Chapter 10
The Hunter
Corisla wasn't too happy about having to climb up the vines again after falling from it but this was apparently the only way to see Kerchak, the leader of the gorillas. From what little Tarzan could say, Kerchak hated humans so getting him to even give them answers would be tough. Clayton, of course, said he couldn't climb up the up the vines as it was too much for him in his age. So, they left him, but Corisla was too comfortable about leaving him.
The group finally made it to the high above the ground. Sora looked around where. "So, where is he?"
"Umm, Sora," Corisla said as he tapped his shoulder getting his attention. She then pointed to see a large gorilla walked out on the large tree branch. From behind him, there was a smaller gorilla following him. It must be his mate.
Tarzan stood in front speaking gorilla. Sora turned to Corisla. "What do you think he's saying?" Sora whispered. Corisla shrugged.
"He's begging." Sora and Corisla turned to Nightsky, who wasn't even looking the two but the conversation in front. "He feels he needs to help us. I know because we all know that feeling." Sora and Corisla just looked at each other. They did, all too well.
The conversation stopped as there was silence. The smaller gorilla looked at Kerchak. She looked so conflicted. Goofy leaned over to Donald. "Did he get that?" he asked in a whisper.
"No," Donald said a bit louder than a whisper but no one really heard.
"Kerchak," Tarzan said in both English and gorilla.
Kerchak stared at Tarzan for a moment and then looked in the distance. He then started to walk away faster than he did before. The smaller gorilla looked back with a sad look and followed behind him. Tarzan seemed saddened as his shoulders slumped.
Nightsky tapped the side of her cheek. "I wonder," she said aloud. Before Sora or Corisla could respond, Nightsky quickly ran past them and quickly climbed down.
"Hmmm," Goofy said aloud causing the rest of the group to him. "That Kerchak, fella, seemed sorta distracted by something."
Sora looked confused. "But what he be distracted by?" he asked.
Corisla shrugged. "He could just not want to help us… or both."
Donald then turned and pointed to the side where Kerchak was looking. "Isn't the tree house that way?"
Suddenly there was a panting sound, causing the group including Tarzan looked to see Nightsky climbing the vines of the tree. Corisla quickly went over pulled her up causing her to fall on her butt while Nightsky fell on her knees. Nightsky then slowly looked up. "Where's… Clayton?" she asked panting.
Sora looked shocked. "He should be down there."
Nightsky quickly shook her head as she stood up. "I decided to check and when I came down he was nowhere in sight."
Corisla then looked shocked still sitting. "Then where?"
Tarzan looked toward the tree house with worried eyes. "Oh no," he said in English.
In the treehouse, a small gorilla was playing with the globe by hitting it and watched it spin. On the other side, a good distance away, Clayton had his shotgun leveled and ready.
Donald, surprisingly, was the first to reach the top and saw what Clayton was doing. He ran towards him and gave a loud yell. Clayton was surprised and pulled the trigger but his aim was off. The bullet hit the globe scaring the small gorilla causing her to run up the stairs to the balcony. There Kerchak entered looking over the situation.
"What's the big idea?!" Donald at Clayton, who was on the ground just as the others entered.
Before Clayton could even answer, he walked passed them looking at Kerchak. "Wait, Kerchak, please!" he begged in English. Kerchak just stared. Corisla and others couldn't help but do the same staring back. Kerchak then gestured to the small gorilla and the two exited.
Tarzan looked back at Clayton angry, the most Corisla had seen. The group soon followed with the same look. "What on earth were you thinking?!" yelled Corisla. "I can tell you: you weren't!"
Clayton looked at them with bit of shock. "You don't understand. I was trying to…" he then gave an innocent smile. "A snake slithered by, you see. I see I saved that poor gorilla's life."
Nightsky folded her arms. "Yes, I bet you saw the snake from all the way on the ground level."
Sora glared. "Ah, you have good eye sight for someone who can't climb a tree, by the way how did you get up here?" he asked sarcastically.
Clayton frowned and growled a little. "This is just a big misunderstanding."
Suddenly his gun suddenly few to the ground much Clayton's surprise. Corisla turned to see Nightsky had pushed down with her magic. "Tell that to Jane, when we tell her what you did."
How could you do such a thing?!" Jane yelled in anger back inside of the tent.
The group had brought Clayton back and told Jane everything including his excuse, to say the least Jane was not happy and neither was everyone else. Tarzan refused to say a word.
"No, Miss Porter," Clayton started to explain. "As I told you I was not aiming for the gorilla. There was a snake—"
"There was no snake!" Corisla yelled angrily. "Not even a sign of one and we looked!"
"Yeah," Sora added. "And you left us in the jungle by ourselves."
Jane started trembling with anger getting very close to Clayton. "You are not to go anywhere near the gorillas again!"
"All because of one mishap?" Clayton still trying to argue. "Come now…" he slowly stopped and frowned. Tarzan and Sora stood in front of Jane with the same anger Jane had. Corisla, Nightsky, Donald, and Goofy stood at the side with the same expression. Clayton wanted to say something but saw he was out numbered. He growled a little and walked out the tent, defeated.
Clayton growled as he was a good distance away. "What am I doing with these imbeciles?" as he took out his pipe. He came here to catch to them not to research them, the blasted creatures! They would make him rich back in England. Now he was stopped and pushed around by some fools, a woman, and mere children. Children!
Clayton was suddenly surrounded by black thin clouds but he didn't even notice. "Blast gorillas! I'll hunt down every last one! No one will stop me! NO ONE!"
Suddenly he heard a noise. He then loaded his gun.
BANG! The groups flinched as they turned to the tent opening. "Clayton," Tarzan said loudly.
Donald waved it off. "Leave him."
Nightsky glared down at Donald. "Donald."
"Look what he did?" Donald said.
Corisla folded her arms and sighed. "He's a horrible person. He needs to learn a lesson."
Jane then turned away looking worried. "Mr. Clayton was not wrong about the jungle being dangerous. He may get hurt on his own. "
Tarzan grunted a little getting everyone's attention. "Help, Clayton."
Sora nodded. "We have to see him if he's okay."
Goofy nodded. He then looked to Donald and Corisla. Corisla frowned. He was a liar and a bit of a jerk but… he was still a person, who was in need. "Fine, we'll check."
Donald sighed exasperated seeming to be on board. The group quickly went out of the tent to stop dead in their tracks, seeing something bad.
"Heartless!"
A/N: Sorry, It's short. I had missed a lot post for this. So I decided to post this. I still hope you enjoy it!