Beast Boy's Past and Future
Chapter Two
"Chauncy!" called the boy. He moved a leafy tree branch out of his way and walked through. "Here, boy!"
He heard a low whine, then a yelp of pain. "Chauncy?" The young boy found himself in a clearing, and Chauncy, his German Shepherd, lay still in a puddle of blood.
"Chauncy!" Garfield cried. He ran over to him and tried to decide if he should stay with him or run and get help. Garfield looked for the wound to see how bad it was. His mother had trained him to do this when someone was hurt, even though he was only six.
There was a deep, ragged bite on Chauncy's side. His fur was matted with blood all around the wound. Garfield looked around. There was not very much light to begin with when he wandered into the rain forest, but he could tell the sun was setting fast. Chauncy would bleed to death before he got back; that he was sure of.
Instead, Garfield stayed and took off his jacket. He used it to try to stop Chauncy's bleeding. The dog breathed heavily and raspily. After a few minutes, it began to slow. Garfield knew it was bad; Chauncy was dying. He began to cry when Chauncy took his last breath. He sat, feeling sorry for himself because he couldn't save his best friend.
His parents were American scientists studying genetic diseases in South America to help find cures for them. His father knew a little of the natives' language, but his mother and Garfield didn't know any. Therefore, Garfield couldn't speak with the other children, and couldn't understand the rules of their games.
He heard a rustling noise, but ignored it. It was probably just a curious sloth. The rustling came more frequently and louder until Garfield couldn't ignore it any longer. He turned around to find the source of it. Nothing behind him. Nothing to the right. Nothing in front of him. He turned to look left.
A monkey screeched and jumped onto Garfield from behind. Garfield screamed in pain as the monkey tore into his shoulder with its teeth. It screeched again and did a sort of dance around the collasped boy. It was hairier than the average monkey-- and green. Garfield clutched in shoulder in agony, tears streaming from his eyes.
He woke up in a soft bed. Something cool touched his forehead, and he jumped slightly. "Garfield..." said a soft voice. Garfield tried to focus his eyes. He found his mother. She was stroking his matted, brown hair.
There was a knock at the door. His father went to answer it, and came back with a strangely dressed man. Garfield's mother stood when he entered the room and went to stand with her husband to leave room for the man to examine Garfield.
He touched Garfield gently, looking him over thoroughly. He examined his tightly wrapped shoulder last. When he touched the wound, Garfield gasped and passed out from the pain. The man took one look at the bite and began to pack up his tools, shaking his head.
"Sakutia," he said.
"Sakutia is nothing but a myth, Doctor," Garfield's father said. The doctor shook his head again.
"There's nothing more I can do," he said.
His mother cried out softly and buried her face into her husband's shoulder. Garfield lay on the bed, breathing laborously and slowly. He was beginning to come to again. "Please, Doctor," insisted his father. "There has to be something." The doctor sighed.
"Well... There is one thing," he whispered.
"Mommy..." Garfield whimpered quietly. He took a struggling breath and shook his head feverishly. His mother went to him to comfort him.
"But it's much too dangerous," the doctor continued, looking around nervously. "It's still untested."
"That's a risk we're willing to take," his father countered. "He's our only son, and we will protect him at all costs."
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Garfield moaned and rolled over onto his side. He could hear murmering voices somewhere.
"But why is he--" murmered a voice. Garfield couldn't make out the rest of what they were saying, but could hear bits of the conversation here and there.
"Untested!"
There was a bang from the door as the doctor stormed out of the house. Garfield tried to sit up, but felt much too heavy to move.
"Don't try to move, son," said his father. "Everything will be all right." Garfield opened his eyes to look at his dad. He couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw tears on his face.
"My poor baby," cried his mother, burying her face in her hands. She sobbed, her shoulders heaving.
"What's wrong, Mommy?" Garfield asked, reaching out to her. He stopped short when he realized what his parents where upset about. His skin was green.