Animal Jam: Insubordinates

Chapter 6: Scalded

(WINDY POV)

"A resistance?!" I yelled in delight.

"So you guys do have backbones!"

Victor quietly shushed me. "You want the Bones to hear us?! Follow me."

He firmly grabbed my wrist. We galloped off into the peachy distance, coils of scarlet sand curling into the air with the memory of our paws.

I wasn't a very 'worldly' person. I had never really experienced Kimbara, not since a 3rd grade field trip. Even amongst the wreckage, it was beautiful. Turquoise waters shone like clear colored glass. Slim gold and silver fish wriggled and darted like clockwork toys. Towering vermillion cliffs breathed sweet wind into my face as I sprinted among splintered wood and thick tents. Jammers here seemed to be doing fine, coats and scales gleamed like a full moon. Friendly faces mingled amongst the remnants of what was the society norm up until a week ago.

After what seemed like an eternity, we finally reached a beat-up but sturdy structure. It was large, and cracked adobe framed rotting, silvery wood planks. Dust twisted around Victor and I, jagged skid marks in the sand trailing behind us from our abrupt stop. Who knows how far we ran, but I think how heavily I was panting was a good measurement.

Victors eyes narrowed. Mica from the sand was imbedded in his fur, giving him an ethereal glow from the constant bombardment of the sun.

"Well, we're here." He chirped.

"Why.. why did we have to run?" I laboriously questioned. I was panting so fast I could hardly talk. My chest heaved up and down. He looked at me with concern.

"To make it to the meeting on time. Are you okay?"

"... meeting?"

"Curious. That's good." Victor said. He stopped, and smiled.

"Meeting for the resistance. We actually were formed only a few days ago, and this is the first meet up where we'll actually have an organizer. I think you'll like her." He continued.

He started to walk towards the entrance.

"Wait!"

He hesitantly turned around.

"I've been... on and off unconscious for the last few days. Can you tell me what's happened?" I gasped. He looked at me weirdly.

I shook my head. "I'll tell you another time, just please explain."

"Very well, I guess we have time..." He sighed.

"Ever since the Decree was passed, basically all non Arctic wolves have become unemployed, and the more wealthy ones have been robbed and kicked out. Gems have no value, and the only trading we do now is with essentials." He finished. The look of a much, much older soul flashed across his face.

"That's.. awful, terrible, sickening..." I felt myself on the verge of tears.

"Luckily the only casualties are from territory disputes between the Bones and other Arctic wolves, but occasionally the Bones go to less populated areas and tortu-" he quietly said. I cut him off.

"The Bones! I've been hearing their name everywhere. What are they??" I quickly asked.

He raised and eyebrow. I returned the gesture.

He sighed. "The bones were a thing even before the decree."

I noticed how he spat out the word decree.

"They gained even more power once it was in full swing, each and every one of them are monsters. Cheesy name, too." He continued.

I almost giggled at that last part. I caught myself at the last moment.

"The Bones kidnap- took my girlfriend a few days back." Victor whispered.

"Oh my Mira! I'm so sorry, I-" I stammered. Of course he had a girlfriend! Victor just looked at me, with a blank look on his face. I pulled him into a tight embrace. I didn't know why I did it, I just couldn't do nothing.

The hot, fuzzy Kimbara sunlight scalded my skin, but my face burned even more. His face was buried into my shoulder. He slowly pulled away from me, and started trotting into the doorway. That hurt. It hurt more than the sun. I swiftly snapped out of it, and followed him into the dim, cool building.

The resistance was huge! Around six dozen jammers were seated on the cold sand floor, all expectantly staring at an old podium. I awkwardly sat next to Victor in the front. There were around ten Arctic wolves scattered around the room, all seemed as into this as the others. I scanned to see if I knew any of the jammers, and I saw them.

Admiral and Ditz.

My blood started to boil.

Before I could leap into the crowd and rip out Admiral's heart and slap Ditz, a beautiful white Arctic wolf strode out to the podium. Her gold eyes seemed to radiate determination. She coughed for the crowd's attention.

"WELCOME! I'm so glad everyone could make it, we have much to discuss." She exclaimed. Her voice sounded oddly familiar... It was probably nothing, though.

A hyena next to me rolled her eyes.

"If we're going to be resisting those stuck up goat heads, we should train instead of receiving middle-school level pep talks." She whispered. I quietly giggled.

"You have the right idea. What's your name?" I whispered back.

She smiled. "Bouncing."

I smiled back. "Windy."

Victor nudged me. I snapped back to look at the girl at the podium, but I winked at Bouncing. She seemed like a good ally.

The girl at the podium coughed again.

"As I was saying, I am Juno, the Arctic wolf alpha. You must be thinking, why should an arctic wolf lead us? But I'll let you know- it takes one to know one. When the alphas issued the Decree, I was appalled! I thought to myself- Juno, how can you stop this? No- who knows the minds of Arctic wolves better than anyone? You! So that's why I'm standing here today, I hope you learn to trust me."

Juno gave a beauty pageant winner smile.

The sea of heads behind and to the side of me began to nod in agreement.

This sort of makes sense, I guess I can trust her.

Juno continued with her welcome speech.