Legend of the Chezamon

Chapter 16- Chamil Attack

"They went where?!" Tom asked incredulously, shifting on the… ground. They had no chairs.

Rocket felt much better now, his nostrils cleared thanks to Sakura's tea. "Two members of each Tribe accompanied the others to search for this said intruder, but I still think that was a very bad idea. It's like making a Galliac and a Chezamon go for a walk together."

"Aw, man! They left without us!" Peyton whined in dismay. "We could have gotten a handful of new scans!"

"And encounter one of those Galliacs they are always talking about?" Kaz retorted, gulping. "No, thanks! If they talk that way about those things, they must be pretty bad!"

Rocket looked away. "You have no idea."

"Come on, Kaz!" Luna crossed her arms. "No risk, no gain!" she and Sarah made a high-five with smirks in their faces.

"Rocket, are you sure there isn't someone who can take us to the others?" Sarah asked once more with puppy-like eyes.

"The only ones strong enough to take five humans out on a tour of Mist Forest at this time of the day would be Torimaku, Hukaro, Ookamo and the Clawders." Rocket sighed. "But Torimaku's too old to be pupsitting around, Hukaro will most likely say no, Ookamo is not going anywhere near 'filthy, furless, weakling humans' as he put it yesterday and the Clawders only answer to Ryuu. So I guess you'll have to stay here."

"Wait a second, don't Clawders answer to the Alphas too?" Tom retorted.

"The Alphas are not letting you outside the Den."

"And Princess Fen?"

The humans didn't fail to notice rocket blushing at the mention of Fen. "Well, they do answer to Fen as well, but I bet she must be busy right now."

"Doing what? The Clawders don't let her breath, remember?" Sarah rolled her eyes, before her face changed to her 'I-got-a-idea' expression. "How about she is the one that gives us the tour?"

Rocket immediately jumped to four with an expression obviously reading 'ARE YOU NUTS?!' and let out a yell that the humans swore resounded in all the Den. "WHAT?! Have you lost your mind?! That would put Princess Fen's life in danger, if you dare doing that the Alphas will put you on trial for endangering Fen's life!"

"You think I'm that weak?"

"No, I don't think-" Rocket blinked in confusion at the new voice, and slowly turned his head around to encounter annoyed blue eyes staring at him. "PRINCESS FEN!"

The boys laughed at how rocket jumped back like a scared cat, his fur bristled and his pupils nearly disappeared.

"Y-Your Highness, I d-didn't mean t-to say that…" Rocket stuttered nervously under her eyes. "I mean, what if you encounter a Galliac pack, or a Chamil, or a Nightseeker?"

"Please, Rocket! I'm not a pup, I can defend myself. Now you're going to start acting like Father and Mother too?" Fen growled softly, flicking her wings. "And here I thought you were not like them."

This time it was Sarah and Luna's time to giggle at Rocket's face. "But princess, I-"

"So, I guess that to try and change the opinion I have of you right now, you'll help me sneak out of the Den so that I can give our human guests a look around the forest." Fen had her back turned on Rocket, but the humans could clearly see a small grin on her maw. "Won't you?"

By then, they could see Rocket was at emotional crossroads, judging by his face being so red with embarrassment it almost made his blue fur look purple, and his panting tongue. After a few seconds, Rocket closed his eyes shut, pressed his ears against his head and reluctantly replied. "Fine. I'll see what I can do."

Rocket trotted out of the cave with an embarrassed expression. As soon as he left, and Fen was sure he was out of earshot, she started giggling.

"That was amazing!" Sarah exclaimed, standing up and walking towards the princess. "You just told him a few words and that was enough to convince him!"

"How did you do that?" Luna joined in.

Fen smiled playfully at them. "When you're dealing with males, you must learn their weakness, exploit it, and they fall like leaves off a tree. Casually, Rocket's weakness is the great crush he has on me."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Rocket…" Tom pointed at the direction Rocket had gone. "Crush… you?"

"He won't admit it, but yes. The truth is he's practically attracted to me by my looks, as are most males in this Pack." Fen sighed.

Suddenly, Peyton remembered something he had heard from Syena when they were being questioned. It was when Hukaro pinned Sarah to the ground and Syena scolded him.

You wouldn't want her to find out through the Nobles what you are doing to a girl?

"Wait a second, now that I recall..." Peyton felt awkward at asking this. "The other day, Syena said something to Hukaro about someone finding out through the Nobles about what he did to Sarah?" Peyton gulped. "Was she talking about you?"

Fen blinked and twitched her left ear, before replying. "Oh, that." The Chezamon Princess sighed. "Hukaro and I are engaged."

The look the humans gave her nearly sent her into another round of giggles.

"Engaged?" Kaz repeated incredulously.

"You're going to marry?" Luna added.

"It's a long story. When mother and father step down, Hukaro and I are to marry to become the next Alphas. You haven't seen him when I'm around…" Fen took a paw to her mouth to suppress a giggle. "It's like he's talking on top of a stage."

"You know, I wonder what Kaya is dong right now."

Barlow was definitely not happy about having being partnered with Kaya. Practically, he was doing all the work while Kaya did nothing more than speak with Bodhal in a rather awkward manner. The red Hunter was especially struggling with Bodhal's insistence on Roth shards.

"I tell you, Bodhal, we have never heard anything of these Roth shards you're talking about. Even if we had, only the Alphas and Nobles would know about it. Hunters, Healers, Pups, Pupsitters and under-nobility Chezamon are not disclosed that information."

"Are you certain?" Bodhal insisted, struggling with his over-packed satchel.

"I think it would be best if you stopped asking Kaya about shards. It is clear he knows not about them." Tangath intervened, removing a branch from his way. "Besides, I can tell you've given him a headache."

"As a matter of fact, he has." Kaya retorted, rubbing his temples with his paws. "Does he always speak that much? I bet he would knock Galliacs out of boredom."

"Hahaha, I'm laughing." Bodhal looked away with a huff.

"If you've finished talking with your new friends, how about you come here and help me, Kaya?!" Barlow snarled back at his partner. "Seriously, how does your pack stand your indulgence?!"

kaya frowned and stomped till he was pressing his head against Barlow's. "Hey! I don't reply as I should for one single reason!"

Barlow narrowed his eyes and pressed his head back. "What reason?!"

Kaya looked down sadly. "I didn't get what you said."

Barlow smirked and was about to continue when he caught a sound. Barlow's ears twitched, and motioned the red-fur to listen carefully. While Bodhal was sketching a patch of serpent-shaped flowers on a tree, Tangath noticed as the two Hunters perked their ears to their highest, their pupils gone to slits.

"What is it?"

"There's a sound coming from the north, it's not so far away." Barlow replied warily. He sniffed the air, and his eyes widened. "Not only it's a big one, it's scent is foreign. I have never smelt such a creature in my entire life."

Tangath Toborn understood. "It seems we have found our mysterious Creature."

"Hurry up! Keep with us!"

Before the Overworlders could react, the Chezamon darted off. Tangath abruptly took Bodhal by the scruff of his neck and ran after the Hunters. Bodhal yelped in surprise as his body dangled from the lion's grasp and barely could put his research notes back into the satchel.

"What are you doing?! Let me go at once! I didn't get to see the purpose of those flowers!"

"They're leaving us behind, Bodhal. And don't forget we're foreigners in a strange land. Have you forgotten the Galliacs?"

While it usually took about five minutes for a Chezamon to run to nearby places (about one hundred feet away), Barlow and Kaya had to slow down their pace lest they wanted to lose their delegates from sight. Ryuu would have their heads if they did! Because of this, it took them fifteen minutes to reach their destination, followed by the Overworlders.

But as they came near, Kaya and Barlow recognized the growls and snaps of the Galliacs. They came to a dead stop, and motioned the Overworlders-or rather, Tangath Toborn- to stop, and make no noise.

"Don't make any noise. I'll see what's going on." Kaya whispered, before stalking towards the bushes, his tail stretched in a perfect horizontal position.

Tails, along with ears and eye, were the three things that could tell others the mood or the intentions of a Chezamon. Tails being held up in the air meant the owner of said tails were members of Nobility or High-Ranker warriors, while tails beneath the line of the back meant they were Hunters, Healers or low-ranks. Wagging tails mean 'let's play', tails between the legs meant 'I'm harmless, please don't hurt me', and tails held high, curled and bristled meant 'stay away or I'll bite'.

For exploring Hunters, a tail held in a horizontally perfect and still meant 'stay here and don't make any noise'. If there was no danger ahead, Kaya would lightly wag his tail, meaning 'you can come out'. But if there was something dangerous ahead, the Hunter would hide his tail between his legs, meaning 'stay back'.

Kaya made a small hole in the bushes, moving the leaves and branches aside with his nose, and took a look at the clearing. His sapphire blue eyes went open like plates.

A giant, aqua green giant eel-like beast was in the middle of that clearing. It floated, with no wings or anything. But that was not the scary thing.

The creature was being attacked by Galliacs, a pack of ten. The black beasts had never seen a Creature like it, so they were wary, but their aggressive nature was still winning. The giant eel screeched as one of the Galliac hunters dug his teeth into its flesh, and tried in vain to shake him off. One thing both Chezamon and Galliacs had in common was that when their teeth got a hold of something, it was very hard (and painful) to shake them off. In fact, the eel had already bleeding cuts and teeth marks across all its body.

Kaya silently hid his tail between his legs.

Barlow understood and turned towards the Overworlders. "There's something up ahead. If you want to see, get down into those bushes, but don't make any noise.

Tangath Toborn kneeled, got on all fours and crawled next to Kaya, removing the leaves blocking the vision. His heart nearly stopped when he saw who the Galliacs were attacking.

"It… can't be…"

"What, you know that…. Thing?"

"That thing is a M'arrillian. I suppose the humans have told you all about those fish brains."

Kaya nodded. "They tried to flood Perim, right?"

"Yes. We all thought all M'arrillians had fled back into the Doors of the Deep Mines, however did one of them find this place?"

The M'arrillian screeched once more, this time when he felt the whole pack of Galliacs jump on top of it and dig their claws and teeth on his flesh in an attempt to subdue him.

"We have to do something!" Tangath couldn't help but feel sorry for the M'arrillian, but not out of pity. If they let him loose, he could get away. And who knew how many more of them were in this Forest.

"What can we do? It's a Galliac pack! Four, or five if that giant eel sides with us temporally, against ten will do no good! And what about the M'arrillians famous mind control?"

"What's going on there?!" Bodhal asked from behind the bush, Barlow wouldn't let him peek his head above the bush.

"Can't you call the others?"

"If I do that, it'll alert them to our presence. We're too close to the Galliacs."

Finally, the M'arrillian could no more. He let his pain-stricken body fall to the ground with a loud thud. He couldn't do anything as the Galliacs rushed towards is neck, probably to give him the killing blow.

The beasts were knocked off his back by a beam or pink, sparkling energy. To Tangath and Kaya's shock and surprise, Princess Fen flew from the heart of the forest and landed protectively in front of the M'arrillian.

"PRINCESS FEN!"

While the Galliacs recovered from the attack, Kaya and Barlow figuratively flew towards their princess, followed by the Overworlders. Just as Rocket, and Luna's pack emerged from the bushes. Both groups obviously weren't expecting to see the other.

"Rocket?!" Kaya snapped

"Kaya? Barlow?" Rocket was next.

"Children?" Tangath referred to Tom and the humans.

"What are you doing here?!" Barlow asked.

"We came here to scan some more Creatures," Peyton trembled and pointed behind Kaya. "But I don't think they will be happy about it…"

Tom realized what he meant. "The Galliacs!"

The Galliacs were back on their feet, and stalked hungrily towards the group, licking their blood red teeth in anticipation for such an abundant meal Rocket pushed the humans aside, while Princess Fen put a protective wing around them. Bodhal joined them soon after, he was not precisely a fan of actual battles.

"Stay there!" Barlow ordered with a snarl. "Galliacs always go first after the weakest!

Kaya, Rocket, Barlow and Tangath Toborn formed a protective formation around the group, as well as the M'arrillian. The Galliacs were not intimidated, they knew their strength was in their numbers, and this pack of Chezamon, if you could call it that, was not only lacking warriors, but they had brought their princess with them.

This was a chance they would not waste.

Kaya gulped. He knew this was a lost case, they were outnumbered, and only four capable of fighting. The M'arrillian was in no condition to battle, and Princess Fen had her attentions set on protecting the humans-and the trembling Bodhal, as an extension.

"Rocket, if we don't make it out of here, I want you to know…" Kaya closed his eyes shut. "It was me who put the leeches in your bath."

"WHAT?!" Rocket shouted. "It was you?!"

"Guys…" Sarah said, not for the first time fearing for her life. "Now's really not the time!"

The Galliacs got closer…

A sudden screech, no, roar, sounding like claws scratching on a brick wall, made everyone freeze. The ground started trembling. Kaya heard the birds flying away over the trees from the Norwest. The Galliacs realized what was coming, and their whole demeanor changed from aggression to fear.

"Let's get out of here!"

To everyone's (minus the Chezamon) surprise, the Galliacs darted away, at the opposite direction of the sound. The humans just stared at the direction they had run into. The black-furred creatures that had threatened them a few seconds ago had simply run away just like that?

"What was that all about?" Tom inquired without taking his gaze off the bushed and trees they had disappeared into.

Tangath Toborn had a bad feeling about this. He never thought he would see those blood-thirsty beasts run away from something… but what was big enough to scare off a whole pack of Galliacs?"

Fen gulped; she knew. "There's only one predator that the Galliacs fear…"

"As well as us…· Rocket's legs were trembling by then. "You want to know what a Chamil is? Well, here you go…"

First emerged a giant clawed paw covered in deep green fur, then the other, and finally came the five-meter head of a crocodile wrapped in gray fur.

Chamils were, so far, the largest and most deadly predator in Mist Forest. They were the size of a three-story high human house. The head of a crocodile, the body of a wolf, and a spike-covered tail of seven meters long. Sharp rows of teeth were accommodated in the inside of his mouth, its sharp, slit-pupiled yellow eyes setting on the group. Covered completely in gray fur, feathering at the edge of his six thick legs. His tail was covered in retractable spikes, so thick and strong that, even for a Danian, one hit from a Chamil's tail was an immediate and painful death.

Despite its invincible appearance, Chamils did have a few weaknesses. Due to living in stinking marshes at the feet of the mountains, Chamils lost use of their smelling sense, and had to rely on their sight and touch to find prey. Their tails were extremely sensitive, the spikes and spines covering it acted both as a weapon and armor. But their major weakness lay in the inside of their mouth, in their tongues. It was all soft, one single attack at their tongues was enough to send them away in agony.

Kaya froze in terror. He felt the hungry eyes of the Chamil pose on him specifically, thus it didn't help at all. He could still remember it. The roar, screams, howls and growls of agony, the monster nearly closing his jaws on him…

Fen immediately turned her attention to the humans. "Port out of here, now!"

"What?!"Luna asked incredulously, but shivering at the thought of being near that monster. "We can't leave you here!"

"Luna, Chamils are not like Galliacs! There's no reasoning with them, they kill out of pure pleasure! It's too risky for you to stay!"

"But what about you?!" Kaz added, as the Chamil took yet another step.

"We'll be fine!" Tangath Toborn yelled, getting his sword ready for the beast. "But you are incapable of fighting! Go back to Chaotic!"

Reluctantly, but knowing they had no other choice unless they wanted to be coded, the five humans took their scanners and ported out of the clearing.

The Chamil licked his chops and a sickly grin appeared on his scaly lips, knocking trees down with one swing of his massive tail. Four Hunters, and a winged specimen. The lion and the giant eel were new to him, but as long as he could digest them he didn't mind if they were from another place.

"Listen carefully, everyone!" Rocket snarled. "Remember what we learned! If we can't run, we must force him to open his mouth and attack his tongue! That'll send him away whining like a pup! But avoid his tail or you're done for!"

Tangath nodded.

Barlow snapped. "Got it."

Fen unfurled her wings, preparing to take off.

As the Chamil drew nearer, Rocket awaited for Kaya's answer, but it never came.

"Kaya?"

The red-furred Hunter didn't answer. He was trapped in his memories of the last Chamil he ever encountered, when he was only a three seasons old. He had prayed with all his might to the Spirits to never encounter one again, but it seemed they enjoyed in seeing him suffer like this.

Rocket recognized the frozen, blank and nearly-pupiless stare on Kaya's eyes. "Oh, no…" Rocket took Kaya by the shoulders and tried to make him react. "Kaya! Snap out of it! It's not the time to paralyze!"

Kaya didn't reply.

The Chamil lunged.