Chapter 2: Fierce War at the Plains
The moment Balto understood there were more "Friends" on the island, her ears shot up like radar dishes. Before I could blink, she'd grabbed my wrist and yanked me down the mountain path. Behind us, Ezo's screams faded into the wind—"I'm not buffed for this terrain!"
By the time we skidded onto the plains, my arm felt half-dislocated. The soccer match below looked like a nature documentary gone wrong—Crested Porcupine rolling the ball around, Japanese Black Bear blocking the goal with her bulk, and Lion snoozing in the stands like a sunbathing goddess.
White Rhinoceros nodded as we collapsed onto the bench. "New Friend?" Her eyes glinted as she eyed Balto's wagging tail.
Before I could answer, Balto vaulted over the railing. "Can I play? Pleeeeease?" She deployed the ultimate weapon—blue puppy-dog eyes that shimmered like stolen gemstones.
I approached Shoebill, her usual statue-self perched on the referee stand.
"Shoebill. Hi. Can Balto—"
Silence. Only the faintest pink tinge on her cheeks betrayed she'd heard me.
Panther Chameleon materialized beside me, her colors shifting from grass-green to amused-teal. "Take my spot. Watching paint dry is more exciting than this match anyway."
The second game started with Shoebill's signature move—a pass so precise it hissed through the air.
Balto caught it with her chest.
Then—
She vanished.
A dust devil erupted near the opponent's goal. Japanese Black Bear barely turned her head before the ball tinked against the net.
The plains went silent. Even Lion's ear twitched.
Then—
"CHEAT CODE!" Ezo screamed from the sidelines, waving her portable game like a protest sign.
Lion's tail lashed once. Twice. She stood.
Every Friend within fifty yards instinctively ducked, except Balto, who grinned like death was a fun rumor.
"Interesting..." Lion purred, rolling up her sleeves. The air thickened with the scent of sunbaked fur and impending violence.
I gulped. Ezo hid behind me, her game's game over jingle playing on loop.