Chapter Five
"Hey! Gohan!" The boy turned around, having just arrived home from his sparring session with Piccolo.
"Krillin!" Gohan shouted back as his bald friend landed. "It's good to see you!"
"You too!" Krillin said. "I thought I sensed you and Piccolo out there? Is it over?"
Gohan nodded. "Yes, we sparred for a while, but I had to hurry home before mom found out I was gone!"
"Maybe I'll go see if he wants some more company!" Krillin said jokingly
"NO!" Gohan yelled. Then, his face turned red as he realized he had just overreacted. "I mean, you know Piccolo….he, ah…..he doesn't like company."
Krillin frowned. "I was only kidding." He said. "Think I'm crazy enough to spar with that mad man? Huh, not me! I'm enjoying my life!"
"Are you still on Master Roshi's island?" Gohan tried to redirect the conversation.
"Yes. It's party central, bro!" Krillin rubbed his head, smiling. "Master Roshi has a different bash going every night! Man, I'm beat!"
Gohan was surprised. "What kind of…bash? Do you eat lots of snacks and listen to music?"
Krillin blinked. "Ah, yeah…that's it." He said, trying to cover up the can of worms that had just slithered from his unthinking mouth. "Nothing you'd be interested in though."
The monk noticed that the boy seemed saddened. "Maybe we can find Tien and get together with him, Chiaotzu and Yamcha tomorrow! That would be fun!"
"If my mom will let me." Gohan said. "I could tell her it's just you….she still likes you ok….most of the time."
"Well, it's settled then!" Krillin announced. "I'll come back in the morning and see if ChiChi will let me steal you away for an afternoon."
"GREAT!" Gohan said. Suddenly, he was excited again.
"Well, I'll see you in the morning!" Krillin waved goodbye.
Inside in his bedroom, Gohan thought about Piccolo and his children. Dende had been the smallest Namek he'd really gotten to know, and Dende was a great friend. One that Gohan missed a great deal. Now, the Earth had three brand new little Nameks. Gohan smiled thinking that they were cute. Putting his head down on his desk, he soon dozed off. When ChiChi came home, she thought her son had fallen asleep doing his studies.
Rikola had long since lost sight of Rideria. She slowed down, letting Rhyne catch up. "She's gone." Rikola said angrily. "I don't know which way to go."
Rhyne looked around, but was confused as well. "I'm so scared, Rikola." She said softly. "I want to find home."
Rideria made it to the base of the cave, breathing heavily. She had run the whole way, not thinking of anything but doing what her father had demanded. She could not see up as high as the cave's entrance, but she believed that her father was up there. Seeking his approval, she began to climb up the rocks. Her hands were so small, grabbing onto the stones was difficult. Several times her feet slipped and her heart stopped, as she feared she might fall.
But the girl was determined. She would make her father proud, exceeding any expectations he had for her. Or she was willing to die trying.
Piccolo was angered when he realized that Rideria was attempting to climb up the mountain. And, to make matters worse, she was alone.
Without any explanation to Kami, Piccolo flew down below, snatching Rideria from the side of the mountain and landing below. Kami followed, somewhat slowly. When he saw the small Namekian child, he suddenly realized what he had been experiencing.
"Your offspring." Kami stated.
Piccolo had Rideria under his arm. She glanced up and was bewildered at the other green man she saw. It was another of her kind….
"Yes. And a very selfish child she is." Piccolo told him.
"SHE?" Kami's eyes opened widely. "How amazing!"
"You don't know the half of it." Piccolo said snidely. "Where are your sisters?" He demanded of the child.
"SISTERS?" Kami felt as if his legs suddenly turned to spaghetti and he was thankful for his staff, which helped to balance him. "How many….are there?"
"Three." Piccolo said.
"One egg?" Kami asked hesitantly.
"One egg." Piccolo confirmed. He sat Rideria down. "Now, where are your sisters?"
"They were too slow." She said, her lower lip set in a firm pout.
"Do you not think it was appropriate for you to leave them behind?" Piccolo asked angrily. "When I said to hurry, I assumed you would work together….not separate!"
"I'll help you locate them." Kami said.
"No. You stay here with this one." He said angrily. "I'll go bring them back."
Kami reached out for Rideria's hand, but she pulled away and frowned deeply. Kami couldn't help but remark. "The fruit didn't fall far from the tree."
Piccolo grunted and took off back toward the woods.
"Well, little one." Kami said. "I can not believe Piccolo had such a beautiful child."
Rideria ignored his effort to compliment her. "Who are you?" she asked, rather harshly.
"I am Kami, Guardian of Earth. You'd do well to show some respect for me, since I have a great deal of power." Although Kami was referring to his power as Guardian, Rideria was quick to speak of something else.
"My father has more power than you." She said firmly. "I've seen him fight, and no one is stronger."
Kami smiled. "Yes, you are Piccolo's child." He laughed. "Wait until Popo finds out about this."
Rhyne was in tears and sat down in the grass.
Rikola was angry. She trampled through some grass, trying to find the path where Rideria had ran, but it was not working.
"Father will come for us." Rikola said. "He will be angry….disappointed in us…but he will come." She said.
Rhyne nodded. She could take anything right now as long as she was safe back in the cave. She sniffled loudly.
"Stop crying……." Rikola was about to continue with terms like crybaby, but stopped as she turned around and saw something large and scary behind her smaller sister. "Don't…move." She said.
Rhyne held her breath, squeezing her eyes tightly shut.
Behind her was a large animal with sharp teeth and long claws, all four legs on the ground, ready to pounce on the smaller Namekian girl.
The beautiful black tiger was extremely hungry, and the scent of the children had been easy for him to pick up on. Now, he crouched down, ready to seize his prey.
Before Rikola had a chance to think of a plan, the animal jumped through the air directly to Rhyne. The little girl screamed, as did her sister.
Piccolo heard their cries and knew there was something desperately wrong. He cursed under his breath and increased his speed, shooting through the trees instead of going around them.
When he arrived, the scene in front of him had already played out. He saw Rhyne face down on the ground, not moving. Rikola was standing just a few feet away breathing heavily and sweating, her hands extended in front of her, a look of determination on her face.
The animal also lay on the ground unmoving. Piccolo hurried to the creature, seeing it's eyes open and its mouth set in a snarl, teeth bared. Piccolo could sense life in the animal, however, it looked dead. He reached a hand down and touched it. It was cold. No, not just cold… bitterly cold. Moving his hand down the animal's side, he found to his surprise it was indeed frozen.
Piccolo turned around and looked at Rikola. She seemed to be in shock. "You did this?" Piccolo asked her. Slowly, Rikola nodded her head and lowered her arms.
He did not take time to think, rushing to Rhyne. Piccolo noted how extremely small she was, helpless and frail. He turned her over to find she was conscious, crying and terrified, but alive. She put her tiny arms around his neck as he picked her up. "It's ok." Piccolo told her, feeling as her body shook uncontrollably.
All Rhyne knew was that her father was here and that was all the comfort she needed.
Rikola looked around at Piccolo. "I…don't know…what happened." She said, obviously frightened of what she had done to the animal.
"We'll figure it out later." Piccolo said calmly. These girls had just had their first encounter with real fear, and he saw no reason to make matters worse with his anger. "Let's go." He reached out his hand, allowing Rikola to grab hold as he took to the sky.
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