Chapter six: Saving Tomo'kan, Part 2
This is it; this is the day we end all of this, I thought in my head over and over. Just a second ago the Primal Beast and I started rushing each other…
Just before we were about to make contact, I could see a fist coming down toward me. I yelp as I tried to evade the attack: managing to roll over to the side. Primal tried to follow up with his tail; however, I expected this move. I jumped and ran up their tail, traveling up their backside before punching them in the jaw…jumping away afterward.
It did leave a small mark, but they were now angrier than before. Sure enough, the reptile leaped at me, and I retaliated by throwing my blue-green shield at them. It momentarily stuns them, and it gives me the perfect opportunity to find cover quickly. I panted, exhausted from my attacks. I can't do this for very long…if they get me in a bad spot…I'm done for…
The interdimensional monstrosity snarls, saliva drips from its bloodied maw. I felt their presence…they KNEW where I was. I drew in a sharp breath to prepare myself for another attack; however, before anything could be done: an ironwood acorn struck the top of the Primal Beast's head. We both look over to see the person responsible, "hey, snakeface, over 'ere!" It was Hoodwink and she was waving her arms out to get the monster's attention.
I backed away as the primitive beast across from me decided to turn its interest on the squirrel. Immediately after, it began giving chase and I was forced to follow behind. Hoodwink dodged her nemesis: zigzagging across the forest floor as if to taunt him.
Her taunt proved a bit too much, for the Primal had had enough. It uprooted a tree in frustration and threw it at the rodent. With haste, Hood's claws dug into a trunk, and she circled up a tree. The projectile struck the tree the arboreal creature had climbed, and she is forced to jump off to land on another truck across the way. The Primal Beast slammed its fists on the ground: roaring the loudest it had ever done before charging for the squirrel. She, by that time, had reached a clearing in the forest, but she had been momentarily stunned by the roar. Despite my cries for her to look out, she couldn't react on time: the Beast was on top of her!
Once I approached the two, my eyes widened in dread as Hoodwink is struck by the monster and she is sent flying in the air. It can't be, this can't be happening! After all we've been through…it can't end like this! Y-you'll pay for this!
Hoodwink's body lay limp across the forest floor…unmoving…it's surely a sight I never wanted to see, and now I am left to finish the job.
And so, as I stomped toward the Beast, my intentions were as clear as day I see it: Hoodwink's body exploded into a puff of blue smoke and disappeared quickly. I am left confused, stopping in my tracks to wonder what the hell happened!? The reptilian close to me was also confused but soon growled.
W-wait…what if…Hoodwink…
"Ya almost had me there, pea for brains!" Sure enough, we hear the anthropomorphic being up on a tree above us, laughing mischievously. She's alright, Hoodwink's alright! T-then what was that…a decoy of sorts…never mind that! Soon afterward, she jumped away. I had taken the opportunity to jump in the air and slam into the scaly beast: forcing them into the ground momentarily. I tried to get away to safety, but our foe grabbed me with both paws. I yelled as they threw me into the ground like a plastic toy: forming a small crater. I should have died…but thanks to my current, resilient, form I survived. That didn't mean it didn't hurt like hell! I tried to stand up again and join my friend, but judging from my injuries…I won't be doing any of that anytime soon.
That meant it was all up to Hoodwink now…
In fact, I felt shell-shocked from that attack by Primal Beast, and all it had to do was finish me off; however, as if another miracle came down from the sky, the squirrel appeared. She landed on the beast's back…shooting a bolt into their shoulder. The interdimensional creature roared in pain, throwing me to the side before focusing their efforts on their ultimate enemy. Again, he proves just as fast in reacting as the rodent is and manages to grab her with a paw. It brought her up to its face, snarling in anger…saliva dripping from its jagged mouth. Hoodwink, however, didn't react as much as I expected her to. Instead, she made a smug grin and shouted, "outta'tha way, Caleb!"
I saw a blue light emanating from one of the trees…another creature hopped down…displaying the Gleipnir. That meant the one Primal Beast was holding is another decoy! The REAL Hoodwink dropped an empty bottle to the floor (which had a few yellow drops left in it.) Unbeknownst to me, it was an Illusion Rune.) The primitive reptile looked over to see the female squirrel he's holding waving goodbye before it vanished into a plume of smoke. This is all a trap laid by her, this is it!
Hoodwink, warrior of Tomo'kan, starts running toward her life-long nemesis…yelling as loud as she can before jumping very high in the air. She had the biggest, most confident, grin on her muzzle and time seemed to slow all around us…it proved to be the most epic experience I have ever experienced thus far. I knew, in that instant…everything led up to this moment…this was it…the moment she had long waited for…
Hood slammed the spiky hammer into the ground…sending bright blue electricity toward the Primal Beast and me. The lightning was creating a line of destruction behind it…I used the last of my strength to get out of the way just as the Primal Beast is entrapped by Gleipnir. The effect left the monster trapped in a cage of pure energy that it could not escape and soon the light surrounding them got brighter and brighter. First as bright as a car's headlights and then…as bright as the sun.
Hoodwink and I had to quickly shield our eyes to prevent blindness, but thankfully it was over quickly…actually in a matter of seconds.
We looked over to see where the beast was…there was nothing but a searing crater left…the Primal Beast was gone: the last of their painful roars echoed through the forest all around us…fading into nothing…
In the wake of what just transpired we both recovered slowly: with Hoodwink scurrying over to me, "are you 'right, mate?" She had asked, helping me up. I shook my head, disoriented from the fight and the shock from Gleipnir. I had cuts and bruises all over…I can barely stay standing…but I am alive and so is Hood and that's all that matters.
Still, my thoughts went over to the squirrel beside me. With a low, pain-filled, raspy voice I asked, "are you okay?"
"I asked you" She retorted. I nodded, chuckling a bit…knowing that she was truly worried for my well-being. I glanced over at the charred ground where the monster formerly was, "d-did we do it?"
Hoodwink herself had to think about it, "he's gone…we…we did it, Caleb!"
I gave a soft smile to her, and she returned the gesture. She got even more excited once the thought sank in harder, "I can't believe it! T-the Primal Beast…he's gone!"
After so many years running from the creature, helplessly watching it wreak havoc on her adopted home, watching kindred souls get trampled by it…it was a relief…a BIG relief! The Beast that had haunted her, the only thing Hoodwink truly feared in the forest, is no more. Tomo'kan is now MUCH safer thanks to their efforts. The former human had helped her get rid of such a terror…went through so much to get the one item that helped them stop the Primal Beast. Caleb the "Fox", she reckoned, was excited as well…despite the serious injuries he had gotten.
Of course I was hurt…but I didn't care, I wanted to celebrate despite the pain I felt. Sure enough, Hoodwink hopped excitedly over to me, "WE DID IT!" Not thinking much: she had tackled me.
"Ow…ow…ow!" I tried my best to ignore the pain but seeing her in so much joy kind of negated much of it…and I couldn't help but smile sheepishly. One thing led to another and now the rodent is on top of me…jumping on my belly, "the Primal Beast is gone! I can't believe it, mate!" I wanted to be as hyper as her, and celebrate in the same fashion as the girl…it's a well-deserved victory and we're just two happy creatures. Amid our excitement, something in us made the two of us freeze in place…as our eyes locked on to one another.
The world around us slowed…the only thoughts that went through our minds were of each other. Our breaths slowed and deepened…our cheeks heated up as if caught on fire. Raw instincts took over and Hoodwink and I moved closer and closer…until ultimately came the fateful moment: our lips touched. We didn't even think about it until it happened, and we both pulled away quickly. Our eyes were as wide as they could ever be up until that moment…especially Hood, and she moved away for a moment (seemingly embarrassed.)
"I-I'm sorry…" she said in her usual "Kiwi' accent. I nodded, sitting up…couching once to clear the air, "that…came out of nowhere, huh?"
Did it, though…or was it our feelings for each other finally blossoming? I didn't want this feeling to end. I felt as though our embrace could have lasted forever…that moment when Hoodwink and I could no longer hold back and let our true emotions shine.
After getting over the shock of our kiss, we stared at one another again.
"C-Caleb…"
Deep inside I felt the same allure…the same gratification as she did. I examined her, the person I cared about the most in my life. I looked into those deep ocean-blue eyes…that familiar comforting smile…her voice that always seemed to make my skin shiver.
It was true and I didn't want to deny it anymore. There was nothing left to stop me from thinking of it either: I'm in love…
Across from me, Hoodwink felt the same. I had done so much for her; she knew I cared…that I wasn't just some (former) human who could care less about the forest and what goes on in it. My commitment to her was shown and she KNEW this. She looked into my own eyes (formerly green but now blue due to my transformation.) Hood, however, didn't see the blue shade…she saw my original color inside, the human she had grown attached to…one of the only people the squirrel truly opened to in her life. In many ways, she saw a little bit of herself in me: the tenaciousness, the bravery, and the same passion.
And so, the anthropomorphic red squirrel stepped closer again towards me, and sure enough…instincts drew us together again. She had placed a paw on the side of my furry face (and something in me returned the gesture in kind.) Hoodwink's eyes were now half-lidded…filled with intense emotion and, most importantly: desire…
I laid my emotions out on her and we closed our eyes once again: welcoming the comforting sensations again.
We soon move away…with Hoodwink giggling at all the (supposed) absurdity with us. She gave a smug grin at me and said with a jab, "I guess with the Primal Beast gone this makes me Tomo'kan's top dog, eh?"
"Always was" I grinned back. Unfortunately, that's when all the energy left in me finally leaves and I finally collapsed before Hood rushed for me. The last thing I saw was Hoodwink's concerned face before darkness enveloped me.
…
Later that day, Hoodwink helped me into a small refuge inside a downed tree for the night, my injuries needed healing. It's obvious to us both: we were both exhausted from our travels and our final battle with the Primal Beast.
The sound of the nocturnal forest drowns the air as the moons cast shadows in the forest. I had woken up after being out for so long. The first thing I see is Hoodwink and the immeasurable concern that overwhelms her. Relief soon took over and she scurried over to me. I feel a soft paw on my furry shoulder (my tunic seemed to have been removed by her) "how 'ya feeling?"
"Like someone dropped an anchor on my head…" I stated weakly, rubbing my head in the process.
"Don't tempt me" she quipped in a silly manner. I leaned up a bit to see that I was covered in leaves of some sort, and with a raised brow I asked, "w-what the?"
"Tango. I hope they're working…they usually do…takes a while to work though."
I lie back down and sigh, "I-I think they are…thank you…"
Silence prevailed for a slight moment before I turned my head toward the cartoonish squirrel, "Hood…"
"Yeah, mate?"
"Was I dreaming that we beat the Primal Beast, or did we actually do it?" She smiled at that and giggled slightly, "we did, you didn't dream that egghead."
Then I thought about what happened afterward and I couldn't help but scoff, "beating the bastard isn't the only thing I didn't dream." A half-lidded look is made by the rodent toward me, leaning in slightly, "we…kissed, didn't we?"
"Ya sure it wasn't a dream?" She asked with a smug.
I scoffed again, looking right into her eyes, "no…" I groaned afterward, feeling a sharp pain on my side before she tried helping readjust my position, "ow…ow…Hoodwink…this is bad, isn't it?"
"Caleb…you'll be 'right, the Tangies are definitely doing their stuff" she explained but it seemed as though they weren't…still, I took her word for it. Something inside me wanted to tell her something I wanted to tell her for so long. "Hood…Hood…I-I want you to know…ending up here...was the best thing that ever happened to me" I said with heart as she looked at me, holding on my paw, "t…thanks for being there for me…when no one else was…"
She got quiet, eyeing me with interest and soon her heart swelled at the comment I made. She gave me the first smile I'd seen all day, the smile I've grown to love seeing. I continued, "I'm happiest when I'm with you…the most wonderful person I know."
Not a second after she crossed her arms with a smirk running along her short snout…her pink nose twitched in amusement at my comment, "I wanted to say that first, fox face" she giggled a bit, leaning in as I did too. As before, our muzzles touched, and the same wonderful moment happened again…only this time it was longer.
A few hours later I recovered just enough that we could resume our journey home, but soon we moved from our temporary hideout into a more suitable spot…in a new den in the forest. It had a clearing that had a beautiful backdrop of some snowy peaks…and an extension of the magical forest Tomo'kan. The most gorgeous aspect of it, however, was the single, tall, tree that was situated beside a decently sized lake.
We moved our stuff in and got situated. Not too long after making ourselves right at home, and organizing everything inside, the Gleipnir had vanished.
One day the weapon was on a small table…idle…and the next thing we knew (as if it were magic) it was gone. We both pondered on what exactly happened (whether one of us was untruthful as to what happened to it) but somehow…we knew someone else had taken it. I thought maybe somehow it was the work of that Shopkeeper, and maybe he wanted it for himself.
Maybe it was for the right reasons: no weapon like the Gleipnir should be in anyone's grasp for very long…
Either way, we soon let the "incident" go, for Hoodwink and I began to focus our efforts on making Tomo'kan a better place. By banishing the Primal Beast we had accomplished the first step, and it was time to undo the corrupt influence outsiders had on these woods. After all, this is my home now and lots of work needed to be done to ensure no evil could ever take up shop in this forest ever again…
What we hadn't realized…was that this was just the beginning of an even greater adventure for the both of us…
End of Book II
…
Hi everyone, I hope that was a satisfying conclusion to this segment of the story. The next part will be the epilogue to the story and how it leads Hoodwink into the battle arena of Dota 2. I hope you all enjoyed it and take care!
