Chapter 13
Broken
Over the past few weeks the group encountered countless dangerous situations. Each problem they faced Guy came up with a solution to over come. Every problem solved by Guy angered Grug. It made Grug felt useless. He felt like he was being replaced. His family was ignoring all of warnings. They were too busy hanging off every word Guy would say. They were all having too much fun trying new things. Everyone was using Guy's new invention "stilts" to walk above the hungry saber tooth tiger to safety.
"So why doesn't the jaguar stay with the tiger?" Eep asked while she tried to walk on the stilts. She ran into Guy as he steadied her.
Guy looked over his shoulder at Juno. She had gotten the hang of the stilts in little to no time. "Because she wasn't meant to stay in one place." He watcher her walk around them. "The jaguar was meant to explore the world and nothing could ever keep her from her destiny."
Eep silently contemplated his response.
The family came into a new experience as they were walking through an empty valley. Suddenly there was a large boom as a storm started. The Croods huddled together in fear. Grug tried to protect his family and frantically punched at the falling water.
"They've seen rain before, right?" Guy strolled over to Juno.
"Well... they don't get out much." Juno walked forward lifting her arms out shoulder length and lifted her head to the sky. Guy and Eep watched her as she spun around dancing in the rain with a smile on her face. She felt freedom while the stress with the dirt washed off her skin. She wished she could feel this way forever.
Reality sat back in, she stopped and looked at them. "Come on. The water's just fine."
The family ran out in front of her. They all started jumping around splashing each other. Guy stepped next to Juno.
"See" She smiled at him. "They just needed a chance and now they love it."
Belt pulled out an umbrella and handed it to Guy. Belt pulled Juno close and out of the rain. Thunder boomed making Juno jump closer as she wrapped her arms around him. They both awkwardly smiled and Guy dipped his head to claim his reward. Juno froze, she couldn't see a way out of this.
Grug saw them snuggling under the umbrella. He snatched the umbrella away, breaking the almost embrace. The umbrella was struck with lightening and Grug got fried. The rest of them pulled out their umbrellas and kept walking.
Days later they were met with a shallow river. The Croods looked both ways down the length of the river. It looked like it never ended. there was no other way but to go across. Juno stepped into the water.
"Juno" Grug pulled her back. "It looks dangerous."
"It's just water. Now it's the scaly creatures in the water you have to look out for." She giggled as she shrugged him off. She walked into the water about waist deep. Slowly she turned around scanning the water. "See perfectly safe."
She fell back and swam to the other side. The rest of the group jumped in and paddled their way to Juno. Grug could only sigh as he watched his family drift farther away. He turned as a sound caught his attention, the tiger that was still stalking them was right behind him. Grug jump out of it's reach and into the water to swim to safety.
All spirits were high in their travels, all but Grug. Everyone was talking and laughing at Juno and Guy's stories. Juno realized she had never felt this type of group dynamic. People caring about one another's well being and company. 'Enjoy it while you can.' She though. 'Nothing this good could ever last.' She faked a smile at Eep while these thought ran through her head.
They all fathered at the edge of a ledge facing their biggest obstacle. A maze of massive, twisted, rocky canyons laid below them and out to the horizon.
Guy handed everyone a conch shell. "Here you go, one for you, and this one is for you." He handed Juno a shell.
"Already got it covered." She pulled out the shell he gave her when they first split up.
"I don't see why everyone needs a shell." Grug complained.
"So if anyone gets in trouble they can call the others" Guy explained.
"Wait...you're saying we should split up." Grug clarified.
"I call Juno as my partner." Eep grabbed her hand and pulled her closer.
"No no no" Guy stepped between them forcing them apart. "We can try more paths at once if we All Split Up."
"Croods stick together. Your way isn't safe." Grug and Guy stood there bickering, Juno took the distraction as an opportunity to talk to Eep in private.
She pulled Eep to the side far from hearing distance.
"Hey what's going on?" Eep was smiling at her.
Juno needed to explain to her the deal she made with Guy. "I wanted to talk to you. Ya know that time Guy got away from us in the rocky field?"
"Yeah you were the one that brought him back. You two are the reason we're here and still alive."
"Well" Juno rubbed the back of her neck with her hand. "I didn't bring him back by force. I had to convince him to help us."
"How did you convince him?" Confusion and concern was in Eep's voice.
"I had to promise him something?" Juno was trying to dance around the truth.
"What did you promise him?"
"Please believe me there was no other way." Juno couldn't look her in the eyes. She knew this wasn't going to go well no matter how she said it.
"JUNO" The outbust made Juno look at her. "What Did You Promise Him?"
"I promised him...our...kiss." She shut her eyes waiting for the pain.
"But only you and I"
"I know, but he..."
"I don't care, you had no right." Eep was squeezing her fist holding back her tears.
"I understand, I haven't.."
"Then don't do it."
"Sweetie I have to do this. He's kept up his part of the bargain."
"But you promised me." Eep turned her back on Juno as a tear fell down her face.
"This was the only way he would stay. I had to ensure everyone's safety and he has made that possible." Juno Tried to comfort her by putting her hand on her shoulder. But Eep pulled away.
"Fine do whatever you want. Give it to him and I will never share that with you ever again." Eep stormed away and joined her family. No one had even noticed they left, they were too busy watching Grug and Guy argue.
"No no no no it's my job to keep everyone safe. I'm still in charge here and we are not splitting up." Grug would not budge from his decision and sat on the ground, arms crossed.
Eep walked up to stand by her father, shoving Guy out of the way. The earth started to shake, the ground rose in a wave knocking all of them down into the maze. They all fell into their separate entrances.
Grug landed alone and called out to his family. "Hello? Is everyone all right?"
"We're okay Grug" He heard his wife's voice.
"Dad" Thunk yelled out. "I'm freaking out a little bit. Just tell me what to do. Just what should I do right now?"
"Stay where you are. I'll find you." Grug tried to climb the stone wall with no avail.
"No. Too slow. Everybody keep moving forward and we'll get out." Guy called out.
The family did as they were told and walked their own paths.
Ugga, Gran and Sandy found bump in the road when they were faced with cannibalistic tall flowers. Gran was about to blow her horn in defeat, when they observed a frog disguise it's self as another flower and hop through the dangerous flowers. Using this new information the women built flower disguises for themselves and sneaked pass the flowers unharmed. Ugga felt a independence and accomplishment with solving her own problem.
Thunk met a lizard dog that just wanted to play. They became fast friend. Grug was stuck running around in circles. Every turn he took just brought him back to the same place.
Juno didn't mind being separated from the group. With Guy's request, Eep's anger and Grug's overbearing protection, she hadn't has a second to herself. But the thoughts were bouncing around in her head. Why did Guy want this and why did she agree? She knew how mad it would make Eep. Eep her first and longest friend, has she lost her forever? Juno knew it all had to come to an end sooner or later. She could never stay with them, not with the way Grug treated her. He acted like she was some weak child. He has no idea what troubles and pain she's overcome without him. None of this made any sense.
Juno made her way to a medium size cavern. The walls were cover with reflective images of her in every direction. As she looked closer it seemed like each image was different or distorted. The image of little girl caught her eye. Shaking in fear the girl inside the reflection stepped back as Juno took a step forward. Both froze and Juno stared into the girl's eyes.
"Are you me?" The girl didn't respond. Juno was getting pissed at the silence "Stop cowering, there's no reason to be afraid." She yelled at the reflection. The scared image turned and ran as it faded away. "Wait, come back." Se ran towards the wall but little girl was already gone.
Juno turned to look for the exit. But what she saw was a freakishly long legged image of herself. The legs were tone and strong from all the travels she had done. Right next to it was a another image of her. But this one was short and stubby. It looked like a blob who never took a walk in her life. Both images held out their arms beckoning Juno to come to one of them. Juno shook her head and slowly backed away. "What is going on?"
Juno felt the cold touch of the wall behind her. She quickly turned around and another image stood in front of her again. This time only her hips and hands were enlarged. She could see the disfigured scars on her hands from the day she lost her family. She clutched her hands to her chest as the scars stung as the moment she received them. The reflection did the same, but there was no pain on it's face. It held its hands up to its chest and gently ran it fingers across the identical scars. It had an evil grin on it's face as it did all of this.
Mesmerized, Juno took a step closer and reached out to touch the reflective scars. The image stared to crack under her fingertips. Juno jumped back as all the images splintered around her. She panicked and crouched into a ball, covering her head with her arms. The glass shattered all around her.
Once the cavern had settled Juno lifted her head. Off to the side only one image of her was left. "No no no, please no more." She covered her eyes and screamed.
It wan't going to leave. Finally Juno stood to face this version of her with courage. This image wasn't distorted like the others. It only stood there and smiled at her. Juno stepped closer to examine it. The image only watched her movements. They were face to face inches apart. She raised her hand but the image stayed perfectly still. Juno looked into its eyes. In those eyes she could see everything Juno had ever done and every experience she ever felt. She saw pain and despair. But that's not all that was there. Juno tilted her head in confusion and the reflection mimicked her action with a smile still on her face. There it was, a glisten in the reflection's eye. There Juno could see the courage, confidence, and spirit she carried with her.
Juno realized it wasn't just the events of her life that stood before her, it was the way in which she handled them. At no point had she ever just gave up and died when faced with a difficult situation. This was her true self standing in front of her. The reflection understood Juno's realization, it pointed to the side showing her a way out. Juno smiled back at the reflection and headed out of the cavern. The reflection watched her go.
She resurfaced to the outside world where the sun greeted her body with warmth. She took in the tranquility of the moment and the peace of mind.
Back inside Guy and found another larger open cavern with moss and purple flowers covering the ground. Eep jump down from her perch and landed behind Guy.
Guy spun around and jumped in surprise. "Oh it's just you." He sighed in relief. She started circling around him staring him down. "Something wrong? You look tense."
"I know" Eep kept circling him as he would turn to face her. "Juno told me about your little deal."
"Ah I see"
Eep stood between Guy and the exit. "You have no right to take this away from us."
"Take? I'm not forcing her."
"She said she had no other choice."
"There is always other choices, she just chose the best option" Guy said in a cocky tone.
"Just leave and never come back. We don't need you."
"Well Juno thinks differently and I'm not going anywhere."
She walked up to him. "New deal, I will give you what you want." She grabbed for him, but he ducked and maneuvered out of her reach.
"I don't want that from you."
"Why not? It's just a thing we do. It doesn't matter who does it." She lunged for him again.
"If it's so unimportant than why are you try to keep it from happening."
"I uhh" She didn't know how to answer him. "Well why do you want to try it?"
"Because it's new, it's special. I want to feel it, experience it."
"But why with her?"
"I care about Juno. I want a deeper connection with her and I want her to see that."
"But if you do you'll have that, you'll have her, and I'll have nothing" Tears were rolling down her face.
"Our kiss will always differ from what you and Juno have. She will still be you friend as she is mine. I'm not trying to take that away." He tried to explain and calm her.
"But she's leaving with you." Eep sunk to the floor.
"If that is what she chooses."
"And I'll be all alone."
"If that is what you choose" Deciding there was no reasoning with her, Guy walked pass Eep and out of the cavern.
Eep, all alone, started punching the ground. The cave echoed her screaming. She wiped the tear away with her blood stained hand and curled into a ball.
Guy found his way out and was welcomed with an enchanting sight. Juno was in front of her, stretching up reaching for the sun.
"Beautiful" He accidentally said out loud.
"It really is, isn't it." Juno thought he was talking about the large forest in front of them.
Guy stood right behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and ran his fingers up her intertwined his fingers in her's. Guy rested his head on her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "Please, stay with me. Stay with me forever."
"Huh?" Juno dropped her arms and turned around. She didn't understand. She always saw herself traveling with Guy seeking out new adventures. But she never thought he would need to hear her commit to the idea. Could she really say it. Things change, people change, and if the time comes they might go their separate ways.
"I can't see a time without you. I want to stay by your side and I want you... to want the same thing." Guy lowered his head to her and their foreheads rested against each other. "What do you want?"
"I" Guy took a step closer. "I" Their faces were inches apart as Juno leaned into him. "I" She whispered as their eyes closed.
Both were slammed to the ground as Thunk's new pet ran between them.
"Here boy" Thunk called the pet back. He smiled at them and shrugged.
"Man I can not catch a break." Guy said under his breath.
The rest of the family emerged. All but Grug. A shell called out behind them.
"I'll go get him" Ugga headed back into the maze.
"Wait, I'll go with." Eep followed behind her mother.