The Craving Beast

Droplets, heavy and harmful drops of rain splashed upon the naturally fertilized soil, the earth rejoiced as it savored the water being spashed all around. The grass, the trees, emerald covered jungle itself, happily accepted the gift nature has graced upon them and their ecosystem. The misty and moist smell of wet leaves spread across the vast expanse, giving off a hazy mood. Wind impeled the leafs, grass, and flowers to sway vigoursly, back and forth. The night sky becoming shaded with dark clouds that some times brighten and roared aloud, instilling fear in local animals , atleast some of them. In this chaotic tropic, were 5 audacious children traversing the trees like lingering shadows from branch to branch.The one taking the lead was Ezekiel, the fateful child no more than 7 years old. His head was covered in flairing, ruffled hair completely black with a single white portion hair that looked like a masterfully crafted rope hanging onto his forehead. With premature features that will surely chisel with time, the raven haired boy had carmine eyes which was an outstanding sight to behold. He was skinny, fashioned completely back cloths with green sprayed along the design meant to meld with the jungle. The prideful and impulsive Ezekiel spoke over the rain to his crew.

Ezekiel: "Scared already Fred? But I thought you liked Lily hehe. If she sees you like this she might think your a wimp or something."

The leader spoke jeeringly towards the child on his right named Fred. A tall and slim stucture with greasy blonde hair and mossy green eyes. His features were sharp, with a long bridged nose and near nonexistent lips, a pale complexion. He always hunched his back nervously, so his true height was never exhibited. This was out of a need to fit in, he didn't want to tower over and look down on the people he wanted acceptance from. A bit older at the age of 9, Fred had grown up with Ezekiel as cousins, his family being extremely familiar with Ezekiel's. The lanky boy was looking left and right cautiously with a scary demeanor to his face. His anxiousness and tenacity to flee on sight was stomache grabbing to the leader whom was also next to Lily, the crush, on his left side. The outgoing fox of a little girl, Lily, had liliac purple hair the pride of her being, what she was named for after all. A tiny, petite body, normal like every other premature body, althought slightly sunkissed, not enough to call a tan but no longer being snowy. With soft complexions which brightened her innocence and immaturity as well as denoted flaws like the blotch shaped, ashy black blemish on her upper right brow. Furthermore, with ocean blue eyes that reflected her vast desire to adventure and scower about, this girl was the symbol of what Fred aspired to be like. The two cousins had met her a year ago when they were exploring the opposite side of the rural village they both grew up in.

Fred: "HUH? Why are you saying such distracting things while we're in the middle of jungle hopping you nimwit.

Lily: "Now, now boys calm yourselves, you'll be able to express yourselves soon!"

???: "Haha foreal, Zeke why do you always have to bully Fred, stop before he loses concentration and falls."

A new voice enters the fray, Anastatia or Ana for short. The leaders older sister, with long, jet black hair that was currently woefully hidden under a cape meant to ward off rain. Her eyes were crimson in contrast to Ezekiel's, her features were similar to the leaders but sharper, more edged out, a testament to the 2 year age gap between the two. The older, more defined version of Ezekiel carried a hint of jealousy towards her naturally aromatic brother. He always hogged the spotlight despite being younger and inexperienced when compared to Anastatia, although this didn't stop crimson eyed girl from following in the leaders path.

At Ana's left side from behind Lily was the final member of the immature gang, Jack. By far the oldest at 11 years old, Jack was the older brother of the group, the one whom kept Ezekiel in check when he was wrong, and guided him with care as to not hinder the leader. This gallant young man had searingly bright red hair the color of a well ripenened apple which was drizzled in rain turning it maroon in shade. Husky with a tinge of buffness, Jack had an esteemed body for someone so young. He also wore bright features that were naturally attractive to the female gaze, such as the young Lily despite the 3 year age gap. Although Jack,in respect to Fred who obviously had feelings for Lily, never pursued and was honestly content that way. He loved the gang more than anything else in this small pond world of their's. Regardless of all this, it never stopped jack from putting on a guise and flirting with Lily openly to invoke a manly boldness from Fred. In order to help his friend grow sooner, to join up with him as an equal comrade.

Jack: I don't know, Zeke may be on to something Fred, the other night after i walked Lily home and gave her a hug goodnight she said she liked it when guys are bold. Then she gave me such a bright smile, it was nice, you should try it."

Lily: "Stopp, don't say those things, Jack..."

Fred: "WHA- SCYAA"

A powerful cord struck in Fred's heart, cleaving and butchering to reach the center in order to wreck it to bits. Jack's meangiful jabs also caused such an emotion to rise in Fred uncaringly so. Trying to forcefully sculpt Fred to join Ezekiel in the skyrocketing growth since. He knew if Fred could hurdle over the mountainous paradise that is pubescent love, he would become a gem worthy of Lily. The cowardice, slender child had no such implications about Jack's seemingly maliscious intent to spark a reaction out of himself. To this point, while grabbing onto a tree branch, Fred tugged at it with a ferocity enough to snap it in half, he began free falling in an unruly fashion.

Jack: "What?!?

Anastatia: "I told you so!"

Lily: "Fred!"

As the rain poured upon the landscape, Fred was dropping with far greater velocity. He desperately contemplated how to stagger his fall but could see no option. A sense of fear would be normal in this circumstance but unforeseeably, Fred was angry at himself. His spinelessnes would be the cause for the disruption in the events his group planned for today. They spent so much time establishing everything, even sneaking out of their homes to be here, in this jungle, right now. And so the time came, to brace himself.

With an uncanning swiftness, a shadow darted from tree to tree, using the bark of the firmly archaic bases of wood throughout the jungle to support his versatile movements. Prancing along the jungle with an unrivaled familiarity, the silouttte was rapidly approaching Fred in it's concentrated pursuit. Right before the body hit the ground, the unseeable figure landed and bursted forward, grabbing onto Fred and throwing him over his tiny shoulder like a bag of rice in a flash. Although, this bag of rice was much lengthier, like carrying a wild snake, drenched in sweat.

Ezekiel: You dummy, no matter how much help we give you, your hopless."

A cynical grin flashed on Ezekiel's face away from Fred's sight, the leader gave no recollection to his valiant saving of Fred and the events that will be had tonight. As if it was a normal occurence for this boy prodigy to exert some of his graceful talents in the presence of his favorited friends. Fred however, had no smile on his grieving face, humbly accepting Ezekiel's assistance, he resigned himself to a bitter silence at Ezekiel's honest assertion on his own dilema. This wreathed some fury in Ezekiel hoping to get an appropriate response.

Fred: "..."

Ezekiel: "Oh yeah?"

In an instant, Ezekiel bounced of the floor with percision that created a whisteling sound with the wind. He flew up the wide array of branches and stiff vines suitable enough to grasp and pull with his free arm. Once Ezekiel approached the level of the rest, in order to ascertain the safety of their friend, he flung Fred towards them. In a completely comical way, Fred was violently flipping towards his friends and love interest. 360, no 720, wrong 1080, at this point counting the amount of flips was useless, the sight was just too funny to care about numbers.

Ezekiel: "How about this then?"

Fred: " Guuuh."

Lily: "Fred!!!"

Slicing through the air, the lanky boy was in a state of panic, this demon Fred called a friend was going to be insistent to the very end. Imagining the unbearable pain that laid in wait, after the incurring dizziness of distortions, Fred heard the voice of someone awfully familiar, a kind, caring, high pitched melody of pleasure for his ears. Fred realized the sound belonged to Lily's voice. The sudden realization of supreme embarassement that will arrive should he fall prey to another one of Ezekiel's out pocket jokes, sunk in. Not this time, Fred mentally noted.

Fred: "HYAAA"

Yelling to force his reflexes to awaken, Fred counteracted the direction in which he was spinning with enough force to allow him to view a landing. With distraught laced in his eyes, Fred grimmaced barely focusing enough to see, the only landing was one which Lily currently occupied. He had no choice, he was just going to have to surpass his limits here and now, for the first time, Fred will do it.

Lily: "Kyaaa!"

With no hesitation in the slightest, Fred braced himself to collide ever so softly, manuvering his forceful momentum towards his heels rather than his torso and catching Lily in his arms in order to save her from falling after he encroached upon her postion. While redirecting the flow of intense energy, Fred with Lily clinging tightly in his arms, face nestled in his chest to avoid the shock, jumped towards a tree, stabilized himself and pounced back on the branch he was just on, leaving Lily there. In a second seris of moves, Fred concentrated all the strength in his legs and soared at Ezekiel who was static in the air, in the middle of landing.

Ezekiel: "Hold on!"

Approaching at an alarming rate, Ezekiel was in horror at what the idiot maliscously throwing himself wanted to accomplish... Revenge. How genile, how dumb, what a dummy, Ezekiel scowering for a way to escape, had no way until he landed. Trying to inch quicker despite the laws of physics denying him so, Ezekiel understood that his time had come.

Fred: "You wish!"

Ezekiel: "Hck."

With Fred slamming into Ezekiel, cocking his neck back from the blow, Ezekiel helpessly fell along with the idiot who he collided against. Skipping from branch to branch, rolling down insignificantly, they finally plumped into a bush loudly.

Ezekiel: "So, after finally manning up, instead of being cool to the end, you thought hugging onto another boy was going to score points?"

Fred: "Huff Huff, so what should i have done about my anger?"

Ezekiel: "Hold it in like a man i guess, you know, just be cool for once!"

Fred: "I'll deck you."

Ezekiel: "Haha please don't, cause then I'd have to..."

The air shifted ever so slightly, disrupting the rain just as minorly, Fred knew what he wanted to say but held back out of politeness. Brutality, in a fight Fred stood no chance against his 2 year younger cousin, it was a catastrophic difference. Why would a man fight seriously against a toddler? One would feel extremly guilty in striking down such pure innocence. Now, if that toddler were to stab you from behind, would you still sit idly? These thoughts randomly bubble and pop just as quickly as they come, but Ezekiel can unconsciously feel his own hidden bloodlust. As the sharp wind blew on his face with a reminder of what they came to this jungle for. They were nearing the starting point finely selected as the best spot for the game everyone intended to play.

Ezekiel: "Here, Fred let's go."

Fred: "Yea..."

A bit dejected from the hand extended towards himself, Fred reluctantly took the leaders hand and decided to take his words to heart. "Cool", what a mindless way to say it, Fred initially thought. But as he continued indulging in the thought of his actions bein known as "Cool" to Lily he became slightly lightheaded and mesmerized. He couldn't stop his burgeoning obsession from leaking out onto his face, Ezekiel noticed it, rebuking at once.

Ezekiel: "There you go again, making that face Lily finds creepy."

Fred: "Huh, sorry its hard to hear flies with this rain."

As Ezekiel shook his head with a wry smile, his provacation was returned in full, he stood still, not expecting to see a lion peer over Fred and roar. Without reacting, Ezekiel tilted his head and stared blankly, eyes slightly widened. He shook his head and rain jumped and collided with each other, restyling his head with a more somber appeal. He decided to withold the information for when he deduces what the actual source was. Even as a child, his impulsivity, adaptablilty, greedful care for those around him, he handled everything in the same hand, as he picked and perfected it with the other. He didn't want anyone to worry, thats one thing, he never wanted.

Ezekiel: "Hehe"

Letting go a chuckle, for once, Ezekiel was following the back of more matured body, emmenating growth and development and most importantly vigor. There was a renewed emotion in Fred and before he knew it, he was thanking Ezekiel for slapping some sense into him.

Ana: "They're here."

Jack: "Never doubted, but you guys aren't hurt that's what's suprising."

Lily: "Fred! Sob sob. Quit with the nonsense! What if you got hurt dumb dumb."

The petite liliac heaved into Fred, threatnening to topple him over into the abyss. Embracing him violenty, she began her barrage of hits meant to stimulate rather than hurt. She was genuienly afraid when she heard the snap of the branch Fred grabbed onto. Not noticing Ezekiel's disappearance, when Lily lost track of Fred she became mobbed with a bottom dwelling feeling, one which freezes your form still. She was on the verge of jumping down with a huge chance at failure , when suddenly, she sees Fred flying in flips right at her. Wholey shocked, Lily's childish brain shut off not wanting to deal with the problem ahead. Before she even realized, she was in Fred's arms, hands gripping to his flat, firm chest. He was much more muscular than she orginally suspected, he picked her up with a warping fervor, but with so much softness and gentleness. After the opening catch, moments later, in what seemed like a second flat, Lily was no longer clutching onto Fred, which brought an unexpected lonliness to herself. The pleasant feeling of being held with protection and esteemed safety, she yearned for it just a tad bit more. With those fleeting thoughts, the branch Lily was contemplating on shook dangerously, threatnening to break entirely. Fred's back zoomed out of view directly into the shrimp Ezkiel, and they tumbled down to the floor like imbecilies. This time, Lily shook her head forcibly with anger. Her rosy skin erupted into fiery tomatoe red, she pouted making her cheeks elate, and finally shifted her view away from the two whom incited her wrath, wholesomely so.

Fred: "Alright! I get it, i'm sorry it's my fault, I should have treated my little bro better, regardless of his words."

Lily: "..."

Ezekiel: "..."

Anastatia: "..."

Jack: "..."

Fred: "EH? What a tough crowd."

Without noticing for even a moment, in the midst of Lily's combos, Fred did something hes never once done, yet again, like an aura boros eating its own tail repeatedly. He latched onto Lily's hand once he deemed he's recieved what he was willing to be responsible for and halted her to a dead stop. Lily being handled so aggressively for the very first time rattled her, she started feeling the pleasant feeling from before again as she stared up in wonder and awe at the man holding her up by the wrist. He looked different, in an undescribable way, like his toneness became more emflamed. He wasn't the cowardly boy of before, this Fred couldn't be.

Jack, such as a buffoon would, sucumbed to his boyish intentions and dropped his jaw with his tongue flailing about. His eyes widened at the boy who seems to have been put through life changing trials and tribulations in an instant. He looked like a coyote stalking a prey just to notice a far deadlier animal was now chasing after him. The marooness of his being turned to blue at the revelation in front of him, shock would be lacking in discription. Ana was in the same stage but toned down to not look as exaggerated. She had doubted if Fred would ever mature really, having her expecations shatter before her eyes disillusioned her senseless. She wonder if she can even look at Fred as if they were the same age anymore.

Ana: Its just..."

Jack: "Yeah, like, you know?"

Lily: "Erm, um, mhm"

Ezekiel: "Sigh, what they mean to say is you look cool right now, which is pretty weird kekeke. Also you can let go Lily's wrist now, before you bruise it and me along with Jack have to wreck you."

Lily: "Eh? Wha are y-"

Fred: "Tsk...You can never just feed my ego."

Gentlemanly and subtle, with etiquette and enough grace to bid a princess farewell, Fred dropped Lily's wrist while holding it softly, and let it go once their hands descended. Lily flinched slightly, not in disgust but in disapproval of losing the contact with Fred because of someone else. Snapping back to reality, while realizing she had been blushing, she swung forward at Fred, caving in his steel stomache, though not hurting him very much. She immedietly fled from him while digging her feelings a grave, which she knew wouldn't last.

Lily: "Hmph, so what if Fred wants to show off his hidden strength in alot of brave ways, that won't change anything at all, yes, nothing at all! I definietly did not look at you like prince charming in the slightest don't lie to yourself."

Coming up as a rural village girl would naturally soften anyone up, creating a kind saint in love with nature and peace; this wasn't the case for Lily. Even as a baby with no consciousness, her automatic systems naturally responded to pictures of heros from story books. The legendary men and women that made a name through countless misfortune and albatross that benifited the peace of the world. Names such as Diago skinner, Alea Every, Artreus Mount. Even the kingdom of (insert name), which Lily was from had a storybook hero, the mighty shadow of death, his reigning majesty, King Arthur Wick. The moment she could, Lily read up on the tales of myths, most of which were real events, this is how her rebellious adventurous personality was established. Lily's parents, struggling more and more with containing their overeager daughter, have begun to see the defenses weakening, and the irresponsible petite monster peaking out. So of course, in reaction to Fred's almost heroic actions and words, Lily's heart began to waver with each passing moments, screaming nonsensical refutes was all she could do. To this, however, Fred gave a faint smile and muttered.

Fred: "Your real adorable like that."

In unison, including even Ezekiel, the row of mischeivious kids all gave a ghastly gasp as an indication of Fred growing too far, he's beginning to sound too old. Such as the country bumpkins that slay monsters from time to time for the village and get hailed as saviours, guys the crew really look up to and want to be like someday. Ezekiel held up a hand in discontent.

Ezekiel: "Alright thats enough, Fred? Your about to give me a heart attack, let alone the the rest who started to shake a bit.

Fred: "Haha, right, it's not like me is it."

Ezekiel: "Lets just go before you start growing gray hairs, look, you can see the crater from here."

Searching endlessly for something to focus on besides Fred, the two girls shifted their head immedietly at the distant, gaping chasm Ezekiel pointed towards eerily, which was a foreign sight in this tropical expanse of varying colors, primarily murky green. Trees were snapped in half around the perimeter, grass wilted, nothing but dusted earth on the inside. It was enourmous, enough for small buildings to fit inside of, the beast that created such a thing should have been fearsomely ferocious. And it was, because 3 of the group of village saviors died subduing it, what they called a wither bear. A monster 10 times the size of a normal bear with white and black fur etchings that look like scribbled claws of a normal bear all over its body. With purple eyes, the beast was capable sensing through its fur and establishing a gravitational force to itself. That's how it caught 3 of the village saviours despite their trained teamwork and vigilance of survival foremost. One hit shredded and imploded the remains of the fallen saviours into nothing more than gore. The explanation was that while chasing the unbeatable bear across, the saviours had managed to launch it off into a ravine on the border of the jungle opposite of the village. They presumed it to be dead and said to stay clear of the jungle, although obviously, the crew of misfits wanted to see the mark on the earth left by the fearsome foe more then they feared a presumed dead creature. So here they are a week after the funeral for the 3 fallen village protectors.

Jack: "EH? Wow thats huge, no wonder..."

Anastatia: "Your right, this is scary."

Lily: "I don't know how I feel anymore."

Fred: "Well, this is what we came for, ready?"

Ezekiel: "Yea, ready for you to shut up so Ana can announce why were here."

With this contempt, Fred started standing upright to futher his height, looking down at Ezekiel with crazed almond eyes and a slightly open, maniacal smile, Ezekiel returned in favor times 2, almost expecting that reaction and lying in wait. Ana cleared her throat, attempting to move things along and succeeding, since the bickering boys dispersed at her call for attention.

Ana: "Now, you guys understand somewhat why were here right? To play a game, with the starting point and base being the crater which started the fight against our village saviours. This is for fun! So lets enjoy kay? The game is hide and seek, although this time the rules have changed and their is a condition for the side that loses is: 'Do anything the winner ask of you.'

Ezekiel: "Wait what? How is this the first I heard of this!?"

Ana: "Zeke shut up and let me finish, your annoying when you speak out of turn."

Ezekiel: "What'd you say?"

Goosebumps, these ominous alerts of a sudden, unknown interference, raged all across the bodies of the children in the vicinity. Ezekiel who wore an expression of suprise, shifted to a blank, cold face with his demonic carmine eyes narrowed and unfocused, this sight was a warning of contiuing on carelessly. Jack and fred redirected Ana away from Ezekiel and took up a readied stance in front of her and Lily, facing Ezekiel. This was by no means a playful gesture, no, it was one of equal warning to Ezekiel, 'calm down'. What was worse was, Jack and Fred, even with a combined effort, would fall in a conceited battle against the youngest of the group, the leader himself. At their shaken resolve, Ezekiel's eyes widened and burst with acknowledgement of what he just incurred. His face once again, phased into a wry, gentle smile meant to disarm the current tense atmosphere.

Ezekiel: "I didn't mean to..."

Fred: "Its alright, just don't let it happen again, you might scare us Zeke."

Taking hold of Jack's role as the 3rd party mediator, a stern look came across the sunflower haired, supposed grown man. This look made Ezekiel bite his lip, the words that Fred uttered were almost fatherly, basically ridiculing irrefutably, to have such a disadvantage. Ezekiel chuckled to himself, the first arguement won by Fred came right after so many other impossibilities. Admiration step foot into Ezekiel regardless of his feelings on the matter.

Ezekiel: "Ok, please continue Ana, sorry I interuppted.

Anastatia: "Right, got it."

Flipping the script, Ezekiel turned away from Fred in every sense to face his older sister, apologizing as a pretense to ignore Fred, not giving him any leeway to satsfiaction. He couldn't help it, a sore loser can only be true to his own heart, no matter the humbleness he disguises himself with, his true nature will always arrive foremost. Fred tilted his head foward, covering his face with sopping hair, secretly glaring at Ezekiel with a mysterious gaze. Fred never paid mind to the thought process of Ezekiel Malin, the boy prodigy he considered a brother in arms. He seemingly thought he was blessed by the breath of life, someone extrodinariy with a predestined path. How lonely that must be, just what could Ezekiel be thinking all the time. Does he ever think about his crew's incompetence? Would he pay deep attention to every flaw and think of ways to manipulate it how he sees fit? Or maybe he resents being able to see things his friends couldn't? To do and live in a different dimension from the ones he cares about most, is that how someone unparalleled would think like? Freds face softened into a frown, Ezekiel paid close attention.

Anastatia: "So, here are the special rules in place, for one, creating holes in the ground and hiding inside is a no go. Second is, hiding in trees is allowed this time, so long as your ok with them being shook from below tehehe. Last rule, 4 people will be seekers and only one will hide, so its more hunting than seeking. The hider has already been chosen."

Fred: "..."

Jack: "..."

Lily: "..."

The 3 adolecent children glared down at Ezekiel from higher ground or simply because they we're taller. They couldn't contain the mocking look of triumph they had plastered on their faces, with evil grins, they falsely chuckled amongst themselves forcing the clownish air to laugh as well. Unfair, hopelessly arbitrary to the point of revealing shamefulness. He loved it, Ezekiel reveled in every last bit of it, his friends truly believed turning the difficulty up would leave the leader shaking in his boots, how genile. Making it a personal mission to free his mistaken comrades from the illusion they were currently under, Ezekiel thinking to himself screamed of laughter at what he would ask of his brothers and sisters tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow. Shaking the weird crumpling of foreboding, Ezekiel moved foward, leaving it as deja vu.

Ezekiel: "So does that mean i'm the hider?"

Anastatia: "Mhm."

Ezekiel: "Then, does that mean I get to ask all 4 of you individually what I want you to do?"

Ana: "!"

Fred: "!"

Jack: "!"

Lily: "!"

Confidence, the overwhelming belief in ones own ability, these aren't suppoused to be natural things. In the face of unreasonable adversity, wavering is necessary to measure ones self. Only in special occasions, there are those who are cut from a different cloth, an intricate, delicately crafted masterpiece of a cloth. Those people shine with a different glow than the rest, they take command of every situation their in and those in surrounding can't help but bow in respect and awe. Ezekiel while under the spotlight, rather than crumple, played up to the crippling role he was given to the fullest. Letting go of a contemptious smile as the topping.

The rest had nothing but idignant thoughts in mind, sharply chiding mentally, everyone wanted nothing more than to strike down the pompous grandeur Ezekiel was relishing in. However, even with strength in numbers, after Ezikiel's complete renouncement of loss, all were equal in the face of despair. Contemplating deeply about what Ezekiel has in mind should they lose the shameful 4 VS 1, which was planned wickedly behind the leaders back. Death, maybe death might be a better option...

Ana: "On second thought."

Ezekiel: "Hoh?"

No one realized it until it was too late, with the witholding of information from the very beginning, the plan began treading dangerous lands. Ignorant of the dire consequences of foolishness, the unknowing children proceeded without caution. Arriving towards the beast den, ready to outnumber and sabatoge the sleeping beast in its humble abode, they hear it snarl and roar devastatingly enough to send a shrill shiver up ones spine. Thinking of retreating with grace, that path suddenly erased by a natural obstacle placed by the beast. Now they were the ones trapped in a corner, being hunted.

Anastatia: "Nevermind."

Fred: "You done superstar? Let's hear you talk like that after."

Jack: "Little bro seems to have too big of a head for his shoulders, Fred we're giving it everything."

Lily: "Your right! I already have my order set, no going back!"

As the ignorant older sister tilted her head away from her menacingingly excited younger brother in a squirming manner, Fred began the rally. Jack, noticing Fred's intentions, at once, supported it and joined in suit, ready to charge forth to victory. Lily not succumbing to the fear of Ezekiel's dominance, spoke the loudest, with a yell which spoke of the goals and aspirations of this fateful night, retreat was no longer an option. Ezekiel was... gleeful, no longer in a mutated way but a truly compassionate one, ever so thankful for this misfit family of his. Still shy in showing it outwards, a heat would soar to Ezekiel's face at any attempt and deny him from doing so.

Ezekiel: "So lets begin, whats my headstart?"

Anastatia: "10 seconds."

Ezekiel: "Keke how brutal. And the ways to lose?"

Anastatia: "Direct or nondirect touch."

Ezekiel: "Nondirect too? I hope your ready for an order of equal unfairness, beloved sister."

Anastatia: "A-alright, everyone except Zeke to the center."

Hastily proceeding, all who were steadily approachng their predetermined spots, the hunters in the center of the crater, heads turned towards each other and looking downward. The hunted started in a tree out of sight, just in case someone was greedy enough to sneak a peak before the wonderful event begins. The nerves, as they moved foward time slowed slightly, the growing anxiousness and worry, the derisive impulsions of failure in sight, all shared this feeling as one. There was no going back, this is where the true terror will corrode into view.

Anastatia: "START!"

At the remarking initiation of the game,the rain suddenly stopped, as if mockingly doing the opposite of what Anastaia ordered aloud. Ezekiel kicks the sturdy branch he was crouched down upon in a ready-to-leap position, the branch violenty shakes before snapping in half. The attentive seekers tuning into their ears, hear the intrusive sound, recollect where Ezekiel initially began. If their ear's hadn't failed them, they heard the noise coming from South, in the direction of the village, they noted this important fact. Ezekiel however was quite the clever innovater, purposley making a ruckus from the beginning to give a way his position, or atleast the mirage of his position. He then shifts into silented steps, shadowy and muted, and begins heading westward, in the opposite direction he jumped towards, while leaving behind obvious traces of his false path towards the East. A simple trap to start the game off right.

Ana: "1!"

Fred: "2!"

Exactly two counted seconds passed in the interval of setting up the trap, Ezekiel bites his lip at his misuse of time, but continues on to the next step grudgingly so. Once the hunters found out the trail they believed was right, was cold from the start, the clues on the opposite side where his limbs most likely left markings due to a self depricated type of thinking Ezekiel has: "It's not good enough, i'm not good enough." His nature of striving for the pinnacle was instinctual, inscribed in his body from birth. Wether he wanted to or not, he must soar, at all cost. A sense of lonliness was also derived from this force of habit, slowly creating a distance between Ezekiel and his loved ones. With this fact in mind, Ezekiel fowarded into stage two regardless of his inner conflicts: the funk bombs, little light brown balls made of paper machee, these wonderful tools of disgust were personally designed and crafted by Fred. They were filled with venomous skunk glands, at the top of the balls there was a small string meant to be lit on fire, which Ezekiel hastily did with flint and steel he also brought along. Dropping 3 funk bombs, each 5 meters from each other, the bombs began sizzling until they finally poofed a pungent, retched smell meant to burn the nostrils and disorient. This phase was more of a joke then an actual attempt at evading but the profits weren't 0, in some cases the females may reject the path of following in the corrosive gas and take a detour, possibly losing Ezekiel's path. In another possible outcome everyone would become to too disoriented or nasueous to follow the trail properly becoming lost as well. Or maybe, by some miracle, they get through it methodically.

Anastatia "5!"

Fred: "6!"

At this point, Ezekiel had released his tensed up feet which evaded noisiness while hindering his movement, deeming himself far enough away to switch from stealth to quickness. He dropped from the branches, into the bushes and shrubs of below in order to get a full range of motion. The next course of action was taking the path towards a specific hare trap only he knew about. The trap was made by the village saviours and kept secret by Ezekiel, thinking in the future he may catch one of his friends in it, today was that day. There was a multitude of this coniving intricasices laid all around the forest, dominating it with an unnatural human intereference unseeing to the naked eye. Although most were far too dangerous to use on Ezekiel's companions. Especially that one, towards the East, he should never go near that evil scent. Just thinking about it made Ezekiel shiver with deterrence influenced thoughts. Locking those memories shut, Ezekiel moved on, the trap he initially had on his mind prior was a typical bait and net type of trap that lunged upwards, catching anything foolish enough to fall for the carrot. While low and hidden enough to not be percieved by the naked eye, it was only big enough to hold Lily at best, he will just have to gamble on it.

Lily: "8!"

Anastatia: "9!"

Having implemented all of his conspicous tatics, Ezekiel darted towards a location only he was familiar with. To the North, there lied a specific tree Ezekiel was bonded with in peace. One he would often go to in order to clear his mind, or to simply escape from his boring reality of loneliness he accumulated as he strived foward. The thought of leaving his friends behind with every he step he took, in order to halt progresson, too quick for Ezekiel's state of mind to handle, he would meanginglessly arrive to this specific tree and let go of everything. From his thoughts on improving, to his pessimistic thoughts, to his thoughts on his friends and family, to what food he's going to have today, all of it receded inside his favorite tree. This location was known to Ezekiel as Elk. Standing upright, glaring upwards at the fascinating tree, Ezekiel took in a deep breath. The tree was an egnima in this forest of regular jungle trees one would naturally see. Its bark was white with spots of abyss blackness giving it an otherwordly look, the bark was thick but less imposing as opposed to the brown bark surrounding it. The Elk was hidden amongst the others trees as if skillfully hiding itself, only reveaing itself to those with an extended cathexis. This was Ezekiel's santuary, his partner in peace.

Fred: "10!!! Ready or not! Here we hunt!"

Booming outwardly with the obstinate approach of intimidating, was Fred, his veins bulging from the side of his head next to his ear, with an eagerness to him. The rest had already crouched down ready to sniff upon their first clue. Roaring through the air, the 4 figures steadily approached their destination until finally landing on a branch near a broken stump in one of the jungle trees. As the respective branch each child landed on shook slightly dropping only a few leafs, they all looked in the same direction. Towards the east, there was a scratch along the vast tree staining it white, just visible enough to be seen if one narrowed their sight.

Lily: "Here. Look you can see traces of Zeke, kun kun, although I can't smell him cause of the wetness."

Anastaia: "Yea if you look at the next few trees you can see similar markings."

Jack: "Then let's follow, who knows what that little evil genius has in store for us, we have to catch him before sunrise."

Fred: "Hold it."

Amongst the near unanimous agreement of the next course of action, a repudiation was sent shivering throughout the wind with a hint of authority. While the other 3 had looks of affirmation, Fred in contrast, was holding a face full of disbelief, one of caution and a tinge of repulsion. He shook his hair letting it droop along his eyes before swaying them away.

Jack: "What do you mean we have no time to waste Fred, enough pessimism."

Fred: "Jack since your great at assuming, think back to what you just said, your thoughts about what Zeke might have in store for us."

Jack: "Yes, what about them."

Looking upwards slightly and recounting what he just said unknowingly, he glared back down in Fred's direction, looking for his point. The beating around the bush was unlike Fred, it was starting to annoy Jack who was already losing patience. This time alone, losing was not an option, he couldn't let Ezekiel have his way. The over seeing gleam of malice, the enourmous Ezekiel which was dripping drool upon Jack from above ready to devour him whole. Jack gave a shudder at what might happen should sunrise arrive before Ezekiel is found.

Fred: "Sigh, alright, with that in mind, recall what you first heard, a large snap right here. Now we see markings showing us Ezekiel's path but don't you thinks it's strange, the absence of something our senses couldn't find?"

Jack: "Enough nonsen-"

Lily: "Are you talking about..."

Anastatia: "The sound after the starting ruckus!"

Catching on to Fred's immersive viewpoint on the behaviors of Ezekiel Malin, the two ignorant girls sparked with a sense of accomplishment at comprehending what Fred was trying to say. They began with flippant ideaologies towards Fred's enourmous caution which exuded fear, but this time, without thinking the two girls decided to pay heed to the cowards words. No, the boy in front of them was no longer a coward, he was a man worth paying mind too. Jack on the otherhand was stuck in a muddy sense of distraught, having been left behind by kids all younger than he was. He solemnly decided to stay silent and continue listening, in order to diminish an embarrasement that might be in store.

Fred: "Exactly, after the first snap, no other intrusive sound came next."

Lily: "!"

Ana: "!"

Jack: "!!!"

Fred: "So, if there was no sound, who's to say that these markings weren't purposely placed to hide the true path? We have no knowledge of any sound towards the east after the first step, so how can we assume this isn't the first trick?"

Almost completely sure of himself, Fred willingly followed not Ezekiel's facade of a path, but the pavement his gut was forming for him. Anastatia and Lily were bemused by these thoughts invading their minds, creating mutiple new scenarios they never had insight towards before. Jack was calm, recollected, and refined, on the outside of course. On the inside he was fuming with anger and rebukement of himself, how could he have allowed himself to be tricked, while announcing he might get tricked...

Fred: "Ezekiel, from the jump, was never going east, no, he definetly went west."

Anastatisa: "Your right."

Lily: "For sure."

Jack: "Then let's head out."

With a quickness the husky frame of Jack's shouldn't be capable of, the boy strudded foward hiding his face steaming with red, almost tripping in the process. In the beginning Fred's growth was something warranted, something he wanted to blosom. But now, the boy has surpassed him within a single night, joining up with Ezekiel in the process. He balanced himself with resolve and caution, he won't fall for another trick this time around. The two lovely ladies following Jack now had an easiness to themselves, they placed trust in Fred, basically handing him the reigns and confiding in his judgement. The only person these two trusted with that type of task, was just Ezekiel, so showing this side to Fred whom supposedly shouldn't deserve it, left a slight feeling of cringe, but hope all the more. The tail of the snake, Fred, was observantly surveying the jungle as the group moved along, looking for even the most miniscule detail. After heading west for about a minute, realized they should back track and pay closer attention before traversing deeper. On the second time around Jack was the one to notice it.

Jack: "Ugh whats that smell."

Fred: "What smell what are you talking about?"

Jack: "Down there by those bushes, you don't smell that? Its like a pack of skunks going to the bathroom together."

Fred in shock at Jack's repulsion, having not the faintest idea of what the older brother was whiffing. Looking around, he noticed everyone else was making a smiliar face to Jack's, staring down at the the suspected bushes. Fred inclined his vision in tha general direction and can see a familiar distortion that seemed to bend space the way overwhelming heat would. He narrows his eyes further, something on the edge of his tongue begging to be discovered, he jumps down by instinct. As he took a huge whiff of the air, he begins coughing hoarsley coughing to the point of feeling pain. With the sudden realization of what it is he was sniffing, he gave equally hoarse laugh mixed into the coughs.

Fred: "Yep those are my funk bombs, Zeke you dimwit!"

Anastatia: "Your responsible for this odor Fred? A true villain."

Lily: "Agreed."

Fred: "Don't just openly say that!"

With no intentions of hiding their anhorrance at Fred's vile creation, both girls sent rebuking remarks flying towards him. Now having their feelings of trust betrayed and violated by the vicarious funk bombs, the two young ladies imagined what the purpose could they possibly hold. Would Fred sell those god awful things to other children? That would be a catostophe, anarchy would reign supreme, buildings will fall to flames, the cursing smoke would rise and pollute the sky in an act of regret. Fred wouldn't be that stupid, the girls mentally agreed, then, why? Could it be.

Lily: "Fred were you going to prank me and Ana with those things?! Evil, just evil! A true enemy of girls across the continent! A shameful enemy of the village! I believed in you for a second... How could you?!"

Anastatia: "Well said Lily! Fred i'm sure your ready to face the consequences for these crimes right? No need to defend yourself, all has been decided, guilty!"

Vindictive to the very core, with the sole purpose of infringing and rebuking, down in the slim and lengthy child's general direction with eyes closed to avoid Fred's visage, the girls screamed. Fred on the verge of collapsing due to his disorientation caused by the nausea inducing gas omnipresent around him, wobbled and swayed. He swifly leapt upwards towards his crew, which incited terror and panic, his smell, that egg, octupus, and feces scented aroma would destroy all 5 senses on contact. The two girls couldn't allow it, they all pounced off the branch, making sure to cover atleast 10 meters in distance. Jack however, stood still in complete solemness with no attempt at evading Fred, as if purposely recieving his punishment for earlier doubt.

Fred: "Fine, if i'm guilty you may judge me at a later time. For now we know where Zeke went next, towards the North, i'm sure since the funk bombs lead that way."

Anastatia: "Shut up Fred! How do we know your not continuing on with your vile ways now that we called you guilty."

Lily: "Exactly, you can't be trusted, plus that smell might kill..."

Fred palmed his face after hearing their immature response. He cursed himself for hiding the bombs under his bed inside the inner sanctum of the floor in his room. Ezekiel must have discovered them whenever he was left alone in the room while Fred went to the restroom or to fetch snacks. The better hiding place would have been somewhere Ezekiel doesn't visit all the time...This bitterness of having his creation flaunted in his face and used against him, not just as a distraction, but for psychological warfare as well... It was demorphing and hope crushing.

Jack: "I think you guys are being too rough, especially since you guys gave off a hint of pride and wonder at Fred's judgement not too long ago."

Lily: "Are you siding with the enemy Jack?!"

Jack: "If thats what you want to call it, sure. Despite the odor Fred gives off his instincts are pure, he also knows Zeke the best of the 4 of us, doubting him will lead us down the hole Zeke dug for us."

Anastatia: "Thats..."

Quietly biting her tongue, Anastatia witheld herself, she deemed Jack's words true to the source, though she didn't want to admit it, Fred spent the most time with Zeke. He had pointed them in the right direction and provided well needed insight to dilemas that were invisible before being revealed. She shook her head valiantly, with a tinge of chide towards herself for being immature. It was only natural knowing her age, but that doesn't really help her much. She shook her head and resigned herself. Jack strode forth, having shamed himself previously, he would not do so again. Arriving to Fred's aid his voice was calm and steady, speaking common sense with a matter-of-fact tone. Fred to Jack's assistance let go of a deep exhale, in the need of hope here comes the oldest, with widsom being the product of age.

Lily: "Ok we get it! But i'm not letting go, you heard Fred! Even if i'm alone you'll be checked by me! It's not that I want to, no, without a doubt not the case. I simply can't let yo get away with such heinous acts. Yes, thats it in fact."

Speaking in an evasive manner meant to stop one in their tracks and heed her will, she pompously puffed her chest out and gave a sudden "hmpf" as she tilted her face away from Fred. These actions only started recently but Fred couldn't help indulging in that ridicoulously cute reaction. Abeit before he let his face turn into one Ezekiel forbode, he also shifted his faced down to cover it. A truly awkward situation, in which every party is either in denial or realised they were in denial. Simultaneously, they all shook their heads with conviction, now was the time to move on, before they began to wallow, which is precisely what Ezekiel wanted. For them to waste time on trivalties and build distress in their ranks. To carve them up slowly from afar while looking down jeeringly at their melancholy, his intentions were bearing fruit, atleast for a moment.

Fred: "I accept, since you personally want to tend to the matter i'll allow it for earlier. That matter aside, let's move, I know you guys think you might die if you go in the gas but I promise you'll be fine. Although try not to pass out that would be troublesome."

All 3 in unison: "Pass out?!?"

Fred: "Hehe probably shouldn't have said that, anyway onwards soldiers!"

Hestitagingly at first, the soldiers eventually rallied at Fred's call, they noticed the corrosive pit of fumigated green air at once, retching once or twice in response. The gas had already burned leafs and plants alike while moving onto tree bark, slowing scraping even at the age old trees. This was an omnious sight, but one the children could no longer ignore should they hope to reign victorious against the beast Ezekiel. Such as the heros and legends from tales, the children fell straight into their trial, thus it begun. Looking for a trail was like trying to find a copper coin in the ocean, naturally due to the burning sensation of the salt water one shouldn't even be able to upon their eyes. The gas had this effect on the children, but to a reasonable degree, not as horrid as salt, but worse than cutting onions. The girls searched the branches while the men treaded on the ground in the center of danger. Everything within a 50 meter diameter was covered from head to toe, this must have been done for a reason the crew knew that had to be the case.

Anastatia: "Here! Its Zeke's footstep, for sure! I would never mistake this thin baby foot! Even if im only feeling it due to having my eyes closed.

Lily: "She's right! This foot is too big for a Zora monkey but too small for any other type, it's Zeke's for sure!"

Jack: "Thank huff Wick huff."

Having traversed the vast expanse of the jungle, the crew were very familar with the wild life that lived in their favorite ecosystem. Studied and observed, they began naming animals to their liking, Zora monkey is the smallest of the monkeys with gleaming grey fur and red faces that looked as if constantly in fury. With long arms extending past their bony knees, they weren't exactly hostile, but far from friendly. Ezekiel once attempted in getting along and spent a whole day chasing them around, he looked like a family member that had been shunned from the persepctive of children. With the confirmation of the foots size and shape via monkey discription, Jack relieveness should be assured, had he not been in the heart of the corrosive sphere of destruction. He was barely conscious, more so entranced and disillusioned by the failure of his senses in such a drastic, withered portion of the jungle.

Jack: "Huff huff g-gramps?"

With no shortage in reaction, the entire jungle stared at Jack and the words he just uttered, this of course didn't magically give their eyes protection from the gas. Wails rang throughout the expanse of trees, bushes, vines, flowers, and the variety of wildlife. As if having been woken up, the jungle decrepitly rang with screams of different animals and beast all indiscernable from the other in a mesh of melodies. The night of the hunt was only just beginning, invaders started a party of their own. Snapping back to reality, Fred and the two lovely young ladies needed to stop outwardly sobbing in pain, before Ezekiel realises, or possibly something even worse.

Fred: "Guhhh, we have to stop. Jack, the heck man, why are you talking about gramp Rom right now? You know he's..."

Jack: "Huff gramps, is that you? Wow no way! Even you can make miracles happen? So the funeral and honorific ritual done in your passing was just a joke? Hahaha only someone as strong as you can get away with that gramps. Your my hero, you know that? I want to grow and make miracles happen just like you did gramps. I want to be someone you take pride in with all your being, relishing in our own glory and happiness. Protecting our family with our lives and defeating our enemies mercilessly. Thats our way, gramps..."

Fred: "Jack?!"

The exhaustion and dragging of breath left Jack's voice as he began professing his aspirations and desires shamelessly at this facade of a grandfather that is Fred. His arms swug with gleam and indulgement, a face with delusioned excitement, eyes with red where white should be, drool slipping down his lips onto his chin. In a disarray of gestures and feelings, Jack was in bliss while his body was in terror. Eventually, at his final words, the light in Jack's eyes flickered and disappated, leaving his body to fall in suit. Fred while forcing his eyes open managed to glimpse Jack go limp, and flew towards him, catching him in the same instance.

Anastatia: "Jack?! Cough F-Fred what happened?! Cough."

Fred: "Get out of the gas now! What direction are the tracks pointing?!"

Anastatia: "North!"

Fred: "Head North!"

Succumbing to panic at Jack's unresponsiveness, Fred sprinted North with Jack in tow, forcing his eyes awide despite the irratating pain that might melt his eyeballs at any given second. Hoping the girls heard his frantic order, he was approaching fresh air swiftly with a will to want to live. The air that bent the atmosphere with surges of heat, burning away at all life, death gas, just what had Fred created... This truly is a trial befit for heros, in the manner of being horrific and suffer inducing, both in physical and mental capacities. Having already vanquished one of the young heros, the beast must be laughing its head off at the distraught children who dare called themselves hunters. Feeling the atroscious sensation weaken gradually, Fred sped up, causing a sound almost shockwave like but in a more silent manner befitting a surge of wind flowing in one direction. Until finally the end was reached.

Fred: "Gah! Guhhh... We made it."

Speaking more so to the sky which was still dark, rather than the fainted Jack, Fred intook as much air in as quickly a way as possible. He was delighted with it, absolutely esteemed at the presence of clean oxygen, how could he have taken it for granted all this time? While laying on the emerald covered foundation of the jungle which was tinged with a damp and moist feeling, Fred allowed himself to cool down. Letting the breeze splay on his face with a chilling aroma of wet leaves, towards the corrosive gas, Fred was in peace. That was until a familar noise splayed onto his ears, inciting a bit of anxious clairvoyance Fred would rather not have gotten. He squirmed a bit but intently focused on the shrill high pitch yell. Two sillouttes burst forth, causing the corrosive gas to poof with an explosion then return to its orginal state. With frightnening speed, the two young ladies were descending upon the boys uncontrollably and flailing hopelessly.

Lily and Anastatia: "Look out!"

Fred: "Why just w-"

Noticing he was far too slow to react because of his intense concentration on the lingering sound Fred loved so much, Lily's voice, along with Anastatia's, were violently approaching. A thud resounded which slammed the breath Fred was enjoying gleefully right out of his body. The figure that landed on his abdominal was Lily, thankfully so for Fred, the lightest of the bunch. Jack however arose from his slumber with a squeak which was uncharacteristic for someone who looked like Jack. He was flat on his stomache, unconscious, when Anastatia suddenly flopped onto him with force to break bones.

Jack: "Squee"

Fred: "You guys being foreal or is this some type of vengance? Or maybe your disillusioned like Jack was? Please go easy..."

Lily: "Shut up! Do you think I wanted to leap into your arms and embrace you like before? Your seriously annoying, thats not the case I swear! Anastatia was too fast and I lost control."

Anastatia: "I was too fast? No you were! All worried about Fred and his safety, this happened because of you!"

Lily: "What'd you say! As if that's the case, weren't you desperately trying to reach Jack and check on his condition? Your dodging!"

Heeding all attention, absorbing all thought process and contemplation, the two young ladies with royally flushed faces were facing off, electricity practically sparking around their eye contact. The two girls have never fought before, they were always kind and accepting to one another. This time, however, was an instance neither side could concede to. The most imposing, conflicting, menacing emotion for a young girl, embarassement akin to fear. An unexpected inquiry which must be hidden regardless of anything else, should the apocalypse commence, these secrets must never surface. Fred and Jack were in shambles, they only knew one thing alone, they must avert their attention from the girls at all cost.

Fred: "Jack... Man to man, I have a question for you."

Jack: "Lay it on me little bro."

Fred: "Did Squee come from your mouth just now?"

Jack: "Hck!"

There was only one option, the boys needed to counteract the embarassment of the girls by sacrificing one of their own. Fred spurred with a sudden inspiration, he thought the topic was ill for the moment since there was a more pressing issue, faced with a greater unexpected situation, he fired.

Anastatia: "..."

Lily: "..."

Praying, all that could be done was savant prayer, extending ones voice to a being beyond the veil, desperately pleading for assistance in this dire time of need. If the joke took a misturn the anger would sky rocket, morning would come sooner than later. Then loss would be inevitable, with a face surrounded with candid teasing, slightly amused, Fred flashed such a face onto the Jack whom was being rode such as a horse would by Anastatia. Jack's mind was nowhere near on synch with Fred's, despair seeped into the boy immersed in soil and damp leafs. He was forced to realize how naive he had been to think that noise would have been ignored. Such a sound has never escaped Jack's lips before, it was plain girly. The two young ladies wore a grim expression, a shadow creased over their faces, concealing all sign of feedback. Wind whistled with anticipation, the long wait, a span of a few seconds, will all be realized.

Anastatia: "Poof."

Lily: "Pwahahahaha."

As if the suffocation seemingly vanished, the boys began to draw hidden labored breaths. The girls were laughing in rythym, accomodating to one another with ease and neutrality. They soon started patting each other and consoling one another with no use of verbal contact. After their mood settled however, the two girls began feeling unease with extreme sensitivity, far more enhanced than usual. Their eyes lingered in search of the cause for the disruption within the nerves of the girls, tracing along the jungle they oggled down without tilting their heads. Slowly, folding their chins in ever so slightly, they both stared down.

Anastatia: "I'm sorry!"

Lily: "KYAAA!"

The horse had quietly stayed put, not alerting his supposed master of her disrespectful riding of his back. With consideration of this, Anastatia backed away unwillingly. She knew it was wrong but it felt fun riding Jack's back, untimely as it was. Lily on the otherhand, almost exploded on cognizance of the position she was in. Ungracefully sitting on Fred's abdomen, Lily was bursting with a shade of red comparable to sunburn. She had no words, no excuses, no retorts, she was reduced to a shell unable to form a response. Jumping away instantly, Lily hid behind anastatia, renouncing herself for the moment.

Fred: "Don't worry about it, I didn't move so me and horsey could soften your fall, if you guys got injured this game would turn sour quick. So let's win."

Anastatisa: "Y-yeah..."

Lily: "M-mhm..."

Fred: "Good, then, Jack on a serious note, do you remember what you were calling me in the gas?"

With dejected looks, Anastatia and Lily both wryly accepted Fred's passion and self proclaimed assistance. They were still hungover on their indecent displays currently replaying in their minds, a memory which inacts a multitude of emotions. With those complications in mind, Fred shifted the conversation to the key point that needed solving. Jack's monologue meant for his Grandfather whom passed away when he was 7 like Ezekiel currently is; that needed some clarification, atleast a comfirmation.

Jack: "Inside the gas? Inside the gas you say... I actually can't remember, it's so strange but when I think about back then my mind gets all hazy and numb, making me blank out. Sorry, did I call you something weird like Zeke would?"

Fred: "...Not really, it was just a bit strange, don't worry about it's just me rambling on since i'm worried for you, passing out ain't a joke."

Jack: "I passed out?! Woah your right, I really was knocked out before Ana crushed me."

Ana: "No need for that last part..."

With a sense of dejection, Anastatia inserted herself into the serious conversation turned toxic, perplexed by the insult Jack just threw, obviously towards her weight. Even though Jack meant nothing by it, Anastatia had already drawn conclusions and proceeded on, in a bit of wallowing. Fred deciding to write off Jack's moment of illusion off as drunk moment like the adults have after drinking the bitter drinks of their's; resigned from saying anything else.

Jack: "Don't look at me like that. I'm fine, I just couldn't handle the gas near the center, Fred picked up for my slack, that's all."

Anastatia and Lily: "B-but..."

Jack: "Nope, I don't want to hear it, i'm fine, truly lets move on, before the sun show's itself. We're close I can just feel it."

All held disbelief comfortably plastered on their faces, losing conscious is definietly not a normality for the children, chide at Fred's creation bubble and popped, but more so towards Ezekiel who used it first. He was testing them, initiating trials for them to accomplish on their way to him, he set an atmosphere rejecting the concept of predator and prey. The philosophy which replaced the prior was one of unworthy Knights attempting to slay a catostrophic dragon in it's innate domain. There was no room for worry or doubt, regardless of injuries or sudden shock, they all must move foward, no way to beat the dragon otherwise.

Fred: "Alright, thats a Knightly spirit. Let's move, I see tracks to my left, it looks like Zeke sped up by running on the ground, still to the North."

Anastatia: "Sigh, no kidding, they're so plain and obvious now, he was rushed."

Lily: "Hmpf, good, all the better for us."

Without taking much noticed, the crew had defeated the second trial, how many more trials await is completely unknown to the children, hence, caution must be assumed. Fred grimmaced at the tracks as well as Anastatia's comment on the transparency of it all. They were far too open, he's leading them once again, even so, there is no other lead beside the trail left by Ezekiel. Follow was all they could do, awaiting the next rise of conflict head on. The crew inspected the tracks quickly and accelerated towards their target.

Fred: "Be careful."

Lily: "No need to be all bossy, we we're already doing that, your saying that like if we're dumb kids."

Fred: "Hmm I guess so."

Lily: " Who do you think your t... Ohhh i'm hungry."

Cutting off her own sentence in reach for a sudden emptiness creeping into Lily's abdominal's, her face tightened with the grumbling of her stomache. The sound reverberated loudly among the sound of crickets and the occasional movement of a nocturnal animal moving about in bushes and leaves. The energy spent on the infernal gas drained at the saturation and hydration in the under developed bodies of the crew, although Lily's body was especially under developed, leaving her with long term effects. No one could have predicted these unfair circumstances, thus not a single person packed food or water.

Lily: "Guhahh, it hurts. Food, need food."

Fred: "Sorry we didn't pack any, just tough it out, if you feel too weak to keep going i'll carry you across the finish line."

Lily: "No one asked that... Grrrr AGH! I can't wait to beat Zeke."

Enduring to her furthest extent, Lily wasn't in need of coddling or assurance, what she needed was nutrients. Her body was feeling heavy and her mood turned sour in annoyance and irritation. Her symptoms were growing with each step, she could feel her change into a different person, such as one would when it's reached that time of month. She turned the fire searing her insides with a simmer towards Zeke, the order she would give must be the most unreasonable, hateful request. One Zeke will never forget for as long as he lives, an imprint on his heart leaving trauma one could never shake, for it is bound to the foundation of their being.

Cutting through the Jungle, the crew began making their way North just East of where the ravine towards the edge of the jungle is suppoused to be. Feeling as if Zeke avoided that side with his L-shaped motion of travel, the crew sighed with relief, they would have liked to avoid that side of the jungle due to what may or may not be there. Lily's condition, while hidden to the rest was dire, she was on the verge of turning feral, ghoul like, giving into gluttony. She needed food, no matter what it may be, from live animal to poisonus berry, anything will do. Within a glimmer of a glimmer, Lily's senses which were befuddled by the wild death gas, had resharpened themselves in pursuit of anything that could be consumed, saw orange flash across her peripheral. Turning her head in that direction like an on guard deer, Lily focused in on the orange she previously noticed, it was, a carrot.

Lily: "Thank god, food!"

Fred:" Eh? What food, there shouldn't be... Wait, wait, WAIT LILY!"

Closing the distance between her and the carrot, Lily was on the verge of reaching it when Fred suddenly soared to the carrot aproximatly a second before Lily did, pushing her in the process. Lily had no idea what Fred's true motives were, all she could see is him attempting to steal her food which she spotted first, rage spewed out of her into Fred. In that same instance, whirring mechanical noises could be heard, like something rubbing against a tree with enough force to burn from friction. The carrot was wisked out of arm's reach, a cage of iron rope assembled tightly enough to imprint cuts and scars around Fred. Lily's eyes went from narrowed anger into a widened suprise as she saw Fred become incapacitated by the very carrot she desired so badly.

Lily: "Fred!"

Anastatia: "God what now.

Jack: "We just can't catch a break."

Fred: "Urkk."

Rising through the branches and vines while crashing into several, Fred felt the trap struggle with the weight he had. The trap wasn't made for a large creature, it was on the verge of failing and collapsing in on itself. Fred couldn't believe it, did Zeke really know about such a thing or was this some type of coincidence? Coincidence, no, he knew down to the very foundation of it all, yet he never raised a single noton or attention to the matter. Furthermore, using it whimsically at his so called friends of his, in order to buy time for himself, actually, more like just playing a joke. The trap was about to snap any second, this would only cause pain to Fred, it wouldn't steal time. Although, if caught, the trap most likely would have been able to capture Lily's petite frame, was it really aimed for her? Fred couldn't solve the puzzle with the rapidly approaching devastation about to happen.

Fred: "Damn you Zeke."

Jack: " Are you joking?"

Anastatia: "There's no way."

A rattling sensation screeched upon the jungle exposing it to the industrial creations of man that pollute it secretly. The device in question sounded stuck, as if jammed by a metal pipe, vigoursly trying to foce it's way through. Snapping in half entirely, a popping noise insued and shook the leaves off nearby Trees, raining down ever so slightly on the children below, along with a calmly furious Fred who gave of the notion that he was getting used to this type of treatment.

Fred: "You got it then, demon."

Jack: "Hck!"

Fred who was on the 20 meter above ground level with his fellow comrades, ascended to 60 meters above the ground withing a frame of 3 seconds. Jack climbing up desperately with the vines skewered about, aspired to atleast reach fred a quarter of the way, this fall, it wasn't survivable for a child.

Calmed to the brink of still water, Fred was on the move, his sunshine esk hair, long and overflowing raised far above him, hanging on to Fred's scalp with the influx of resistance tugging at them. Descending with sharp wind almost cutting the skin on his face, Fred with no time for forthwith, extending his arm with an urgency, reaching just barely with his index finger, flexed as much strength into a single finger as possible, giving him slight control over his body, enough to swing towards another branch a few meters below. Catching that one with an entire hand, with no effort into stopping the unsurmountable momentum he attained, drifted his direction to a branch adjacent, in a act of trying to soften the reisistance with horizontal movements. All the while voices were scattered all around the boy trying to safely reach his friends. They were nerve racking to an extent, not completely breaking Fred's focus, but creating openings for a mistake. Once Fred established dominion, he soared through the trees and vines with no interest of wasting any more valuable time.

Fred: "Hey, let's go we're wasting time."

Lily: "Hak, huk, eh? Don't just turn on hero mode without telling us. We're you always that skilled? Just what are you, where's my Fred?"

Fred: "Your Fred?"

Lily: "Eeek."

Tripping on suppousedly buried feelings, Lily let go of an easily understandable in between the lines, meangiful remark. Fred pursuing in curiosity due to ignorance of his own current standing in Lily's heart, imposed himself. Facing the crushing pressure, Lily was wavering, not having a clue what to say next, silent, awaiting for anything to arrive over the climaxing quietness.

Anastatia: "Forget that, look up Fred."

Fred: "Huh?"

Jack: "Huff, huff, wheeze."

Fred: "What are you doing up there didn't I just say enough wasting time. And I really thought we were on the same page Jack."

Anastatia: "He went up trying to soften your fall dofus, be grateful!"

Fred: "Argh"

Feeling a burning sensation on the back of his skull, gripping it tightly was Fred, falling down and rolling in agony. Anastatia held nothing back while reprimanding him for his ignorance which was not his fault. Fred had no idea what had occurred while he concentrated ferociously on surviving, he was aware of noises but no figures came to mind.

Jack: "I-it's fine huff, i'm just exhausted now huff."

Anastatia: "If you say so."

Fred: "That easy?! Then why even bother following through."

Anastatia: "Swept up in the moment, the wind seemed to guide my fist."

Jack returning promptly to a roaring Fred and a furious Anastatia calmed the mood enough for everyone to regain composure. Fred stood tall, staring at Anastatia who let go of a sarcastic statement, sticking out her tongue like the child she is. He won't forgive her but he'll leave it for a later time, currently there was something more important he had on his mind.

Fred: "Lily, you were really that hungry huh?"

Lily: 'W-what are you getting at? I don't know what your saying. Don't blame unnecessary things on others!"

Stepping up to the petite, lilac haired girl, Fred looked down upon his love interest with wolf eyes stained with hunger for something. She backed into a tree with no way to retreat, Fred enclosed upon her closer tha usual. His face was sardonic with sarcasm spread all across it, he had something he wanted to reveal, Lily knew that much but couldn't prepare her starving, depraved body of what came next.

Fred: "Really? Then i guess you wouldn't want this carrot I just found, its so ripe and fresh, what a shame really, guess i'll eat it then munch."

Lily: "No! I do, I do want it, please, let me have it, PLEASE!"

Fred: "Stop being so desperate and apologize, then I might consider it."

Waving the carrot over his head mockingly as the small framed child hopped and pounced about trying to reach a peak she would never be able to reach. Wishing for a sudden growth spurt, Lily wanted the orange vegatable no matter what, she needed it, Hence all she had to do was one thing alone.

Lily: "S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s..."

Fred: "Thank Wick you don't want this carrot then."

Lily: "I'm sorry! There are you happy? I'm sorry I led you into a trap by mistake, sorry I needed saving, sorry for burdening you, now give me my carrot!"

Recieving exactly what he wanted, Fred relinqueshed his hold over what Lily wanted. With an unnatural haste, Lily grabbed the carrot, never letting it go again. She devoured it near instantly, not savoring it in the slightest, merely gulped it down the way you would with luke warm soup. Her taste buds couldn't even factor any type of sustenance entering her body due to the quickness of it all. Thus, Lily continued starving with a violent dehydration just like the rest, all was for naught due to impatience.

Lily: "Wahhh, Wahhh."

At her ridiculous pouting in th form of crying, the children all laughed once again, along with: despair, agony, disorientation, sickness, ridicule, pain; the kids all also felt a happiness swarm about them from time to time. They couldn't help themselves, they loved each other so dearly, they hung out almost every day, doing and acting silly or serious depending on circumstances. They all enjoyed each others presence naturally the way you would with blood related family members.

Lily: "Stop laughing! It's not funny."

Fred: "Your right, sorry. Anyways, let's keep going, i'm starting to feel what Jack feels, Zeke is close."

Jack: "Yeah, undoubtly this part is starting to seem more familair, i'm being reminded of Zeke nonstop, this place is Zeke's favorite isn't?"

Posing the questions spurring in his mind outwardly was Jack, the crimson haired boy was experiencing a sense of deja vu like never before. Intently scowering the Jungle, this side was the side Ezekiel visit the most, it's the only place he visits by himself. Jack knew this because he would often follow his leader when he noticed him entering their playground with no one at his side. He would always lose him once he reached the north east end of the Jungle, where the crew are currently treading.

Fred: "Is it?"

Anastatia: "Really?"

Lily: "Huh?"

Lacking Jack's insight, the rest stared in confusion at his mysterious words. The husky older brother was clearly announcing his unknown knowledge as if it was a commoniality, with disregard for the awareness of others. Seeing the consensus of bewilderment, Jack drooped his head with refusal to elaborate.

Jack: "It's fine, just a familar sense is all."

Fred: "Is that so?

Anastatia: "If you say so Jack."

Lingering confusion and regret stained the air, there was alot of abnormalities occuring in a single night, too much was changing with no time spared. This quickly passing time was vexing to the crew who needed it so desperately, if they were to stand a chance. No need to further interrogate a trusted older brother figure, if he said this is Zeke's habitat, there was no doubt at all.

With their goal right in front of them, on top of nothing to prove that claim besides assumptions and hidden memories, the children instinctively felt him, the presence of their leader. They couldn't see or locate him in any form or fashion with this 6th sense of their's, but he is near, the crew knew this as if it were a proven fact. This unique uncanny ability to pick up on each other is one known only to those apart of the crew. To their knowledge, they could only sense each other, this ability began with Ezekiel and spread upon the others within months. The scariest part is more so how familiar the crew treated this bizarre sense, all the more, they will use it to their advantage.

Lily: "Zeke is like a bug crawling on my skin, I can feel him, but still can't reach him."

Fred: "Nice one, the trail is gone, seems he wasn't in a rush after all."

Jack: "Yeah, and not just that, if we didn't have this sense of ours, he would be almost nonexistent, not a single trace."

The crew darkened in realisation of how dangerous it can be to depend on assumptions and feelings, since now even those concepts shed no aid in this moment of need for the children. Ezekiel was fully icognito, one would think he is a natural born, trained assasin with the way he's able to conceal even the faintest whiff of himself. In this dark, desolated expanse of tropical nature with an omnious sensation of being watched from every corner and crevice, the children found themselves at a stalemate. With no path in sight, the children were stumped, having no solutions to this dilema they didn't have before.

Fred: "Lets climb a bit, there's more to see and hear from up there. Zeke is clever but he has habits and traits orginal to him alone, he's used to being different and relishes in it. I honestly wouldn't be suprised if he's hiding in a flat out flashy area, sticking out from the other trees or vines."

Delving into intricate thoughts of Ezekiel's mannerism's and styles, the crew almost scoffed aloud, unanimously in consensus of Ezekiel's individuality. Sudden hope rose in the place of the feeling of aimlessness, they just needed to pay close attention to anything that stands out in the slightest. Although this manner of thinking is also in complete contrast of the trials they just faced, having pursued anything giving off splendor, a few painful experiences were met. More caution, even more caution was needed now that they can feel Ezekiel on their skin.

Anastatia: "Let's hurry up then, just a little bit more."

Jack: "It's still dark, although too much time has passed we don't have much longer.

In reality, the very beast the children were looking for was just shy of 25 meters to the East of his crew, hiding in the trunk atop his favorite tree, one which stands out incredibly so, if you strain your eyes of course. The crew had absolutely no clue of this fact, searching for the last piece of the puzzle, the tree was camflouged adjacent to several trees which lodged it from plain sight. It was skinny in comparison to the other jungle trees so the space it needed blended well with the others, an invisible enigma. While searching from above, hand horizontally placed on her eyebrow to further her sight, Lily was the one to notice it.

She froze, as if suddenly crystalized in an ice cube for the rest of eternity, Lily simply stared, dropping her hand no longer needed. Her eyes widened to an almost bulging point, her lip began quivering rythmically in a tranceful state, fully giving into bodily awareness. She had absolutley no idea such a fear was even possible, her inexperince was shed light upon, searing her skin with an abhorrant brightness, too much for one to understand. She began comprehending the premonitions and lack of information given to her. She was but a child, the grueling details were left out of the story that would later be retold to the adults once there were no children around. The true reason why the jungle was off limits.

Lily: " G-g-g-guy's"

Fred: "What is it stop talking like th..."

Anastaia: "Fre..."

Jack: Why are you guys going si..."

All followed Lily's reaction accordingly down to the very gestures, panic insued to the point of being tangible. It was Fred alone who shifted into action near immidietely after the initial hesitation, pushing the two girls behind a patch of leaves while grabbing onto Jack's shirt, dragging him along. Causing some shaking and slight noises, the thing in questioned veered it's head towards the children, having heard a noise, stared intently but found no prey, thus moving along.

Fred: "No, No, No, No, No, this can't be happening. This is impossible, that thing, it's dead, they said it died."

The monstrosity currently intruding upon the environment he wasn't native to, was enourmous. The size was far too large to be treading a jungle, it pushed aside trees with ease by merely squeezing through, the trees would move on their own, toppling over in the process. It had white fur which was dirtied with red and gray, signifing not only it's lack of bathing but how much it consumed and crushed along it's journey of carnage. With feral eyes the color of amethyst, shining with a ferocious gleam, showcasing its fierce bloodlust ever clearly. Scars were implanted all across it's form, slashes intertwining creating shapes of all kind across the monster's body, giving it a presence of constant battle and war waging. Even the air around the beast warped and trembled giving off it's killing intent ever so clearly, the monster, was an enemy to any and all. It's name was the wither bear.

Fred: "Zeke... We have to..."

Gradually becoming quieter, Fred's voice wavered with pessism, he thought of saving Zeke would be impossible if that thing noticed him. Looking at his friends who were shaking, petrified to the core, Fred made his descision, today, he will shatter any limits he thought he had.

Fred: "Guys, on my mark, sprint south with every last bit of strength you have left, don't look back for a second."

Lily: "Eh? D-don't be stupid, what are you planning?"

Fred: "I'm going to challenge that beast and save Zeke."

Reering their heads at a velocity so hard their necks might have snapped in half with a bit more momentum, with wide eyes, the crew stared at the boy as if he just revealed the world's secrets. It wasn't that they thought Fred was stupid or that he was arrogant, they simply questioned the severity of the proclimation.

Fred: "I'm not leaping over there and engaging the thing with my bare fist like i'm some menacing war god, don't worry. I'm simply going to alert Zeke of the threat while drawing it's attention until I feel that you all got away. Don't even think about helping, not for a second."

Lily: "Bu... Ok, ok I get it, just, please, please be safe, don't underestimate that thing, I can tell how much it's killed just by looking at it."

Anastatia: "Be careful, no matter what, prioritize yourself, Zeke is at a level on his own, trust in him, please..."

Jack: "Fred... As much as I want to go along with you by force, disagreeing could lead to death right now. I trust you brother, we survive together."

Albeit still whispering, the children began hardening their hearts to disaster, overcoming their fears and lack of action, gained confidence with Fred's bravado. The blonde headed boy on the otherhand was sweating profusely, his body was rejecting his minds course of action. He felt his skin itch and his muscles tighten, he was crumpling. Punching himself quietly across the head, Fred clenched his teeth to the point of pain, he readied himself, as well as his countdown.

Fred: "3."

The wind blows, dragging along anxiousness.

Fred: "2."

The leaves fall, omniously so.

Fred: "1!"

The branch suddenly snaps, causing a foreign sound to invade the jungle with a distorting melody of urgency. The bear rears its head once again and spots 4 silloutes where he was looking at previously. At this, the monster let out a roar so violent it practically screamed it's intentions to brutally maim and murder all in it's wake. The bear accelerated, knocking tree after tree over like flimsy obstacles a child would play with, however, it had chosen it's prey from the moment it heard the first noise.

Fred: "UGEHAHHHHHH!!! OVER HERE UGLY! COME TASTE THIS MEAT!"

The boy purposely provoking the wither bear would be the target of it's devastation soon to come. Fleeing via branch hopping, the boy would ocassionally look back in fear as he saw the frightening monster approach Fred with an uncanny acceleration, which shouldn't be possible for an animal that huge.

Fred: "Zeke! It's the wither bear! It's alive! Head to the village at all cost!"

Screaming with impatience and imperativeness, Fred was outwardly yelling at the top of his lungs, conveying his thoughts in as little words as possible with the most pressing information. The wither bear was gaining on him, eventually there will come a time where the tree Fred is on suddenly rocks and falls.Fred was going as far East as possible, in the direction of Ezekiel, although he didn't know that. While guterally wailing, a situation Fred could have never had guessed emerged with vindictiveness.

Fred: "HUH, NO WAY!"

As if a black hole suddenly spawned inside of the Wither bear's body, all of creation began forcefully moving towards the centrifugal effect ongoing. The force was strong enough to pull trees from their roots, some of the trees in the jungle lived for decades, some even centuries. Constantly going through what mother nature insued, the trees were weathered strong, with great resistance. This resistance amounted to nothing in the face of the vexing magic the Wither bear was using, an innate ability adapted for catching prey, truly imposing.

Fred who felt hair rise on his skin, followed his gut and hid behind the bark of a tree. Having his world rocked and decimated, was pinned against the tree by a force he couldn't see. Magic, the beast of a bear was also capable of using magic to an exaggerated degree, the potency of the spell was absurd for a wild animal. The bear itself was already a walking calamity, an earthquake in full motion, when suddenly it turned into a tornadoe, pulling everything towards it. Rather eveything was pulled, then filtered before reaching the bear, all that was rejected was sent flying, causing a chain of destruction.

Fred: "ARAHH!"

Pressing all of his strength into combating the gravity tugging fiercesomely at every piece of his body, Fred honed his body further, fighting with everything he has. The tree he was pinned on was about to be unrooted from the ground, if that happens while hes still pinned it's over..

Fred: "Eh?"

Right before Fred was about to be sent flying towards the Wither bear, the centrifugal attracting force suddenly stopped, a new aura replacing the prior. It was the aura of a true demon, voilence and bloodshed painted all across it, flowing throughout the air. It was a familiar feeling to Fred, had it not been he would had fell unconscious where he stood. The self proclaimed hero made way for the demon entering the fray, when all hope was lost, he ushered forth. Ezekiel Malin joins the fight.