Another 2 days have pass, and the Tortuga rests on the African Savannah. And the Tortuga's platforms on the sunroof were extended out.
And out on the grassland, animals went about their daily lives as usual. Like termites crawling around the tall mounds, a few Black Rhinos browsing, a pair of Thompson's Gazelles rushed by as some Wildebeest and zebras were grazing. 2 giraffes by the river, and a Peregrine Falcon soaring by a trio of Ostriches. And even Africa's largest snake, the African Rock Python was basking on a large rock.
By the river, a flock of Red-eyed Doves pecking the ground. And then the Peregrine Falcon appeared again and the doves rushed off as the falcon nearly snatches one.
At the Tortuga, on one of the sunroof platforms, Chris and Martin were out with Amber. As they were testing to see how smart Amber is despite being a little over 2 months old.
They had out 3 red cups, a piece of beef jerky which was a memory game.
"Okay, Amber." Martin said. "All you have to do, is find the piece of jerk hidden in one of the cups."
Chris then brought out his Creaturepod and records as Martin started switching the cups around as quickly as he could. And Amber carefully watches.
Soon, Martin stops as they watched.
Amber looked at the cups carefully, and she knows she can't smell the jerky piece as the cup was hiding it. Amber chittered and lightly nudges the cup in the middle.
Martin lifts the cup and reveals the jerky piece.
"Whoa, she got it on the first try." Chris said as Amber grabs the piece and eats it.
"Nice." Martin smiled.
Chris then looks a head scan of Amber, and it showed a picture of Amber's brain. And astonishingly, the scan showed that a portion of her brain can show memory. And her memory appears to be higher than other reptiles, but it appears to be as equally as most other intelligent mammals, almost comparable to that of a dolphin.
Then Martin placed another bigger jerky piece under a cup, and starts switching the cups around quickly. And then Aviva, Koki and Jimmy appeared as they watched.
Martin soon finishes as they watched as Amber looks at the cups, and then she taps the cup on the left with her snout. Martin lifts the cup up, and reveals the jerky piece.
"Wow, she's acing that game." Koki said amazed as Amber eats the jerky piece.
"Yeah, Raptors sure are smart." Martin said.
An hour later, they were out exploring the Savannah.
"So, what do you think we'll come across?" Martin wondered.
"Not sure." Chris said. "Just have to look and-"
Then suddenly something bumps Chris by his back, and they looked back and saw a young zebra foal. By with a familiar zig-zag strip.
"Maze, hey buddy!" Chris greeted.
Maze is a young Grant's Zebra foal they've met a while back on their Zig-Zagged adventure, when the Tortuga in sky camouflage landed and accidentally spooked Maze's herd as they ran off and he was left behind. They soon got to a river and had a small run-in with a crocodile, Chris manages to drive it off with Hippo Power.
They eventually found a zebra herd, and activated Zebra Power as they went to the herd and saw a stallion fight. They lost sight of Maze for a few minutes but managed to find him again thanks to the photos Aviva took of him for some Wild Kratts crew jackets she's been working on, much of Jimmy's annoyance. They then had a run-in with a pack of Spotted Hyenas as they cornered Maze, by managed to save him with the confusion camouflage of the zebra stripes.
They soon finally found Maze's herd and reunited him with his mother, and then they were chased by the herd's stallion.
"Great to see you, Maze." Martin said scratching the foal's head. "Oh. Maze, this is Amber. Amber, Maze."
Maze turns to Amber and tilts his head curiously. And Amber did the same, she then wanders around him as the most interesting thing to her was the stripe pattern to her.
Maze was also curious of Amber as he was trying to figure out what she was. And then, he bumps his head against Amber. And then Amber bumps her against Maze's left leg thinking it was a game of some sort.
But then a zebra call was heard they looked and saw Maze's mother calling him back to the herd. And Maze runs back to the herd.
"See ya later, buddy!" Maze said.
20 minutes later, they were still exploring as then a Cheetah was seen, and with a cub. And the brothers soon recognized them.
"It's Blur and Spot Swat!" Martin beamed.
Blue and Spot Swat turns to them, and then Spot Swat rushed over to them and rubs against Martin's leg.
"How ya doing, pal?" Chris said rubbing the cub's head.
The Wild Kratts met Blur during their Cheetah Racer adventure, when Aviva made new running sneakers as Martin raced Blur across the Savannah as she chased a holographic gazelle. And the Createrra got wrecked while following them. However, Aviva was determined to invent an invention that can outrun even a Cheetah on the Savannah. However, Zach appeared and joins as they agreed to complete their inventions in 3 hours and race at sundown to prove the world's best inventor.
With the help of Blur's body design, Aviva completes a Cheetah-like robotic vehicle called the Cheetah Racer as Zach brought his ZTV, Zach Terrain Vehicle. They soon started the race as Blur was strangely missing, using Falcon Power, Martin soon saw that Zach as usual was using a Cheetah to power his vehicle. And he soon realized it was Blur, she soon jumps out as When in Gazelle Power got her attention. They continued the race as Zach flew away after his rocket flew in the air trying to avoid a termite mound. Blur and Aviva soon cross the finish line as Blur won by a whisker. As even Aviva admitted that humans can outrun the Cheetah with technology.
Several weeks later when they came back, they came across Blur again. And this time, she had a cub with her. As Blur was out hunting a gazelle, Donita and Dabio were in the area as she was looking for a safari edition. And she soon captured Blur after she was tired out from the chase.
Chris went after Donita as Martin went to protect the cub, and soon got the Cheetah Power Disc and activated as the cub was swatting spots, which is why Martin named him Spot Swat.
As Martin was watching Spot Swat, a Honey Badger appeared and surprised Martin twice as he saw they 2 when laying down looked similar since Spot Swat had the white stripe on his back. Then suddenly a Black Mamba appeared, and confronts the Honey Badger. The badger was bitten, but manages to sleep through the venom as then a lion appeared and scares it off, and even the lion was nervous as he thought Spot Swat was a badger as well. And the white stripe was actually a mimic to the Honey Badger.
Chris soon came back as he had Blur, but has led Donita and Dabio as Martin fooled them as they took the Honey Badger instead of Spot Swat. And Martin laughed as the 2 yelled as the badger tore apart their car and clothes.
Then, Spot Swat saw Amber as they both curiously watched each other.
"Spot Swat, this is Amber." Martin said.
Amber sniffed Spot Swat as he then swatted his paw, and then she playfully tackled the Cheetah cub. They played for a few minutes as then Blur called out a chirp as Spot Swat rushed over to her, and the 2 heads off.
About a half hour later, they were still exploring a small waterhole as a herd of elephants were drinking.
They were resting in the shade under a tree, as then one of the calves from the herd peaked from behind a bush near them. And then he reaches out his trunk and then ruffled Chris' hair.
"What?" Chris looked back. "Thornsley! Hey, buddy."
Thornsley came of the bushes and they hugged him.
Thornsley was a young elephant calf they met a while before Blur and Maze. Chris and Martin were out driving on the Createrra looking for elephants during their Elephant in the Room adventure. And then they heard a trumpet of a baby elephant, and soon found him. And the calf had a thorn stuck in the heel of his right hind foot, and which is he got his name.
They brought Thornsley back to the Tortuga as Aviva and Koki were adored by him. And Thornsley has caused a bit of trouble when he flatten Jimmy's thick sandwich to as flat as a pancake. And sprayed water as Koki's computer. Chris and Martin checked on a herd of elephants nearby, but it was a bachelor herd of bull elephants.
That night, the brothers slept outside with Thornsley as he took both their blankets.
Early the next morning in dawn, Thornsley sneaks into the Tortuga and plays around with the control handle as the Tortuga took off flying with Aviva, Koki and Jimmy and leaving Chris and Martin stranded as they followed.
Later as they were working on the Miniaturizer, Thornsley accidentally knocks it over and miniaturizes them. And soon chases them as he wrecked the entire room.
Chris and Martin eventually found the Tortuga and saw the whole HQ Room trashed, and soon got the other back to normal size.
Then Thornsley got upset as a low rumble as the brothers followed him. They soon found an elephant herd as a female was stuck in a mud wallow as it was Thornsley's mother. Using Elephant Power, they managed to pull her out of the mud along with the others' help with the Createrra.
"How you doing, buddy?" Martin smiled and scratched Thornsley's head.
Amber then chattered curiously.
"Oh, Thornsey this is Amber." Martin said.
Thornsley then turns to Amber, and they both stared at each other curiously. Amber chittered as she tilted her head, and Thornsley copies her as he tilted his head as well. And then Thornsley reaches his trunk out near her as she sniffed it.
Amber then lightly swatted the trunk, and grabs a stick in her mouth. And then Thornsley wraps his trunk around it as then they were in a tug-of-war match. But soon, Thornsley starting pulling Amber as she growled while holding on to the stick. And then were lifted off her feet for a moment by his trunk.
Then a trumpet was heard as Thornsley's mother called out as Thornsley turns and saw the herd beginning to leave. He then wrapped his trunk around Amber as if he was hugging her. And then rushed off to catch up with his mother and herd.
"Bye, Thornsley." Chris said.
Thornsley made one last glanced to the brothers and lightly trumpeted as his then rushed off back to his mother as they followed the herd.
An hour later, the rest of the Wild Kratts team were out on the Createrra as they were hanging with a familiar pride of lions.
The male lion of the pride was He Who Breathes Fire.
They met the pride on their Bad Hair Day was they watched the pride as they slept, and soon the male woke and then roared out as some fog came out of his mouth. Which is who Martin named him He Who Breathes Fire, he soon heads out to patrol his territory as Chris and Martin followed.
Later in the day, they were 5 miles away as then trouble brews. Aviva looked around and saw 2 rival males have wandered in his territory. And they were brothers, and were working together.
The male lion runs back to the pride as the cubs rushed into the grass to hide. As male lions have been known to kill cubs of the bloodline of the previous male. But He Who Breathes Fire had several run-ins, like getting covered in porcupine quills, crossing a river and caught in a 3-way battle with a crocodile and a hippo. Using Crocodile and Hippo Power, Chris and Martin got him across the river.
Aviva manages to distract the lion brothers with the Guinea Fowl Flapper for as long as she could. But one of the brothers swatted the robotic bird as they went after the cubs, but found they were gone. Jimmy soon found them under the Createrra, and they got them in the Createrra as they headed back to the Tortuga as the brothers followed them.
He Who Breathes Fire continues running back to the pride, by got caught in the coils of a Rock Python. Martin wrestles the snake with Python Power, and was soon caught in an entanglement.
Aviva, Koki and Jimmy soon got Lil' Cubby, El Cutisimo, Screen Saver, Cat Burglar, and Chris and Martin which were 2 cubs who spilled green and blue paint on them, back to the Tortuga and on Lock Down. But Screen Saver accidentally opens the sun roof letting the brothers in as they quickly got in a vent.
They quickly got to the garage, but the brothers found them again as they quickly got in the Hippo Sub. Aviva quickly closes the sub, but one of the cubs knocked the remote from her hand as it fell out.
Meanwhile, Martin finally got free from the python and activates Cheetah Power to catch up with Chris and He Who Breathes Fire.
Aviva, Koki, Jimmy and the cubs were still in the Hippo Sub when Jimmy finally noticed the remote as they got concern. And soon, the brothers saw it as one of them placed his paw over it, and opens the sub as Aviva tried to override.
But He Who Breathes Fire finally arrives he fought them, Chris and Martin tried to fight them as well. But were easily overpowered. But He Who Breathes Fire manages to defeat the brothers.
At the moment, they were watching Amber play with the cubs. And they were all in full play mode.
"Whoa, take it easy, Cat Burglar." Koki said and laughed a bit.
Amber then wrestled with Cat Burglar and Screen Saver.
"I didn't think they would be playful today." Aviva said and laughed as she recorded them with her Creaturepod.
The playful cubs continue playing as Amber had her attention on Martin.
"Okay, okay, calm down. Thank you, Amber." Martin said.
Then suddenly, Amber unexpectedly screeched out to the 6 cubs. And they turn to her, and then suddenly join by her side, and then Amber chattered to the cubs as then they stood obediently.
And leaving the Wild Kratts stunned of what they just saw.
"Did you get that?" Martin asked.
Still stunned, Aviva only managed to nod.
"How'd she do that?" Jimmy asked.
Amber growled as she was playing with an old piece of African Rock Python skin she just found. And lightly cawed.
2 hours later, the cubs were resting as He Who Breathes Fire was on territory patrol, and the 2 lioness were out hunting.
Aviva, Koki and Jimmy had gone back to the Tortuga as Chris and Martin stay to watch the cubs and keeping an eye out. As there are many dangers for a lion cub.
At the moment, Chris and Martin were Mini-Sized as Amber was also sleeping with the cubs.
Then, 2 of the cubs, Chris and Martin woke up and saw a dragonfly which got their interest quickly and followed it.
"Hey, Chris, Martin where are you 2 going?" Chris said.
Amber then woke up and saw them, and then the 2 brothers climbed onto her back as she followed them.
They followed the 2 cubs as they chased after the dragonfly for about 15 minutes.
"We sure are getting further away from the others." Martin said.
The 2 cubs continue chasing the dragonfly, and then they trembled down a ledge as Amber quickly followed them.
They soon got to the bottom of the ledge as they got up and shook themselves.
Then suddenly saw a barren rocky area with tall structures of rocks nearby.
(BG Music: Elephant Graveyard, The Lion King, 2019)
"Whoa, what is that?" Martin said.
"I don't know." Chris said.
They then wandered into the area as they walked pass the skeleton remains of an elephant. And saw a pool of bubbling mud.
"Sure is creepy here." Martin said.
They continue wandering into the rocky structures as suddenly some rocks dropped near Amber as she got nervous and looked up but saw nothing. She then sniffs the air as she can tell that something was wrong.
She then hurries to catch up with the 2 cubs, as a silhouette rushed by in the shadows.
The 2 cubs and young Raptor continue wandering through the area as then 2 caves were seen ahead of them.
"This is really getting spooky." Chris said.
"Yeah." Martin agreeing with him. "I just hope there isn't any-"
Then familiar laughing-like sounds were heard as they turned and saw some Spotted Hyenas.
"Spotted Hyenas." Martin gasped.
"Uh-oh." Chris said. "Hyenas kill lion cubs if they get a chance."
Lions and hyenas are swore natural enemies, hyenas have been known to sometimes mob a lion to steal a kill. And a deadly enemy to lion cubs, and even a pack of 20 hyenas is a threat to a single lion.
They quickly got together as soon 9 hyenas appeared.
"This is bad." Chris said.
The hyenas begin to surround them as 2 lion cubs and a young Raptor look like a perfect meal for them, along with 2 mini-sized humans. Then, appearing from the cave behind them was a female. Possibly the alpha, in family groups, it is the females who are in charge.
The group of 5 soon turn to the female, as they were surrounded.
"Any ideas?" Martin nervously asked.
"Working on it." Chris said.
Then the female hyena lunges as Amber quickly leaps out of her way, and then she and the 2 cubs ran as the 2 brothers held on. And they quickly went through a burrow as a hyena chased them but the gap was too small for him as he snapped his bone-crushing jaws.
Amber, and lion cubs Chris and Martin raced through the tunnel.
"There must be a way out of here." Chris said.
They ran through the tunnels as then a hyena appeared from a small gap as they quickly took another way. But the tunnels were maze-like.
"Guys, come in!" Chris called the others from his Creaturepod.
Then 1 hyena drops into the tunnel in front of them from digging through above. They then took another tunnel leading outside, but once they got outisde, they were soon surrounded by dozens of hyenas.
Acting brave, Amber then let out a screech.
But the hyenas weren't even intimidated by it.
"It's gonna take a lot more than that." Martin said.
Then 1 hyena growled as he approaches them.
Amber growled baring her teeth, and then suddenly she brought out her hand claws and lets out a loud thunderous roar that a male lion would make.
The hyena then jumps back in surprise as the other hyenas were surprised as well and frighten as a lion roar is one of the few things they are afraid of. Even Chris and Martin were stunned by that.
Then suddenly, more roaring was heard as it wasn't Amber who roared. And then a commotion was seen behind the hyenas as they turned and saw He Who Breathes Fire fighting his way through the hyenas as they charged and the male lion swatted his paw knocking 2 off their feet. And then snatches one by the neck in his mouth and tossed him away. Then 1 hyena turns and ran as He Who Breathes Fire quickly chased him and swatted his paw at the hyena knocking him over a small ledge. The male lion then turns and roars at 2 hyenas as they backed away as got between them and his cubs.
He Who Breathes Fire roars at the hyenas as they backed away as he roared again making some jumped. He then make another roar as watched the hyenas.
"Whoa." Chris said stunned.
"Hey, Aviva. Did you see that?" Martin asked calling the others on his Creaturepod.
His Creaturepod screen showed Aviva, Koki and Jimmy with stunned and speechless looks.
"Oh, yeah." Chris said. "They saw it. So, Aviva, into Lion Power?"
"Uh, yeah." Aviva said. "That was incredible!"
"Nice fight work." Jimmy said.
"I never knew lions were so protective." Koki said now even more convinced of lion fathers.
Then He Who Breathes Fire growled as he begins to lead the cubs and Amber away from the hyenas.
An hour later, Chris and Martin back to normal size as they were in the Createrra watching the pride feeding on a wildebeest the lionesses brought down.
"Man, that was crazy we were caught by those hyenas." Martin said.
"Yeah, hyenas are serious competition with lions." Chris said.
"Guess even lions face challenges like any animal." Aviva said.
"And here's a cool thing, I've heard that male lion with darker manes, means that cubs have a better chance at surviving." Chris said.
"Really?" Jimmy frowned.
"Yeah." Martin said. "It means a male lion has a better chance of fighting over a pride, and the increase chance of the cubs' survival."
"And that's important." Chris said. "Male lions have been known to kill cubs of another male."
"But why?" Aviva asked.
"Well, it may look like a random point of violence, but they do to have cubs of their own." Chris said.
"But, why were there 2 males with those twins we saw?" Koki wondered.
"Oh, lions have close family bonds." Martin explained. "Sometimes, 2 brothers will stick together. And some prides can have 2 males, and sometimes even 3."
They continue watching the lions for another hour.
Late at night, everyone was asleep as Amber was curled up in her bed.
Close by, a gecko that wandered into the Tortuga crawls on the floor near her. Amber lightly stirred and woke up, and the got up and wanders around the room. She nears Jimmy as he has fallen asleep in his chair.
And then, she saw the gecko which quickly got her interest. At her size, the gecko is a perfect snack.
She quietly sneaks towards the gecko, but the lizard saw her and rushed off as she chased it. She chased the gecko around the HQ room, and the gecko rushed through the automatic doors leading to the cockpit as Amber followed it.
Amber enters the cockpit, and soon saw it near the control handle. She quietly stalked towards the gecko, and inched closer as the gecko rests near the handle. And then Amber lunges as the gecko quickly bolts, and Amber landed on top of the lever.
The engines were then accidentally turned on as the Tortuga took to the air.
The sudden jolt soon woke everyone up, and a jolt woke Jimmy as struggles to stand as he turns to the doorway.
Amber was still standing on the handle trying to get the gecko as the doors opened as the group saw her.
"Ah!" The 5 exclaimed in deja vu from their Elephant in the Room adventure.
Nearby, the sound from the Tortuga thrusters soon woke He Who Breathes Fire and the rest of the pride as they watched the giant metal turtle fly upside-down and make a loop-de-loop.
And one of the lioness growled with a baffled look.
"Hey!" Jimmy said trying to grab the control handle. "Amber, you gotta move! I gotta drive!"
"When Amber is playful, I think she's also mischief maker." Aviva said recollecting to when Thornsley flying the Tortuga.
Koki tried to take the controls as Amber moved again, and the handle turned as the Tortuga was put into a spin. And it flies out as the pride watched as it flies off as they turn to each other.
Meanwhile, They were still trying to get Amber away from the gecko and the control handle. And as the Tortuga flew like a wobbly bird as a group of hippos watch it as it flew over them.
"Try to push her." Jimmy said. "She won't let go of the lever. Her claws are too strong."
Koki tried to pry Amber off the lever, but had no luck.
"She won't move." Koki said.
"How bout some beef jerky, Amber?" Aviva nervously laughed hoping to get her attention. "Um, your toy? What do you want?"
Amber then finally turns to Aviva with the jerky strip, and quickly went after it.
Once off the controls, Jimmy quickly took the wheel as the Tortuga was quickly placed in hover mode and lands near the river with a thud. And it was enough to shake the place as they fell over.
"Oh, everyone okay?" Chris asked rubbing his head.
"The good news is, we're okay." Koki said.
"What was Amber chasing?" Aviva asked.
"This gecko." Chris said having the gecko resting on his hand. "It must've crawled through an open window."
"I wonder how Amber was able to sneak around without us hearing her." Koki said.
Amber chittered as she cowered behind a plant pot.
"Oh, Amber we're not mad." Martin said. "You just gotta be careful of what you do sometimes."
Amber then nuzzled him as if she was saying sorry.
Chris then scans her feet.
And they went into the HQ room, and looked at the scan on the big screen.
The results came in, and they saw her feet has rubbery callous skin and pads.
"Huh. Amber has pads in her feet, and rubbery callous skin." Aviva said. "So she can walk quietly if needed."
"But her claws was like grappling hooks." Jimmy said. "I couldn't budge them off the lever."
Martin hooks his index finger under Amber's right hand as he looks at the claws.
"Her hand claws are curved, like a cat's or any other animal with claws." Martin observed. "These kind of claws are for grabbing. And maybe possibly for hooking and maybe even trip prey sometimes."
Later towards mid-morning, Chris and Martin were exploring around the area by the river. As Amber stayed behind in the Tortuga this time.
"I wonder what could be around here." Martin said.
"Don't know." Chris said. "You never know what you might come across out here."
Then suddenly a snort was heard behind them, and they looked behind them and froze as right in front of them was a Black Rhino.
"Uh-oh." They both nervously said in unison.
The rhino snorted as they saw it was a mother with a calf. They nervously smiled as then zipped off as the rhino chased after them, but being faster than an Olympic sprinter, the rhino quickly caught up to them. And then catches them by her horn and then throws them high into the air.
"THIS IS GONNA HURT!" Chris yelled as they flew through the air.
They then landed in a bush, and then suddenly leaped out of the bush howling in pain as porcupine quills stuck to their rears. And then an African Crested Porcupine came out of the bush which they knew.
"Oh, sorry for landing on you, Quillber." Martin apologized and pulls a quill out. "Ow!"
Quillber is a porcupine they've met on their Quillber's Birthday Surprise adventure when they were looking for a present for Aviva's birthday. They met when Chris nearly sat on him and got pricked, they decided to use 10 of his shed quills to make a necklace for Aviva. But Zach was causing trouble for using the balloons for the party to float animals to his zeppelin. They used Porcupine Power to save the animals, and Martin's last remaining quill gave Zach a crazy ride when it poked the ship.
"We really gotta stop running into you like this." Chris said removing a quill off.
And then the rhino calf went over to them.
"And, Nubs." Martin greeted and scratched his head. "How ya doing, pal?"
Nubs is a Black Rhino calf they met on their Let the Rhinos Roll! adventure, they saw a Black Rhino vanished and went to look for it. And soon came across him and his mother. They even saw her fighting off a pack of lions when then a herd of Black Rhino stampede towards them, which is un-natural since Black Rhinos are solitary creatures. Martin brought Nubs back to the Tortuga as Chris tracked down the rhinos to a cargo plane. Which turns out to be Zach, and Chris was soon captured by his Zachbot disguised as a park ranger.
And somehow, Zach has gotten a hidden contact lens on Nubs' eye spying on them for his latest project. Using the captured rhinos as bulldozers to plow the Savannah to build a parking lot. And the lens had a tracking device, and soon locks onto their position as the Tortuga was hidden in an abandon barn house.
After discovering the lens, Martin used Lion Power to distract the rhinos as Aviva made a Rhino Power Disc as Chris took it and takes Zach's controller. The rhinos were saved as they were lured to a mud wallow as the armor brought off, and Zach tossed into a tree by a rhino.
"Great ta see ya, bud." Chris said.
In the Tortuga, Amber was laying in her bed while Aviva was at her station doing a diagnostic check on the Power Vests to make sure they're both working properly. At the moment, she examines Chris' vest as a section was open near the Activation Button.
"Hmm. Everything looks to be in shape." Aviva said. "Now, a little test in the Tail Match Modulator."
The Tail Modulator is a part of the Power Vest that allows the power suit to come with a tail of the creature.
Then, a familiar Tokay Gecko appeared from in the vest that has been with them for a while.
"Hi, Okay Tokay." Aviva greeted.
They met Okay Tokay during their The Gecko Effect adventure when they were working out how geckos crawl on glass, even upside-down. As they were Mini-Sized and finding the answer, Zach sneaks into the Tortuga to steal the Miniaturizer. When they got up, he traps them in a glass container to keep them as trophies. They soon use Gecko Power to escape and back to real size as Zach panicked of seeing giant Moon Rats messing with the Miniaturizer.
"I was just about to run a test." Aviva said. "I'll use the Gecko Disc."
Aviva placed the Gecko Power Disc in the slot, and pushed it as the Modulator spun showing the tail picture of the gecko, Spider Monkey, Cheetah, porcupine, Basilisk, squirrel, Zebra, shark, Beaver, rattlesnake, wolf, and crocodile.
"And the Tail Modulator gives us..." Aviva said.
And the Modulator lands on the gecko tail.
"Gecko." Aviva said.
Amber then got up from her bed and went over to a bin and brought out a toy ring as she play with it.
Then appearing from the open window, a Nubian Giraffe sticks her head through the window.
She was actually friend of theirs' named Necklace. They met her during their Neck and Neck adventure while figuring out why giraffes have long necks. And for a strange reason Necklace took some of their things tossing them on her neck. Why weren't sure, but 1 theory was thought if she was using them to attract the attention of a male giraffe. Necklace took a water tube, Martin's Power Suit Deactivation Module, the plans of the Deactivation Module, and Chris' Power Suit. They eventually got their things back.
Amber continues gnawing her toy, and soon saw the shadow from Necklace and turns to her. And Amber was surprise by the tall creature.
Necklace lowers her head down near the small Raptor, but it was Amber's toy that got her interest as she then grabs it with her lips. Amber held onto the ring trying to take it back. But was lifted into the air as she screeched.
"Huh?" Aviva turns to them. "Necklace! Put her down!"
She quickly rushed over to them as Koki and Jimmy saw what was happening and rush in as Aviva quickly grabs Amber as she held on to her toy ring.
"Necklace, let go!" Aviva said strained.
The ring soon slipped from Necklace's grip, and Koki closed the window.
"Honestly, why does she take things from us?" Koki inquired of the giraffe's behavior.
"No idea." Aviva said. "She really gave us problems to our necks last time."
Amber hissed growled at the giraffe.
Later, they were all out as a group of hippos were in the river as some were relaxing on the sand bank. And even met up with Hipster who is nearby with his mother.
Hipster is a hippo calf that they met on their Race for the Hippo Disc, and has even helped them get their disc back.
"You sure we're safe over here?" Jimmy asked.
"Relax, Jimmy." Martin assured. "As long as we keep our distance, there's no problem."
"Yeah, I think we're far enough from them." Chris said as they were 60 yards from the hippos.
Hippos are the most dangerous animal in Africa, they cause more deaths than lions, crocodiles and even elephants. And are highly territorial.
"You know, the word "hippo" actually means "River Horse" in Greek." Martin said.
"Really?" Aviva said.
"Yeah, and hippos used be in Europe and Asia as well." Martin said.
They watched as they can hear the honking calls from the hippos.
"Whoa, they sure are loud." Jimmy said.
"Yeah, and 80% of their vocalization happens underwater." Chris said. "They can actually hear above and underwater."
Hippos communicate with honks, squeals, and even clicks underwater. Unlike a land mammals' vocal cords, a hippo's is actually tilted 90 degrees which allows to vocalize underwater.
"But how territorial are hippos?" Koki wondered. "Like say... someone was crossing a river?"
"Hmm. I think I know how to experiment that." Martin said having an idea.
10 minutes later, they had out a small inflatable raft and a test dummy they call Brad.
"Our test dummy Brad will show what will happen if someone tried to cross a river with hippos." Martin said.
They placed the raft in the river, and soon pushed it out as it flows downriver towards the hippos.
Chris looks through his binoculars, and looks at the pod as then the pod's dominant bull, named Tusker soon spotted the raft and dummy.
"Tusker sees the raft." Chris said.
They watched as Tusker eyes the raft, and then suddenly he charges towards it and bites down on the raft. And started mauling the raft like a chew toy, and soon he circles around and charges again as they even saw Brad in Tusker's mouth. And then swung his head side to side ripping the dummy apart. And after a few minutes, he was soon done.
They were stunned of what they saw as they watched the pieces float pass the hippos, and were soon carried to the shore behind them. And they soon got to them.
"Yikes." Jimmy said grabbing the totaled raft.
"Yeah, glad it wasn't any of us." Martin said. "And a close-call with Zach during our Race for the Hippo Disc adventure."
"Hippos have actually been know to flip boats over like what we saw." Chris said.
Then Martin noticed something white on the sand.
"Hey, check it out." Martin said walking over to it and brushes some sand off it and revealing it. "An old hippo skull."
"Whoa, it's huge." Aviva said.
"And look at those tusks." Koki said.
"Yeah, these sharp edges are worn by those on the upper jaw." Martin said. "And they get sharper each time. And those 2 are also use for fighting." He gestured to the 2 teeth in between the tusks.
"Whoa, imagine being gored by those." Chris said.
"Hey, look." Martin said and grabs a bone." This looks like a leg bone of a hippo. And heavy too."
Chris then scans the bone with his Creaturepod, his screen then shows it was a hippo leg bone. However, a cross section showed that it's completely solid.
"Well, look at that." Martin said.
"A hippo's body is so dense, that even it's leg bones are solid." Chris said.
"Whoa, any other leg bone from an animal is filled with bone marrow, right?" Aviva said.
"Yeah, no marrow means that a hippo sinks underwater." Martin said. "That is why they walk along the riverbed."
"Huh. I always wondered why." Aviva said.
"Who knows what else we'll find out here in Africa." Koki said.
"Yeah, we've only been checking out the Savannah so far." Chris said.
"Yeah, we've yet to check out others places, like the Congo, or the Sahara." Martin said.
"Just have to wait and see what tomorrow has in store for us." Chris said.
Author's Note:
The (BG Music) is something I saw with Stegz's The Green and the Violet story, and something similar in DareDreamer. Not sure if it's something I'll do much, but every now and then.