Max Adventures: Elemental Guardians Episode 4: Protector Of The Wilds

Chapter 10: A New Love Blossoms

The arctic fox stormed off into the jungle, his ears flatten and his bushy tail swished furiously. Seeing as how none of his friends wanted to listen nor considered the possibility of those two wolves being connected to Alghazal.

It looks like he would have to investigate himself. But there was another reason for storming off. He had to get away from the snow leopard, Adira.

He was more irritated of her presence here. So many thoughts were in his head about her. Like why she was here? She claims that she owed Leena for something that she did years ago. But the fox had this sinking feeling that their new spotted friend had a different reason for coming along. There were other ways to repay a friend without stowing away on their ship! Also, he wondered why she even did. Couldn't she have asked Leena to come along? That simple. The fox knew that was suspicious about the snow leopard. And speaking of the snow leopard...

"Tazer!"

His ears twitched at a voice and he quietly groaned annoyed at recognizing that voice. The snow leopard had found him and she stopped running, his back torwards her.

"Hey! I finally found ya" she told him relieved to see him. The fox stayed silent and didn't turn his face to her. However, she did notice his ears tilted up at her voice. Adira wondered if he did that normally or if all foxes did that. She would have to ask him or Zinti.

"Listen. I'm sorry that I made a big scene over there. I wasn't trying to make ya feel bad" she apologized to him, smiling nervously at him as she placed her hand on his shoulder. Tazer turned his head to her, glaring and growling as he shook her hand off. His face looked away from her again.

Unknown to them, they were being watched. Alghazal was watching the two among the trees. Something pop up on his shoulder. Azalea. The deer gently petted the small bug's head as she purred affectionately. She had been sent by Timber to inform the guardian of what happen with his friends and to keep an eye on those two.

Adira sighed as her ears got down. "Look. I just don't like nosy people. And I don't like how you made Timber uncomfortable. He's a nice guy who's helping us out. So what's the deal of acting like he's some kinda calm before the storm kinda guy?" She explained to him, putting her hands on her hips.

The fox turned around to face her with his arms crossed, glaring at her. "I'm not saying he's a bad person" he stated firmly to her. It wasn't his intention to see Timber as an enemy.

"But he just summoned a giant vine from his hand. Sure, there are potions on him. But he didn't even took one bottle out. Even if he wanted to, it wouldn't be quick enough to save his pet caterpillar so using magic was the quickest way" he explained to her.

"Ok. You're not wrong. Magic is the fastet way" she agreed with him. "And, I've noticed that both he and his mom are wearing matching necklaces" he pointed out as the snow leopard stared at him confused. "So? What's the deal of matching jewelry?" She asked him plainly, crossing her arms.

"They both match with a necklace that the Nature Guardian was wearing earlier the first time we saw him" he explained to her.

Alghazal frowned as he watched, and listened. The young fox was observant, and focused on the small details. However, it was too early to reveal to Max and his friends who his heir. Especially if Apachi was nearby somewhere. The deer needed something to keep their minds occupied for awhile.

A very mishevious idea came up. And he slowly smirked. "Perhaps it's time for a little distraction. If it worked on Daria, it should worked on them" he told himself misheviously, remembering a small little playful trick he did with himself, and his she wolf as he placed his hand on the wood of the tree.

Green magic illuminated beneath his hand and moved down the tree to the ground, making its way to the unsuspecting fox and snow leopard.

"That doesn't prove anything. Maybe it's something they like to wear for the festival. Or maybe to show respect to a guy who saved their home from burning down. It's like my necklace. See this claw? It's my claw. I wear it to remember my first adventure with Leena. And a reminder that I owe her for her help. And so, here I am" she explained to him, clutching her choker.

The fox then glared at her again and took a few steps closer to her. "About that, why are you really here? What did Leena do that made you snuck aboard our ship earlier? If you wanted to come, you could've asked us" he asked her suspicious.

The snow leopard glanced down nervously, her ears low. She had a reason for coming. Half of it did involve helping Leena. But that wasn't the main reason. She had a different purpose for coming her but she couldn't tell them. Not yet.

"Well...about that..." she started to explain, hesitating while the fox waited, his ears tilted towards her in anticipation.

Suddenly, the two felt something moving beneath their feet. Their ears perked up, and both looked down. Something was coming out of the dirt! They could feel something vibrating beneath their feet, and something bursted out of the ground. They were these red carnation flowers. "Huh?!" Adira, and "What the?!" Tazer said bewildered by having some flowers pop out from under their feet.

The two struggled to balance on these flowers since they were hard to balance. The Arctic Fox swung his arms to keep balance but his flower tilted him towards the snow leopard, and he crashed into her. Adira lost her balance from the sudden weight on her, and both of them fell on the ground.

"Ow" Tazer moaned as he pushed himself up. The fox looked behind him at those red flowers. "Ok. Those were not there before. I'm gonna say that was the guardian's doing" he said, still dumbfounded of what happened, pointing at the flowers. Alghazal covered his mouth to hold himself from laughing. Azalea let out small giggles.

The fox scanned around, glaring in annoyance. "This is not funny! And that is not normal! See what I mean Adi-!" He spoke as he turned his face back to her but then he paused, and his annoyance fell. Adira looked at him, and she froze as both came to a realization.

Tazer was now on top of Adira. She was under him. Their bodies were really close to touching that all he had to do was just lean down. They were staring at eachother, their faces really close that they could hear eachother's breathing.

Tazer's cheeks heated up, and turned pink as his heart raced from how close he was to her. He stared into her blue eyes. The color of it reminded him of the lights from the aurora borealis back home. And he saw the tiny black rosettes that were her spots. Tiny details that he found so beautiful.

Adira, however, felt something different. Something new and strange. She stared in his violet eyes, and was amazed at how beautiful they looked. 'Wow. His eyes. They're  She thought, blushing pink too, and her heart raced.

Tazer snapped out of it first as he blinked. He opened his mouth to say something but couldn't get the words out. He didn't know what to do. He was too flustered to say anything. He quickly got up on his feet, and grabbed Adira's hand, pulling her up to her feet.

"Sorry! I um! Let's um get back to the others. See if they need help" Tazer said flustered as he pulled her hand. Adira froze in shock that he hadn't let go of her. "U-Um Tazer?" She said his name nervously, staring at their hands. The arcitc fox paused in his walking and turned his head to look at her, and he followed the direction of where her eyes were. He blushed more pink at holding hands, and quickly let go of her before walking off, his cheeks more pink.

The heat on her cheeks still lingered, and her ears low, feeling flustered. 'What the heck was that feeling?' She thought in her head nervously. Adira shook her head to snap out of her thoughts, and walked after him, trying to ignore the feeling of her heart beating against her chest.

Alghazal chuckled amusingly at the two. "That should keep them busy" he told himself playfully before gently tapping his staff on the tree and pink petals surrounded him before he teleported to check on the others...as well as Timber.

Fun fact: carnation flowers symbolize new love.( apparently there are several types of love with red flowers). I picked this one because Tazer and Adira find new love from eachother.