A.N. The following is a nonprofit fan fiction. I do not owe any of these characters, or the stories they originate from. Please support the official release.
Summary for the chapter: Arcanine and Rebecca are separated after falling down the waterfall. Arcanine now struggles with the venom from the snakes as he searches for Rebecca while the latter is running into many weird animals that can actually talk.
At the bottom of the waterfall, Rebecca resurfaced, floating on a log, but her head was bleeding from a wound. She had hit something on the way down and was drifting into unconsciousness.
As Arcanine resurfaced with a jump and began swimming for shore. He coughed when reached the bank, collapsing, covering his wet fur in sand. He took a moment to catch his breath then rose up. He looked around the lake for Rebecca, but saw no signs of her. There was too much. He noticed the lake continued into a river and concluded Rebecca must've headed down stream. He started running down along the river, but something wasn't right. His vision was becoming blurry and he was getting dizzy. The venom from the snakes that bit him was kicking in. He snapped out of it, ignoring the pain.
But then came to a halt as the river split in two. Arcanine now faced a real dilemma. How would he know which way Rebecca floated away? He had an idea. He picked up the nearest large stick he could find and tossed it into the river. He watched it carefully to see which way it would go. Right. Arcanine deduced that the stream more than likely took Rebecca that way then and he rushed down in that direction.
It wasn't the right one though. Rebecca had actually ended up in the river going to the left. She was still on her log, unconscious. She drifted for several hours until she reached a lake where she drifted towards a swamp. Something then nudged her head. The bloody part that is. Rebecca stirred in her sleep and whacked the black sticky thing out of the way. But it came back and started to get annoyed. She shot her eyes open and saw a monster before her. A massive humanoid fly.
(Best way I can describe it is the Fly from the movie of the same name, staring Jeff Goldbloom)
"Wow!" Rebecca a cried out and jumped. She backed away from the fly, still on the log. But the massive insect advanced on her. "Get back!" She spat and kicked it in the face. There were many others like this one, flying around the swamp, releasing a loud buzzing sound from their wings. "Get away from me!" She spat as she continued to kick the man-fly.
But then all of a sudden, a massive predator leaps from the water. It was a giant piranhadon. A twelve meters long relative to the piranha. It swooped out of the water and snatched the giant fly, taking it as its prey. The commotion caused Rebecca to fall of the log and into the water. Her head stuck out from the surface and she saw more piranhadons jumping out of the water and snatching man-flies in the air. Rebecca realized these waters were totally unsafe. She began swimming for shore. She looked behind her and saw the fin of one of the piranhadons sticking out of the water and heading towards her. Rebecca made a B-line for a nearby tree. It was a large one where she was able to swim in between the roots sticking out of the water. And just in time as her assailant was about to nab her. The piranhadon struggled to get Rebecca, tearing through the strong roots. But Rebecca swum to the other side as the predator was getting tangled in the roots. She swum for shore, but the piranhadon broke free and went after her again. Rebecca swum to a cliff wall, which in her fearful state tried to climb. She looked behind her just as the piranhadon caught up with her, leaping at her with its mouth wide open. Rebecca screamed in terror, expecting the end to come. But then some entangled the piranhadon. Massive coils coming out of the water. Rebecca looked up and saw the biggest snake anyone had ever seen. The other piranhadons scurried in fear, and the one trapped in the snake's coils struggled to get free. But the snake squeezed it until a cracking sound was heard and the piranhadon went limb. Once its prey was dead, the snake began devouring the piranhadon.
Rebecca slowly went back into the water and carefully started swimming away. Who knows if this behemoth wanted seconds once it was done with the river predator? She made it to shore where she crawled up the beach, covering her chest, belly and legs with sand. She crawled through the grass and bushes, hoping the vegetation would be enough to provide her with cover.
But then she felt something slimy slither around her flat bare belly. "Eek!" She cried out and was swooped from the ground. She was hoisted 100 feet of the ground and into the tree tops. The giant snake then brought Rebecca up to its face. "Oh no," The pinkette said in despair, believing this was her last moments.
"You have nothing to fear here, little human."
Rebecca's eyes widen in shock. "You … you can talk? Or am I going crazy?"
"You are very much sane, dear child." The snake replied. "Indeed I have the ability of the human tongue."
"How … how's that possible?" Rebecca wondered.
"That I will answer momentarily. But right now, you must explain to me why you dare tread into to these hunting grounds," The snake told her. "No human has dared enter this swamp or any nearby hunting grounds for many long seasons."
"I, uh … I was swooped away by a flood up in the hills." Rebecca started. "I fell down a waterfall where I lost consciousness and … oh no!" She suddenly gasped. "My friend! He fell too! I must go! I have to find him!" She said as she began struggling in the snake's coils.
"Be still," The snake hissed in annoyance, losing her patience. "I will escort you out of my swamp. But that is as far as I'll help you." She said and then placed Rebecca on her back. "My name is Kaa," The snake said.
"My name is … Rebecca," The pinkette responded in kind.
"Try not to fall off, Rebecca." Kaa said and began slithering away over the massive branches of the tree tops. "Which way did you come from?" She asked.
Rebecca pointed in the direction of a nearby mountain. "There," She said. "My friend and I were going uphill to get away from the flooding. But a mudslide brought us back down."
"You drifted a great distance," Kaa commented.
"I was unconscious," Rebecca replied. "I would've drowned if I hadn't gotten on that log." She added. "But why are you helping me? Animals do not help creature that aren't of their own."
"I'm a special case." Kaa replied. "I know from experience that if one human goes missing, others will go look for them. Rather than eating a human, I prefer to rush them out of my swamp, so as to not draw too much unwanted attention." She said and then got a bitter expression on her face. "You humans with your sticks with sharps rocks at the end." She hissed. Rebecca then noticed the scars on Kaa's body. Many of them were from puncture wounds by spears. She'd recognize them.
"Well, you certainly have reasons to fear humans," Rebecca said. "But I've never stabbed you."
"No indeed." Kaa replied.
"So, uh … how come you can talk?" Rebecca asked again, as they reached the lake and started swimming back where Rebecca came from.
"I suppose we could kill time with talk," Kaa said and looked to the left. "See that crater over there. Rebecca turned her head and her jaw dropped. There was a massive crater near the shore of the lake. It must've been about half a mile in diameter. She had seen these after a burning rock from the sky hit the ground. But this was bigger than anything she had seen before. "At the center of that crater lies a blue rock that fell from the sky many, many long seasons ago. Back when I was but a child. As the rain season came, it filled the crater with water. And naturally, everyone flocks to a fresh waterhole. Never before had anyone drunk such clear water. But then we started experience … changes. We grew larger, more intelligent and some … more aggressive." Kaa explained. "If you reach that crater, I do not recommend you drink from it. I have never seen what it would do to a human."
"I understand," Rebecca said, albeit skeptical. After all, a magical rock that gives you strange abilities sounds pretty farfetched.
"I also recall there were two rocks," Kaa went on. "The one that fell here. And the other continued forward," She said and used her tail to point in the great distance. "Over there by those snowy mountains." She said and Rebecca did notice far, far away that there were mountains in the distance, white as clouds.
"Snow?" Rebecca said, curiously. "I have never seen snow in all my life."
"It's very cold from what I've been told. Not something for a cold bloody creature like myself." Kaa said.
"Us humans can manage in both hot and cold temperatures," Rebecca said. "Maybe I'll pay those mountains a visit."
"Do you think you humans are invincible?" Kaa asked.
"No," Rebecca said with a sad expression. "If we were, I wouldn't have lost my tribe."
Kaa was silent for a few moments, looking sympathetic. "I'm sorry. I've outlived many of my own children. I know the pain." She said. "Let me ask you something. Do you believe anything in this world is invincible?" She asked.
"I have seen some mighty predators fall," Rebecca replied, thinking back to Sharptooth. "Invincible is just a made up word by those who think themselves as such. Who think they can't be killed." She said.
"Well spoken," Kaa said. "I will soon be example of that."
"What do you mean?" Rebecca asked, curiously.
"I am over 100 seasons old," Kaa replied. "My kind continues to grow as long as we live. That is why I am so big. And it's all because of the water in that crater I spoke of before. It is what heals me and gives me newfound strength every season. But each season the effects of that water wears off. I can feel it." She said, looking sad. "I am the apex predator of the swamp. All creatures here fear me. But it won't forever be that way. One day soon I will eventually die, whether it be by old age, a disease or the timely arrival of a predator superior to me, eventually, I will die. And then the same creatures I used to feast upon will feast upon my carcass. It is a never ending cycle. That is the circle of life."
Rebecca was looking deep in thought. "I guess in the end … we're all just food." She said.
"Mm," Kaa hummed in agreement.
Eventually, they reach the part where the river splits, and Rebecca noticed the paw prints on the other side of the shore. "Wait!" She cried out and jumped off, into the water. She went straight to shore and over to the paw prints. "These tracks gotta be his."
"Your friend is a dog?" Kaa asked when looking upon the tracks.
"I never said he was human." Rebecca replied. "Thanks for all the help. Regardless of what your reasons were, I appreciate it." She said, sincerely. "I'll manage on my own from here." She said and rushed of.
"Wait, before you go, I must warn you about-" Kaa said, but was interrupted.
"I don't have time! I must find my friend! See ya!" Rebecca shouted as she ran. Kaa was taken aback, and then looked annoyed. She stretched her long tail over to Rebecca, wrapped the tip around her ankle and pulled her back. "Wow!" She cried out as she was hoisted into the air, dangling upside down. "Hey! Put me down!" She spat.
"One thing most children have in common," Kaa said in annoyance. "They're impatient. Always rushing into things, never stopping to think things through or heed the words of those that know better." She said as she held Rebecca up to her face.
The pinkette sighed. "Fine. Fine." She said and crossed her arms, while still hanging upside down. "What is it?"
"These are the hunting grounds of Shere Khan," Kaa revealed.
"The Stripped King?" Rebecca said in surprise. "I thought he was just a legend to scare children. My mother used to tell me stories when I was very little."
"And what did she tell you?" Kaa asked.
"That he single handily destroyed every human tribe in the area, killing all in his sight, down to the last child." Rebecca replied.
"Shere Khan drank from the crater like everyone else," Kaa revealed. "He's lived far longer than any normal cat. It had a greater affect on him than most. He is stronger than ten large cats. His teeth can crush rocks, his claws chop a man's head clean of, his roars are the voice of doom." She said. "Even I would be hesitant in a confrontation with him. But you may have an advantage. You humans have mastered the Red Flower, which you call fire."
"Yeah," Rebecca said, still dangling upside down.
"When Shere Khan was a cub, he was burnt in the face by a human." Kaa revealed. "It traumatized him to the point where he's got an out of control fear for it."
"Well, then it shouldn't be a problem," Rebecca said. "My friend is a fire breather."
"Then I suggest you find him," Kaa said as she gently put Rebecca down, "before Shere Khan finds you. He has different methods of killing his human victims. None of which are painless" She said.
"Is being killed by a predator ever painless?" Rebecca asked. "Well, thanks for all the warnings. I shall heed them well." She said and began running along the river, in search for Arcanine. And Kaa began heading back to the swamp.
Unbeknownst to them, a creature in the bushes had been preying on them. It was a fox. "Oh, Shere Khan will be most delighted to hear about this," He said, chuckling in a creepy manner.
Meanwhile, Arcanine was having no luck finding Rebecca. He came upon the river's end, which split into several smaller streams. If Rebecca did come this way, she would've gotten out of the water by now. He began sniffing the area for her scent or at least for any tracks. But his vision was getting blurry. The venom from the snake bites were starting to get to him. He knew he was going to die. But at the very least, he wanted to spend his final moments with the only family he had left.
Suddenly he's hit in the face by a fruit. He whips the sticky content away from his face while he hears laughter. He looks up and sees several dozen monkeys, holding up fruits and they were smiling mischievously at him. They all ganged up on Arcanine, tossing fruits at him for no other reason than being dicks. Arcanine growled and barked at them, as he was being covered in greasy and sticky fruit. The monkeys only laughed as they continued their assault. But then Arcanine's patience ran out. He opened his mouth and breathed fire up at the trees. Two monkeys were burnt to a crisp and the rest fled in horror. Part of the tree was on fire. But it didn't spread. It was still very moist after the rain.
Arcanine kept on walking. He was getting very weak now. He was dizzy and staggering. He wasn't even tracking Rebecca anymore. He was just walking around in circles.
"This one looks as if he's about to topple over," Someone said.
Arcanine looked around in alarm. He then looked up and saw four distinctive looking vultures on the tree tops.
"He'll be dead soon, I tell ya." One of them said.
"Dog food for dinner," Another said. "My favorite."
"Thought your favorite was fish," The other one asked.
"That was last week. My new favorite is canine," The other said.
"You get a new favorite every week. You weirdo," Another said.
Now Arcanine knew he had lost it. Animals weren't capable of human languish … were they? He just shrugged and drifted off. His steps were getting heavier. His closed his eyes a few times and then shot them open again. He used all his might to stay awake. But eventually he dropped on his knees. He fell onto the side, breathing heavily. He whimpered a dog's whimper. At the very least he could've been by Rebecca's side one last time.
"Is he dead yet?" One of the vultures asked.
"Can't you tell?" Another one asked.
"Give it a few more minutes," One vulture said. "He's only got that much time left to live."
"I don't think we'll get to eat today," Another one of them said.
Arcanine just laid there, breathing heavily, when a shadow suddenly loomed over him. He opened his eye slightly and saw a dog like figure standing over him. But it was glowing blue. He shut his eyes and drifted into darkness.
About 5 miles away, a predator was prowling the jungle. It was a massive tiger with a burnt scar on the right side of his face. This was Shere Khan. The tiger king spotted a Stantler in the middle of a field, eating grass. It was far away from its herd. Shere Khan carefully approached the unsuspecting herbivore. Gracefully, he snuck close to his meal, carefully avoiding any twigs, not making a single sound. He was now just about 20 feet away. He braced himself, ready to bounce.
"Shere Khan! Shere Khan! Shere Khan!"
The fox from before shouted when he spotted his master, alerting the Stantler of the tiger's presence, and ran off. Shere Khan groaned and put his paw on his head. As if he had a headache.
"You're not going to believe what I've-GHA!" The fox suddenly choked when Shere Khan grabbed him by the throat, wrapping his paw around his neck.
"I hope for your sake that this is important, Tabaki." Shere Khan hissed, using the Fox's name. "Since you just cost me my lunch!" He shouted. Tabaki struggled to get lose, as the only words he could utter were choking sound effect. Shere Khan wanted to suffocate him to death. But whatever information the fox had to offer must be very important for him to interrupt his hunt, so he let him go.
Tabaki coughed and gasped for air. "Just (Cough) give me a moment," He said, catching his breath. "Okay … I think I'm good."
"What is it that is so important that you would dare interrupt my hunt?!" Shere Khan spat.
Tabaki whimpered from being yelled. "Forgive me, my lord. I didn't mean to cost you your prey. But I have something even better than the one that got away."
"Well, tell me already!" Shere Khan spat.
"I saw a human," Tabaki finally revealed. "A female. A young one too. Pink hair and really, really large chest." He described. "She is on your hunting grounds."
Now Shere Khan was looking interested. "Are you certain?"
"Dead serious, my lord." Tabaki replied, quickly.
"Where is she then?" The tiger asked/demanded.
"By the river. She's follow the tracks of a friend of hers that got separated from her." Tabaki replied.
"Two humans then?" Shere khan asked.
"No," Tabaki said. "From what I overheard, her friend is a large dog. A fire breather no less."
This startled Shere Khan. "Then I better find her before that dog does," He said and turned and rushed towards the river.
Back with Rebecca, she had reached the stream where Arcanine had been. But all the rocks made it impossible to find any tracks. Except for one thing. She bent down as she spotted something. It was a few strands of orange fur.
"Yup. He was here alright," She said and looked around. "And I'm talking to myself again," She pointed out. "But there's no one else to talk to." She said and sighed. "I miss social activity." She said, hanging her head. But then she was hit by a mango. "What the …?" She said and looked up as she whipped the mango goop of from her head. It was the same monkey that attacked Arcanine before. "You gotta be kidding me. I do not have time for this." She hissed and began running and dodging the fruits coming at her. "That is such a waste of food, you dumb apes!" She spat.
But then Rebecca slipped on a banana peel, falling forward. "Wha!" She cried out and hit the ground chin first. With her ass in the air, and being temporarily immobile, the monkeys relentlessly tossed fruits at her, laughing hysterically. One monkey tossed a honey melon right on Rebecca's butt. It shattered on impact, covering her loincloth covered butt with melon juice. "Ow!" She cried out, rising up, only to get hit in the face by a papaya. The monkey's laughed hysterically at her. She growled and picked up a rock. "So you wanna laugh?!" She spat and tossed the rock at them. "Laugh at this!" She shouted, but the rock missed as the monkey's moved away and went straight into the bushes. A gruff cry of pain was heard, startling Rebecca.
Out of the bushes came something big. A gorilla. Silverback. The largest one Rebecca had ever seen. It was as big as three men, if not bigger. And it had a bump on its head. and therefore was looking at Rebecca very angrily. The pinkette knew what she had done and she was sweating now. "Um …" She said, stuttering. "They did it," She said, pointing her finger at the monkeys. The gorilla roared and bumped its fists to its chest. "EEK!" Rebecca cried out and run for dear life. The gorilla gave chase.
"Well, what do we do now?" One of the talking vultures asked his friend.
"Don't know. Think of something." The friend asked.
But then they heard screaming and a roar. The four vultures then saw Rebecca running down on the jungle floor, being chased by a gorilla.
"Looks like we get to eat after all," One of the vultures said with high hopes. But then Rebecca jumped into the lake nearby, hopping it was deep. She knew gorillas can't swim. Luckily for her, it was very deep indeed, forcing the gorilla to halt. "Oh, bugger." The vulture said in disappointment.
Rebecca was too far away from the gorilla for it to catch her. But he didn't seem to be willing to give up quite yet. She looked at the gorilla, which then bumped its fists to its chest, challenging her. Rebecca avoided eye contact, realizing locking eyes with it only agitated it. It took a while. But eventually, the gorilla gave up and walked away. Rebecca sighed with relief and swum back to shore.
Suddenly, she finds herself surrounded by the vultures. She got defensive.
"Aw, don't be scared, love. We're scavengers. Not hunters. We ain't gonna hurt ya." One of them said.
"Oh great. You can talk too." Rebecca said, dryly.
"Blime, she's got some meat on her legs." One of the vultures said, looking at Rebecca's toned legs. The vulture sighed. "And we could've been eating them by now if you hadn't outrun that big furry friend of yours."
"Sorry to disappoint you," Rebecca said, rolling her eyes.
"Here eyes look tasty too. I bet they would've made for a good appetizer." Another vulture said.
"This is getting really uncomfortable," Rebecca said, breaking off from the group. "I gotta go find my friend," She said and went her way.
"Oh you have friends? Lucky you." One vulture said. "No one seems to want be friends with us."
"Can't imagine why," Rebecca said, sarcastically.
"Ah, you know everyone seem to hate us just because we eat rotten corpses. But really, if we didn't do that, then a lot of diseases would spread." The more cheerful one said.
"Thanks for the info." Rebecca said, annoyed. "But unless you've seen a large orange dog with black strips, nothing you say is of interest to me." She said and proceeded further into the jungle.
"Blime," The cheerful vulture said. "Funny you should say that."
But before any of them could say anything, there was a roar. Rebecca spun around and saw to her horror the one creature of this jungle she was trying to avoid. The vultures looked horrified as they rushed over and hid behind Rebecca.
"I must thank you buzzards for looking out for my dinner," Shere Khan said, smiling gleefully as he approached.
"It-it-it's our p-p-pleasure," One of the vultures said, gulping. "My lord," He finished.
"Now get lost!" Shere Khan spat and with a jump, the vultures leaped into the air and into the trees. Rebecca was looking horrified as she was backing away, slowly, while Shere Khan approached. Her fear amused him. "You are very stupid for coming to this part of the jungle. Or just suicidal." He told her.
"I once was suicidal actually," Rebecca admitted. "Look, whatever grudge you're holding against humans, I have never hurt you."
Shere Khan placed his paw on a rock, as he was starting to look angry. "All humans are the same." He hissed. "They come with spears, they come with fire, they hunt animals to near extinction. Sometimes not even for food. But for sport! Even cubs are not safe." He growled.
"Not all humans are like that," Rebecca insisted.
"Enough talk," Shere Khan spat. "I'm hungry and I've already lost one meal today." He said and then crushed the rock beneath his paw, to demonstrate to Rebecca how strong he is. "Now tell me, wretch, how do you choose to die?" He asked and was about to bounce her. But Rebecca grabbed some dirt from the ground and tossed it into Shere Khan's eyes. While he was whipping the dirt of his eyes, Rebecca took the opportunity to flee. The tiger only chuckled. "Now this will make the hunt more fun … for me, that is." He said before giving chase.
Meanwhile, somewhere far away from there, Arcanine was coming to it. He heard sniffing and then he felt something pressed against his face. A wet nose and with hot air breathing onto him. He opened his eyes and saw a strange creature he had never seen before. It was a dog like being, like him. But it was blue and had several different distinctive appearances to it ha Arcanine's. The latter barked and then jumped in alarm. He stood up in got on the defensive, growling at the stranger. He now saw that he was in a cave, and that the other dog was blocking the entrance.
(Settle down, friend) the dog spoke in their languish, using a female voice. (If you meant you harm, I would've done so while you were unconscious) She said. (My name is Suicune)
Arcanine began growling. But it wasn't a threatening kind of growl. (I'm not your friend. And I need to be on my way. My real friend is lost. She is small and fragile and I have to find her before someone hungry finds her.) He told Suicune.
(I'd say I became your friend after I healed your wounds) Suicune told him. Arcanine then had a look of realization. He turned his head and noticed on his back the snakebites were gone. (Now you notice. That was my doing. I have the power of healing) Suicune told him.
(But why?) Arcanine asked. (You owe me nothing)
(No. But now you owe me) Suicune replied.
Arcanine rolled his eyes. (I see. There's always a catch) He said, dryly.
(Point is, I saved your life) Suicune retorted. (Now you owe me a favor. Do that and I'll let you off the hook)
(I will do you your favor) Arcanine said as he started walking past Suicune. (But I need to find my friend first. I am really worried about her) He told her and went outside.
(Oh no you won't) Suicune said, going after Arcanine. She bit his tail and dragged him back.
(Let go!) Arcanine spat, struggling.
Suicune spit his tail out and went on. (Listen, I saved your life! You owe me more than a meager favor for that!) She spat.
(And I told you I will return that favor once I find Rebecca!) Arcanine spat back.
(Rebecca?) Suicune said, curiously. (That's a human name. Your friend is a human?)
(She's little more than a child, barely able to handle herself. And she's the last family I have) Arcanine told Suicune. (I've already lost so much. I cannot lose her too. I'd go crazy otherwise)
Suicune looked sympathetic. (Alright, fine!) She said in defeat. (I'll help you find her. But that'll be two favors you owe me)
(Whatever) Arcanine said.
(We better hurry though. There's a man eater in these jungles who takes great pleasure in tormenting humans. He's especially fond of female humans) Suicune told him.
(What?! Why didn't you tell me?! I gotta find her now!) Arcanine cried out rushed into jungle, hysterically.
(Could've given me some description on what she looks like) Suicune said. (Well, if I find the human before he does, he'll owe me more favors. So that'll be a bonus) She said and then started using her water abilities to manipulate the moist. (If he hadn't been so impatient, I could've told him that I could track her by using the moist in the air) She said and closed her eyes. In her mind she saw the images of several different creatures, ranging from bugs to bipedal creatures to birds even. Eventually, she saw what she was looking for. A human shaped figure that was running for her dear life … and a massive feline that bounced her. Suicune's eyes widen. (Too late) She said.
Shere Khan chuckled as he pressed his paw on Rebecca's back. "Did you really think you could outrun me?" He asked her. "You humans are so slow. And weak. And Stupid!" He shouted before biting her bikini top and tossed her into a tree. Rebecca yelped in pain. She tried getting up, but Shere Khan pressed his paw on her back again. "Playing with my food is so much fun."
"You freaking hypocrite," Rebecca hissed, and Shere Khan looked curious at that accusation. "You accuse humans for hunting for sport. But you're hunting me for your own amusement. And now you're torturing me for your own sick pleasure?" She spat. "You're not different from the people you hate!"
Shere Khan got really mad at that accusation. He pressed his paw harder on her back and extended his claws, digging into her flesh. She cried out in pain. Maybe that wasn't such a good thing to tell your captor. "I was going to give you a quick death for amusing me by trying to run. But now you will die screaming." He told her. "Question now is how should I do it? I have many methods of torture. Ripping out the eyes. Peeling of the fingernails and toenails. Skin you alive. Breaking every bone in your body. Lick your feet."
"Wait, what?" Rebecca said, confused. She looked at him with a weird expression. "That last one doesn't sound painful at all." She said. "Sounds like tickle torture. It honestly sounds like some weirdo's fetish."
"Actually," Shere Khan said and licked Rebecca's blood of his paw, "my tongue is very rough. Sure. It'll tickle at first. But I keep on licking the feet until the skin starts to slowly get peeled off." He told her, and Rebecca shivered at that thought. "I keep on licking the feet even after the skin have been peeled off, scrapping of small chunks of flesh until I reach the bones." Rebecca was sweating. And not from the heat in the tropical environment. "You know what?" Shere Khan said. "I think I'll do that one." Rebecca freaked out and tried to flee. But Shere Khan grabbed her bottoms with his paw and pulled her back. "No you won't." He said and then he sat on her back, with her feet in front of him.
"Get of me!" She cried out in panic. Shere Khan ignored her and grabbed the left ankle of her leg and pulled her foot up to his level. "Hang on! How can you grab onto my leg? Cats don't have exposable thumbs?!"
"I grew a pair of hands after I drank some strange water," Shere Khan revealed. "But I think our talk ends here. It's time to have some fun." He said and then he started to slowly lick the sole of Rebecca's foot.
Rebecca bit her lip as she tried to stiff her laughter. But it was too much. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She cried out, laughing in out of control. 'I gotta do something or I'm gonna die painfully here. Think Becky! Think!' She thought and then remembered what Kaa told her before about Shere Khan's fear. She saw a broken branch in front of her. 'It's farfetched. But it's the only plan I have.' She thought as she grabbed the branch.
Shere Khan licked Rebecca's foot, covering the sole with his slimy drool. He looked delighted from licking it. Almost like it was turning him on. That's probably why he didn't notice when Rebecca was tying his tail to the branch. Rebecca struggled to keep her laughter in check so she could concentrate. After tying the tail to the branch, she grabbed two pairs of sticks and begins rubbing them together, as fast as she could. And in an unrealistically fast amount of time, the sticks caught fire. Because plot convenience demanded it. Rebecca placed the sticks on the branch, letting it catch fire. "Hey, dummy!" She cried out. "Something's burning!" She told her captor.
Shere Khan looked behind him in confusion. But then he had a look of horror on his face when he saw the burning branch tied to his tail. He jumped of off Rebecca and began sprinting away in out of control horror, trying to get away from the fire. Tabaki had finally made it, just in time to see this.
"Oh my," The fox said and went after Shere Khan. "Wait! Shere Khan! Try to hold still! I can put it out!" He shouted.
Rebecca panted heavily, catching her breath. "Okay … that was the weirdest experience I've ever had." She said. "And I'm talking to myself again." She pointed out. "I really need to find my friend." She said as she got up.
(Well, that was unexpected) Suicune said, having witnessed the whole thing. (Better catch up with her before someone else does) She said and sprinted towards Becky's location.
An hour later and Arcanine is still frantically looking for Rebecca, scurrying around the thick vegetation. (If any predator has taken her, I swear I will burn them alive!) He said, beyond worried.
He then heard some rustling in the bushes. He spun around and stood defensively, ready to take on whatever came out of those bushes. He growled as whatever was stalking him was getting closer and closer. And the out of the bushes, came Suicune … carrying Rebecca by her bikini bottoms with her mouth. Arcanine was shocked at the sight. But then began tearing up.
Rebecca spit out leaves that had gotten into her mouth, while picking out leaves and twigs in her hair. "At least walk through a clearing instead of every bush in the jungle!" She spat. Then she heard a familiar whimpering. She looked up and saw to her surprise Arcanine standing there before her. Suicune put Rebecca down and Arcanine tackled the pinkette to the ground. He licked her face and Rebecca struggled to get him of off her. "Cut it out," She said while laughing. "I'm glad to see you too. But please get of me." She told him and he did so. "I was beginning to worry I had seen the last of you." She said, sitting up. Suicune then noticed the still fresh scars on Rebecca's back. She leaned forward and pressed her nose onto Rebecca's back, and she jumped in surprise. "What're you-?" She cried out, but stopped when she felt a soothing feeling on her back. Her wounds were glowing as they were closing up. Rebecca didn't feel the stinging pain on her back anymore. She looked up at Suicune and said, "Thank you. Not just for that. But for reuniting me with my traveling companion. And here I thought you were going to eat me." She said in amusement.
Suicune then turned her attention to Arcanine and began speaking to him. Of course, to Rebecca, it was just barks and growls, making her sport an adorably curious expression. She noticed Arcanine rolling his eyes, letting out a growl. Suicune then looked pleased and gestured the two to follow her. Arcanine pressed her head to Rebecca's back and pushed her, urging her to get up.
"Hey, what's going on?" She asked. "Oh, why do I ask creature who cannot speak the human tongue?" She wondered, feeling stupid.
The two followed Suicune for a few hours until they reached a very large tree. It was dead. And so were several trees all around it. Suicune turned to Arcanine and began explaining. (This dead tree is sapping the life out of the other trees in this area. It could become very harmful for the rest of the jungle. And that does not brood well with me. I am a water type. My powers have no effects on it. But you're a fire breather. You can destroy this tree and save the rest of the forest.) She told him.
(So you went through all this just to have me burn down a dead tree?) Arcanine asked.
(It's a small favor considering I saved your life and returned your girl-cub to you) Suicune pointed out.
Arcanine rolled his eyes and walked past Suicune. Rebecca was looking very confused. But then Arcanine inhaled deeply and unleashed a hellish inferno upon the tree. Rebecca raised her arm to cover her face from the heat as she backed away. With Arcanine spewing fire relentlessly, it only took a few minutes for the tree to fall. Once the tree was burnt to a crisp, Suicune put out the fire with her water powers.
"I am very confused," Rebecca said.
Suicune walked over to Arcanine and said, (Thanks you)
(So I guess now we're even) Arcanine said.
Suicune chuckled. (Oh no. Not even by a long shot) She said.
Arcanine looked surprised by this. (But I did you a favor like you asked me to!) He cried out.
(I saved your life. I reunited you with your girl-cub. All you've done is burn down a dead tree) Suicune told him. She got up to his face and said, (You and your cub can go now. But if I ever need a favor from you again, I will look for and I will find you) She said and then went up to his ear. (I really hope we'll see each other again. you are very handsome, after all) She whispered and then licked his cheek.
Arcanine look petrified, which Suicune thought was cute. Amused, she turned around and left the duo.
"I think she likes you," Rebecca said with a grin. Arcanine snapped out of his shock, rushed over to Rebecca, picked her up by her bottoms and ran in the opposite direction. "You could always let me ride you instead!" She pointed out.
At the crater, some humans were at the edge with urns, filling them with water. At the center of the crater was indeed a strange looking rock.
"I say this is a waste of time," One of the men said. "The water losses its effects every year."
"Yeah. But Fugaka says he can increase the effects with his new magic." Another man said.
"Still, we shouldn't be here." The other guy said. "What if Shere Khan shows up?"
"He's already had his share from this water. He won't be back until after the next drought." His companion replied.
"We have enough water for the next tournament," Another larger man said. "Let's return before something big and hungry shows up."
As the group were heading down the hill, one of them noticed something in the trees. "Hold up. Look." He said, pointing at the jungle. They all saw in the distance Rebecca and Arcanine, with the pinkette riding the canine. "I've had an encounter with a dog like that one. There are very tough beasts. Could make for a good candidate for the arena." He said.
"How tough can it be if a girl is able to tame it?" The larger man asked.
"Still, it would be amusing for the audience to get something new on the arena," The other man said.
"The dog we can take. But the girl is of no use." The large man said.
"Don't say that. Maybe the combatants can use her for their own amusement." Another man said, and some of the others chuckled.
"If she can tame a beast like that one, then she must be formidable, don't you think?" One of the men pointed out.
"Very well." The big muscular man said. "We'll take her as well."
"Yeah. The fear of being forced upon always makes the female fighters fight harder." One of the other men said with a grin.
"Shut up," The large man said as he brought out a blowing stick and a dart. He put the dart inside the hole.
"Do you really think you can hit them from here?" One of them asked, but went ignored.
Down in the woods, Rebecca was looking around her while sitting on Arcanine's back. "I'll need to make a new spear. Keep an eye for a really straight looking stick. And some sharp rocks." She told Arcanine.
"Yelp!" Arcanine cried out when he felt something hit him. It felt like a horsefly's bite, making him jump, nearing tossing Rebecca of off him.
"Wow! Easy boy!" She said, patting him. "What's wrong?" She asked. But then she was hit on the shoulder by a dart. "Ah!" She cried out in pain, grabbing the dart. "What the…?" She questioned and then noticed an exact same dart on Arcanine's hind leg. She then started to feel tired as her body began to go numb. "Oh no…" She groaned and she slipped of off Arcanine's back. Arcanine looked her with worry. But then he was hit with two more darts. He growled, but remained standing, even though he could barely walk. Three more darts hit him. And minutes later, he passed out.
Back on the hill, the muscular man looked impressed. "You were right. These are formidable foes. It six darts to bring down the beast. It only took one for the girl. She must be special if she can ride a creature than much stronger than her." He said and then barked at the group, "Get them to the arena!"
"It'll be nighttime when they wake up," One of the men said as they descended down the hill.
"Just in time for the tournament to begin," Another one commented.
"Then they'll wish they had never been born." Another said.
My longest chapter yet. And it ends in a cliffhanger. Kind of ironic since the last chapter ended with the heroes falling from a cliff, rather than hanging from it … Yup … Anyways, next chapter will see the two fighting for their lives in a gladiator like setting. Look forward to it. Until then, have a great time.