The Law of the Jungle

[Robert Rosequill]

Robert was at the head of the small group, leading them through the dense jungle. It was a hot and sticky and all around unpleasant place for anybeast to experience. The hedgehog found himself grunting and wheezing constantly, finding the simple act of breathing to be taxing. The thick humidity weighed on Robert?s fur, making each step and small motion an ordeal. It was nothing like the forests of Mossflower, where a beast could hike through the trees, simply to enjoy the smells and feel the sweet breeze rustling the leaves. The jungle had none of that. Only stink and terror was allowed here. A beast would only walk in the jungle because they absolutely had to, but today Robert had to be one such beast.

The faster we find them poor souls, the faster we can get out o? this bloody mess of a place. To safety.

The group had combed the beach twice over searching for Plink and Tooley, but neither could be found. And after Nimbleton's horrible death, the beasts were more than a little wary of traipsing through the jungle, but Robert had managed to convince them, and himself.

Nimbleton?s dead. I couldn?t save him. Didn?t get the chance. He?s just dead. And now Plink an? Tooley be dead, an? then it?ll be Crue an? then Reedox an? then Chak an? then. . .

Robert stopped in his tracks. The beasts behind him were startled by this and stopped as well, staring intently at the hedgehog as he stood silently before them, noticing a look of unease pass between them.

No. Ain?t no use in thinkin? that way, it?ll only kill a beast for sure. With a grunt, Robert continued forward, head held high. If?n we?re gonna survive, we?ve got to have a fightin? spirit. A spirit that cain?t get tired.

Robert grinned widely, eager to break the uncomfortable silence. ?It?s pretty colorful out here, eh??

After a brief pause, there were mutters of agreement behind Robert. Aside from Chak, though, who was quick with a retort.

?Arr, thar?ll be more reds ?n greens in a bit if them native beasts be findin? us,? the otter growled. ?We shouldn? e?en be out ?ere.?

Robert scowled. "I know, an' you're right, but they weren' on the beach. I don' wan' to be out here either, but this's where Tooley 'n Plink are most likely. The way out is jus' ten minutes back, an' they ain't o' gone far I'd bet."

Chak growled again. ?Anywhar in ?ere be too far.?

Reedox snickered before the hedgehog could reply.

?I think you?re scared, Chak.? Reedox jeered. ?Scared a junglebeast?ll get you??

Chak snorted with derision. "Yarrr - tha's right, Scruff. So why don' ye be a brave beast an' go scout on ahead fer a bit. Mayhaps ye'll get lucky an' spring another trap!"

Rather than take the bait, however, Reedox grew solemn as they both thought of Nimbleton.

"T'least wi' a beast ye cain fight back. An if this 'ere squirrely cain take one down, me thinks the rest o' us be 'avin' a fightin' chance."

Crue winced at the mention of herself. Robert hastily attempted to change the subject.

?Don? you worry ?bout nothin? out here now,? the hedgehog said, letting out a hearty laugh. ?Me an? Violet here won? let nothin? happen to nobody, heh heh heh!? He punctuated this by swishing his large oar into the underbrush in front of himself, prodding for any potential threats.

Crue, a puzzled look on her face, managed to crack a smile. ?You . . . named the oar after your wife??

Robert chuckled once more, patting the oar. ?O? course! Violet?s always the one in charge o? the discipline back home, you see.?

Crue chortled. "Really? From the way you talk about your daughter, I wouldn't think she'd need much in the way of discipline."

?Aye, Bel?s a saint! It?s me that Violet be keepin? in check, heh heh heh! An? there ain?t nothin? in this world that be more frightenin? than a frown on her face!? Turning back to see the brighter look on the squirrelmaid?s face, Robert smiled and continued.

?I can still remember the last time it happened. Me an? me good mate Harold was havin? a grand ol? time drinkin? an? singin? at Ol? Lucky Leg?s tavern. O?, Ol? Lucky Leg was a shrew with even more years at sea than me, you see. Always had a tale to tell, regardless o? if?n you wanted to listen to it, heh heh heh.

"Anyhow, it was much too late to be drinkin?, an? we weren? s?posed to be out anyhow, so we were on our way home. I don? know how it went for Harold at his place, but when I get home, the door was locked. I couldn? knock ?cause I knew there ain?t no way Violet be lettin? me in. I know she be lockin? the door on me to teach a lesson, she?d been doin? this on occasion. So, I left the window unlocked 'fore I left jus' in case o' this. So, I mosey on over to the window, an? just as I?m about to lift it up an? sneak in all secret like, what do I see??

Robert paused, peeking back at the beasts following, all listening intently. The hedgehog winked. ?I see Violet, standin? there, wit? paws on her hips and a frown on her face. I knew it was all over then! I had to sleep on the porch that night, an? got not a single dessert for two weeks, heh heh heh!?

Crue chuckled again, and a smile crept into Reedox?s face. Chak guffawed.

?Har har! No dessert? That be yer punishment??

Robert's face fell a bit, unease feeling its way into the hedeghog's chest. "Eh, yeah. She makes the best pies, you see. I couldn' live without 'em, heh. . ." Chak guffawed again, cutting him off.

?Two weeks wi? out pie. Poor soul. What sufferin? ye?ve ?ad ta endure in yer lifetime! Why, I bet ye ?ad ta?ve lost at least an inch offa that paunch o? yers??

Robert growled and spun around. "Now you listen here. . ."

Before anything could happen, however, Reedox put his paw out and hissed, "No wait. . . listen out there. . ."

Silence fell upon the group, each listening intently, but Robert could only hear the wind in the trees.

"I can hear something too," Crue whispered, ears twitching as she frantically scanned the underbrush.

?Ye think it be them creature?? Chak asked.

Reedox, paw to his ear, shrugged. ?I?ve no idea. I just heard pawsteps, I thought.?

Robert shuffled over excitedly. ?You think it?s Plink an?. . .?

Fear rushed into the squirrel?s eyes. ?No. Whatever it is, it?s more than just two beasts.?

Robert?s heart began pounding in his chest. He could hear the rustling now too. ?We need to start leavin?, goin? back to the beach. . .?

Reedox shook his head. ?No time.?

?We shouldn?a been out ?ere in the firs? place!? Chak hissed, almost shouting rather than whispering.

?I know, I know!? Robert hissed back. The hedgehog noticed Crue frozen in place.

?Crue,? Robert whispered. ?Crue, you be ok there??

?I?m fine. I?ll. . .? Crue fished around in her apron until she pulled out her knife. ?I?ll do what I must. . .?

?Now don? get too crazy, you ain?t as used to this as we are,? Robert said, hoping he sounded less uneasy than he was feeling. ?You can jus? stand behind me an? hide. . .?

?We need all the help we can get,? Chak imposed. ?So ye might wan? ter make yeself useful an? watch for us back there.?

?You don? have. . .? Robert began, but Crue shook her head.

?Chak?s right. I?ll help as best as I can.?

?Well jus? make sure you?re good an? safe behind me all the same,? Robert said. ?You?re the mos? importan? one here. We?ll be needin? you to stitch us up after this.? With that, a new look of determination lit up in Crue?s eyes.

Robert gripped his oar tightly and waited. But not for long.

Four of the strangest creatures leapt from the brush. They looked like weasels, just not like any weasel Robert had ever seen. Each one was barely dressed, only wearing the bare minimum scaly clothes, and each was different. The only thing they all shared was a snarling grin. Three were crouched on the ground, all carrying a wicked knife in their paws. The largest was by far the most frightening, particularly for the spear it was carrying. After a few agonizing seconds however, one thing became clear to Robert.

?They?re waitin? for us,? he whispered.

?Wha? n? the ?Gates fer?!? Chak hissed.

?No clue,? whispered Robert. ?Maybe they?re sizin? us up? I?d sugges? we jus? wait. . .?

Suddenly the smallest of the creatures leaped at the hedgehog, knife going for his throat. Robert instinctively swung the oar, crashing it into the beast's skull and knocking him to the side. Right behind the scrawny one however was the hefty spear-wielder, who lunged with it at the hedgehog. Backpedaling, Robert knocked it away the small end of the oar. Quickly he snatched the pole, pushing it aside as his assailant struggled to regain control. The beast swiped for Robert?s face, slashing his nose with filthy claws. Robert punched him.

?Auugh!? The creature screamed, gargling from a newly broken nose. Robert punched him again, then cracked the beast?s head with the oar. The creature crumpled to the ground, and the hedgehog reached to pick up the spear when a shrill cry from Crue made him whirl around, just in time to see the squirrelmaid tackle the first beast Robert had fought. The two were sprawled out on the ground, both scrambling for their weapons.

Robert raced for them, swinging his oar overhead. Before the creature managed to snatch its knife, Robert jabbed the beast?s stomach, knocking the breath from its lungs. Robert then snatched the beast's knife and buried it deep into its heart.

Reedox had managed to arm himself with a sizeable tree branch, swinging it at his assailant, squaring off and waiting for the beast to make the first move. Chak was wrestling with the last of them, the flash of the creature?s blade glinting dangerously in between the two, threatening to end the battle at any moment.

?Crue, grab that spear an? help ?Dox!? Robert shouted, and Crue obliged, racing to grab it. Robert made for Chak, brandishing his oar.

You could let him die.

Robert faltered in his steps.

Ain?t nobeast?d care. Not Crue. Least of all Reedox. It?d be one less beast to worry ?bout.

The beast had Chak by the throat now, choking him while the otter struggled to fend off the knife. Robert gritted his teeth.

I ain?t no murderer! Robert leaped, his oar high overhead, and brought it crashing down upon the creature?s skull. Dazed, the beast loosened his grip, prompting Chak to roll away, gasping for breath. Robert readied for another blow, but the beast swiped with the knife, slicing through the hedgehog's uniform and cutting into his chest.

Robert shouted in pain, staggering backwards. The creature shouted too, something incomprehensible and terrifying as he lunged for the hedgehog, when Chak abruptly knocked the beast back into the dirt. The otter wrested the prone beast's knife from its grasp and swiftly slit its throat.

?Ye didn? ?ave ter do that,? said Chak, breathing heavily.

?Aye,? said Robert, ?an? that?s jus? why I did. Friend.?

Another scream came from behind Robert. Robert turned to see it was the last of the creatures, a spear impaled in its chest. Reedox was over the body, shaking. Crue began frantically racing towards him.

"Robert, you're hurt!"

"Aye, Miss Crue, I be. Told you we'd be needin' you, heh heh AUGH!" Robert clutched his chest, now stained with an unpleasant amount of blood.

"Lay down, I need to look at it now," Crue demanded, lips pursed with concern.

Robert nodded, slumping to the ground. Crue cut open his uniform with her knife to check the gash.

"Believe it or not, it isn't too deep," the squirrelmaid said, relief in her voice. "I can only bandage it for now to try and stop the bleeding."

"Do what you need to, miss, I don' think there should be others nearby," Robert said. Chak flashed him a glare. "Eh, but I'd say a bit quickly'd be nice, heh."

"Speaking of which," Reedox muttered, reaching for Robert's oar.

"There ain't no way!" Robert shouted, unable to contain his anger when Reedox shushed him with a raised paw.

"Just a moment, I think. . ."

Robert could hear the rustling again, faster this time, more obvious. He tensed up, and saw Crue do the same, gripping her knife more tightly, preparing for whatever it was coming out of the brush. Crashing and shouting something did come, and out of the brush the figure tumbled. Robert's eyes widened in shock.

"Tooley?"

The weasel glanced up, focusing on someone behind Robert. "M-Miss Crue!" he gasped, sucking in a lungful of air before continuing, "Thank th' stars an' luck an'--" He stopped, blinking at the scattered, bloodied corpses, then his gaze shifted up to Chak. Tooley's entire composure darkened in an instant, fur standing on-end as his body tensed.

"Why, we be jus' fine now we got you!" Robert beamed.

"Is Plink with you?" Crue asked eagerly, taking a step towards the weasel.

Reedox interrupted, however. "We won't be fine for long."

"Why's that, 'Dox?"

"I still hear something coming," Reedox replied. "Lots more somethings."

Chak growled. "Tooley ye blitherin' idiot, yer crashin' about lead them junglebeasts right to us!"

Sure enough, creatures of all sizes surounded the group with more weapons than a beast could count. Robert reached for his oar, but let his paw drop.

"Ain't no way to fight this, friends," Robert muttered, raising his paws above his head. "Let's jus' hope to th' fates they be friendly this time."