Down In The Tunnels

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Ben had ordered Bumpy to follow any ATV tracks that might be around, which would be easy because the ones made by Brooklynn would be the easiest ones to find because they were the freshest marks out here. "Wait—Yaz, you need to know—" Louise heard Kenji's voice, "Ben," She whispered. "That way." She pointed to her right. "I can hear Kenji."

"How can you hear him?" Ben said as he patted Bumpy's head so she'd turn around and walk towards the direction she pointed in.

"He is incredibly loud." Louise replied, "And when you're alone for so long....you tend to get good at hearing things all around you." She added.

"Yeah, I certainly get that..." Ben agreed. "Come on, Bumps!" Ben said, telling Bumpy to run faster.

"What? He's taking Tiff and Mitch to Main Street?" Brooklynn asked as Bumpy stomped up towards them. "Ah!" Yasmina yelled as Bumpy came out of the bushes as she groaned to make an entrance. Yasmina yelled again as Bumpy stalked up on her and roared in her face, "Bumpy?" Yasmina asked.

And then she looked up to see Ben...and Louise. Ben swiftly jumped off Bumpy and Louise just sat up there because she couldn't get down without help. "Hey." Ben said, wiping sweat off his forehead. He then cleared his throat realizing Yasmina was in shock. "Yasmina," Ben said, sticking his hand out.

Yasmina ran up to Ben and hugged him, "Ben!" She exclaimed. "You're a hugger now, Faduola?" Ben asked as she still squeezed him. Bumpy shook her head and Louise felt herself slipping and scratching against her scaly skin, Louise wasn't a huge fan of sitting on top of Bumpy but she didn't want to interrupt Ben's reunion with Yasmina or more Yasmina's reunion with Ben by asking for help.

"Still have mixed feelings about it but I...." Yasmina began and she giggled, "You're....." Yasmina hugged him again. "Yeah...Yeah. We have been trying to tell you about it..." Brooklynn said, walking up to Yasmina and Ben. "But in more pressing news! Darius isn't taking the hunters to the watering hole!" Brooklynn said, handing the map to Ben.

Kenji had walked over to one side of Bumpy and stared up at the frightened Louise who sat hopelessly above. "Lou, do you need help?" Kenji asked. Louise frantically nodded her head. Kenji stuck his hand out for her and he watched as she scooted down the side of Bumpy and took his hand, jumping off Bumpy.

"Thanks." Louise said. "Not even a 'you' at the end of that sentence?" Kenji asked to simply tease her. Louise glared at him with their hands still touching. "What? Why would he take them straight to the T-Rex?" Ben asked, snapping Kenji and Louise back into focus. "Home core advantage!" Kenji said, leading him and Louise over to Ben, Brooklynn and Yasmina.

Now, Yasmina had noticed Louise and she stared in disbelief but she knew that there was no time for another reunion. Louise gave Yasmina a small wave and smile as a way of saying, 'I'm alive too.'

Kenji continued, "Darius and Sammy know the terrain and Tiff and Mitch don't!" Kenji said.

"It'll be easier to lose them on Main Street than in the jungle!" Kenji concluded. "Then, what are we waiting for? Let's go help them!" Yasmina said.

"Yes! Bumpy and I are ready to roll!" Ben said as he leaned against Bumpy. "Uh-nuh, big problemo." Kenji disagreed, "There's no way to make it to Main Street before they do." Kenji said as he crossed his arms, finally letting go of Louise's hand. "Well, there is one obvious shortcut..." Brooklynn suggested.

"Down there?" Kenji asked. "You must be joking, don't you remember last time? Not only is it super dark and creepy but we nearly died!" Kenji told Brooklynn. "No go, for Kenji." Kenji said.

Louise and the rest, stared at him, because they'd be doing this, even if it was a 'no go, for Kenji.'

"We're doing this!" Brooklynn exclaimed as she, Yaz, and Kenji led the way in the ATV, Bumpy, Ben and Louise, who was back on Bumpy ran behind them, taking every turn that they did because Ben nor Louise had ever been down in the tunnels before.

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