A long, silent game of five sided pretztail fellet later, the crew and ended up in the arctic base. "We're here!" Prewitt called out from the front, snapping Marvin from his idle game. Plucking his knife from the box and placing it back in its holster, the mallowolf stood up from his crouched position and leaned against the box.
"I'll be takin' my leave here then, many thanks Prewitt," Marvin tipped his at the approaching Profitamole before unloading his box from the train trailer. He waited until he was out of sight from Prewitt before speaking to his allies. "We're clear boys, ready for some fresh air?" Marvin jabbed his knife through the lid, prying it open. The dim lights of the cavern system poured in, gently gracing the dazed duo's eyes. Hudson groaned as he was nudged away by the pretztail.
"Hey, I was catching up on my beauty sleep!" The horstachio pouted before getting forcefully booted out of the crate by an irritated Paulie.
"You can sleep later! We're on a mission because of you, remember?" The pretztail reminded his friend of their objective. "The question is… How are we reaching Pinata Central from the Pinartic?" Paulie was locked in thought as he climbed out of the box. Marvin kicked the box aside, leaving it in the dust as it was past its usefulness. "You still with us El Sketcho?" He pulled the mallowolf's attention from his destruction.
"'Course I am, as long as you can promise the action, I'll stick with you guys. better than rotting underground with Tina." Before he could even realize what was happening, a familiar face caught up with them.
"Rotting underground with WHO now?" It was none other than half of the twingersnap herself. Slick enough to hitch a ride with them with anyone knowing. Hudson and Pauile stood in shock, stuck between flight and fight. Marvin was only slightly embarrassed that he was caught red-handed.
"Well… Shiitake Tina, you caught us, but you realize it's three on one right?" The mallowolf refused to be intimidated by the lone twingersnap, standing his ground as he prepared for a hoedown. Though Tina wasn't that dumb, she knew the odds were against her.
"I'm not BLIND, Sketcho. I can see that," Tina scowled, knowing she would be returning empty handed. "You know this isn't a fight we can win! I'm warnin' you, don't stir the pot!" The Tingersnap tried to convince the mallowolf and company to stand down.
"I'm tired of sitting around shovin' and twiddling my thumbs up where the sun don't shine, Tina!" Marvin grew a bit defensive against his leader's words. "If I'm gonna die in this Pinator forsaken wasteland, I'd rather go out fightin'," the mallowolf took his stand.
"So you'd jeopardize us all just because you're bored?!" Tina scoffed, unable to believe the things Marvin was spewing out. Hudson and Paulie could only stand and watch their bickering unfold.
"You know I'm a drifter Tina, you can't chain me down! I'll go down guns blazing before I die in a damp, musty cot!" El Sketcho prematurely cut off the conversation, taking his leave towards the base. Hudson followed suit though Paulie was sympathetic enough to at least give an explanation to Tina.
"Look this is important to Hudson and all pinata kind we do this, we might not have another shot to bring things back to the way they were before Tina! I believe in him and so should you," Paulie still couldn't give the reason why followed Hudson, all he knew was he had a plan and needed Paulie. He just hoped that Hudson could prevail.
"Sure, trust the third biggest bimbo of the show! And when you help Pinata Central bring the sky down on us, know that I'll Never forgive you!" Tina slithered off, only to get stopped by a chunky chippopotamus guard. "Pardon me," She attempted to sneak past him, only to get nearly beheaded by his battle axe.
"Outsiders aren't permitted here," He uttered with a growl, paralysing Tina to the bone with fear. Paulie's quick thinking kicked into gear and snatched the twinggersnap as swiftly scurried over to Hudson and Sketcho's location… Only to find more of the same. Marvin was apprehended on the floor as the shackles were applied onto his limbs. Hudson had surrendered peacefully, still standing with his restraints.
"Well we're in it now…" The pretztail raised his hands, signaling his surrender as well. Tina was swiped from his shoulder and both were quickly arrested as well. "Here's hoping they don't execute us." He tried to stay positive, but was plagued by the state of their situation.