Chapter IIIThe “dark” Pride Lands, as Maria called it, were gloomy and dead. The usual bright and exultant trees were now dead. Cold, gray, ground was in the place of golden grass. Fog seemed to block their view a bit, but Shelbi could see many skeletons scattered about.
“Man, this place looks creepy.” Shelbi grumbled, petting Screech, who was resting in her pocket.
“Yeah, even worse than the Elephant Graveyard.” Maria whispered.
Elephant Graveyard, Shelbi thought,
hmm…graveyards equal treasure. As soon as I get something from these “Wild Dog” suckers, I’ll get Maria to take me to this “graveyard”.Shelbi’s thoughts were soon ended by a growling sound. The teenager narrowed her eyes before turning, her hand on Screech, ready to make him transform.
But, alas, to her shock, no one was there.
“What was that?” Maria asked, fear in her voice.
Wild dog… Shelbi thought, but she didn’t echo her thoughts. Instead, she told Maria, “I don’t know, but let’s keep searching.”
Maria nodded, but before the younger girl to take another step, three wild dogs came out. It was clear one had fleas while the other needed to go on a diet. Their leader, the one in the middle, just seem to chuckle as they tripped over their feet or whimper at their pain.
“Lookie here, trespassers…” their leader said, chuckling a bit.
“Yeah!” the fat one yelled, licking his chops.
“Oh, great, wild dogs.” Maria groaned, rolling her eyes.
Shelbi cocked a golden eyebrow at her, but it went unnoticed. The younger girl was focused on the wild dogs.
“And ya know what’s even greater,” their leader asked, his eyes slowly trailing over each girls body before he growled, “
You two for dinner!"
He pounced, his ugly, yellow, jaws gleaming. Before Shelbi could blink, Maria transformed into a black wolf and jumped on him. The leader glared at her, his ears flat on his head, as she snarled in his face.
Shelbi turned back to the other two wild dogs and quickly got her sword when she noticed they were advancing on her.
“
Stay back!” she hissed, swinging her sword and making both wild dogs jump away.
Both glanced at each other before chuckling. Shelbi blinked before looking around.
“Crud…” she muttered when she noticed the three wild dogs had back up.
Wild dogs surrounded her and Maria, all growling or snarling at them. Shelbi felt Maria’s smooth, wolf, fur on her leg and looked down to see the black she-wolf was angry, her ears flat on her head. The fat one, gaining courage, tried to scratch her, but Maria snapped at him. He growled and jumped, landing on her back. Shelbi noticed that the she-wolf had not thought he would pull that move and was too weak to defend herself. Shelbi growled and raised her sword, above the creature’s head.
“
Stop!”
Shelbi blinked and glanced to her left. Everyone’s head was turned to one wild dog. His fur was the blackest fur of the wild dogs while his eyes gleamed a glorious amber. He quickly pushed the fat one away and asked, “Who are they,” his voice calm, yet demanding.
“T-they trespassers. Probably here t-to destroy us.” The one with fleas whimpered.
The real leader… Shelbi thought.
“You always say that when someone comes…” the real leader said, rolling his eyes.
Calmly turning to Maria and Shelbi, he asked, “You okay?”
Growling, Shelbi asked, “
Okay? Okay? We almost got attacked by a pack of wild dogs an’ ye ask if we are ok?!"
For a while, the wild dog simply blinked. Shelbi felt uncomfortable of his stare.
Did he know?Finally, he shrugged, and to the teenager’s shock, transformed. He stood on two feet while his fur became hair on his head and tan skin could be seen. A black shirt covered his chest while skinny, red, pants covered his legs. A red lightning bolt was on his ear.
He calmly looked at the two, but his eyes quickly widen. Shelbi turned to Maria and saw she had transformed back as well. Both simply stared. It was as if they were reading each other’s thoughts…
Shelbi glanced between the two, blinking, before she walked a full circle around them. As she came to the boy, she checked his pockets quickly. No one noticed. A trick she picked up years back. To her shock and anger, he had nothing. She headed back over to Maria, a sour look on her face.
She looked over at the boy and realized he was smirking. He asked, “So, you’re one, too?”
Maria slowly nodded, her eyes still glued to his.
He chuckled before saying, “Name’s Logan Alpha. I’m leader of this pack.”
“My names….Maria Isabel Valiant…” Maria said, slowly.
Shelbi chuckled as she thought,
someone’s got a crush…When she looked at Logan, she frowned at his eyes on her. To her realization, he was waiting for her to speak.
“Smith.” She muttered.
His eyes showed disapproval, but turned to Maria and asked, “What are you two doing here?”
“We came here to-“ Maria began, but Shelbi stopped her with a smirk and a hand on the younger one’s shoulder.
“We came here to ask if you would like to come to our tree house.” She said, smirking.
She wanted to leave, and, by the looks of it, Logan didn’t like the Pride Lands and would decline.
“Sorry, can’t. I’m an exile.”
Check and mate.“You mean an outsider?” Maria asked, sighing sadly.
Logan nodded.
Sighing again, Maria said, “Well…we better go…”
Shelbi quickly, but gently pushed Maria so she could move. The girl started walking, her head staring down. Shelbi glanced at Logan and saw his stare on Maria.
Stupid wild dog boy…***
“Why did you ask him that?” Maria asked.
From the way she was whining, Shelbi guessed she was mad she didn’t get to talk to Dog Boy…
Sighing, she figured she’d lie again so Maria wouldn’t ask question about why she wanted to leave.
“Cause I saw how he looked at you. Didn’t ye say you wanted a man to understand you?” she asked.
“Yes, but…he’s a wild dog.”
“What’s wrong with wild dogs?” Shelbi asked, getting her sword out and throwing it in the air.
She watched as it rips the leaves in the tree. Smirking, she got it as it came down and put it in its handle before catching a pear in her other hand. She took a bite out of it and looked at Maria. To her shock, the younger ones eyes showed pain…
She reached out her left arm. Confused, Shelbi blinked and looked at it. She noticed a small, white, mark, trailed down her arm.
“The last time I was with a wild dog…it scratched me when I tried to rescue it from a crocodile…” she looked away sadly.
“Ye must have been mad…” Shelbi glanced up at Maria, chewing on the fruit.
“Not mad…at least it’s almost gone.” The girl stated before walking ahead.
Shelbi watched her for a minute. She blinked and looked at the fruit before tossing it behind her and following Maria.
***
As Shelbi entered the tree house, her head quickly shot up as her hand went to her sword’s handle, ready to get it out. When she noticed who was yelling, she rolled her eyes.
“
You mean where those wild dogs are?!?” Banzai growled his fur prickling.
Maria looked scared at his sudden growl, but said, “Yes, but I met someone who can transform!”
“
You know very well not to go to that place! They could have killed you!” Shenzi yelled
Shelbi leaned on the frame of the door, watching with icy eyes. She heard Ed laugh beside her and kicked him. The hyena glared, but Shelbi simply looked away.
“
But, they didn’t! Logan saved me and Shelbi!” Maria yelled.
Whoa, wait. I wasn’t the one who needed saving. Shelbi glared at Maria, but the girl didn’t notice.
Banzai’s eyes widen. “And who’s Logan?”
“A lad Maria met that has an interest in her.” Shelbi said, looking at her nails and considering the comment as pay back for the “need saving” comment.
“Sissy…” Killer muttered for some unknown reason. Shelbi glanced at him, but the dog was looking out the window.
It was clear Banzai was about to blow, but Shenzi stopped him with a paw on his shoulder.
“Maybe you should go out and hunt. It’s your turn, you know…” she said softly.
Banzai stared at her for a second, but soon grumbled and walked out, his tail between his legs.
Shenzi turned back to Maria, her arms crossed. “Look, it’s great you found someone like you and I’m glad he saved you from the wild dogs…”
Maria smiled.
“…but, tell us where you’re going next time.” Shenzi finished.
“Okay…” Maria sighed.
Shelbi glanced at Shenzi before looking at the ground. She noticed Banzai was shuffling about, sometimes pounding the ground with his paw.
“What’s wrong with Banzai?” Shelbi asked, her face deadpan.
“I don’t’ know. Maybe all that worry has put the father in him.” Shenzi shrugged.
Shelbi nodded. She yawned a bit before sitting on the couch. She was about to get her sword out and clean it, but noticed the look on Maria’s face. She was about to ask what was wrong, but Maria asked, “Shenzi, are you pregnant?”
Shelbi cocked a brow at Shenzi, who smiled and said, “You could say that….and Techna’s pregnant, too.”
Shelbi blinked, but shrugged. When she got her sword out, she stared at the gleaming metal…
A scream echoed in Kenya, making Shelbi drop her sword. She glared at Banzai, who came running in and screaming, “
He’s going to eat me!!!!”
Shelbi jumped a bit when she noticed a white lion outside. Quickly grabbing her sword, ready to attack, she stopped when Maria asked, “Can you turn into an animal, too?”
Shelbi couldn’t see the lion’s face, but, soon, like Logan, transformed.
She stood up and quickly stood next to Maria as she asked, “Who the heck is he?”
Unlike Logan, he didn’t stare at her. He blushed a bit, shyness, at most, before saying, “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m Jeff Reagen.”
“So, ye can-“ Shelbi began, but stopped when Maria nodded at her.
Silence followed. Shelbi eye’s trailed down him, but he most likely had nothing. Grumbling, she looked away.
“So, you, uh, want to come in?” Maria asked.
“Sure.” He shrugged.
Before he could get in, though, Banzai jumped on him, snarling, “
You better give me a good reason not t kill you, you wild dog boy!”
“That’s not the guy.” Shelbi said, crossing her arms.
Banzai glared at her, but got off Jeff, grumbling.
Jeff dusted himself off and blinked as Maria asked, “Why did you chase him?”
“I was hungry…Sorry.” He muttered.
Maria shrugged it off and started looking around. She faced Shelbi and asked, “Who’s with you?”
“Some friends and some other
friends who weren’t meant to come.” She hissed the word “friends”.
“Please, tell me Tails isn’t here…” Maria gulped.
Shelbi slowly nodded before looking around. Killer was nowhere to be seen.
I’m going to skin that mutt!“Oh, great! Killer’s probably searching for Tails just to get a good run now!” she growled.
Maria said something, but Shelbi was already running to her row boat.
***
When her feet hit the sand, she stopped, gasping for air.
If that stupid dog hurt Tails, I’m gonna-“I, say, Meg, you should do this more often to Killer.”
Shelbi looked up, smiling when she saw her cherished cat was alright. Meg said something before letting Killer go, who grumbled. Vidia simply watched as she smoked a cigarette.
Shelbi watched them, happy to see them alive. So, nothing had happened. That meant Scythe was no treat.
“Odd, why would a pirate ship be out here?” Maria asked.
Shelbi froze, the hairs on the back of her neck standing. “What pirate ship…?”
“I don’t know, but it has “Scythe’s” on it.”
Idiot repainted it, hmm…She turned to the ocean and cursed when she noticed the ship sailing their way. She froze when she noticed a familiar figure on the deck of the ship, his eyes glued on her.
“C’mon, we better get back…” Shelbi muttered, her eyes staring.
“But, why?” Maria asked.
“
Just go!” this time, Shelbi hissed.
She quickly pushed Maria and they ran. Shelbi didn’t look back. They still have hope if they make it to Maria’s tree house.
***
Once everyone was in, Shelbi locked the door and headed to the window, ignoring the puzzled looks Maria gave her. She took Screech out and whispered, “Be a telescope, Screech…”
He was still a cube, but quickly transformed into what she desired. Shelbi put it to her eye and cursed when she realized her thoughts her true.
“Scythe’s.” she whispered.
“Shelbi? What’s wrong?” Maria asked.
Shelbi heard her come closer, but Shelbi looked down as she said, “We gotta lay low for now.”
She heard Maria come closer, whimpering as the girl gasped.
“
No! I gotta do something!”
Shelbi glanced outside and sighed when she saw pirates setting the fires ablaze. Scythe stared directly at her, even if he was miles away, and smirked as he lit the Serengeti on fire.
Shelbi grabbed Maria. She noticed tears foaming and quickly said, “Maria, I understand how you feel, but right now, we must lay low.”
Maria glared out the window, her teeth grinding as she nodded. Shelbi was puzzled when she gasped. Shelbi looked down and screamed as the tree house moved, being bombed. She could hear Scythe’s chuckle.
Fear overcame her and she fell to the floor, simply staring…
***
Blinking, she noticed everyone was gone. She quickly ran to the window and blinked when she noticed the wild dogs. Jumping down, she said, “That’s the guy that can form into a wild dog,” when she noticed Logan.
Banzai growled, but someone stopped him. Shelbi paid no more attention to them as she looked towards the shore line. She could see Scythe, hissing under his breath and glaring at them. Shelbi shivered.
“Is that your tree house?” she heard Logan ask Maria.
“Yeah, ya wanna come in?” she asked, her mind on Scythe.
“Why not.” She heard him reply.
Shelbi didn’t care if the odd wild dog boy was near her. She looked in her hand, to see Screech’s cube form. She petted him and her transformed into a robot. Glancing at Maria, she whispered to Screech, “Our time is done here.”