Chapter Three
Lugah’s flight to his companions took only a few minutes. Although the drone’s legs formed a makeshift cage, which held him in place, Lugah wondered if a fall from this height would result in the loss of one of his nine lives. A large, humanoid rat waved to him from the ground and began to climb the vine-laden trees. A droning sound filled the air as the ant descended in a steep dive. At the last moment, it pulled up, dropped Lugah into the forest canopy, and flew away.
Lugah twisted, grabbing at the vines and branches as he fell. He collided with a large object that knocked the wind out of him, and sent him tumbling into a nearby bush.
“Lugah!” the tall rat roared.
Lugah clambered out of the thick, spongey bush. Several feet above him, the struggling rat fought against the thick vines that entangled him. Lugah picked up the fallen torch and reignited it. Grinning at his colleague, his long, white canines shone in the light.
“And don’t even think about laughing. It was your stupid idea to help the Druids. If it weren’t for Dalynia’s call we wouldn’t have known Ophidia tried to kill you mid portal!”
Lugah laughed. “So that’s what happened. I thought Sito made another defective invention.”
“It’s not funny. You don’t see me laughing! We had to endure being carried through the trees by smelly apes just to cover ground fast enough.”
Lugah held his nose. “Ah! I wondered what that smell was. I thought it was Olim.”
Frustrated, Olim shouted, “Everyone else is up there raiding treasure and having fun. Everyone except us.”
Lugah continued to grin as he replied, “That’s because they have no foresight.”
“Oh, and you do, great leader? Tell us of your great plan to free us from the Methuselans. Oh, that’s right! You made friends with one. What was his name? Raymond?”
Two smaller Ferals gasped at the insult and stared up at Lugah. He was still grinning at the rat, who pulled unsuccessfully at the vines. The whiskers on his rat face twitched constantly as he worked to free himself. He looked at Lugah; his crimson eyes pierced the darkness. Lugah stared in silence, enjoying the moment, like his distant cat relatives toying with their prey.
“Have you finished yet, Olim? You’re scaring the kids.”
Lugah looked at the youngest member of the group—a chameleon. He looked back at Lugah, wariness etched on his long face. His skin began to blend into the colors of the forest around him, as he attempted to hide.
Lugah turned to the final member of the party. The grin on his face faded as his eyes met hers. She stood five feet tall. Descended from the honey badger family, her humanoid features dominated her hybrid body. Black fur cloaked her, with a white strip that traveled from the top of her head to her tail. Long black nails extended from her slender fingers, where human nails once were. She cocked an eyebrow at Lugah, who lost his desire to play against her domineering beauty.
“Don’t stare at me.” He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.
Honey continued to stare up at Lugah, who pointed at Olim trapped between the thick vines.
“He’s an eight-foot sewer rat with a serrated tail that can cut through steel! Yet he hangs there, taunting me. He knows I can’t resist. I must play!” Lugah’s claws extended a little, his animal instincts yearning to swipe at the moving object.
Honey tilted her head to one side and asked, “Do we really have time for this?”
Olim fell silent as he listened to the chastisement. Lugah made the mistake of looking over the top of Honey. Faster than the eye could see, Honey jumped high and swiped Lugah’s nose.
“Hey! Come on now,” he protested.
Honey continued to stare at Lugah as he lifted his leg to step over her. “You might want to rethink that,” she whispered, opening her palm.
Lugah jumped back and stepped around Honey. An uneasy quiet settled. Olim burst out laughing. With a quick twist, his tail struck out against the vines, snapping them in half with ease. He turned in the air, landed on his feet with perfect grace, and bowed to Lugah.
“That was so worth it.” He grinned.
Lugah looked at Honey as he pointed at Olim with an exasperated look. Honey shook her head, unimpressed with both of them.
“If the pair of you have finished, I would like to join the others now while we still can,” she said. She held two marble-sized objects. They glowed with a faint hue that lit the darkness. Honey reached out and handed one to Lugah, which he took and placed in his pocket.
“I’m afraid we can’t go yet.” His tone was serious.
“Of course we can. It’s not too late for Team Bombdiggity to bring back some spoils,” Olim blustered.
Honey rolled her eyes. “Please stop calling us that. It’s such a dumb name!”
Lugah looked at Honey with wide eyes and a half smile. “A very small thing has come up.”
Olim ran forward and pulled on Lugah’s shoulder. “Oh? And what pray tell is this small thing that you’ve committed us to?”
A timid voice called out. “It’s a life or death thing, isn’t it? You’ve gotten into trouble again and dragged us down with you. We’re going to die this time, aren’t we? Oh dear.”
Lugah turned in the direction of the voice. “Of course it’s not…” Lugah paused, searching for Sito. “Will you stop doing that!” he shouted.
A small figure started to appear in front of a large tree. The chameleon remained semitransparent in the foliage as he replied, “I’ll stop doing it if you stop getting into trouble. So what is it then? I know you, Lugah. You have that grin.”
Sito turned to Honey and pointed. “See the grin? Look at his eyes. He’s gone and gotten us in trouble again.”
“Settle down, Sito. Don’t get yourself wound up again,” said Honey.
“So, mighty leader. What did you do to upset the ants?” Olim demanded.
“What makes you think that?” Lugah replied.
“Well, the last time I checked, cats don’t have wings. Unless, of course, you decided to poison yourself with that ore stuff the humans love so much.”
“If I had wings, I wouldn’t be hanging around you. I’d be up there with the Avians hunting whatever takes my fancy.”
Honey glared at Lugah. “Don’t tempt fate. If you speak of the devils the devils will come!”
“Methuselan nonsense. Let them come. I’ve taken down my fair share of Avian hunters,” exclaimed Olim, thrusting out his chest and flexing.
“Guys! Can we go now?” Sito called out. “We’re being watched. I can feel it!” His beady little eyes cast around their position. His body kept fading as he struggled to control his fear.
“Yes, mighty Lugah. Can we go now? I need some action. Treasure awaits,” jested Olim.
Lugah thought for a moment. He’d placed his friends in jeopardy, knowing they would follow him anywhere. Raiding unknown planets was one thing. Raiding another territory was suicide. “Listen up guys. I screwed up big time, and I have to make it right.” Lugah looked at Olim and nodded. “Yeah, it was the ants.”
“I knew it,” said Olim.
“But this time it wasn’t deliberate. I landed off course, and two werewolves chased me right into a mound with some workers. I may have convinced them to go after the werewolves and—”
“You did what?” Honey interrupted. “You know the rumors about the queen and her subjects.” Honey began pacing as Sito faded into the surroundings completely.
“Oh dear, oh dear. We are so dead. The queen’s going to recycle us. She’s going to command a thousand ants to infest our sleeping bags and eat us alive!”
Honey stopped pacing and looked in the direction of Sito’s voice. Olim and Lugah stood, dumbfounded.
“I’m guessing we have to make it right then, since they let you go and brought you to us.”
Lugah nodded. “I’m afraid so.” He stared at each one of his friends. “Look, you guys can stay, but I have to fix this because it’s the right thing to do.”
Olim
sighed. “You’ve got that stupid look again. You want to make nice with the ant queen. It’s that dream of yours isn’t it—hold hands and unite against the humans—all over again.”
“I’m running out of time. Either come with me, or stay. I have to go.”
Honey looked at Olim. Olim picked up a small rock and sniffed the air. With a soft flick, he threw it into the brush, hitting Sito on the head.
“All right, all right. We’re coming too,” Olim replied. “Someone has to save you when it all turns to custard.”
“Great!” Lugah smiled. “We need to move fast. The lizard border is not far from here.”
Sito froze as Olim laughed. “Did ya hear that, Scales? We’re going to visit your mom.”
“Not funny. Oh dear, not funny at all,” said Sito, fading back into the landscape.