Chapter Three: Run through the Jungle
"… The devil's on the loose …"
Père David's Deer scouted around from the hideout the canopy provided her, while she decided to enter Akushima Island under the cover of darkness, just to be safe. She didn't expect it to become pivotal to avoiding needless fights with Ceruleans. The Deer made some easy to follow hand signs to let the others know it was safe to come to her position. Boomslang guided Bald Eagle by holding her hand, who wasn't used to sneaking around, while Maltese Tiger watched the rear.
-I'm gonna go ahead again and find a way through the Ceruleans, be on the lookout but remain hidden unless engaged, ok?- Père David's Deer whispered her orders and left.
-She is really good at being stealthy, even if I say so myself- Boomslang commented as she started to look around, noticing the Ceruleans were very active and in large numbers.
-Would be scary if she wasn't so physically weak, as you now by know- Maltese Tiger said trying to avoid laughing out loud.
-She is so cool…- Bald Eagle said as the Deer finally disappeared in the wilderness again, the Bird blissfully unaware the Snake behind was feeling jealous about that compliment.
This kind of thing, stalking Ceruleans while being unnoticed, really brought Père David's Deer back to her "old glory days" as a Spear. She held onto her Masquerade mask as she saw another dozen of Ceruleans, who were behaving as erratically as the group they just had sneaked past, she waited for them to change direction before finding a place she would crawl through the canopy unnoticed. Whatever was causing this was worrying her but for now she had to focus on getting the group out of their way. She made a hand-sign that Boomslang saw and the Snake guided the other two to rejoin with the Deer.
As the group gathered up again they heard distant rumbling and high-pitched scream, the nearby Ceruleans turned towards the noise and rushed towards it, Père David's Deer stood up and ordered the group to rush forward and chase the Ceruleans.
-We are engaging them!- Père David's Deer signaled the group to fall into their combat formation, with her in the middle, Boomslang and Maltese Tiger upfront, Bald Eagle in the rear.
-Finally, ACTION!- Bald Eagle exclaimed in a explosion of joy.
-Why do I have to be up front!?- Boomslang bawled comically.
-Because you are tough and dependable!- Maltese Tiger tried to comfort Boomslang but was clearly amused by the Snake.
As the four Friends ran through the canopy they previously skulked around trying to avoid the Ceruleans, they eventually saw a rather big group of them being held back by a single Friend. She stood with her back towards a big lake and was using its water to hold back the Ceruleans with whirlpools that were given shape by her long spear, which resembled a drill.
The Ceruleans found themselves flanked by a new group of Friends, while the unskilled attacks of Maltese Tiger, Bald Eagle and Boomslang cut a path through the Cerulean ranks so they could bolster the last Friend standing, whom seemed too focused her casting to talk to any of them. Before the group could get organized a Friend came crashing into the Ceruleans from another angle, causing havoc and chaos within their ranks.
-COMING THROUGH!- The new Friend who just joined the fray yelled as she finished charging through the Ceruleans to join the group, she wasn't particularly tall but she had to be reasonably strong to pull that off, her long hair bouncing around as she gained enough momentum to stop her charge.
-Unbelievable… Don't stand there Abrutits, kill the fiends, send them back to Hell!- Père David's Deer sighed and ordered her party to finish off the Ceruleans still alive, any other foe would have retreated when hit by many angles by enemies they didn't expect as their started to suffer heavy losses but Ceruleans never retreated. Once they committed to hunting down a Friend, they would survive or be wiped out entirely.
-I got the last one!- The charging small Friend celebrated as the last Cerulean bit the dust, she had very long dark hair with two twintails and a sticker that looked like a pig snout, she wore grey sweatshirt, black skirt, thigh highs and long gloves.
-Thanks for the help Friends, nice to meet you- The other tall Friend nailed her spear into the ground in a single skilled strike and thanked the group gracefully with a curtsey, she wore a pretty white dress with blue frills and a small ribbon on her long left sideburn, she had short white socks and black shoes.
-Looks clear for now- Boomslang informed the group after she scouted their surroundings with her enhanced infrared vision.
-She is so pretty- Bald Eagle said admiring Narwhal's graceful stance, as the Cetacean picked her Spear from the ground and stood on-guard, Boomslang felt quite jealous for some reason.
-We are Friends from Riukiu Island, we come here escorting a special Lucky Beast unit that needs to communicate with its peers here, for reasons that concern the wellbeing of the Friends communities in our home- Maltese Tiger approached and explained to Narwhal, who put her spear over her shoulder and patiently waited for the Cat to explain to the Cetacean why 4 Friends from Riukiu Island travelled all the way to Akushima.
-I see, I need to tell you a couple of things but first we must return to our safe haven, follow me quickly- Narwhal pointed at a direction with her Spear and ran towards it, every Friend tried to follow her as best as they could, with Bald Eagle flying and making sure no one got lost or left behind.
-I'm tired of running!- Maltese Tiger yelled in pure frustration.
-Deerie?- The other new Friend called as she and Père David's Deer seemingly ignored her, the Friend persisted and tried to address the Deer again- Hey! Spear! I know you!- The Friend persisted but the Deer just kept ignoring her and looking away.
-This way!- Bald Eagle called to the rest of the group, as every other Friend had lost sight of Narwhal amidst the dark canopy.
The Friends arrived at the western coast of Akushima Island, into a Cavern that had a single Friend guarding it's entrance. she wore a blue, black and white Yukata and a fish face mask hanging over her head, her hair was a ponytail with a black ribbon and she had fins in her face and also as a tail, she waved at the small party of Friend as they approached, tapping her sandals together and bowing to them as they arrived.
-Sensei Jinmengyo~- Narwhal greeted her with the same curtsey she had given the group early on, but she was blushing a bit.
-Welcome back Narwhal and Collared Peccary, did you bring in some reinforcements?- The Cryptid Fish Friend said eyeing the Riukiu Island group with growing curiosity and interest.
-They are on their own business here Sensei, let us inside and we can talk about it, there is something sinister stalking out there- Narwhal informed her Sensei as the Fish quickly let them all past by her into the Cavern, seemingly casting a protective ward on the entrance before following the group.
Boomslang and Bald Eagle sat down and tried to catch their breath, while Maltese Tiger and Collared Peccary looked winded, Père David's Deer and Narwhal were mostly fine and just stretched a bit, Collared Peccary started to eye the Deer angrily but she kept ignoring her, as Jinmengyo spoke up.
-I suppose none of you are aware of the things that have been happening after the Typhoons?- Jinmengyo asked as she walked through the Friends to see if any of them were injured.
-Our quest here was to escort this Lucky Beast unit here, so it could link up with it's peers from here and work towards repairing the Japari Bun production facilities in our own Island, we are clueless to whatever might be happening around here- Père David's Deer stood up with Big Boss in front of the Fish.
-Something has awakened in the Ocean's depths, something that started spreading all over Japari Park through the Sandstar in the air, something that comes from inside that cursed Volcano in the Kyoshu Island- Jinmengyo explained to the Deer which listened in silence as Bald Eagle, Boomslang and Maltese Tiger look exchanged worried gazes, while Collared Peccary got behind Père David's Deer and hugged her tightly.
-STOP IGNORING ME!- Collared Peccary bawled while squeezing Père David's Deer who finally replied back.
-Merde! Piggy... This is not the time or the place for this!- Père David's Deer said turning back to face her and unceremoniously smacked her in the head with her staff.
-You remember me!- Collared Peccary said jumping in joy and immediately bouncing back to glomp the Deer once again.
Père David's Deer just couldn't hold back anymore, while she didn't want to do this kind of thing with her new Friends watching, being held on by her Piggy just overwhelmed her.
-How could I ever forget you Piggy?- Père David's Deer said in a heartfelt way before giving Collared Peccary a french kiss while hugging her as tears fell from her cheeks, causing the Pig stunned bliss, while the other Friends watched in silent awe.
-I love you, Deerie- Collared Peccary said sitting by the tired Bald Eagle and Boomslang with a very wide smile in her face.
-Oh My Gods!- Bald Eagle yelped and broke the silence as Boomslang tried covering her red face with her hoodie.
-Sorry about that, but she and I know each other rather well, she wasn't going to settle down and let us talk in peace until I… Well did what I just did as you can see, please continue- Père David's Deer took off her beret apologizing for the uncouth kiss.
-If you don't mind, I need some air…- Maltese Tiger said about to leave the Cave but Narwhal caught up and stopped her.
-Please stay inside the Cave, it's really not safe out there at night- Narwhal warned Maltese Tiger again as she stood in front of her with her spear in front, not letting her leave.
-As I was saying, something in the Sandstar has made Ceruleans more aggressive than ever, there have been gossips and rumours of something worse stalking the Islands- Jinmengyo coughed as she continue her story, Maltese Tiger gave up and sit down besides the Snake, Père David's Deer pulled out her diary and started to write notes about all this.
-We can't confirm what it is just yet but it preys on Friends, some of our volunteer and helpers disappeared in the spawn of two weeks, so it's a very strong, fast and smart creature- Narwhal added, this information she got from her attempts to track and hunt down whatever Abomination killing the Friends.
-This is terrifying, what are we gonna do now?- Boomslang asked, she was still tired but her fear made her feel restless.
-Our isle needs us to complete our mission, that's why we came all the way here Boomslang, we will have to risk it for their sake!- Bald Eagle tried to comfort the Snake by reminding her that they had fulfill their duty, this wasn't a fun road-trip.
-You should still wait until Dawn at least, it's too risky to go out there now!- Jinmengyo urged the group to stay in the Cave.
-With all the fighting that went down, thing is sniffing the violence and is out there, looking for easy preys- Narwhal reminded them again that something scary was out there.
-We should wait until dawn, is there is something we can do to help? In the meantime we shouldn't sit idle here- Père David's Deer asked Jinmengyo as she was quite restless from the fight.
-Well, all of you look really dirty, did you come from the Tunnel?- Narwhal with an amused grin knowing the answer.
-Yeah, it was the shortest way- Père David's Deer answered.
-Not very pleasant if you have asked me- Bald Eagle quipped
-Do you want to take a bath? I could wash your clothes in the meantime!- Jinmengyo offered the group with a radiant smile.
-I was hoping for you to give us something to do but I don't think we can turn down such a kind offer, Merci beacoup- Père David's Deer thanked the Fish by kneeling in front of her and kissing one of her hands, Jinmengyo blushed giggling.
-Hey!- Narwhal pouted in anger- Fine, I'll get take you to the baths, please follow me- She pointed with her Spear forward and lead the group onward, but one Friend didn't follow her.
-I think I'm skipping on this one- Maltese Tiger said dryly.
-You shouldn't lag behind by yourself, what's your problem?- Narwhal asked annoyed very close of just losing her temper.
-It's okay, she just wants space, let her be- Père David's Deer stood by Narwhal and held her hand for a moment until the Cetacean calmed down and the Friends resumed their march.
Narwhal guided the Friends deep into the Cave where it eventually reminded them of the Tunnel they took to reach this Island. Several halls and alleys full of technology that the Friends couldn't understand, Japari Park underground facilities were built to fit right into the Islands, blending into the Sandstar ecosystem like a grafted implant. After a few turns, the Big Boss following stopped and addressed the group.
-I'm going to connect myself to the Hub here and try to plot a course for our next stop Kyoshu Island, I'll will contact you again to round up the group to continue our journey once that's complete, Boomslang- The Lucky Beast said then left.
-I wonder how further we'll have to travel before completing our mission- Boomslang thought to herself as the group kept moving, making an U turn before finally reaching what seemed to be the Bathroom of the facility, while utilitarian in look and boasting a complicated array of extras on top, they looked very clean and had individual boots closed for each Friend to use.
-Alright, take off all your clothes and put them in here, please- Narwhal asked as she held a comically oversized basket.
Boomslang looked around, her fingers fidgeting back and forth, she wasn't really comfortable with the idea of stripping herself nude but her clothes were quite dirty from that Tunnel, while her body being all sweaty from running and fighting out there.
-Not your boots, you abrutit! Leave those on the floor- Père David's Deer told Bald Eagle, who took off her boots 1st and was about to put them in the basket, alongside the clothes.
All the Friends started to take off their tops and bottoms and put them in the Basket, Narwhal remained stoic but she was eyeing the others in silence as they fooled around, she was always curious about how herself seemed to be more developed than all others Friends, while even the smaller Friends like the Pig and the Deer had their own perky curves and the Snake and Bird were very well formed for their height, none of them came to her own level, it was just like with her sisters, the Dolphins, eventually she coughed and spoke up.
-Stop fooling around and get in the showers please, specially you "Piggy", you better not sneak into "Deerie" shower ok?- She asked politely once again but not without letting Collared Peccary know that she realized that she was up to no good.
-Aw... - Collared Peccary sighed and got into the shower stall besides Père David's Deer and tried to started a chat with her.
While the Ex-GirlFriends started chatting as the warm water fell on them, all the Friends cleaning up sighed in relief as the warmth comfort provided, they started to apply shampoo to their hairs or soap onto their bodies respectively. Boomslang gathered her courage and invited Bald Eagle to do the same. As all other Friends were distracted, Narwhal put down the almost full basket on the floor and organized their shoes puting her own besides them, then she pulled up her dress all the way up and put it on the basket too, then taking her socks off and as she took off her underwear, she heard a voice behind her.
-Good Job Narwhal!- Jinmengyo complimented her pupil.
-Sensei!?- Narwhal jumped back when she noticed the Fish was using her mask, seemingly sneak peeking into the bathroom.
-I'm just waiting for the basket, that's all, put all the footwear in here please- Jinmengyo said offering Narwhal a large cardboard box, where the naked Cetacean put all the clothes and tried her best to hide her blush as she looked back, confirming Jinmengyo didn't leave with both the box on top of the basket full of clothes until she got inside her shower stall.
Jinmengyo walked a few steps and then put down the basket and the box on top to take off her mask, as much as she liked it made really hard to see, she put it on top of her head as per usual and then realized something. Her nose was dripping red, she groaned in shame of being a certified perv now, the Fish cleaned her nosebleed with one of the sleeves of her yukata.
Jinmengyo walked awkwardly trying to look besides the comically large basket with a box on top, not being able to see in front of her was annoying but she kept a good pace, until she reached the room where the wash-machines where. She took a deep breath as she finally put down the basket and the box besides it, all those new Friends had their own scent and she was just getting used to them, they were certainly a colourful group.
She considered if she would have to tell them everything she knew, all about the mess they were going to get involved if they kept going in their journey towards the Mainland, in order to save their Island and all of their Friends.
-If they only knew... what Horrors await...- The fish muttered sadly to herself as she checked on the instruction to use these things properly one more time, putting the clothes of each Friend on it's own wash-machine, but not before giving them one last sniff and then adding a bit of liquid detergent onto it.
As fun as it was to watch clothes being washed, Jinmengyo next grabbed the shoes in the boxes and put them in a strange boxy contraption that cleaned them on it's own, it was a fascinating piece of Human technology. She would usually hang around and watch it work much like the Wash-Machines, but this time she had something else more important to do, she had to check on the Friend who stayed behind, maybe she could get her to talk to her with and find out why she did that.
-Maltese Tiger? Are you there?- Jinmengyo called to hear coyly as she left behind the underground facilities and was walking on solid rock from the Cave again, the Fish walked around and hear no response, so she assumed the Cat was just moping around in silence, in some hidden dark corner of the Cave.
Jinmengyo started to feel a little bit frustrated as she kept calling for Maltese Tiger but the Friend never responded or gave her any sign of being anywhere. Frustration quickly became into worry that the Fish couldn't sing or dance away, as she was about to reach the entrance of the cave and there was still no sign of Maltese Tiger anywhere, she ran to the entrance and still found no sign of the missing Friend anywhere. Her heart sank at the thought that the Cat had walked out of the Cave and her Protective Ward at the Entrance, Jinmengyo breathed deep and tried to keep calm and investigate around any lead about what could have happened, she backtracked while carefully looking at the floor and finally found something. It was trail of steps in the dirt that had to be Maltese Tiger's shoes, she followed them back to the entrance but they only got close to it, the footprints in the dust of the cave where within gazing distance of the entrance, then she saw something else in the floor, upon closer inspection she saw steps that belong to someone else. Some other Friend was skulking around the entrance and it seems as Maltese Tiger wanted to keep her distance from them, the Fish started to hyperventilate assuming the worst just happened, maybe the rumours she heard about Kyoshu Island were true.
The Thing that was lurking through Akushima jungle for an easy prey had followed them, somehow managed to cross her Protective Ward and snatched Maltese Tiger to be its next meal, which could only mean one terrible and horrifying truth.
-That Thing... Is a Friend- Jinmengyo grimly to herself.