Three times the island had rotated by this point. Three times Team One had to climb up a tree for safety. Three times they discovered a new flavor of fruit. Chocolate chip cookie, pumpkin pie, and roasted salmon. Luffy had stocked up on as many meat flavored fruits as he could carry. He had a few stuffed in his mouth, chewing on what he could and swallowing a little at a time. Usopp had a huge sack filled with the three different flavors they had found. Robin was clear of any baggage besides her own small bag.
"I think it's time we head back to the ship. We're carrying as much as we can." Robin stopped and turned to the other two. Usopp raised a brow and huffed. He knew their friend could carry something.
"Are you willing to help pick up some other fruits?" He asked almost out of breath. His sack was getting heavier by the second.
"I think we have enough. And I don't have anything that could carry all that much." She smiled and began walking back. "This island has moved four times since we landed, so we just head back the same way we came." Okay, if that's the case then, which way did we come from exactly? Luffy nodded and then followed Robin. He was confident in her observations. Usopp was a bit uneasy, but at the same time shared a bit of Luffy's confidence. He looked around through the skinny trunks, trying to peer through the fog that began to rise up to their knees. He gulped; some thing seems a bit off. The air's still. Not that they were getting a lot of wind in the first place, but the atmosphere was much… more off than before. Usopp didn't want to seem like a chicken at this point.
The trio trudged on. The fog was rising even more. Where the hell is all this coming from? The sun's out, the weather's perfect, but here it's as if the temperature is dropping at a very slow rate. He rubbed his arms. Luffy's straw hat bobbed before him. He watched it sway when Luffy turned his head. That hat, Luffy's treasure. He smiled while reminiscing on past times. The crackling of a leaf sounded behind him. Usopp stopped and turned to see what had done it. They were the only three there as far as he could see. He examined the ground, kneeling and feeling for a crushed leaf's remains. Another crack! from some distance away. He stood and searched for a face, a figure, or some sort of movement.
"Oi, Usopp! Why'd you stop?" Luffy called some feet away. The captain's voice had caused Robin to stop and turn to her younger friends. She wondered what the hold-up was. They had less than fifteen minutes to get back to the ship before the island moved again. The sniper didn't answer. He pulled out his sling shot and kept his eyes glued on the trees. Luffy came up behind him, frightening him somewhat to where he twitched, but kept his eyes glued on what was before him. Luffy followed his gaze and blinked. He saw nothing. "What are you looking at?" He questioned. Maybe Usopp was being weird again, or pulling some stunt. He didn't believe the marksman would just sit there for no reason. Maybe he was worried about something? Robin also joined them just to look at what they seemed to be so riveted by.
A sound of something moving behind the hundreds of trees. Something's following us. I knew it. The sniper aimed forward. Luffy knew some action needed to taken if Usopp was ready to hit whatever was out there. He got ready to attack, Robin on the other side just braced for impact. A number of leaves were stepped on, but the direction it came from was clear for the sniper. He flung his ammunition straight ahead; whatever was there was hit right on the mark. Good, I got it! Low growling, stomping noses.
"I believe you upset whatever it is." Robin said. She's joking at a time like this! Mentally grimacing, Usopp held his ground. Luffy grinned.
"Maybe it's a really huge animal! Shi shi, I can't wait to meet it!" Well duh, he doesn't seem to mind the danger. A gigantic paw slammed against one of the trunks. The three had to pick their heads up and marvel at the new comer. This beast wasn't the average black bear. Standing at what seemed like 30 feet at the very least, was a huge black monster with a kangaroo-like pouch; on the pouch was a splattered egg where Usopp had hit. On the inside, there were plentiful numbers of fruits. Different kinds of colors rolling over each. Luffy had spotted a few red ones and grinned. "Oh! Some meat ones!" This isn't the time for that! Usopp mentally screamed. The animal lowered itself, bending just enough to see the three tiny people in front of it.
"You provoked it," Robin turned to Usopp. He turned in her direction and waved in protest.
"I-I can see that! But I didn't think it was that big!" The animal began to growl. It bent down further so that its muzzle was just a little over head the others. Luffy placed his fists on his hips, standing proudly as the beast sniffed his head. He giggled and tilted his head. Usopp shivered, trying to remain calm. Almost impossible, he thought. The huge nose moved over to Usopp's head, sniffing him and huffing in his face. The pressure threw him back some steps. Robin stayed still as the beast smelled her too. Raising its head, it grumbled, realizing it was only humans that disrupted its food scavenging.
"Hey! Mr. Kangeroo!" Luffy shouted. "You have some meat fruits in your pouch! I want some!" He stepped closer, Usopp placing a hand quickly on Luffy's shoulder. It's more of a bear. There's no point in stopping him. He'll just keep on going. But, he may start up trouble with this thing! Stop him at all cost! We just wanna get back to the boat! Luffy turned to his comrade and smiled. He peeled the marksman's hand off and kept on walking. "Captain's orders, just keep walking. I'll catch up with you both later." He said and stopped when some feet away from the beast's feet. Mission failed. This idiot…
"Come now, Mr. Long Nose." Robin said and began back on the trail they came from. Usopp had to take a moment to think of what to do. Follow orders, or stay with his captain and try to talk some sense to him. He knew he could trust Luffy to stay alive, but he couldn't trust him to be smart about it and not cause trouble. This was a hectic mental battle that he couldn't help but worry on. "Mr. Long Nose?" What if Robin ran into trouble? She'd be able to defend herself, but there was no guarantee she'd live like Luffy would. He huffed, looking up at the monster that stared Luffy down. He gulped once more and slowly followed after Robin.
Luffy… you're gonna raise hell. I just know it. The straw hat was far off in less than a minute. The figure could barely be seen in less than five. Robin kept her eyes forward, seemingly fine. Usopp observed his friend, wondering what she was thinking. He didn't want to know. At the same time, he was very interested. Footsteps…fast footsteps catching up with them. Usopp turned, seeing Luffy jogging towards them.
"Run!" He screamed. The giant monster was not too far from him, roaring as loud as a deafening horn. Faltering, Usopp began running once Luffy had passed them. Robin followed after, the three nearly escaping a giant foot.
"What the hell did you do?" Usopp yelled. The captain only giggled, carrying a few more red fruits than before. "Did you steal them from it?"
"Well, he didn't wanna share! So I took some." Luffy answered. This IDIOT. I knew he'd make a mess of things! There was no time to argue. The booming impact of the monster's feet caused the ground to shake. More than once Luffy tripped over his own feet. "Robin! Which way?"
"Keep heading straight." Luffy looked at the bundle of fruits he carried then back at the monstrous feet. He couldn't lead the beast to the ship, otherwise they'd have to set sell and leave the others on this island.
"We gotta lose this thing! We can't go back to the ship just yet!" Luffy commanded.
"Are you crazy? Once on the ship we could—"
"Set sail, yeah! But the others would be left here with this thing on it. And it'd probably get us before we could set sail! So we have to lose it, and fast!" Luffy looked up at the trees, that'd be a useless move. This bear-like beast was almost as tall as the trees themselves. He'd spot them in a second. No caves, nor rocks to hide behind. Their only way to hide was to just lose the beast and wait till it calmed. "Everyone, turn right!"