Chapter 4

New Faces

Under the night sky, a lone kangaroo was grazing. As it feasted on the dry vegetation it scratched behind its head with its hind foot.

Its ear caught the sound of a snapping twig. The marsupial shot up, its ears turning this way and that as it listened for danger.

It sniffed the air for danger. Each heartbeat grew louder and louder as its nervousness increased. It looked around, not seeing anything... until it turned its head. The last thing it saw was the open jaws of the breast then everything went black.

The morning sunlight peaked through the orangish-red curtains. Velma was the first to wake up. She stretched her arms before getting out of bed and tip-toed passed Shaggy's bedroom as loud snoring came from inside. They were all sharing the same hotel room, which had a small TV, a green sofa, a small kitchen area, a single bathroom and three separate bedrooms. She headed over to the kitchen and put the kettle on. As she waited for the water to finish boiling, she read one of her books.

"Morning Velma." Shaggy yawned as he entered the living room followed by Scooby. "Rorning Relma."

"Morning guys? Sleep well," she asked.

"Ronderfully."

"Like you said, buddy. Slept like a log." He turned on the TV.

"Tea or coffee?"

"Coffee with three sugars please Velm."

"Rake rhat rwo," Scooby added as he and his pal watched a cartoon about a mystery-solving band and their drummer great white shark.

Velma got out five cups and placed a tea bag in one while putting a spoonful of coffee into two others. The kettle had just finished boiling when Daphne and her boyfriend came into the room.

"Morning gang." the woman with long red hair said as she and Fred sat down at the table.

"Morning Daphne," Shaggy said.

"Rleep rell?"

"Sure did," Fred stated.

"Tea or Coffee."

"Coffee please no sugar." The couple unintentionally said in unison earning chuckles from the others.

"Like you two always know what the other's going to say."

"I'll say. You two must be the biggest lovebirds I've ever met." Velma said, pouring the hot water in the cups."

"What can I say, we know each other too well." Daphne lovingly stated, her hand placed delicately on his chest.

"Easy Daph." He chuckled.

Velma playfully rolled her eyes as she gave them their hot beverages before joining Shaggy on the sofa. She gave him and Scooby their drinks before returning to her book.

Later that morning they were taking a river tour on a small white boat. They and several other passengers looked in wonderment as they looked at the gorgeous scenery of the natural world around them.

"Folks, if you look to your left you'll see a croc basking in the sun." the captain announced.

They looked to the left and saw the enormous reptile lying on the river bank with its mouth wide open. Its sharp white teeth glinted in the sunlight.

"Jinkies. I won't want to be in the water with that one."

"I'll say," Shaggy said.

"There are worse things in those waters than crocodiles."

The gang turned around to see a tall slim woman with short brown hair, dressed in a brown button shirt and shorts. She walked up to them and leaned on the boat rail. "They're said to be a creature in those whats that even the biggest crocs fear."

"Rh-rhe-rher-rhere ris?" the Great Dame shook in fear, his teeth chattering like pennies in a money box.

"You bet your bloody life on it." the woman said before introducing herself. "Name's Lisa."

"Fred Jones and this is my girlfriend Daphne Blake. And this is Velma Dinkley." The blonde man in a blue short-sleeved shirt and shorts was introduced.

"And who's this handsome devil?" Lisa asked, fluttering her eyes as she looked at the man in green.

"I'm um, Norville Rogers," he said gulping. "But every... everyone calls me Shaggy."

"So what is this creature that can scare crocs?" the woman in a purple sleeveless top and green shorts asked.

"It's called a bunyip."

"Rwhat's rthat?"

"I heard of those." The woman in an orange short-sleeved shirt and red shorts stated. "It said to be a mythical amphibian-like creature that inhabits the swamps and rivers."

"By any chance is it a vegetarian?" Shaggy asked hopefully.

"It's a pure carnivore mate. Drags its defenceless prey down into the depths and can eat them in one bite." Lisa clarified.

Shaggy and Scooby turned as white as fresh snow, whimpering in fear.

"I don't think there's anything to worry about," Fred reassured.

"It sounds like it's just a myth like bigfoot," Daphne added.

Lisa chuckled. "Oh, believe me, it's more than a myth mates. See ya around." She turned and began to walk off, looking back briefly to Shaggy. "Bye, handsome."

He chuckled nervously, blushing.

"I think someone likes you," Velma said.

"You think so?" Shaggy asked.

"Well she did openly flirt with you," Fred stated.

"And she did wink at you before she left," Daphne added.

"Oh, well... she might just be trying to be friendly." Shaggy lied to himself.

The other three looked at each other knowingly. "If you say so." Daphne teased.

"Folks, we'll be pulling into pour shortly. Anybody getting off, please head to the starboard. Make sure you have all your personal belongings with you. Thank you for riding with us and enjoy your day."

"Well, this is our stop," Fred stated.

The gang got off the boat, chatting among themselves. As they walked down the path, the hungry duo spotted a food stand.

"Excuse us for a sec," Shaggy said to the gang before he and Scooby.

"Oh, brother." Fred rolled his eyes.

"Those two." Daphne chuckled to herself. "Always hungry."

"Two double hamburgers with extra letters, extra tomatoes, extra cheese, extra mustard and extra ketchup."

"Rnd rxtra rot roruce." Scooby added.

"Would you like fries?" the owner asked.

"Uh-ha." They drooled.

Fred and the girls took around the souvenir shop at the many items to buy. As Daphne looked at the clothes, she found a t-shirt with a picture of an unusual-looking creature with green slimy skin and red eyes with its webbed hands held high above its head and its jaws wide open. "Watch out for the bunyip." she read.

Her partner and best friend joined her, taking a look at the blue shorts.

"So that's the creature that haunts the waters?" Fred joked.

"Looks really scary," Velma joked.

"Still makes a nice image for a T-shirt though," Daphne added.

"That isn't what the bunyip looks like."

The three turned to see an elderly Aboriginal with grey hair and a beard. He was dressed in a dark blue vest and trousers. Around his neck, he wore a gold medallion.

"That design was made for cheap merchandise. The man who drew that has never seen a real one." The man explained as he approached them. "Then again, if he had they would be here today."

"What do mean?" Fred asked.

"The bunyip used to terries this land. Hunting down anything it could. Very few people managed to escape its grasp. For centuries it would claim the lives of thousands of people, dragging them down into the depths of its watery home. Then one day three members of a local tribe managed to drive it away with a powerful chant. As the years continued they would this chant to scare off the bunyip. Unfortunately, some used a different chant, one that could allow them to control the beast. They believed that with the bunyip by their side, they would be invincible and rule over the world. Fortunately, none of them was able to succeed. It was only twenty years ago that the beast disappeared without a trace. Many speculated that the monster had finally starved to death, however, it is said that someday the beast would return."

"Jeepers," Daphne exclaimed. "That's some myth."

"Trust me, young lady. It is no myth." He turned away and left them.

"If bunyips are as bad as he says they are then I sure hope we never met one."

"I won't worry too much," Fred said. "By the sounds of it no longer exists."

Meanwhile Shaggy and Scooby were eating their burgers. "Like is Australian food great or what Scoob?"

"Reah reat." Scooby chuckled.

"I see someone's got an appetite."

They turned to see Lisa standing beside them. Shaggy blushed a little.

"Rcooby roo, rhere re rou," he mumbled through the side of his mouth. "Rust roming raphne." He sped off, leaving his best friend to be alone with her.

"Oh... hi again Lisa." he gulped before letting out a chuckle. "Well, you know, when you got to eat you... um... well."

"You're one funny guy." she complimented.

"Jees, thanks."

"So Shaggy you and your friends got any places?"

"Oh, not really we're just winging it. You know just taking in the sights as we go."

"I was wondering if you and pals would like to the concert next week?" She handed him a poster which read "Outback Rock! 22nd September. 10 pm"

"Say this great way for Fred and Daphne to celebrate their anniversary," he exclaimed.

"So you'll come?"

"Like we won't miss it for the world."

"Great. I've heard it's going to be groovy."

"Groovy?" he blushed.

"Sorry to end this conversation, but I have to get going. Bills don't pay themselves you know." Lisa began to walk off. "See around handsome."

"Bye, Lisa." He let out a loving sign as a small blush appeared on his cheeks.

"Rucky rou." Scooby congratulated.

"Yeah, lucky me."