Yakko and Dot slumped down in defeat. Dot started to cry, while Yakko had a sad expression on his face.
"Oh, Yakko, what are we going to do?!" Dot asked tearfully.
"Don't worry, Dot. We'll figure out something." Yakko said.
"I can help you get your brother back." a voice said from behind.
When Yakko and Dot turned around, they gasped upon seeing who it was. "BUGS BUNNY?!"
"Eh, what's up, doc?" Bugs asked.
"How did you find us?" Yakko asked.
"Can you help us?" Dot asked.
"Whoa, whoa! One at a time, please. Anyway, I was riding my horse down the road when, all of a sudden, I saw you two running after two guys who had your brother in their hands. Then, I thought 'Maybe they need my help.' And now here we are." Bugs said.
"Oh, Bugs, you have no idea. We DO need your help." Yakko said.
"Desperately." Dot said.
"Well, that's what I'm here for!" Bugs said, and took a bite of his carrot. "Now, are we just gonna stand here or what? Let's go!"
At that moment, the trio hopped on Bugs' horse and began their trek down the dirt road.
"Thanks for your help, Bugs. We wouldn't know what to do if it weren't for you." Yakko said.
"Ey, it's my pleasure. Oh, I should probably tell you about those two guys who kidnapped Wakko." Bugs said.
"Okay." Dot said.
"They work for a guy named Ryder Hutchinson. He likes to be called 'Hutch' for short." Bugs said.
Yakko and Dot were confused. "Ryder Hutchinson?" Yakko asked. "Never heard of him." Dot said.
"Yeah, he's the meanest, toughest son-of-a-gun in town. I even had an altercation with him last year." Bugs said.
"About what?" Yakko asked.
"He wanted to steal my money. Luckily for me, I beat him in an arm-wrestling match." Bugs said.
"He sure has a knack for stealing." Dot said.
"What makes you say that?" Bugs asked.
"He wants Wakko's gold bar, or at least I'm pretty sure." Yakko said.
"Wait...when did Wakko acquire a gold bar?" Bugs asked.
"A couple weeks ago. He found it lying on the ground and decided to take it. We tried to convince him to return it to its rightful owner, but, being the way he is, he wouldn't do it." Dot said.
"So, he didn't acquire a gold bar, he STOLE a gold bar. He is one lucky kid." Bugs said.
"You could say that. Nobody else knows but us and our friends." Yakko said.
"I said 'lucky' because I'm surprised he didn't caught stealing it." Bugs said.
"He didn't get caught, but we almost did by the county sheriff." Dot said.
Bugs took another bite of his carrot. "That guy's a big buffoon anyway. Half the time, he doesn't even know where he's going."
Wakko's eyes suddenly opened up. He noticed he was in a random room and was tied to kitchen chair. Ernie and George were standing in front of the kid.
"Where am I?! What do you want from me?" Wakko asked frantically.
"Sorry, kid, you'll have to ask the boss." Ernie said.
"Huh?" Wakko asked.
Suddenly, a man who resembled Yosemite Sam, only taller, approached Wakko. It was Ryder 'Hutch' Hutchinson.
"Hello, kid. It's nice of you to join us." Ryder said.
Wakko was wide-eyed. "Who are you?" he asked.
"My name's Ryder Hutchinson. But you can call me 'Hutch'." Ryder said.
"Are you sure? Because you kinda look like Yosemite Sam." Wakko said.
"I am not Yosemite Sam! I am Ryder. Now, let's cut the bullcrap. I want your gold bar that you found a couple weeks ago." Ryder said.
Wakko's face started to turn red with anger. He wouldn't give up that bar for anything. "NEVER!"
"Kid, please, let's not make this any harder than it already it is. I don't like when people are uncooperative." Ryder said.
"Wait, what do I care? You don't even know where it is." Wakko said.
"No, I don't, but I will." Ryder said.
"Is that a threat?" Wakko asked.
"Hmmm...maybe." Ryder said, and walked away, along with Ernie and George.
"I have to get out of here, and quick! Oh, Yakko, Dot, wherever you are, please save me!" Wakko said to himself.
Meanwhile, Yakko, Dot, and Bugs were still continuing their journey down the dirt road. They were starting to get thirsty due to the heat and humidity.
"Bugs, how long have we've been walking?" Yakko asked.
"About 45 minutes." Bugs said, checking his pocket watch.
"45 minutes?! It seems like it's been 3 hours! And I'm getting thirsty." Dot said.
"We all are, kiddo. Even my horse is starting to get thirsty." Bugs said.
"Case-in-point. Bugs, I don't know how you live off of just eating carrots." Yakko said.
"I eat more than just carrots, Yakko. You just don't see it." Bugs said.
"Fair enough." Dot said.
"Welp, I say we'd better stop at a local watering hole. My mouth is pretty dry." Bugs said.
"Mine too." Yakko said.
"Same here." Dot said.
Suddenly, Bugs saw a medium-sized white jug labeled 'filtered water'.
"A-ha!" Bugs said.
"What?" Yakko asked.
"I found a jug with filtered water in it! And by the looks of things, it seems like there's enough for all of us." Bugs said.
"Well, don't just stand there. Go grab the jug. My tongue is like sandpaper." Dot said.
Bugs grabbed the jug and poured an equal amount of water inside three canteens for him, his horse, Yakko, and Dot. The four drank the water like it was their last drinks on Earth.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" they said simultaneously.
"Well, now that the water situation's solved, I say let's continue forward to save Wakko!" Yakko said.
"I hope he's okay and that they haven't hurt him. I don't wanna lose him." Dot said.
"Relax, sweetheart. He's probably fine. For all we know, he could be tied to a chair." Bugs said.
Wakko was struggling to break free of his restraints. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't his hands, let alone the top half of his body, free. He resorted to one last move.
"Excuse me, Hutch?" Wakko asked.
Ryder stopped playing cards with Ernie and George and got up. "Yeah?"
"Can you please untie me?" Wakko asked.
"Hmmm...I don't know..." Ryder hesitated.
"Oh, come on! Please?" Wakko pleaded.
"Ehhhhhhhh..." Ryder muttered.
"Pretty please with cherry on top?" Wakko asked with puppy-dog eyes.
"Oh, fine! But you have to promise me you won't escape." Ryder said.
"I promise." Wakko said.
"Good boy." Ryder said, and untied Wakko.
The middle Warner child kept his promise and didn't escape like he was told. Not because he actually wanted to stay, but because he didn't want to get hurt.
After about ten minutes or so, Wakko was starting to get bored. He went over to Ryder.
"I'm bored, Hutch." Wakko said.
"Well, how 'bout you join me and my associates in a game of cards, huh? You might actually be good at it." Ryder said.
"Okay, if you insist." Wakko said.
Wakko joined the trio in a game of cards. He won three rounds, not that he expected to do so.
"I'm impressed, kid! You beat all of us and you're a novice player." Ryder said.
"Thanks, I guess." Wakko said.
"Darn it! I never get to win." Ernie whined.
"Hahahaha! Loser!" George teased.
This whole experience was strange for Wakko. Not only strange, but scary. Scary in the sense that Ryder was actually being a decent guy, given the fact that the stories told about him were not so friendly.
"You know, kid, you're not so bad after all." Ryder said.
Wakko was perplexed. "I'm not?" he asked.
"No, you're not. I had my doubts at first. I thought you were gonna be a loud, obnoxious kid with no sense of control. Boy, was I wrong!" Ryder said.
Wakko let out a light smile. Ryder had no idea about lives of the Warners, which of course the middle child was grateful for.
"Hutch, I have a confession to make." Wakko said.
"Okay." Ryder said.
"About that gold bar, I didn't just acquire it, I stole it." Wakko said.
Ernie and George went wide-eyed, while Ryder smiled.
"That's my boy!" Ryder said.
"Yeah, well, I'm not exactly proud of it. I want to return it to its rightful owner." Wakko said.
Ryder's face turned into a disappointed look. "Why the hell would you wanna do that for?" he asked.
"Because stealing is wrong. To be honest with you, I didn't want to at first, but my siblings convinced me I should." Wakko said.
"Who exactly are these siblings of yours?" Ryder asked.
"I have an older brother named Yakko, and a younger sister named Dot." Wakko said.
"I see." Ryder said, leaning back in his chair.
"They're so great. We do almost everything together. Do you have family, Hutch?" Wakko asked.
"Most of my family has passed away. Only my parents are surviving." Ryder said.
"I'm sorry." Wakko said.
"Nah, it's fine. That's just how life works." Ryder said.
There was awkward silence for a moment.
"Ernie, George, you've awful quiet ever since we got here." Ryder said.
"We have nothing to say. Isn't that right, Ernie?" George asked.
"Yeah, I guess." Ernie said.
Yakko, Dot, and Bugs were started to become slowed down by Bugs' horse, due to it getting tired.
"Giddy up, 'ol girl! We got a person to save." Bugs commanded.
The horse merely whinnied and slumped down on the ground. Her feet couldn't handle all the walking they had to do.
"Maybe she's tired. After all, we've been traveling for over an hour." Yakko said.
"Oh, really? I didn't notice. Thanks, Yakko." Dot said in a sarcastic tone. Yakko shot a look at her.
"Eh, she's getting old anyway. But still has her spirit." Bugs said.
Yakko and Dot looked each other awkwardly.
End of chapter 3! Please read and review. Next chapter out soon.