Forbidden love for a Barkley
Part Twenty Nine:
"Pride and Prejudice, pt. 5: Procione, Cerva, e Tamia!"
Due to the circumstances being what they are, Jarrod and Paulie came to an agreement on holding off talking about "the deal" until the following morning. Jarrod would voice that Nick and Carmine may have washed up somewhere which leads to Massimo, Chet, and Heath to want to start up a search party only for Paulie to state it would be better to wait until morning. Much to his surprise, Jarrod would agree and tell the story of how one time, he, Nick, and Tom helped search for a young girl, saying how they searched the first day then at the suggestion made by Tom, they camped out when it became nightfall and waited until morning to search again and find the little girl. Paulie would remark that Tom was a wise man to wait until morning and warn of the dangers that can happen during the hours of the night to which Jarrod agreed wholeheartedly and told the story of Nick and Pilon the gypsy woman rescuing a little girl named Sarah-Jane from a well. Due to being surprised at hearing about Pilon since she hadn't heard the story about Nick's encounter with her, Stefania started to get a bit jealous which drew Paulie's attention. She and Paulie would shoot the breeze only for it to come to a close when he acted all nice and she called out his hypocrisy which resulted in him walking off. Unable to sit down and wait, Heath decided to ride off to see if Nick and Carmine washed up someplace, Jarrod joining him. Victoria, Stefania, and Paulie would each shoot the breeze, before Stefania would walk over to the remnants of the broken bridge. After a few minutes passed, not only would Jarrod and Heath return, but a man the Barkleys' knew, Jess Chaney, would approach and ask if they saw his daughter Mavis who hadn't returned from school all day. Jarrod and Victoria would suggest he camp out with them and when morning came, he, the Barkleys, and the Manganos would start their search in the morning, which he accepts. Fast forward to the next morning, Nick and Carmine would be revealed to have washed up into a cave; Nick under the a pile of rocks and Carmine in the back of the cave. The two men would meet up, have a tense exchange, and now, Nick, being half trapped in the rock pile, would plead with Carmine to help him out. The questions that remain are as follows: Will Carmine help Nick out of the rock pile?, Will Mavis be found?, Will Jarrod reveal his plan?, and most importantly, Will the Mangano men & their friends realize Stefania was right about Nick and his family being good people? Stay tuned and find out!
Author's Note: I do NOT own The Big Valley or its characters. I ONLY own this fic and the characters of: Stefania Mangano, Carmine Mangano Sr, Carmine's friends, Paulie Mangano, Italia Mangano, Chet and the men Heath rounded up, Jess and Mavis Chaney, Leonard Barkley, Seth & his gang, and the Mangano family. This is the fifth part of however many parts of this multi chapter saga. As you can very well see by the title, I modeled this chapter after the Jane Austen book, tv shows, and movies of the same name. Full disclosure, I have neither read the book, watched the 1958, 1967, 1980, 1995, or 2014 series, nor seen the 1940 or 2005 film. I just think the title is fitting :D
WARNING: There may be some instances of profanity in this chapter. If it makes you uncomfortable, I understand and...you get the idea by now when it comes to the "WARNING" label :D
(Flashback to part 28)
"Oh, we found her the next morning. She had fallen into a hole while running around. Nick tied a piece of rope around himself and went down while father and I held onto the rope. Long story short, it was a harrowing experience due to the ground being very loose, but we got the girl to safety and back to her father. Nick would have another go at saving a little girl named Sarah-Jane who fell down an old well only this time he had a gypsy girl named Pilon aiding him." Jarrod told him.
"Pilon? He didn't tell me about this Pilon woman." Stefania seemed a little taken aback.
"Stefania, sono io o avverto un po' di gelosia in te? (Stefania, is it me or do I sense a little jealousy from you?)" Paulie turned to Stefania.
"Zio Paulie, con tutto il rispetto, cosa te ne frega? Odi Nick proprio come fa papà. (Uncle Paulie, with all due respect, what do you care? You hate Nick just like dad does.)" Stefania gave him a weird look.
"Stefania, posso mettere da parte il mio disprezzo per i bianchi quando c'è la possibilità che una tragedia incombe su ciascuno di noi. (Stefania, I can put my disdain for the white people aside when there's the possibility of a tragedy hanging over each of our heads.)" Paulie told her.
"Zio Paulie, io credo che sia così come credo che agli asini possano crescere le ali e volare. (Uncle Paulie, I believe that just like I believe that donkeys can grow wings and fly.)" Stefania gave Paulie a look, clearly showing she wasn't buying any of what he just said.
"Perché mi guardi in quel modo e che tipo di crepa era quella? Cosa intendi con questa osservazione? (Why are you looking at me like that and what kind of crack was that? What do you mean by that remark?)" Paulie raised an eyebrow.
"Quello che intendo è che ora ti comporti bene quando pochi istanti prima, tu e papà avete detto cose orribili su Nick, tra gli altri. Troppa ipocrisia? (What I mean is that now you're acting nice when moments earlier, you along with dad said horrible things about Nick among others. Hypocrisy much?)" Stefania stood up, walked over to the water, and stared at it.
"Stefania, cosa c'è di così ipocrita nel fatto che io e tuo padre siamo così protettivi nei tuoi confronti? (Stefania, what's so hypocritical about your dad and me being protective of you?)" Paulie walked up to Stefania and stood behind her.
"Zio Paulie, non sto dicendo che il tuo amore e la tua protezione e l'amore e la protezione di papà siano ipocriti. Ciò che è ipocrita è che ti comporti in modo gentile e stavi solo parlando con Jarrod quando all'inizio dicevi cose orribili. Non ha senso. (Uncle Paulie, I am not saying your love and protectiveness and papa's love and protectiveness is hypocritical. What's hypocritical is that you are acting all nice and were just talking with Jarrod when early on, you were saying rotten things. It doesn't make sense.)" Stefania shook her head.
"Stefania, come ho detto, posso mettere da parte il mio disprezzo per i bianchi, cosa che sto facendo ora, perché c'è una possibile tragedia che incombe sulle nostre teste. Detto questo, non cambia affatto i miei sentimenti verso i bianchi. Non li perdonerò mai per quello che hanno fatto alla nostra famiglia. Mai! (Stefania, like I said, I can put my disdain for white people aside which I am as of now, because there's a possible tragedy looming over our heads. That being said, it doesn't change my feelings towards the white people at all. I'll never forgive them for what they have done to our family. Ever!)" Paulie explained or at least tried to.
Stefania, still with her back to Paulie, didn't say anything and shook her head, again, following it with a long sigh. Paulie went to say something, but seeing that he couldn't possibly convince his niece, walked off instead.
Heath, not wanting to wait until morning, walked over to Charger and started to saddle him up. Seeing this, Jarrod walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Before you ask, I'm going to go search for Nick and Mr. Mangano." Heath said, his back still facing Jarrod.
"Heath, it's almost nightfall and did you not hear the story I just told?" Jarrod put his hands on his hips.
"I heard it loud and clear, big brother." Heath nodded, before turning his attention to him, "However, that won't stop me from searching for them. I mean one of us has to try."
"Heath, like father-" Jarrod was cut off.
"I don't care what father told you and Nick during that time. Our brother is out there and so is Stefania's father! I'm going to go see if they washed up." Heath got mounted, "You're welcome to join me."
Jarrod opened his mouth to say something, but stopped in his tracks when Heath rode off.
"Jarrod..." Victoria walked up to him, "Where is Heath going?"
"He's going to go search for Nick and Mr. Mangano." Jarrod sighed and shook his head, "He's making a mistake, mother. It's almost nightfall and heaven knows who lurks up here during the hours of the night."
"I understand and share your concerns, Jar-" Victoria was cut off.
"Then again, Heath is right. It's not just anybody out there. It's Nick and Mr. Mangano. I'm going to go with Heath." Jarrod walked over to his horse and started to saddle her up, "I know what you're going to say, mother and before you do, don't try to stop me."
"I was going to say that I understand and share your concerns, but it doesn't hurt to try. It is still daylight out. Sunset, but still daylight to a degree and it doesn't hurt for one of us to go off and search." Victoria put her hand on Jarrod's arm.
"Well, I'm going to join Heath. If I didn't, I'd never forgive myself." Jarrod gave her a hug before getting mounted and riding off.
Victoria watched Jarrod ride off before going over to Stefania and standing next to her.
"Ciao, Signora Barkley." Stefania said while still staring at the water.
"I know how and what you're feeling, but in spite of the worried feeling, I'm sure they're alright, Stefania." Victoria tried to sound reassuring & optimistic even though she didn't believe her own words.
"It's all my fault." Stefania sighed.
"Stefania, it's nobody's fault. I-" Victoria was cut off.
"It's just one of those things that happens, right?" Stefania seemingly finished what Victoria was saying.
"Unfortunately, it is, but it was also an accident. Nobody knew that bridge was going to collapse or those waves would sweep Nick and your father away. They were both just...strange and shocking occurances. Of course, we're going to fear the worse and have that guilty feeling, but we need to be strong for them. No matter how hard it is. We just need to remember that they are strong men and very tough, too. In fact, since we know how tough they are, do you think a wave of water would take them down?" Victoria placed a hand on her shoulder.
"No, but I still feel responsible, Signora Barkley. I still do." Stefania turned to her, "No matter how many times I am told that it is nobody's fault, I still feel it in my heart. I feel in my heart that I am."
"You're not alone, Stefania. We're all feeling that way, but Nick and your father wouldn't want us to mope around and blame ourselves. It doesn't accomplish or solve anything." Victoria told her.
"I know. I just wish I believed it." Stefania sighed, before sadly walking off.
Victoria watched Stefania walk over to the remnants of the broken bridge and sported a sympathetic look on her face.
"Poor girl." Paulie walked up to Victoria.
"I wish she didn't feel responsible." Victoria said.
"Same here and I also wish that she would believe that I can put my disdain for your people aside when a possible tragedy looms over all of us." Paulie told her.
"I'm glad to hear that, Paulie and maybe just maybe you and your friends might see that my family and I are not bad people." Victoria smiled a little.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Signora Barkley and while you're at it, don't put words into my mouth. I simply said I can put my disdain aside. I didn't say this situation will change my mind. There's a big difference." Paulie said in a very snide way.
*A few minutes later*
After looking around to see if Nick and Carmine washed up somewhere, Jarrod and Heath were heard returning. Feeling what seemed to be a glimmer of hope, Victoria, Stefania, and Paulie went over to the two men.
"Jarrod, Heath, anything?" Victoria asked.
"Yeah, did my brother wash up?" Paulie asked.
Before Jarrod and Heath could say a word, a voice was heard saying: "Help! Somebody...please help!" followed by the sound of running footsteps. This caught everyone's attention as they were now looking around to hopefully find the source of the sound. A figure that appeared to be that of a man came running towards them.
"White man!" Massimo grabbed his shotgun.
"That's Jess Chaney. I wonder what he's doing up here." Victoria walked over to the man.
"Victoria Barkley? I didn't expect to-" Jess cut himself off in order to catch his breath.
"It's nice to see you too, Jess. What brings you up here?" Victoria asked.
"Jess?" Jarrod spoke up.
"Sorry...just needed to..catch my breath...there." Jess cleared his throat, "Anyways, have any of you seen Mavis anywhere?"
"No, we haven't. Why?" Jarrod shook his head.
"Mavis never came home from school and I've been looking everywhere she could've gone. I haven't been able to find her." Jess had a worried look on his face, "God only knows where she is!"
"What makes you think she is up in these parts?" Heath asked.
"Mavis comes up here at times with her friends plus this is the way she usually goes to and from school." Jess sighed and ran a hand over his face, "She's always home on time! She's always been conscientious of everything ranging from homework to chores. Oh my lord, if something's-"
"Jess, you must not think that way. Look, how about you stay here in this camp with us for the night and tomorrow morning, we'll each search for Mavis?" Victoria suggested.
"I-I suppose, Victoria. I really do not intend to intrude or anything." Jess replied.
"No intrusion. Besides, we're searching for our family members, too. Nick and Carmine got swept away and...God only knows." Victoria's voice started to crack.
"Who's Carmine?" Jess raised an eyebrow.
"Where are my manners? Ciao, Signor Chaney. My name is Stefania Mangano. This is my zio Paulie and our friends: Massimo, Vito, Enzo, Arturo, and Luca." Stefania introduced herself, Paulie, and their friends to Jess, "Carmine is my papa and Nick is my...good friend."
"Very pleased to meet you, ma'am and the rest." Jess shook her hand and nodded at Paulie & the others who followed suit.
"Jarrod, Heath, anything on Nick and Carmine?" Victoria turned to her sons.
"Afraid not, mother." Heath sadly shook his head before getting dismounted, "However, it is nightfall and morning will come soon enough. That's when we'll find Nick, Carmine, and Mavis."
"I sincerely hope so." Victoria sighed.
"We will, mother. I know we will." Jarrod also got dismounted, walked over to Victoria, and kissed her on the side of her head.
"We must." Victoria quietly said to herself.
"My poor little Mavis. She's-She's all I have left of Joanna. God rest that lovely woman's soul." Jess took his hat off and placed it over his heart, "My beautiful sweet darling Joanna."
"She was an amazing woman, Jess. She truly was." Jarrod walked over to the man, "I do not know how we all got through her funeral."
"I don't know what I'd do without my little Mavy. She's the sole reason I keep going and if something has happened to her-" Jess was cut off.
"Jess, don't worry yourself none. We'll find her. I know we will. Now, how's about we turn in for the night and start our search at sun up?" Jarrod put a comforting hand on Jess's back.
Jess didn't say anything and just nodded.
*The very next morning, somewhere far from the broken bridge*
The sun was shining and all of the creatures were going about their business. This was all on the outside, because inside a dark cave, there was nothing, but total darkness with the exception of a small hole above the cave showing some light.
Over in the right corner was a pile of rocks and after a good 10 minutes passed, the pile started to move. At first the movement seemed weak, but it got stronger and stronger after a few seconds. As the pile continued to move, in the back of the cave, a man was heard groaning. The groaning caught the attention of whatever or whoever was under the pile, because after a rock was hit hard enough to be sent flying, a hand emerged. This was followed by another hand emerging and finally, the figure of a man. Well, only half, because the other half was still trapped under the rocks.
As the man continued trying to get the rest of himself out of the rock pile, the other man continued to groan.
"Are you alright?" the man called out.
"Who's there?" the other man quit groaning and asked.
"Me. Look brother, try to get up and follow the sound of my voice." the man said.
"Okay...I guess." the other man was heard standing up and walking.
"Just follow the sound of my voice." the man instructed.
The other man's footsteps were heard approaching.
"That's it. Keep coming." the man instructed some more.
Before the blink of an eye, the figure of the other man was seen and once he and man #1 came face-to-face, their eyes got big.
"Nick Barkley? You're in here, too?" the other man asked.
"Yes, Carmine. I am. We both got-" Nick was cut off.
"That's Mr. Mangano to you." Carmine reminded him.
"Normally, I would say "Mr. Mangano", but right now, we're Nick and Carmine." Nick told him.
"Nick, we're not anything except two people who-" Carmine was interrupted.
"We're two people who just awakened after being unconscious which resulted from being swept away from our families over a waterfall and into this cave." Nick pointed out the obvious.
"Unfortunately, I had to get swept away with you." Carmine said in a very snide way.
"Look, I know this is no picnic for either of us, but we're together whether we like it or not, so we may as well play nice." Nick gave him a firm look.
"I suppose, but it doesn't change my mind about you and your kind & it doesn't make me believe you're worthy of my Stefania!" Carmine slapped the wall of the cave, "Plus, it doesn't make me believe you're innocent in what happened to her!"
"Carmine, is this really necessary? I mean we just narrowly escape our own deaths and you're still blaming me! Can't you for once put aside your hatred and everything? After all, even though we know we're alive and barely with it, our families may be thinking otherwise. Some may be blaming themselves, too. Why don't you think about that?" Nick folded his arms.
Carmine didn't say anything and let what Nick said sink in & process. He would never ever admit it, but he knew Nick was right. For all the two men knew, their families could be thinking they're dead. Unbeknownst to them, they had that thought enter their minds despite trying hard to remain optimistic.
"Well?" Nick asked.
"I never thought I would ever ever say this, but you are right, Nick. Our families may be thinking we have gone over to the other side." Carmine nodded and sighed, "Alright. I will put my disdain for you and your kind aside, but once we are reunited with our families, the temporary truce is over. Capisce?"
"Fair enough." Nick reluctantly nodded.
"Good. Now, let's get out of this cave and hurry back to our families." Carmine started to walk off.
"Uh, Carmine?" Nick cleared his throat.
"What now?! Don't delay our reunion with our families and the end of the temporary truce!" Carmine let out an annoyed grunt.
"I'm stuck in this rock pile. I need help!" Nick told him.
Carmine made an annoyed noise and kicked the ground.
"Please, Carmine!" Nick started to plead, "I think the lower half of my body is starting to lose some feeling, not to mention that some of these rocks are crushing my legs plus my lower back and I can't lie, it hurts like hell! Please, help me. Please."
(Now)
"Ohhh! Alright, but..." Carmine walked over to Nick and started to clear the rocks away, "You better keep this between us. If you tell this to anybody, I will deny it. Capisce?"
Nick didn't say anything, instead having a burst of laughter come out.
"Are you laughing at me?! You're giggling at me!" Carmine stopped clearing the rocks, holding one up, looking as if he was about to chuck it at Nick.
"No, Carmine." Nick shook his head and snorted, "No, you said something I always say, especially to my siblings!"
"I did?" Carmine asked, slowly lowering his hand that was holding the rock.
"Oh, yes. In fact, one time, I told Jarrod I was proud of him and he was all...well, he was all "Jarrod about it" and I said to him, quote: "If you ever tell anybody I said that, I will deny it. I swear I will." unquote. That made him be "more Jarrod" about it. Siblings, am I right?" Nick laughed a little more.
Carmine, despite trying hard not to, started chuckling a little.
"Hey! You're smiling and is that chuckling?" Nick took notice of this.
"No!" Carmine quickly got himself all serious or at least tried to, but was failing miserably.
"Yes, it was, Carmine. Do not deny it." Nick replied.
"I was not smiling or chuckling!" Carmine continued to deny it.
"Yes, you were whether you admit it or not." Nick told him.
Carmine scoffed and made a "Hmph!" noise before continuing to dig Nick the rest of the way out of the rock pile. In his eyes, on the outside, he was being what one would call a "humanitarian", but on the inside, he was hating and kicking himself for the very obvious reason; he was helping a white man. He was helping somebody of the very race that caused the premature deaths of Emilio and Santo & assaulted Serafina, Allegra, and most recently, Stefania. He couldn't believe he was helping the white man after what the white man has done to him and his family.
*Carmine's POV*
'What in the hell is wrong with me? What the hell am I doing?! Why? Why am I helping the white man?! Why?! After what his kind did to my family and me, I help him when he's in trouble?! I must be losing it!'
I shake my head.
'Un-f*ing-believable! Why didn't I keep going? Why didn't I just leave this white man here to suffer and let his own kind help him out?! He's NOT my problem! I'm not obligated to help him!'
I look down, realize that I am still digging Nick out of the rock pile, and sigh.
'And yet, I'm still digging him out! I hate myself right now!'
I think about the vow I made after papa and Santo's murders.
'Here I made a promise to my papa and my brother Santo that I would never lend a helping hand to the race that murdered them & yet, here I am, helping a white man! God forgive me for helping my enemy.'
I sigh, again and start to remember what Andrea said about that thing called "having an epiphany", only to quickly shake my head.
'No! No! No, no! I'm not having that! I'm...not...having...that! I'm not having an epiphany! I'm just being...a fool and a humanitarian!'
I nod.
'Yup. I'm being a fool and a humanitarian! If the tables were turned, I know Nick or whoever would leave me to die! I know he wouldn't be trying to dig me out!'
I look up at Nick for a minute and start thinking about the things Stefania said about him & how she along with Nick and his family tried to save me before the water swept Nick and me away.
'Then again, do I know that for sure? Stefania sang his praises and during that harrowing experience yesterday, Nick and his family did try to save me before what happened, so maybe Nick isn't all th-'
I quickly shake my head and remind myself what Nick is & what I am.
'He's a white man, Carmine! A white man! They're all the same! Don't you dare go soft on one now!'
*Outside of Carmine's mind*
While internally battling with himself, Carmine continued to dig Nick out of the rock pile, thus going against his own vow. He wanted to stop and leave, but deep within himself, he knew or had to know that he would come to regret it and it was just as well to "be the bigger better person". Of course, seeing as the Mangano patriarch was a very stubborn man, being the "bigger better person" may not be his cup of tea, especially when it came to those who wronged him.
Nick, with the pain of the rocks crushing his legs and back began to subside a bit, started to help Carmine dig himself out of the rock pile. After all, it'd go faster with two people instead of one, right? Carmine looked up at him and the two locked eyes for a bit before going back to work.
*Approximately, 5 minutes later*
Five minutes passed and after what seemed like an eternity or at the very least, 100 years, Nick was finally freed from the rock pile and doing an act of kindness, albeit very reluctantly and internally hating himself some more, Carmine was helping him walk out of the cave due to not being able to stand seeing Nick struggle a bit, even by limping a little.
'God forgive me for I do not what I'm doing. I should know better than to help the enemy.' Carmine thought, as he and Nick made their way out of the cave to a nearby rock.
"Thank you, Carmine." Nick sat down on the rock.
"Sure." Carmine said in a monotonous way.
"Look, I know your heart wasn't in it, but I appreciate it." Nick told him.
"Don't fall apart or grovel. What's the big deal anyways? I helped you. I was being a humanitarian. Let's leave it there." Carmine held his hand up.
"Carmine, what happened to our agreement of "playing nice"?" Nick asked, folding his arms.
"Don't worry, Nick Barkley. We'll still "play nice". I hate being nice to the likes of you and your kind, but we'll still play nice. That being said, as a friendly reminder, once we get back to our families, this so called truce is finished. Do I make myself clear?!" Carmine paced back and forth.
"And as I said before, fair enough. However, as of now, we're gonna play nice!" Nick gritted his teeth, clearly losing his patience despite trying hard not to lose it.
"And there you go! Typical white man!" Carmine kicked a small rock, "Giving orders to the Italian man! Barking orders as if he is the master and I, the servant!"
"I am not barking orders nor am I acting like a master!" Nick slightly raised his voice.
"Yes, you are and don't deny it! Also, don't you dare bark orders at me!" Carmine walked over to Nick and got nose-to-nose with him, "I'm older than you! Show me respect!"
"No, because you get the respect that you give and I have been trying to be nice to you this whole entire time, but do I get it in return? No!" Nick told him, before shaking his head.
"No, you haven't, you white son of a b*! You and your kind haven't shown my family and me any respect!" Carmine stomped his foot, "If you were so respectful, you wouldn't have let my little Stefania get attacked and r*ped!"
"First of all, calling me a "son of a b*" is an insult to not only me, but my mother and secondly..." Nick paused for a bit, "I didn't let that happen to Stefania and I didn't r*pe her! I didn't do anything wrong! What the hell will it take for you to believe me?! I mean if I did wrong, why just why would I have dove into the water and save you plus why would I be hellbent to get McMahon and his gang if I was the perpetrator? Why? It wouldn't make any sense!"
"Don't you dare talk down to me!" Carmine raised his voice.
"I'm not talking down to you!" Nick stood up, "You're just being pigheaded!"
"Vaffanculo! (F* you!)" Carmine slapped him across the face, leaving another red mark.
"Owww!" Nick grunted.
"Now, you listen here-" Carmine stopped in his tracks when he either heard something or thought he heard something.
"What is it?" Nick asked.
"It sounded like something from the bushes." Carmine looked around.
The sound was heard, again only this time, it sounded closer than it did beforehand. Nick and Carmine turned their attention to where the sound was coming from-a bush-and before the blink of an eye, out from behind the bush came three animals.
"Ohhh! A procione, cervo, e tamia!" Carmine pointed at the animals.
"Huh?" Nick didn't understand.
"Procione is Raccoon in my language. Cervo is Deer in my language and Tamia is Chipmunk in my language." Carmine told him.
"Ohhhh." Nick nodded, "Gotcha."
"You never see a procione, cervo, and tamia together without fighting or I never have." Carmine scratched the back of his head.
"No, you never ever see a chipmunk and raccoon together, because they are natural born prey and predator to each other. Raccoon being the predator and Chipmunk being the prey, obviously." Nick pointed out, "There's got to be a reason these three animals are with each other and seem to be friends."
"You think so?" Carmine raised an eyebrow.
The raccoon stood on its hind legs and chittered at Nick and Carmine, as if to convey some sort of a message to them. The deer echoed whatever the raccoon said by bleating and pawing the ground three times.
"I think we should follow them." Nick was starting to sense something.
"Why?" Carmine asked.
"I don't know why, but for some reason, I think we should follow them to wherever they'll lead us." Nick walked towards the animal trio.
"Are you sure?" Carmine had a look of confusion on his face, clearly not sure on whether to trust Nick and the animals or not.
"These animals may lead us back to our families." Nick suggested.
"I dunno." Carmine shook his head.
"Carmine, it won't hurt to try. Now, let's follow them." Nick told him.
"Okay. Might as well give it a try." Carmine shrugged.
With that, the animal trio led the way, Nick and Carmine following them away from the rock and cave.
To Be Continued...
Happy early Thanksgiving, everybody! :D
Nick: I wonder where these animals will take us.
Carmine: The quicker we get back to our families and end the truce, the better.
Nick: Aw come on, I'm not that bad!
Jess: Mavis! Mavis!
Heath: Nick, Carmine, Mavis, where are you? Please, give us a sign you're alright.
Jarrod: Not yet! Wait until the next chapter.
Stefania: R&R, everyone. Please, R&R.