In this chapter a tragedy happens, so if you are very sensitive, grab some tissues.
Milo was turning 1 year old that day, so he and his sisters all decided to make a trip upstream to see if there was more food to find and eat. So all four, Aqua being all healed up, traveled up north by the access of the river that flowed into the lake.
Eventually they came to a waterfall and decided that there would be plenty of food above the waterfall, so they climbed up the rocks and came to the rapids before the waterfall roared over the side of the cliff.
The slid into the water and started shoveling with their bills in the mud. Around the large boulders in the water was the best spot to get worms, but the unfortunate part of this was the fact that every time they came close to getting something, their bill would scratch the rock and the prey would escape because of the sensitivity of their bill.
So after many failed attempts, they were tired of this, especially Aqua. Being a little impatient, she swam up steam a bit and on the shore found a container had been tipped over and worms were spilling out it. Aqua shuffled her way out of the water to go inspect the scene. Then she slid back in and swam back down to go tell the others.
"Hey, quit wasting your time! There's free food up here," Aqua called. "Follow me!" she splashed her tail to get their attention.
"Free food? That seems unlikely, there's going to be a consequence," Milo replied swimming after, the other sisters following.
They saw the worms still squirming around and immediately forgot their worries. The climbed up on the shore and started gulping down mouthfuls of worms.
Milo, who was still slightly on guard, heard heavy footsteps. "Guys, we should go," he chattered as he slid into the water. Aurora followed, but Terra and Aqua stayed on the shore.
The footsteps came closer.
"Guys…I mean girls," Milo insisted.
Aqua sighed, "Fine." She dived into the water.
"I'll be there in a moment, Milo," Terra said grabbing another mouthful of worms.
Suddenly, a large man rounded the corner to see Terra eating his bait. "Why you little scrawny little maggot!" he yelled running towards the platypus.
"Terra!" Milo called.
But the man got there first, he loped over and kicked Terra hard, sending her flying through the air and hitting a large boulder in the middle of the river. Then her motionless body slipped into the rushing water.
Milo swam as quickly as he could over to his sister, but the water brought her closer, closer to the edge. Milo was a yard away when…Terra slipped over the edge and into the cascading falls. He came to a halt, and though the strong current was pulling him, he stopped.
"Terra…" Milo whispered.
But she was gone. Over the falls. He shook his head, it's all my fault, he thought. Milo crawled up out up the water and scrambled down the waterfall with tears in his eyes, leaving his sisters behind.
When he reached the bottom, he jumped into the water, and headed back to the cave…no. Milo swam towards the shore. There he just laid himself on the beach and cried.
Milo was there for about an hour and a half when he heard footsteps. He didn't care. Do what you want with me, he said silently. Then the footsteps stopped. Milo popped open an eye and looked up to see, the triangle headed boy with fiery-red hair. He was a little older than when he first saw him, and just behind him was a girl with red hair, not as bright as the boy's but still eye-catching.
"Hey, Candace."
"What Phineas?" the girl replied sharply.
"What's that?" he asked pointing at Milo.
"A smelly platypus, why?"
"I like him can we take him home?"
"That thing? I don't care just keep it away from me!" the girl named Candace replied.
Phineas stood for a minute. "What does it eat?"
"Worms. Hurry up!" Candace growled.
The boy dug in the sand and found a worm he offered it to Milo.
The platypus heard his stomach growl he was reminded that he hadn't eaten very much. Phineas came a little closer. Milo didn't want to get up. The boy came a little closer so that he was a foot and a half away from Milo's head. Milo chattered. Phineas backed up a little.
"Oh, just give it the worm!" Candace yelled.
Phineas slid next to Milo and crouched. "It's okay boy," he said soothingly. "I won't hurt you." he began to pet Milo's back, and it felt good.
Milo made a deep chatter.
"Candace he's purring!" Phineas called.
"Yeah, yeah, let's go!"
Phineas grabbed Milo around the middle and picked him up. At first it felt strange, but he became used to it.
Phineas gave him the worm and told him "Good boy," then carried him off.
Milo forgot all about what had just occurred. He was content, and starting a whole new chapter in his life.
Well, that was chapter 3. I hope you liked it. I loved writing it. J
