Chapter 16:
The Young 4 Meet Lucky Jack
It was right now morning and the floodwaters have receded and The Young 4 are still sleeping with Yona snoring. Yona then started sucking on Smolder's tail in her sleep as Smolder woke up and turned to her.
" Yona. Yona. Yona. Wake up," said Smolder trying to wake Yona up.
" Check Please!" yelled Yona as she abruptly wakes up along with Sandbar, who was startled by her yelling.
Yona blinked a few times and turns to Smolder, who was narrowing her eyes at her.
" Uh, why Smolder looking at Yona like that?" asked Yona.
Sandbar cleared his throat and gestured with his hand to tell Yona that she has something in her mouth. Yona looked at what Sandbar was gesturing to and finally sees that she has Smolder's tail in her mouth. So Yona placed it down and wiped the drool off it, along with playing with Smolder's face trying to make her smile even though Smolder wasn't buying it.
" Smolder's tail tastes better in Yona's sleep," muttered Yona.
" Well, I guess, Gallus is long gone now, huh?" said Smolder noticing that Gallus is still gone.
" Mmmm-hmmm," said Yona as she nodded.
" Guess I was being too hard on him, wasn't I?" asked Smolder feeling a little guilty.
" Well, to be fair. You did say that we were better off without him," said Sandbar.
Then Smolder realized someone else is missing and said " Hey, wait a minute. Where's Ocellus?".
" Hey, guys!" Ocellus said suddenly as the group jumped in surprise as they turned to her.
" Boy, am I glad you're up. You guys gotta take a look at this," said Ocellus as she appeared from behind the rock.
Smolder, Yona, and Sandbar followed Ocellus and saw a fire pit and a few bowls of food in front of them.
" What in the world? Where did all this come from?" asked Smolder in confusion.
" Mmmm, Yona not know, but the food is delicious," said Yona already eating out of her bowl.
The Jackrabbit that Gallus saw before his arrival came rushing in while rolling a wagon wheel and said " Good morning, kiddos. I see you already tucked in your appetizer,".
" Never knew any kiddos like you four that didn't have an appetizer," said the Jackrabbit as he placed the wheel over a bucket as if he was setting up a table.
" Whoa! Hey, slow down, will you?" said Smolder.
" Hey, go easy on him Smolder. He's just trying to help us get plenty of stuff to eat. Plus, he's like our very own shaman," said Ocellus as the Jackrabbit removed his peg leg and starts working on a fire.
The Jackrabbit got the fire started as he placed his peg leg back on and said " Oh, I'm more than shaman. I'm a shaman, chef, chief cook, and bottle washer. I'm a Jackrabbit of all trades and at your service,".
" Folks around these parts call me Lucky Jack. Yep, they used to come from miles around just to get one rub of my lucky rabbit's foot," said Lucky Jack introducing himself as he walks up to the Young 4 while being unaware that his peg leg is burning.
But then his eyes widened for he has finally noticed his peg leg is on fire.
" Whoo! Dagnabit!" exclaimed Lucky Jack as he stamped his peg leg on the sand.
Then he removes it and blows on it. That's when Lucky Jack placed it in his mouth as smoke spurred out his ears as they flopped down.
" This happens all the time. Now, where was I?" said Lucky Jack as he placed his peg leg back on.
Then he went over to the Young 4 as he reached into his bag and pulled out a scorpion as he said " Ah. Voila,".
Ocellus, Yona, Sandbar, and Smolder then had disgusted looks on their faces.
" Now let me just get this in the fire and it'll be ready directly," said Lucky Jack as he sliced and diced the scorpion into several pieces and tossed two pieces into the air.
" Mm-huh. Ow! Yow!" said Lucky Jack as he manages to catch the head section with his ears, but the stinger and tail hit his left eye.
" Uh, Yona and friends no eat meat. It's against our herbivory diet," said Yona.
" Um, what Yona is trying to say is that we'll dine with you another time. See my friend and Ocellus are returning to our home to say our last goodbye," said Smolder.
" Yeah, we needed shelter and we lost our friend," said Ocellus sadly.
" Well, I can sympathize with that, kids, I surely can. Until recently like you guys, I, too, had a home. Echo Mine it was called," said Lucky Jack recalling that he too had a home.
Lucky Jack then turned to face horizon as he continued his story " Us Jackrabbits lived there from generation after generation. Till some land-grabbing bandit moved in and flushed us out like yesterdays oatmeal,".
" Yona starting to feel bad for Lucky Jack," said Yona.
" I am too. But we better be on our way, I guess," said Smolder.
" WAIT! There he is!" exclaimed Lucky Jack pointing.
Nearby, there's a cactus with a wanted poster of Slim.
Lucky Jack growled and rushed towards the cactus with Yona and Sandbar following behind him, and kicks it with his real foot, only for it to end up covered in spines.
" SLIM!" said Sandbar.
" Wait, Lucky Jack, saying no-good varmint hiding at Echo Mine right now?" asked Yona.
" Without a doubt," said Lucky Jack.
" That must be where Gallus is heading, right now," said Sandbar.
" Wait a minute, Sandbar, what are you thinking?" asked Smolder.
" Look, I'm going to help Gallus settle a goal with that rhinestone fat boy and got nothing to lose," said Sandbar.
" But Sandbar it'll be dangerous for you to help Gallus go after Slim by yourself," said Ocellus.
" Hey, I got the rabbit to help me," said Sandbar.
" Yona helps Sandbar and Lucky Jack also," said Yona joining Sandbar's side.
" Well, if you three are gonna help Gallus then I'm going too," said Ocellus as she heads to them.
As she joins them, they all looked at Smolder who was denying it and said " Oh, no. Absolutely no. Listen, you guys can go and help Gallus, but I'm sticking to my plans and going home,".
As Smolder was beginning to walk off, Sandbar got in her way and said " Whoa there Smolder, as much crazy this adventure has been, I think I know why Gallus decided to do this adventure,".
" Wait, you do?" asked Ocellus.
" What are you saying, Sandbar?" asked Smolder.
" Don't you see, Smolder? You want the money and Gallus wants to get even with Slim," said Sandbar.
" He's right. Smolder, I know you and Gallus don't see eye to eye, but maybe if we work together and help Gallus bring Slim to justice, we will not only get the reward but also prove that even kids can become bounty hunters," said Ocellus as she walks up to Smolder, getting Sandbar's point.
" So, Smolder in?" asked Yona.
Lucky Jack remained silent throughout the whole conversation.
Smolder sighed in defeat and said " Well, I can't risk Gallus getting hurt out there alone. I'm in,".
" Ha! Griffon Bounty Hunters! Now I've seen everything," said Lucky Jack.
Then he heads off and said " Let's get movin' kiddos. Time for an underground smack,".
" Yee-haw!" yelled Ocellus.
" Hang on, Gallus, we're comin'!" yelled Smolder.
The Young 4 followed Lucky Jack through the desert as you hear a male chorus singing a reprise in the background.
{ You Ain't A Griffon On The Range ( Reprise ) }
Male Chorus: Out in the land where the heroes meet their makers.
Out in the land where hail and hardy fall.
Sometimes, further in the day, the Young 4 walked across a fallen tree over a ridge with Lucky Jack riding on Yona's back. Meanwhile, miles away from them, Silverstream was still on the run as she leaped over the edge and continued running as she whinnies in determination.
Male Chorus: Birds of a feather flock together.
No matter how bad is the weather.
Yee-haw!
The Young 6 are walkin' tall!
As the last lyrics were sung, Lucky Jack had his ears on the ground listening and then he points ahead as the Young 4 followed him. As they head down a hill, Smolder slid down the hill after slipping and brushed the dirt off herself.
Further away, ahead of the group and Silverstream, Gallus was slid down another hill and was soon rushing through the forest.
Male Chorus: Griffons, Griffons…
This ain't it pal.
Griffons, Griffons,
Griffons On The Range.
Griffons, Griffons.
Better go git pal.
Griffons, Griffons.
Griffons On The Range.
Farther behind, Smolder, Yona, Ocellus, Sandbar, and Lucky Jack hiked through the forest.
Author's Note: Yup, this is where Lucky Jack comes in. And he's gonna help the Young 6 complete their goals and bring Slim to justice. And if you think this chapter is good, wait until you see what happens next on Friday.