Chapter 5

The Attack of the Crocodile Tribe

I force my way past bushes and trees, running blindly in no certain direction. Finally, my legs give out and I collapse in a clearing.

I come to myself a while later, only to find that the crocodile who was staring at me earlier is standing above me, holding a flower in her left hand. "You must be exhausted, running like that. Here," she says softly to me, "Take a whiff of this. You'll feel like you can do anything after." "Anything?" I take the flower from her, looking at it. "What's your name?" I say, sniffing the brightly-colored flower. "Crooler. Don't worry, you're going to be fine." I feel weird… like… I'm not connected to the world or really much of anything…

BANG. "We're being attacked!" "By who?" "I don't know-what…wait a second…" Cragger is standing in the middle of the Throne Room, looking at what was formerly the main entranceway. Ben and I are beside him, peering into the mist that is now covering everything. "…Crooler?" He cries out in disbelief. A croc is standing in the open hole. And she's not alone. Crooler nods to something behind her, and without warning, a familiar shape lunges at me. I barely have time to unsheathe the Master Sword from its' sheathe on my back before the thing is upon me.

The sound of steel ringing against steel cuts through the sudden sounds of people fighting. "Lauren!" I cry out while desperately trying not to be killed by the wolf, "What are you doing?!" She doesn't reply, but only seems to increase her seemed attempt to kill me. I notice Crooler holding a flower up to Cragger's nose, them he seems to change. His eyes glow red, then he unsheathes his twin sword, yells in anger, and starts adding more chaos. Oh Great Hylia, what did I ever do to deserve this? I think desperately. While all of this is going on, Crooler has made her way to a friend of mine, another Croc. Even from where I am, I can hear him speaking to Crooler. "WHAT ARE you doing?! How dare you do such a thing! When I next see your Mother and Father I'll…I'll…I…" The same reaction to the flower happens to the amour-wearing Croc nearby me, and I know that it's time to get out of here. Before I can even begin to move, however, Cragger is standing in front of me, his sword raised high above his head. All I can do is watch it come down…and clash against my sword.

Sparks fly as I force myself through the fray of Crocs and Lions. Somehow, Ben and the others find me and we stand nearby each other, not wanting to be caught in this. "How do we get out?" "I don't know, Haley. Do you have an idea?" The Raven shakes her head, then caws in alarm- "Look out!" I hear a cry of satisfaction from behind me. Right behind me. "I've got you now, Lion!" I spin, only to feel pain course through me. I fly backwards, sending my friends to the ground. My sword lands nearby me and I can't reach it. No. It pains me to see them forced to not rise and then I notice a Wolf above me, something in its' paws. "I thought Cragger knocked you out. Guess I have to do everything myself." He smiles coldly, raises the object above his head, and hits me with it.

…What have I done? I find myself kneeling beside the Chi Pool, Droplets scattered around me and in a sack. Looking up, I notice lots of angry looking animals coming towards me. I look down at the many Chi droplets, then back at the now many animals surrounding me. Still kneeling, I slowly put up my hands, dropping the bag and wincing as the droplets clatter on the ruined tile. Lagravis comes forwards, looking betrayed. "You dare steal our Chi?" His voice is no higher than a whisper. …What did I do? I don't remember anything! Nothing! "Take her sword, then banish her to the Outlands. Now!" I scramble to my feet and get as far as the back wall before all of them are upon me.

All that can be heard from the Throne Room are a few panicked yelps, then nothing.

?

"Leave her here. Remember, take the sword with you." "And make sure she can't come back to the Temple!" "Why don't we tie her to this tree here…like this…see? Problem solved. Come on, Longtooth, let's get back." "I perfectly agree with you, Leonidas." From a long way away, I can hear what seems to be some kind of vehicle racing away from me at top speed. I'm in pain, from being betrayed like this and from how I was 'brought out here'.

I'm tied to a tree. Fortunately, I'm stuck in a smaller version of a Legendbeast, so I can do whatever I want. First thing I do is vent my destruction on the tree itself. Then I try in vain to free myself. Then I sit at the base, panting. What do I do? Can I still eat anything?-yes. But how can I catch anything if I'm tied up like this? I get lost in thought for a while.

It's night. I had to learn the hard way that some things don't agree with you, no matter what form you are in. Another bad thing is that I can only go around to the other side of the tree, so I had to be ill on one side and I can't get away from what I did. I'm lying down now, staring up at the stars. When I find Crooler…no. I'll get my revenge. I have to free myself first…these bonds are too small for a person of Chima…but are they too small for a human…hmm…I'll try it in the morning.

Sun is blinding me. Then I notice that my fur is no longer dark. If fact, I don't even have fur. No anymore at least. Unable to believe what I'm seeing at first, I cautiously clench and unclench my right hand. My thoughts come racing back to me. …Yes. Just…this is fantastic. Okay, can I free…the chain slides right off my arm and falls to the grass. It worked. I free myself from the tree and walk a few feet away. Now…I think I heard Cragger saying something about holding my friends captive…I know Worriz was there. I'll head to the Wolf Camp first, and try to find someone. As I continue walking, a voice I haven't heard since I pulled my sword out of a pedestal. "You're back! I thought…no, you are here and that is what counts. How are you?" Rachel? "It's me. Back here, Tom has reinstated his power over the Ministry. You need to get back home as soon as possible. Some of your friends are in the Wolf Camp, and the rest are in the Croc Swamp. Both Cragger and have turned evil once more, and they are hunting the land of Chima for you in that gigantic flying Crocship of his. You need to be careful." …Should I turn back? "Back to what?" I'm human right now, but I only did it to free myself. "It'd be best if you did. Remember, you only have yourself if you turn back. Be careful." Say hi to everyone for me. "I will do that." Rachel's presence in my head leaves me and I transform back into a Wolf. Still walking, I trek up the hill in front of me to find that I'm overlooking the Wolf Camp. I'm here. Let's see what I can do.

The Wolf Camp

6-24-15

"Well. We're stuck here. Now what?" I look up from where I am drawing a plan with a stick. "We get out of here. Come and look at this." The others come over to me and stare at the mess of arrows and lines. "…So…what is this?" Still looking up at my friends, I shake my head and stand, still holding the stick. "I made up a plan to get us out of here. I plan to try to escape tonight. Study it well." I then go over to the other side of the cage we are being held in and have an argument with some of the Wolves who are guarding us.

I don't see anyone…that worries me. Well, let's see how much the Wolves like magic. Hiding behind a group of trees, I summon my magic and step out from behind them. Right away, I hear howls of shock and anger and within seconds, I'm surrounded by angry Wolves. Then I hear a somewhat familiar voice coming closer. "Get out of my way! Move it!" Muttered curses and yelps answer the lone Wolf and then Worriz is standing right in front of me, his sword raised. "What are you doing here?" He moves his gaze to mine and raises his sword even higher. "Rescuing my friends," I growl, raising my paws to shield myself, "What are you doing?" Worriz snarls in anger and leaps at me. I dodge him, shooting a ball of magic as I do so. The ball of magic hits the Wolf in the chest and he files backwards, screeching in fear and anger. In one solid movement, I spring to the massive cage in the middle of the camp, raise my paws, and fire at the lock.

A noise alerts me and I turn, only to see someone standing at the now-open cage door. "Well? Are you going to leave the cage or not?" The others notice that the door is open and they push past me, leaving me alone. I then exit the cage, only to notice a lot of Wolves trapping me and my friends. "Let us go." Someone steps in front of me. Seconds later, the Wolves disperse, yelping like crazy. "She can use magic! Run away!" She? "…You came to save us?" The Wolf turns. "Who else, Laval? Who else is with you…there's Link…and Draco…yes, I see you Rogon…and there's Rambi…I don't see anyone else…which means that Cragger is holding them in the Croc Swamp." "What? How do you know that? They could be anywhere!" "Trust me, Laval, I know." With this, Lauren leads us out of the Wolf Camp and in the direction of the Croc Swamp.

The Flying Krock (King 's airship)

The Croc Swamp

6-27-15

"Let us go! You have no right to hold us hostage! Let us go, I say!" A cold, blue crocodilian eye stares back at me through the bars of my cell. I don't know how a massive airship can have cells on it, but this one does. "Oh really? I think I do have a right to hold all of you hostage. Now, the Hunters have agreed to let us have a share of their profits, if all of you are handed over by tonight. Including the Princess. Lord Fangar wants her as his wife, and I'm not going to let him down." The King of the Kremlings turns to his first officer, a lumbering Croc who is good at giving orders. "Krusha." "Yes sir?" "Prepare to lift off. We must be at the Hunters' hideout by midnight." "You got it, !" Krusha rushes over to the cockpit and begins to turn on things. Somewhere in the ship, four powerful engines warm up, and I can faintly hear the whump, whump, whump, whump, of four propellers beginning to spin rapidly. From the location of my cell, I can see practically everything. Outside, the trees and murky swamp water light up from the front headlights of the Crocodilian-shaped airship. As The Flying Krock begins to lift itself from the flooded grass, the trees disappear and I faintly hear the roar of the massive engines as the airship takes to the skies. If they arrive now, it's too late. I can only hope that they know that and his gang of Crocs and Kremlings are taking us to Lord Fangar's Hideout. Speaking of Crocs…where did Cragger go?

Cragger's Commandship

6-28-15

"We've got to catch up to my uncle! Hurry up with repairing the cannon, Crug!" "It takes time to repair things, Cragger. Even you should know that." I turn to Laval and grin at him. "Loud, aren't they?" The Lion Prince nods in my direction and stands up. Draco, Link, Laval, Rambi, Rogon, and myself have been hiding behind these bushes for the last hour or two. We heard a lot and we saw a certain airship take to the skies and head off in the direction of Sir Fangar's Ice Palace. Or whatever he calls it. Now, Cragger and his remaining Crocs who are loyal to him are on and around his Commandship, and all of us intend to get on board one way or another.

In one fluid motion, I leap over the side of my friend's ship and land in front of him. "Laval? Where did you come from? I was wondering if you would like to help me-" "Go after your uncle, I know. Of course I will, Cragger, but I'm not doing it by myself, of course." The others leap over the side of the ship as well and walk over to Cragger, who is standing next to me with his mouth open, showing off his pointy teeth. "You escaped?! How?" "We can tell you later. Every second we waste down here is another second that The Flying Krock gets closer to Fangar's Palace. Can we leave now?" Cragger shuts his mouth and nods frantically. "Yes." He then turns and starts yelling at his future subjects. "Let's move it! Let's go! Now!" All around us Crocs begin to get the ship airborne. Soon, it's above the trees. The ship turns around and shoots off in the direction of the palace of Sir Fangar.