Chapter XVII- Deep Jungle (Part 3)

Donald and Sora were arguing about what to do next while the others let them talk it out. Koga sighed in frustration at the two of them.

"Do they always fight like this?" Jane asked.

Koga shook his head. "Let's just say that they have different goals in mind and they don't get that they need each other to reach that goal." He turned to Goofy. "We aren't really gonna let Donald leave Sora behind right?"

"Of course not. But they gotta stop fighting like kids." Koga nodded in agreement.

Suddenly a loud screech echoed through the air. Everyone froze and felt goosebumps crawl up their skin. It sounded like a scream of pure terror.

"Gorilla." Tarzan said.

Koga turned to Jane. "You don't think Clayton..."

"No, it sound's like something else." Jane said.

Tarzan was the first to react and ran out the tent with the others following close behind.

When they stepped out they saw a gorilla at the edge of the camp. It was backed against a corner as a bunch of Powerwilds came closer to it threateningly. There were also one's that looked similar to Powerwild but more feminine and holding a slingshot.

Bouncywild

"Heartless!" Sora exclaimed.

"Why are they here now?" Koga said getting into a battle stance with the others.

Before anyone could react, Tarzan leaped into action. He gave a loud battle cry as he swung his spear around thrashing the group of Powerwilds. Most of them were killed but other's were knocked back. A Bouncywild prepared to fire at Tarzan but Koga shot it down. Sora ran and sliced a pair of the Heartless in two. A Powerwild dodged Donald's fire spell, Goofy slammed his shield against the Heartless stunning it for Donald to do a blizzard spell.

During the fight, the frightened gorilla ran away into the underbrush of the jungle.

"What manner of creatures are these!?" Jane said stepping out of the tent.

"No-Friend" Tarzan struggled to say, skewering a heartless with the spear.

"Yeah, they definitely aren't friendly." Sora said.

"One is getting away!" Donald said. There was a Bouncywild running away fast into a bamboo thicket.

"Jane, stay in the tent and hide! We'll be back!" Koga told her. Jane nodded going back in. Knowing she was safe the group followed the Heartless. As they ran they noticed the jungle seemed a little different, almost darker but not literally. There was also a bunch of dark purple flowers that they were sure wasn't here before.

The group followed the monkey-looking Heartless to a clearing where it was suddenly pounced on by none other than Sabor. The leopard bit down and ripped off it's jugular, or where the jugular should be. The animal gagged at the awful taste of it's prey, something worse than rotted meat. It continued to rip the Heartless apart as the group watched slightly terrified.

"You think Sabor is smart enough to realize the Heartless are the bigger enemy and help us?" Sora asked his brother.

When Sabor was done he turned to the others, it's pupil dilating as it growled.

"I think all it want's is a good meal!" Koga said as he shot at the leopard. It avoided the attack, the gun's shots move much slower than a standard bullet, and ran towards them fast. He targeted Goofy to attack but he blocked the tackle with his shield. Tarzan stabbed him with his spear and he was scratched across the chest. Koga, standing next to Goofy, gave a big roundhouse kick to it's head. Getting overwhelmed Sabor leaped away from everyone and into the thicket, out of sight. Koga turned to Tarzan and handed him a potion. His wounds quickly healing.

Then Sabor leaped out of the thicket from behind and charged at Sora. Goofy saw and tired to warn Sora. Sora barely had time to react as he brought his keyblade forward to block the incoming bite from ripping his face. Sora was knocked on his back as the leopard pushed against the Keyblade. Sora tried pushing back. He was loosing strength and Sabor was much stronger. It's claws dug into Sora's chest as it got closer and closer.

"Fire!"

Suddenly the Leopard howled in pain and jumped back. A part of it's back was on fire as it ran off into the jungle to the nearest river. Sora turned to Donald who used that spell.

"You... you saved me?" Sora asked skeptically.

Donald looked away embarrassingly. "Well I couldn't just stand there and watch you get hurt like that."

Sora pursed his lips and gave a small smile. "Thanks." Donald gave a small nod in response.

"We need to get back to Jane." Koga said. The other's agreed with him and they quickly made their way back. They came across Heartless all over the place. The camp was a mess, the tent barely standing. Without a second thought the group jumped in.

It was a quick but tense fight, Koga's Thundaga helped finish off most of them. As the fight concluded a storm started brewing above them. They entered the tent and found Jane shaking in a corner. A young gorilla, the same one at the treehouse, was hiding next to her shaking in fear as well.

"Jane, Terk!" Tarzan said. The gorilla called Terk looked up at them with frightened eyes but relaxed when she saw Tarzan.

"Are you okay?" Sora asked, Jane nodded. "What happened?"

"This gorilla ran into the tent to get away from those things. I think they are hunting down the gorillas. When I peeked out of the tent I thought I saw Clayton."

"Clayton?" Sora exclaimed. Just as he said that thunder boomed in the sky. "What's he doing out there with them?"

"I- I think he's controlling them. I don't understand these creatures but they seem to be moving almost like a pack with Clayton as the Alpha."

"Someone controlling the Heartless? Is that possible?" Koga asked Donald.

"I don't know..."

"Gorillas, Danger!" Tarzan said looking out the tent frantically.

"I think he knows where the other gorillas are." Donald said. Tarzan grunted in acknowledgement.

"Follow him and save the gorillas. I didn't want to believe Clayton would do such a thing but if he did you must stop him."

"You can count on us Jane." Sora reassured her. The group followed Tarzan as he ran off into the deeper part of the jungle, preparing to stop whoever or whatever is threatening his people. Rain started coming down making the jungle even darker than before.

If you were to bite into a Heartless what would they taste like? Whatever it is I'm pretty sure it isn't pleasant... When I played the game I was confused as to what was up with the dark flowers that reacted to the Heartless, I guess it's just the darkness corrupting the wildlife, it's not really stated that well.

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