"I'm really sorry about what happened. It was my idea, it was all my fault. Your parents should have yelled at me, not you."
"That's okay. They didn't yell at me. Not much anyway."
"Are you in trouble? They're not going to disown you or anything, are they?"
"No. But they say that I'm not allowed to see you anymore. They told me that you're no good."
"Do you believe that?"
"No. No! Never! I don't care what my parents think, you're wonderful and I love you."
"Marry me then."
"What?"
"They can't keep us apart if we're married, right?"
"But we're so young, and our parents will never accept it. They don't even believe we're old enough to know what love is."
"Our parents maybe smarter than us but that doesn't mean they're always right. We know that we love each other, and that this isn't just teenage affection. Getting married would prove that to them."
"Still they'd never let us do it."
"Then we'll run away. Just the two of us."
"And break their hearts? Do you have any idea what that would do to our families? I love you and I don't want to leave you, but I can't just hurt my parents like that and I don't think you would want to hurt yours like that either."
"You're...You're right. Just running away and getting married like that, it would crush them."
"We'll find someway to stay together. It just can't be that way. Not now at least."
"So we'll wait. We'll wait and I'll try to make something of myself. So I can change your parents's impression of me, and once I succeed at that, we can get married. That is, if you'll have me."
"That depends, will you be there for me when it really counts?"
"Yes I will. I promise that I'll always be there to protect you and to make you happy. You'll never want for anything."
"Then of course I'll marry you."
"And I know I'll never be good enough for you, but I'm going to spend the rest of my life trying to be, because there is nothing and no one, I love more than you."
When Moxxie awoke, he felt a great pain in his head and a dizziness all around. He hadn't felt this horrible since that one night where he and Millie got themselves drunk on moonshine. But the morning after that crazy night was nothing compared to this.
"Lie still Mr. Hamiliton. I'm not quite done yet."
When Moxxie's vision cleared, he discovered Stolas looming over him, finishing up with cleaning and bandaging a gash on his forehead.
"Professor Goetia?" He said. "Oh God, please tell me that last night my drink wasn't spiked and I didn't go to bed with you."
Stolas chuckled.
"No, no, my good man. I can assure you that, unlike myself, you have remained completely true to your wife. I'm only here because in college I took first aid classes during my spare time."
"First aid? Why do I need first aid? What's going on here? Where's my family?"
"Calm down. We were attacked by an animal last night and it mildly injured you, your wife, and Blitzy."
"Millie's been hurt?!"
"Nothing to get upset about. She only received a few bruises. Her skin didn't even break."
"What about my children? Are they alright?"
Stolas paused for a moment, trying to think of how to word his answer.
"Mr. Hamiliton, I don't wish to alarm you and I ask you to please remain calm once you hear this."
"Hear what?"
But before Stolas could explain, the morning air was filled with panicked screams from Millie.
"My babies! Where are my babies?!"
Moxxie instantly stood up and came out of the tent. He saw his wife frantically looking all around the area, in her arms she was clutching Maisie's toy bunny Fluffles.
"Mrs. Hamiliton please calm down." Stolas spoke.
"Calm down? Calm down?! My children are gone! And you expect me to calm down?!"
"Gone?!" Now Moxxie was getting upset. "What do you mean they're gone?!"
"I can't find them anywhere! All I found was their tent and it was destroyed!"
"Max! Maisie!" Moxxie started to call out. "Max! Maisie!"
But no answer. Moxxie turned to Stolas and the others.
"Did you see them last night?"
"No." Stolas said. "We were all too busy fixing your injuries. We assumed they stayed in their tent all night. Too scared to come out."
"They were probably frightened off by the snake-lizard." Vox said. "So scared, that they ran to hide in the jungle."
"No, they didn't run away!" Millie argued. "Maisie would never leave Fluffles behind, especially if she was scared!"
"And Max knows not to run in the presence of a predator." Moxxie said. "He knows sudden movements only trigger the attack."
"Well what else could possibly explain their absence?" Vox asked.
"Hey I don't know if this means anything." Loona said. "But one of the jeeps we brought is also missing."
"Oh God Moxxie." Millie said further horrified. "They took them! Somebody took the children! Somebody stole our babies!"
"Charlie was taken too." Vaggie added. "Last night she was carried off by another wild animal."
"Another one?" Blitzo asked.
"It fought off that giant reptile that came to our camp and when the mercenaries started shooting at it, it just grabbed Charlie and disappeared."
"Did it grab my children?" Moxxie asked.
"No." Angel said. "It just wanted her."
"Then who has the kids?"
"Everyone let's not lose our heads here." Valentino spoke up. "Several people have gone missing, so instead of panicking we should go out and look for them."
"But where do we start?" Blitzo asked.
"I think we should contact the authorities." Vaggie said. "Try to get some professional help."
"And just how would we do that?" Vox asked. "The phone signal here is weak."
"We can at least try."
"In that case here's the plan." Blitzo said. "We'll divide into two groups. One will go into the jungle and search for Miss Morningstar and the children. The other group will stay here and try to contact help. I'll lead the rescue party."
"We're coming with you." Moxxie said volunteering himself and Millie.
"Mr. Hickey, his remaining men, and myself shall accompany you as well." Valentino said.
"Alright, the rest of you stay here and try get help." Blitzo said. "Everyone who's with me, start gathering up all the supplies we'll need for this rescue."
No hesitation or delay, everyone immediately did as they were told. Stolas and Loona went to find a strong phone signal while Angel and Vaggie worked on the computer. Or rather what remained of the computer which was a cracked screen and a smashed keyboard. As for the other group, they grabbed as many weapons and traps that they could carry and Blitzo made sure that the other jeep that had brought along was still in good condition. It was and there was enough fuel to last for about a day and a half.
"Let's hope this search and rescue doesn't take so long that we run out of fuel." Blitzo thought as he closed the hood of the jeep.
He moved to get into the jeep and start up the engine, but it wasn't until now that he realized his keys were missing.
Jingle-jingle!
Blitzo looked up to where the jingling sound was coming from and perched on a nearby tree was a monkey-squirrel holding the keys.
"Hey you, give those back!" Blitzo demanded.
But the half primate, half rodent only made a chittering noise and started leaping off from tree branch to tree branch.
"Come back here you buck-toothed, thief!"
Blitzo quickly chased after the monkey-squirrel, who took great delight in teasing the human he had robbed. Twice he stopped just to dangle the keys in Blitzo's face and then jerk them away.
"Why you little shit-thrower!" He snarled.
At long last the monkey-squirrel decided to rest at the top of a tall tree and fiddle with the keys. Blitzo groaned in frustration, then started to climb up the tree.
"You know, poaching is illegal and as a lawyer I must agree with that, but I may just make an exception just for you." He grunted. "As soon as I get my hands on you, I'm going to snap your neck and sell your limbs as keychains. Just like a rabbit's foot."
When he made it to the top, he carefully made his way on to the branch where the monkey-squirrel sat. Unfortunately the branch wasn't strong enough to hold his weight. The branch snapped, the monkey-squirrel jumped safely on to the next tree branch and Blitzo fell straight to the ground.
"Ow."
"Dad what are you doing?" Loona asked upon discovering her father facepalmed into dirt.
"I'm trying to get my keys from that monekey, squirrel, whatever it is. What are you doing here? You were supposed to look for a phone signal with Stolas."
"I was but then I heard you threatening someone and you're not in court so I figured I'd better do something before you hurt yourself." She took note of his bloody nose. "Too late."
"Don't you worry Looney, I know what I'm doing."
"Right." She replied an eye roll. "Let me try something."
She opened her hand bag and brought forth the peanut butter and banana sandwich she was saving for lunch.
"Hey rat-chimp." She called holding up the sandwich. "How about a trade?"
The monkey-squirrel instantly dropped the keys and snatched the sandwich.
"Thank you Looney." Blitzo said picking up the keys.
"Dad."
"Yes?"
"What's going on?"
"What do you mean? You know what's going on, we have to locate and rescue three members of our group."
"What I mean is, you told me that this trip would be perfectly safe but last night we were attacked by a wild animal and three people were kidnapped. Not exactly what I would expect on a safe trip. Now what's up?"
"I can't explain it now Loona. For right now, just help the others get a phone signal and please be careful. Don't go off alone or without a gun."
"Okay."
"And stay with Stolas."
"Stay with Stolas? But you're always saying he's lewd creep."
"Only with me Looney. Me and other adults he's attracted to. Children and teenagers on the other hand, he'll guard them with his life. Other than myself, there's no one else you'd be safer with."
"Alright, if you say so."