Animalia by Cristian Johnson (books for men to read .TXT) 📖

straight down to the skull. Luke's head goes limp with only his eyes stare into the horizon. Chris takes out his foot and takes a step back from Luke. All he could do was sit down and wail and roar out his name as he grieves for killing his best friend. The cries of him scare away any wildlife that was near him yet attracted many mutants towards Luke's body. Chris takes note of this as some of them start to graze their hands on his antlers and fur.

"GET AWAY!!!" Chris roars as bites a mutant's shoulder and pushes him away. More continue to come near him as he slaughters many of them through the entire night. His anger and sadness were not filled even though when it came morning with rotting piles of mutant flesh nearby Luke. All Chris did was just look at him and walk away with his heartache deep inside. He walked a lonesome trail with only his dark thoughts taking over his body. He soon arrived at the entrance of Smoky Den.

Reginald was waiting for him. "So...you did it, it's done… he is at peace now..." Reginald says as he looks at Chris with some tears in his eyes.

Jacob soon runs over and gets news of what has happened. He tries to comfort Chris and Reginald but it's no use as he can not feel the empathy to show to support them as he just gives some news to them.

"I have found word that from other animals saying that Roberts is coming this way and he is bringing an army of mutants with a panther and a large monster that looks hideous with a large exoskeleton. We are going to have to prepare for their arrival." Jacob says to Chris and Reginald.

"We will prepare just...make sure everyone is set in the training grounds..." Reginald replies.

"Reggie....there was something strange when Luke passed away..."

"Yes boy what was it?"

"It's just....when blood came out of Luke...it was not red. It was black blood…”

 

 

Chapter 15: Proelium

It has been some time since the death of Luke has taken place with many things that have been going on. With Reginald struggling to keep up with the leadership and grief Jacob is continuing to help him to show how to run the Smoky Den. Chris is dealing with his depression and Emma comforting him. However, there is the trouble Roberts forces advancing toward their home. Will this be the end of Chris and the Smoky Den. Will this final battle determine the outcome for everyone that will live or die?

 

Months have passed ever since Luke has died from his illness. Dr. Ling has been around to stay helping patients that have been injured from training or surveying the area for better placements of camps they can put down. Reginald has gone a bit silent over the months as he works silently with Jacob who is vigorously training the recruits to defend themselves and teach others to watch over the other animals that can not do so easily. Emma and Chris have been dealing with their problems. Even if Chris was told to kill Luke it had put him in an emotional state of trauma and doubt that maybe Luke was going to be fine and he most likely ended it for nothing. Thoughts scurry around his head as he decides to walk away from the Smoky Den.

However unlike previous times he tells Reginald and Emma that he will be having a walk outside the borders and promises he will be back the next day.

"You sure boy? I know things are stressful and tense but we might still need you just in case Roberts or Cole come over for a surprise visit." Reginald says to Chris.

"It's fine you know I can watch over myself and hunt for food. No one's gonna care or need my help, we got many animals that are training hard right now that can easily do the job if any ambush was to happen. So I'm leaving ok." Chris says as he walks out the entrance of the Smoky Den.

Jacob walks in on them looking quite disappointed. "So you're running again I see...Where are you off to this time?" Jacob asks

"I'm going nowhere just mind your business somewhere alright." Chris stops.

"Oh you know I am just saying because it's not like this is the first time you ran off from your friends that are here to support you or from the community that you are now supposed to be helping. What it looks like you're just a coward for what you are doing." Jacob says sternly at Chris.

"Does it look like I care about things going around? My friend just died and you just come along telling me to do training or help others fight when I can not even think correctly without feeling I couldn't help my best friend."

"Your so naive Chris...when will you see that maybe Luke wanted you to move on from his demise and just want you to grow as an independent person and not have to always fall onto him. If you weren't so scared half the time that things go sour then maybe you would not have to be a baby and leave everyone. You make everyone so upset because you have these.. these.. tantrums. Learn how to grow up already, I've seen younger cubs that can fight and act more of a man than what you are now. So shut up and stay here."

"You don't know who I am and you will never change what I choose in life so I just suggest you leave me alone."

"Your right I can not change who you are and what actions you do to yourself. You have to start asking the big questions in life, why are you here? What is your purpose? So will you finally choose what you want to do or you are just going to run away or stay here with us, your friends and family that will try their damn hardest to care for you and still teach you the things you need to know in life." Jacob says to Chris as he walks up towards the entrance nearby Chris.

Despite all of this Chris just walks away without saying goodbye.

"Chris come back!" Reginald calls out for him.

Chris starts to run as he is running away from his emotions and his destiny with tears flowing from his eyes. He ran and continued to run until he was met with a mysterious fog. In this fog, Chris could not tell where he was going or if he was returning home which at that moment he started hearing a voice. Chants of children can be heard in his mind, which was his past self and Cole and Luke. Then disturbing yelps, brays, and moans from many animals as if they are in pain. Chris stops to reflect on this filled with despair and sorrow of his friend. He hears the screams and bellows of Luke's voice yet he is not here. He starts to shiver as a dark tall figure approaches in front of him.

"Well if it isn't you again. It has been a while I last saw you since that battle in New York. I wished we could have stayed a while and chatted. Although it looks like you have nowhere to run right Chris?"

"Why are you here....and what do you want from me..." Chris asks.

"Oh, I just came by and talk to you about some business. We have some things to talk about where you are living at the moment. That area you are in now is rich in nutrients from the ground. If for example I had some of my creations lying around the area and fed upon those nutrients they would get stronger especially the Silva mutants." Roberts explains.

"What do you mean by Silva mutants." He asks.

"Silva mutants are those beautiful mutants that are in the middle of their metamorphosis and need a little push. Sadly most of them can barely function properly and tend to die from internal bleeding or organ failure. If I had these mutants able to go to that area of yours then everything will be set in stone. I could make you a deal right now actually... If you tell your friends to move out of the area and find somewhere else to live you can be on with your lives and you will never have to hear from me again. That is if you do not interfere with my creations roaming around the world. I would know as well if there is a disturbance in the population since I have my eyes within the area." Roberts explains to Chris.

"Oh you mean...your little crab and Cole? Sure we can take them on easily, I am sure Reginald will easily gouge his exoskeleton."

"Hmm..you still don't get it. Can you not see that I am the most powerful animal in this entire kingdom. You may be able to deny my strength but you can not deny the fact no matter what emotional hope that can aid you, you still have doubt and you still doubt me haven't you. You doubt the fact that you can defeat Cole when you have this large amount of power in your disposable. So why don't you take him out already?"

"It's....not that....I'm not afraid of him...you're just using him....he is not a bad person....despite the numerous times he bullied me I know inside he is just like me but scared and needs a mentor. Like Luke did for me.." Chris says as he stutters at the end.

"Oh yes continue on...how is Luke by the chance? Oh wait or is he still asleep from that poor landslide my colleague did to you." Roberts gives a sly smile at Chris.

"No...he's dead....it does not matter for your concern or welfare about this right now why are you still here Roberts, you wouldn't just come here for no reason and talk to me."

"I am not here to terminate you if that's what you're implying on about. Since I know seeing you suffer by the hands of my creation is a sweeter death to quench thirst unlike if I was to hunt you now. I could end your life right here and now and no one will ever come by to see your demise or funeral. In fact if I did this action maybe I will not have the variable of you standing back against me. Although who really does care about your resistance since we both know who shall prevail in this battle. I will win this war Chris and all your friends are free to join in the graves of many who have fallen, but I will still let you fight a feeble and obvious fight that should not need to happen. The bigger question is who shall be the executioner of your fate. Shall it be Cole who solely just wants to kill you both......yet I can only give him the satisfaction of you and not Luke. Or shall I let my silent acquaintance take care of the job for me. He may not be a large talker but he can do a great number of damage on you."

"You will not win this you know. Me and my friends