A New World
Here's the next chapter of my 'Dinotopia' multiple crossover story. Sorry for the long wait everyone. I got a little side track when writing my other stories and other things. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 9: Reunion and Mosasaur attack
Back at Waterfall City, word had spread about the fight between the three half-siblings. This had shocked many of the citizens within the city when they heard that the three half-siblings had broken one of the codes of Dinotopia. Never initiate violence within Waterfall City and amongst other Dinotopians. Mayor Waldo was also upset about what had happened, but mostly it was about how the half-siblings had broken some of the precious statues within the trial room. Their act for violence had only proved to him that the half-siblings were not ready to be full fledge citizens of Dinotopia. Not to mention that they were now missing and nobody was able to find them.
Marion, who felt responsible for the half-siblings, was speaking with her father as she pleaded for him to let her go out and find them. So far the conversation was not going very well as Mayor Waldo refused her request.
"My dear, those three were just never suitable for a Dinotopian education." Mayor Waldo said as he tried to drop the matter about looking for the three missing half-siblings.
"But, father, I feel it is my duty to go look for them," pleaded Marion as worry gripping at her heart.
Waldo let out a sigh as he gazed at his daughter in sympathy: "Marion they're gone, we've searched but no one has seen any sign of them."
Waldo showed a bit of sadness upon his face, but it was quickly replaced with a bright smile: "Now don't forget that tomorrow you will travel to Vidabba. You're due to start your habitat training."
Marion wasn't ready to give up on the subject of finding the half-siblings yet though: "Father I really do feel I should-"
Waldo raised his hand up to stop his daughter from speaking any more, and to say that the discussion of finding the half-siblings was over. Marion, upset that her father would not listen to reason, turned and quickly walked away from him.
"Marion?" asked Waldo as he watched his daughter leave.
She gave no response and that caused Waldo to sigh in worry as he hoped that his daughter wouldn't do anything rash.
Marion met up with Zippo after she had exited out of the palace as the two of them walked through the street together. Marion told Zippo about what had happened and about what she planned to do.
"I feel like I have failed them," said Marion sadly. "I should never have made Karl go back to school."
"No, no, no, no they were in my charge Marion," said Zippo as he blamed himself more than Marion about what had happened to the three half-siblings. "It is I who have failed them."
Marion paused in her steps with Zippo stopping right beside her and what she said next surprised the librarian.
"I must go after them."
"What, out there?" questioned Zippo with a worried expression upon his face.
"I have no choice," said Marion as she began walking again with Zippo following right behind her, while rolling her eyes as a thought came into her head. "My father's going to be furious."
"That would be grossly understating his reaction," stated Zippo before he let out a sigh. "Well I suppose I should go home and get my bag."
Marion stopped in her tracks when she heard what Zippo had just said. Why would he need to bring his bag?
Marion turned to look at him in confusion: "Why?"
Zippo gave Marion a warm smile before he replied: "Well you don't think I'm letting you go alone, do you?"
Marion was slightly shocked that Zippo would want to go along with her, but that soon changed into a smile of gratitude. Zippo was a true friend who would be willing to do anything to help his friends. The two separated from each other as Zippo went home to pack his bag, while Marion had to make one quick stop somewhere before they could start their journey.
Zippo had gotten home in record time as he began to pack a few things into his leather shoulder bag. The things he packed was a warm blanket, a loaf of bread and a few apples. He was about to turn and walk out the door when his eyes caught sight of the 'Book of Dragons' lying on top of the table in the study. Zippo remembered how Tabitha would come back to his house and look through it, while helping him translate what the ancient runes said within its pages. He stared at it for a few more seconds before he finally made a decision. Zippo grabbed a large purple silk cloth from one of his draws and used it to wrap up the 'Book of Dragons' before he placed it into his shoulder bag.
'Hopeful when we find them I can give this book to Tabitha,' thought Zippo as he turned to walk out of the door of his home. 'I get the feeling that she will need it more than me.'
Far away from Waterfall City, the rapids of the waterfall had taken Karl and David into the deepest parts of the Rainy Basin. Emerging from the water first was Karl as he breathed heavily to catch his breath. Emerging beside him was David, with him floating face down in the water. Karl quickly swam over to David, turned him over and began to drag David through the water as Karl swam towards shore.
Unknown to Karl, he was being watched by a monstrous creature that was hiding amongst the reeds with a hungry glint shining within its reptilian eyes.
As Karl swam he noticed that someone was missing and fear quickly gripped at his heart. Where was Tabitha?
"Tabby!" shouted Karl as he franticly looked around.
No response came except for the echo of his voice.
"Tabitha!" yelled Karl again in hopes that his half-sister was somewhere nearby.
But once again there was no answer. Karl then remembered the fight that he had with his half-sister and how he had punched her across the face. His gut twisted at what he had done to Tabitha. Even thought Karl didn't get along with his half-sister, he would never intentionally hurt her. He continued to swim towards shore while speaking to David in a soft voice.
"Stay with me, we're almost there."
A few miles away from where Karl and David were, three forms jumped swiftly through the trees before landing silently on the ground. They were none other than Tod, Usagi and Harimau, the three young Beast Men that were searching for Karl and David. In Harimau's arms was Tabitha, who had her arms wrapped tightly around the tiger's neck. Shorty, who had been flying, while following Harimau was panting as he slowly descended from the air with look of exhaustion on his face. Usagi noticed this and quickly caught the little dragon in her arms. Tabitha, who had been silent throughout the trip, spoke when she realized that Harimau had stopped.
"I'm guessing we're on the ground now," stated Tabitha.
"Yes we are," replied Harimau in a deadpanned voice.
"Then would mind putting me back down on my feet, please?" asked Tabitha in a polite voice.
Harimau did what Tabitha requested as he gently set Tabitha down feet first on the ground. Tabitha let's go of Harimau's neck before stepping back to have some space before she began to untie her blind fold. Once it was off Tabitha, who had her eyes closed when she was taking off the blind fold, slowly opened her eyelids to gaze at the world around her. At first the light hurt for a bit, but her eyes soon adjusted after a while. Tabitha let out a sigh of relief before she looked back at the three younger Beast Men.
"That was quite a ride," said Tabitha before she began to take in her surroundings. "So where exactly are we?"
"Somewhere near the swamps of the Rainy Basin," replied Tod as he looked around.
"A swamp?" questioned Tabitha with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes," replied Usagi as she handed Tabitha her little dragon friend. "The swamps around here are home to some prehistoric crocodiles. They're called Mosasaurs and they don't take kindly to anyone intruding on their territory."
"I'll take your word for it," said Tabitha as she held Shorty in her arms before they began to walk with Harimau taking the lead. "I just hope my two half-brothers don't wind up meeting one of those prehistoric crocodiles."
"Ditto," muttered Tod as he looked around at the jungle they were walking through. "And I hope that we don't run into them either."
"Just make sure you three don't wander off," said Harimau as he glanced over his shoulder to look at his traveling companions. "Otherwise you'll wind up getting lost around here."
"Aye, aye captain," muttered Tabitha with a dull expression upon her face.
Hairmau only huffed as he turned his attention forward again. Tabitha continued to stare at Hairmau's back before she turned her gaze down to the ground. Tabitha couldn't help but find that Hairmau seemed to be more distant and didn't speak very much around her or his other fellow Beastkin members.
'Totally the opposite of Karl,' thought as she glanced up at the back of Hairmau's head again. 'Karl is more of a cocky guy who loves to show off around everyone, while Hairmau prefers to be off the radar and not have everyone crowed around him. But I can't help feeling that he's going to be just as annoying as my half-brother.'
The walk through the jungle was quiet for a while as Hairmau continued to lead the group down the path. But the silence was quickly broken when they suddenly heard a voice shouting out from just ahead of them. They quickly came to a stop as they stared in the direction of where the voice came from.
"Who would be out here in a dangerous place like this?" asked Usagi curiously.
"Probably someone stupid?" guessed Tod with a shrug of his shoulders.
Tabitha was quiet as she listened intently to the voice that was calling out through the jungle. She was able to hear that it was a male voice and what she heard had her smiling in realization when she quickly recognized the voice.
"Tabitha! David! Karl! It's Zippo and Marion!"
"Keep up Zippo!" called a female voice that Tabitha also recognized.
Tabitha quickly turned to looked at Tod and Usagi with a reassuring smile on her face.
"I know those two voices anywhere," said Tabitha when the three beast men teenagers all gazed at her in confusion. "They're two of my friends from Waterfall City."
"Really?" asked Usagi in surprise.
"What would two citizens from Waterfall City be doing out here alone?" asked Hairmau with a raised eyebrow.
"They probably came out here to look for Tabitha and her two half-brothers," answered Tod with a shrug of his shoulder.
Tabitha silently nodded her head in agreement before she began to walk to where Marion and Zippo were. The three Beast Men teenagers hesitated before they followed after Tabitha. It wasn't long before Tabitha saw Marion and Zippo a few feet ahead of her. A large smile appeared on her face before she began to speed up her walk into a trot, while hearing the next next words that came out of Zippo's mouth.
"Oh...where could they be?" muttered the librarian in a worried voice while he took in his surroundings.
"Zippo! Marion!" shouted Tabitha as she came running towards the duo.
Startled, Marion and Zippo turned their attention forward. Marion and Zippo soon sighed in relief when they saw Tabitha heading towards them with Shorty held in her arms.
"Tabitha!" exclaimed Zippo as the young teen came to a halt in front of them. "Thank Ogthar that you and Shorty are safe."
"Yeah, I guess you could say that luck was on our side," said Tabitha with a smile before turning to look behind her. "Along with some help from strangers."
Marion and Zippo looked at Tabitha in confusion before they turned their gazes to where she was looking and gasped in both shock and fear. Standing a few feet away from them were three young Beast Men teenagers.
"Oh my..." whispered Marion as she and Zippo took a startled step back.
Tabitha quickly noticed their reaction before giving them a reassuring smile.
"It's alright," she said in a calm voice. "They won't hurt you and besides, if it weren't for them I wouldn't have been able to find you."
Tod, who was the first one to move, cautiously stepped forward before he came to stand beside Tabitha. He gave the duo a nervous smile before he raised up his right hand and waved it at them.
"Um...hi, my name is Tod," said the fox boy nervously. "And um...we come in peace?"
Marion and Zippo stared at Tod in surprise before Marion was the first one to speak: "Um...hello."
"Well...this is awkward," spoke Usagi as she and Hairmau walked up to stand on either side of Tabitha, while they looked at Tod in amusement. "First contact with two Waterfall City citizens and already we're making a not so good first impression."
"Give me a brake, Usagi," muttered Tod as he turned to glare at the rabbit. "This is completely different from when I first met Tabitha."
Hairmau, who stood beside Usagi, rolled his eyes at Tod. Marion and Zippo were slightly surprised as they watched how the two beast teenagers talked or reacted to each other. Marion's father had often told her how Beast Men were nothing but violent creatures that would attack anyone out of anger or pleasure. Yet as she watched them, Marion saw that the three teenagers were nothing like how her father depicted them to be. Zippo was also surprised as he witnessed how Tod responded by trying to be friendly with them instead of attacking them straight on. Tabitha noticed the duo's surprised expressions before she decided to introduce her three travel companions.
"Marion. Zippo. I would like you to meet Usagi, Tod and Hairmau. They're with me because they volunteered to help me search for Karl and David."
At the mention of the two brothers' names, Marion became concerned as she looked at Tabitha with a worried expression upon her face.
"They aren't with you?" asked Marion.
A sad frown appeared on Tabitha's face as she shook her head 'no' when answering Marion's question. Zippo let out a sad sigh as he glanced around the forest in worry.
"Where could they be?" voiced Zippo sadly.
"Don't worry," spoke Usagi with a reassuring smile on her face. "I'm sure we'll find them around here somewhere."
"Yeah, they can't be too far," added Tod in agreement. "Plus with us Beastkin helping out, I'm positive that we'll find them in no time."
Marion and Zippo looked at the two Beast Men teenagers in surprise before Marion smiled at them in gratitude.
"Thank you," she said.
Hairmau only huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest and turned his gaze away from Marion and Zippo. The duo looked at the tiger in confusion before Usagi stepped forward.
"Don't take it the wrong way," said Usagi with a reassuring smile on her face. "He's like this to everyone he meets."
Marion only nodded her head before she walked over to a large rock that stood at the height of her hips. Tod turned his attention onto Zippo with a curious expression upon his face.
"So...is this your first time out here in the Rainy Basin?" asked Tod.
"You could say that," said Zippo as before he let out a sigh. "I've really never been this far from Waterfall City in my life."
Tabitha had her attention on Marion as she watched the young woman place her cloth shoulder bag on top of the large rock. Tabitha became curious as she walked up to stand beside Marion and watched as she pulled out a rectangular wicker basket with a lid attached to it. But what surprised both Tabitha and Shorty was when they heard a distressed voice squawking from inside the basket. Zippo and the Beast Men teenagers also became curious when they too heard the squawking from the basket as they turned their attention onto Marion. Zippo quickly brightened when he realized what Marion was carrying within the basket.
"Bravo, Marion. You brought a postal bird."
Tabitha remembered what Cyrus had told her and her half-brothers about the bird that the people of Dinotopia used for delivering their messages to each other. They were given a description of what it looked like, but Tabitha was curious to see the real thing with her very own eyes. The voice in the basket let out another squawk when Marion turned the basket over to lay the bottom on top of the rock before she opened the lid of the basket. Once the lid was open, a small bird with blue, red and green feathers along with yellow feathers on its belly hopped out of the basket. It had a yellow beak with red at the tip of it and black legs. It wore a brown pilot's cap with goggles resting on top of its head. The bird stood on the edge of the basket as it stared up at Marion with its small black eyes that showed fear and confusion.
"Where on earth...I-I must remind you. There is a surcharge for delivery of messages outside of Waterfall City." The bird said in a small voice.
Marion gave the bird a look that show that she was in no mood for fooling around. The bird then collected himself before he spoke once again.
"How can I help?"
"Message reads 'Are you Karl or David?'" replied Marion as she gave the bird her message.
"Destination of message?" asked the bird.
"Follow the river as far as you can until sunset," answered Marion.
"Follow the river?" squawked the bird in surprise and confusion.
Marion only nodded her head before the bird spoke once again in an annoyed voice.
"No responsibility can be taken for deliver of messages without precise destination."
"I'm guessing you're the type of bird who plays by the book, huh." Tabitha stated with a raised eyebrow.
"One of the rules with being a messenger bird is for the messenger to give the postal bird a proper destination," said the bird as he glanced up at Tabitha. "If not than we'll have no way of knowing where to go to deliver the message."
"I understand," said Marion. "I want you to fly as fast as you can and ask anyone you meet. Go!"
The bird then took off into the air and began to fly away, but not before the group heard him muttering indignantly to himself about a proper message for a proper destination. Zippo let out a sigh before he turned to look at Marion.
"So...so what do we do now?"
Marion looked at him for a second before giving Zippo her answer as she glanced back up towards the sky: "Wait."
Everyone looked at Marion in surprise before Tabitha let out a sigh. She then looked down at Shorty, who glanced up at her with a look that told her exactly what she was thinking.
"Yeah, I hate waiting too," muttered Tabitha with a nod. "How about you follow after him and see if you can help find Karl and David too. And when you do find them, give Karl a good whack in the head with your tail."
Shorty chirped before opening his wings and flew after the bird. Tabitha watched him fly away for a moment before letting out a tired sigh as she walked over to a log and sat down on it. Usagi followed her before sitting down beside Tabitha with a concerned expression on her face.
"Are you doing okay?" asked Usagi.
"Yeah," replied Tabitha as she gave the rabbit a reassuring smile. "I'm just tired that's all."
Marion and Zippo turned to look at Tabitha in concern before Marion walked up to the log and sat on the other side of Tabitha.
"Tabitha...I know you're tired, but can you tell us exactly what happened to you?" asked Marion in a soft voice.
Tabitha looked at Marion for a second before letting out another sigh: "You and Zippo better make yourselves comfortable, because the story that I'm about to tell you is a long one."
Back with Karl, he was walking through the jungle with David's arm slung over his shoulders. He supported his half-brother as they walked through the underbrush of the jungle. David was half conscious as they trekked down an unused path before he spoke in a weak voice.
"Where are we?" asked David.
Karl didn't reply as he only continued to walk through the jungle until they came to an old bridge that ran out across the water to an old stone temple. Karl unslung David's arm from his shoulder before lowering him down to the ground. He leaned David up against a flat stone pillar before speaking to him.
"Wait here for a minute. I'm gonna check it out, okay?"
Karl then turned his attention back onto the bridge before he started to walk across it. Karl was slow and steady with his steps as he walked before he took a glance at his surroundings. He then called out in hopes that someone was living in the temple.
"Hello?"
No one answered and he continued to walk across the bridge while making sure to avoid the wider gaps within the planks. Karl soon arrived at the entrance of the temple as he stared up at some of the written inscription that was etched above the door. He soon decided that the temple would be the best place for him and David to spend the night.
Flying high above the tree tops, the Postal Bird and Shorty were following the river of the Rainy Basin. Shorty was keeping a sharp eye out for Tabitha's two half-brothers, while the Postal Bird muttered to himself as he flew.
"I don't know where to look. 'Up the river' could be anywhere. What kind of destination do they call that? It all looks the same up here, anyway."
Shorty gave the Postal Bird a deadpanned expression before noticing that the sun was getting lower within the sky. Soon it would become dark and Shorty didn't want to find out what kind of creatures came out at night to hunt. The bird also noticed the sun setting before he flew down to a tree with Shorty following close behind. The two of them soon alighted onto a thick branch of a tree before settling down for the night.
Back with Tabitha and the group, they were all sitting round a warm fire as Tabitha told Zippo and Marion what had happened to her when she, David and Karl fell off the balcony that hung over the waterfall.
"...And that's when we bumped into you two." Tabitha finished as she wrapped her blanket around her body.
"So you and your two brother's got into a fight because Karl cheated on his test?" asked Marion with a light frown on her face.
Tabitha gently nodded her head with a sad expression upon her face before Tod was the one to speak.
"I have to admit that if your half-brother Karl was a Beast Man then he would clearly be a weasel."
"Why would you say that?" asked Zippo out of curiosity.
"Let's just say that weasels are known to be pretty sneaky," explained Tod with a frown as he leaned back on his log seat. "They pretty much know how to get themselves out of a jam by either lying or cheating their way out of tough situations. Not to mention that they can be pretty deceptive if they want to be."
"Though that doesn't mean that there aren't any bad weasels within our tribe," reasoned Usagi with a comforting smile. "After all they're also known to have the ability to see things that others aren't able to see."
"Still, calling Karl a weasel isn't very Dinotopian," said Marion as she gave Tod a disapproving look.
'Though Karl being a weasel isn't too far off,' thought Tabitha with a light frown on her face.
Hairmau, who had been sitting quietly within the group, spoke up as he glanced at Marion with a deadpanned expression on his face.
"You know you shouldn't defend that guy so much," he said in a flat voice. "If you do then you'll wind up regretting it later."
Zippo and Marion were surprised to hear Hairmau speak for the first time. Tabitha couldn't help but giggle slightly at their reaction before she turned her gaze up towards the sky.
"It's getting late," informed Tabitha as she looked back at the group. "We should try and get some sleep and hope that the Postal Bird and Shorty come back with good news tomorrow."
"Before we do that, it would be best if some of us take up a night watch." Hairmau said with a serious expression upon his face. "I'll take the first round before waking up the next person who will take up the next shift."
"I guess I'll be the second one to come up after you," said Tod with a sigh.
"I'll be the third," said Usagi with a smile.
"Then I guess I'll be the fourth," spoke Tabitha as she volunteered for helping with the night watch.
Hairmau only gave Tabitha a nod before everyone began to get ready for bed. Tabitha was about to settle down on a patch of moss when Zippo came up to her with a large purple silk bundle held within his hands.
"What's that you've got there Zippo?" asked Tabitha curiously as she stood up to be at his height again.
"It's something that I felt you should have," said Zippo with a smile as he handed the bundle of cloth over to her. "After all, you've been the only one to read it ever since you came to Waterfall City."
Tabitha looked at Zippo for a moment before she took the silk bundle and began to unwrap it. Her eyes widened when she saw 'The book of Dragons' before she looked up at Zippo with a smile on her face.
"Thank you, Zippo," said Tabitha in a grateful voice.
"Be sure to look after it," said Zippo in a gentle yet firm voice.
Tabitha nodded before the librarian turned and made his way over to his sleeping spot. She knelt down and picked up her shoulder bag that she had sat on the ground a few moments ago. Tabitha wrapped the silk around the book again before opening the flap of her shoulder bag and slipped the book inside it. Once it was safely inside, Tabitha closed the flap of her shoulder bag and set it down on the ground beside her. She then lay down on the moss covered ground as she rested upon her back and stared up at the canopy above her. Tabitha gazed up at the branches of the trees as she let her mind wander for a bit, but her thoughts were always on David. She hoped that nothing bad happened to him and that Karl was watching over David despite her not having very much faith in Karl. Tabitha laid awake on her moss bed while everyone else, except for Hairmau, had already fallen asleep. She continued to gaze up at the trees before she heard Hairmau speak to her.
"Try and get some sleep. Otherwise you'll be too tired for the fourth watch tonight."
Tabitha blinked in surprise before she turned her head to look at Hairmau, who was sitting by the fire as he stared into the flames with neutral expression upon his face. Tabitha stared at the tiger for a moment before she turned her gaze up towards the canopy again.
"Sorry...I'm just worried about David and Karl," said Tabitha in a soft voice so as not to wake the others. "But mostly David."
Hairmau only hummed as he used a stick to poke at the embers within the fire. The two of them were quiet for a moment before the tiger spoke once again.
"If you're going to be staying up I guess you can accompany me on my shift for tonight."
Tabitha sat up as she stared at Hairmau in shock for a moment before slowly getting up and walking over to him. She soon sat down in front of the fire, while making sure that she gave Hairmau some space. They sat in silence for a moment before Tabitha decided to speak as she gave the tiger a small smile.
"Listen...I just wanted to say...thank you. You know...for helping me in finding my half-brothers and all that."
"Don't get the wrong idea, human. I'm only doing this because the chief asked me to and because I wanted to get you out of my village." Hairmau said in a flat voice as he continued to stare into the flames of the fire.
"I see," said Tabitha as her smile dropped from her face.
They soon fell back into silence again with the both of them staring into the fire. Tabitha let her gaze linger on the flames as she let her mind wander for a bit. After a moment of silence Hairmau spoke up again.
"If your half-brother Karl does find a way off of this island...do you intend to leave this island too?"
Tabitha look up at Hairmau, slightly surprised by his question, before looking back down into the fire again. She thought about his question for a second and then answered the tiger with a soft smile.
"I've thought about this back in Waterfall City and I decided that I want to stay here on this island. I know that this place has its dangers, but I don't really have anything tying me down back in the outside world."
"And what about your other half-brother? Does he want to stay on this island as well?"
"Yeah...At least that's what he told me. I think David wants to stay in this place because he always felt like he didn't fit in with other people from the outside world. He also felt like he didn't really belong within Frank's family either. David was completely different from Frank and Karl, who were more into sports, while he was more into math and science at school. But if he does stay then that would mean he would be cutting ties with his mother so it's a pretty big decision on his part."
"I see..." voiced Hairmau in a low voice.
There was no more conversation after that. Instead Tabitha and Hirmau sat by the fire in silence as they kept watch for danger together.
Next morning: Temple
Night soon gave way to morning as a soft mist floated through the Rainy Basin. The scene changed to the temple, where Karl and David had sheltered last night. During that time Karl had watched over David and tried to help his half-brother as best he could, but soon realized just how sick David really was and became helpless with what he should do. Karl was walking across the bridge of the temple before he stopped in the middle and knelt down near the edge to look at the water. He had grown thirsty during the hours, but he was reluctant to drink from the water. Who knows what kind of germs are swimming around within the waters of the swamp.
'Still...it's better then perishing from dehydration,' thought Karl as he dipped his right hand into the water and scooped some up into his palm.
Karl was about to lift the liquid up to his lips and drink it when he suddenly heard the flapping of wings above him. He drop the water from his hand and watched as a blue parrot flew over him before it made an ungraceful landing on one of the rocks that stood beside the bridge. The bird quickly collected himself as he stood up. The bird cleared his throat before he spoke to Karl.
"Are you Karl or David?" asked the bird.
"K-Karl. That's me," replied Karl who was surprised to hear the bird talking to him.
As soon as those words got out of his mouth, Karl suddenly felt something whack him upside the head. He let out a yelp of pain before the one who had whacked him revealed themselves to be none other then Shorty. The little dragon landed on the same stone beside the bird and hissed at Karl in displeasure.
"Shorty?" questioned Karl in disbelief.
Shorty snorted at Karl before the parrot spoke once again: "Right, end of message. Postage has been prepaid, thank you."
The parrot opened up his wings again and flew back up into the sky. Shorty followed after the parrot, but not before giving Karl another whack in the head with his tail. Karl groaned out in pain before glaring up after the little winged lizard.
'Why do I get the feeling that Tabby had sent her little pet to whack me upside the head,' thought Karl sourly before he let out a sigh and headed back to the temple to check-up on David.
Afternoon soon came around as Karl set up a fire to help keep David warm. In the hours of their stay near the door of the temple, David had been growing worse and Karl was helpless in trying to help his half-brother. Karl placed a few sticks on the fire before he walked over to David and knelt down before feeling his half-brother's forehead. Karl let out a quiet sigh when he felt how hot David's fever had become and dropped his hand down from his half-brother's head. Not far away Shorty and the messenger bird were leading Marian, Tabitha and the group towards the temple.
"Come on, hurry. They're just up ahead, this way!" squawked the messenger bird.
"Karl? David? Are you there?" called Zippo as he followed behind Marion and Tabitha with the Beast Men teenagers following close behind him.
"Come on!" shouted the messenger bird.
"We're hurrying as fast as we can birdy!" exclaimed Tod as he grew annoyed with the messenger bird.
"Karl? David?" called Marion as she quicken her pace. "Karl!"
That was when the familiar voice of Karl shouted out just ahead of them: "Over here!"
Tabitha quickly ran ahead when she heard Karl's shout and saw her half-brother standing on the other side of the swamp: "Karl!"
"Thank goodness," said Zippo as he and the others caught up to Tabitha. "We're coming! Stay where you are!"
"Oh, thank goodness," voiced Marion when she saw that Karl was alright.
The group quickly ran across the bridge as they crossed over to where Karl was standing. Tabitha was the first one to the other side before she caught sight of David sitting on the ground and leaning against a large rock. Her heart froze when she saw that David wasn't moving and quickly ran over to him with Shorty flying over to land on the ground beside David's still form. Hairmau was the last one to cross the bridge before he paused when he sensed something watching him. The tiger quickly glanced towards where the reeds stood and frowned when he saw them shifting. His tail twitched once before he continued on his way across the bridge. Tabitha knelt down beside David's still for and gently pressed two fingers against his neck. She felt a pulse, but it was slow and weak.
"Oh David," voiced Tabitha in a worried voice.
"What's happened?" asked Marion when she saw the state that David was in.
Karl quickly told Marion, Tabitha and Zippo what had happened while looking at the new comers in shock and suspicion. After Tabitha introduced Usagi, Tod and Hairmau to Karl they all stood back and watched as Marion began to examine David's condition. Shorty sat on Tabitha's right shoulder as he quietly crooned to comfort his human friend.
"How is he?" asked Tabitha.
"He feels really cold," answered Marion as she held David's hand before placing a hand on his forehead then looked up at the group. "He's very far away."
Tabitha's eyes widened at what Marion had said as fear gripped at the young girl's heart: 'No...no I can't lose him too!'
Tabitha wrapped her arms around herself while looking down at David as grief began to over take her. Usagi came over to Tabitha's side to wrap a comforting arm around the human girl's shoulders. The group continued to watch as Marion placed her head against David's chest. Karl, feeling a sense of jealousy rising up inside of him, looked at Zippo in confusion.
"What's she doing?" asked Karl.
"Well she's...listening," answered Zippo.
Marion raised her head up from David's chest before she spoke softly to him: "Come back, David...David?"
Usagi unwrapped her arms from Tabitha before walking up to David's still form. The rabbit teenager knelt down and looked at Marion as she gave the human a silent permission to do something. Marion hesitated at first, but soon nodded before sitting back. Usagi sat down before placing two of her paw/hands on David's shoulders. She then closed her eyes and began to hum a gently melody. As she hummed, a soft green aura began to glow around her body. Tabitha, Karl, Marion and Zippo watched in both amazement and curiosity as the green aura slowly began to wash over David's still body. After a moment or two the green light faded and Tabitha breathed out a sigh of relief when David let out a gasp as he regained consciousness. He blinked in confusion before his eyes turned onto Usagi, who gave him a gentle smile as she pulled back from him.
"You're going to be alright now," said Usagi in a soft voice as she dropped her hands/paws from David's shoulders.
David stared at Usagi in bewilderment before he gave her a tired smile: "Thank you."
The group relaxed after that before Zippo turned to look at the messenger bird, who was asleep on one of the large rocks. Zippo cleared his throat, which caused the messenger bird to jump awake before the bird stood to attention.
"Do you have another message?" asked the bird.
"Yes," replied Zippo with a nod. "Now, you must fly to Vidabba and tell them to bring a rescue party as soon as possible. Don't stop for anyone or anything. Now go, go."
The bird quickly did what Zippo asked and flew away in the direction to where he needed to take the message to. Tod and Karl watched the bird fly away as well before the fox teenager looked at the librarian.
"You think that little guy can make it all the way there?" asked Tod curiously.
"Yes," replied Zippo with a reassuring smile. "They're usually quite reliable."
"Let's hope so," muttered Hairmau as he turned to look down at Tabitha, who was gently hugging David as a concerned expression appeared on the tiger's face. "For all our sakes."
It was a minute later that Zippo, Karl, Tabitha and Tod wandered into the temple entrance with the librarian carrying a torch in his right hand. Hairmau, Usagi and Marion stayed outside with David along with Shorty, who had curled up into David's lap to help keep him warm. As the foursome wandered in, Tabitha couldn't help, but be amazed at all the hieroglyphics that were written on the temple's walls.
"What a find, what a marvelous find," said Zippo in an excited voice. "This temple has been lost for centuries."
"Yeah and so has my fur comb," said Tod in a playful voice.
Tabitha rolled her eyes at the fox before gently nudging him in the arm. They soon came to stand in front of a large picture that show a being that had the body of a man and the head of a dinosaur.
"Look, here," said Zippo as he shone the torch on the picture.
"Who is that person?" asked Tabitha curiously.
"Ogthar, the great king of the world beneath." Zippo answered as he explained to Tabitha who that drawing of the person was on the wall. "Legend says that he was half man, half dinosaur. Quite remarkable!"
"And so are us Beast Men," said Tod with a smirk before he frowned. "Although none of the humans on this island ever give us much praise as to how we look."
Tabitha gave Tod's shoulder a gentle pat of reassurance before they continued to venture further into the temple.
"I do believe you have confirmed my research," said Zippo to Karl. "This must lead to one of the entrances to the world beneath."
"Really?" asked Tabitha curiously.
"Yes," replied Zippo with a nod until his face took on a troubled expression, "but."
The group stopped to look at Zippo in concern when they heard the librarian's voice drop slightly.
"What, Zippo?" asked Karl.
"The legend has it that all of the entrances are guarded by carnivores," answered Zippo before the librarian grew worried and turned to look at his three companions. "Oh dear. I-if this is an entrance then the carnivores will think we're violating their sacred space."
Tabitha and Tod shared a look of concern, while Karl only chuckled and gave Zippo an encouraging smile.
"Well don't worry," said Karl. "I haven't seen any carnivores lately."
Tabitha gave Karl a doubtful look before glancing at Tod and motioned with her head for them to go back outside. The two friends quickly ran back to the temple entrance where they saw Usagi sitting beside David, but she was tense as her ears stood straight up on top of her head. Marion was looking at Usagi in confusion, while Hairmau stood tense and ready to draw his sword as he glared down at the waters of the swamp. Tabitha grew worried when Tod's ears twitched on top of his head before the fox also turned to look at the waters.
"We're not alone," voiced Tod as his tail fluffed out behind him.
Tabitha turned her attention towards the water and saw something swimming through the swamp. Shorty, who had awoken a few seconds ago, quickly flew over to Tabitha's shoulder and hissed as he arched his back like a cat when he noticed movement within the water as well. Karl had followed after his sister and saw the surface of the water rippling, while getting a glimpse of something scaly moving through the reeds.
"Mosasaurs," voiced Usagi with a look of alarm on her face.
"How many?" asked Tabitha fearfully.
"About ten in total," replied Usagi in a tense voice.
"Oh my god," muttered Karl before he quickly ran over to where David lay. "We have to get out of here and fast. Come on."
"But David can't walk," said Marion.
"I'll take care of that issue," said Tod as he quickly knelt down beside David and began to pick him up.
"I'll get Zippo," said Marion as she raced back into the temple.
Karl nodded before he spoke: "I'll wait for you."
"No Karl! You and the others take David and go!" called Marion over her shoulder.
Tod soon hoisted David up onto his shoulder and stood up effortlessly as if David weighed nothing to him before looking at the others: "Let's high tail it out of here!"
The fox then turned and ran across the bridge with Usagi and Hairmau following close behind him. The three Beast Men ran across the bridge so fast that it was as if they became a blur to Karl and Tabitha's eyes. Tabitha was surprised at how fast they moved before she quickly got over her shock and began to run across the bridge with Karl right behind her. As soon as they started running across the bridge the Mosasaurs float began to attack. The prehistoric crocodiles snarled as they either chomped down the edges of the bridge or rammed into it. Tabitha concentrated on getting to the other end alive before she tripped when one of the Mosasaurs rammed into the bridge. She fell down with her hand near the edge of the bridge before she tried to stand up as Karl raced over to help his little sister. But they were too slow as another Mosasaur emerged from the water and was about to chomp down on Tabitha's hand. Shorty quickly noticed and shot out a fireball. The fireball caused the Mosasaur to flinch, but it did not halt in its attack. Then, just as the jaws of the Mosasaur was about to comp down on Tabitha's hand something strange happened. In a flash, four deep slash marks appeared on the bridge of the Mosasaur's long nose. The prehistoric crocodile let out a cry of surprise and pain before it quickly dove back underneath the waters of the swamp.
Tabitha blinked in surprise at what had just happened before she quickly pull her hand away from the edge. Karl was about to help Tabitha up to her feet before he was suddenly grabbed by Usagi and pulled towards the end of the bridge. Karl was about to shout at the rabbit to let go when he saw Hairmau pick up Tabitha and carry her over to where they were standing. The tiger held Tabitha in his arms, while Shorty sat on the tiger's right shoulder to hiss at the prehistoric crocodile one last time.
Karl then turned his attention toward the temple entrance before shouting: "MARION! ZIPPO!"
Marion and Zippo quickly appeared from out of the temple before stopping in their tracks when they saw all the Mosasaurs swimming around the bridge.
"Come on, you can make it, come on!" called Karl as he encouraged Marion to run across the bridge.
"Oh no," voiced Zippo with dread before looking at his companion.
"Run Marion!" shouted Karl.
Marion did what Karl said and began to run across the bridge with Zippo following right behind her. But she quickly halted when one of the Mosasaurs suddenly jumped out of the water and began to climb up onto the middle of the bridge. The prehistoric crocodile snarled as it glared hungerly at Marion and Zippo, who stood in fear of the creature.
"Come on, you can make it," encouraged Karl.
Marion and Zippo didn't move until another Mosasaur crashed into the side of the bridge, thus causing the other prehistoric crocodile on the bridge to snap at it in anger. That was when Marion and Zippo took the chance to run passed it, just missing its jaws as the Mosasaur snapped at them.
"You're almost there, hurry!" shouted Tabitha from Hairmau's arms.
Marion and Zippo were almost to the end when another Mosasaur crashed into the boards of the bridge in front of the duo. That action caused a large hole to appear in Marion's path, making her pause for a moment before Zippo shouted encouragement to her.
"Jump, Marion! Jump!"
Marion quickly did just that as Karl caught her on the other side. Unfortunately Zippo wasn't able to make the jump as he was suddenly knocked off the bridge when one of the Mosasaurs rammed into it.
"Zippo!" shouted Tabitha in alarm as she watched the librarian fall into the water.
"I'm comin' Zippo!" shouted Karl as he headed towards the edge of the bank.
Underwater, Zippo was franticly kicking as he tried to reach the surface before one of the Mosasaurs grabbed onto the end of his tail and started to gnaw on it. Zippo screamed out in pain within the water, but continued to fight as he tried to swim towards the surface. On the surface, Karl arrived at the spot Zippo had fallen into the water before the librarian's head emerged from the water.
"Oh, help Karl!" shouted Zippo before he was pulled underneath again.
Karl quickly plunged his hands into the water and grabbed Zippo's hands before he began to pull. Tod, who had placed David down on the ground, quickly ran over to Karl. The fox wrapped his arms around the human's waist before helping Karl to pull. With their combined strength, Karl and Tod were able to pull Zippo out of the water and from the jaws of death. Zippo quickly ran away a couple of feet from the water's edge before coming to a stop as he began to examine his tail. Usagi quickly ran up to him with a worried expression upon her face.
"Are you alright?" asked Usagi in concern.
"He was eating me!" exclaimed Zippo as he stared at his tail in horror before he turned to glare at the Mosasaur and shouted angrily at it. "I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON IT!"
"It could have been worse," muttered Tod as he and Karl stood up before the fox began to brush off some dirt from his arm.
Seeing that their prey had gotten away, the Mosasaur bitterly submerged back down into the water. Everyone let out a sigh of relief before Tabitha looked up at Hairmau with a grateful smile upon her face.
"Thanks for helping me," said Tabitha.
Hairmau glanced down at her with a look of surprise on his face before looking away from her: "Y-you're welcome."
Tabitha looked up at the tiger in confusion for a moment before smiling as she spoke again: "You know, you can put me down now, right?"
Hairmau complied as he gently placed Tabitha back down onto her feet. Shorty flew off the tiger's shoulder and landed on Tabitha's before the little dragon began to nuzzle against his friend's cheek.
Tod let out a sigh before he glanced around at the group: "How about we'd get out of here before something else comes along to make a snack out of us, huh?"
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement to Tod's question before the fox teenager turned and made his way over to David. Once he was at David's side, Tod knelt down and lifting the human up from the ground before placing him on his back. Karl was about to open his mouth and argue that he and Marion should carry David before Tod spoke.
"It'll be faster if I carried him and besides, unlike you humans, we Beast Men are able to carry objects that are way heavier then you can handle."
With that said the group began to walk through the jungle to get as far away from the temple as possible, while hoping that they didn't encounter anymore carnivore dinosaurs along the way. But as they walked the group was unaware that they were being watched by the female Night Light, who had been invisible a few moments ago and was now hiding amongst the thick underbrush a few feet away from them. The dragon watched the group for a moment before she silently began to follow them with a limp in her step. As she-dragon walked a trail of small blood droplets were left behind on the ground near the print of her front left forepaw.
To be continued
And here you go. I once again apologize for being slow on creating this chapter, but I hope I didn't disappoint all of you in writing this chapter.
White Hunter, howling out to you and creativity!