Caged - Unleash the Beast

Chapter 18 - A Friend's Goodbye

Jackie and Jet lead the way, with Dylan and Lachlan on her left and Rider and Chief Falcor on her right. Their deputies rose behind them and hen behind the deputies was the warriors. James was behind Jackie and Jake was beside him, Jake showed no fear but yet Jackie knew that deep down Jake was scared. A small glimmer of fear was in James' eyes and no one could blame him. James was to face off in a life or death round all for Brandon. Jackie had a bad feeling about what was going to happen tonight. She had to be brave and not appear weak, because now they had reached the Lightningrunner Tribe territory and there was no turning back. Up ahead they could make out the last of the Lionheart Tribe making their way into the High Rocks.
"You ready for this?" Rider asked her, not making eye contact.
"I have no choice." Jackie reminded him.
That was the end of the conversion, no one spoke and silence lingered over the army. Jackie and Dylan were the first to enter the High Rocks, an eery and spooky feeling lingered around the area. At first they heard nothing and then as they went further into the High Rocks they heard voices and murmurs. Jet growled and flattened her ears as they went around a corner. Now they could see flickering light and what sounded like a chant. Dylan stopped her and signalled for her and Jet to lead them up a rock wall. Jackie looked at him, confused to why he wanted her to do this.
"Lead us up there and give them a reason to be silent." Dylan whispered to her.
Jackie smiled gratefully at him before signalling the tribe to follow her. Jet leaped up the rock wall, their armour not making a sound as they finally reached the top. She waited for everyone else to join them before leading the way with Dylan, Lachlan, Rider and Chief Falcor by her side. They reached the ledge and on the other side was the Lionheart Tribe not realising that they were there. Dylan nodded to her and Jackie patted Jet on the shoulder. The panther squared herself up before beginning with a soft growl. Before anyone knew what was happening Jet roared which echoed through out the High Rocks. The Lionheart Tribe stopped and turned to face them. Now Dylan's big cat roared with the tribe and everyone else following his lead. At the front of the Lionheart Tribe was Ziambe and Kaizan both bewildered and on top of Ziambe was Maddi. Jet growled and flattened her ears threatening them. The Lionheart Tribe were armoured up as well, Koa was flicking his ears as he listened for any suprise attack.
"We thought you would never show." Maddi snarled, smiling evilly.
"That's funny, we thought that you would never show because of the coward hearted you all are." Jackie said back before Jet roared once more.
Maddi had no reply, instead she clenched her jaw and fists. Ziambe simply flicked his ears and an angry look in his eyes. Kaizan slid his claws out but than reluctantly withdraw them.
"We do not back down and we will happily see your end." Lachlan said, breaking the silence.
This got Maddi's attention, she looked painfully at him.
"Brother, join us. Your fighting on the losing side." Maddi beckoned him.
Everyone turned their attention to Lachlan, a silence had overcome him.
"No, that is were you are wrong. I will not abandon my friends." Lachlan replied to her.
"You choose your friends over your family. That explains why father said all those true things about you." Maddi spat at him. "At first I didn't believe him, but when I saw you on the opposing side I had completely believed what father said."
Maddi signalled a warrior forward, it was Tiren.
"Where is Brandon?" Maddi demanded to know.
"Fighting life or death, no thanks to your warriors." Jackie spat at her.
Maddi smirked at the news, "So who is going to fight for Brandon?"
James stepped forward, his armour suited and his weapons sat in the belts.
"Interesting." Maddi murmured.
"You don't have do this." Jackie pleaded him once more.
"No, I have to." James replied, looking down at her. "It would be an honour to fight for the Stargazer Tribe."
Tiren was the first down, her lioness roared a challenge to James and his jaguar. James mounted his jaguar, once they landed the jaguar roared in defiance and acceptation. An arrow was lit and than 3 seconds later was fired into the sky, this was the signal to start. Tiren dismounted her lioness and allowed it to attack, James jaguar growled and crouched down. James loosened the straps of his saddle without Tiren knowing, the lioness leaped over them, its claws out and aimed at James. His jaguar jumped up, grabbing hold of the lioness' sides. The saddle loosened and swing around so that James landed on the ground, just as he did Tiren attacked him. James grunted as he was cut along his side, James drew his sword and blocked an attack. Tiren and James were locked in a sword fight whilst their big cats fought it out. The lioness had pinned the jaguar down and was now lunging for the throat, Jet growled, as all they could do is watch. The jaguar lashed out, tearing the lioness' shoulders and side the jaguar managed to fling the female off. The jaguar struggled to its feet, before being able to help James. Tiren had James pinned to the ledge wall.
"Any last words?" Tiren snarled in his ear.
James didn't say anything, instead he spat at her, getting her in the eyes. Now as Tiren was wiping the spit from her face James jaguar grabbed hold of Tiren and fling her into the lioness.
"Thanks, boy." James sighed relief.
The jaguar nodded before being taken out, James looked up to find that one of the archers had taken aim. The jaguar growled as the arrow had just grazed his shoulder, but before the jaguar had the chance the lioness smashed the jaguar against the wall.
"You can't do that!" Jackie called out.
"Can't I?" Maddi snarled.
Jackie mounted Jet and raised her bow, shooting Maddi in the shoulder. As Maddi pulled the arrow out Jet had tackled her to the ground.
"Come any closer and her throat is your dinner." Jackie threatened them.
Now everyone didn't move, the fighting below had stopped and the Lionheart Tribe laid down their weapons. Rider and Dylan joined her, before they could let Maddi up they heard a pain splitting cry. Jackie froze, her heart pounded and fear now had a hold of her. Jet growled in frustration, Jackie signalled Jet off. The panther snarled in Maddi's ear before leaping back over to their side. Once on their side, Jackie didn't want to look down. Rider rested a hand on her shoulder, she knew what this meant.
Jackie was the first to go down to the ravine. Jet hung her head and her tail dragged in the mud. Rain began to fall, pelting her skin and making her shiver. Jet stopped in front of James' jaguar, there it laid. Jackie could see the last of the jaguar's breathes, for the last minute she watched the jaguar's sides rise and fall and then rise again. Now they had stopped, no movement came. Instead a pool of blood from the jaguar's side began to wash away. Jackie beckoned the rest of them down, Rider hung his head low whilst other warriors lifted the jaguar onto a stretcher. They weren't going to be left there. Jackie dismounted Jet and wandered over to were James lied, she got on her knees as tears began to stream down her face and wash away with the rain.
"I'm sorry." Jackie sobbed, as she rested her hands on James' chest. "I'm sorry."
Rider joined her as knelt down beside her before pulling her onto her feet, "Don't let them see you like this."
"I don't care!" She snapped at him, now hatred ran through her blood.
But the Lionheart Tribe had already left and were celebrating their victory, Jackie stood up and allowed herself to lean against Rider for comfort. Her heart cried in pain, she blamed herself. Other warriors were reluctant to lift James' body onto a stretcher, Dylan and Lachlan were the first. Rider and Chief Falcor joined and Jackie followed, together they lifted James onto the stretcher. Jackie mounted Jet before leading them out of the High Rocks, a gloomy feeling laid over the army as they rode into the tribe camp. Houses were lit up and chants began but they soon stopped when they realised the saddened state of the troops. One boy asked his mother what was happening instead she shooed him inside before bowing her head in respect. Jackie halted, the warriors that had carried the stretcher with James on it stopped and handed it over to Jackie and Rider. Jackie rode on the left of the stretcher, her right hand holding the side up whilst Rider did the same with his left hand. Hayley came out of her house, instead of doing what the Healer's would normally do, she broke down and knelt on the veranda a cried. The rain had gotten softer since they left, she allowed the rain drops flood over her. They carried James' body to the training dome, there people and big cats had already gathered. Jake waited for them, he looked her in the eye. Jackie could see the same hurt and blameful look in his eyes. The laid the stretchers down before addressing the tribe. That was when Brandon joined them, Jackie couldn't dare to look him in the eye.
"Tonight, a former captain, friend and family member joins our ancestors." She began before bowing her head and listening to the rain hitting the dome. "This former captain told me that it would be an honour to fight this very tribe and doing so has taken him from us. Captain James McNully, may you watch over us and guide us."
"Guide us and watch over us." The tribe said in return.
"Captain McNully was a brave, courageous, caring, loving and gentle man who treated everyone like a brother and sister. He always put others before himself and he had done that, he put the safety of the tribe before himself and we thank him." She continued, now tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"Captain McNully was not only my mentor, he was like a brother to me. He helped me in a time of crisis and need. James treated every big cat and man and women alike and he never disrespected a fellow tribe member." Rider said as he realised Jackie was struggling a bit.
"I remember our training sessions, they always ended in either I was doing something right or I wasn't listening or I wasn't doing this or I wasn't doing that."
"James and Rider worked together and rescued me, Dylan, Zeke and..." She paused as she looked at the ground. "And Cameron."
"I didn't know Captain McNully very well, but he had saved my friends and my life. And I am grateful for what he had done for us, without Captain McNully who knew where we would be today." Dylan said, stepping forward.
"It is time." Jake whispered to Jackie.
She nodded in reply and beckoned Rider over, together they lifted up the stretcher and mounted their big cats. Now the rain had stopped and mist spread through out the camp. Everyone else followed, their heads low and quiet sobs began to fill the air. Jake and Dylan took James' body from Rider and Jackie whilst the Lachlan and Chief Falcor followed with James' jaguar. Jackie and Rider dismounted before they picked up their bows and arrows. Jackie looked up at the night sky that began to fade into morning, they had been out all night and now the end of the night comes with great sorrows. Once Dylan, Lachlan, Jake and Chief Falcor got back, Hayley came at lit both of Rider's and Jackie's arrows.
"Aim!" Jake called out, taking a post.
That was when all the warriors raised their hands and saluted.
"Fire!" Jake finally said.
Jackie was the first to fire, her arrow spinning through the air as the arrow appeared to be engulfed in flames before landing on James' stretcher. Rider waited before firing his, it too did the same until it landed on James' jaguar's stretcher. Jackie hung her head low, the fire flicked and embers began to make their way to the sky. Hayley bowed her head in respect, trying to hide her sobs. Jackie did the same, Rider wrapped his arms around her shoulders comfortingly before beckoning her away. Once Jackie and Rider had moved away so did everyone else.
"Chief Talon." Brandon addressed her.
"Yes, Brandon?" She said, looking down at the ground.
"James gave me this before you left." He said, before pulling a chain out of his pocket.
The chain was like a necklace, the chain had the Cloudchaser Tribe logo that dangled at the bottom. Engraved on the chain was names, Jackie held out her hand and read the names, Zac, Jake, Leah, Jackie, Rider. She ran her fingers along the engravings.
"I think that he would like you to have it." Brandon continued.
"Thank you." She nodded, before resting a hand on Brandon's shoulder, not to comfort him but to comfort herself.
"I have an idea." Rider said as he took the chain from Jackie.
Rider lead her to the armoury, there the blacksmiths hung their heads. No fires or embers flicked, the smell of smoke wasn't present and no banging of metal.
"Chief Talon." The head blacksmith nodded to her.
"Can you do something for us?" Rider asked him.
"Depends." He shrugged, he still looked at the ground.
Rider whispered in his ear before handing the chain to him. The blacksmith got up and went around the corner to where he could not be seen. They heard a small bit of clanging and then the sizzle of hot metal hitting cold water.
The blacksmith soon returned, handing the chain to Jackie could still feel the heat in the chain. She turned the chain over to find a new name engraved on it, James. She smiled before hugging Rider, her tears soaking into his shirt.
"Thank you." Rider nodded to them, before leading her back home.
Rider had instructed her to go have a shower, she sat there. Allowing the water to pelt against her skin and block out the noise from outside. Now memories haunted her as she began to cry once more.