Ch.9: Intervention
This was supposed to be a good trip. A chance to watch Shadow, Nelia, and Sapphire to be honored as adults and join the pack. But now, all the good feelings had been replaced by the bitter taste of negativity.
Not wanting to become a full-fledged wolf and leave his team Skipper asked Shelia if there was anyway someone could tag in for him.
"Yes" said Shelia " but they would have to speak the word 'morte', meaning 'death' match. All previous wagers will be forgotten until only one opponent leaves the arena alive,"
"I'll do it" said Shadow " anything to help Uncle Skipper,"
"Thanks Shadow" said Skipper " but I don't want anyone of you killed on my account. My big mouth got us into this, its my job to get us out,"
"You'll win Uncle" said Sapphire " we all know you can,"
"Thanks Sapphire" said Skipper, then turned to his team who all had a solemn look on thier face " no matter what happens men, I'm still a penguin at heart. And you will always be my team,"
Hidden in the shadows Angel overheard the enitre conversation and shivered at the thought on how final Skipper's words sounded.
The time had come to fight as the moon reached its midnight phase. Gatal was patiently waiting in the center of the arena ready for his opponent to arrive. Shelia and the others sat in the stands, joining all the other wolves who had gathered for the occassion.
About a minute later Skipper bravely walked into the arena meeting Gatal's fiery-green eyes with his own icy-blue stare.
"You have guts for such a small bird" said Gatal, getting into attack position " I wonder what they will taste like?"
"The only thing you'll taste is defeat," said Skipper, jumping up and aiming a side-kick right at Gatal.
The wolf dodged Skipper's and swiped at the penguin using one of his paws. Pushed forward by the momentum Skipper met a nearby wall feet first and propelled himself back at Gatal with amazing force.
Skipper landed a direct hit pushing Gatal back about ten feet. Gatal growled and unleashed the most horrible howl any other wolf or animal have ever heard. It sounded like a sharp hiss being ground into a blender with a jackhammer.
Everyone had to cover thier ears, including Skipper, and that's what led to his downfall. Gatal stopped his howl and while Skipper was trying to recover from the awful noise the King Wolf pinned him to the ground, making sure Skipper couldn't move.
Skipper looked up to see Gatal's mouth open wide to reveal two gleaming sharp fangs. Shelia had warned Skipper earlier that if a wolf defeated the King Wolf he would remian a wolf. However if another animal beat the King Wolf they would transform into a wolf yes, but they would also retian thier most prized triat from whatever spieces they were before.
Since Gatal was a cobra before he defeated the King Wolf, when he transformed his triat was that he got to keep his poisoness fangs. One bite and Skipper was done for.
"Looks like this is the end," thought Skipper and steeled himself for defeat.
Suddenly a familar female voice sliced through the air, cutting the suspense and making every eye in the arena turn to her. Skipper's eyes widened in shock when he saw who it was.
"Morte!" shouted Angel. The beautiful fox had entered the arena.
"Angel no!" cried Private from the stands " he'll kill you!"
"Go back!" shouted Skipper.
"No" said Angel " I will not let you lose your team to serve this tryant Gatal. He wants a battle, I intend to give him one,"
"No girl has ever beaten the King Wolf" said Gatal, pushing Skipper away into the stands " this will a short death match,"
With that said Angel and Gatal charged at each other, biting and clawing at the other's flesh. Gatal may have been fast but Angel was faster, striking at Gatal as quick as lightning.
From up upon his back Angel steered Gatal like a human would a bronco and slammed him into a wall. The force of the impact caused one of Gatal's fangs to fall out. Getting a smart idea Angel jumped down, grabbed the fang, and snuck it into Gatal while the wolf was still stunned.
For a brief moment the whole arena was filled with silence as Gatal's rolled up and his lifeless body touched the ground. Then descending from the moon, the two spirit wolves that hand built the path to the mountian ran around Angel radiating an impossibly bright white light.
When the light vanished the two spirit wolves were gone, but Angel had changed. Her body had grown bigger, stronger, and taller until she looked like a regualar wolf, except with a few differences. Her fur coat still possessed the wonderful blend of colors she had when still a fox, and a lucious black mane grew along her body.
Shelia and her children howled, soon joined in by other wolves ans Angel in her new form stepped up to the King's Rock and anounced that all the cubs had her blessing to join the pack.
About an hour later the moon started to set and it was time Skipper and his team to go home along with Shelia and her adult cubs. Angel met them all over at the Spirit Trail in order to say goodbye.
"You'll make a fine leader" said Shelia, nudging Angel " goodbye my friend,"
"Go get them Aunt Angel" said Shadow " me and my sisters will be rooting for you,"
"Thanks," said Angel, grinning.
"Will you come visit sometime?" asked Private.
"Maybe" said Angel " techinally I am a Queen Wolf, but I would still have to lead at least until I find a suitable mate too take care of things while I was gone,"
"The zoo just won't be the same without you," said Kolwaski.
"Bye..Bye," said Rico, and joined the others walking down the trail.
Skipper was the last to approach Angel. One question kept ringing about in his head that needed to be answered.
"Why?" said Skipper " why did you help me?"
"Because" said Angel shyly and whispered " I love you,"
Skipper was stunned by Angel's words. Angel fled away, her cheeks colored with embrassment. Two lives that been so close to going together were now forever torn apart.
