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Dark Jungle, Ten

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Dark Jungle

Ten,

"Do you think he'll make it," asked Monrey, worry in her every word.

"I'm willing to bet money he won't," answer Row with a side look at her.

The two watched Lion-o descend the long staircase from the small upstairs apartment. He clings desperately to the banister leading to the Rats Nest below.

From the bar they watch the young lion as he eased his way down, every step was a fight with his self. The pressure between his ears and his dizziness made even standing upright a challenge.

"What do you think Siamera?" The monkey turned to her friend, enjoying some late breakfast beside them. "Would you say he can make it?"

She glanced up at the mirror behind the bar to see Lion-o across the room, he looked miserable. Like an eighty-year-old woman he takes his time and rests every few steps.

"You know I'm not a betting person," she answered lowering her eyes back to her plate.

"So do we have a bet," Row nudged Monrey with her elbow.

"Hmmm," she taps on her chin as she silently mumbles her options.

"Aren't you in deep with her already, you can't hope to pay her back now," said Siamera, slowly sipping on a cup of hot tea.

"You're right," Monrey said her eyes gleaming. "If I win this I'll be closer to getting even, I'll do it!"

Siamera nearly choked on her tea, the monkey had completely misunderstood, like usual.

"You got a bet Row," she smiled extending her hand.

"How about fifty then," asked Row.

"Seventy-five," retorted Monrey.

"Fifty," countered Row.

"Sixty-five," continued Monrey.

"Fifty," answered Row firmly.

"Fifty-five," smiled Monrey.

The rodent hesitated staring at Monrey's outstretched hand… With a long sigh she finally agreed, "deal."

A quick handshake later the bet was made and the two return to watching Lion-o wobble his way down the stairs.

Siamera just smiled and shook her head, taking one more sip from her drink she glanced again at the mirror.

Poor Lion-o was doing everything in his power to just reach the bottom. With every stumble and slip Monrey winced, wiggling back and forth as if she was descending imaginary stairs herself.

"Come on buddy," she quietly cheered.

A few agonizing moments later Lion-o reached the last step.

"Yes," Monrey yelled as she jumped up and down in triumph.

Spinning around she smiled victoriously at row, "I'll be taking my fifty-five bucks now."

Rowe was never one who like to lose, that is on the rare occasion she did so.

"Tche," she spit and walked away.

"Hey," Monrey frowned.

"I'll subtract it from your tab," yelled back Row before leaving the room.

"Hum, you're no fun," she grumbled.

A low chuckling from her right catches her ear and she shot a glare back at the bar.

"Oh, shut up you," she snorted at Siamera's back.

But Monrey's words only made her friend laugh louder, she turned her head away in aggravation.

That's when her eyes fell upon Lion-o again, he was gripping the back of a saloon chair. Bent over it exhausted from his struggle and breathing heavily.

Monrey smiled and walked over to him, "I knew meeting you was a bit of good luck."

She said smacking him on the back and nearly breaking his fragile balance.

"If you're not busy later you should accompany me to a poker game. Maybe with you my winning streak will continue."

"I'm sorry but I can't," Lion-o said in a shaky, soft voice. "I really need to find my friends."

"Friends?" Monrey perked up, "you're not here alone?"

"No, there's two who came with me." After a short pause he stood up straight. "They must be worried by now."

"No problem," she grinned, "we'll help you look for them… right?" She looked over at the bar to Siamera's back.

The cat took a long gulp of tea before answering, "let me ask you this." She said not turning around, "are you still planning on going to that place?"

"I have to," the tone in his voice was so assured she had to look at the mere to see his face.

The two met each other's eyes through the dirty, wall mere, "then I stand by my decision not to help you."

With that she went back to enjoying her meal.

"That's okay," Monrey said hitting him on the chest with the back of her hand. "You still have me, come on now let's go find those friends."

She grabbed his arm and steadied him as they walked to the door.

"I guess it's true what they say," Siamera said, before they walked out of the bar..

"You can lead a fool to knowledge, but you can't make him think," she announced to the room, as if talking to no one in particular. But Lion-o knew she was distinctly directing it at him.

He left with the last look at her back before the light outside stung like needles in his eyes.

He winced and raised a hand over his eyes, it is been almost three days since he first arrived in this town.

What was he going to tell his brother and Cheetara about his disappearance? That he drank a shot of whiskey and blacked out all this time? Tygra would never let him live that down, and Lion-o wasn't going to give his brother any more reason to ride him.

Right now he couldn't even try to think of a reasonable excuse for his absence. It was like a metal blade slicing through his every thought as the sunlight beat down on him like a hammer.

He didn't even notice Monrey talking to him or even when she had started.

"I'm sorry," he interrupted her, "what did you say?"

"I said what a shame," she repeated. "That Siamera won't help, I thought for sure she jump at the chance to go home. It's been quite a while for her."

"I'm afraid you don't know your friend as well as you think you do," he said rather harshly. "I don't see her jumping at the chance to help anybody."

Maybe it was the pain or the last stab she took at him but he was feeling rather cross.

"Really," the monkey curled her upper lip, she let go of his arm and stood in front of him.

"Let me tell you something," she shot one hand on her hip and started waving her finger in his face.

"When you were out cold and Row was about to throw you out in the street like she usually does with drunks. It was Siamera who spoke up, that's right it was her bed you were sleeping in the whole time while she crashed on the couch." She crossed her arms and through her nose up in the air, "I think you should be a little more grateful."

Lion-o's eyes opened wide for the first time since he woke up, he had no idea of any of that. He blinked and began to stutter an apology but before he could say more than two words he heard a yell come from across the street.

It was Cheetara, she yelled out to him again.

She looked relieved and not far behind her was Tygra, they quickly ran over to meet him.

The three have been reunited again and Lion-o had a lot of explaining to do.
Been a little while since my last update... need to speed up on these chapters, I know. l like the one, I think this one is pretty funny myself. Thank for reading it and as always any feedback is welcomed.

Links to previous pages......

PAG ONE -> nick-a-nu.deviantart.com/art/D…

PAGE TWO -> nick-a-nu.deviantart.com/art/D…

PAGE THREE -> nick-a-nu.deviantart.com/art/D…

PAGE FOUR -> nick-a-nu.deviantart.com/art/D…

PAGE FIVE -> nick-a-nu.deviantart.com/#/art…

PAGE SIX -> nick-a-nu.deviantart.com/art/D…

PAGE SEVEN -> nick-a-nu.deviantart.com/art/D…

PAGE EIGHT -> nick-a-nu.deviantart.com/art/D…

PAGE NINE -> nick-a-nu.deviantart.com/art/D…

PAGE TEN -> THIS ONE...

PAGE ELEVEN -> nick-a-nu.deviantart.com/art/D… 


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Comments12
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meladi1's avatar
Wow this is really, really good. I like it a lot. This is different than everything I have read so far, and I like it. Wish there were more stories like this.

Now, poor, poor Lion-O xD What is he going to say. When do ya think the next chapter is up?