Chapter 36: Gifts
Later on into the night, at about one or two in the morning, the fire died out.
Mort twitched in his sleep, dreaming of mangoes.
Julien's head tilted in his sleep, and landed on top of Isobel's, curling her head onto his shoulder. When he inhaled and sniffed her floral scent, he jerked his head up, waking himself up. He wiped his right eye and saw that it was Isobel. He looked around for a moment, and then put his head back where it was.
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Very early the same morning, before the sun had even risen, Isobel awoke. She felt Julien's head on top of hers, and she carefully moved away so as not to wake him up. She stretched her arms and neck, as she was stiff, and then shivered at the morning cold. There was fog all about, but not so thick that she couldn't see the trees of the park. She squinted at the trees, and saw that there was someone in the top branches, waving something. She stood up and trotted over to wall of the habitat. She climbed up that and then stood atop the wall. Then, she was able to see that it was Jack, waving his sword around like mad. He must have been trying to signal her. Isobel could not tell if it was good new or bad news, but none the less she rushed to the park as quickly as she could, leaving behind her bow and arrows.
When she reached the tree she had seen her brother in, she looked up into the branches.
"Jack!" She called. "Jack, what is it?"
Jack instantly scurried down the tree, sheathing his sword. He was obviously out of breath as he had no doubt sprinted all the way from Atlantis, and he doubled over for a moment, hands on his knees.
"Jack." Isobel was worried now as she put her hand son her brother's shoulders. "What has happened?"
Jack stretched back up, a big smile on his face.
Isobel crinkled her eyebrows, confused. Was this good news or bad news?
"Isobel." Jack finally caught his breath. "The king... he has sent me to bring gifts."
"Gifts?" Isobel asked. "But the city, it is starving."
Jack shook his head, nearly laughing. "Not today, sister dear! The Conquistadora was successful as the sea was blessedly bountiful. Also, the groves and orchards have been, well, fruitful. We have more than enough for feasting and for storing, for at least a little while. And so we are bringing you some of the harvest."
He brought his fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly. And from out of the misty came five Atlantean women with baskets full of food. They balanced them on their heads or on their hips, and had big smiles on their faces as they approached their princess.
Isobel smiled back, overjoyed at this good news.
Jack reached behind the tree to grab a basket full of papayas, red grapes, and pomegranates. He handed it over to his sister, and slung a bag full of crustaceans over his shoulder.
"Come on," he told her, "Let's give these New Yorkers a taste of Atlantis."
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When Julien awoke as the sun began to rise, he saw that Isobel was not there. At first he thought nothing of it, and then he began to worry because of what she had told him about Atlantis' current state. He decided that she was probably in the park, like usual, and so he made his way through the zoo towards there. But when he was just outside the gates of the zoo, he saw a lone figure appear from the mist; it was Isobel. She was holding an overflowing basket on top of her head, smiling broadly and walking gracefully. She looked lovely as the rising sun captured her earrings, eyes, and fur. Julien was awestruck. He then saw that Jack followed her closely, who was then trailed by a small caravan of women who also carried overflowing baskets. He was perplexed by all of this.
Isobel approached him, still smiling. "Good morning."
"Hey." Julien said. He looked over at everyone else. Jack tipped his hat to him, and the Atlantean women waved and giggled at him, whispering amongst themselves. "What's all this for?"
"They're gifts." Isobel explained as she shifted the basket so she only had to hold it with one hand. "Atlantis is bountiful today, and they wish to share it."
"Hmm." Julien pondered this. "I am accepting of these gifts! Come, we must bring it all to the penguins."
Isobel smiled at him and began to walk past him. He began to turn around to join her, but he looked back at the women again and they started laughing at him, saying things loudly to Isobel in Atlantean. Isobel laughed as well and rolled her eyes at them after she responded.
"Wait!" Julien asked Isobel as he caught up to her. "Why are they laughing at me? What did they say? How dare they!"
Isobel laughed again, holding her basket with both hands again. "They were telling me how handsome they think you are."
Julien paused for a moment. "Oh really? Well that is- Wait! Then why were you laughing?"
Isobel only smiled mysteriously as she continued on.
They carefully brought their belongings into the still quiet zoo, planning on entering the penguin's HQ through the secret tunnel.
Julien flung open the fish plaque, and announced, "We are here, with gifts from the king of Atlantis! Bestowed upon you by, well, me."
"Us." Isobel corrected him as she carefully lowered her basket to the ground and then jumped after it.
Skipper, Kowalski, Skipper's sister Amy, and their parents had been sitting at the table. They turned to look open mouthed at the eight lemurs parading into their habitat, all but Julien carrying some form of food.
Jack laid his burlap sack on the table, and then cracked his back. "Three different types of ocean crab in there, weighs a ton o' bricks!"
"Atlantean crab?" Kowalski asked curiously as he walked around to the other side of the table. He poked the bag with his pencil, and it moved in several places.
"Ah, no, Kowalski." Jack told him. "Just your usual. The spindly ones are dodgy, let me tell you."
Right then, a said spindly crab escaped from the sack, crawling on the table. It quickly slipped off, but not before giving Amy a fright. She screamed so loud it woke up Private, Rico, and their families.
Jack unsheathed his sword. "Gotcha, ya blighter!" He skewered the crab, and then placed it back in the sack. "Well, you won't get any more trouble from that one."
Skipper took a sip of his coffee, and grumbled, "It is too early for this."
And then Isobel set her basket of fruits in front of the grimy bag of ocean dwellers. It was a much more lovely sight. And not just because of the shining fruit.
Isobel looked up at Skipper and smiled. He smiled back a bit, and then drank more coffee, stirring it with his usual kipper.
"Good morning, Isobel." Skipper's mom smiled at her.
And then everyone began to share the proper greetings.
Skipper then noticed the others, who were laying down their baskets here and there.
"Who are they?" He asked Isobel.
"Atlantean women." Isobel explained. "The daughters of merchants and fishermen. Jack asked them to help carry the gifts here."
Skipper nodded. He noticed they were a touch taller than Isobel, closer to Julien's height. And they also had either dark brown or crystal blue eyes. They all had the same deep, dusty brown fur. They were lovely, but looked nothing like Isobel. Then again, Isobel was not Atlantean. Then Skipper noticed how giggled quietly and whispered whenever Julien's back was turned.
"What's all that about?" Skipper smiled as he asked Isobel.
Isobel smiled, waving them off. "They have been teasing him since we left the park."
"Oh." Skipper laughed and nodded as he downed the last of his coffee.
Author's Notes: Crazy long chapter! I just had a lot to write for this one. I'll try to update soon, and please review! :)