Hey there everybody! Yes, I know it's been another long while since I last wrote anything. First of all, school…overwhelming especially trying to get everything done in time for summer. Second, took a nice long vacation in Grand Cayman which was the best break I've ever gotten. Third, finishing school and canceling a photography class that didn't go so well. Fourth, I've been under a lot of sadness and depression because of my job and workers treating me like filth. Fifth, trying to get my positivity back in place. And sixth, I'm finding a better work environment that'll give me another purpose in life. I'm sorry it's a lot that I'm throwing at you right now but it's the truth. I'm trying to get my life back together, keeping my head up and hopefully soon find and happiness with the help of my loving family that'll support me through it all.
Anyway, enough said, here's the next chapter…the final battle…ENJOY!
(WARNING: for blood, fist-fighting, scenes that may be unsuitable for children, and total badass moments)
Howlers were being taken down one by one; some were still fighting; some were dead; some were running away vanishing without a trace. In the end, you can say the rest of the Howler pack were outnumbered and were finally defeated.
(HOWLERS CRYING/WHIMPERING)
(HOWLERS HOWLING)
"That's it, keep running!" Sid shouted, feeling accomplished
"Bye-bye, fleabags!" Diego roared
Minho popped up in between Sid and Diego, wrapped his arms around the two animals necks. "And good riddance"
"VICTORY IS OURS!" Iorek cheered
(IOREK ROARING WITH VICTORY)
Kodak faced every warrior who stayed to help defend their home and their people, "You heard it here, folks, THE BATTLE IS WON!"
(HUMANS CHEERING)
(ANIMALS CHEERING)
Crash and Eddie began cheering with pom-poms, "Hit-the-road-you-stupid-mutts-we-just-stopped-a-home-invasion"
(CHEERING CONTINUES WITH THE HUMANS AND ANIMALS)
"I gotta say, for humans, you kids ain't bad fighters" Manny admitted
"Hey, if it weren't for you guys, our families would've been slaughtered overnight" Minho said
Kodak walked up, smiling, "I guess Roshan isn't much a loser after all. He's some friend"
"Definitely. Hey, speaking of Roshan, where is he?" Sid asked
"Didn't he said he went looking for…?" Minho pointed out
"…HIS FATHER" Manny finished. "C'mon we better go find him fast"
(DIEGO BEGINS GROWLING PROTECTIVELY)
"What's the matter with him?" Minho asked
(MANNY BEGINS GROWLING THE SAME)
"That's not a good sign. What is it?" Kodak said, backing away
(SID GASPS)
Both boys sprung their heads around when much to their shock they saw Ragnar pressing a dagger against Roshan's throat.
"They're being protective, boy. And if I were you, lads, I wouldn't come any closer" Ragnar said, with a devious grin
Kodak became furious, "Ragnar…"
"Oh Kodak, you stupid-stupid little prick. One small-dead order was all I asked and you BETRAYED me!" said Ragnar
"Forget it, Ragnar! I'm done doing your dirty work!" said Kodak, furiously
"If you cut him, I'm gonna…" Minho threatened
Ragnar clutched his nephew with the knife closer to his throat. "You'll what? Hasn't your mother taught you anything about manners, boy? Don't try and threaten me"
"BROTHER!" called a voice
Runar limped his way towards the middle part of the village campsite but trembled to the floor when he couldn't get any further to his brother holding his son hostage. Kodak and Minho quickly rushed over and helped their chief get back on his feet again.
Runar groaned in pain, "Brother, stop. Leave the boy alone"
(RAGNAR LAUGHS MANIACALLY)
"Or what? You're gonna let these beasts attack me?" Ragnar said, smiling evilly
Manny growled. "It's not a bad idea"
"MANNY, DON'T!" Roshan shouted. "Don't harm him"
"Listen to my nephew, mammoth, he's right. Don't hurt poor-dear-little-old-me. But if you try to…poor-dear-little-old-nephew of mine will die drowning in his own blood" Ragnar said, warning the mammoth
(MANNY CONTINUES GROWLING)
(DIEGO SNARLS AND THEN ROARS)
"That goes for you too, fang-boy!" Ragnar threatened the saber. "If anyone tries to play 'hero' will watch the fate of my nephews end"
"Ragnar…please…don't" Runar pleaded
"Uncle…listen to me…it doesn't have to be this way" said Roshan
Ragnar plucked his nephew's lips and whispered into the boys' ear. "I'm sorry, nephew, but progress requires sacrifice"
"Ragnar you're not an evil man, father says so" Roshan told him
Ragnar chuckled maniacally again. "See, now, you're starting to sound like your father. WELL I'LL BE DAMNED, EH BROTHER!?"
Everyone watched from out of the woods. All the hunters carried spears alone with bow and arrows aiming for Ragnar. Children hid behind their mothers, brothers, and sisters, even some of the teenage hunters watched in awe by the commotion they were watching. Meanwhile, miles away from the village where Shaylyn was watching the whole thing from above our half-group of humans and animals spotted the village smoke just straight ahead.
(ROWAN WHISTLING TO SHAYLYN)
"What's happening back there, Shaylyn?" Rowan demanded
"Your people are saved…but Roshan…he's in trouble" Shaylyn reported the situation
"Oh no" said Ellie
"What about Lolo?" Newt asked, right before Shira pushed him aside
(NEWT YELPS)
(CRASH SOUND EFFECT)
"And my babies, WHERE ARE MY BABIES!?" Shira demanded, desperately
Shaylyn shook her head. "Never saw them"
Ellie turned the group. "There's still time to help"
"Lead us the way, bird" said Rowan
Shaylyn nodded. "Of course, young one"
Shaylyn flapped and into the sky she went; the humans and mammals began to follow heading straight towards the human village where the light was glowing.
Back at the camp, everyone circled around the twosome as Ragnar continued keep his nephew under his grasp making sure nobody would dare to challenge him. Roshan could feel his neck being stretched back, his breath was becoming shallower as he tried to move for fear of the blade cutting into his throat. The boy watched as everyone he loved around him see the horror that was beginning to turn into a nightmare. Roshan also spotted his animal friends: Manny, Sid, Diego, Minho, Kodak, Crash, and Eddie who were in defense and ready to attack whenever Ragnar chooses to kill him at the right moment before they can stop him.
Roshan choked. "Uncle…please…listen…it doesn't have to be this way"
"Don't lecture me, boy" Ragnar said, the smallest hint of a smirk crossing his lips. "I've seen how your father leads us with his weakness"
"But why hurt me?" Roshan demanded. "Why my friends? We've never done anything to you"
Ragnar chuckled. "To be honest, nephew, I didn't think that damn mutt would try and kill you. As a matter of fact I didn't think your stories were ever true. The boy saved by three guardian animals and lived and then all of a sudden gained special powers to speak their language. At that moment, I thought you were just pulling my god-damn chain. But the way I see it now…I knew you were telling the true for real"
"Ragnar…you…are not…evil. The Howlers…are making you do this" Roshan said, "They've poisoned and forced you to do terrible things"
"I' am what I' am and there's nothing you can do about it!" Ragnar said, aggravately
Diego snarled ferociously watching his young human friend in danger. "Can I just kill him? That guy's already on my last nerve"
"No, Roshan said to stand down" Minho reassured
"But his uncle…" Sid pointed out
"Shank has a plan…I think" Kodak assured
Manny went into whispering conversation. "We have to trust them. Roshan can handle this battle on his own"
"If he doesn't die first" Sid pointed out
But what to the whole tribe was unaware was when Lolo peeked out from behind the bushes along with Ariene, Redstripe, Nadia, and Hunter.
Lolo gasped, "Roshy"
(SABER CUBS GROWLING)
"Okay cubs here's the plan…" Lolo said, devising an idea with the cubs
Suddenly Rowan and the others entered the village when the girl spotted Roshan being held knife-point by his uncle and she quickly rushed to his rescue. Manny looked behind him, much to his temper, noticing his wife along with the rest of the herd has shown up to help.
Ragnar spotted Rowan and smirked. "Well looks like your girlfriend finally showed up, Roshan"
(ROSHAN GASPS)
"ROSHAN!" Rowan cried. "You son of a bitch, if you hurt him…"
Ragnar laughed maniacally. "Ooh feisty, feisty girl…I like that"
Manny saw his wife and daughter come up to his side. "What are you both doing here? What are they doing here? You were supposed to stay back at the cave!"
"Hey I tried…" Ellie assured
"What's the plan, dad" Peaches asked
"Nothing, we do absolutely nothing" Manny explained
"But my babies are out here somewhere…and Lolo's with them too" said Shira
"Lolo, I thought she was watching the cubs?" Diego asked
Shira then got up into her husband with baring teeth. "SHE. TOOK. THE CUBS. WITH HER!"
Meanwhile, Ragnar watched carefully making sure nobody would make the first move as the people continued to move in closer so that it would be impossible for Runar's brother to escape.
"Ragnar…let us help you…we have an antidote…we…we can cure you…if you just…just give us a chance" Roshan said, trying to convince his uncle to stop
"And why would I want your help?" Ragnar asked
"Because revenge…won't make you become leader. I won't make" said Roshan
Ragnar thought to himself for a moment and then snickered. "You're right nephew…this isn't right. I gotta be a man"
Ragnar lowered the dagger and threw it on the floor. He then released his nephew from his grasp allowing him to finally catch his breath. Soon Ragnar started to roll-up his sleeves and get into fighting position.
"Put your fists up, nephew" Ragnar demanded
Roshan rose a brow. "What the hell?"
"How about it? You wanna be a 'man'…prove to your father and these animals that you are one. FIGHT ME!" Ragnar said, in a challenging tone
"Brother don't do this!" Runar pleaded
"I don't wanna fight you, uncle" said Roshan
"It's time to stop being a child, nephew. TIME TO BE A MAN" said Ragnar
Ragnar charged and threw the first punch just for Roshan to duck just in time. Ragnar then charged again throwing the second and third punch but his nephew ducked again and finally threw the next punch knocking his uncle right off his feet. Everybody who was watching were in awe to see more action come the way. Runar, however, was worried for his son and brother to see them tear each other apart like this. Soon the fight began on a brutal pace. Blood dripped from the noses and sides of the mouths and bruises were left on different sides of the face. By that time Roshan and Ragnar were fist-fighting like non-stop.
Ragnar wiped the blood from his mouth and snickered. "All of that for a drop of blood?"
"Leaders bleed you know" said Roshan, still holding his fists up
"Indeed…but most DIE when they're beaten!" Ragnar shouted
Ragnar dodged for the boy's stomach, slamming his fist into it. Roshan fell to his knees and was knocked right up in the face causing the boy to fly backwards on the ground. Roshan then kicked Ragnar in the leg and before his uncle could do anything, the boy head-butted him and they both went falling backwards growing in their own pain.
(EVERYBODY MAKING 'OOH!' SOUND)
"Uncle…(panting)…what did I ever do to make you hate me so much?" Roshan demanded
Ragnar laughed maniacally showing the redness of blood covering all his teeth as he stood up and spitted.
"That's just my problem, boy. YOU ARE THE GIFTED CHILD!" Ragnar said, "From the minute you were born everything went to hell for me! No matter how much my brother and I grew up together he just kept choosing YOU over ME!"
Roshan paused for a moment and lowered his fists by what just came out of his uncle's mouth. "Choosing ME over YOU?"
Ragnar rose a brow and displaced a smirk and before Roshan could place the missing pieces together he finally understood what he was talking about.
"You-You're killing me over jealousy?" Roshan asked
"Ooh that's not the only thing. YOU'RE A DUMB BITCH TOO! But what I really want to know is…how were you able to pull all this off?" Ragnar said
"Because my guardians helped me do it. Even my best friends too" Roshan answered
Ragnar sighed looking back at them before looking back at his nephew. "Then I guess I'm just gonna have to take one of their lives away instead"
"NO!' Roshan cried
Just before Ragnar was about to pick up the dagger a very loud 'crunch' sound came out of nowhere. At first, everyone looked around to figure where the sound had come from. Roshan soon noticed something strange about his uncle. Ragnar's face expression was in a form of pain with tears flowing in his eyes. The boy looked down and covered his mouth. Ragnar slowly looked down in between his legs when much to his pain, saber-tooth cub Nadia, hung in between the man's legs with her tiny teeth biting into the man's private area.
(RAGNAR SCREAMING IN PAIN)
Jaws dropped and mouths were covered by the sight of a baby saber-tooth cub biting against man's groin. Diego and Shira gad the same reactions as well as Roshan's father, friends, and Herd too.
Diego's expression soon turned into a proud smile. "THAT'S MY GIRL!"
"Ooh…right in the marshmallows" said Sid, peeking one eye open
(RAGNAR'S SCREAMING CONTINUES)
In desperate, Ragnar tried to shake the cub off him but Nadia wouldn't let go as her body swung from side-to-side. Ariene, Redstripe, and Hunter came out to join the fight and they each took hold of one body part: Ariene bit the leg, Hunter jumped and bit the arm, and Redstripe…took a big bite in the man's butt.
(SABER CUBS GROWLING)
(CRUNCHING)
(RAGNAR'S SCREAMING GROWS LOUDER)
Shira glared at Diego ferociously. "Did you teach them that?"
"Hey, don't look at me they've been under your watch since I left" Diego pointed out
(SHIRA SNARLING)
Ragnar swung around like a mad-man begging for the cubs to let go of him. Soon Lolo came running out of the bushes and the young girl hopped into Ragnar's shouldered began punching his face non-stop.
(LOLO WHOOPING AND PUNCHING)
(RAGNAR SCREAMING AND YELLING)
"LEAVE MY ROSHY ALONE, YOU CREEP!" Lolo shouted, punching the man's face continuously
"LOLO?!" Roshan cried
"LOLO?!" Rowan, Newt, Minho, Kodak, and Runar cried
Ragnar grunted, "AGH, GET OF ME YOU BRAT!"
Ragnar threw the child off his shoulders before yanking each of the four cubs and throwing them away as well. Luckily, Manny and Ellie caught all four much to Diego and Shira's relief. Ragnar stumbled around before he caught his eye on the rebellious little girl standing in front of him.
"Well, well, well. Favorite of Roshan, huh?" Ragnar said
Ragnar pointed his dagger at her. "Well let's see you dodge, THIS!"
"LOLO LOOK OUT!" Rowan screamed
Ducking each swing, Lolo ducked and rolled under in between Ragnar's legs and pushed him down. Just before Ragnar spun around to stab the girl, Lolo grabbed the man's arm and bit into it causing the man to scream, plus, releasing the dagger.
Ragnar bended over to pick it up but was soon intercepting when Lolo made a loud hunter cry.
'HIYA!' Lolo roared, in standing position
Ragnar snorted. "That's cute"
Lolo kicked right into Ragnar's private area after that, leaving the man in more pain than ever.
(EVERYONE MAKING 'OOH' SOUND)
Fueled with anger, Ragnar had a fist and slammed it Lolo right in the face knocking the young girl off her feet. Everyone gasped including Roshan.
Ragnar got up and walked over, pressing a foot against Lolo's chest, causing the young girl to choke. He picked up his dagger, placing both hands on the handle and raised his arms up as he was about to make his kill.
"Okay, that's enough. PLAY TIME'S OVER!" Ragnar shouted
(ROSHAN ROARING)
Roshan charged towards his uncle knocking him down and the two began yet another fight to the finish. Only this time, Roshan was doing all the fighting.
The boy threw multiple punches at Ragnar from the face to the stomach and to the weaker spots of the man's body. Soon Ragnar started to loose balance in himself and began to show more signs of bruises and blood dripping from his face, nose, and mouth. Ragnar spotted his dagger right beside him and was about to aim at the boy. But instead of aiming the dagger at his nephew…he aimed for Lolo instead.
Ragnar smirked, "Kiss your little girl one last good-night kiss, nephew"
Roshan acted quickly as he rushed to Lolo's rescue before his uncle could end her life. Ragnar then, in aiming position, launched the dagger and it went right towards her. Everyone was in shock and before Lolo could see meet her fate she was pushed off to the side with Roshan wrapping his arms around protecting her.
(EVERYONE GASPS IN HORROR)
(RAGNAR GRUNTS IN ANGER)
"THAT DOES IT, NEPHEW! YOU'RE DEAD, YOU HEAR ME? DEAD!" Ragnar roared
(TAP ON THE SHOULDER)
A familiar hand tapped Ragnar on the shoulder and he turned to face no one other than Newt who gave him a patient expression.
"Excuse me mate" said Newt, "But I'm afraid I've got something for you"
Newt pulled up a club and with all his strength he swung knocking Ragnar hard in the face.
(HARD PUNCH SOUNDS OFF)
(EVERYONE GASPS)
Ragnar spun around in circles before looking at Newt again with a smile.
"That was a good one" said Ragnar
Ragnar fell backwards and he hit the ground floor like a dead tree, leaving him unconscious. Everyone and the Herd were speechless by what they just saw and no one had the guts to say one word.
"Well don't just bloody stand there, restrain him!" Newt spoke out
Men all over the tribe gathered ropes and began to tie-up Ragnar before he could gain full conscious again.
"Well done, well done all of you" Runar congratulated
"I'm sorry sir but…he kinda had it coming" said Newt
Rowan walked next to Runar. "At least now we have an antidote to cure him"
"One that really works…I hope" said Minho
"You should be proud of yourselves, kids. I don't know what I would do if Roshan didn't have you for friends" said Runar
"Yes…but we wouldn't know what to do if Roshan hadn't become friends with them" Rowan pointed out
The kids and Runar turned to face direction of the animals who were walking up to them with smiles of gratitude. Runar, a little shocked, slowly walked towards the mammoth who was standing in the middle of his herd. Runar showed a face of calmness as he looked up into the mammoth's eyes and he smiled back down at the man.
"Is that really you?" Runar asked
Manny reached out into his back and pulled out the charm necklace the man had given him a long time ago as a token of appreciation from when he returned the man's boy back to him a long time ago as an infant. Runar grasped the necklace and knew at that moment that this was the same mammoth.
"It's so good to see you" said Runar, "All of you"
"Mammoth"
Manny smiled and took a bow
"Sloth"
Sid blushed under his fur and threw a hand at the man by the kind words he was given.
"…Saber?"
(DIEGO GULPED NERVOUSLY)
Diego was afraid that the man would recognize him after when he and his former pack attacked the man's village 16 years ago. Diego didn't know what to expect but was determined to face the unknown. Runar knelt down to the saber-tooth tiger and looked at him with the same face of calmness as the man studied the saber's face and eyes. Runar then place his hand on the tiger's head and began petting him making the orange saber purr.
"My son talked about you for a long time. Even though I never saw you with the other two, all those years ago, you were always mentioned in his stories as a hero…and a guardian too. And for that…I thank you, now, saber" said Runar, to Diego
Diego sighed in relief and bowed his head. Soon the second guilty feeling was finally released from his gut forever.
(SABER CUBS MEWING)
Runar looked down seeing Ariene, Redstripe, Nadia, and Hunter circling around him rubbing their heads and bodies all around the bottom of the man's feet.
Runar smiled. "I see you have families of your own, now. Guess that makes us old, right?"
(EVERYONE LAUGHS)
Rowan turned to see Roshan was still on the floor but noticed something that was off. He wasn't moving. Not even a muscle. Rowan quickly rushed towards him to take a look.
Rowan began shoving her mate. "Roshan? Roshan get up?"
(LOLO GASPS FOR AIR)
Lolo woke up in a heart-beat as Rowan helped her up. "Lolo are you okay? Wh-What happened?"
Lolo sniffled. "Roshan hasn't moved ever since he saved me from that dagger"
"Dagger?" Rowan said, before coming to full realization and she gasped. "Oh no"
The two girls grabbed quickly turned Roshan over so that the boy would lay flat on his back. Once they did that, they saw something that struck their hearts with grief and horror. It appeared Roshan was awake…but with the dagger stabbed into his stomach with the handle sticking out.
(ROSHAN BREATHING HEAVY)
(BOTH GIRLS GASP)
(LOLO SCREAMING)
The Herd and the humans heard the Lolo's cry and they all immediately rushed towards to see what had happened as they were shocked to see that their friend was badly injured.
"OH MY GOD" said Runar, "SON!"
Runar knelt down wrapping his arms around his son and picked him up. As for Roshan, he was in a lot of pain. The blood flowed little from his stomach as tears began forming in his eyes. His vision started to blur up and the only thing he could see was horror in everyone's eyes who looking down at him.
"F-Father?" Roshan said, in a weak voice
"Get help!" Runar cried. "My son's been wounded!"
"Father…" Roshan mumbled
"I'm right here son, we're all here" Runar assured
Blood spitted from the boy's mouth as he tried to speak. "Did…d-did…did we win?"
Runar stifled a laugh and nodded. "You put up a good fight, my boy. I love you"
Roshan chuckled. "D-Don't worry dad…I…I know where I'm going"
Runar sadly shook his head. "No, don't talk like that. You're gonna get better, I promise"
Tears streamed from Roshan's eyes. "I'll be sure….t-to say 'Hi"…for mom for you"
With that, Roshan felt his vision fading into white and he passed out completely leaving everyone in shock.
"Son…Son…SON?! GOD DAMMIT, GET A SHAMAN! MY SON NEEDS HELP!" Runar shouted
(INAUDIBLE SILENCE)
"So I guess you can see this is not what I expected. Sure everybody does stupid things to save those they love. But maybe sometimes you don't realize you're actually drowning when you're trying to be everyone else's anchor. And what I did…I did it out of love. Fate can pull people in different directions. And for the first time in my life I actually I achieved a great purpose. For my father. My friends. My people. And my guardians. So believe me when I say this to be true: our hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of our lives. We have to keep faith. It'll all be worth it in the end...and that it did" Roshan said, in narration
The final battle is won! The Howlers are defeated and hopefully Ragnar will recover in better health condition. Some emotional moments for sure and reunions too but it was all worth it. But what will become of Roshan injuries?
Please review and again I thank-you all for your patience and please stay tuned for the next chapter!