Chapter 25

Arguments and Disagreements

After some time of flying, they were roosting on tree branches. The winds were getting colder but it didn't stop them from roosting on these very tree branches. It wasn't like they were going to stay in their spots for the rest of the night anyways. However, Kassidy and Holden didn't want to stay long after what happened yesterday and today.

This time, Shade was the only one asking a lot of questions to their giant bat companions and Holden would usually ask a lot of questions as well to them but he was not in a good mood and neither was Kassidy. Shade and Marina were in between Kassidy and Holden and Kassidy and Holden had barely said a word or barely looked at anyone as they had scowls on their faces and had their arms crossed. Shade and Marina looked at Kassidy and Holden once in a while but they didn't try to ask them if they were alright or if they were ready to apologize.

Kassidy could tell that Shade and Marina felt awkward being in between her and Holden but at this moment she didn't want to be anywhere near that idiot. Their anger towards each other was like a bad relationship between a cat and a dog.

Once again, Dianna was sharpening her claws with a rock and sometimes Martin watched her when Shade didn't ask him a question. Martin sometimes also watched as Throbb was cleaning Goth's band like Throbb was Goth's servant. Kassidy could tell that Throbb was not enjoying himself and if he had a job as a shoe polisher for a human job, she could guarantee that he wouldn't enjoy it as well.

"These bands! They're hard to clean and twice as hard to keep shiny," Throbb said as he continued to polish Goth's band.

"You know what else is hard to clean and shine?" Holden said and everyone except for Kassidy looked at him. He then gestured his head towards Kassidy without looking at her. "Kassidy's attitude."

Kassidy's eyes widened but she then scowled again and didn't dare to try and look at Holden. "Coming out of dumb bat's mouth over there."

"Oh, hey, Shade. Would you mind telling that hot head that she should be a whole lot nicer to others instead of being a grouch as usual?"

Kassidy then cupped her hand near her ear. "Oh, hey, Marina. Do you hear that? It sounds like a fly buzzing around here. One of us should probably shut it up before it gets a whole lot more annoying than it already is."

Shade and Marina were looking at Kassidy and Holden with their eyes widened while the giant bats looked like they didn't know what to do in this situation.

"Guys, will you stop arguing for one day?" Shade asked. "Can't you guys just make up?"

"I'm not apologizing to that jerkwad until he apologizes," Kassidy said bitterly as she looked away.

"Well I'm not apologizing to that wicked witch until she apologizes," Holden said bitterly as he looked away. "Bitch."

"Bastard."

Silence came down on them for a little bit until Shade cleared his throat and tried to smile at the four giant bats. "So, why do you think the humans band bats anyway?"

Kassidy bared her teeth and she couldn't believe that Shade would ask that question to those four giant bats. She explained it to Shade and Marina so why did he have to ask them that question? It was like he didn't even pay attention to what Kassidy had to say. She felt betrayed by him. Marina looked disapproved by what Shade asked the giant bats as well.

What's next? Kassidy thought. Shade asks them to be our leaders?

She felt like she was going to punch something. She tried to do her breathing technique and she thought she was just angry and that's why she felt like punching something. Her breathing technique, however, didn't seem like it was working. If only she could block out what she was hearing at this moment.

"To imprison us," Goth said angrily with a growl. "So they can steal the secret to night vision." He was then trying to rip the band off him with his hand and teeth.

Kassidy rolled her eyes at Goth's attempt to rip the band off. You won't be getting that off anytime soon, Fancy Wings.

She so badly wanted to say out loud to Goth that the humans already know how night vision works and that the band he's wearing is used for a good purpose. However, she had no idea what would come of it if she said something like that out loud. She didn't even want to know how these four would react if they found out that she and Holden were humans.

She then saw Martin and Dianna whispering to each other. They had annoyed looks on their faces. Kassidy could only guess that they were talking about Goth behind his back.

"If anything, I think those humans should've taken Kassidy instead so they could see what the hell is wrong with her."

Everyone froze and stopped what they were doing.

Kassidy's eyes widened as she slowly looked at Holden. She couldn't believe what he said. It was like he was actually trying to expose her true self to those scientists right now. It was also like he was treating her like she was mental.

Kassidy's fur bristled and she snarled and she could feel fire forming inside her. "You want my opinion? Those humans should've taken you so they can remove your stupid brain because that's what you are! Stupid."

Holden furrowed his brow at Kassidy. "At least I know how to have fun! You on the other hand always can't seem to know what that is because you are always serious or worried about something!"

"And I should be because look at the situation we are all now in genius!" She burst into flames at that moment. "Plus my family is somewhere out there in danger-god knows where-and it's not easy to have fun when you know your family is kidnapped or the fact that you're treated like you're a monster!"

At this point, she no longer cared if she was on fire or not. Holden acted as though there was nothing to be worried about. Kassidy couldn't even believe she thought that he actually cared about her life. That was all a lie.

"Kass, no one's calling you a monster here," Shade said calmly.

Kassidy looked at Shade still furious. "I've been called a devil! I've also been called a demon! Now those animals are coming at me all thanks to your new cannibal heroes and they roost over there thinking it's all okay while we are in danger and so is the colony!"

Kassidy was glad that these four giant bats were here to hear this because she was letting it all out. The four giant bats were looking at each other unsure what to do at this moment.

"They did us a favor," Holden shouted at Kassidy. "The least you could be is grateful they saved us! We'd probably be dead if it weren't for them! You are such a pain in the neck at times!"

Kassidy took the time to breathe and as she did the flames died down. She then no longer looked mad but instead, she looked serious like she was a drill sergeant. "Oh, please I had to put up with your end these past few days."

Everyone's eyes widened at what Kassidy just said.

Holden blinked his eyes a few times and then he furrowed his brow again. "Say that again."

"Guys," Marina said nervously.

"Oh, you mean what I just said about you constantly spewing crap every time you speak?" Kassidy said, ignoring Marina. "Certainly." Kassidy then cleared her throat. "Uh I-" Kassidy then indicated to herself, "that's me, the bat that's roosting here-had to put up-" Kassidy then pointed her finger up, "that's a direction-" she then pointed at Holden, "with your end-I'm uh, heh, not even gonna go there-" Kassidy then used her hands to go up and down in a straight line like she was trying to slice a carrot, "these past few days-that is a period of time." Holden was baring his teeth at Kassidy and it actually made her glad to see Holden like this. "Was that slow enough for you?"

Shade and Marina were looking at each other still shocked while the giant bats still didn't look like they knew what to do in this situation. Holden could only continue to bare his teeth in anger at Kassidy and Kassidy knew that she really got to him.

"Why don't you come over here and say it to my face?" Holden said as he pointed at Kassidy.

Kassidy crossed her arms and she could tell that this was getting real. "I've got a better idea: why don't you come over here and make me say it to your face?"

"I will! I'm going to rip your smart ass mouth off!"

You wish, Kassidy thought. "You wanna go?"

"Yeah, I'll go!"

"Then let's go!"

"Yeah, let's go!"

Kassidy and Holden were about to fly at each other but Shade and Marina were quick enough to hold them back. It took Marina a lot of strength to hold Kassidy back because she was pretty strong and it was the same for Shade when he was holding back Holden.

"Guys, stop," Marina shouted as she was holding back Kassidy the best she could. "You're getting out of control!"

"She's right," Shade shouted as he was holding back Holden the best he could. "You need to stop!"

Kassidy and Holden wouldn't stop trying to go at each as Shade and Marina kept holding them back. It was like a school fight might happen and teachers were holding back Kassidy and Holden from fighting each other.

"She's making me look like a fool," Holden shouted.

"Well you're making me go over my limit," Kassidy shouted.

"Both of you cool down!" Not even realizing it water was coming down on both Kassidy and Holden and then the water splashed on them and they were now soaking in cold water. Kassidy and Holden coughed when they felt the water get in their nostrils and mouth from the unexpected impact. Kassidy moved away some of her wet hair from her face and she looked to Martin who splashed her and Holden with water. She saw that Martin had some anger in his eyes and this was the first time she's ever seen Martin look this angry or even shout at anyone. "I think that'll be quite enough from the both of you. You've had your argument now if you two won't get along then don't bother talking to each other. After all we still need to find the colony."

Hearing Martin say this could only make Kassidy feel guilty on the inside. How could she even act like this towards Holden and try to fight him? Yes, she was still mad at him but she couldn't believe she was about to fight him. She always told herself that she should never fight anyone unless it was for a good purpose. This here was not a good purpose.

Kassidy and Holden looked at each other and they glared. They then looked away and as they did, Holden tried to warm himself up from the cold water that splashed on him and his teeth were now clattering. Kassidy, on the other hand, didn't need to worry about the cold water on her as she did a heating spell on her hands and then she put them on her arms and she let the heating do the rest. She didn't bother to heat up Holden because she thought he didn't deserve it after the way he's treated her lately.

Martin was nice enough to get Holden warmed up with his heating spell when he roosted next to him and when he did, Martin placed his hands on Holden's shoulders so he could get warmed up. Holden sighed in relief at the warmth he was getting.

Kassidy saw Dianna get back to sharpening her claws and she also saw Goth and Throbb whisper to each other about something. This whole whispering thing these four giant bats have been doing has really been getting Kassidy annoyed lately. With all this whispering going on between these four giant bats she knew that they had to be hiding something.

Kassidy then noticed that Marina was looking at her band and she saw that Marina was thinking of something. Marina then looked at the giant bats. "Maybe the bands mean something good." Marina looked at Kassidy and Kassidy could tell that she was trying to make the giant bats think that the bands have a good purpose without trying to say that she knew what they were used for.

The four giant bats looked at Marina and Martin was just finishing heating up Holden as Kassidy was done heating herself up. Kassidy demolished the heat from her hands as Martin did the same thing and roosted back next to Dianna. The brothers could only stare at Marina in confusion while Martin and Dianna looked like they wanted to laugh at Marina's remark.

"Such as?" Dianna said as she continued to sharpen her claws while staring at Marina.

Marina looked at Dianna's claws but she looked back at Dianna and Kassidy could tell that she didn't want to look at Dianna's claws again. "I don't know… something special?"

Goth looked at his band. "Something special." He then looked back at Marina with a smile. "How amusing, señorita.

Kassidy's fur bristled and she bared her teeth at Goth. She thought that guy was about as much an ass as Martin was. She so badly wanted to fly over to Goth and smack that smile off his face.

Marina looked hurt by Goth's words but Kassidy could see that she was furious. "Humph!"

Marina spread opened her wings and she was about to take off, but Kassidy put her hand on Marina's shoulder to prevent her from flying off. Marina dropped her arms and she looked at Kassidy confused. Kassidy did not want Marina to fly away and let Goth get to her just like that. Marina was her friend and if there was one thing it was that Goth took his words too far and Kassidy wouldn't stand for it.

Kassidy slowly turned to look back at Goth with her brow furrowed as she had her other hand in a fist. "You feel good about yourself, you egotistical Prince? Marina's view on the bands is not amusing."

Goth had his arms crossed as she heard Holden sigh annoyed. "So you agree on Marina's view on the bands?" Goth said.

Kassidy put her hand down from Marina's shoulder as she kept staring at Goth in anger. "Just because you don't agree doesn't mean you should've been a clod about it to Marina." Kassidy then gestured to Marina. "Now I think you should start by apologizing to her."

Marina looked nervous as she tried to get Kassidy's attention. "Kass, it's okay, he doesn't have to."

Kassidy looked at Marina. "Marina, he made your statement sound like it was a joke and you and I both know that it wasn't."

"Here we go," Holden said with a roll of his eyes. "Here comes back the redhead that can't control her anger."

Kassidy glared at Holden. "And here sounds the loud mouth of a goat! You just keep talking and see what happens!"

"You might want to control that temper of yours, Kass," Kassidy turned to look at Martin and he had his brow furrowed at her as he had his arms crossed. "The more you keep doing that the more likely you're going to cause a whole lot more of problems."

Kassidy at this point couldn't stand Martin at all. She thought he always made things complicated and he and his companions were the reasons for all of this happening. She decided to give these four a piece of her mind.

"You know what, Martin?" Kassidy said, and then she said the one word that was bad. Very bad. The big one. The queen mother of dirty words towards Martin and Marina, Shade, and Holden gasped. The four giant bats had their eyes widened at what Kassidy said. "I admit, I have anger issues and I try to control it but ever since you four came along things have turned into hell lately. If you hadn't of came along things would've been fine. You wanna ruin a lot of bats' lives? Then congratulations, you did it. You have officially cost a lot of bats' lives thanks to your carelessness. And do you want to know what I think of you? Well, allow me to give you the full details."

Kassidy then looked at Throbb and she pointed at him. "You're a fat bozo that cares for nothing except for food." She then looked at Goth and she pointed at him. "You're always looking for a way to try and impress someone just for attention and that makes you a fraud in every single way." She then looked at both the brothers. "And if anyone had an award for the weirdest brothers-in-law on this planet, you two would obviously have won that, considering that this sort of thing barely happens."

The brothers' jaws were dropped as their eyes were still widened. Kassidy then looked at Dianna as she pointed her finger at her. "You constantly sharpen your nails. They ain't going anywhere for now but you know what? I could care a whole lot less because claws are just claws. I wouldn't be shocked though if you lose them one day if you keep sharpening them like they're your actual babies, you claw obsessive lady. Also, it's hard to take you seriously when you sharpen your claws because it's like hearing an animal dying and it's irritating like you are."

Dianna was frozen in place with shock and she didn't sharpen her nails after hearing what Kassidy said. Kassidy then looked at Martin while pointing her finger at him. "And you. I may not be perfect but at least I'm not you. I wouldn't even dream of it. Remember the time you apologized to me? Yeah, me neither, because you're as cold as a snake and not only that you are like a cloud. When you disappear it's a beautiful day. You know why? Because you are too complicated to deal with than anyone else in this group!"

Kassidy was breathing hard after she said her long sentences and everyone could only stare at her in silence with their eyes widened. Martin then breathed through his nose as he looked somewhat angry as he slowly closed his eyes. He then looked at his band and he breathed on it and after he did, he used his forearm to rub his band. After rubbing his band for a little bit he then looked at it and he then lifted his eyebrows for a sec and then lowered them. He then looked back at Kassidy calmly as he lowered his arm.

"So I guess this is coming out of someone who's been trying to spy on me lately?" Martin said.

Kassidy's anger washed away and it was replaced with surprise as her eyes widened as did Marina's. Kassidy didn't move an inch as Martin was staring at her directly in the eyes waiting for her answer. Holden and Shade were looking at Martin confused as were the brothers. Dianna, on the other hand, didn't look confused.

"I… I don't know what you're talking about," Kassidy said.

"Don't play dumb with me," Martin said. "I know you've been trying to spy on me and I know that Marina has been in on this as well."

Holden and Shade looked at Kassidy and Marina. "Guys, is that true?" Shade asked.

Kassidy couldn't breathe as she couldn't force herself to look away from Martin's stare. Her plan to spy on those four giant bats backfired. But how did he know? As Kassidy was trying to put this together that was when she realized something. Ever since Marina, Shade, Holden, and her came across the four giant bats she hadn't done the sight-seeing spell on her or the other three. The more she thought about it the more she realized the thing that really disturbed her.

Martin was watching her and Marina through their sight.

Kassidy had to place her hand on the crumbly bark of the tree to keep herself from falling but her eyes kept locking onto Martin's. She started to see something in Martin's eyes that could only make her saliva feel like it was burning the inside of her throat. She tried to keep her usual expression on her face but to her it felt like everyone could tell that something was wrong. How could she have forgotten to do the one thing that she should've done?

She was zoned out that she didn't hear Marina's voice until she shook her. "Kass, you alright?"

Kassidy didn't take her eyes off Martin but she knew she couldn't take another minute standing here when she knew that Martin now knew what she and Marina were trying to do. "I… I need some air…" Kassidy then immediately flew off her roost and flew away from the group.

"Kass, wait!"

Goth watched as Kassidy flew deep into the woods and Marina flew off her roost to catch up with her. He couldn't help but notice the way that Kassidy was looking at Martin. Her face looked pale and even though she was looking like her sarcastic self, Goth could tell that there was something going on inside her head as she was staring at Martin.

He then looked at Shade and Holden as did his other giant bat companions and when they did, the boys just smiled nervously at them with the shrug of their shoulders and then they took to the sky and followed the girls. When they were out of sight, Goth couldn't help but scowl. Never in his life had he ever felt so humiliated about something when Kassidy said the one true thing he couldn't deny about him and Throbb being brothers-in-law. Not only did she get him and Throbb good, but he could see she really got to Martin and Dianna.

He could tell that there was no way in hell that Kassidy was going to ever try and trust them. She was not impressed by either of them, she really hadn't been the nicest one recently, and she barely showed any nice emotions to them. Especially not towards him. He could not flat out understand her, why couldn't she be much more understandable like Shade and Holden were? Even though Goth was still angry at how Kassidy acted towards him and his other three companions he couldn't help but admire her brave words.

He then started to think about Kassidy saying her family was kidnapped. She really sounded like she cared deeply for them. He shouldn't care he really shouldn't but it made him wonder if it was the owls that took her family.

"That girl is starting to tick me off," Dianna said bitterly.

"Love, you and I both knew that she was going to be hard to convince," Martin said. "But as long as we don't lose her it'll all go as planned."

Goth growled under his breath and felt as though Martin was blowing their cover. He didn't even know Kassidy and Marina were doing some spying but somehow Martin knew they were. He was starting to lose some faith in Martin.

Goth looked at Martin. "You sound so sure that this plan of yours will work but it seems to me that the señoras are nowhere into believing us because of the way you're doing things around here."

Martin slowly looked at Goth with his eyes narrowed and Goth didn't even need to look at Throbb to know how he was feeling. Throbb was slowly backing away as he was hanging on the tree branch they were all on.

"You having doubts?" Martin asked coldly.

"What do you think, amigo?" Goth said. "You said that you and Dianna would make sure we would get to eat the colony but so far it seems like we might lose our chance of doing that because of what you're doing. If we don't eat the colony because of you I will-"

Before Goth could speak any further he then started to feel his throat tighten. His throat was really tightening and he could barely breathe. It felt like he was being strangled by hands but when he tried to grab at his throat some sort of force prevented him from grabbing it. Nothing was touching his throat but he could feel the strong force tightening around his neck.

He looked at Martin and Martin just hung upside down on his roost looking at Goth with his eyes still narrowed and his hand was out towards Goth like he was going to hit him but he just kept his hand out towards Goth. Goth then realized that Martin was actually strangling him-only with magic though. Sucking in air was difficult for Goth and all he could do was stare at Martin shocked.

Martin brought his face closer to Goth's as he continued to strangle him with his magic and as he did his shadow fell onto Goth. "You listen here, tropical Prince. I don't take any shit from anyone and if anyone tries to give me a hard time you know what I do to them? I start to squeeze the living life out of them like a snake." Martin hissed like a snake as he slowly started to close together his fingers and as he did, Goth could feel his throat tighten more and he desperately tried to get some air and he could hear Throbb gasp behind him. "Cross me again and I'll gladly call off the deal and end your life."

Martin then put down his hand and when he did, Goth could feel the tightening on his throat loosen and he breathed in the air and coughed rapidly as he held his throat. He could feel his throat getting sore, even when he swallowed some of his saliva it felt like swallowing a shard of bone.

"You'll get what you want, but not if we're going to have problems. You may be a Prince but I'm a wizard, you ain't in the jungle anymore; you're in the northern forest and as long as I'm around I'm in charge here and you better hope that nothing bad happens to me nor Dianna because if we die, you die."

Goth didn't move as Martin released his grip from his roost and took off. Martin's words really sent shivers in his body.

"I'd suggest that you two watch your back," Dianna said. "Because you never know when someone might chew on it." She then flew off her roost and followed her mate.

Martin in charge. Goth kept rewinding everything Martin said to him piece by piece and from the sound of it he meant every word he said. He couldn't shake the fact that Martin was now proclaiming himself the leader in this group. What gave him any right to do so? Goth should've been the leader here but since Martin could easily kill him if he wanted to he couldn't do that.

Goth knew, however, that Martin was right. Without him, there was no way he and Throbb could survive out here. If they were to get back to the jungle they needed Martin and Dianna's help. He still thought it was the work of Zotz that these two were helping them, why else would they want to help them?

Zotz helps those who help themselves, Goth thought and that was the one thing that he would sometimes tell himself.

"Goth… are you-" before Throbb could ask his question to Goth, Goth held his hand up to stop him without looking at him.

"I don't want to hear it," Goth said and then he lowered his hand.

Goth couldn't stand it whenever anyone asked him if he was alright or not. If he even tried to answer yes or no he only thought it would prove him to be weak. Weak wasn't his middle name. He never liked to show weakness and he never intended on showing weakness to anyone. Ever.

"You think it was actually a good idea to make that deal with Martin?" Throbb asked. "I just… is it bad that he frightens me?"

"We won't have to worry about him or that crazy mate of his after we get what we want." Goth then looked at Throbb. "But I believe it's a sign from Zotz. He must've known of our capture and sent these two for our aid."

Throbb rubbed his neck. "It doesn't seem like it though."

Having enough to hear from Throbb, Goth grabbed Throbb's mane with his hand very hard and snarled. "You want to die out here in this hell hole?!"

Throbb's eyes widened and he shook his head nervously. "N-No…"

"Then sticking with Martin and Dianna is our only option."

"But what if we just ate the little bats and we could be done with it? Then we wouldn't have to worry about the deal."

"Eating only a couple of bats won't be enough for the journey back to the jungle, but eating a whole colony would." Goth then released his grip from Throbb's mane. "Our time of eating bat flesh will come soon enough."

They then heard flapping and they looked to see that there was a Brightwing. This made Throbb smirk. "Like now?"

Throbb was about to fly after the Brightwing, but Goth shoved his wing into Throbb and he growled at him. "It's mine," Goth said as he still growled.

Goth then swung upwards and opened his large wings and flew off his roost to hunt down the Brightwing. He may not have magic like Martin did but he still had his vicious, killer instinct inside him. Magic or not he was still a deadly hunter.

A/N- Holy crap it's been that long but I managed to finally finish this chapter. I know it's been a long time since I last updated but I hope this chapter was worth my effort. Anyways next chapter will be out soon and have a nice day.