Chapter 20: Hunting

"Okay...I think we can stop here," Sidew gasped, laying down.

"You need to exercise more," Lephos snorted.

"Resting here will work," Koro said, laying down by a bush. 

"See? Thank you, Koro," Sidew said, glaring at Lephos.

"I never said anything about not resting!" Lephos protested. "I merely said you needed to exercise more."

"Well, it sounded like you were saying I was pathetic for wanting to stop," Sidew retorted.

"Come on guys, stop fighting!" Bracken protested.

"Rest? We can't rest here!" Tiggerpaka protested. "Tiredblade's minions may still catch up to us!"

"Tiggerpaka, we've been running for a while now. I think we're safe," Campbell muttered.

Misty put her head on her paws. Indeed, they had been running for quite a while. But the two-legs could still catch up to them. They could probably scent their fear. "Do you think they followed?"

"The humans? No," Lephos said.

"'Humans'?" Rhett echoed.

"Yeah. Dad told us stories," Sidew replied. "Humans are creatures who like to mess with animals like us. They lived where dad used to live before he came to The Bending Tower."

"And now they invaded our home. Super," Rhett muttered.

"On top of that, we're lost!" Campbell shouted. "This is not familiar ground! We're in the middle of nowhere!"

"Pipe down, Campbell. I'm sure even Adele could hear you," snorted Sidew.

Misty glanced at her sister. She was laying down next to Misty, staring off into space. 

"We got to try to find The Bending Tower, though," Koro said. "It can't be too far..."

"Uh, yes it can," Campbell shot back, "do we even know how long we had been in those cages?"

Everyone exchanged looks.

"Exactly," Campbell snapped.

The bushes rustled and Tiggerpaka stepped through. "Mm! Good grubs around here," he said.

"Oh. I hadn't realized he left," Koro frowned.

"That, Ore, is because I'm slick and move much more stealthily than all of you  nutheads combined!" Tiggerpaka smirked.

"It's Koro," Koro said.

"Don't even try to correct him, he's an utter moron," Campbell shook her head.

"Tread lightly, Crabbell, tread lightly!" Tiggerpaka narrowed his eyes. "Now, as leader of this group, I suggest we go...that way!" He pointed in a direction.

"Tiggerpaka, that's the way we came from," Koro pointed out.

"Yeah, we'd end up right back with those two--er, humans!" Misty said.

"Duh, I knew that!" Tiggerpaka exclaimed. "That's why I was pointing this way!" He moved to point opposite of that direction.

"Tiggerpaka, just pick a way and go," Sidew glared.

"I just did! Come on, follow me!" He shouted, marching off.

"How is he the leader of this group?" Campbell hissed, as everyone got up to follow.

"See? I told you!" Tiggerpaka said. "We'll be at The Bending Tower in no time. Doesn't this area look familiar?"

Misty examined the place.

"No," everyone said at once."

"Well, your memories suck. I know we're nearly there," Tiggerpaka insisted.

"It's getting dark," Rhett said, looking at the sunset.

"Yeah, we should set up camp. Go hunting," Misty commented.

"Alright, sissies, fine! We'll get some food," Tiggerpaka growled.

"I'll go hunt," Misty volunteered.

"I'll come," Koro said. Misty couldn't help but smile at this.

"I'm going to come," Campbell said quickly. 

"You should guard Adele," Koro insisted. "With her being deaf, she'll need to know to stay here."

"Why me?" Campbell protested.

"Because you're the least important animal here," Sidew sniffed. 

With a snarl, Campbell lunged at Sidew, but was quickly knocked aside by Lephos.

"Don't you dare attack my brother!" Lephos growled.

Campbell bared her teeth and bit Lephos's leg. He yelped and winced, jumping back.

"Cut it out," Koro insisted. "Come on Misty, let's go."

"I think we already know who the leader is going to turn out to be," Misty heard Sidew grumble as she and Koro left.

"Duh! Me!" exclaimed Tiggerpaka's voice.

"I haven't taught you how to hunt yet," Koro commented.

Misty shook her head.

"Alright. Well, I'll teach you. First, you'll want to smell the air, decide what you're hunting for. What can you detect?"

Misty sniffed at the air. "Uh...a fox."

"Oh, that reminds me. Do you know the rule?" Koro asked.

"What rule?" Misty said.

"Don't kill prey that talks," Koro answered. "So if the fox talks, just let it go."

"Okay," Misty nodded.

"You're going to want to move stealthily. Don't break any branches. Stay downwind," Koro explained.

Misty crouched down to the ground and moved along. Koro followed.

Misty hid behind a bush and could see a fox sitting down, unaware of its hunters watching it. 

"Alright, try and get it," Koro hissed.

Misty bunched her legs together to jump, prepared to impress her mentor.

Author's Note:

Any predictions as to how they'll get back to The Bending Tower? Comment below. ;)

Oh and *cough*Misty/Koro*cough*