Disclaimer: I don't own The Future is Wild or any of its characters.

Character(s) from the Show: Alpha

Now for this chappy:
Alpha once said, "See? This is the kind of strange behavior that comes from not having a tail!" One Babookari loses his tail and goes from popular to outcast. And when it comes to bush-fires and 7 foot tall killer birds, who knew missing one body part can mean the difference between life and death...Hopefully, this little monkey will find a way to fix his big problem...before his luck runs out.

"Come on, Equinox! Keep up with the group!" Alpha yelled over his shoulder. I didn't hesitate to run up with the others. Normally, my troop won't let another fall behind, but it's not exactly impossible. Like if you get lost in the sea of grass here and there's a Carakiller around...you'll be on your own. And no other Babookari would bother looking for you...

Well, not exactly. For me, I'm sure they'll go to the ends of the world. After all, I am the most promising young Babookari in the troop. I might as well be the dominant male...but that would mean getting rid of Alpha, and I don't want that. He's been like a father to me. And he seems to favor me over everyone else. I guess it's because I'm the cleverest Babookari that ever walked the Amazon Grassland. You've got to be blind not to see that. I can catch more fish than any other primate my age, and I'm big, strong, and in tip top shape. I'm also friends with all my peers and the younger ones look up to me...Yeah, life is good...

We were heading towards the river to gather our fish from our baskets and when we arrived, I found that I caught more food than even Alpha, which is starting to become a regular occurrence! Today was bound to be a good one. One of my best friends, Mercury, wandered up to me and looked into my basket.

"Wow, Equinox. There must be a hundred fish in there." Although he tended to exaggerate, I still felt pride at my accomplishment. Other members of my posse arrived to congragulate me for coming up with better and better weaving designs. Even Alpha walked over to praise my work.

"Well, done. You know, your becoming more like an adult. Perhaps you can make your wonder-basket for everybody." I was flattered, as you can imagine.

"Aw, thanks, Alpha. I'd love to help the troop out." I said. Alpha smiled and gave me a pat on the back.

"Nice to hear you say that. How about keeping watch for Carakillers?" It wasn't a question actually. Alpha never questions. What he says goes, and although I wanted to play with all my friends, I knew better than to argue. I gave a quick nod and scurried up a tree to a nice high branch. Mercury followed.

"I don't know what's the big deal about these Carakillers. You can probably take one on." he said. I smiled as I scanned the area.

"Please. That's crazy...I can take on a whole flock..." I wasn't done showing off. "With my hands behind my back."

"Well now's the chance to try that." he said, staring fixedly at something. I looked over and saw a Carakiller. Then two. Then three...wait, make it five. I was about to call out the alarm, but Mercury stopped me. "Whacha waiting for? Go over there and teach those Birdbrains a thing or two."

I was at a loss of what to do. He didn't really expect me to go right up to those things, did he? Personally, I've never even encountered a Carakiller before...They've only been described to me by the adults. And from what I knew, they were dangerous, capable of even killing Alpha without a problem. I admit to being a bit self-centered, but I wasn't stupid!

Then again, I didn't want to look like a coward in front of my best friend. I'm the best Babookari ever! Everyone in my troop thought it, I know that! They implied it if not said it! So what better way to show how brave I was that to take those things on!

Before I could make a decision, the Carakillers made this really loud squawking noise that pretty much everyone heard. My troop was completely taken by surprise, including me. I was so deep in my thoughts that I hadn't noticed that the birds had approached us.

Totally unprepared, every Babookari scattered. I jumped from the tree and took off into the tall grass, hoping to hide. I was no longer full of bravado. I'm too scared for that. I kept on retreating, not daring to look back or in any direction but in front of me. And in front of me was the surprise.

It happened quickly, but for me, time seemed to have slowed down. A pair of huge scaly yellow legs appeared and I felt my body suddenly move on its own, jumping sideways just as the deadly beak came down. I heard Carakillers kill by hitting the head. Luckily for me, I moved fast enough to dodge that method and instead, it clamped onto my tail.

I didn't even feel the pain, that's how terrified I was. I just heard the rip before I was running in another direction, away from the Carakiller and his gathering companions. A quick glance over my shoulder showed that I wasn't being pursued and I slowed to a stop. It was then that the pain made itself known...

With a dejected feeling, I made my way towards the Home Tree, where I'm sure to find the rest of my troop. My hunch was proven to be wrong, as the branches was empty. But I'm sure the others will return soon. I just managed to get here before they did.

But until then, I learned that climbing a tree was hard without a tail to balance you. I fell off the branches in more ways than you could think possible. I guess it can take a while to become use to the whole not-having-a-tail concept. I persisted for a long while, only to face repeated failure. Who knew something as easy as climbing can become so difficult...

At last, I gave up and sat at the base of the tree and stayed there for a very long time. Looking up at the stars, I knew it was going to be a long night...

--

"Equinox!" I woke up at the sound of my name. It was Alpha! My troop returned! I stood up to all fours excitedly...I'll admit, spending the night without the others was a frightening experience. There was a lot of noise that scared me awake only for me to find out it was just a harmless Rattleback.

The others emerged from the grass, none of them injured...lucky for them...

"I've been waiting for you guys over here." I told Alpha as the other members climbed the tree.

"Well, you're lucky none of us became Carakiller lunch. Why didn't you give the alarm?"

I was hoping that question wouldn't come, even though I knew it would be inevitable. Luckily, I've been thinking of a response all night in between sleep and scares. I almost never lie (feel free to disagree) but if I told him the truth, then I'll be in more trouble than you can imagine.

"I didn't see them. They just came out of nowhere."

Alpha made no reply to that and instead, looked behind me. "Where's your tail Equinox?" I looked backwards as if I only now noticed that it was gone.

"A Carakiller took it." I muttered, turning my sad gaze at the ground. I then heard something I never did in my life.

"Well, can't say I envy you." With that, Alpha climbed up to his branch and I was still stuck on the ground. And nobody, not even Mercury, helped me...or even looked at me...I guess they were a little angry at me for not preventing an ambush...Sighing, I knew they had the right.

--

The days only got harder for me. My peers now took it to be hilarious that I couldn't climb a tree as easily as they could (I had re-taught myself to climb, but it took many tries). And it was very difficult to be noticed by my troop, since I have no tail to raise. I thought that, with time, everybody would forget about the incident and things would go back to normal...

But they didn't...

Why were they doing this? It's not like anybody died during the attack. But they were acting as though someone important did. I know I didn't do my job well, but did that give me the label of 'untrustworthy'? All this was really putting down my confidence. I wasn't used to being ignored...I was used to being the center of attention.

They didn't even appreciate my fishing basket like they used to. Well, I guess I should be grateful that they weren't taking my food from me...After all, I've now begun to expect that even though it's never happened before.

You might wonder how long this kind of treatment would last. I did too. Then came that fateful day when I convinced the group to give me another chance at sentry duty and became was the first to take notice of a tower of smoke. I've been taught enough to know what it means:

"Fire!" Every Babookari stopped what they were doing and looked at me, then Alpha.

"How far?" he asked.

"Not very." I answered, pointing towards the stream of dark clouds.

Alpha was quick to take charge. "We'll retreat as fast as possible ahead of the flames. Stay away from the trees and also be on your guard. Fire means Carakillers, so it's vital that we stick together."

With those instructions, we took off.

--

The fire was one of the scariest moment of my life. Scarier than even the Carakiller attack. The smoke made it very dark, but the flames were unbelievably bright and everyone could feel its heat. Animals I've never seen before scurried by my feet, but I ignored them. It was hard to keep track of everyone through all this smoke. I couldn't afford to lose them, since they can't see me.

Unfortunately, luck was not on my side and it didn't take long for me to become separated from the others.

"Alpha!" I yelled. Usually, we never had to scream out for each other. That would be too dangerous. I wished now more than ever that I still had my tail... I didn't know what I should do or where I should go. Should I keep running straight and hope to catch up, or should I go to the Home Tree? I didn't have much of a choice, since the second one would lead me right into the fire.

I couldn't go far, because I heard a very familiar squawking noise. Carakillers! Exactly what I need at the moment...I didn't know what tactic I should take. Alpha said not to climb the trees, as we might get trapped and burned, but a tree meant escape from the terror birds! Which was worse? Death by bird or death by fire? Is there a third option?!

When a Carakiller spotted me and I spotted it, I knew there was one...RUN!! I took off and I heard it give chase. I knew I had little hope of outrunning this monster, but maybe luck was finally coming back, as almost instantly, there was another squawk and the Carakiller turned away and ran to the source.

I was lucky...truly lucky indeed...

--

After the fire was over, locating the others was not so lucky. The trees were still blackened and hot to touch. And I didn't know which way the Home Tree was. The only chance I had at finding them was if they found me. And without a tail, that was next to impossible. I guess that's what happens to Babookaris like me. Why did it have to be my tail? Why did it have to be me?!

I hopped onto a rock and made an attempt to stand perfectly upright. Maybe I'll be able to see my troop over the grass. But my plan didn't work. Again, without a tail, it was highly difficult to balance. I wanted to cry, I'll admit it. I can't do this...I'm hopeless without a tail. I can't climb all too well and I can't stand up and I can't be noticed by others of my own kind...What can I do?

Before the tears arrived I took notice of something. The grass...it looked a lot like our tails. Of course! It dawned on me. Our tails were disguised as these tall grass! Perhaps, if I took one and waved it like I would a tail, something might happen. It was worth a try.

I plucked a long one from the ground and sat down. Then, lifting it high in the air, I gave it a few waves, mimicking the movements Babookaris do when lost. I knew I was going to be in for a long wait, but hopefully, it'll be worth it.

But I didn't have to wait long after all. I heard other Babookaris rushing over and my troop appeared.

"Equinox?!" Everyone exclaimed in surprise. But it was a good kind of surprise. They seem to be genuinely happy to see me. Mercury rushed forward, tackling me to the ground.

"You got your tail back!" he said excitedly. I grinned.

"Not exactly." I held up the grass and the look on everybody's face was priceless. Alpha walked up to me and gave a warm smile.

"That's very resourceful of you." And he said something I hadn't heard in a while. "Great job, Equinox."

Everyone gathered around me and thanked me for seeing the fire in time. I guess I've finally re-earned my place in the troop and, finally, I felt my first feeling of accomplishment in weeks. And I knew nobody would be ignoring me now.

"Hey, Equinox." Mercury started. "Maybe we can gang up on those Carakillers and get your tail back."

Shaking my head and looking at the grass that reunited me with my troop, I replied: "Nah...I think I'll be perfectly happy with my new tail..."

There really are happy endings in the natural world...I'd like to thank Treehuggerme for giving me the suggestion to use Babookaris and FullDizz to be the first to review! I hope to hear more from you two!

The next chapter will either be with Terabytes, Spitfire Birds, or Lurkfish...I can't decide which...maybe you can help me in your reviews!