Tu-lock lived among the Fairies for a year and a half. Learning their histories, their ways, and their traditions.
Faye taught him the skills to use a staff and spear. Raye taught him the ways of a Bow & Arrow. They taught him how to tend to the earth. To plant and grow not just plants, but food as well.
But over time, Tu-lock knew he would have to continue his journey soon.
Spring turned to summer and the time had finally come.
Many Fairies turned out to see him off. They clothed him in some of their traditional clothing. Raye gifted him a finely crafted bow and quiver with arrows. Faye held him tight as she held back tears.
Tu-lock found It was much harder to say goodbye to Faye and Raye than he had thought.
Raye held her palms to her chest, over the heart, and presented her cupped hands to him. He cupped his hands under hers “May the blessings of the Fairies and the green be with you, Tu-lock of the Oh'ani.” she said. He then placed his hands over his heart and bowed his head. It was a traditional farewell among the Fairies. They all gestured in the same manner.
He took a deep breath and turned away. As he crossed the threshold of the curtain of Vines, they closed behind him as he took a few steps. He turned to look and the curtain seemingly vanished before his eyes. Tu-lock's heart sank a bit as the thought of possibly never seeing them again crossed his mind. But he had a task to complete, and so he marched on, further into the wild.
His travels brought him closer to the mountains. One day, while walking along a river bank. He heard great screams coming from up ahead. He raced forward through the trees and brush. As he went, the river current became louder, stronger and more wild.
“HEELLPPP!!” The cries were that of a child.
Tu-lock came upon a small creature hanging from a low branch just above the ragging river.
The branch snapped, cracked and popped as it sank lower under the creature's weight. It had the appearance of an Ape but had the striped fur of a tiger. It tried desperately to maintain its grip.
Tu-lock hesitated only briefly as he thought of a plan. Looking around, he spotted a tangle of thick vines. He drew two arrows from his quiver, snatched up the vines and made a makeshift rope. Tieing them to the arrows he aimed for a tree across the river and let the arrows fly. Hitting their marks, he tugged at the vines to make sure the anchors were sturdy.
The tree branch cracked again, sinking even lower. “Heeeelllpp!!” The small creature called out again. “Hold on!” Tu-lock called back, rushing to the tree with vines in hand. He began to tie them around the trunk as fast as he could. “Grab onto the vines!” Tu-lock said.
The creature looked and tried to reach for the vines but nearly lost its grip and clinged even tighter to the branch. The splash of the rapids made everything wet and slippery. “I-I can't!”
Tu-lock's mind raced but before he knew it. The branch broke and the creature fell with it into the rapids. Without a seconds thought, Tu-lock ran and jumped in after it. With the current at his back he swam and reached the creature. Grabbing a hold of the scruff of his neck. Just then a sudden tug snatched him by the arm. Without realizing, he still had a hold of the vines attached to the tree trunk. With all his might he pulled the creature close to him. “Hold on to me!” He said. The creature was strong for its size and grabbed ahold of him tight.
Tu-lock pulled and pulled, and pulled.. bringing them closer and closer to the riverbank shore. Finally they made it to land. Tu-lock helped the small creature out of the river. They laid there for a moment trying to catch their breaths. Tu-lock was first to sit up, “Are you, alright?” He asked. The creature sat up and shook its body wildly, sending water everywhere. “Yes. Thank you.. uhm… what.. what are you?” The creature asked.
Tu-lock was taken aback as he could ask this creature the same thing. It resembled what he thought was an Ape, but it's fur was that of a stripped tiger. It's eyes were cat-like as well. Bright yellowish green.
“Well.. I am Tu-lock of the Oh'ani Tribe.. and.. you are.. ?”
“Bolo! I am Bolo.” The child said, still looking Tu-lock over.
The trees began to move in the distance as heavy footfalls echoed from within. Bolo gasped. “We have to get away.. Hurry! Come!” Bolo helped Tulock to his feet, gripping his hand he lead him away from whatever it was that was coming.
“What were you doing in that tree? What is out there?” Tu-lock asked as he followed.
“Monster! Terrible monster. I escaped.. others not so lucky..” Bolo answered as his pace quickened.
“What do you mean? What others?” Tu-lock pressed.
Bolo stopped in his tracks. He slowly turned to Tu-lock as a tear streaked down his eye. “My friends… two nights ago.. my friend's and I left our village to play. The monster.. found us and took us. One by one.. it would… eat. There were three of us left.. the monster fell asleep and.. we escaped.. I got lost.. I don't know what happened to my friends.. but I heard it coming and tried to hide in the tree….”
Bolo cried, but then the trees shook behind them. “Oh, no! We must hurry!” He said.
“No.” Said Tu-lock. Bolo looked at him in confusion, his eyes wide with fear.
“I know you are afraid little one.. but one must not turn away from a fight. Especially if it could mean helping your friends and preventing this ‘monster’ from doing this again.”
The footfalls grew heavier and louder.
“Go, little one. Find a safe place to hide.. I will deal with your monster.”
Tu-lock indeed put on a brave face, though his heart pounded in his ears. Bolo raced away and climbed up a tree. Once he felt he was far enough, he looked down through the leaves and watched.
Tu-lock readied his bow and pulled out an arrow. The monster was getting closer. Tu-lock ducked in to some bushes for cover.
Just then.. a hulking creature cleared the trees. Its feet and legs were as thick as tree trunks. It bore a large hump on its left shoulder. Its left arm was large from the shoulder down, but seemed to shrink and wither from the elbow to its fingers. The right arm was small from the shoulder down. But from the elbow down its fist and forearm was the size of a large boulder. It's body was the size of two trees tied together. Its head bore two ram-like horns, one was cracked and left as a stump. The other curled up and around its mangled ear. A pig-like snout of a nose sniffed the air.
“What is it?.. What is it? This new stench!” The Creature growled.
“I do not know!.. I've never smells this before… It is close.. very.. close.”
It's black eyes scanned around. It reached with its massive hand and ripped a set of bushes right out of their roots.
Beads of sweat drip from Tu-lock's nose and brow.
*sniff, sniff*
“It's sweat is.. sweet.. salty..” it rips up another bush from its roots revealing emptiness. It licks its malformed lips with a thick, large and wet tounge.
It was getting closer. Tu-lock had his arrow ready, carefully he pulled on the bow string. His heart was pounding.
“Is it meaty?.. is it.. crunchy?.. is it tasty?!” It pulls up the bush and Tu-lock draws back fully and let's his arrow fly. It soars into the creatures eye.
It wails in pain in a high pitched scream. Tu-lock draws two more arrows and fires, sticking it in the left arm.
“Ayyyyyyeee!” It screeched as it stumbled backwards.
Tu-lock striked hard and fast. Not allowing the creature to focus and attack. Keeping it off balance.
But as luck would have it.. Tu-lock ran out of arrows.
The creature noticed quickly and pressed forward. It raised its great fist and slammed it down like a hammer stroke but Tu-lock quickly dodged the attack. It lashed out with its smaller arm and knocked Tu-lock to the ground. The creature loomed large over him. “I haves you now!” It said. Raising its mighty fist once more it prepared to strike when something boped it on its head. With its one good eye it looked around and spotted a coconut on the ground.
*thunk*
It was struck again. It turned away from Tu-lock to see what was attacking. *thunk* again atop its head. The creature looked up and saw Bolo, coconuts in hand. The creature growled and completely forgot about Tu-lock. It made its way to the tree and tried to climb.
Tu-lock took advantage of the distraction. Snatching an arrow from the creatures leg as it passed him by.
He pulled back hard on the string. Eye on his target. He aimed and let the arrows fly.
The creature reached up for Bolo, just as the arrow pierced straight through the back of its neck and out its maw. The creatures black eye rolled back and it's rigged body toppled backward, crashing to the ground.
Bolo carefully made his way down the tree. Cautious he passed the monster's lifeless body.
He and Tu-lock exchanged looks.
“Thank you Bolo..” he smiled at his new friend. Bolo smiled back.
A foul scream echoed in the air.
“What is that?” Bolo asked, standing close to Tu-lock.
“I don't know.. but let's not wait around to find out..”
Off they went and vanished into the thick trees.
The air grew cold, as the clouds crawled over the face of the sun. Birds fled from the trees, up into the sky. Insects crawled and scattered away as a tall shadow came upon the Monsters corpse.
“My child…” a cold voice sighed.
A grey skinned hand with long fingers and even longer nails reached out and touched the side of the monster's face.
“My, dear, sweet boy.. What could have done this?... *sniff, sniff* I know that stench… the stench… of Man!..”
A tear streaks from the corner of a dark, pale Grey eye.
“Rest my son.. sleep the eternal sleep.. For I will not.. until I have avenged you. Sleep..”
Dark lips kiss the head of the monster and slowly, the shadow slips away…