We've reached the end, people. Please review...
EPILOGUE
Needless to say, things worked out just fine after that.
The herds from the continent settles into the island nicely, and Manny, Diego and Sid became good friends of Argeth, Kurues and the others as time progressed.
Peaches and Louis found good friends in Klue, Lee and Hogarth. They spent most of their days hanging out and enjoying eachother's company as the days passed by, though their relationship with Cocoum was slightly begin to distance itself.
After a year Cocoum still remained a pre-teen as Lee, Klue and Hogarth moved onto the later stage of adolescence. They weren't taught much older, but they were less interested in he things they used to play with Cocoum. He didn't mind.
Klue, Hogarth and Lee decided to live by themselves; That is, in a group much like Manny, Sid and Diego had. But the former survivors made sure to keep tabs on the misfits so they could keep the havoc to a minimum.
To the rest of the island newest population, Argeth, Kurues, Ellie and Manny were the ones to go to when a problem arouse. The odd animals had gotten them through worse in the past and had always contributed to their survival, such as when the valley flooded and when they needed a leader across the breaking continent.
Cocoum no longer lived with the herd. It seemed the youngster had preferred to live alone, or that's what the herd of former survivors believed before people mentioned seeing an ape traveling on the less inhabited part of the island with his young son in tow.
Since Gutt's body had never been found and Cocoum remained in good health (a surprisingly better behavior, though only to a certain extent...) the herd was able to suss out what Argeth had done.
The pirates band had merged their numbers with the former survivors, something Kurues had been reluctant (that is, at first he straight out refused to let it happen) but Argeth assured him that keeping these ruffians close was better for the safety of the rest of the animals on the island, something he said when everyone had gathered on the day they'd arrived.
The pirates hadn't been too please at first, but with the rest of the population giving them threatening glares (they were outnumbered greatly) they grudgingly complied. Except for Flynn, of course. He was very happy to have new friends.
Gupta and Maut got along fine with teasing Clementine and Squint, urging the rabbits to get on with it an marry each other all ready while Raz rolled her eyes in irritated amusement (and, you know, as Squint tried to maul the badger while telling him to mind his own business)
But it happened anyway, and Clementine and Squint were married happily. Though Squint did miss sea-life, he found he was happier as long as he had familiar faces around him...however annoying (Gupta...) they were. Though he kept Argeth's warning in mind whenever he and Clementine argued. Though the doe always ended up winning anyway.
Cocoum came to visit often. Especially after a few years had passed and he'd grown into an adolescence himself, and some newer members of the herd had arrived.
Argeth and the others found themselves dealing with three small rabbits, two of which were like that of Crash and Eddie only with brains. Argeth had muttered that that was a deadly combination of smarts and mischief.
Clementine had only bared two very small litters, which was odd for a rabbit. No one knew why, but she hadn't had more than two in each little. Some thought it was because she herself was, technically in blunt standers, a 'runt' and prone to illness and therefore wasn't able to bear the normal amount of children. Whatever reason, Argeth thought it was easier to only have three...though that was his thoughts.
He liked calling the first-born (that is, first born in the litter by a few seconds) Squirt because of his resemblance to Squint, though he had his mother's fair colouring and eyes. Squirt (who's real name was Fifer) was the jumpy ring-leader of he and his brothers little pranks, most of which were aimed at Diego and Shira.
Benny was a perfect mixture of his mother and father, much like Peaches was. He sported grey fur with brown eyes, and long flopping ears. His face resembled his mother more, and he was less prone to temper than his brother.
Argeth came to be a very stern and firm 'uncle' and usually was seen by other herds dragging them back to their mother and father after catching them firing small stones through straws at people, something they'd learned from a pair of stupid possums.
With all the commotion Squirt (Fifer) and Benny caused, one would almost forget their tiny little sister who hovered in the background twiddling her thumbs.
Born as a rare one in a litter a few years after her brothers, Eglantine was the image of her mother, the only feature differing her from the healer doe being her pale eyes and black eyelids inherited from Squint (surprisingly she was the only child who had his eyes)
She was a shy and quiet individual that usually followed her brothers around to keep them out of trouble, something they found incredibly annoying. Eglantine was also adored by most of the herds on the island, another thing that irritated her two brothers.
She was very small, smaller than Clementine had been, but her temper shone through now and again, something Squint would usually grin at.
As for Gutt, the pirates had a feeling that their former Captain still lived to this day, but the matter was never brought up. It seemed they'd all moved on and the times of plundering where over. Maybe someday in the future they're paths would cross again.
Gutt was preoccupied with keeping Cocoum in line and making sure his son had an alright start in life. By this time Cocoum had already addressed him as 'Dad'...adding in 'old man' now and again, of course.
It was one sunset on the island that Argeth felt a little reflective on their past events. Gazing over his odd herd he wondered what it may have been like if he hadn't jumped onto that makeshift, iceberg boat with the elk and healer rabbit years ago.
Hmm...he couldn't really image not doing it.
His reflective thoughts were interrupted by the clashing of wooden swords against each other, and the armadillo rolled his eyes upon spotted Benny and Squirt lancing into view.
"I'm winning!" The fair-furred Squirt announced, ducking sharply as his grey-pelted brother swiped at him, frowning.
"Are not, Fifer..."
He accident hit his brother on the head, igniting a fury from the other small rabbit. Soon they were tumbling along the ground in a frenzy, pulling at each other's ears and the like. Argeth sighed and sauntered over unnoticed by the two- that is, unnoticed until he grabbed each of them by the scruff and haul them apart, into the air.
They dropped their arms instantly and put on innocent grins up at their uncle. Innocent? he thought not...
"We weren't fighting'"
"Nope, uncle, nope!"
He rolled his eyes and turned, walking away back to were their mother and father were talking a bit away.
Eglantine spotted Argeth approaching (her wide-eyed brothers in tow) and hugged her father's legs to alert him.
Squint (needless to say...) gave a squinted, questioning look as his two sons were carried over by the armadillo.
He dropped them and shoved the gently before their mother, and they instantly cringed upon seeing her fierce, questioning frown. Her hands were on her hips and her foot was tapping. Even their father had leaned away a little at this point, lifting up Eglantine and slipping away as his wife began telling them off.
"Daddy!" She asked in a high, warbling tone (due to her younger age), one arm around his shoulder "Why do Fifer and Benny like annoying people?"
Squint rose a brow, looking up in consideration. "Huh. They just think it's fun, kiddo."
His small daughter blinked obliviously before smiling "Oh."
Squint laughed to himself. "Yeah...I used to do stuff like that... good times..."
Eglantine tilted her head "Does that mean it's okay."
Whoops! Squint carefully covered up his mistake "No. No it is not. C'mon, kiddo, I think it's time for bed."
"Aww..."
Argeth smiled to himself as he carried her off. Nice save...
He looked around his herd, or in other words, his odd family. They'd been through so much together and now here they were: living, no longer surviving.
It was a nice way of living, too...
"We're you off to now, Junior?"
Cocoum grinned from the branches above and swung down quickly, landing beside the older ape with ease. The younger ape had grown considerably since passing into his teen years and was more than half his size now.
"I'm going to see the guys over at the falls. For some reason those mammoth kids like to hang out there, and well..."
Gutt rolled his eyes "And here's mister social." He remarked, ironically enough it had once been that Cocoum preferred his own company...though he did still, usually at least. Cocoum frowned at him.
"Just because your mister anti-social..."
"Huh." Gutt grinned and feigned indifference as Cocoum began moving past, only to smirk a reach forward.
"Come here, you!"
Cocoum didn't have time to run before Gutt had caught him in a headlock and began giving him a noogie again. He fought to get away, laughing despite himself. Gutt chuckled and released him, rolling his eyes yet again.
"Go one, Junior. Have fun."
The young ape leaped into the trees and began swinging away, calling back idly over his shoulder. Gutt called after him. "And don't annoy people. Cause that annoys me."
Cocoum snorted as he grew further away.
"What-ever. See ya, Dad!"
Gutt turned and shook his head. Blasted Teenagers...He allowed his lips to curl a bit. He'd grow out of trouble making.
...Eventually...
The end.
And the end is here, people. I just want to say thank-you for reviewing and following this story throughout the whole journey. Thanks.
We may see more of these bunch, but later. I'm taking a break from this for a while as I may be busy for the next few weeks.
Please give one last review and tell me what you thought of it.
