with a gasp I was at the controls, and the first thing I noticed was the feeling in my throat. whatever happened, the poor guy musta been through a lot... I looked around to see where the little dingo 'ad ended up and widened my eyes in surprise. 'ow on earth did he manage this?! I decided ta scale one o' the sturdier buildings ta see if I could see where I wanted ta be surveying the surrounding area of rotting buildings and empty streets cluttered with trash. the only people i could see were sad little buggers and I wasn't about ta get too close. i squinted and shielded my eyes, though there wasn't much sun ta shield them from, and was surprised to see that I din't recognize anyplace in sight! well, I guess I gotta find another way ta get back... aha! I quickly scrambled down the side o' the building and leaned close to the ground, looking' fer Mike's tracks, he 'ad ta get 'ere somehow, right? all I 'ad ta do was follow them back ta familiar territory and Bob's yer uncle! I brushed away a scrap paper, and a smile spread across my face.
"beauty!" I exclaimed and started ta follow the tracks I'd found in reverse, we'd be home in no time, It's a goer! I grinned to myself.
"Good on ya Manitoba, Good on ya."
I took off at a brisk pace, wouldn't wand Mike's dear ol' mum ta worry 'bout him. I wonder what happened to get him this lost anyways? My smile immediately faded. He seemed quite upset, and those bruises aren't pleasant...
"poor bloke..." I murmured. he was always getting the short end of the stick, you had ta feel bad for him. He's such a nice boy... he doesn't deserve this. I let out a small sigh.
"ayep, 'e's a Battler..." a sad smile crossed my face.
"at least 'e tries ta stay positive... still oi feel fer 'im, after all, it's our fault." memories filled my head of all the times he had retreated into his mind ta be with us rather than deal with the world... all the times me an' Svetlana cheered him up when he was feeling blue... Hm... I looked around, the scenery had drastically changed. Ta my left there were tidy looking suburbs, and a bit ta my right, a beautiful forest, leaves shining silver in the moonlight. The tracks went a few feet closer, much to my delight, as I got to see the forest better. I can see why Mike might have come here, it was very peaceful... But something still doesn't seem right... Then, something caught my eye.
"Izzat?" I took a few steps closer. It was! It's that silly dingo's knapsack! At least I know I'm on the right track. I'd better get it for him... I walked over to pick up the bag.
"Strange... What do we 'ave 'ere?" Sitting on top of the bag was a paper. In one movement I slung the bag over my shoulder and snatched the note.
"'Look up?' What on earth..." I complied only to see a rope hanging in the tree right above me. I followed the rope, and my eyes widened as I realized where it led.
"Crikey!" I looked down but it was too late. The rope tightened about my ankle, yanking me roughly into the air.
"Fan-frigging-tastic." I sighed looking at the ground ten feet or so below. Who would even do a thing like this? It certainly,wasn't Mike... Was it those wallopers that done this? Oh, if I ever find out who they are I'll give them a gobfull I will! What'd Mike ever do ta them anyways!? Angrily I flailed randomly for a minute or two, it of course did nothing. Then I tried ta climb the rope, but I am not that flexible. After about 20 minutes of squirming around, options exhausted, I struggled to make a plan.
"Oh wait, the knapsack! Haha!" I opened it and rooted about searching for anything useful, but a cracking noise interrupted my search. I looked down.
"Really? Oh, rack off ya Bitzers!" I shouted at the three wolves that had snuck up on me.
"Rrrrrghhh!" Okay, I gotta get down first, then I'll deal with these mongrels. I continued rooting through the bag.
"Come on mate, ya don't carry scissors in yer knapsack?" Plan B it is I guess. I released my hold on mikes body and returned to the subconscious.
"Svetlana?" I whispered to avoid waking Mike.
"There ist problem mani?" Came her soft reply.
"Just a smidge... I'm... Stuck in a tree. I need ya ta get me untied and on tha trunk... Some scoundrel used mikes bag as a trap."
"Oh, okay, be right baaack!" She sang as she faded out. Ten seconds later she returned.
"Seriously!?" She just giggled and skipped away. I faded out and regained control, relieved ta be safely near the trunk. Now I had ta deal with these jokers. There are three that I can see... But there are always a few outta sight. Maybe not wise to take them on, definitely not all at once. I shimmied around the tree, trying to find another route.
"Ah, beauty!" I found a branch that went close enough ta another tree, maybe if I leave their territory, they'll leave me be. I started to shuffle down the branch, slowly making my way outta the woods. I was only a few feet away when I felt something shift. Then the branch I was on slid off of the supporting one, sinking lower and lower until I was just a few feet from the ground. Maybe they didn't see me? I lowered myself down, and started ta tiptoe away, but a growl from behind me dashed my hopes of a clean getaway. I glanced around and found myself surrounded by five altogether. Great. I grabbed a large stick and prepared to fight.
"Ya got this Manitoba. Just focus." I struck first, trying to get their numbers down. *thwack!* I smacked the nearest one upside the head, knocking it out cold. The other four snarled and started ta close in. Then one of them leaped at me while the other stormed in to get my leg, I swung around, knocking the first out of the air and narrowly dodging the other, two down, three ta go. The one that went after my leg charged and I returned the favour, taking out its legs. The last two were younger, they seemed intimidated by the damage I had already done, I should be able to scare them off.
"Rah! Skidaddle ya pups!" The two turned and scurried inta the bushes.
"Hah, that wasn't so hard!" I spoke too soon. Teeth sank inta my leg, only barely, but man did it smart! The leg one was up again, now with a slight limp, and attached to my leg. I swung my stick down and cracked it over the skull.
"There, that oughta do it!" I quickly left the woods, and bandaged up the small bite with the spare shirt Mike kept in his bag. It could have been much worse. I followed the tracks a bit more, and fount myself back in a familiar part of town, finally. I wandered the streets until I reached Mike's block, but I hesitated at the corner. Were those police cars?