaalaa! This is so much fun I can barely contain myself!"

"Let go!"

The two fell through branches and leaves. They hit a large branch causing the woman to loosen her grip just enough for Lamar to scramble free but the two still fell. It wasn't long before they hit the ground itself; Lamar flat on his back getting the wind knocked out of him and the woman on her side who only yelped slightly.

Coughing, Lamar rolled onto his stomach. "Ok… I tried to be nice, I even tried to leave you in peace. Now it seems that the only way to get through to you as to leave you pieces." Brushing himself off he turned only to see the woman already on her feet staring back with a strange look on her face.

"… Are you threatening me?" A tiny whisper could be heard.

"Guh!" Lamar was a bit baffled. She is far sturdier than she appears. That fall barely phased her! "What are you?!"

"I'm a Lala!" A pride shout came from her. It was so loud that the birds flew off in fright from the trees.

"Lala? Is that supposed to be your name?" Lamar looked her up and down. When not trying to kill him… or whatever it was she was trying to do… she didn't look frightening. In fact she was pretty. Lamar couldn't help blush either seeing she was wearing nothing but small fur clothing here and there.

Lala noticed his diverted his eyes and narrowed her eyes and puffed her cheeks. This man was strange and it made her uncomfortable. In one bounding leap, she was already upon Lamar who shook off the daze at the last second. A fist was coming down straight for his face trying to knock him out.

"Lamar, watch out!" A familiar voice sounded. Just before Lala's fist connected, a hand came between the two and diverted the blow. Using the force from the impact, it was shifted backwards sending Lala crashing onto her back. "You fool why aren't you defending yourself?!"

"Fitts!" Lamar cheered. "Oh thank god you're here! You need to do something about her."

"Why do I need to? It seems she's interested in you so you should do something… like defending yourself!" Fitts started. However it was short lived when a pair of hands grabbed him by the shoulders and threw him to the side. "Waugh!"

"This is to fun!" Lala laughed happily as she danced around Lamar. From her tippy toes strides to bounding hops with spins. The whole thing was just weird. In fact the whole encounter with this strange native woman was completely off the wall.

"Wuh… you're not trying to kill me?"

"Kill you? Nooo, I was just having some fun with you. After seeing you fly off like that I wanted to see if you had any other cool tricks to show! That guy messed it up though…" Sticking her tongue out she glared at Fitts who only stared back with folded arms.

"How was I supposed to know you two were playing a game? I happened to see you both in the air, Lamar was screaming like a baby, I come to check it out and I see you about to punch my friend in that thick skull of his so I stepped in. What was I to do? Let you hit him?"

"I didn't even know this was a game! I thought you were going to kill me! Kill me dead!"

"Killing you would make you dead… you can't kill someone… you know what, nevermind." Throwing his arms up, Fitts exited the conversation.

"You're friend seems pretty serious." Lala whispered. "Anyways! Can I have the name of my fine chase and his friend?"

"Uh… I am Lamar… and he is Fitts."

Lala laughed. "Lamar and Fitts? Interesting! What brings you to this island? We don't get visitors often. I think the last ones we had was about three years ago?"

Fitts blinked taking this into consideration. His interest got the better of him when he walked up. "Well this island isn't on any of the maps we have. Perhaps people don't even know this island is here?"

"No no no… well… yeah I suppose. Wait… no, it's usually because of the Sea King that lives close to the shore. A big one that is."

Lamar and Fitts shrieked. "Sea King?!"

Fitts scrambled up to Lala grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her slightly. "A sea king lives by this island?!" Hastily he turned back to Lamar, who was shaking his head.

"Oh no, no way dude. You're not blaming this on me. You're the one who was wanting to get on land in such a hurry. We could've been eaten!"

"It's not like I knew there was anything dangerous. This woman…"

"… Lala…" A quiet blurt came from Lala's lips.

"… said it lives close to the shore! Not even the maps or documents say anything about sea kings inhabiting this close to any of the islands unless it was closer to the Calm Belt in South Blue."

"Okay… look." Lala butted in as she stepped between the two men. "I wish I could stay here long and play but I need to get back to my village. You two can figure out what the problem is on your own or you two can come back with me."

"Why would we do that?" Lamar asked.

"The day is almost done and no one ever leaves the village at night. Lots of scary creatures come out." Saying this as she wiggled her hands behind her head and making a silly face. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to be on the beach with scary dark waters on one side and creepy thick forests on the other. The choice is up to you. Bye!"

Lala waved a hand as she turned around and started walking through the trees. Lamar and Fitts stood there watching her go before looking at each other. A couple things went through their minds and one was not to go back out at sea with that sea king out and about. Not until they have a good plan to avoid it seeing it was luck that allowed them to get past it and onto the island. The other was not wanting to deal with the wildlife at night. That tiger on Bunbo was bad enough so fighting more than one might be a bad idea. The two men groaned before following Lala.

"I just have this strange feeling that we should've just got back on the boat and left."

"And deal with that possible Sea King that may or may not exist around the island? Nah... Let's follow her." Fitts motioned his head.

"I suppose you're right."

It was dark… and it came fast. The entire landscape was black from no moon light. This made navigation hard for Lamar and Fitts but for Lala it was as if she was skipping with her eyes shut. Trees were popping out from the dark giving them little to no time at all to dodge. The amount Fitts was counting was getting old too. Being behind Lamar who was behind Lala left him with little to do or talk about. Every once in a while he would look over his shoulder to see if he was being followed but all he could see was black.

"We're almost there you two! You all still alive back there?" Lala shouted back over her shoulder. Sounds of sighs and groans was the only response.

Another ten feet and Lala stopped right before a thick brush. Turning around she grinned as she pushed it to the side revealing the village that sounded more like a myth to Lamar and Fitts. There it was though. A large bonfire in the center with large huts, grass canopies and torches planted around the village. All of the inhabitants wore fur clothing like Lala; some covered completely while others revealing more skin than Lala. Cheering and chanting around the fire they all came to a stop when their fellow villager appeared.

"I have returned everybody!" Lala cried out to everyone, arms outstretched. One man in particular approached her. "Chieftain! Happy to see me?"

The apparent chieftain who was tall and muscular with a big beard only glared at her before hitting her across the face sending her immediately to the floor. Lamar and Fitts flinched with widened eyes. Lala's hand went to cover the already red cheek. Holding back a tear, Lala looked up at him with confusion. "You left the village again? You know you can't be out by yourself yet here you are again, walking into the village after dark with me having no clue to where you've gone."

"But father…"

"You've no right to call me that until you listen to me and do as I ask! I will no longer try and defend you if you carelessly put yourself in danger. As for these two…" The chieftain adjusted his gaze onto Lamar and Fitts. "Bind them!"

"What?" Fitts raised a brow. Men with spears quickly surrounded them. "You think we are the enemy?! Lala tell them! We are just visitors to the island and we happen to meet her."

Lala grabbed at her father's leg who only kicked her hand away. "Father, stop! These two are my…"

"That is enough out of you! Take her to her hut and make sure she doesn't leave!"

"You can't do this!" Lala cried out. Standing up she rushed to the aid of Lamar and Fitts hitting one of the men across the head with her foot but was quickly subdued and dragged off screaming. "Lamar! Fitts! Don't worry I won't let them harm you!"

Lamar and Fitts gulped. Clenching his fists, Fitts thought of fighting his way out from the crowd until he thought about the consequences it could have on Lala. The punishment could transfer to her. Looking at Lamar he could tell he was upset and frustrated on what to do. Before he acted, a hand rested on his shoulder. "No Lamar…"

"We just can't let him take her!"

"Don't worry. They're just taking her to hut. However, if we fight our way out they could punish Lala for bringing 'enemies' into the village. We can't let that fall on her shoulders."

Lamar growled before relaxing, sighing and then dropping his hands to his sides. "Fine… but what are we going to do?"

"I haven't figured that out yet."

The chieftain walked up to the two. "We'll decide what to do with you scoundrels in the morning. For now we must focus on making sure we are safe. Search the beach and make sure no one else is roaming around." Everyone around nodded and began to scramble. The chieftain stayed in front of Lamar and Fitts. "Time to say goodnight…"

"Goodnight?" Lamar questioned. Before long he received a punch square in the face sending him straight onto his back. Fitts was shocked. Retaliating, he stepped forward on his right foot, left hand coming around his waist. However he stopped an inch from hitting the chieftain. He can't hit him... not now. Fitts' teeth clinked together when clasped hands landed on the top of his head smashing him into the ground.

"Ugh… bastard…" Fitts gasped as he tried to recover. The hit did more damage than he imagined. Vision blurred and arms numb. He couldn't get up. Collapsing, he could see Lala holding her hand out to them, screaming something but not even his hearing was working right. When he couldn't hold his eyes open anymore, Fitts faded.