Chapter 9: The last few dangers

The poachers formed a tight circle around the Thornberry family.

"Hello! Do we look like animals to you!" Debbie shrieked.

The poachers said nothing, just stared. Eliza had a sinking feeling that they either were seeing animals, or they just wanted to kill them. Perhaps the poachers knew who they were. The leader stepped a little closer, studying each family member, who trembled as the piercing gaze came across them. He moved back, and whispered something into another man's ear. He nodded and turned to a couple of other men. They too nodded, then parted. The leader turned back to the shivering family. He lowered his rifle...and fired it at their feet. Eliza yelped as the bullet struck the ground at her feet. Another shot was heard, and Eliza bolted, heading for the opening.

"That's it, little girl. Run. It makes the chase so much more fun."

He detached himself from the group, and the poachers reformed their tight circle around the family. They wanted to run after Eliza and her pursuer, but the poachers kept their guns raised and were ready to fire. Eliza was on her own...

The little girl jumped over large tree roots and ducked under low hanging branches. She panted havily, losing her pace. The heavy footsteps behind her told the 12 year old that the poacher was catching up.

"I've got to trick him somehow, but how? There's nowhere to hide."

This was indeed true. While some of the trees may have provided a little cover for the girl, a seasoned and smart poacher would not fall for a simple trick like that. Besides, Eliza could hear him catching up very quickly. If she tried to climb, she would be seen.

While she pondered on her current sitution, she was paying less and less attention to what was going on around her. This caused her to trip on a tree root. She yelped as she hit ground. As she turned over to face who she knew was coming, something lurked on the branch way above her head. The poacher came into view, and arrogant smile plastered on his face.

"Aww...Can't you do better than that? A wounded elephant could escape better than you...But enough with the fun and games, it's time for you to die..."

He aimed his rifle at her, and the 12 year old closed her eyes, bracing for what she knew would come.

It never came. There was a growl, then a yell. Opening her eyes, Eliza was faced with a surprising sight; the clouded leopard that had chased them earlier stood in front of her, facing this poacher. The scratch marks and drops of blood on the man's face indecated that the wild cat had scratched him. Her fur standing on end and bloody claws extended, the wild cat crept towards the poacher. He stood there, frozen, his gun lying against the root that Eliza had tripped on, meaning it was too far for him to grab and shoot at the wild animal.

She crouched down, preparing to spring. The man screamed in fear and turned, running for his life. Provoked into a chase, the wild cat followed him. A loud pained scream that echoed throughout the jungle told its residents that there had been death. The Thornberrys were relieved to hear it wasn't their daughter, but the poachers suddenly looked scared. They scattered like mice and bolted for safety that lay outside the jungle. However, they wouldn't get far...

The Thornberry family rushed in the direction they had seen their daughter run in. They called for her several times, and finally got an answer. The next thing Eliza knew, she was surrounded from all sides, being hugged to death. She savored the moment, then glanced up. The clouded leopard, blood still smeared on her paws, stood on a long sturdy branch crooked upward. She looked down at them, regarding them a moment, before jumping to another branch and disappearing from view. Eliza smiled. Maybe she had been wrong. Perhaps they really did understand after all...

The family walked to the edge of the jungle and the game was pulled out. Nigel and Eliza was very close to the end. Marianne and Debbie were only a few spaces behind them.

"Just think. In a couple of turns, we'll be done...and we're getting rid of this game the second it's done!"

Marianne gingerly took the dic and rolled a 3. Her lion piece moved slowly forward, stopping only two spaces from the finish. She leaned in, and read the message.

"Don't be fooled, it isn't thunder. Staying put would be a blunder."

They looked up, confused, not fully comprehending the meaning. But when the ground began to shake, they started to understand.

"Stampede!"

The family leapt to their feet and bolted, except Donnie. Nigel had to go back for him. As he raced off, taking the rear of the group, the source of the rumbling burst out. Up front were a few rhinos. The family darted to one side, the herd of animals racing by them. A total of four rhinos took the lead, followed by two elephants. Following them were zebras, how many was uncertain. Gazelles raced by behind the zebras, and taking the rear was a tired rhino, apparently left behind from the rhinos up front. It looked at the Thornberrys as it lumbered by, panting heavily as it tried to keep up with the now disappearing herd. The family watch in shock, then turned back to the game.

Nigel took the dice, rolled...and smiled. It landed on 5, and the elephant piece moved slowly towards the end of the board, but as it landed on the end, more words sprang up.

"Alright, that's it! Do the math. Feel my unbridled hate and wrath!"

There was a blinding white light and a deafening boom! that split the sky. A colorful vortex rose out of the game like a tornado. A pair of angry eyes stared at them. A figure floated out of the vortex as it began to die down. She was a cat and bird hybrid, with the coldest eyes one had ever seen. The family froze as she hissed one single word.

"Die..."

to be continued.

Finally! Next chapter! Yay! Anyway, looks like the Thornberrys have a big problem on their hands. Oh well, we know they should be able to handle it...Next chapter will be coming soon. Sorry for the wait. R&R.