John Carter 2: The Gods of Mars
Chapter 10: The Attack of the Barsoomian Tigers
The next morning, we see John Carter waking up to hear a bunch of growling noises far away from him and the others. He walks a few meters away from them to find a bunch of tiger-like creature that have three eyes on the left and right side (To those who are reading this chapter, I will explain the reason why I'm making tigers in Barsoom. I wanted to make my own creature that isn't on Barsoom. The White Apes and Banth (lions) are included as well as the birds, but this is my first take on the creature and texture designs of the tigers in Barsoom.)
He walks out of the steep rock and reveals himself in front of the creatures and one of the black-striped furry alien creature spoke.
"Are you the one the Tharks call "Dotar Sojat"?", asked one of the Barsoomian Tigers.
"Yes, I am", said John Carter, "and you must be tigers in Barsoom, am I right?"
"Indeed, we are", said the second barsoomian tiger menacingly before he walked towards the warrior, "We have heard of your deeds in Barsoom. The ones where you saved Princess Dejah, defeated Sab Than and brought peace to both Helium and Zodanga."
"We've tried to hunt you down for years since you disappeared out of Barsoom for no apparent reason", said the third barsoomian tiger, "and now that we've found you at last, you must fight all of us in order to honor you in friendship."
"I have friends with me and we'll fight all of you", said John Carter, "Now, state the battle that will be begin soon and once we win, you will guide us to Issus, Goddess of Barsoom."
"Agreed", said one of the barsoomian tigers as the other two proceed to attack the earth man, but John Carter used his strength to fly into the air before he jumps to the ground and punches the tigers in the face. The tigers then charged towards the earth man by growling and surrounding him with only eight of them staring at him.
"You'll never defeat us, John Carter of Earth", said the third barsoomian tiger and growls darkly at him.
"Oh, but I will", said John Carter and takes out his sword, but realizes that killing them won't guide them towards the Goddess of Barsoom. So, he drops the sword down while Dejah Thoris and Thuvia watch in horror.
"He'll get himself killed", said Dejah.
"I don't think so", said Thuvia, "He's planning something."
John Carter breathes for a moment and closes his eyes before opening them again to see Woola managing to help John Carter defeating the tigers of Barsoom in the process. The leader of the barsoomian tigers became shocked at what his partner did with him.
"So it's true", said the barsoomian tiger leader, "John Carter of Earth, your greatness is very intriguing amonst us all and for that, you have won this match. Now, we will guide you to Issus."
Meanwhile, back at the ship, we see Matai Shang sensing John Carter's presence and turns to Phaidor.
"My daughter, I have sensed John Carter finding something that would guide them to Issus herself", said Matai Shang.
"What is it, father?", asked Phaidor.
"The Tigers of Barsoom", answered Matai Shang, "A creature culture that the tharks have been battling for a few years before we made our plan to conquer Helium and all of Barsoom with it. They bear their stripe markings all over their bodies to swear their oath that they will protect Barsoom from enemies. Especially us. Carter has won a match against those creatures and they're guiding them to Issus. We have to make sure that they'll be brought to us when we arrive before them."
"Carter will conquer all of you fools!", exclaimed Tars Tarkas.
"Silence, thark!", shouted Phaidor.
"Know your place, daughter", said Matai Shang, "Your earth man is a fool, Tars Tarkas of the Tharks, and once we're through with him, all of Barsoom will suffer from our mercy."
Meanwhile, far away from the place where the four camped the previous night, we see John Carter, Dejah Thoris, Thuvia, and Sola along with Woola traveling with the Tigers of Barsoom towards the lair of the Goddess of Barsoom in about 55 miles away.
"What brings you here for the first time, earth man?", asked the barsoomian tiger leader.
"I came here a few years ago", said John Carter, "I didn't know what happen to me at first when I had this medallion from one of the Therns, but I came here because..."
"It was your dignity that led you to become a warrior", answered the barsoomian tiger leader.
"That's right", said John Carter, "but that's not the reason why. I lost a wife and child once during a war back on earth and I'm staying here because Dejah and her people need me more than ever."
"You have such grand instincts, John Carter", said the barsoomian tiger leader, "We Barsoomian Tigers have faced these Therns like Matai Shang before for entering our territory with blasphemy. They think we have disgraced the Goddess of Barsoom, but they are wrong. We have served her for as long as any other living soul can dare to defy us."
What's your cause here on Barsoom?", asked John Carter.
"To bring justice to those Therns", said the barsoomian tiger leader, "We have heard of their plan to conquer all of Barsoom after they want to see Helium fall from their hands along with the people who live in it."
"If the Therns have disturbed you for a long time, why didn't they kill you?", asked Dejah Thoris.
"We had a deal that as long as we do not interfere with one another, we shall be given peace in this beautiful world", said the barsoomian tiger leader, "I suppose you have the same thing as the Zodanga clan, do you, Dejah Thoris of Helium?"
"Well, apparently not", said Dejah Thoris, "They have been our enemy, but when John Carter saved me from death during the wedding at Helium, we made peace with each other. Once we see the Goddess, we will make peace with her if she helps us save the Therns from enslavement."
"Dejah, Matai Shang has shapeshifting powers", said John Carter, "We've seen it before. He'll use it again to disguise himself as the fake Goddess the same way he did to you during the battle back at Helium."
"But what if Issus can strip Matai Shang of his shapeshifting powers?", asked Dejah Thoris, "That way, he'll be vulnerable to us to defeat him. It'll be useful to our advantage."
"No, Dejah", said John Carter, "This is between me and him. I've realized his knowledgement on earth and he tried to kill me, but I lured him. It wasn't him because it was another Thern that didn't look like him."
"It's all in the past, John Carter", said Dejah Thoris, "If we don't defeat him, all of Barsoom will be lost forever as will your planet."
"No, Dejah", said John Carter after he weighed his head down for a moment, "It won't happen. Not if I can stop it."
Nearly two hours later, before night will dawn over the horizon on Barsoom, we see John Carter and Dejah looking at the planets alligning next to each other.
"I've never forgotten how beautiful it is out there", said Dejah Thoris.
"Same here", said John Carter and before they would sleep for the night, John Carter looks at the medallion that happens to be glowing for a moment, but it didn't transfer him out of Barsoom and back to Earth.
"That's strange", whispered John Carter and puts the medallion on the right side of his buckle along with his weapons before he goes to sleep with the others including the Barsoomian Tigers.
Hi everyone. Sorry I took so long. I was too busy having a spring break the past two weeks and I had a great time helping my family do some stuff in both of their houses. Anyway, I can only end the story whenever I want to, so in about like say, eight more chapters. SO... until then, enjoy and leave out some reviews while you convince me to keep the story going!