Animalia: The Green Forest, Book 2

Chapter 20

A few months later.

". . . And that's the story of how the prisoner became best friends with his kidnapper." Bryson closed the book after reading out the ending.
Alex and Jaxon, who were both sitting on the floor of Bryson's room, clapped.
"That was an-um-odd book," Jaxon frowned. "Maybe I should've skimmed through it a bit more before bringing it here."
"Poor kid," Alex was also frowning. "Being held hostage against his will, and then becoming friends with the person who kidnapped him."
"But the kidnapper helped him with the mean kids from school!" Bryson piped in.
Jaxon shivered. "Imagine how terrifying that must be," he started. "You're hanging out in a highway and then a kid your age kidnaps you and takes you back to his mansion. And out of all the rooms he has, he gives you the pink and girly one."
"And then his kidnapper forced him to go to school." Alex pressed against Jaxon. "Isn't that a horror place?"
Jaxon nodded. "The stuff of your nightmares," he started dramatically. "You sit in a room all day listening to an adult lecture you. The food they serve is disgusting. You go there for eight hours and work the whole time. You only get two breaks; one only lasts ten minutes, and the other barely lasts half an hour. The kids are crazy. The adults even give you work that you have to do at home!"
"That sounds terrible," Alex's orange eyes rounded with fear. "You're so brave for going through all of that, Jaxon."
Jaxon blushed and rubbed the back of his head. "I think you're brave too, Alex." He mumbled. "You're definitely more brave than me."
Bryson flipped the book over and stared at the back of it. "It says that there's a part two!" He announced. "Can you get that one? Please? This one has a cat on the cover!"
"Part two? A cat is there?" Jaxon stood up. "I bet the kidnapper kidnapped the cat."
"So does that mean you can find part two?" Bryson's eyes widened innocently.
"Yeah, I'll try to find it," Jaxon stretched.
Alex stood up too. "Well, that was fun," she purred. "You're getting better at reading, Bryson."
"Thanks!" Bryson smiled.
Jaxon and Alex both walked out of the room. "So what should we do now?" Jaxon asked.
Alex looked thoughtful. "Hm, my parents and other brothers are out hunting right now, which means. . ." she gave Jaxon a mischievous look. "We're home alone."
"Oh yeah, we have the house to ourselves today!" Jaxon chuckled.
Alex ran around Jaxon in circles. "What should we do?" She asked excitedly. "Since my parents aren't here, let's jump on the bed again!"
"I wish we could. But you hit your head last time, remember?"
"Right!" Alex stopped to think. "We can cuddle on my bed instead!"
"Let's do that," Jaxon was about to start walking to Alex's room until a sudden knock at the front doors stopped him in his tracks.
Alex started skipping. "Maybe it's my family!" She chirped and licked her lips. "I hope they brought something good to eat!"
"Yeah," Jaxon forced himself to agree.
He followed Alex to the front doors and opened one while she opened the other.
Jaxon was surprised to see Samson standing there. The fennec fox's ears were twitching and his tail lashed angrily.
"Samson!" Alex greeted cheerfully. She froze when she saw how upset he was. "Are you okay?"
Samson took a deep breath to calm himself down before speaking. "No, I'm not alright," he replied. "I have a problem."
"Oh?" Jaxon blinked in concern. "What's the matter?"
Samson straightened his posture. "It's Tsuki," he started through clenched teeth. "She's been living at my place for six months already and she's been nothing but a nuisance."
Jaxon and Alex glanced at each other in concern. "Have you tried telling her to leave?" Jaxon suggested.
"Yes. Her kit is weaned already and I told her that she can just leave him with me and can go back to living a normal life." Samson's eyes burned with frustration. "But she's become way too attached to this lifestyle of my family and I taking care of her and her kit. She doesn't want to leave."
"Wow, that does sound like a serious problem," Alex replied sympathetically. "Having to live in the same house as Tsuki."
"And it's unfair to Samson and his parents," Jaxon added. "They shouldn't be forced to take care of someone who's perfectly healthy and stuff."
Samson turned to Jaxon. "I've given up on trying to convince her," he looked humiliated now. "That's why I want you to try and help, Jaxon. I know how she feels about you. I feel like you would have an easier time convincing her to leave."
Jaxon stared at Samson in shock. The fennec fox looked defeated. His red eyes were full of both shame and anger. His head and shoulders drooped now. Never thought I'd see a time in my life where stubborn Samson had to ask me for help. Jaxon was about to reply when Alex suddenly clung to his arm with a growl.
"I'm going too," Alex hissed. She held on tighter to Jaxon. "I don't trust Tsuki."
"Wait, we're going right now?" Jaxon asked in surprise. But Samson had already turned and was stalking back to his home.
Jaxon followed right behind with Alex clinging tightly to him the whole way.
Samson opened the door and held it for the pair. Jaxon warily entered the house and looked around. It's a lot smaller than Alex's house. But it also looks more common than hers does. He cleared his throat and glanced at Samson. "So you just want me to try and convince Tsuki to move out, right?" He asked quietly.
Samson nodded. "Her room is on the left side of the hallway." he pointed with his tail. "No, not you," he held Alex back when she started walking toward the hallway. "Stay with me. It might be harder for Jaxon to talk to Tsuki with you around."
A growl rumbled in Alex's throat. "At least let me wait around the door or something," she grumbled. "I want to be as close as possible."
"Sure," Samson sighed.
The three of them headed toward Tsuki's room. The door was closed. Jaxon held his breath as he knocked.