Chapter 11

La Selva Tropical Part 1

(If this story and it's plot twists are confusing you and making it feel like you don't know what to expect anymore, then that makes me happy because it's doing exactly what I wanted it to do. The reason this story has so many plot twists is so you don't really know what to expect, that way when something happens it might suprise you a little more and make this story more exciting. So don't worry, I promise all that you've made it through most, if not all of the confusion so far. All that's left is covering Sytik and Fajor's counterattacks and the ending of the story ^^)

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Narrator

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"Traitor. Wake up."

Makal groaned and rolled over, opening his eyes and looking up at the familiar figure of Ikla.

"Why are you asleep on the floor when you've got a pile of hay?"

Makal looked over his shoulder at the egg. He placed it on the hay and left it there.
"Because it's occupied."
Ikla laughed a little. "You fool. It is an egg, do you believe treating it well will pay off somehow?"

Makal looked back up at Ikla. "I guess I do."

Ikla fell silent, and turned to walk away. He dropped an apple on the ground and walked out the cell door, locking it and taking a seat. Makal had to resist drooling at the sight of the apple.
"Master says you are to get your normal rations tomorrow morning."
Makal held the two apples in his hands, and looked at Ikla. Ikla was busying himself with a book.

"I do not understand why my time must be spent watching you like a child."
Makal did not respond, only popping the apple into his mouth and listening.

"It is night, the guards have switched shifts... and my free time is cut short to watch a fool do what he can to make an egg comfortable. It's stronger than it looks, you know."

Makal shook his head. "It's an egg, Ikla. Eggs cannot be strong."

Ikla stood up and unlocked the cell door, shutting it and walking to the egg.

"Fool. Watch this."

Ikla picked the egg up, and smashed his fist against it, causing no damage. Then, he dropped it to the ground, but Makal stopped it. His tongue shot out of his mouth and grabbed the egg, and he placed it gently on the hay once more. Ikla was unmoved. Makal stared at him.

"You're quite possibly the most dense being in this fort," said Ikla.
"I love you too, Ikla," said Makal. Ikla kicked the yoshi, and tried to look angry, but he was really trying to stifle laughter. Makal easily heard him, and smiled through his pain.

"Ikla," coughed Makal. "If you can laugh at my jokes... then why must you hit me so?"

Ikla knelt down. "Because it will show you your place, traitor."

Makal struggled again, turning to face his friend.

"I am not a traitor. And I know my place," said Makal. Ikla did not move. "Is that so?"

"I am equal to you in my own eyes... but you see me differently. That is your problem. I still believe that I'm no different from you... and I still feel that you are my friend."

Ikla said nothing for a long while. He turned away.

"Why don't you see me as a friend, Ikla? Is it because of what your Master says?"
Ikla looked back at Makal.

"No matter what he says, Ikla... I've seen right through your ruses. You kick me so much, shout at me, and toss my food on the floor. I know you're making it seem like you hate me. But if I am wrong, strike me once again."

Ikla did not turn back. He did not reguard Makal's statement. Instead, he left the cell, locked it, and sat down again. Makal, meanwhile, picked up the egg, and began staring out the window. He silently grunted. The Hashashins wouldn't even get poor Makal some shoes, and the cold, hard stone floor hurt his bare feet beyond measure.

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"...well, alright. Alright, Fajor. You can help, but remember that after we finish, you must tell Gregor who you are."
Fajor sighed. Sytik and Kai had been arguing with him since he told them his secret, and they had to reach a compromise before anyone tried to help Lila. It was getting dark, and Fajor's head still pounded as if it were bright.

Both yoshis were waved off from Kai with their weaponry, and they drew away from the village. Sytik was silent, and finally Fajor turned his head to look at the younger yoshi.

"Sytik."
"Huh."
"Your sword should be your last resort. These Hashashins carry small bombs, and they will blow themselves up unless you deliver a mortal blow. We don't want the entire Hashashin army to know that we are there."

Sytik only nodded. Fajor lead him through the trees and brush, and turned his head to look at him again.
"When we get there, we'll be splitting up for a while. I am going to kill the leader of the group."

Sytik finally turned his head to acknowledge his companion's existance.
"Why?"
Fajor chuckled. "Beating their leader will be like beating them all at once. If I get rid of him, the Hashashins will back off."
"Or they'll strike back at us."

Fajor fell silent briefly, and started talking again.

"It's a risk that I'm willing to bet our village on. I'm certain that this will work."

Sytik nodded. "Yes, Fajor. It isn't like we have anything to lose."
Fajor stopped Sytik, knocked his sword to the floor, and shoved him to the ground, too. He placed his foot on top of Sytik's back, and spoke through clenched teeth.

"I understand that you think what I did was filthy, but I did it for my family. What's done is done, but no matter what, I am the elder here, and I am your teacher. Now, you will treat me with respect, and I will treat you with the same."

Sytik said nothing; he was too scared. Fajor took his foot off of Sytik's back, and started walking.

"And don't be too scared of me, or you'll never make it out of the Hashashin's camp alive."

Sytik stood up, and grabbed his sword. He kept walking, but didn't make eye contact with Fajor. He wasn't angry, but he was scared now, for two reasons:
-Fajor rarely got violent with the yoshis.

-He just got beaten up by an old yoshi, of all kinds!

"F...Fajor?"

"Yes, Sytik?"

"I'm... I'm sorry. I just... I'm stressed. My child has been taken from me."
Fajor nodded. "It's okay. I know. Believe me when I saw I know what being a father can feel like sometimes."

Sytik and Fajor fell silent, and the Hashashin's fortress was before them. It was a large brown, castle like building, standing surrounded by guards. The Hashashin's Fortress was large, but Sytik and Fajor could make out a fenced in area under a set of windows on the fortress.

Fajor and Sytik hid in the bushes, and waited for the guards to pass. Then, both of them ran into the grounds, and Fajor dove to the ground, Sytik following. Fajor's body blended in with the greyish ground (even his grey saddle), and Sytik's body was concealed in the dark. A guard stopped in front of Fajor, and the yoshi stopped breathing. His eyes shut, and he began listening.

"I cannot wait to be let off for the night."
Fajor heard another voice. The danger scale in his mind registered both new combatants.

"Yes, I hear the storms are supposed to come again. I wonder if Ikla has killed our prisoner. I have to say, Master should have used a different brother to guard him, not his ex-partner."

"Brother, are you going against Master's plans? I could report this to him, you know."
Both Hashashins laughed, and one began walking away. The other stayed in front of Fajor. The yoshi's eyes shot open, and looked up at the Hashashin.

"Cards after we both get off, brother!"

"An excellent idea!"

The other Hashashin walked away, and the first turned. Fajor sprung to his feet, and stabbed the enemy through the torso. Then, he jerked the sword upwards, and the Hashashin crumbled, his bones littering the floor.

"No cards for you," whispered Fajor. He swept the bones into the brush and signaled for Sytik to follow. Both yoshis ran forward again, and Fajor slid on his knees behind a few crates. Sytik followed suite. Fajor's eyes looked over the crates, and he saw that the main doorway was guarded by two Hashashins. Both of them had bows, and could easily have taken the yoshis down.

But, neither Hashashin noticed their presence. Both yoshis had come from the side, rather than head on.

Fajor eliminated the main doors, and looked for a secondary route. He spotted another door, but it was guarded by another Hashashin with a bow. Fajor looked around some more, and saw that there was a door on the fenced area, and the only security on it was a lock. Both yoshis carefully navigated their ways to the door, and Fajor picked the lock using the tip of his sword. Fajor had to rely on something other than skill for his move:

Dumb luck.

He picked the lock, and both yoshis walked in the door. Sytik shut it.

"I wonder why this door isn't guarded," remarked Sytik. Fajor gasped. Sytik turned to see what Fajor gasped at, and a hand smacked over his mouth.

It was Fajor's hand. Sytik felt a scream explode inside him, but not a peep came out of his mouth.

They were in a Chain Chomp pit. But, interestingly, the three Chain Chomps in the pit did nothing when the yoshis walked in. It was almost as if...
"They are asleep. The slightest sound may wake them. I think we should-"

A voice interrupted Fajor's whispering.

"What is this door doing unlocked? Hmph!"

The source of the voice locked the door, and walked away.

Fajor continued.

"I can get us through this, Sytik. But, you have to move exactly as I do. Exactly as I do. Act as if your life depends on it, because it kind of does," whispered Fajor. He tiptoed through the area, giving the Chain Chomps plenty of room. As he walked toward a wall, he looked up and saw iron bars covering a window. It was a prison. Fajor knew that his hatchling would be in the prison. But, he couldn't make a noise to let the new yoshi know he was there, or he'd risk alerting the Chain Chomps, or any guards in the area... if any guard in his right mind would be in the Chain Chomp pit.

Fajor tiptoed to a wooden support beam, and smiled.

He could climb it. He turned to face Sytik.
"Wait here," he whispered. He climbed up the wooden beam, and grabbed the rocky wall, bringing himself up the side. He peered through a window, and Makal's face was directly in front of his. He almost fell in suprise, but kept where he was. Makal didn't even flinch.

"Hello," whispered Makal. Fajor nodded. "I'm here-"
"I know why you're here. You want..."
Makal held up the blue and purple spotted egg. "This."

Fajor smiled. "Yes."
Makal smiled back. "I'd give it to you, but..."

He turned his head to look at Ikla, then turned back to Fajor.
"I can't squeeze it through the bars."
Fajor nodded. "Yes, I understand. I'll find my way inside, then."

Makal nodded back, and turned away. Fajor carefully climbed down, and gently placed his feet back on solid ground again.

"What's up there?" whispered Sytik.

Fajor smiled. "Your egg."

End of Chapter 11

Sorry for the longish wait, I got sick 0.0

It's getting interesting now! Fajor and Sytik are stuck in the Chain Chomp pit... 0.0

But, Lila is so close!

Now I feel bad for Salminar, he isn't seen much anymore... =(

Anyway, we're almost done. A few more chapters are left, and I will make a sequel. Again, I promise you guys have passed the last plot twist!

I hope you enjoy! ^^