Serious Celebration

Eleanor poked her head around the side of a tent. The natives were gathering wood for a large fire and were placing it all directly in the center of the village. Some of the natives were already laughing and dancing to drum beats and flute sounds. Flowers and coloured leaves were being strung up all around the camp and fireflies had been caught in thin bags and placed everywhere giving a lantern effect.

"What do you see Ellie?" Jeanette asked timidly. Jeanette was beginning to get worried, not just for her sister and Theodore, but for Simon too. He had been gone awhile now and hadn't caught up to them.

"It looks like they're setting up for a party or something. They are gathering a lot of firewood" she said turning back to Alvin and her sister.

"We'll worry about that later, let's keep looking for Theodore and Brittany" Alvin said impatiently. Jeanette and Eleanor were starting to get a little concerned about Alvin. He was so determined to find Brittany and Theodore that he was ignoring his injuries. Twice now they had had to find some leaves and re-bandage his claw wounds as his strenuous behaviour had caused the wounds to re-open.

"Alvin, we will find them, but you need to relax. You are going to hurt yourself even more at this rate, and you won't be able to help anyone then" Eleanor said calmly, turning to face the anxious Chipmunk. He grumbled but nodded his head and stared at the ground. Both girls just looked at each other and sighed. They weren't going to get through to him.

"Alright let's keep looking. We've nearly searched the whole village, they have to be somewhere in the next section" Jeanette said hopefully. Alvin and Eleanor nodded and the three continued on.

Simon watched from above as the angry native darted to and fro between the trees searching for him. After he had led the native away, he had climbed into a tree and was now hiding until the man gave up and returned to the village.

"I know you are here somewhere! Come out and face me you coward!" the native screamed in his rough voice, jabbing his spear into bushes in hopes that Simon was hiding in one. Simon was beginning to grow bored and worried. He wanted to join his friends in finding Theodore and Brittany, but as long as he was stuck in this tree he was useless to help anyone. Without warning the native suddenly screamed and ran off dropping his spear, waving his arms about like a mad man.

"Huh?" Simon questioned, before feeling hot breath on his neck. He turned around and came face to face with a gleaming pair of yellow eyes and sharp pointed teeth.

"Eep" was all he managed to say before he too jumped out of the tree and ran screaming towards the village, the growling panther in pursuit, hoping for its revenge.

The Chieftain entered into his tent where he had Brittany and Theodore still bound to stakes.

"The celebration is about to begin. First you will die 'Princess' then we will take the 'Prince' to the crocodile pit for sacrifice. Then we will all enjoy a feast of roasted Chipmunk!" he laughed and made a signal with his hands. Four natives entered the tent and broke into pairs. The two groups began to pick up the stakes and started carrying them from the tent.

"Let us go you cretin!" Brittany screamed and for the hundredth time that night, tried desperately to squirm her way out of the bindings tying her to the stake. Theodore said nothing. He had tried to be brave and help Brittany earlier, but now his fear had gotten the best of him and he simply started to shiver in fear. The Chieftain just continued to laugh at Brittany's attempts as the natives carried them from the tent towards the center of the village.

Eleanor was now leading the procession toward the rear section of the village when she heard a familiar voice.

"Guys listen!" she exclaimed loudly. Alvin and Jeanette stopped and listened.

"If you don't put me down right now I'll get rough on!"

"Brittany!" all three of them shouted at once and rushed towards her voice. They rounded a corner and saw the natives carrying a struggling Brittany tied to a stake. They were planting it right in the center of the firewood.

"Oh my god, they're going to burn her!" Alvin growled and started to move towards them, when Jeanette grabbed his arm.

"Alvin don't be stupid. You can't save her like that. We need to think a plan!" Jeanette said firmly her iron grip preventing Alvin from braking away. Eleanor looked impressed at Jeanette, she had never seen her so strong before.

"Fine, but we need to think quickly, it looks like the party is about to start, and I will not let them turn Brittany into a smoking pile of ash!" Alvin said angrily making a fist.

"Look all we need is a distraction, then we can get her down without being spotted" Eleanor said staring at Alvin sternly.

"What are we going to use for a distraction?" Alvin asked. Jeanette was about to say something when another familiar voice broke her concentration. They all looked towards the center of the village where everyone had heard the voice. Suddenly Simon and the native he had distracted came bursting into the area screaming at the top of their lungs. Everyone looked curiously for a moment before they found out why. The panther lunged into the center roaring a war cry before savagely attacking.

"Well, that could do" Eleanor said before the three of them rushed towards Brittany.

The panther dived toward one of the natives and struck him down with a powerful blow. Suddenly a spear flew through the air and struck the panther in its side. However the spear had hit at an awkward angle and didn't dig into the panther's skin. It let a howl then turned to see the Chieftain backing away, his attack failing to harm the enraged cat. It leapt towards him and pinned him to the ground hissing angrily. It raised its paw about to strike with deadly force when it noticed Brittany shivering tied to the stake. The panther tossed the Chieftain aside like a ragdoll and started to stalk towards Brittany, its hungry eyes watching her squeal. Suddenly another spear flew at the panther, this time successfully digging into its skin in its left shoulder. It howled in pain before ripping the spear out and turning to see its attacker. It roared with rage when it found him. Jeanette and Eleanor were screaming and shivering with fear, but next to them, Alvin stood defiantly making a fist at the great cat.

"Let's finish this you big kitten!" Alvin yelled raising his fist into the air.

"Alvin No!" Brittany screamed and tried even harder to escape her bindings.

"Girls get Brittany to safety and find Theodore. I'll lead the panther away!" Alvin yelled picking up the end of a broken spear and using it as a walking stick to balance himself. Before Eleanor or Jeanette could object, Alvin fled off into the crowd of the screaming natives, the angry panther right on his tail. After a moment Jeanette seemed to recover from her shock and headed towards Brittany when she heard a yelp of pain. She turned to see that three of the natives had pinned Simon against the side of a tent and were attacking him with their bare hands, in revenge for the panther attack.

"Simon!" she screamed and without thinking, raced towards the villagers, scooping up a large piece of wood and wielding it like a club.

"You bring that beast to our village you pest! Now you will die!" one the natives screamed and pulled a crude knife from his belt. He raised it high into the air about to plunge it down on the frightened Simon when…

THUD!

Jeanette's wood collided with the man's head and he dropped like a rock onto the ground. The other two natives looked shocked that the small girl had just taken out one of them.

"Leave him alone!" she screamed and raised the wood aggressively over her heard ready for another swing. The two natives looked at each other then backed away and ran off with the rest of their tribe. Simon stared for a moment before grabbing Jeanette and pulling her into a fierce hug.

"Thank you!" he cried not letting her go. Jeanette wasn't sure what to do. She dropped the wood and looked at the fallen native. Suddenly her eyes filled with tears and she plunged her head onto Simon's chest.

"Oh Simon, I was so scared… I… I just didn't… I had to save you and…" she said as the tears poured from her eyes, when Simon pulled her head up and stared into her brilliant emerald eyes with his own sharp gray ones.

"Jeanette, you just saved my life. Forget everything else that happened. You are a hero. You are amazing" he said, some tears of his own starting to fall from his eyes. Jeanette's tears didn't stop, but she pulled on a smile so bright that Simon never wanted to see it go. Suddenly Jeanette crashed her lips against his and began to passionately kiss him, a move which Simon followed suit. They ignored everything that was going on around them. Right then, this was all there was for them. No race around the world, no aggressive warriors, no giant panthers, no diamond smugglers, nothing. Just Jeanette and Simon together, their hearts becoming one. Never in their life had the two had such pleasure, such excitement, then when they were with each other. Simon looked into Jeanette's eyes and she, his, and together they saw the future, the happiness that they would both share together for the rest of their lives.

"Guys come one we have to find Theodore and help Alvin!" Eleanor screamed. The moment shattered and Jeanette and Simon realized they were no longer alone. They were in the middle of a crisis, and their siblings needed them. Eleanor had freed Brittany, but was now realizing that it was probably a mistake. She was holding her eldest sibling back as Brittany was screaming and tearing at her arms, trying to chase after Alvin.

"Uh… right…" Jeanette said, her face turning redder then a tomato. She turned to see Simon in a similar shade. The two middle siblings stood up and helped Eleanor hold back Brittany.

"Brittany we will save Alvin, but first we need to know where Theodore is!" Eleanor screamed, trying to knock some sense into her sister. Brittany seemed to realize the situation and calmed down before turning to her siblings.

"They… they took Theodore to be sacrificed. At the crocodile pit" she said her eyes changing from fear and desperation to bravery and determination.

"We'll split into two groups. Jeanette and I will go get Theodore. Brittany you and Eleanor go help Alvin!" Simon said loudly facing everyone in the group.

"No, I'm going to help Theodore!" Eleanor said defiantly. She crossed her arms and glared at Simon, as if daring him to try and stop her. However he seemed to sense how she was feeling, before letting out a determined smile.

"Alright Eleanor you and Jeanette go help Theodore. I'll go with Brittany and we'll help Alvin!" he said like a leader would say to his troops before a battle. He turned to Jeanette and brought her into an embrace ending with short kiss. Then he and Brittany dashed off towards the jungle where Alvin and the panther had gone.

"Alright Eleanor, let's go and save Theodore!" Jeanette cried determinedly and the two raced towards the fiery path that would take them to the volcano, and Theodore. Neither of them noticed as the Chieftain hobbled along behind them, his dark eyes filled with anger.

Despite it being night, Klaus and Claudia's private jet came whooshing down from above and landed at the Moroccan airport. Once the jet had stopped, Klaus, Claudia and a very disorientated Sophie stepped out and headed towards the terminal where a group of men dressed in black jackets stood waiting for them.

"Good, you received our message then I see" Claudia smirked as the men stepped aside for them and followed them through the airport. A dark limousine waited out the front for them. They all stepped inside and the vehicle took off towards their private mansion. As they arrived, a man waited out the front for them before beckoning them inside.

"So what do I owe the pleasure of this visit to my humble home?" the man asked as they all entered a living room and sat down, the three men choosing instead to stand.

"As you know we have been… having some difficulties with our business" Claudia said after a moment.

"Yes I hear Jamal has been very interested in catching you two recently" the man said accepting a glass of scotch from a maid.

"Yes, he has… anyway, we hired a group of… eight year old chipmunks…" Klaus began before noticing the man spit out his scotch and stare at them like they were insane, "It was Claudia's idea"

"Who would suspect children?" she said shrugging her shoulders. The man shook his unbelievingly but continued to listen to the story.

"Anyway the plan was working for a while, but then the children disappeared with our diamonds and money, and we believe they are somewhere here in Morocco" Klaus said, also accepting scotch from the maid. The man looked at them for a while before bursting out laughing.

"So let me get this straight. You hired a bunch of eight year old chipmunks to deliver your diamonds and now they have stolen it all and are in hiding?" he said, "That is just hilarious. A group of children outsmarting the two greatest diamond smugglers in the world" he started to laugh again.

"Yes, yes very funny. Will you help us look for the brats or not?" Claudia asked angrily.

"And what exactly will I get in return for this… favor?" the man asked raising an eyebrow. Claudia smiled slyly then threw a bag onto the table in front of them. The man picked it up and opened it before smiling as the bright blue glow of the diamonds sparkled on his face.

"I do believe we can do some business" he said and the three of them all started to laugh evilly while the three men in black loaded their guns.

Eleanor and Jeanette sprinted across the wooden bridge leading to the volcano top. The volcano had a huge face carved into the side and because the volcano was extinct, the basin had filled with water and subsequently crocodiles that had grown vicious and hungry. Eleanor was running with blind fury. She had to save Theodore, she just had to. She didn't know whether it was because they were just very close friends, or whether she felt something more. She had always liked Theodore more than a friend, but had never really thought much about it until now. Jeanette seemed to sense how Eleanor was feeling.

"Don't worry Ellie, we'll save him. It will be alright" she said kindly. Eleanor smiled, but continued onward as fast as she could.

The natives were placing Theodore onto the platform that the chipmunks had been initially tied to during the first sacrifice.

"Please don't do this. I haven't done anything to you" Theodore pleaded, his eyes filling with tears and his body shivering violently.

"It doesn't matter. You lied to us, now you will pay!" the native laughed then shoved the platform out into the center of the volcano. The five ropes suspending the platform wobbled as Theodore shook the platform trying to break free of his bindings. He looked down and saw the three hungry crocodiles from before watching and waiting, their mouths drooling with saliva, waiting to take their first succulent bite from his furry flesh. Theodore yelped then continued his pleading, but to no avail as the natives lit a fire on the end of a stick and started to move towards the ropes. Just as the fire was about to touch the rope there was a loud scream of anger and everyone turned to see Eleanor, fists at the ready, glaring at the natives.

"Let him go!" she screamed then jumped at the native holding the flames. She was only roughly the size of the man's leg, but the sheer surprise of her attack caused the man to drop the stick and fall over. He smacked his head against the rocky ground and groaned before his eyes closed and fell unconscious

"Get her!" one of the other four natives yelled and they all advanced towards her when suddenly a rock hurled across the chasm and collided with a man's face knocking him out cold. Everyone turned to see that Jeanette had climbed up onto of the rocky wall surrounding the volcano and was about to pelt another rock at the native warriors. Of the three left standing they all split. Two of them headed towards Jeanette, scrambling to climb the rocky wall, while the other advanced towards Eleanor. The man dived at Eleanor, but due to her sporty nature, she nimbly rolled to the side dodging the attack. After he had recovered the man growled and made a grab for the fire stick. Eleanor saw his move and also dived for the stick. They both grabbed at it at the same time. They struggled with it, but the man was stronger and he threw Eleanor aside. She rolled on the ground before falling off the edge of the volcano. She made a grab and managed to catch the edge, but she couldn't hold on for long and the crocodiles below had moved underneath her waiting for their first meal.

"Eleanor!" Theodore screamed and he struggled against his ropes fighting to save her. The man laughed then proceeded to bend down and light the ropes on Theodore's platform when a rock smacked into his hand and the fire stick flew away. He looked up to see that Jeanette had momentarily stopped throwing rocks at the natives advancing on her and attacked him instead. The fire stick twirled through the air gracefully and connected with Theodore. The flames started to burn his bindings. He ignored the pain from the flames on his chest, trying to snap the now weakened rope before his fur caught fire. He let out a howl and made one final, but forceful tug at the rope and it broke apart freeing him from the binding.

"I'm coming Eleanor!" he shouted then started to crawl along the rope towards the side of the volcano.

"Hurry Theodore, I'm slipping!" she shouted as some rock gave way and she lost the grip on her right arm. She struggled to get a new gripping quickly but all it did was weaken her grip on her left hand. She started to slip.

"Eleanor!" Jeanette cried, noticing her sister's danger. She tried run towards her, but the two natives grabbed her and held her back, laughing at her attempts to save her sister.

"NO!" Eleanor screamed as her left hand slipped and she started to fall. She screamed, but suddenly she felt something grab onto her. She looked up to see that Theodore had grabbed her arm and was pulling her up.

"I've got you Ellie, hold on!" he cried, using all the force he could muster to pull her to safety.

"Lookout Theodore!" Jeanette screamed as the native who had been holding the fire stick headed towards them, a large rock in his hand. Theodore looked behind him and saw the man, but he refused to let Eleanor go. He screamed as he put every ounce of strength in his entire body into effect and he hurled Eleanor over his head. She slid to the side coming to a stop against the wall of the cavern. She looked up to thank Theodore but she screamed when she saw that the man had grabbed him and was about to toss him over the edge.

"Theodore!" she wailed and charged towards the native. She smashed into his leg and he lost his balance. He screamed as he dropped Theodore and fell down into the basin straight toward the jaws of the hungry crocodiles. Once Theodore had stood up, he raced to Eleanor and pulled her into a hug which she returned.

"I'm so glad you're okay" they both said, tears coming to their eyes. Until now they had never realized how strongly they cared about each other, and how they didn't know what they would do without the other in their lives. Theodore's calm green eyes locked with Eleanor's chocolate brown eyes. They started to pull each close when a scream broke through the moment. They looked up to see that the two natives were holding Jeanette over their heads and were preparing to cast her into the basin.

"Jeanette!" they both screamed and started to run towards her, but it was too late. They hurled over the side, her screaming piercing the night air. Just as all hope seemed lost, Jeanette's hand caught something and she grabbed onto it for dear life. She realized that she had managed to grab hold of one of the ropes connecting the platform to the side of the volcano.

"Hold on Jeanette we're coming!" Eleanor cried and she and Theodore raced to the rope. Jeanette closed her eyes and held on for dear life. Suddenly she felt a warm hand grab her own. She opened her eyes to see that Theodore and Eleanor had climbed out onto the rope.

"Hold onto me!" Theodore said bravely. He didn't know why, but after saving Eleanor, he felt confident, brave, strong, things he hadn't felt before. He knew it probably wouldn't last for long though so he prayed that he could gather the courage to help get them out of this mess. He felt a shaking pair of hands wrap around his waist as Jeanette grabbed onto him. He was about to turn around when he heard Eleanor give a slight yelp. He turned to see that the chieftain had arrived on top of the volcano and was now cutting the rope they were on with a crude knife.

"I already lost our meals and our 'Princess', I will not allow you to escape either!" he screamed in anger and cut the rope. The three chipmunks let out screams of terror as they started to fall into the basin when suddenly; Jeanette came up with an idea.

"Hold on! When the rope swings back up, let go!" she commanded.

The younger chipmunks nodded but continued to shake as they fell. Just when they thought that they were about to die, Jeanette's plan came into action and the rope started to swing from the platform up from their weight. As they reached the peak of the swing Jeanette screamed, "Now!"

Immediately all three chipmunks let go of the rope and flew through the air. They flew out of the volcano and continued up. The natives stared in bewilderment at the chipmunks flying through the air. As they started to descend towards the trees, Theodore and Eleanor grabbed onto each other in mid air.

"I love you Eleanor" Theodore screamed, closing eyes as they fell.

"I love you Theodore!" She screamed back. Suddenly the trees loomed underneath them and they crashed, darkness consuming them.

Breathing heavily Alvin struggled onwards. His claw wounds were bleeding badly and his back was causing immense pain in his joints, but he continued on, knowing that if he stopped, he would be dead. The panther growled and followed him, its deadly claws scraping into the ground as it went. Suddenly Alvin heard a sound from behind him. He braced for the impact from the panther, but it did not come. He turned around and found to his astonishment, the panther was gone. He looked everywhere, but it had simply vanished. He was about to keep running when suddenly the panther leapt out of a tree and knocked him to the ground. Alvin writhed in agony from the blow and the panther hissed with anticipation. It had its prey now, and once and for all, it would get rid of it. It opened its jaws wide ready to rip out Alvin's throat when a scream ripped through the air.

"Get away from him!" Brittany cried and she jumped onto the big cats back. Angered that once again it had been interrupted during its meal, the panther roared and started to buck and rock trying to shake the persistent Chipette from its back.

"No Brittany, it will hurt you, run!" Alvin coughed trying to stand, but his make shift crutch had been destroyed from the knock down and he couldn't get up himself. He started to crawl to a tree. Suddenly he heard a squeal and he turned to see that the panther had successfully shook Brittany loose and was advancing on her.

"NO!" he screamed and he grabbed the tree and forced himself up. The panther turned to look at him for a moment. He was no longer a threat. Finally it could finish these pests off and enjoy a well deserved meal.

"Raaaaaa!" Simon screamed and hurled a spear towards the panther. It stabbed straight into its ribs. It howled in pain then turned to see Simon scurrying up into a tree, a large rock in his hand ready to throw downwards. It was tired of this game. As soon as it dealt with that trouble maker it would ensure it killed all three of them before it began to feed. They were too much of a nuisance to be left alive. The panther roared and bounded up the tree Simon had climbed up, the spear falling from its side.

"Brittany!" Alvin cried as he stumbled towards her, his face growing pale.

"Alvin!" she screamed and ran to him, embracing him in a hug. She realized the state of his injuries and the paleness in his face from blood loss.

"Alvin we need to bandage those wounds now or you might die" she wailed frantically grabbing at some nearby leaves. She was about to try and bandage him herself when she heard Simon yelp in pain and within minutes he was hurled out of the tree and landed at their feet, cuts all across. The panther jumped down from the tree and stalked towards the three terrified chipmunks. Alvin suddenly realized what he had to do. It was the only way that he could save Brittany. He dived towards the surprised panther, causing it to jump back. Before it could counter, he grabbed the spear that had fallen from its side and lunged towards it. The spear stabbed into the panther's neck and it wailed with pain. Alvin refused to let go of the spear. He kept pushing it in further, the pain from his back surging through him. The panther let out a strange coughing growl then its legs collapsed and it fell to the ground. Its menacing yellow eyes closed. Alvin stood for a moment staring at the slain beast before succumbing to his injuries and falling to the ground. Simon and Brittany rushed to his side. Simon was bleeding, but his injuries were nothing compared to Alvin's.

"Alvin No!" Brittany wailed and she grabbed him and pulled him into a hug. He smiled at her for a moment then closed his eyes and fell unconscious. Tears dripped from her eyes as she turned to Simon who was already grabbing leaves and attempting bandage Alvin.

"Why does he always do this!" she screamed, this time with anger balling her fists up.

"Brittany, he doesn't always think things through, but he just saved our lives. I'm his brother Brittany, but he loves you more than anyone else I've ever seen. He would do anything for you; even risk his life for you" Simon said kindly tending to his brother. Brittany took in Simon's words. Her tears continued but now she was smiling.

"He… he really cares about me doesn't he" she said faintly slowly stroking Alvin's face.

"Yes, he does. And he always has" Simon replied as he finished bandaging Alvin. Brittany realized that now both of Alvin's brothers had realized how Alvin felt for her. Alvin truly loved her more than anything in the world. She leant down and kissed his cheek.

"I love you Alvin" she whispered into his ear. Although his eyes remained closed, a small smile appeared on Alvin's face. Brittany and Simon were so concerned with Alvin, that neither of them noticed when the panther's eyes slowly began to open. It let out a faint roar and moved towards them slowly. They both turned and gasped, too paralyzed with fear to do anything else. It weakly raised its claw ready to strike when…

BANG!

A gun went off. The panther fell to the ground dead, its monstrous yellow eyes devoid of life. Brittany and Simon sighed then turned to face their savior, only to find a gun aimed directly at their head.

Well this chapter is probably the longest I have written so far. I started writing the volcano part and then I just got engrossed in it, I just couldn't stop writing. So who is the mysterious person who has saved Brittany and Simon and what is the fate of Theodore, Eleanor and Jeanette. All answers will be revealed in the next update!