Chapter 3: Redemption


Gavin had every intention of avoiding the little green-hoodied duck and his/her brothers for the rest of his life, but fate saw fit to throw his nemesis back into his path again.

"Hey bro, it's that your little brobra over there?" Simon asked, adjusting his glasses as he peered through the trees. Trent and Kyle glanced up from the firepit, where they were roasting the hot dogs that they'd 'borrowed' from a campsite a few miles back.

"I don't care. Five years isn't long enough to avoid that little troublemaker," Gavin insisted, emptying the can of soda in his hands into his open mouth. Crushing it roughly, he flicked it aside, and leaned back against the log behind him, deliberately refusing to look at where his buddies were pointing.

"They really shouldn't be playing around on the cliff, bro. If they fall in the water, they're goin' right down the waterfall," Trent said, leaning closer for a better look.

"LOUIE!"

Gavin's ears perked up as his friends gasped loudly in shock.

"Your little brobra fell… in," Gavin heard Kyle say, but he was already on his feet. Racing to the edge of the cliff, he peered through the bushes in search of the ducks. Older, but still clad in red and blue, were the other two brothers. They were waving frantically from the top of the cliff along his side of the river, while another duck in a sailor suit raced around like a maniac. Glancing down at the water, the bigfoot caught sight of something green and white, before it was swallowed by the waterfall.

Growling, he dove off out of his hiding place, and into the icy water below. Swimming rapidly, he reached the base of the waterfall in only a few minutes. If he'd been paying attention, he would have heard the two ducks above him shouting "Tenderfeet!" Instead, he dove under the water, searching for the owner of the green hoodie. And there he was. Pushing himself deeper, he wrapped his arms around the little duck's limp body, and dragged him to the surface.


"Tenderfeet dove into the water, and saved Louie!" Huey cheered, leaping into the air with joy.

"Yeah, but how are we gonna get down there. There's no way to cross the river up here," Dewey insisted, gesturing to the rapid water.

The bigfoot waved at them from down below, still cradling Louie's unconscious body in his arms as he stood on the opposite bank. He pointed his big fingers along a natural path that led to a cave a short distance away.

"I think Tenderfeet is trying to tell us that he's taking Louie into that cave over there," the eldest triplet said, waving back at their giant friend. "Awwww, he really does like Louie."

"Comeonyouguys! There'sabridgeanhourback,soweneedtogo,now!" Uncle Donald shouted, throwing everything back into their car.

"Coming!"


Louie winced as he struggled to open his eyes, only to feel the light blazing into them. Closing them tightly, he took a deep breath, and tried opening them again. He was in some kind of rocky room… a cave, perhaps? A giant form was hunched over a small fire, holding HIS jacket close to it.

"My hoodie!" the duck cried, only to fall back to the ground after trying to stand up. The bigfoot turned his head, startled, but glanced away just as quickly.

"Stay there," the monster grumbled, turning the fabric over in his arms. "I'm not going to burn it."

"What… what happened?" Louie asked, sitting up slowly this time. Glancing down, he quickly crossed his arms over himself when he realized he was completely unclothed.

"You and your brothers were playing by the waterfall, and you fell in. Don't you know how dangerous that is? You could have died," Gavin stated firmly, glaring at the hoodie in his hands.

"But… I didn't die. YOU saved me. Wait, WHY did you save me?" the duck asked, eyeing the bigfoot curiously.

"I just did. So now we're even. I'm calling a truce from here on out," the creature announced, turning the garment again.

"Awwww… do you secretly like me?" Louie teased.

"Of course not. You're far too much trouble," Gavin persisted, refusing to turn around for any reason.

"Admit it, you like me. That's why you're drying my hoodie," the duck said, slowly getting to his feet. His chest still hurt from being underwater for so long, and he was feeling rather drained, but other than that, he was doing fine.

"Here, you're clothing is dry enough now. Put it…"

Louie grinned, interrupting the bigfoot when he threw his arms around the larger creature's neck from behind. "Thank you, Tenderfeet. You're a real sweetheart!"

"Agh! Put your clothes back on before grabbing me!" Gavin shouted, his face flushing a deep red as the little bird clung to his back.

"You liiiiike me," the duck repeated, hugging him almost tightly enough to choke. "Thank you," he whispered into the bigfoot's ear, before grabbing his clothing, and slipping away.

"Geesh," Gavin grumbled, listening to the little duck pulling on his hoodie.

"There, all dressed now," Louie insisted, taking a seat by the fire. Turning his head, he smiled up at the uncomfortable bigfoot. "Turns out that you're actually a pretty nice guy, Gavin."

"Of course, I am… You remember my name?" the creature asked, blinking at the little duck in shock.

"Yep," Louie said. "Alright then, I agree to your truce."

"And you won't tell your brothers I can talk?" Gavin stated, raising a brow at the duck.

"I don't say a word, promise. But I'd avoid the Drake mansion. My boyfriend really wants a pet bigfoot now," sighed Louie, shrugging his shoulders.

"Good to know. Your boyfriend is almost as scary as you are," the monster replied.

"Oh, believe me, I'm way scarier than him," the duck said, even as a dangerous smirk crossed over his face.

"Leaving you and your boyfriend alone," Gavin rushed to say.

"Thanks again for saving me. I mean it," Louie said, reaching out to touch the other man's hand.

Gavin felt his cheeks get warm again. "It was nothing. Don't mention it."

"LOUIE!"

Two nearly-identical ducks raced into the cave, throwing their arms around their brother.

"Guys, I'm fine. Tenderfeet saved me," Louie said, gesturing to the bigfoot.

Gavin let out a few grunts, even as the two older ducks threw their arms around him.

"Yousurehe'ssafe?" Donald asked, eyeing the bigfoot distrustfully.

"I promise, we're all safe. He won't hurt us, Uncle Donald," Louie insisted, letting his uncle pull him close.

" 'sgohome," the sailor insisted.

Gavin almost shouted a warning for them to avoid playing on the cliff, but kept his words to himself. Louie was well aware of the danger now, and wouldn't allow himself or his brothers to do something like that again. And thank goodness they had a truce now. He wouldn't have to worry about the little duck getting the best of him aga…

"Thanks again, Tenderfeet! Love you!" The little hoodie-wearing duck threw himself into the bigfoot's startled arms, pressing a beaked kiss to his cheek. Before Gavin even had a chance to react, he was racing out of the cave again.

"Geesh, that duck," Gavin sighed, rubbing his flushed cheek. He was going to be the death of him someday.


Note: And that's it, for this story. Hope everyone enjoyed reading it!