Hey everyone Stooge Man's back! Another long wait and yet you all waited so patiently for me, I really appreciate it. I've finally finished trade school back in April, I've been back home living the sweet life, I've spent a weekend vacation in Kalahari, and right now I'm just finding things to do to keep me busy. And again, so many stories to catch up (if you know what it feels like?) Anyway thank-you White Hunter with another brilliant idea for the next chapter so just sit back, relax, and enjoy the chapter!
P.S. just a heads-up this chapter will contain some sad/powerful scenes including strong mayhem.
After knocking out the last of the Howlers the wolves started cowering back in fear as the herd, both animal and human, stood together as one. Rowan, Minho, and Newt stood in triumph holding their weapons in place; Manny, Ellie, and Peaches snarled angrily showing signs of madness; Diego and Shira growled ferociously letting out a few roars; Iorek, however, let out the most magnificent roar that captured the Howlers attentions causing them all to retreat without their leader.
(ROARING LOUDLY)
(HOWLER'S WHIMPERNG)
"Yeah you better run you cowards!" Sid shouted cheerfully
"Get lost!" shouted Eddie
"Who needs ya!" shouted Crash
(EVERYBODY CHEERING)
"Is everyone okay?" Manny asked everyone
(DIEGO GRUNTING IN PAIN )
Diego was limping from an injured paw; his left front paw was scraped badly after his battle with some of the Howlers. His licked the wound with his tongue to make it feel better. Shira noticed her husband's injury and she gave him a sweet comforting nuzzle to the side; Diego blushed with a bashful smile on his face.
"Little sting won't bother me at all" Diego replied
(IOREK GRUNTING IN PAIN )
Manny and the others turned to see the human teenagers supporting Iorek, who was also suffering from a few injuries.
"I can agree with you on that, friend" said Iorek in agreement
(ROSHAN GRUNTING)
Everyone froze to the sound coming from the distance. Soon enough a hand appeared grabbing onto the ledge who actually appeared to be Roshan.
"Roshan!" exclaimed Manny, Sid, and Diego
"Guys give me a hand!" Roshan shouted
"Don't worry I gotcha" said Sid, grabbing the boy by the hand
Diego grabbed the sleeve of the boy's shirt while Manny wrapped his trunk around Sid and Diego's waist. Together, they pulled Roshan back safely on the ground.
"You alright, kid?" Manny asked, with concern
"That was some jump you took, sport" said Diego
"I'm okay guys, really. Just grab my leg and whatever you do, don't let go of it" Roshan commanded
Manny, confused at first, but didn't want to argue as the mammoth wrapped his trunk around Roshan's leg. Roshan knelt down near the ledge and shouted down to Kodak.
"Kodak!" Roshan shouted
"I'm ready!" Kodak shouted back
"Bring her up!" Roshan shouted
Using his strength, Manny pulled Roshan back as the boy carried Lolo with him in his arms. Rowan seemed to notice Lolo was injured in the process when she saw her wounded leg and she covered her mouth in shock.
"Oh my gosh!" cried Rowan
(HYRAX SHRIEKING IN FEAR)
"Lolo!" cried Shira, with terror
Everyone quickly gathered around Roshan and Kodak. When the boy gently set Lolo down onto the ground the group of animals and kids started panicking.
"Oh my gosh, Lolo!" cried Rowan, kneeling down to her
"Bloody hell" said Newt shockingly
"What happened?" Ellie asked them
Roshan looked up at her. "The alpha ambushed us again and he attacked Lolo"
With that being said, Rowan got to work as she tore up the sleeves of her shirt and used them to wrap Lolo's leg. After she did, she checked the young girl's pulse to see if she could feel a beat. Rowan sadly let out a sigh of relief and turned to the group.
"She's going to be okay" Rowan announced
"But what about her leg?" Roshan pointed out
"That's what I'm worried about" Rowan announced
"Well you see, Howler bites are fetal to the human body and no one was able to survive from one in the first place. So if that bloody alpha, you said, bit her then that could mean only one thing…she won't survive for long if we don't do something" Newt explained to them
Rowan covered her mouth with both her hands and began to sob. Roshan held her close to him in his arms as she continued to sob quietly.
Shocked upon the young girl's injury, Diego looked over to see Kodak holding his mouth with his hand. The saber exchanged a death glare at the older boy releasing his claws out from under his paws. He growled under his breath figuring he was responsible for this whole mess.
"YOU!" Diego roared
Kodak turned to the saber's attention and the tiger started walking towards him. Enraged, Diego stood up and he swiped a paw smacking the boy in the face, plus knocking him down.
(PUNCH)
"AGH!" cried Kodak, falling to the floor
"YOU DID THIS!" Diego roared, holding up another paw he striked again
(PUNCH)
"Diego?" cried Sid, covering his mouth with his paws
"Buddy what are you doing?" Manny questioned
"AGH! I didn't mean to…" Kodak pleaded
"You almost got that kid killed!" Diego roared, punching him
(PUNCH)
Shira got up from Lolo's side when she saw her husband beating up that poor boy like a savage wild animal.
"Stop it! Diego stop it, right now!" Shira roared
"Please, please, I'm sorry!" Kodak pleaded
Diego then rested his paw on Kodak's throat pressing it down hard causing the older boy to choke to death.
(KODAK CHOKING)
"No you're not…not yet" Diego said darkly
(CHOKING CONTINUES)
Roshan, Minho, and Newt quickly rushed forward to wrap their arms around the saber's neck and body as they tried to pull him off of Kodak.
"Diego what the hell are you doing!" Roshan demanded
"Protecting you!" Diego answered
"Are you crazy!" Minho shouted
"Yes I' am!" Diego roared
(ROARING)
(CHOKING CONTINUES)
The three boys used as much strength as they could but they managed to get the saber off of Kodak. Kodak gasped loudly as he quickly got onto his feet and started breathing for oxygen. Diego leaped forward to attack again but this time he was being held back by Manny and Ellie who tried to calm him down.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
"Diego's what's gotten into you?" Manny questioned
"You almost killed him!" said Ellie, scolding him
"GET OFF OF ME!" Diego roared
"Dude you need to calm down. Just take a few deep breaths and…" Sid responded
"SHUT UP SID!" Diego roared
Sid surprisingly jumped back falling backwards the ground next to the possums as Crash, Eddie, and he all looked at him with terror. Diego then broke free from Manny and Ellie's clutches and started running towards Kodak again but only this time angrier. Kodak, seeing upon a time, covered his face with his arms looking pleadingly helpless.
Diego leaped forward and with a paw held up…HE STRIKED!
(SLASH)
(EVERYONE GASPING)
Diego panted with exhaustion and also an evil smile appeared on his face before it suddenly faded away when he realized something that he shouldn't have done. As the scene changes back to Kodak it was revealed that he wasn't the one that was injured…it was Newt.
It had seemed that Newt jumped in the way to defending Kodak from getting wounded. Newt weakly turned around to Kodak revealing the wound was a giant claw-mark scratch on his chest. Newt's shirt was cut into shreds and little of the blood started dripping out, but not all of it. Shocked, Kodak stared at him in awe for a moment before Newt expressed a small grin before breaking to his knees and falling sideways onto the ground.
Roshan and Minho were in panic and awe when saw what had happened to their friend as they stayed speechless.
"NEWT!" cried Roshan and Minho
The two boys immediately rushed over to help their friend while Diego just stood there speechless holding his paw which had Newt's blood on it.
"NEWT?" Peaches cried out
Peaches rushed over to Roshan and Minho who were helping Newt stay awake. When she did she looked down and saw the scratch wound on Newt's chest causing her to cover her mouth with her trunk as she sadly closed her eyes.
(NEWT COUGHING)
"You alright buddy?" Roshan asked his friend
"C'mon Newt say something, please" Minho begged
Newt weakly turned his head to Roshan, Minho, and Peaches who were all looking down at him in panic. Luckily, Newt didn't shed a single tear but express a small grin.
"So…this is what it's bloody like…(coughing)…to be wounded in action" Newt responded, before passing out
(PEACHES GASPS IN HORROR)
"Newt? NEWT!" cried Minho
"W-What why isn't he waking up?" Peaches exclaimed
Roshan checked his pulse by placing one finger to his lower neck when he felt a small beat. He sighed with relief and turned to the others.
"He's unconscious from the strike but he'll be okay" Roshan reassured the two
Minho, who was looking sad right now, turned over when he saw Diego still, standing like a statue. Angered, the boy picked himself up and started making his way towards the saber.
"Minho…Minho what are you doing?" Roshan questioned
Diego noticed an angry human walking towards him and he finally spoke out. Minho then made his hand into a fist making sure it was real tight.
"Kid I didn't mean to…" Diego informed, before he was punched in the face
(PUNCH)
"ARGH!" Diego exclaimed, falling over
"What the hell is wrong with you!" Minho shouted at the saber
"No kid, please, it was an accident!" Diego explained
"I'll see to it that you're an accident…" Minho shouted, holding his fist up
"Minho, stop!" Roshan shouted
Roshan quickly grabbed his arm and held it back as he wrapped both his arms around Minho to prevent him from attacking the saber. Diego walked backwards a little as Roshan tried to fend his friend off from causing any damage to him.
"You damn carnivore you hurt him!" Minho shouted at the saber
"Minho he didn't mean to do it!" Roshan assured him
"Really Ro, didn't you see how he went off on shuck face over here" Minho pointed out, to Kodak
"I overreacted for a moment; I couldn't control myself, okay. I'm sorry!" Diego explained
"He's right Minho, I'm sure there's an explanation for this" said Roshan
"Ro, he attacked Newt that makes him an…" said Minho, but Roshan stopped him
"He is not the enemy!" Roshan shouted
"How are you really sure he isn't? What if he's the reason you don't have a mother in the first place!" Minho questioned
"What's that supposed to mean?" Roshan questioned back
"Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!" Rowan shouted, getting everyone's attention
Silence was shot for a brief moment; no one said anything. Soon Rowan's anger broke down into sadness and the young girl hid her face in her arms and began to sob quietly. Ellie was there to comfort her by resting her trunk around the girl's shoulder while Shira stood next to Lolo's side as her unconscious continued to stay stiff along with her little hyrax friend laying on top of her. Sad expressions appeared on everyone's faces seeing everything was starting to go downhill. Diego, however, showed extreme guilt on his face after everything Minho was telling Roshan.
"Roshan?" Diego called
Roshan and Minho turned around to face the saber when they saw he was walking towards them.
Diego sighed. "You have to trust Minho on this. Everything he's told you is true"
"What are you talking about, what's true?" Roshan asked
"I' am the enemy for you. I'm not who you think I' am" Diego informed
"Yes I do…you're my guardian, you, Manny, and Sid and you've always have been. I've seen the good in you" Roshan reassured him
Diego shook his head. "No, no you don't know much about me. You think you know but you don't!"
"What are you saying?" Roshan asked, confused
"I'm saying you can't trust me. You and your friends can never trust a saber like me; I'm a danger everywhere I go" Diego told him
"That's not true! Your wife found a husband not a murderer" Roshan informed
"I've been a murderer when I first met you! Something you wouldn't understand!" said Diego angrily
"My mother was accident" Roshan assured
Diego lifted his head up as his ears perked up in surprise. Everyone else looked stunned and shocked by what Roshan just said out loud including the boy's friends as well. Diego slowly turned back around to face Roshan who was looking very calmly at him.
"Y-You…you knew?" Diego asked, surprisingly
Roshan nodded. "I learned it all in my dreams"
"Diego?" Shira called, getting her husband's attention. "What did he mean 'his mother was an accident'?"
"Buddy is there something you're not telling us?" Manny questioned
"Perhaps would be a good time for answers" Sid pointed out
The saber in his friends eyes that they were now on to his secret and it got Diego's heart beating by the minute. The guilt was rising up to his heart making it beat really fast. He figured that it was time to tell his friends the truth.
Diego sighed deeply. "Alright you want answers, fine. You see…before I met up with you guys by that waterfall my old pack was ordered to attack the kid's home…"
Sid covered his mouth with his paws. "Ooh so that explains why the kid's place was all torn apart!"
(SHUSHING)
Manny shushed him with his trunk allowing Diego to go on. "…and so when we did, my pack was able to hold them off while I was ordered to snatch the kid; but unfortunately when I did that, things went not as planned" Diego explained
"My mother" Roshan asked, and Diego nodded
"Yes, she interfered with me when I tried to take you away but she wouldn't let you out of your sight so she ran. I chased her in pursuit forcing her to go to the waterfall. When I cornered her, she was given two choices: #1 surrender you to exchange for her own life or #2 die trying" Diego explained his story
"She picked #2…did she?" Roshan asked
Diego sadly nodded with his head lowered. "Yes"
"I'm totally lost here!" said Sid, looking dumbfounded
Diego sighed and faced his herd, including his wife. "It means…I was partially responsible for the kid's mother's death"
"YOU DID WHAT?..." Manny said angrily, but Ellie stopped him
"…Manny, now is not the time!" Ellie whispered
"And all these years you kept it to yourself, and didn't tell any of us?" Sid asked his friend
"I was trying to protect you guys" Diego replied
"But still you didn't think of the consequences to everyone else!" Manny questioned
"I couldn't just disobey an order, you can understand that Manny!" Diego said angrily
"Still you lied to us! You lied and you kept it to yourself, that's what matters!" Manny said agitatedly
"HEY!" shouted Roshan
Manny and Diego turned to the boy's attention as Roshan started making his way over to them. Diego slowly began to back away a little fearing the boy was going to give him the same treatment just like Minho did with him.
"Stay back…" Diego warned the boy
Roshan raised his hands up reassuringly. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you"
"Kid, you've heard everything I've told you. Aren't you mad?" said Diego
"I'm not" Roshan responded
"You're not?" Diego asked surprisingly
"The reason I'm not mad is…well…I-I don't know… I just… I never cry" Roshan replied
Diego didn't want to believe the kid's words and he started to back away. Just as Roshan reached out a hand to pet him, the saber just continued backing away from him.
"Please, I don't want to hurt you" Diego warned
"Diego it's alright…" Roshan reassured
"No, no, NO! I might turn on you to!" Diego warned
"But I won't on you, I swear! Cross my heart" Roshan reassured
Diego sadly looked away. "I'm so sorry kid…"
Diego dashed away leaving his herd and the kids to deal with their own problems as they watched the saber take off.
"Diego, wait…" Roshan called
"Softie come back…" Shira called
But Diego didn't listen and continued off into the woods not looking back seeing the only thing on his face was guilt and sadness. Everyone was speechless for an entire moment not knowing what to say before Ellie spoke out.
"Oh Roshan I'm so sorry…" Ellie said to the boy, before Manny interrupted her
"He'll be fine, Ellie. At least now he knows who his mother's killer is" said Manny
Ellie shot him a death glare at her husband and slapped him over the back of the head.
(SLAP)
"OOOOOWWWWW!" cried Manny
"YOU BE QUIET!" Ellie shouted
"WHAT DID I DO?" Manny whined
"Can we deal with these problems later and deal with the actual problem here" Rowan reminded, pointing down to Lolo
Lolo's skin started to turn pale and her body continued to shiver. Little of her tears began pouring out of her closed eyes as the young girl whimpered in her sleep.
"She right we have to her out of here" Shira told the others
"And Newt too" Peaches reminded
"Well what are we still standing around for, let's go!" said Sid
"But wait a minute we still need a herb that can help them" said Minho
"I know one and it can work for both of them. Aloe" Roshan replied, identifying the plant
"Aloe? Ro that's the most difficult plant to find, how are we going to find a place for that stuff" said Minho
"I know where. When we first landed here I was traveling around with Manny and I noticed a few rocky patches near a small mountain. It's only about fifteen minutes away from here" Ellie informed
"Good. In the meantime you all get Lolo and Newt somewhere safe while I go find the plant" said Roshan, swinging his backpack on
"Not alone you're not. I'm coming with you" said Manny, volunteering to go
"So am I!" Sid volunteered
"Me too!" Iorek volunteered
"Me three!" said Minho, also volunteering
With that being said, Roshan walked over to Rowan to say a few words to her.
"Rowan you and Kodak stick with Ellie, Shira and the others until we come back with an antidote. Keep Lolo alive do you hear me? Don't let her or Newt out of your sight" Roshan told her
Rowan was quiet while looking straight into Roshan's eyes with a look of sympathy on her face. Then, locking her hands on Roshan's shirt he pulled him forward locking her lips onto his and started to kiss him.
Manny and Sid looked at each other, stunned and surprised, as well as Minho and Kodak did. The possums jaws were dropped while Ellie, Peaches, Louis, and Shira were just staring in amazement. Rowan wrapped her arms around Roshan's neck as she continued kissing him.
"Whoa mama" said Sid surprisingly
"Now's there something you don't see in the jungle every day" Manny whispered, sarcastically
Soon as Rowan released her lips, Roshan just stood staring at her speechless with wide eyes.
"Never stop running…" Rowan whispered
Roshan nodded and whispered. "…never"
Releasing her arms off of him, Rowan walked back over to Ellie and Shira to take care of Lolo. Roshan turned back around and made his way over to Manny, Sid, Iorek and Minho as the four were staring at him with sarcastic expressions.
"Shut up, just shut up" Roshan muttered, walking past them
"He's a complicated kid, isn't he?" Sid whispered
Minho scoffed. "Tell me about it"
"Alright let's do it!" said Manny, picking up Roshan and placing him on his back
"I'm way ahead you, friend" Iorek replied
Minho hopped on Iorek's back along with Sid and the five began dashing off to find an antidote leaving the other's behind until they get back.
In the meantime, Lolo lay against Shira's side while her little hyrax friend sat on her shoulder. The little girl continued to whimper sadly making the sabress feel sorry for her.
(WHIMPERING)
"…mommy…mommy" Lolo said weakly
Shira calmed her down with comforting nuzzle to the face and a few loving licks to the cheek.
(PURRING)
(LICKING)
"It's okay, love. I'm here" Shira soothingly whispered
The sabress rested her head on Lolo's chest and closed her eyes; not leaving her sight at all. Ellie comforted the young girl too by gently stroking her hair. Rowan stayed by her side too, wrapping her hand around hers.
Peaches stayed close to Newt as the teen mammoth carried him in her trunk rocking him from side to side. Worried, Peaches let a few tears stream from her eyes and down into Newt's cheek. She held him close not letting him go out of her sight before she began to sob quietly. Louis, who also felt sorry, comforted his friend with a small pat on the head.
Soon Granny walked in the picture yawning after a good night sleep.
"Hey you skunk-bags, what did I miss?" Granny said sternly
Meanwhile Kodak stood off to the side watching Rowan, Ellie, Shira, Crash, Eddie, Louis comfort Lolo and Newt. He felt tightness within his chest and needed to before he quickly hid behind a large tree. When he did he began pounding his fists on the bark multiple times.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!" Kodak muttered
Now it was Kodak's turn to have the guilty feeling as he placed both hands over his head and began blaming himself for everything that's just happened.
He laid his back against the tree and sat down. Soon Kodak closed his eyes as he started remembering the things Ragnar told him before he left with Roshan and the group.
(FLASHBACKS)
Ragnar released his hand off the boy's mouth and soon grabbed Kodak's shirt and pulled him towards his face. "Now once more I'm going to give you a little piece of advice: don't mess this up! If you so much as double-cross me, I'll see to it that you're worthless carcass lies sizzling in the desert sun at the mercy of the vultures! You understand!"
Kodak fearfully nodded. "Yes sir"
Ragnar then smiled. "Good. Oh and just another thing…"
Ragnar pulled out an arrow from his back-pocket and showed it to Kodak.
"What's the arrow for?" Kodak questioned
"I'll tell you why. This boy is what's going to put my brother to rest" Ragnar explained to him
"You mean like…put him to sleep, right?" Kodak asked
"I mean permanently" said Ragnar
"For what reason, sir? You know he's just going to get back up; he always does. He's indestructible" Kodak asked
Ragnar evilly smirked. "Not for long…"
Going into his cloak pocket he pulled out a vile that what appeared to be green slime.
"You see this, boy?" said Ragnar, showing him the vile
"Yes, sir" Kodak responded
"This is slime…slime from a Howler. You see, you may think that this is just regular slime but it's not. This slime here…is deadly. One bite from a Howler and this stuff can slow your body down in less than a sec. infecting everything that's alive inside you" Ragnar explained about the slime
"What happens if it becomes too infected?" Kodak asked
"…game over" Ragnar whispered, into the boy's ear
(FLASHBACK ENDS)
Kodak jolted his eyes wide open and started to breathe for oxygen. Sweat drizzled down his face and he wiped it away with his sleeves. He then peeked over from behind the tree watching Rowan, Ellie and Shira who were continuing to comfort Lolo and her wound. He understood know that it wasn't himself he needed to worry…it was Roshan, his friends, and the herd. After everything Roshan did to save his life he needed to repay him back.
"This is going to be harder than I thought" Kodak said to himself
In the next scene, Runar was strolling down the village checking out how his people were doing. So far everything looked exactly the same as it should be: carving spears, gambling, laughing, and even drinking. But as he came across the kid's parents he noticed they were talking among each other voicing where their children were after being gone so many days.
Runar sighed and rubbed his face. "Roshan my son, where are you?"
After his son's disappearance, he's been off worried for days wondering where his boy might be. His heart was pounding really fast and his gut started to tighten itself. He was especially worried if he was ever going to see him ever again. He couldn't think, he couldn't sleep, and all he could see were thought's just scrambling through his head like frenzy.
(THUD)
(RUNAR YELPS IN PAIN)
Runar suddenly felt something sharp hit the back shoulder of his left arm and he pulled it out when it appeared to be an arrow. After he removed it, he touched his arm feeling a very small wound before grunting in pain. Bending downward, he picked up the arrow that was embedded into the sand and examined it. As he studied the arrow suspiciously before suddenly his vision started to blur up a bit. He shook his head trying to snap himself out of it but unfortunately when he did that it only got worse. Soon his body started to cripple slowly; then he started to feel very nauseous. Runar then released the arrow out of his hand and fell down into the sand again.
"W-what…what's happening to me…" Runar said weakly
(COUGHING)
(WHEEZING)
"Runar? Runar what's wrong?" said one of the tribesmen, who've noticed him
(COUGHING CONTINUES)
(WHEEZING CONTINUES)
"Oh my gosh, someone help him!" cried a tribeswoman
Runar oxygen started to clog up in his throat and the man collapsed to the floor quivering and shaking to death. All the people in the tribe rushed immediately to him panicking, shouting, and screaming while some of the men tried to help him.
"Runar, Runar can you hear me?" cried one of the tribesmen
"Somebody get help!" shouted another tribesman
Everyone in the tribe all gathered around as they watched Runar in horror go into complete shock like he was having a heart-attack or something severe. As the scene showed back to the embedded arrow in the sand, a certain someone came walking right out of the tent with a cross-bow in one hand. He knelt down and picked it up when that certain man revealed to be…Ragnar.
Ragnar held the arrow in his two fingers seeing the remaining slime along with a small pitch of blood stuck to it before he let out and evil chuckle.
"I told you brother…this is my kingdom" said Ragnar, smirking evilly
Well everyone there you have it! What will happen next? Anyway please review and keep spreading me some more ideas and stay tuned because more will be coming your way!