Animalia: The Green Forest, Book 2

Chapter 5

"Why'd you stop scratching me?" Alex whined. She was nestled in Jaxon's lap.
"Sorry," Jaxon mumbled and resumed stroking her feline ears. Samson and Rose sat a few feet away from them.
The four of them were hanging out on the bank again the next day. Alex and Jaxon were cuddling together while Samson and Rose sat a few inches away from each other. Samson would occasionally glance at Rose every now and then with an awkward look on his face. Rose didn't notice; she was too busy typing away on her phone.
Jaxon cleared his throat. Everyone turned to look at him. "Um, so about yesterday. . ." He felt uncomfortable as he spoke.
"That thing you told me about earlier," Alex tipped her head. "Some weird human device that girls pee on to see if they're pregnant."
Jaxon nodded. "Yeah, that thing." His cheeks burned as he remembered the cursed object.
Rose finally put her phone down. "That 'thing' is called a pregnancy test." She rolled her eyes. "Two lines mean a girl is pregnant. One line means she isn't."
"Whoa, really?" Jaxon scratched the back of his head. "Wait, how do you know that?"
Rose looked down at the floor. "I just do." She said quietly.
Jaxon realized something. "Wait, if two lines means a girl is pregnant then that means. . . Tsuki is pregnant!"
"I'm not surprised," Alex yawned lazily. "Have you seen the way she is?"
"Lucky." Rose sighed dreamily. "I want to have kids someday. . ."
Samson's ears flattened. "You're too young to be having kids." He growled.
"So is Tsuki." Rose looked hurt. "She's sixteen-a year younger than me-but she's already having a baby."
"Tsuki's an idiot, having children at that age." Samson huffed. "You're smarter than that, Rose. I know you can wait."
"Tsuki's been hanging around Luca a lot lately, hasn't she?" Alex spoke up. "Is he the father?" There was a haunted look in her wide eyes.
"I think so?" Jaxon's discomfort increased. "That would explain why the test was here in the forest." He shuddered. "I hope I'm wrong. We don't need more Lucas running around."
All four of them fell into silence. They continued to give each other awkward glances until both Alex and Samson's ears suddenly perked up as they gave each other knowing looks.
"What?" Jaxon looked between the two of them. "What happened?"
"There's an argument going on." Samson's ears swiveled around as he spoke. "One between Luca and Tsuki."
"I wanna see it!" Alex's ears were also moving. "I want to see those idiots fight!"
"Really?" Jaxon couldn't hear a thing. Then he remembered that, as a human, his senses weren't as sharp as Alex or Samson's. "Should we see what it's about?"
"No." Rose crossed her arms. "We should leave them alone. It's none of our business."
Alex wasn't paying any attention. She had already hopped off of Jaxon's lap and was running into the trees.
"Wait!" Jaxon called. "Alex, don't go wandering by yourself when Luca's around!" He almost tripped as he tried to run after her.
Jaxon flinched when he was hit by a sudden gust of wind. Samson had already caught up to him. "Hey." Samson greeted before putting on a spurt as he ran past Jaxon.
Jaxon's lungs were burning as he struggled to keep up. How did Samson catch up to me so fast? He felt frustrated. The black tip of Samson's tail was already starting to disappear from Jaxon's sight. Oh right, it's because he's a furry.
Jaxon stumbled as Alex and Samson suddenly slewed to a halt. The pair raised their heads up and started to sniff at the air.
"What are you two doing?" Jaxon asked incredulously. "I thought we were going somewhere?"
"We're checking the wind, duh." Alex answered with a swish of her tail.
"Checking the wind?" Rose spoke up. Jaxon didn't even realize that his sister had followed as well. "What does that mean?"
"We're making sure the wind is blowing in our direction." Samson replied this time. "Luca won't be able to scent us if it is."
Jaxon and Rose both stared at each other in confusion. That's weird, but I guess they know what they're talking about.
Alex and Samson nodded at each other then turned to Jaxon and Rose. "We're good." Samson informed the humans. "Come on."
Jaxon fell into step beside Alex. He suddenly realized that he could hear shouting. It's loud. Jaxon noticed uneasily. A little too loud. We're very close, aren't we?
"Hey," Samson's tail flashed in front of Jaxon. "Don't just stand there, come hide with us." The fennec silently disappeared into a clump of bushes after he spoke.
Jaxon stared down at the bushes. Hide? In there? Jaxon fought back a shudder. What if I get dirty in there?
Alex's head popped out. Bits of leaves and twigs stuck all over her hair. "Jaxon!" She hissed quietly. "What are you doing? Get in here!"
"Um," Jaxon awkwardly stared at the bush. "What if I get dirty? Or poked by thorns?"
Samson's head popped out. His hair was perfectly clean. "You won't," He grunted. "If you're careful. Now hurry up." He and Alex disappeared back into the bush.
Jaxon forced himself into the bush. He did his best to slip inside as quietly as he could. He shifted around until he was seated right next to Alex. "Hi." He whispered to her.
"Hi Jaxon." Alex whispered back. She reached out and held his hand. "Things are getting spicy right now." She giggled.
"Sh." Samson slapped his tail over Alex's mouth. "We don't want to risk being caught."
Alex turned her attention away from Jaxon. She chewed on Samson's tail while she resumed listening to the fight.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" That was Luca's voice. He sounded angry. "I don't want you or your baby! Get out of here!"
Tsuki sounded just as angry as Luca. "You don't have a choice!" She snapped. "You got me pregnant! You have to help me raise this kid!"
A purr rumbled in Alex's throat as she listened. Samson gave her a warning look and she immediately stopped.
There was a snarl from Luca. "I don't have to do anything." His voice was cold. "Take your kid and leave. Don't come back here ever again. You and your child mean nothing to me!"
There was a slapping sound. "I hate you!" Tsuki screamed. "You are the worst person I've ever met! No wonder why Alex rejected you!"
A heavy thud was heard followed by a sharp cry from Tsuki. Jaxon froze. What the heck did Luca just do? He strained to see through the bushes.
Tsuki was on the ground, with Luca on top of her. Both of his hands were on her head, forcing her face into the dirt. He slowly leaned down to growl in her ear. "Touch me like that again, and that will be the last thing you ever do." He yanked her head and forced her to look him in his good eye. "You got that?"
Luca's insane, hurting Tsuki like this! Jaxon tapped Samson's shoulder. "We have to do something!" He whispered when the fennec fox turned to him. "I know we don't like Tsuki, but her baby could get seriously injured!"
Samson sighed. "You're right." He turned to Alex and Rose. "Show's over, girls. We can't allow this to keep going on."
"What?" Alex hissed quietly. "I'm not going to help Tsuki!" Her eyes burned with anger.
Samson leaned closer to Alex. "Look Alex," he sighed. "I hate Tsuki just as much as you do. But there is a child involved now. We can't allow it to suffer because of its mother's rash behavior."
Samson didn't wait for an answer. He pushed his way out of the bushes. Jaxon quickly followed the fennec fox.
Luca was still on top of Tsuki. His claws were hooked deep into her shoulders. The blonde teenager was desperately trying to push him off with a pained look on her face.
"Let her go." Samson's growl made both Luca and Tsuki freeze.
"Samson!" Luca jerked his head to meet his cousin's gaze. His good eye flared with rage when he saw Jaxon. "And you, the pathetic human!"
"I have a name!" Jaxon cried out. He winced when a dangerous look appeared in Luca's good eye. "It's, um, J-Jaxon! Jaxon is my name!"
Luca stood up. "I know that." His fox ears flattened angrily. "I just don't care!"
Jaxon tried hard not to flinch under Luca's gaze. He hates me so much. He nervously shifted his legs. If we were alone right now, he probably would have killed me already.
Tsuki got up and scurried to hide behind Jaxon and Samson. Jaxon froze when he felt her grip the back of his shirt. A growl was suddenly heard from the bushes. Alex is watching this. Jaxon realized. She didn't come to help me and Samson!
Another growl made Jaxon turn. Samson and Luca were standing face to face now with their tail tips twitching crossly.
"Why do you keep interfering with the things I'm trying to do?" Luca's voice was full of pain. "You're my cousin, Samson. You're always supposed to have my back."
Samson narrowed his red eyes. "I can't support you if you go around hurting people." He replied calmly. He turned to Tsuki and Jaxon with a sympathetic look on his face.
"That's their problem!" Luca's tail lashed angrily. "It's not my fault that they're too weak to defend themselves!"
Jaxon turned to Tsuki. "Um, you should go now." He started awkwardly. "It isn't safe for you to be here. Seriously. Please leave."
Tsuki placed her hands on his chest. "Oh, Jaxon!" She cooed loudly, glancing to see if Luca was watching. "You saved me! You're my hero! I'll do anything to repay you!" Her green eyes traveled downwards. . .
Ew, stop! Jaxon mentally screamed. I have a girlfriend! "Y-you can repay me by leaving!" He gasped. "Just go!"
There was a rustling sound from the bushes. Alex broke free from them and was rushing toward Tsuki. "Stop touching him!" Alex snapped, reinforcing her words with a violent shove. "He told you to leave!"
Tsuki dramatically stumbled back. "Ow, help me Jaxon!" She cried.
"Leave, Tsuki." Jaxon straightened himself as Alex moved closer and started to circle him. "Alex and I don't want to tell you twice."
Tsuki shook her head. "I can't believe you're still on her side instead of mine, Jaxon." She spat angrily. "You're just as bad as Luca is." She turned and fled from the pair.
Alex hugged Jaxon after Tsuki left. "Are you okay, Jaxon?" She asked softly. "I saw how uncomfortable you were."
Jaxon hugged her back. "I'm fine," he murmured. "Thank you, Alex."
There was a sudden thumping sound. Jaxon turned to see that Luca had slammed Samson to the floor. Oh no!
Alex froze. Her eyes were wide with horror and her tail was bushed out.
Jaxon released Alex and ran toward the pair. "Stop!" he cried.
Samson was struggling under Luca's grip. "Stay back, Jaxon." He hissed.
"Yeah Jaxon, stay back!" Luca sneered. "You're just a weak human! You could never take on someone as powerful as me!"
I'm not weak! Jaxon's frustration pushed away his fear. He used as much strength as he could when he shoved Luca, feeling satisfied when the fox was pushed back.
Luca landed on the floor with a heavy thud. He then slowly rose up to his hands and knees with a twisted smile. "Ooh, look at you!" He growled. "Jaxon, the pathetic little human, saving his dear boyfriend! How sweet."
Boyfriend? Jaxon was confused. That's a human word. How does Luca know that? "He's not my boyfriend!"
Luca shook his head. "Where is Tsuki?" He looked around for the blonde.
"She took off." Samson moved to Jaxon's side. "And so should you. Get lost."
Luca was already walking away. Jaxon noticed that he was limping. "I'll leave now," Luca muttered. "But don't either of you dare to rejoice. I will find you when you are both alone. And I will kill each of you. I've killed before, and I won't hesitate to do it again." He stumbled a bit before running away.
He's killed before? Jaxon felt horrified. Who? And why? Jaxon turned to Samson with a questioning look.
Samson looked away. "Ignore him," he sighed. "He's only saying that to try and scare us."