Ben's eyes were closed, little glimpses of light occasionally fell upon his eyelids giving his sight a somewhat red hue. The suns rays were beginning to disturb his slumber causing him to toss in turn a little bit, but something warm and soft constricted his movements.
His mind suddenly clicked from another memory not his own. (Bens Wildmutt in this memory)
Large brown vines stretched and clung to the almost lifeless trees surrounding him, almost like they were feeding of them but also keeping them alive. Orange and purple flowers were scattered every growing out of the vines. Dirt was being kicked up and flung every as he struggled to break free of a thin green tendril wrapped around his legs.
He would've reached down and try to swipe at them with his claws but it jerked him around too much for him to even try. The tendril was protruding from a large closed flower bulb that was green.
Ben's body was dragged closer to it until he grabbed onto some thick tree roots, terrified to get any closer to the vary thing constricting him. It gave a clicking growl in irritation. He was only ten feet from the flower bulb when it began to open and let out a disgusting hissing and groaning noise.
The inside of it was bright yellow with red around a hole that the tendril originated from. Sharp spikes poked out of the leafy maul, there use intended for holding its prey still as it slowly consumed it. Slimy mucus sprayed out of its mouth as it jerked around trying to bring Ben closer to his doom and it closer to its meal.
"NO! Let me go! It can't end like this it just cant!" Ben was screaming in his mind in hopeless defiance.
The roots he was holding on gave a low groan from the force pulling it until it snapped. Ben was in the predatory plants grasp in less then a second and he began to scream in pain as the mucus burned his skin and the spikes dug into his flesh.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!"
Ben screamed from where he laid. (out of dream so is now regular Ben)
He thrashed inside his confinement until he was released and threw what ever was wrapped around him away. He began to run but tripped and fell off of what ever he was on. He didn't have enough time to investigate his surroundings while he fled.
He got up and swiftly ran across the soft ground into the corner of the smooth walls. There he just sat on the ground hugging his legs close as he tried to blend into the wall as best he could. His heart was beating like crazy and felt like it was inside his throat, he gave a large swallow as if that would return it to where it should've been. Ben's eyes darted everywhere in a frenzy trying to figure out where he was.
He was in a small room with red carpeted floors and a big blue bed. A window sat above the bed with sunlight feeding through the blinds. The walls were also painted blue and strait across from Ben was a door. Its knob began to jiggle before it turned and was swung wide open.
"What happened? Is everything alright?"
There stood a man in white shorts and a shirt with a little blue anchor sowed above the right shirt pocket. He had brown hair and eyes and looked about twenty five.
He took notice of Ben in the corner and slowly walked up to him "hey your awake. Are you ok?"
Ben couldn't believe it. He was in society again! He could go home and see his family again! He didn't need to struggle to survive anymore. He would've physically shown how ecstatic he was but there was a problem. He felt terrified just being in the same room with another human being.
The man was even closer now until he was stopped from a call outside the room "Rick! Where are you? The captain wants to know if the boy we found is awake yet." By the sound of it the person was a woman.
The man now known as Rick turned around and called back "Yeah he's awake. Get the captain and the doctor in here."
Ben stopped hugging his legs and got up into a crouching position with his back pushing into the corner. His mind wasn't thinking as clear as it use to be. Instincts screamed in his head to get away but his rational side said to stay and let them help him. He was almost literally a scared cornered animal.
Rick noticed Ben tense up and tried to sooth him "Hey it's ok. I'm not gunna hurt ya."
Ben didn't know what to say back to him. He just stood up on wobbly not use to being in alien form for so long. He looked at Rick from top to bottom, analyzing how he carried himself and his muscular build. This habit began whenever he went hunting to check if the prey was manageable to take down or even worth it.
Rick did a little evaluating himself. When they found Ben he was face first in sand and was only wearing a ripped up pair of green shorts and a watch on his left wrist. He had quit a body for a young teen to have, not big muscles but was built like a runner. Defined muscle on his arms and legs, little body fat, and sleek abdomen equipped with a two pack bordering three. His dark brown hair hung long and untamed. A dark scar laid over his right green eye along with others on the back of his neck and three on his chest. To Rick the boy he was looking at almost seemed feral.
After there little examinations of each other Ben decided Rick wasn't dangerous and put up a hesitant hand shaking it in a 'hello' gesture. Ben moved his lips to form words, but it almost felt unnatural to speak English again.
Rick noticed Ben trying to talk but before he could a group of footsteps were heard from the doors entrance. Three people walked in one was a woman with blonde hair and onyx eyes wearing the same clothes as Rick, a man with combed back black hair and glasses in a doctors jacket, and the last was a bald man with a scruffy gray beard with white pants, jacket, and a sailor hat. He was obviously the captain.
The Captain spoke with a deep almost booming voice "Ahhhhh I see that the lad is finally awake."
"I was starting to think he would never wake up" the blonde pitched in.
Ben just stared at them with cold untrusting eyes. He didn't know why the feeling of relief after being found hadn't come. Maybe because he was thinking more on the terms of an animal than he originally would have.
What Ben could see was that he was outnumbered and cornered in a room in a place he didn't know the layout of. Ben flexed his legs and eyed the window as a possible escape route.
The doctor eyed Ben with caution "Captain sir, we might have a problem." his voice made him sound like he was born to b a natural ass.
The Captain noticed Ben's actions too and tried to settled him down "now hold on son, were not gunna hurt ya."
Ben wasn't going to listen to them and was about to take action until the doctors words stopped him, "I'm sure your little friend wouldn't appreciate it if you went up and left her like that."
This caused Ben to give them his undivided attention. He completely forgot about Kat till now. Ben forced his lips to function correctly, almost growling out his words.
"Where's Kat. What did you do to her." Ben finally spoke with a scratchy growling voice.
The doctor sneered at Ben's attitude and was about to voice his displeasure, but the Captain beat him to it. Not wanting to cause any conflict "She's fine, we just patched her up of a few cuts and scratches. Don't worry she's in the room next door sound asleep, like I said were not gunna hurt you kids we just want to help ya."
Ben calmed down a bit, but he still kept his guard up. He wanted to trust them, but his natural instinct he gained because of the circumstances while on the island wouldn't allow it.
The blonde kneeled down a couple feet away from him and spoke with a sweet tone "Do you want to see your friend, Kat, was it?"
"I don't suggest we do that. Both of them need their rest," The doctor gave a few sniffs and made a sour face "and a bath."
Normally Ben hated baths, but having one sounded like heaven right now. He was about to take him up on the offer till something finally registered in his mind "wait, Kat is a big panther. Why would they have brought her on board and talk so idly about her?" He needed to figure this out.
"Take me to Kat" It was more of an order than a question.
The Doc still didn't like Ben's attitude. "We are the adults here and I say you need to rest" he said seriously. Ben glared at him and the doctor glared back.
The Captain placed a hand on the Doc's shoulder "It's fine Mr. Errigo, we'll take him to see his friend. He's more than likely worried about her."
Dr. Errigo just mumbled to himself and began to leave the room. The blonde woman stood up and whispered to Rick "Why'd you want me to bring him again?"
Rick just sighed and Whispered back quietly for Ben wouldn't hear "he wanted me to tell him when one of them woke up, to check on their mental state. Who knows how long they were there."
"I guess that's a good idea, but why does he have to act so bitter all the time?" the woman asked. Which Rick could only shrug his shoulders to answer.
Ben was glad that man was gone, but started becoming impatient "could you please take me to see Kat."
The Captain give a warm smile "sure follow us, but could you do us a favor?"
Ben gave a hesitant nod of his head. The Captain continued "after we see her could you take a bath? I would have to agree with Dr. Errigo that you need one and badly at that. We don't want any of the passengers complaining about the smell."
Ben gave a little smirk "as much as I hate to admit it I do need one." The Captain gave a hearty laugh and led Ben out the door to the next room, Presumably where Kat was.
On the way Ben encountered some difficulty while walking. During the last couple of months he had been running on all fours after becoming so accustom in doing so it was a challenge in itself to walk on only two legs again. The Captain said he probably hadn't gained his sea legs yet, but Ben knew it was more complicated than that. He felt almost like a newborn baby horse, wobbling around trying to find his bearings and such.
The blonde woman, he now knew as Stacey, told Ben that both him and Kat had been out for two days. That was apparently long enough for gossip to pass around about the 'feral children' that were found on the island which earned him a couple of curios stares. It wasn't as inaccurate as some people thought it was.
When they reached the room holding Kat. Shuffling of fabric was heard as Rick pulled out a employee card key and swiped it into the mechanism holding the door closed. He turned the doorknob and swung open the door.
Ben ran, rather stumbled, into the room before the door was fully opened. Not being able to wait any longer to see if Kat was alright. While he stumbled in he tripped and fell in front of a bed "dammit, now I think I know what a drunk feels like."
Ben used the edge of the bed as support to bring himself back up on his feet and what he saw on the bed almost made his heart skip a beat. Laying on the bed was a dark tan skinned girl with shoulder length black hair. She was wearing a white stocking cap and was tucked under the beds blue covers.
He quietly stood up and stepped backward to the door way where the other three occupants were. "I think you might have made a mistake," he whispered out "that's not Kat."
The three of them looked at Ben with confusion "We found her with you when we sailed ashore with one of our lifeboats" the captain said.
"You don't understand," Ben answered " Kat's a panther that a met on the island and she was the one with me last before I past out."
Rick and Stacey looked at Ben like he grew a second head. However the Captain stroked his beard and looked at Ben with interest. Something shiny on Ben's wrist caught his eye and he finally noticed the Omnitrix which he rose his eyebrows in surprise.
The Captain brought a fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. The loud noise caught Rick's and the others attention "If you two don't mind I would like to talk to the lad alone." He said with a bit of authority.
Rick and Stacey gave Ben another strange look before leaving and shutting the door behind them. It was captains orders.
They began there walk back to there assigned jobs on the ship. The rubber thumps of shoes meeting wood could be heard as they passed by customers that were enjoying themselves on the cruise liner. One not liking the silenced decided to strike up conversation.
Stacey turned to Rick and gave her two scents about the boy they saved while he wasn't around like every person in the world does "What a strange kid. Why would he be with, or even wanna be with such a dangerous animal?"
Rick shrugged and continued walking forward, "how should I know? But he is a strange one, but it was pretty smart of him to use a little signal fire while we were passing by."
"Little? He burned down almost half the damn island! I kind of wonder if the boys sane or not."
Ken finally turned to face her "what's up with you? You were trying to be nice to him a second ago. What's with the sudden change of attitude?"
Stacey scoffed "because our boss was there. If I acted they way I usually do I probably would've been fired awhile ago. But come on, he's been secluded on a island for maybe years who knows how wild he is. We should probably keep an eye on him to make sure he stays out of trouble."
Rick could only sigh and shrug his shoulders, not really wanting to get in the middle of all that's happened.
"and another thing! Stop shrugging your shoulders! I hate it when you don't give me a strait answer!"
Rick could only shrug his shoulders again which earned him a punch in the arm. Rick began to giggle, "She's too easy to mess with."
Ben watched as the door closed and heard it make a light click "Benjirman Kirby Tennison" that made Ben freeze in his place. "How does he know my name? I don't remember telling him." He slowly turned his head till he was facing the Captain. He stared at Ben with a blank expression that almost seemed like he was made of stone.
Ben was reaching for his Omnitrix till a boisterous hearty laugh stopped him dead in his tracks. This further confused Ben of the Captains possible intentions.
"You've caused a lot of ruckus since you disappeared a year and a half ago. Max will be ecstatic when he hears that his grandson is alive." The Captain said with a face splitting smile adorning his face.
This confused Ben even further "who the hell is Ma-" his thoughts stopped prematurely when the name finally clicked and bombarded his brain with a onslaught of memories. "You know my Grandpa!" Ben yelled till he clamped his hands over his mouth. Almost forgetting that there was a girl sleeping in the room.
This set the Captain off into another fit of laughter "don't worry Ben I doubt she will wake up any time soon, and yes I know your Grandfather very well." He said through his fit. When he calmed down enough he continued his explanation "I'm an old friend of his. We met while on a mission when we still were Plumbers and he has told me a lot about you."
Ben was still confused though his trust in the man increased significantly "wait, is this the same ship I fell overboard of and how'd you know my name?" he asked.
"yep, funny thing how things work isn't it? And like I said, your Grandpa told me a lot about you, that includes the Omnitrix connected to your wrist. He even showed me a picture of you, but it took me a while to figure out it was you since you look different now." He said, pointing at the watch as if it was obvious. "By the way my name's Allen MacArther it's pleasant to finally meet you." Allen stuck out his hand and Ben understanding the action hesitantly stuck out his own and gave him a firm handshake.
After the formalities Ben gave a grateful sigh. It was good, no great, relief to be talking to a fellow Plumber of his Grandpa's. He could get in contact with his family now with his help. It was infuriating to him to end up on the same ship he fell off of though "But were is Kat?"
Ben was broken from his thoughts by the Captain voice "If you don't mind me ask'n, how'd you get those scars? You didn't have em in the pictures."
Ben uncomfortably shifted his feet and decided to change the subject, not wanting to talk about his experience in that 'mini hell' he now dubbed it. "I-It's not important, but could you please tell me what happened to Kat?"
"The only other person with ya was cat girl here" he said, walking up to the bundle in the bed.
This made Ben tilt his head, wondering about the captains odd words. That is until the man took off the girls stocking hat. On the top of her head was a pair of small black ears that looked a lot like…
"KAT!"
(A/N: Sorry for the wait. I knew where I was gunna take the story, just not how to put it on paper. When I did know what to do I got lazy and just thought fuck it.
But after I checked up on my story I was surprised to see the increase of reviews and you guys wanting me to continue. So I'm back!….Again!
Well I'll start on the next chapter now and hopefully this computer doesn't SCREW ME OVER! The things a mess. I pretty much have kept it working by, what I like to call, 'Frankensteining' it.)
Computer- Buuuuuuuuuzzzzzzzzz
Me- What are you doing?
Computer- Buuuuuuuzzzzzz, Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Error
Me- No! Fuck you! Put the wires back in now! I created you! stop it!
Computer- ERROR! ERROR! MRRUUUURN!
Me- NO! NOOO! *CRASH* NOOOOOOO!
P.S. Sorry again for the little inconvenience of me not updating. Also sorry for the thing I typed above this. I couldn't help my self to not put it in.