Disclaimer: Disney owns Kenai, Koda and everyone else in the movie. I only own Ken'ichi, Kamali and the list of characters in my ff profile.
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Birds are happily chirping on their tree branches as they work on their nests and scavenging for food. On the ground, rabbits and chipmunks are scurrying about, taking in the sights of their home and making friends. The soft wind blows and the leaves rustle in it, several leaves are severed from their connection to their branches and softly drop to the ground in the wind's mercy.
"We're almost there!" Koda happily declares as he comes to a stop at the top of a hill, looking his happiest. "It's not too far!"
Ken'ichi approaches from behind Koda, and left astounded by the view. "Whoa…" He whispered… "Check it out…"
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Chapter 9: The last stretch of the road
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The view was beautiful; the distance was painted with splashes of green all over, the majestic mountains in the distance with the clouds crowning them, lines and scribbles of blue are visible on the ground, the rivers…If there were any other views much more than this one to see, Ken'ichi would have a hard time finding it.
"What did I tell ya!" Koda proudly announces as he puffs out his chest and points to the rivers in the distance. "See those? The Salmon Run is not too far from those!"
Kamali approaches from behind as the cubs look over at the distance in front of them. Indeed, the Salmon Run is not too far now, an hour walk or two would easily get them there. It seems as if their journey has just started, everything happened so vividly and memorable, it was a journey that they'll keep remembering forever. Ken'ichi stared at the view, amazed at the beauty the forest actually is. Granted, he has lived his whole life on a mountain, but never has he seen such a view, he was never allowed to get to the cliffs or edges of the mountain to look at the view, seeing that his parents were very protective to prohibit getting close to such places.
"Well," Kamali begins, breaking the silence. "We better get going, eh?"
Koda nods. "Yeah! Let's go!"
The two bears begin their descent down the hill to resume their way, but Ken'ichi stays behind and resumes looking at the view. It was at this point a lot of questions begin to drive into Ken'ichi's mind. What will they do when they arrive to the Salmon Run? Will they all go their separate ways from there? And if so, what will he do? What would become of him now that he doesn't have a family alive to go to? Ken'ichi sighs, looking up at the blue sky as he descends down the hill to catch up with his the others. He has really gone a long way from when he first met Koda, at first he was angry and cold-hearted at the cub for his father's demise, believing that if Koda wouldn't have ran into their direction, his father would still be here. But slowly, Ken'ichi has released that anger as time went on with the cub, warming up and getting along with him…But, the idea of parting ways with them, it makes him feel sad, the idea of being alone after all of this is all over…Back up to that mountain that used to be his home…Alone in that cold place…
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"So…When we get to the Salmon Run…" Koda begins as they continue their way to the Run. "How about we all catch some salmons together along with my big brother, Kenai?"
Kamali chuckles. "Well…I would love to, but as soon as I get to the Salmon Run I have to get going along my own way."
Koda looks at Kamali and grins. "Oh really? What?"
Kamali looks at Koda. "Well, I've been heading to the Salmon Run before I met you two." He pauses as he looks up at the sky, "My mom and dad live over there, and I want to pay them a visit before I have to go on with my life."
Koda giggles. "Sounds like we're all going to have fun over there, huh!"
Kamali chuckles and grins at Koda. "Sounds like a plan!"
A bit behind of Koda and Kamali, Ken'ichi pads silently and eyeing the two bears in front him, seeming to be drawing a mental picture of them both. After all, the simple view of the Salmon Run would mean all three of them going their separate ways; indeed, their journey is coming to a close…
"Hm…" Ken'ichi hums as he thinks on what to do after they get there. He expects for all three of them to go their separate ways, but what for an orphaned cub to do…Find a cave to live by himself? Maybe see if someone wants to take him in? A lot of things are nagging at the cub's mind, and all of them without an answer…
Ken'ichi sighs; he clearly doesn't know what to do…He looks up at the sky, wondering if the answer will drop on him like a raindrop from the sky…And looking…And looking…And looking…
SNAP!
"Hu-Whooooaaaaaaa! Oof! Guh! Guorgh!" Apparently, his lack of vision to the road ahead of him has led him into a trap…
"Huh?" Koda blinks as he hears Ken'ichi, turning around and practically break into a laughing fit, watching Ken'ichi slam unto the ground and up into the sky, dangling onto a rope tied around his hind left leg, the cub has walked into a bear trap. Kamali can't help but chuckle, after this entire little predicament is very well comical as it is sad.
"Heheheheh! Walked into a trap, Ken'ichi?" Koda giggles, barely holding back the laughter.
"Hah-Hah-Hah." Ken'ichi mocks a laugh, glaring at Koda. "Glad you find this amusing! A little help in getting down!"
Koda giggles. "Well, I don't know, that trap is pretty complicated for us bears to help another one out." Koda glances at Kamali, already spotting the teen bear playing along.
"Oh yeah," Kamali continues. "We don't have the first clue in getting you free from that."
"Huh!" Ken'ichi retaliates, raising an eyebrow at the bears in front of him, oblivious to the little prank they're pulling on him. "What are you two talking about! You just loosen that thing over there and I'll be free!" He instructs as he points at a wood plank etched in the ground with the trap's rope tied around it.
"Hmmm…" Koda hums, looking as if thinking. "This is a tough one…What do you think, Kamali?" He continues, glancing over at Kamali.
The teen bear couldn't help but grin, he was enjoying this! "Heheh! Seems like you're stuck there, lil'bear!"
Ken'ichi twitches as he glares at Kamali, unable to handle being called 'lil'bear'. "Lil…Bear…!" He growls, but soon shakes off the anger and stares at Koda and Kamali. "Well, how do you think are you going to get me down from here!"
Koda giggles, looking up at the trap as if examining it. "Well…The only way of escape is…" He looks at Ken'ichi and grins. "To chew your foot off!"
Ken'ichi blinks as he stares at the grinning Koda. "Chew…My foot off?" Ken'ichi echoed. "Um…I don't think that's going to happen…"
Koda giggled. "OK then, have it your way. Seems like you're stuck up there for a loooooong time."
Ken'ichi growls. "Alright! Enough! I know you two can get me out easily! So stop toying around and get me down!" Ken'ichi continues to growl, clutching his head with both his paws as the blood is rushing to his head, a headache forming on his forehead.
Koda laughed. "Hahahahaha! Alright, just keep your fur on." He pads toward the wood plank and looks at it, giggling how humans can make such simple traps. And with one kick with his front paw, the wood plank is kicked out of the ground and releasing the hold of the trap. Ken'ichi's eyes widen as he feels the pull of the trap, he forgot to hold onto something…
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"Where's Koda where you need him…" Kenai absently asks himself after a sigh, padding through the forests and mountains. Kenai has the right to ask that, he's been padding around for three days now and he still can't find the right way to the Salmon Run. He already passed the Valley of Fire yesterday, but where he went after that a year ago has left him puzzled. If Koda was with him, he would've been there at the Run by now.
Kenai sighs, "Koda…I hope you're doing alright…"
It's been a pretty tough road for Kenai ever since he was separated by Koda back at the mountain. He was chased by that hunter all the way down the mountain, he fell in a river and there he lost the hunter. It's been smooth sailing after that, the content sun and gentle moon to light his way through day and night, making his journey a bit more pleasant. Although, Kenai had his share of bad luck too. He was chased by a sabretooth tiger; he angered a couple of squirrels by almost stepping on them when munching on some berry bushes, which got them to throw their acorns at Kenai. In the Valley of Fire, Kenai got a bit lost in the reddish land, and about three times nearly jumping out of his fur, bumping into scary looking things and from the smokes rising from the geysers underground. Thankfully however, he made it out of the valley in one piece, excited about arriving at the Salmon Run, catch a few salmons and chill until his little brother arrives. But now…He's so lost he can't tell from which direction he came from, and he hates himself for at least not leave any marks to lead him back from where he came.
"Let's see…" He stops, standing up on his hind legs and looking around, trying to find any familiar that could point him to the right direction. "Where to go…" He asks himself as he looks around, not recognizing anything in his surroundings, all around him are nothing but green trees, a mix of green and brown in the ground, bushes and tree roots riddling the soil as little squirrels and birds fly about in their home land, the clear blue sky riddled with clouds both white and light-gray, mountains painted in the distance with their white tips kissing the sky. It is all very beautiful, but nothing of the sort to remind Kenai the way to the Salmon Run. He sighs in defeat, dropping back on all four. "This is hopeless…I'm better off as a human than a bear…" He slowly pads to a direction he randomly chose, his mind busy with everything that has happened ever since he became a bear. "Everything I've done to solve our problems has been pretty much by my human knowledge…" He told himself, mentally kicking himself. "Koda was the one helping me out with being a bear…And it doesn't seem like it's working at all…I can't do anything right about being a bear…I can't even find the Salmon Run…"
Kenai stops, thinking about his little brother Koda…It's a bit hard to believe, but it has been a year since Kenai took Koda in under his care and learned the meaning of love and brotherhood through the eyes of a bear. Kenai chuckles to himself as he remembers what a pain Koda was when he first met him, the little cub couldn't stop talking and telling stories, he remembers how he shoved Koda into a tree trunk as he started singing On My Way, he also remembers the pain and anguish he felt in his heart when he told Koda about her mom's fate…And after those days, the day after his ceremony at the human village where he got his mark on the wall, he thought his days of luxury as a bear would begin, but he never expected being a bear would be like this, it's tough…And somewhat a fun challenge…Yeah, a fun challenge! Like Koda tried to convince him to think of it!
"Fun…" Kenai whispers, thinking of Koda all of a sudden and remembering everything the cub had tried to teach him about being a bear…All the bare essentials, the techniques…
"Now, if the smell is cold and fresh, it's a river. Warm and salty, it's just not sweet to drink. I learned that the hard way when traveling with my mom once, and it tasted nasty! Heheheheh!"
Those words from Koda stayed with him, and he remembers them well. Kenai looks down at his totem dangling around his neck, the bear carving looking up at him as Kenai lifts it up to look at it. "If it smells cold and fresh, it's a river…" Kenai recaps Koda's advice. "Hm…I'll give it a shot…" Kenai looks up at the air, closes his eyes and begin sniffing the air; hundreds of different scents begin to flow through his nostrils. He frowns, not liking the results of what he's receiving, but he expected it wouldn't be that easy. He tries again, once again the same scents flows in. He sniffs again, this time distinguishing and identifying each scent…Leaves…Berries…Squirrels…Birds…Water!
"Yes…" Kenai whispers, locking into the scent of water…The scent smells cold and fresh…Double yes!
"Where to then…" Kenai whispers, sniffing to pinpoint exactly where the scent is coming from…He veers his head slowly from left to right repeatedly, trying to find that spot. "C'mon…I'm so close…" He continues to sniff, staying calm and concentrating on the scent. He takes a step forward, takes another sniff and takes another step…And it was after these few steps the scent began to grow stronger…He found the way…
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"…Uuuuugh…" Ken'ichi moarns as he lies flat on the ground on his belly, both paws clutching his stomach.
Koda could only chuckle. "C'mon Ken'ichi, it doesn't hurt that much."
Ken'ichi growls, looking at Koda with a glare. "You…Try having a tree branch…Land on your stomach…"
Kamali just laughs on the inside as he watches both of these cubs, reminding him of his hold cubhood days. 'Those were the days…' Kamali thought to himself as he watches Koda helping Ken'ichi up after his laughing session. 'Too bad that part of my life is over now…'
"Heheheh, sorry Ken'ichi," Koda apologizes with a chuckle. "It was just too funny to keep a straight face."
"Ha-ha-ha…" Ken'ichi mocks a laugh. "Well it wasn't for me..."
"Heheheh! C'mon you two, knock it off." Kamali chuckles as he goes to turn around. "If we continue now without stopping we should reach the Salmon Run before nigh-" Kamali is cut short as his nose picks up a scent…Nothing of nature nor animals, that's for sure…
"What's wrong?" Koda asks, confused and concerned about Kamali stopping his saying for a smell.
"Don't move…" Kamali whispers, sniffing at the air. "I smell something…"
Ken'ichi blinks, scanning his surroundings, not spotting anything but trees, bushes and wildlife. He closes his eyes, listening to his surroundings…Nothing yet…There! Footsteps, about a second apart…It couldn't be…Ken'ichi sniffs the air, catching the scent…And as if by reflex, his eyes shoot wide open with a gasp, recognizing the scent anywhere. "Hunter…" He whispers.
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Kenai slowly pads to the direction his sense of smell pointed him to, zig zagging every so often every time he takes a sniff of the air and tracking the scent of the water down. "Harder than I thought…" He whispers to himself, having difficulty in trying to find the way. Koda makes it look so easy, of course he expected Koda to have an easier time on this type of tracking. Kenai has mastered how to track food, shelter, and other bears, but he has never completely mastered tracking water, he always lets Koda do that job. Though, now that he's alone, he really wishes he would've mastered it right about now.
"Such a bear I've become…" Kenai whispers, starting to lose hope of finding the Salmon Run. He takes another sniff of the air, smelling the scent of the water a bit stronger now. He smiles a bit as he sniffs again and stands on his hind legs, looking around to see if he could spot the Salmon Run.
"Nothing…"
He takes another sniff and another step forward, barely keeping himself balanced on his hind legs. He takes another step forward, but it was a mistake…His hind leg stomped onto a few pebbles and rolled from under his feet. "Whoa!" Kenai yelps as his balance is thrown completely off and he falls forward, landing onto the steep hill lying in front of him and the bear begins to roll down the mountain. "Ow! Ugh! Gah!" He groans and grunts as every roll brings pain to his back and head, the bear wishing the roll would stop already. And as on cue, his wish is answered in the form of water.
SPLASH!
"Guah! Aaagh!" Kenai gasps as he surfaces from the water, panting as he recovers from that long roll down the hill.
"Yo, Kenai! You OK?" A deep, male voice calls out to him.
"Huh?" Kenai looks around, and when he sets his gaze forward he spots the huge bear who called out to him. That funny, lovable, giant black grizzly we all know as…
"Tug!" Kenai calls out.
Kenai has found his way to the Salmon Run…
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"Where is he?" Koda whispers, sniffing the air to pinpoint the hunter's location.
"I'm trying to find him…" Kamali whispers back, sniffing the air and glancing at every direction he can watch to try to spot the stalking hunter. Ken'ichi looked around, keeping his ears prickled up and ready to catch any sounds of the hunter, anything that could give away his location.
"I don't see him…" Koda whispers, his heart beginning to race as he begins to worry about this hunter.
"That doesn't mean he's not there…" Ken'ichi replies, already feeling uncomfortable by their situation.
Kamali's ears perks up, a twig just snapped. "That's it. Run!" Kamali orders, but as soon as he barked out that order a spear comes flying and thrusts into the ground between the group and making the three bears cry out in surprise. But these bears know better than to stay put and look at their attacker, they run for it as soon as they hear the running footsteps of the hunter.
The three bears continue their run, desperate to get away from their attacker and not wanting to resort to any violence, but no matter how hard and fast they run, they can still hear the hunter behind them. Ken'ichi looks over his shoulder, the hunter has a bow in his hand and reaching behind his back for an arrow, a devastating weapon combination for a bear, and if struck at the right spot it could kill a bear on one shot.
Ken'ichi gasps. "Guys! Heads up!"
An arrow comes flying and strikes the ground, barely missing Koda. The cub cries out in surprise, jumping as that arrow almost missed his paw, but the cub just pushed his fears aside and continues to run, his heart racing. "C'mon! He's gaining!" Kamali cries out to Koda and Ken'ichi, the teen bear running ahead and zig zagging around trees, arrows flying over their heads one by one and hitting trees, the ground and air. The bears continue running, down a hill and through some bushes, but this hunter is pretty persistent, he just keeps following and won't give up on them.
"C'mon! Hurry!" Kamali cries to the two cubs behind him, but he comes to a skidding stop, and from behind Koda and Ken'ichi come crashing unto Kamali, making the bear yelp as all three of them crash in a little hill of huddled up bear, they are trapped by a mountain wall in front of them, to the side nothing more than more mountain walls. Koda shakes his head, looks over his shoulder and gasps; the hunter is gaining fast, holding his spear in both hands. Trapped…
"Oh no…" Koda whispers.
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The conclusion to this story is almost here!