Disclaimer: Yeah............ i think you know by now.
A/N: I'm SOOOOOOOOOO sorry for being so late, but I have a lot of crap to take care of. I feel BAD! GOMEN MINNA-SAN! Read on... If you guys put up with me, I'll give you a bonus chap next update, ok!
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Chapter 17: Attacked
Tiger growled into the darkness. It was only an hour after Red had run and everyone had been out searching for him and the two other missing party members. They had not found anyone yet. Genki was freaking out, Holly was trying to calm him down, Mako was looking for the girls, and Tiger was stuck with searching for Red. He wanted to rip out that pup's throat for this.
"Where is he?" Tiger growled again. The sun had set and it was dark out. He had to rely on his sense of smell. Red's scent had changed to that of death, but Tiger was too busy griping in his mind. He had turned back into his old self.
Tiger continued to pad through the foliage on the ground. Where the hell was he? Where were the others? Where was Red?
***
Mako tramped through the darkness. Those stupid girls. Stupid him. He shouldn't have let them leave. Why, oh, why did the girls ask for some quality time?
The silly Zuum hybrid sniffed around lazily. He scratched his neck idly, and looked around again. Where in the seven hells were they?
A heavy something fell from the trees and landed on him. He fell forward and felt his face plow into the earth. He opened his eyes and looked around in confusion and alarm. He found a young female Crab Saurian (Arrowhead/Zuum).
"What are you doing here?" he asked her. Most Crab Saurians stayed by water. The nearest river was several hundred kilometers away.
She stared at him with big eyes, "I should ask you the same question Tiger-boy."
He squinted at her, "My name's Mako, not Tiger-boy."
She nodded, "Fine. My name is Col. I'm lost."
"Really? I'm looking for two lost girls. One human, one monster."
Col cocked her head, "A human and a monster? Was the monster a pixie with fire wings?"
Mako's face lit up and he leaped up, "That's Yuri! Did you see them?!"
Col cringed back from the sudden explosion of zeal from Mako. Why was he looking for these girls? They weren't his species...
"Yes. I did see them. They headed south."
Mako jumped up happily, grabbed Col's claws, and began to dance happily. Col looked at him with surprise. This strange Zuum hybrid was dancing with her.
"Oh YES! Thank you so much! I will help you find your way back to wherever you're from as soon as I find those two idiots. I promise you this!" Mako said, starting to head south. Col followed him slowly.
"But, you don't even know where I'm trying to go."
"So?" he said, pausing, "You helped me with the search for my lost friends. I need to pay you back. If I didn't, that would be mean and crude. I do have manners, my dear lady. I'm not like other Zuums who have no respect for lovely creatures as yourself. I have morals and principles and I care about others."
Col cocked her head and stared hard at Mako. He wasn't lying. He really was as passionate as he sounded. He really wanted to help her. She was beginning to warm up to him. She was beginning to like him.
Mako skipped off, thankful to just have a clue to where the girls were. As soon as he saw them, he was going to kill them. He was going to torture both of them, very slowly and make sure neither one would forgot to at least tell the group the general direction they went in.
"Um, how are you to help me get back home if you don't know where I'm from?" Col asked, following Mako slowly.
"I'll find someone who knows you, or I'll get you to a familiar place. You crabs stay by water, so we just need to find someone who knows the waters in this area. It won't take long," Mako said, smiling back at Col. She blushed heavily. He was so determined to help her.
Mako paused and realized he heard the sounds of a river.
"Hey, Col. How did you get lost?"
"My family came up here to get away from our tribe. Some strange things have been happening to the young monsters and my father didn't want anything to happen to us. When we got up here I wanted to try to find the Den of the Tigers. I've heard about it and I wanted to see it. It's suppose to be the biggest gathering of monsters since the war with Moo. I thought it would be interesting to see. So I wandered off, hoping I could find it. All I found was you."
Mako laughed, "Well, I'm a lot cooler then any other Tigers you might meet. Also a lot more attractive."
Col laughed at the silly joke and paused before the awesome power of the river Mako had heard only moments before. The river was wide and obviously deep. It was also fast, very fast.
"Do you think they crossed it?" Col asked.
"I don't know. They might have, but I'm not sure. Yuri can hold Achika on her back and fly over. It's at times like these I wish I had wings."
Col giggled cutely, and Mako looked back at her. She was cute, had a sense of humor, and was lost. She also seemed to be in heat, or was that himself?
"What's so funny? I'm no comedian. I just like to have a good time."
"Well, I'm having a good time. I was just about to-"
"Mako?!"
Mako looked to see Yuri holding onto an injured Achika. The little girl was unconsious in her arms.
"Oh my gods! What happened?! BY THE HOLY GODS OF THE SHRINE AND DISCS WHAT HAPPENED?!" Mako asked, freaking out.
Achika was a bloody mess. Her hair was slick with blood and it trickled down her face. Her leg looked like it had been ripped open and her white shirt was drenched with blood from a wound on her stomach.
"I honestly have no idea what happened. She went to go get firewood for the camp so we could use that for an excuse for missing while I washed up. Then, I heard her scream something about Red and I found her like this. I don't know what's going on."
"No. He couldn't have. No. Not him," Mako mumbled, shaking his head. Yuri stared at him in confusion. What was wrong with him?
"Who Mako? Who?" Yuri asked coldly. Mako stared at her wide-eyed. She had asked that very coldly. She asked that in a scary way.
"Red. We think he snapped cuz he nearly attacked us. Do you think he could've attacked Achika?"
Yuri narrowed her eyes angrily, "If he touched her, he won't live another day."
"We need to save the girl before you go after this Red," Col suddenly said softly. Yuri glared at her. Then softened.
"Yes. Mako, where are the others? I need to find Holly."
"Uh, they're... um... well... Holly and Genki should be at the cave. I'm not sure though. The last time I talked to them it was still light out. I'm not sure where they are now. They might be looking with Tiger for Red."
"I'll find them. You stay here with Achika and... your friend. I'll be back with Holly," Yuri said, getting up and flying off. Tears filled her eyes as she flew. Achika could die. Achika could die and it might be Red's fault.
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A/N: Review! Or else I won't put this up anymore!
