Wild Kratts: Good and Evil

Caught Red-Handed (Chap. 7)

          Sorry for the long wait. Although I guess most of you are probably used to it.

           Freeing a bunch of Hyena cubs from metal cages is hard work when you're trying to be sneaky. It's even harder when you have a fiesty adolescent Tasmanian Devil tugging at you the whole time. 

          When Martin had left Tasmania he'd thought this would be a simple creature rescue. Get in. Save cubs while Chris distracts Gourmand. Get out. Simple.

           Now, however, Martin wasn't quite sure. 

           The plan had been going well so far. (If you don't count the fact that Chris had made Martin be the one who had to watch T-Bone, despite his protests.)

          And Chris was doing a great job of distracting Gourmand. Even if that meant taunting the villain and then climbing up the nearest tree. But Martin was sure Chris would be fine, the guy was, after all, a fantastic climber. However, Martin had bigger things to worry about. 

          Like the fact that he had absolutely no idea how he'd get all these crazy cubs back to camp. The Hyena cubs were insane, barking and chewing on everything in sight and Martin was afraid Gourmand would notice.

           "Shh! Shh! Guys, you have to be quiet - T-Bone no!"

           The young T-devil had led a cub into another cage. T-Bone was small enough to fit through the bars, the Hyena cub was not.

            Martin growled in frustration and scooped up the rest of the Hyena cubs into his arms.

           "T-Bone, stay here with the little guy, I'm going to go bring the rest to safety. I'll be right back!"

           With that, Martin scrambled up the hill towards the area Chris had designated as the safest place to store the cubs. The Kratt placed them in the makeshift kennel, and skidded back down the hill. T-Bone and the Hyena cub were both still there, to Martin's relief. 

           In record time Martin freed the last Hyena cub and was on his way out of the fold-out restaurant with T-Bone when he accidentally bumped a table that had been set out by Gourmand. On the table, had been a plate with a big steak on it. 

           Martin, who was already off the truck when the table clattered to the ground, turned and stared. The Hyena cub stared. 

           T-Bone let out an ear-piercing snarl and sprang at the steak full-force. He grabbed it in his teeth, but his momentum caused him to slide across the restaurant's deck and fall through the bars lining it and off the edge. Martin could only watch as the T-Devil charged through and went over the side, knocking countless tables and chairs over and causing  a huge ruckus.

          The elder Kratt threw himself down into the tall grass with the Hyena cub as Gourmand turned toward the noise. 

           Uh-oh

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            Chris was suprised his distraction was working this well. Gourmand was currently screaming up at him, red-faced and angry. The younger brother just laughed, far to high up in a tree for Gourmand to reach him. 

             CRASH

            Both chef and Kratt brother froze in place, then slowly turned to look. Chris and Gourmand were both shocked to see a Tasmanian Devil standing in front of Gourmand's restaurant, growling with a steak in its mouth. 

            Gourmand slowly looked up at Chris, as if expecting him to do something. Before meeting the villian's gaze, however, Chris met his brother's.

           Go. Chris mouthed to his older brother. Get the Hyena to safety first. I'll get T-Bone and meet you there.

          Martin nodded silently and edged back up the hill towards the place where the Hyena cubs were being stored as Chris turned to stare down at Gourmand. 

            The chef grinned wickedly at him and Chris felt sick to his stomach.

           "Well, well, well! I didn't know you brought a friend with you, Green-bean! I don't see Blueberry anywhere, is this who you brought instead! That little fellow will make an absolutely delicious snack!"

            Instead of answering, Chris launched himself out of the tree and hit the ground running. A sharp pain in his ankle told him that might of been a bad idea but he ignored it. He couldn't let Gourmand reach T-Bone before him.

            Chris could hear Gourmand behind him, panting in an effort to keep up. But Chris was too fast and he reached T-Bone first. The Kratt quickly grabbed the T-Devil and attempted to keep running. However, he tripped on the steak that his Tasmanian friend had been chewing on and face-planted hard. T-Bone went flying from his grip and landed somewhere in the tall grass.

            No! The Kratt brother thought frantically, scrambling to get to his feet.

           A large force slammed into him from behind and knocked him down again. A net. He'd been caught. This was bad.

           "Ah, leaving so soon~?" Gourmand drawled from somewhere behind him as the younger brother struggled to break free of the ropes trapping him. 

          "Why yes, in fact. How'd you guess?" Chris dead-panned, still struggling hopelessly in the net.

            "Oh, come on now! Don't be like that!" Gourmand sang, placing his boot down on the small of Chris's back to stop him from struggling.

            "Sad to say, I may have lost track of your delicious little friend! But don't worry, Green-grape, you're just in time...

           for dinner..."

           Ooh~ Creepy Gourmand is best Gourmand! Don't you all agree?

           Keep on creature adventuring!~