The Outcasts

Chapter 7 -Filtio-

Addison stepped out from the wreck of the ship. The planet was extremely humid and hot. Birds screeched from the trees, or at least that sounded like birds. When Addison got a glanced of one it more looked like a small sickly flamingo. It was only about the size of her hand.

"Ugh, Fargos." Addison heard Grimm say in disgust as she stepped up to her side, "They always look like they're contaminated with something." Grimm scowled at one of the odd birds.

Addison looked over at Grimm. Her wounds had completely healed by then. It was strange how quick it had happened. 

"What?" Grimm asked when she noticed Addison staring at her. She crossed her arms.

"Oh!" Addison began awkwardly, "Just, uh, it's odd how quick you, um...heal..."

Grimm shrugged her shoulders, "It's pretty normal. At least for me."

Addison shrugged her shoulders back and then glanced over her shoulder at the wreck. Andrew and Rocco were again, arguing. Danez was helping pick up scattered pieces of the ship and stacking them in a large pile. Addison decided she needed to help. She wanted to feel helpful and useful. So she turned and began to help Danez carry the rummage and pile them up.

As she helped gather the rubble she heard Andrew say, "Whatever! I'm just gonna go and find a good place for refuge."

When she heard that she immediately dropped the scrap she was holding and turned and ran over to Andrew.

"I'll come with you!" She said quickly. "I wanna help."

Andrew paused and looked around the rainforest. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

"I guess so..." He began, "But please stay close, you don't know what lies in here." He said nervously as he looked up at the treetops.

"Grimm please watch Starla for me." Andrew told Grimm who turned around and faced the ginger dog.

"Okay..." She answered, uneasily.

Andrew led Addison through the rain forest away from the wreck. They walked along in an awkward silence. Addison looked up into the treetops and down at the ground. It seemed like a normal forest but the creatures that lived in it, were absolutely not normal. Addison pressed her hands together. The silence was killing her. The only noise she could hear were Fargos singing their strange song and their footsteps crunching leaves and sticks.

"So, what are we looking for?" Addison suddenly blurted out.

Andrew shrugged, "Just somewhere safe."

Addison nodded and looked back at the path they pushed through. Then Addison stopped and took a deep breath. Andrew stopped also and turned and looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Addison shrugged, "Just, you and Rocco. Do you guys always fight?"

Andrew sighed and closed his eyes and opened them again. "Kinda, I guess." He answered with annoyance in his voice.

Suddenly Andrew fell expressionless and stared off behind Addison. Addison stared at him oddly then glanced behind her. She saw nothing but trees, vines and bushes.

"What is it?" Addison asked, waving a hand in front of Andrew's face when he continued to stare.

Andrew grabbed her hand and pulled it down.

"Shush!" He answered.

"Wha-" Addison began but before she could finish Andrew grabbed her and pushed her down to the dirt and he ducked down next to her.

"What are you doing!" Addison asked in a loud whisper.

"Listening." Andrew responded not making eye contact.

Addison rolled her eyes and began to slowly stand up when suddenly she felt something wrap around her waist and pull her backwards with force. She let out a scream as she was pulled away from Andrew and through the bushes.

"Andrew!" She screamed with her arms outstretched towards him as she was pulled away from his sight.

"Addison!" She heard him call after him from behind the bushes as she was pulled farther and farther away.

Branches and bushes scarped her arms and face as she was pulled through the jungle with force. Addison looked down at her waist to see what had grabbed her to see a furry, pink, lion like tail wrapped around her. She tried to pull it off but it was impossible. It was too strong.

Suddenly she stopped moving. Whatever had pulled her away had stopped. Addison's heart was pounding as the tail let go of her and she spun around to see her kidnapper. To her surprise she saw a girl. Not a normal girl for sure, the girl looked like the same creature Rocco was but with different animal mixes. She looked about twenty and was dressed in what seemed to be zebra fur and Fargo feathers. The girl had a pink lion like tail with pink horse like ears on the top of her head. Her hair was long and was the color red. Her eyes were large and pink like her tail and ears.

Addison stood in fear staring at the odd girl. She wanted to run away and back to Andrew but her body didn't let her. The girl let out an odd purr like a cat and stepped closer. Addison stepped backwards.

"W-What do you want?" Addison asked, her voice trembling with fear.

As soon as Addison spoke the girl screeched. She jumped onto the trunk of a nearby tree and screamed louder and louder. Addison covered her ears and stepped away.

"Stop!" Addison yelled.

The girl finally stopped and Addison was able to uncover her ears. The strange girl stayed on the tree and stared at Addison with caution but not after even a minute branches and vines began to move away as if by magic to reveal a pathway hidden away and walking up the path way was a man, just like the girl but with a blue tail and ears instead of pink. The man had long curly sky blue hair and beard. He held a wooden staff with a strange black gem on the top, floating as if by magic also.

The man approached Addison and shook his head and sighed.

"I'm so sorry for my daughters actions," The man said as he looked over at the strange girl on the tree and shook his head. "She knows better."

Addison stepped backwards, "Who are you people?"

"Oh, sorry." The old man said with a laugh, "I'm King Poloy and that's my daughter, Princess Ryanee."

Addison looked back at Ryanee. Ryanee smiled and climbed down from the tree and stepped next to her father.

"We rule over Filtio." Poloy explained with a smile.

Addison stared at the oddly. So many strange things had happened in just a few hours. Now this? She didn't know how much more she could take.

"What do you want from me?" Addison asked.

Poloy's smile immediately faded and turned into a frown. He stabbed his staff into the ground and let go, it stood there. Poloy gave Addison a sharp look that sent shivers down her spine. He glared at Addison.

"You know Rocco."