Authors Note: I'm glad I finally finished this chapter. Also, I've been working on the back story of Vitani and Kopa, but I don't know where I will place it.
Tarzan's Treehouse
Everyone is recuperating from searching the mountains for most of the day, and Simba's party was definitely in need of some first-aid and a bath because of the avalanche. They all wait on Tarzan with their new friend Daja the eagle who will guide them to Kovu. Once Tarzan arrives, they will form a scouting party so they can finally save Kovu.
Before all that, the Professor gives Simba a light scolding. "With all due respect your Majesty, you should be more careful. You've only just begun healing and any more stress on your arm could break it completely."
Vitani adds "He's right, you really shouldn't have been out searching with us in the first place."
Feeling a bit guilty for making them worry, he concedes and says to them, "I'm sorry for upsetting you two. I'll try and be more careful."
"You'll do more than be careful my boy," the Professor says while shaking his finger at him, using a fatherly tone "until further notice, you are getting mandatory bedrest. No exceptions!"
Simba looks at Vitani, hoping she'll bail him out. Instead, she says "That sounds like a good idea."
After a bit of waiting and recuperating, Daja sees Tarzan and the others approaching. The Pridelanders hide while Quinton and his friends say goodbye. When the coast is clear, they return and tell Tarzan about what happened. He's happy to find out about this breakthrough, but something still bothers him.
While everyone was talking, Jane was quick to notice that something was troubling him despite the good news. "Is something wrong Tarzan? You look upset."
He thinks for a moment, wondering if it was even worth mentioning. He does though, telling everyone in the group, "It might be nothing, but today a young monkey asked me to help find her friend. Her friend is the okapi that I showed to Quinton the other day. Apparently, she disappeared, and with everything that's been going on, I have to assume that William's men took her. But so far they haven't been this close, and I don't know how they could've found her on their own."
"Well, it seems unlikely they followed you, I'm sure you would've noticed". Jane says thinking out loud. "But it could be possible that they simply followed your tracks, or maybe they used their dogs."
"Or maybe those guys are with the poachers?" Timon tactlessly says.
"Timon!" Simba throws him a stern look. He couldn't deny that Timon had a point, there was a reason he had everyone hide whenever the other humans showed up. Despite that, however, Simba knew there was a better way to bring something like that up.
"Of course not, those men have been nothing but helpful and kind to us." Jane quickly defends, in her usual soft and polite manner. She continues "It was because of them that we found the poacher's main base."
The Professor is a little more conflicted, however, and admits, "Although I agree with you my dear, I have to say that Mr. Timon's concern can't be dismissed out of hand. Quinton's team has certainly been a valuable aid to us. However, I have to concede that we've only just met them a few days ago."
Simba decides to table this subject for later, so he says "Regardless, we have more important things to talk about, such as sending a scouting team to the cave as soon as we can. It would probably be better to send a smaller team." To which Tarzan and the others agree.
Daja advises "There isn't a lot of cover by the cave, the paths are narrow and exposed, and the cliff walls are almost straight up. With respect your Majesty, it may be best if you and Miss Vitani don't join, since you would be too obvious."
"I suppose that makes sense," Simba says, "so that means it's up to you two." He says looking at Timon and Pumbaa.
Timon sarcastically comments "Oh sure, dangerous missions, risking our lives, it's not like we do that all the time."
Pumbaa, confused by Timon's sarcasm, as usual, says "Actually Timon, I'd say we get involved in these things a lot."
"You're a simple-minded creature, aren't you Pumbaa?" Timon says, then moving on he asks, "So when's this crazy operation happening?"
"Around sunset would be best." Tarzan answers. "And I should go to."
"Me too." Daja chimes in.
"Okay then, it looks like the recon team is set". Vitani states, ending the meeting. Afterward, Tarzan and the Professor tell the three what to look for, explaining what the bombs Hatton had placed look like. Finally, the sunset had almost arrived and everything is ready, so the four of them set off.
Across the river from the Storage Cave
Tarzan, Timon, and Pumbaa wait just across the river from the poachers for Daja, who left to look for the best spot to enter to begin their mission. They walk along the shore just out of sight, watching as a boat arrives with more guards for the night watch.
"Oh boy. Looks like things are getting harder." Pumbaa grumbles.
"We should be fine, there may be more of them, but we'll have more coverage as it gets darker". Tarzan assures him.
A short way downstream, they come across something. "Is this some human thing?" Timon asks.
"It's a grave, they buried someone here." He answered, reading the name on the plaque, 'Fredrick Burns'. Seeing a sign of death before they enter the camp gives the three of them a sick feeling in their guts.
Daja returns and guides them to a good spot to enter the area and begin their reconnaissance. They begin searching the cliffs, starting high above the camp and cave to search for the bombs Hatton spoke about. Their only cover is the rocks and scattered brush that is scattered across the mountains. While Tarzan, Timon, and Pumbaa each split up, Daja stays with Tarzan since her night vision isn't good and wouldn't be much use soring in the sky once nighttime comes. They scour the mountain, carefully staying out of sight, finding 4 bombs bolted to the rock high above the cave, and each one is more than capable of sending down enough rock to cover the entrance. They regroup and decide to search for the men that may have the triggers. Staying together, they slowly move down until the faint glow of a lantern from patrolling guard comes into sight. Besides a rife thrown over one shoulder and a revolver, they see the trigger attached to his belt, which would seem like an easy target if not for the weapons the man has. As the night drags on, they continue searching for other patrols to find out if anyone else has radio triggers. They find three other men on patrol, and before dawn breaks, they watch as the three nightwatchmen return to camp to turn over their patrol to the fresh eyes of three others, and all six of them meet in a weapons tent before going their separate ways. Happy with the information they've gathered, they head home.
Tarzan's Treehouse
While Tarzan and the others are on recon, Simba and Vitani stay by the Treehouse waiting for their return. Simba talks with the Professor and Tantor while Vitani, exhausted from continuously guarding Simba almost around the clock since they arrived in the jungle, sleeps in a quiet, secluded spot. As Vitani dreams as she sleeps, her closed eyes dart back and forth, her paws twitch, and she grunts and growls. As her dream intensifies, her body begins to awake, moving more and more, until finally, she jumps up, wide awake, yelling "Kopa!"
When she realizes it was a dream, she spins around, panting heavily, looking to see if anyone heard her. After catching her breath, she begins to walk back, when she hears shouts of "Vitani!" coming through the brush. Then she sees Simba and the others run up to meet her.
"Are you alright my dear?" the Professor said from atop Tantor "We heard a frightful shout and feared the worst."
"I'm okay, I ... just got turned around out here." Vitani said with a brave face, but her voice was still weak and shaky.
Seeing through her lie, Simba gives a gesture, silently asking to speak with her alone. With the others gone, he quietly asks "are you sure you're okay? You seemed shaken. You aren't the type to get scared because you got a little lost."
Vitani felt a wave of heat engulf her neck from the fear that he heard Kopa's name. After a moment, she all but whispers "it... was a nightmare."
"Of Kovu?"
Vitani realizes that the jungle must have distorted her scream just enough to hide her words, much to her relief. "Yes," she lies.
"We'll get him back. Just have a little faith and hold on just a little while longer." He says with a warm smile as they walk into the light of camp.
As kind as his words and smile are, they only make her feel worse. She lied to Simba, even though she felt this would've been a good opportunity to come clean about her role in Kopa's leaving the Pridelands. Hours passed and her mind kept racing as they sat by the fire, but eventually, she decides to speak to him.
"Um, can I talk with you for a moment?" She asks as her heart pounds in her ears.
"Of course." He replies, and after a short walk away he asks "what did you want to talk about?"
"Well..." she pauses, but before she can say anything, a familiar scent blows past her nose. "Oh, they're back."
Just then, Tarzan and the others come into view. Simba calls over "How did it go?"
"Good, we should get everyone together." Tarzan replies.
"Before or after some needed shuteye?" Timon asks, just before Pumbaa collapses just as they make it inside the camp.
Simba turns back to Vitani and asks "Sorry, you were saying?"
"Oh," she thinks for a moment "um, it's not important, let's go see what they found." she quickly walks back, while part of her yells at herself for not saying anything yet again.
...
"... and after that, they regrouped at a weapons tent with 3 other men that took over," Tarzan informs everyone back at camp.
As everyone processes the information, the Professor thinks out loud, "Hmm, quite unfortunate. If it had been a single bomb, I would have been able to disarm it. But with three spread across the mountainside and bolted to the rock, it makes things very difficult."
Simba asks "Do you have any idea of what we can do?"
He thinks for a while. When is the best time to go? Do we go after the bombs or the guards? Is there another way? Eventually, he comes up with an idea, "Hmm. Ah, that might work. Yes, I think I've got it! But for this to work, we're going to require some assistance."
Jane says "I don't think getting help will be a problem. I'm sure Gobu will gladly help."
Simba adds "and it may take some time, but my pride is ready and willing to fight if you need us."
"Well first," Tarzan begins to ask "what's your plan?"
...
After the Professor explained his plan, the group went to speak with Gobu, whose troop was feeding with Tarzan's troop in the bamboo grove. After telling him the plan, Gobu enthusiastically agrees, and then adds "I'll tell the others and see who's willing to join us."
Simba adds "that's fantastic! We should also tell Kovu if possible, to give him some warning of what's going on." Daja volunteers to send the message tonight, and after Simba asks "I know we're asking a lot of you, but perhaps after you can go home to Pride Rock and see if you can rally any help."
"Absolutely!"
And so Gobu and Tarzan begin to ask their families for volunteers, while Daja waits for dusk to attempt to give Kovu the message.
William's Base Camp
As William helps unload the "merchandise" from a truck to be moved onto a boat so it can go to the storage cave, Elias, his 2nd in command, comes running up. "Sir, please! That gorilla broke some of your bones for crying out loud! You need rest!"
"I fine Elias." William says almost laughing at the idea.
After a heavy sigh, Elias continues "That's not all sir. You have a radio transmission from Mr. Sav... *ahem* I mean our expedition sponsor. He says he needs to speak with you."
William's smile disappears as he says "Next time start with that. Wait outside while I speak with him."
Elias waits for a few minutes until William calls him in. When he enters, William has a troubled look on his face, sitting at his desk, in deep thought. Before Elias even asks, William says "the ship will be arriving earlier than expected. They had to leave sooner to avoid a police inspection team, so we need to prepare for their arrival. They may be here as soon as two days from now."
"Understood Sir. But is something wrong? I know our timetable has been moved up, but that's not exactly an issue is it? We've already gathered a fortune."
With a serious look on his face, he answers "We still haven't obtained what our sponsor has specifically requested. The animal that's hidden in the Kutoweka Canyon, where four of our crew went missing. Here's what we're going to do, call everyone in, and pack up this basecamp. Once that's done I want you and 7 men in the cave working on preparation, and the other 6 will come with me into that Canyon to finally get what we came for. What he told us to get."
A bit tired of William's ambiguity, he has to ask "and what exactly is it that we came for, Sir?"
Understanding Elias' position, he decides to answer "It may be hard to believe, but we are looking for this," he says while pulling a necklace for his shirt, with a large, black scale at the end of it. "We are looking for... a Grootslang."
He was right, Elias struggled to believe him. "I'm sorry Sir, but you mean we are looking for a giant half snake, half elephant monster. How are you so certain that this legend is even real?"
He slightly laughs at the comment, but William continues "I know it's real because he has... encountered... this creature before. He says this creature is more like an extremely large, black cobra. Like all cobras, when threatened it spreads its neck frill, which to some could look like the ears of an elephant. Unlike other snakes, their fangs don't retract back into their mouth but hang down, similar to elephant tusks. Mix these things together, add fear and time, and you get an impossible legend."
Elias doesn't know how to respond, but after letting what he's said sink in, he asks "So he really wants us to hunt down something that's so massive that it was mistaken for an elephant?"
"Haha, no, he wants one of its eggs, intact, alive." he answers.
"Alive. That... that just seems like it would end in disaster."
"Not as disastrous as it will be if we fail him. He's not the kind of person we want to bad on the bad side of."He says as he stands. "Come on, we need to get moving."
Authors Note: YES! DONE! Okay, I think it's time to finally tell y'all what happened with Vitani and Kopa, so that will be the next chapter.
