Chapter 8: Trust Exercises - pt.3
"Well, here we are," Lynn proclaimed, parting some vines to let the pair following her see the river.
Nick and Judy looked on at the river, staring in wonder at the incredible sight. The large body of water stretched far, disappearing in a corner off in the distance. What was most noteworthy was how it was just as impressively wide. To their right they could see the bottom of the falls, rushing down onto large rocks which broke up the torrent to make a fine mist. The river itself was far from being devoid of life as the pair could see giant water striders, skimming about on the surface. Large dragonflies hovered above, their wing beats imitating the sound of helicopter rotors. Just below the surface of the water, they could make out the distinct shape of fins.
The trio made their way down closer to the water's edge before Lynn turned to the pair. "Now remember, don't go in the water past the falls, and don't be 'fraid to holler here, most critters here don't care much fer noise," Lynn instructed, removing her equipment and getting the bottles ready for refilling. She looked out across the water, carefully observing the other side. With a nod she looked to the pair, "I don't see nothin', but I don't suggest goin' across the river neither, might be a fishin' spider wanderin' around."
Nick's ears shot up at the mention of spiders, looking around the other side. "Don't joke with me like this Lynn, that's not an actual thing is it? Spiders that actually live near water?" Nick asked, clutching the hatchet. He hadn't even realized that he had moved behind Lynn for protection.
"Oh don't worry yer fuzzy lil' head, foxy, if'n there is a fishin' spider over there or not, I'll get em'," Lynn assured Nick. "Besides, it wouldn't be huntin' up here by the falls anyways, it'd probably move down river where the waters calmer," she pointed out as she got her spear ready. "Also, spiders in general tend to live near water anyhow, water means life, n' life means bugs, n' bugs mean food!" she pointed out, tying a vine to the spear.
"That isn't helping with the worrying, you're telling me there could be even more spiders here than normal," Nick stated with a worried tone, looking to the jungle behind him amidst the trees for any webs.
"Nick, relax, we're not going to get attacked by spiders near a body of water," Judy attempted to assure him while looking towards Lynn, "right?"
"Actually, you're more likely to get attacked in a body of water than near one," Lynn pointed out, slinging the spear over her shoulder with the vines coiled and tucked under her arm. "There're these spiders called divin' bell spiders, and they actually live most their lives underwater," she added on.
Nick's ears fell flat to his head, eyes widening at the thought of being dragged underwater by a spider. "Ok, so, stay above water at all times, got it!" Nick blurted out, hastily shuffling his way towards the rocks near the falls.
"Maybe I should've told him that divin' bell spiders only hang around calm water," Lynn suggested to herself. "Anywho, y'all two enjoy y'alls bath and showers!" Lynn enthusiastically stated to Judy.
Judy's ears stood up, she had almost entirely forgotten why she came along. The thought suddenly came to her that she would probably have to wash up the same time as Nick. She looked around the falls to see if there was any way for her to do this without being seen by him as well. The falls had several rocks, but no such area existed where she could wash up separately. She then looked to Nick, finding that he was already naked. "Nick! Sweet cheese and crackers, a warning would've been nice!" She shouted, covering her eyes suddenly. She wanted to admit that she liked what she saw, however.
"Come on, Carrots, we're not exactly in a position to be prudes," Nick pointed out to her. The fox wasn't at all phased at the thought of being naked around other mammals, despite this he felt slightly timid at the thought of being naked around Judy. "Let's just get this over with quickly; I'm pretty certain we're not going to have all the time in the world either."
Hesitantly the rabbit nodded, the day was soon to be half over and the threat of dusk was closing in. "J-just, don't say anything, alright?" she stammered as she proceeded to disrobe. Hastily she took off her clothes, being a little more hesitant with her undergarments. Now naked, she gulped nervously while folding her clothes. She neatly placed the tattered clothing beside Nick's garments. Her ears were used to try and conceal herself all the while.
Nick tried not to watch as his partner stripped down beside him. He too gulped nervously, trying his best not to show any interest. He managed to avert his gaze to the clothes, his crumpled pile and Judy's neatly folded stack. "Y'know, despite how much I love that shirt, I think we're gonna need some new duds," Nick pointed out, staring at his bright green tropical button up. He sighed at the now sleeveless garment, having used the sleeves to procure a sling when they had landed.
"Oh don't be so down slick, you have several pairs of that shirt back home," Judy pointed out, playfully punching Nick's arm.
"It's the just the sentiment of it, Carrots, I doubt I'll find a pair of it on this island is what I'm saying," Nick rebutted. He looked to Judy, having briefly forgotten she was in the nude. He was glad he had fur to hide the brief blush he had before quickly looking to the falls. "But that's a different conversation for another time, we should hurry up and get washed," he pointed out while walking towards the edge of the shallow water.
Judy nodded in agreement, following her partner. The waters were cold, refreshing after the hot hike to reach the falls in the first place. Judy kept towards the edge of the rocks where the water grew deeper, cupping her paws to draw water to wash off. She dipped her feet cautiously, making certain there was nothing around. Nick had made his way to the middle of the falls where the mist was densest. Water poured down like rain from where he stood. He stood there, letting it drench him as he washed the gunk of the prior days. The basic commodity of bathing suddenly seemed all the more luxurious to the pair. A sigh escaped their lips in unison, the noise of the falls drowning out the sound of content.
From afar, Lynn had made her way to the edge of the river, wading in slowly until the water was up to her knees. She dare not tread any further as certain fish would mistake her for food. She held the spear in her paw, her arms poised to throw the polearm at an unsuspecting fish. Her eyes adjusted to scanning the waters, she could barely make out shadows under the surface so she refrained from throwing the spear until something was clear and visible. A wrong throw would only make things difficult as it would cause the fish to scatter. A sudden bubbling caught her attention, her eyes fixated on the spot. Something was definitely moving under the surface and she watched the outline carefully.
It was not a fish.
Lynn stared at the oblong shape under the water, her eyes drawn to slits now as her hunting instincts took hold. Moreover she watched where the shape was heading to. She felt rage welling up inside her as the shade moved towards Judy.
The rabbit in the meantime continued her bath, washing the last of the dirt and sand from her ears. With another sigh she opened her eyes just in time to see a shadow approaching her in the water. Panic took hold as she leapt from her spot. A large insect burst from the surface, the forewarned toebiter, its two front legs out like a pair of giant pincers, opened up to grab at the rabbit. A scream barely left Judy's throat as the creature came for her. Judy braced for impact, it was all over for her and the bug would grab her and take her away. The grab never came.
A loud thunk echoed out along the riverside as the spear connected with the back of the ferocious insect. Lynn had landed a perfect throw, now grasping at the vines to pull the water bug away from Judy. "Oh no you don't!" she shouted in fury, pulling with all her strength and her teeth gritting under the strain.
Nick caught the sound of Judy's scream moments before the spear landed, turning to see the struggle that ensued. "Judy!" He cried out as he rushed over to his partner, pulling her away from the thrashing insect. He watched as Lynn pulled the insect away, unconsciously holding on to Judy, the rabbit doing the same as she clung to him.
Lynn pulled herself from the water, tying the vine to a nearby shrub which had grown to be about as large as a tree. Looking back she could see the toebiter still struggling to be rid of the spear firmly lodged in between its wings. Hastily she made her way to a tree which had its branches over the river just above the insect, picking up the machete as she went. She was soon in the tree and above the insect, the machete firmly in her paws. With a shout she plunged towards the insect, landing on top of it and disappearing under the water with a splash.
Nick and Judy looked on as the murderous feline dove after the offending insect. They held each other panting, adrenaline dying down slowly. Judy got up slowly, peering out in the spot Lynn had landed, watching the bubbles come up. "Lynn!" she called out, worrying for the cat's safety. Nick had also gotten up at this point, a paw on Judy's shoulder.
After a minute had passed, Lynn emerged from the water, gasping and panting as she made her way to shore. In one paw she had the spear, tossing it aside. In the other paw she had the beak of the water bug. The insect itself had been partially butchered, its front legs were torn off and the other two legs on its left side were also missing. The machete was lodged in the bug's midsection, the blade cutting a small ditch as she dragged the insect onto land. She turned to the insect, which feebly squirmed before her. In a last ditch effort the toebiter spread its wings to fly, to no avail as it was lying on its back. "You ain't leavin'," Lynn growled in a hushed tone, pinning the bug with her feet in addition to the machete keeping it in place. She kneeled down and grasped at its wings once they stopped flapping, ripping them off the insect. The insect squealed miserably, reduced to a pile of stumps, crying out in pain. "N' I reckon you won't need this no more," Lynn hissed as she then grabbed the insect's head by its eyes, digging her claws into them to get a good grip. With a sudden twist and a jerk, she ripped the insect's head off, tossing it next to the spear.
The pair looked on in horror at the cruel treatment the insect was receiving. Despite the fact it tried to eat Judy, it was still a horrendous sight to watch Lynn so viciously dismantle the bug. Judy could only look away as Lynn did away with the insect's head, shuddering at the unsettling crunching sound and the last pathetic squeal.
Nick could bear to watch no longer, but instead of averting his gaze he made his way from the rocks of the falls, still naked, watching now as Lynn pulled the machete from the insect to butcher it further. He rushed over to the still visibly furious cat. "Lynn, hold it, you don't have to maim the thing any further, ok? It's dead, you can stop now," Nick shouted to her. "Please, just…put the blade down," he pleaded to her.
Lynn looked up to see Nick, the machete raised above her head. "Oh don't fret none, Foxy, I'm just gonna carve up this here bug for food now!" Lynn stated with her usually cheerful tone. It was still unnerving that she could go from being so cold to so happy on a dime. "Water bugs are good eats, see, they pack a lot o' protein from their fish diet!" Lynn pointed out. Just like that, Lynn began slashing away at the dead bug, this time with a little more finesse as she carved off chunks that could be easily carried.
Nick squirmed as he watched her cut up the bug. He was less horrified than before from when she had killed the beetle on their way to the river. He backed away to leave the cat to her work, sighing as he shook himself to dry off.
Judy stood by and watched as her partner tried to talk down their host. She too shook herself dry, having no towel or otherwise to do so. She looked at Lynn, who was happily humming away as she carved up pieces of the water bug and wrapping them in leaves. She quickly began getting dressed just as Nick started to do so. "That…was a bit excessive," she remarked while buttoning up her top, uncertain how to react at this point.
"Yea, no kidding," Nick responded, putting his own shirt back on. "At least this time she's not butchering it with no reason," Nick remarked while looking back.
Lynn had finished carving up the last of the water bug to carry back, leaving a half butchered carcass. With a content sigh she made her way up to the pair. "Alright y'all, just gotta fill up these here water bottles n' then we'll be good to go!" Lynn stated as she walked past the pair to the base of the falls. Nick and Judy watched as Lynn filled up each bottle carefully. After another twenty minutes the cat finished the last bottle, slinging the heavy bundle over her shoulder. "Phew, lemme tell ya, this part never gets easier!" Lynn remarked with strain in her voice. She passed the bundle of wrapped up water bug to Nick, "here Foxy, I'mma need you to carry these!"
Nick hesitantly took the bundles, it was only four bundles but they amounted to being about twenty pounds total. "Geez this stuff is heavy," he remarked as he bounced the bug meat in his paws. "And you do this routine often?"
"Just once every week or so, I don't usually leave unless I get a fish, but that there toebiter meat is gonna be a mighty tasty compromise!" Lynn replied while handing half the water bottles to Judy.
Judy took the bottles and slung them over her good shoulder, even carrying half of them was a notable feat. 'She must be crazy strong if she usually carries this stuff on her own every week,' she thought to herself.
"Usually I don't come so heavily armed neither, mostly I just bring the machete and this here bow and I'd go bow fishin'!" Lynn pointed out as she slung the rest of her equipment on her back. "But what with y'all two comin' along, havin' a few extra things don't hurt none."
Judy nodded as she listened, having the machete passed back to her. Even though she hadn't used the weapon herself yet, it was still nice to know the precaution was there. She honestly wished she wouldn't have to use it.
With that the trio left the river side, making their way back through the jungle. It was back to being on high alert as they were once again greeted by the ominous quiet amidst the trees. Lynn had her bow out once more, the two officers following suit with their own weapons out. All they could hope for was a safe and uneventful trip back to the plane.
Lynn looked up to peek past the canopy wherever she could. After a careful inspection, she nodded and turned to the pair. "I reckon the day is halfway through, so we gotta get a move on, once the sun starts comin' down we're gonna hav'ta hustle and forget bein' quiet," Lynn stated in a whisper.
Judy took note that they were not headed back through the previous route. "Uh, Lynn? Was this the way we came?" the rabbit asked whilst looking over to a lower area of the jungle. By this point the trio was walking along one of the massive branches of the trees.
"Nope, but we gotsta head this way though, always take the high ground goin' back since all the mean nasties live closer to the ground," Lynn pointed out. "N' it will take a lil' bit longer, but in the least we'll avoid most of the riff raff."
The pair nodded, agreeing with the idea of avoiding the dangers of the night. They carried on quietly, Nick keeping an eye on the rear making sure nothing was following. Judy kept her ears up, surveying their surroundings as they walked on. The trio made their way into an opening where two branches met, the jungle floor well hidden with a layer of canopy. "…Hey Lynn?" Judy called out in a whisper.
"Yes Funny Bunny?" Lynn replied, turning her head briefly to meet the rabbit's gaze.
"I never got to say thank you, so, thanks for saving me back there," Judy told the cat, smiling up at her.
Lynn returned the smile, lowering her bow and actually turning to face the rabbit. "Aw shucks, you're welcome Funny Bunny, but really there was jus' no way I was gonna let no toebiter snatch up one o' the only friends I gots here," Lynn pointed out, placing her paw on Judy's shoulder.
Nick managed a small smile at the tender moment; he felt he should also be thanking her as well. He opened his mouth to say his thanks, only to be stopped suddenly by a noise.
Vrrrrrrrrr…
Judy and Lynn stood on alert, their ears scanning around. Lynn held her bow steady once more, looking around. "Y'all hear that?" she asked, looking ahead and behind them.
"Yea, sounds kinda like…" Judy started, her ears trying to home in on the strange noise. Judy and Lynn then looked at each other with similar wide eyed gazes, blurting out simultaneously, "helicopter rotors!"
In a split second, Lynn managed to look to her right as the sound grew louder, catching a glimpse of a large dragonfly on a collision course with the branch they were on. She attempted to draw her bow, but it was too late as the large winged insect was upon them. Only instead of crashing it landed on top of them, over Nick's position. Screams rang out as the large creature had brought a strong current of wind with it as it perched. Nick's screams were heard most for the dragonfly had him pinned on the branch with its front leg.
Stumbling, Lynn drew her bow once more, firing an arrow in between the insect's wing joints. With a sound akin to roaring the dragonfly recoiled, releasing its press on Nick. The creature clicked its mandibles, its jaws dangerously close to the still supine fox. Nick could only frantically squirm as he tried to fend the creature off with his hatchet, doing his absolute best not to get eaten.
Judy got back on her own feet and attempted to charge the insect down. Instead a blur ran by her, snatching the machete from her paws. Lynn was now charging the insect down, shouting with a fury as she sprang up and drove the blade into the dragonfly's back. Judy saw the opportunity to go for Nick, attempting to pull the fox away as the crazed ocelot did battle with the beast. "Nick! Hang on!" She cried out, rushing under the struggling insect.
"I'm not going anywhere Carrots!" Nick shouted back, watching with wide eyed terror at the creature above him. By this point Lynn had managed to get on the insect's back, fury in her eyes as she slashed off one of its wings. The jungle echoed with the sounds of the battle, Lynn's fierce battle cry mixing with the roaring of the dragonfly.
Judy slid past one of the legs as it came down, coming up just beside her partner. She took hold of him attempting to bring him back on his feet. "I got you Nick, come on!" She shouted, bringing the fox back up and attempting to run from the fight. All for naught, for as soon as they were both on their feet, the insect brought its head down upon them. With a shriek and a scream, the pair was knocked off the branch, plummeting to the jungle below.
"No!" Lynn cried out, her rage at its peak as she brought the machete down on the creature's head. With a crunch she split open the dragonfly's head. It was too late once again as she jumped off the dying insect. She looked over the edge of the branch, panicked and distressed as she tried to look under the canopy. "Nick! Judy!" She called out, her breath ragged as she quickly got back up. Just as the dragonfly began to fall from the branch, she too began to leap down from the tree in the hopes that the pair was ok.
Nick and Judy screamed as they fell, falling through several layers of leaves and branches. Nick felt himself colliding with a few thin branches, bounding off of them and being turned around in the air. Judy tried desperately to cling to something, anything at all. They looked down, just in time to see the jungle floor. The pair closed their eyes, bracing for the hard and fatal landing.
Instead they felt themselves landing on something else, something silky and light, almost as if the air itself had caught them. Nick opened his eyes slowly, panting and frantically looking around. They somehow managed to survive yet he didn't know why. He heard a loud thud echo out as he tried to look behind him, seeing the hatchet had fallen below. Then the realization dawned on him, he knew what had caught them just as he realized he could not move. A web, they had been caught by a spider's web. Panic came back to him in full force as his nightmare became a reality. He looked to his side to find Judy had landed just out of arm's reach. "Judy!" He called out, still struggling to free himself from the web.
"Nick, please…stop moving," Judy replied, her voice eerily calm and her gaze fixed to something above them. Her expression was that of fear, her eyes silently signaling her distress.
Nick slowly turned to see what it was his partner was seeing, despite screaming internally to not look upon it. There above them, sitting amidst the vast network of webs, sat one lone spider. One gargantuan spider, its body alone being as large as their police cruiser back home. Its long legs were splayed out to form an x, the carapace banded in black and yellow all leading to a silver and gold body. Its appearance, though loud in its arrangement and colors, was offset by pure silence. Without a sound it began to approach them, plucking at its web as it drew closer to the pair.
By this point Nick could no longer remain calm, not that he was at any point. With another scream he tried frantically to free himself once again. The web's strands, though thin, were surprisingly tough and the fox found soon enough that the struggling only ensnared him more.
Judy did her best to maintain her composure, despite the fact that death on eight legs was coming down on her. She felt tears beginning to well up, fear gripping her as the spider inched ever closer. Her nose twitched, as did the rest of her body as she trembled. Their fate was sealed, there would be no escaping now that they were in its web.
"Judy! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Nick apologized, now trying to simply reach for Judy. "I couldn't keep us safe, I couldn't keep you safe! I'm sorry!" he added on, tears forming in his eyes as well.
"It's ok Nick…th-this island is a death trap, it would've gotten us both at some point," She assured him, her voice shaky but calm. She looked over to see him reaching for her, the rabbit in turn trying to do the same now. Her efforts were stopped as three of the spider's long legs came down to her, tapping and prodding at her, as though it was testing her. In silent terror her eyes widened again, shuddering at each time she was prodded.
"No! Stay away from her!" Nick cried out, his fear stifled only by anger. "Take me damn it!" He shouted, hopelessness setting in as the spider ignored him. He looked away, not wanting to see her being taken away from him. Quietly sobbing, he bit his lip and winced, begging for all of this to end.
A shriek rang out…only it wasn't Judy's.
Nick opened his eyes slowly at the sound, his sorrows switching to confusion. He turned his head to see Judy was still there. Her own expression was no longer of fear. The rabbit's gaze was again fixed on the spider and so he too looked up. There, writhing in its spot, the spider continued its strange high pitched shriek. Upon careful observation, the pair could see a lone arrow in the arachnid's abdomen. Again the spider jerked, a second arrow had connected this time closer to the spider's head. With another shriek the spider fell from its spot, the pair screaming as it came down on them.
With a mighty crash the spider came down with the pair falling a short distance away. Scrambling to their feet, Nick and Judy held each other, staring at the fallen spider. The colossal arachnid attempted to scurry back, having trouble doing so as it had broken most of its legs from the fall. It squirmed and whined, its many eyes staring back at the pair. A rustling was heard behind the pair and they turned to see Lynn emerging from the brush. Her gaze was cold, but different from her previous bouts of ferocity. "Lynn, oh thank god, I thought for certain we were-" Nick began, only to stop abruptly as the cat walked past him, picking up the fallen hatchet and making her way to the spider.
The pair watched once more as the cat silently approached the spider, stopping a few feet from its head. They knew what was to happen next and braced for the carnage. There was none to be had, however. Instead Lynn kneeled down slowly, causing the spider to jerk back in a whimper. "Shh shh, I know, I know it hurts," Lynn spoke to the spider softly, leaning against the hatchet. "I was hoping you'd just scurry back up yer lil' web when I had shot ya, but ya fell instead and I'm mighty sorry about that," she told the spider. "Ya didn't hav'ta get involved, really ya didn't, and I thank ya fer catchin' mah friends… I'm so sorry yer legs broke like this, but I couldn't let ya eat em'… but I really was gonna let ya live," she went on, standing back up once the spider had quieted down. "Since ya did save em', and since it wouldn't be right to leave you broken on the ground like this… I'll make this quick, ok?"
Without another word, Lynn lifted the hatchet above her head. In one swift swing, she brought the blade down on the spider's head. A crack echoed out, the spider now silent, gone with a final twitch of its legs. The pair flinched at the sound. Having not looked away since the cat had started apologizing to the spider, they once again found themselves pitying something that had endangered them. A squelching sound followed the execution as the blade of the axe was pried from the spider. Lynn turned to the pair, who were stuck holding each other from the web binding them. Still without a word she walked up to them and began removing the silky web.
Judy broke the silence once the last of the web was removed, "…L-Lynn? Are you…are you o-"
The rabbit's question was cut short as Lynn pulled them both into a hug. Holding them close, she spoke softly, her voice cracking as though she were fighting back the desire to cry. "Please don't go… I only just met y'all yesterday… please don't leave me alone again…"
Judy felt her heart break at Lynn's words. She had entirely forgotten that the cat had been alone for years. All of her odd quirks, her strange behavior, and maybe even her excessive violence were nothing more than a byproduct of her isolation. Whether or not she had told the truth about being the only survivor mattered little, she wasn't well and she needed them. Slowly she brought her paw up, patting Lynn's back and returning the hug, Nick following suit.
After a minute had passed, Lynn let go of the pair, sniffling and wiping her eyes. "Come on y'all, it's gon' get dark soon, we gotta hustle," Lynn stated, passing the hatchet back to Nick. She parted some plants nearby and picked up the rest of the equipment, returning the machete to Judy as well.
Hastily the trio made their way through the brush, ignoring the rule of being quiet as the jungle grew steadily darker. Whatever it was that Lynn was hiding became a secondary matter, for now the pair chose to trust her. After the past few times their lives were saved, it was the least they could do, and they hoped in time that Lynn would trust them enough that she would tell them her secret.
A/N: Sorry guys, been way overworked as of late, and a car accident on top of that. But here it is, the next chapter, enjoy!