ALVINNN! and The Chipmunks:
Tamian Mysteries
Season 1, Episode 3 of 10:
Eagle's Peak
The Seville brothers were flying in the Munkmobile on their way to Eagle's Peak State Park. Alvin and Simon sat in the passenger and pilot seats respectively, while Theodore sat between the seats in a space in the rear of the cockpit.
"We're coming up on Eagle's Peak. Just two more klicks north.", informed Simon.
"A click? Like a sound? I've never understood what that means in movies.", said Alvin.
"It's another term for kilometers.", answered Simon.
"Oh.", Alvin responded.
"Why didn't you just say that?", Theodore asked Simon.
"He probably just wanted to sound cool.", Alvin commented.
"No, "klick" is used quite a lot. Especially in the military.", Simon answered.
"But we're not in the military.", said Theodore.
"We're also not adventurers for a living, but Alvin likes to pretend otherwise.", Simon wisecracked.
"Hey! We're doing this not because we want to, but because of Dave.", Alvin argued.
"You're still probably going to take advantage of this for play-time.", Simon commented.
"Simon, we're only going into this to do what's necessary.", Alvin said in rebuttal.
"Then explain the "necessity" of all the outdoorsman stuff you put in the back.", Simon told Alvin.
"Duh Simon. We need water bottles, flashlights, binoculars…", Alvin listed.
"…mosquito repellant, trail mix-", Theodore continued.
"Seriously? You brought trail mix?", Alvin asked, interrupting Theodore.
"Well yeah. It's my homemade recipe. Walnuts, dried cranberries, mini-pretzels, sliced almonds, and chocolate chips. I packed a bag for each of us.", explained Theodore.
"Fine Alvin. I guess some of those things could be useful.", Simon admitted.
"Whatever this thing of Filder's is that's at the coordinates, how can we be sure it's lasted for so long?", Alvin questioned.
"We don't even know if it's an item. If it is, hopefully he would have found a way to protect it from the elements. Or maybe it's just the location itself that's important.", Simon speculated.
A few moments later, the Munkmobile slowed its approach to Eagle's peak, and stopped right above it. It then gently descended and parked on a small plateau near the center of the mountain. The Chipmunks stepped out of the Munkmobile once it had landed.
"Uh, Simon? This isn't the exact coordinate spot on the GPS. Couldn't you have landed us a little closer?", Alvin asked.
"Too risky with all the tree cover. We'll have to descend from the mountain.", Simon responded.
Theodore went to the trunk of the Munkmobile and pulled out the backpack of supplies.
"I hope this all won't take too long. I'd like to get home before dinner.", he commented.
"Well the sooner we make it down the mountain, the sooner we can find what we came for and leave. Let's high-tail it.", Alvin said enthusiastically.
The brothers cautiously walked down a natural rock path that circled around the peak.
"Watch your step.", Theodore advised.
"I know, I know.", Alvin hastily acknowledged.
"Well take it more seriously.", Simon told Alvin.
"Please, I've climbed rock walls before. You think I wouldn't know about where to keep my footing?", Alvin asked rhetorically.
"People don't climb Eagle's Peak very often. And look at these drop-offs. We should tread with more caution.", said Simon.
"Besides, most of those rock walls you climb are at a gym. Eleanor says they're good exercise, but not very realistic. She should know, the girls have done real rock climbing, with Dave.", Theodore explained.
"I wouldn't exactly say Dave knows how to rock climb, based on what the girls said. And they did it with safety equipment.", Alvin commented.
"And we're not. Which is all the more reason for us to walk carefully along this trail.", Simon asserted his point.
"How much more careful do you want me to walk? It's not like I'm elderly koot who needs to be walked across the street by some boy scout.", Alvin exaggerated.
"That's insulting to boy scouts, and people above sixty five.", Theodore commented.
"You know what, just forget that analogy. And I've climbed real rocks too; we kinda all have. Honestly, what dangerous things have we not done?", Alvin asked.
"I don't want to answer that question. You don't need any more ideas.", said Simon, trying to divert the conversation.
Alvin scoffed. "Yep, there's the reason your mission nickname is "Killjoy".", he added.
A little while later, The Chipmunks were about to turn a bend in the mountain trail. When all of a sudden, they heard a loud screech.
"What was that?!", Theodore asked in fright.
"It sounded like some kind of bird.", suggested Simon.
"A very large bird.", Alvin added.
"Can we find another way around?", Theodore asked, as he continued to be frightened.
"Theodore. Munk up. For all we know it might not be a very dangerous bird. I mean, I've had a ton of bird experience already.", said Alvin.
"Still, we should go around that bend with extreme caution.", Simon advised.
"I'll go after you guys.", Theodore said, remaining behind his brothers.
Alvin peered around the corner and saw a bald eagle, with a wingspan as wide as Dave was tall, hanging upside down from a piece of fishing net around its foot. The rest of the net was caught in a dead tree branch jutting out from the side of the mountain wall.
"Guys, look.", said Alvin as he pointed to the distressed eagle.
"Stay back! That's a wild eagle! Let's find another way around!", Simon fearfully suggested.
"But that would take a lot longer. And we can't just leave him hanging! Literally!", Alvin pleaded.
"Out of the question, Alvin! That thing could kill us!", Simon urged.
"Theodore, you don't want that eagle to die, do you?", asked Alvin.
"N-no, but I don't wanna die either.", answered Theodore.
"Besides, Simon, Jeanette would want the same.", Alvin said as he proceeded to run to the branch and help the eagle.
"No she wouldn't.", said Simon, in denial. "Alvin! Wait!", he said as he tried to catch up with his brother.
Alvin climbed up onto the tree branch.
"I know you want to help this eagle, and I don't want it to die either. But you should never try to help wild animals without a wildlife exper-"
The eagle let out its mighty call, interrupting Simon.
"I'm pretty sure that's eagle for "I don't care if Alvin's not a wildlife expert. Just save me."", Alvin remarked.
"Alvin. What you're doing could put a lot of stress on the eagle and make its condition worse.", said Simon.
"Does anyone have something sharp I can use to cut the net?", asked Alvin.
"Just use your chipmunk teeth.", Theodore recommended.
"Oh right. Great thinking Theo.", Alvin complimented.
He then used his large front incisors to bite through the net. The eagle fell from the branch, caught air with its wings before it could hit the ledge that The Chipmunks were walking on, and flew away. The rest of the net fell off it's foot right after. It circled back around and landed on the path right next to Simon and Theodore. The two of them struck with fear, stood absolutely still.
"Uh… Nice eagle.", Theodore told the bird nervously.
"Alvin... what… have... you… done?", Simon quietly said in terror.
Alvin climbed down from the branch.
"Hey, Stanley. Take it easy around them.", Alvin told the eagle.
It turned around and made a light, chirping sound at Alvin. It then stepped over towards Alvin and playfully nudged its head on him with its eyes closed.
"Ha ha. He likes you Alvin.", Theodore said joyfully
"Are you out of your mind?!", Simon asked Alvin.
"Relax. Stanley here just wanted to meet ya.", Alvin responded.
"Stanley?", Theodore asked Alvin.
"Yep. Because you know, Uncle Stan, symbol of America. You get it?", Alvin excitedly asked.
"No Alvin, it's "Uncle Sam"." Theodore corrected him.
"Oh well. Stanley still sounds like a good name for an eagle."
"Alvin! You can't just keep that thing as a pet! It's very dangerous, Dave wouldn't allow it, we wouldn't be able to feed it, and it's illegal to keep one without a permit.", Simon stressed.
"First off, I named him. So Stanley is not a "that thing"." Alvin stated. "And second, who said anything about him being a pet?", he asked the presumptuous Simon.
"He's free now. Let's just leave it at that.", Simon responded.
"How did he get that net stuck on his foot?", Theodore asked.
Simon looked up at the piece of fishing net still stuck on the tree branch, then at a large lake in the distance.
"Hmm… That net must've gotten discarded by someone fishing on the lake. Then Stanley got it stuck on his foot when he tried to grab a fish with his talons.", Simon deduced.
"Then I'm glad I don't eat fish.", Theodore re
[Alvin looks down the cliff in the direction of their destination.]
"Hey Simon? The Munkmobile couldn't get us down past the trees, but I know who can.", Alvin said as he looked down the cliff in the direction of their destination.
"Alvin, I really don't think there's any option besides walking down-", Simon paused as he just realized what Alvin was suggesting. "Oh no. No, no, no, no. We are not going to ask Stanley to carry us down there.", he decreed.
"You have a better option?", Alvin asked rhetorically. "Oh wait, you think you do, but it's going to take us hours.", he ranted.
"Yes, but it's safer. This is exactly what I was telling you, Alvin. You just want to have fun and fly on the back of an eagle.", said Simon.
"Well yeah, and it'll be awesome!", said Alvin, hyped by his anticipation.
"But it's dangerous. Your way of quick and easy is too much of a risk. There's no way I'm getting on that thing.", said Simon, as he put his foot down.
"For the last time, Stanley is not a dangerous "thing".", Alvin said, annoyed.
"Simon, we kinda need your help to find the coordinate spot, so can we please hurry this up and get on Stanley?", Theodore asked.
Simon groaned. "If this weren't a matter of life and death, I would just leave and find my own way to the spot.", he said.
"And it's not.", Alvin said in rebuttal. "But alright, you don't have to take a seat on his back.", he added.
A minute later, Alvin and Theodore were seated on Stanley's back, while Simon was carried down in the bird's feet. Gently, but securely, Simon was gripped by the upper arms in a 'T' pose. He screamed in terror on the way down to the forest floor. When Simon's feet were mere inches from solid ground, Stanley let him go. But Simon was still so fearriddled that he stumbled and rolled forward. Stanley finally landed, and the other two chipmunks dismounted. Theodore then walked over to help his brother up off the dirt.
"You really missed out Simon. The view from my seat was amazing.", said Theodore as he extended his hand and lifted Simon up onto his feet.
Simon started to pant. "Alvin… when we… get home… remind me… to-"
"Yep, I will. But fun's over. Gotta get back to mystery hunting.", Alvin said in a fast paced voice to forcefully conclude his brother's scolding remarks. He then turned toward Stanley. "Thanks so much Stanley. We'll take it from here.", he told the majestic bird.
Stanley squawked, and then flew off. Once beyond the trees, Stanley slowly disappeared as he headed toward the skyline.
"Goodbye, Stanley! Thank you!", Theodore called out to him.
"See ya later, my new bird friend!", Alvin called out as well.
Theodore turned to Simon. "So now we made it to the bottom of the mountain. Now what?", he asked, confused.
Simon let out a sigh. "According to my GPS, the exact spot we're looking for is approximately one hundred and fifty nine meters in… that direction.", he said as he pointed northeast.
"Meters?", Theodore asked, still confused. "That means we're close in whatever the non-metric version of measuring is called, right?", he continued asking.
"It's called the empirical system. It's useful to know metric.", replied Simon.
"Oh right, like what our chemistry teacher said. And I quote, "Or else you'll be beat within two point five four centimeters of your life." He was a tough love kind of guy.", Alvin humorously recalled.
Theodore giggled. "Yeah he was."
"We'll pick up our conversation later Alvin. Now, let's get going.", said Simon.
The Chipmunks started walking in the direction that Simon pointed, with Alvin leading the way. Theodore pulled out a plastic zip-bag of his trail mix and began eating some.
"Would you guys like some trail mix?", Theodore asked.
"I'll pass, Theodore.", replied Simon.
"Maybe later.", said Alvin.
After many more minutes of walking across rugged terrain, The Chipmunks saw a small cave opening on the opposite end of a large bowl-shaped formation in the landscape. They climbed down a steep slope into the formation by grabbing onto a tree root. When they made it to the bottom, Alvin and Theodore observed the cave opening on the other side with puzzled looks.
"This doesn't seem right.", said Theodore.
"Simon? Are you sure you got the right coordinates?", asked Alvin.
"Positive.", Simon confirmed.
"Then why are they leading us into a cave?", Alvin asked impatiently.
"Hmm… This may only be as far as Filder could have given a fixed position for. The real item or place we're looking for could be somewhere underground.", Simon suggested.
"Oh, I'm not sure how I feel about this.", Theodore said worriedly.
"You're still afraid of the dark? Munk up bro.", Alvin said to his little brother.
"I can't.", Theodore said cowardly. "What if there's a bear inside? Or a mountain lion? Or a-"
Suddenly, a loud squeal came from behind some bushes at the top of the formation above the cave entrance.
"I hope that's another potentially friendly animal.", Alvin said both cautiously and optimistically.
"Hide!", Theodore exclaimed as the sound of hoof steps grew closer.
The Chipmunks hid in a hollow log nearby that was just big enough for all three of them. A large black boar with six inch long tusks made its way down into the bowl-shaped formation. Theodore peered out through a small crack in the log and watched as the boar started to dig a few yards away with its snout, turning up a mound of dirt.
"There's a huge pig out there.", Theodore whispered to his brothers.
"Oh no.", Simon whispered as he looked out through the crack.
"What? What is it?", Alvin quietly asked.
"That's no ordinary pig. It's a wild boar.", said Simon.
"So what's the problem?", Alvin asked as he also looked out of the crack.
"They're extremely aggressive, and they've been known to attack people.", informed Simon.
"Why is it digging?", Theodore asked.
"Probably looking for tubers.", suggested Simon.
"Boy, he sure is making a mess out of the ground.", Theodore commented.
"Yeah, that's the problem. They're an invasive species. They wreck the soil and outcompete native herbivores.", Simon continued to detail.
Just as the boar pulled a tuber out of the ground, it picked up another scent. It dropped the tuber back into the hole it dug and proceeded to sniff the ground, following the scent in the direction of the log.
"It's coming right to us. What do?", Theodore asked, afraid.
"Keep quiet. And don't move a muscle.", Simon instructed.
The boar made its way to the side of the log that The Chipmunks entered and paused to sniff it, unable to see inside. The brothers stayed completely frozen in fear, hoping that it wouldn't find them. After a few more seconds, the boar stopped sniffing and pulled its snout away from the hole in the log. Simon then slowly sighed in relief.
Suddenly, the log began to roll over with The Chipmunks tumbling inside, screaming for their lives. The log split in two, with Alvin in one half and his brothers in the other. The boar used its tusks to tear open the top of Simon and Theodore's log. The two of them hugged each other for what seemed to them would be the last time, closing their eyes and screaming like they knew their end had come.
But then a rock hit the boar right behind its left ear. It turned its head toward Alvin, who was standing on top of his half of the log, waving his hands to get its attention.
"Hey, come and get me you stupid swine!", Alvin yelled.
Scraping it's hooves against the ground twice, the boar prepared to charge at Alvin. It sprinted to Alvin with its head low and then uppercut the log, reducing it to chunks of bark, but not before Alvin jumped off of it. His plan was to wear the boar down of its energy, but then decided to change tactics.
"Get in the cave!", Alvin ordered his brothers.
Simon and Theodore ran into the small cave opening. To lead the territorial animal away from his brothers, Alvin led the boar to chase him towards a tree growing up against a wall of the formation. Alvin slipped between some tree roots covering an abandoned burrow, which were too small for the boar to fit it's head into. Its tusks became snagged in the roots, so Alvin took the opportunity to retreat deeper into the burrow.
He crawled through a dirt tunnel to another opening where he could see light. When he emerged, he ended up not far from where he started, on the left side of the tree. But at this other entrance, there was a large root, as thick as the stick of a broom, hanging out horizontally, with its end detached from the ground.
"You gotta be kidding me!", Alvin said to himself.
The boar finally broke free from the roots covering the main burrow entrance and resumed charging at Alvin, but the other large tree root was in the way. The force of the boar ramming into the root cause it to bend back towards the wall, and Alvin was nearly sandwiched between them. Separated by mere inches, the boar kept pressing on, building tension in the root. That's when Alvin got an idea.
He held the root with all his might, then the boar stepped back for a second charge. At the split second it was close enough, Alvin released the root, which swung outward at an incredible speed. The boar was slammed right in the face, knocking it out cold and breaking off half of its right tusk.
"Ha ha! Yes! That was awesome!", Alvin cheered. He walked over to the boar, picked up the broken tusk and stashed it in his pocket, and put his foot on the animal's snout triumphantly as it lied on the ground. "How do you like that, mud-wallower?", Alvin taunted the unconscious boar.
"Alvin, get outta there!", Simon yelled from the cave.
"Did you guys see that? That's what this boar gets for messing with the leader of the C-Team!", Alvin boasted.
Suddenly, the boar woke up. And with Alvin's foot still on its snout, it launched him screaming into the air. At the apex of his launch, Alvin grabbed onto a branch, leaving him hanging for dear life, twelve feet above the ground.
"Alvin!", Simon and Theodore screamed in shock.
"Help me!", Alvin yelled with immense panic.
"Don't panic, Alvin! We'll think of something to save you!", said Theodore.
"Don't let go!", Simon encouraged Alvin.
"Why would I have any reason to let go?!", Alvin sarcastically shouted.
The boar at first tried to stand on its hind legs to reach Alvin, but didn't even end up at half the height needed to reach the dangling chipmunk. So it tried ramming the tree to shake him down.
"Hurry guys! This boar just got a bright idea!", said Alvin as he used his legs to hug onto the branch tighter.
Theodore pulled out the bag of trail mix that was meant for Alvin to snack on. "Catch this!", he yelled as he threw the bag to Alvin.
Alvin caught the bag with one hand. "Theodore, I appreciate the thought, but now is not the time for-"
"No, not for you!", Theodore corrected him.
"…Oooohhh.", Alvin said in realization. He whistled to the boar. "Hey boar! How about an appetizer?!", Alvin teased.
The boar stopped ramming the tree and looked up towards Alvin. He grabbed a handful of the trail mix and threw it down to the ground. The boar sniffed and then ate some of it.
"Ya like that?", Alvin asked. "Go get it.", Alvin said as he threw the bag behind the bushes at the top of the slope where the boar had come down from. The boar chased after the bag and disappeared behind the foliage.
"Quick, before it comes back.", said Simon.
Alvin climbed across the branch, down the trunk, and ran into the cave. "Phew. I thought he'd never leave.", he remarked.
"Let's hope he's still gone by the time we're done.", Theodore added.
"I hope this serves as a lesson for you Alvin. This goes back to what I was saying earlier. Wild animals can be very powerful.", Simon told him.
"Yeah, well so can I. I kicked rump roast out there. The Chipettes will never believe it back home.", Alvin continued to boast.
"I'm serious Alvin. You should be very grateful that we were able to save you.", said Simon.
THEODORE: Actually it was me and my trail mix. You just stood back freaking out.
"Not the point, Theodore.", Simon said, already frustrated.
"I saved you guys first. Maybe you're the one who should be grateful.", Alvin scolded Simon.
"This has already gone out of hand. We're miles from home, Dave doesn't know where we are, and we almost lost our lives!", Simon said, with increased stress.
"Miles? I thought we were using metric today.", Theodore questioned.
"Theodore, stay aside from this.", Simon said sternly as he gestured his hand out to tell Theodore to move behind him. "If you keep up this passive mentality about threats, then one day it will come back to bite you.", he continued.
"You know what Simon, you've been complaining for half this trip. We have a mission, and you said it yourself, that's something we all agree on.", Alvin argued back.
"Yes, but we still need to think about each other.", said Simon.
"You don't think I'm already doing that? I just saved your life for crying out loud!", Alvin reiterated.
"And I'm grateful for that. Just treat it like you know how dangerous it is. Because it seems like you don't.", Simon stated.
"I knew what I had to do, Simon. It's why I'm the leader of this team.", said Alvin.
"You mean chose yourself to be this leader of the team, right?", Simon asked contemptuously.
"You think that boar incident wouldn't have happened on your watch?", Alvin asked rhetorically.
"I am on watch. When Dave's not around and we're on our own, he expects me to look out for you two.", Simon asserted.
"Except Dave's not supposed to know we're around here in the first place. And if you got a problem with me being the leader, why don't you…", Alvin stopped himself mid-sentence, resisting the urge to say the next thing on his mind.
"I get it. Fine. Go find Filder's discovery by yourselves. But at the first sign of trouble you come right back here to me.", Simon said as he sat down on a large flat rock against the wall of the cave tunnel.
"Sounds good. Let's go Theodore.", said Alvin. He then proceeded down the tunnel, taking the lead.
"Wait.", said Theodore. Alvin stopped for a brief moment and looked over his shoulder towards Theodore. The young, green clad chipmunk went over to the rock that Simon was sitting on and placed the last bag of trail mix and a flashlight. "Here Simon. Just in case.", he said to his older brother.
Simon took a slow, deep breath. "Thanks, Theodore.", he said.
Theodore rejoined Alvin as they walked down the cave tunnel, shining their flashlights on every surface to look for anything out of the ordinary. A few minutes later, Theodore mustered the courage to start talking to Alvin again, despite the latter continuing to hold an aggravated expression on his face.
"Back there, what were you going to say to Simon?", asked Theodore.
"Nothing. All that needed to be said was said.", Alvin answered bluntly.
"But you said Simon had a problem with you being leader of the C-Team.", Theodore added.
"I said "if", Theodore. I don't think he would ever want the job.", Alvin reminded Theodore.
"Then you said, he could just… something. What were you going to say then?", Theodore continued asking.
Alvin stopped walking, and so did Theodore. Alvin sighed.
"Fine. I wanted to tell him he should get lost in this cave.", said Alvin.
Theodore very lightly gasped upon hearing the insult Alvin had planned for Simon. "Oh my. He really made you that upset?", he asked.
"Yeah.", Alvin said with slight guilt. "But I didn't mean it. Simon's just… so hard to prove anything to.", he said as he began walking again and Theodore followed beside him.
"Prove what? That you should be the leader?", Theodore asked.
"Exactly.", Alvin confirmed. "If I can't prove it to him, how could I prove it to Brittany?", he asked Theodore. "She really has her doubts.", he said.
"You're still worried about that after you beat the tusk off a boar? You can prove it with that.", said Theodore, attempting to reassure Alvin.
"No, that just proves I fought a boar. Brittany's not stupid. She knows what I'd be trying to do by showing her that tusk.", Alvin detailed.
"Oh… Yeah, that makes sense. If I fought the boar, I'd still pass on being the leader. But this is only your first day. Maybe you just need to give them some time to warm up to you.", Theodore recommended.
Alvin and Theodore continued walking through the cave until they entered a large room. They scanned the walls and roof, but the cave room was so large that their flashlight beams didn't cover much area. But soon they spotted a cave painting of what looked to be a large symbol resembling the face of a chipmunk, with several tiny, upright-walking figures in caveman attire painted below it. Alvin and Theodore stared at it with awe, and their jaws slowly started to drop in disbelief.
"Alvin… are you seeing what I'm seeing?", Theodore asked as he continued staring, mesmerized.
"Yeah…", Alvin replied.
"Do you think… this is…", Theodore couldn't finish his question.
"What Filder was leading us to? ...Yes… I think we just discovered more than we bargained for on this trip.", Alvin boldly stated.
To be continued...