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A Roo-yal Expedition: Part One


by maltese51191

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“That one.”

      “I’m afraid not, sir.”

      “How about there?”

      “Not there either.”

      “Well, why is that?” King Skarl paused to look up and glare at his advisor. The red Zafara mopped his brow and took the map from the Green Skeith. After studying it for a moment, he turned to the King again.

      “It appears that Kiko Lake is already a colony of some sort,” he said. “It isn’t controlled by anyone, but considers itself to be independent.”

      King Skarl shook in his throne.

      “Why would Kikos need a whole lake?” he said. “Let them go to Maraqua, why don’t you?”

      The Zafara chose not to answer that question. He stood biting his lip, and turned around when he heard a door slam loudly.

      A Royal Aisha began walking up the carpet toward the King’s chair. She bowed, clutching a scroll of paper in one hand.

      “Well, what is it, Callie?” the King said.

      The Aisha unraveled the scroll and began to read.

      “I’m afraid to report,” she said, “that the whole kingdom of Meridell was searched, and no one was found to fill the position.”

      King Skarl sat up straighter in his seat. The Zafara and Aisha both stepped back, nervously.

      “You mean to tell me,” he said, “that out of this whole kingdom, not one pet wanted to go on the expedition?”

      The Royal Aisha looked at the paper again. “It says here,” she said, “that most everyone cited ‘danger’ and ‘fear’ as reasons for not accepting.”

      The King’s face turned red. He accepted a cup of water from a yellow Poogle, who had to stand on his toes to reach the throne.

      “Well,” he said finally, “you’ll just have to work a little harder, won’t you?”

      ***

      Julia laughed, and splashed a handful of cold water at her brother. The Cloud Acara giggled when he lunged toward her. The Pirate Poogle tried to grab her fur, and came up with empty air.

      “Bet you can’t get me!” Julia said. She dove underwater and immediately closed her eyes. The water was cool against her fur. She twisted around so that the fur moved in every direction.

      She came up for air, gasping. Jaraiya grabbed her hand, and the Poogle pulled his sister to the sandbar. The sun was warm on the pets’ backs, and they were dry within a few minutes. Julia let her toes sink into the sand.

      “One more time?” she asked her brother. He nodded, and they dove down again.

      Julia opened her eyes after she swam a little deeper. She expected to see a soft blue light, but instead saw nothing but dark water. She waved her paw in front of her face, and panicked when she couldn’t see it.

      “Jaraiya, come here!” she shouted, but the words came out as gibberish.

      The Acara flailed around, and made for the surface. She sighed in relief when she collapsed on a stretch of warm, smooth sand.

      She looked around for her brother, but couldn’t see him. Finally he emerged out of the water, coughing and spluttering. He crawled next to her and lay on all fours, facing the ground.

      Julia waited for him to catch his breath before grabbing his arm.

      “What is it?” he asked. His voice was still hoarse.

      “I think we’re in trouble,” Julia said.

      “What do you mean? Let’s just get home. We’re fine now.”

      “I don’t think so,” Julia said softly.

      Jaraiya looked around, and Julia looked with him. This beach wasn’t like anything they’d seen before. The sand was as smooth as glass, and seemed as though it hadn’t been walked on in years. Beyond the sand dunes, Julia could see a massive forest. It had obviously been neglected as well; trees and bushes threatened to spill onto the sand. There wasn’t another island in sight.

      Jaraiya looked desperately at the horizon.

      “How can we have gotten so far?” he asked.

      Julia frowned, trying to think of an explanation.

      “It must have been the current,” she said. “I guess it was really strong.”

      She nodded resolutely, but still looked doubtful. Before she had a chance to continue, both pets heard a cracking noise.

      Jaraiya looked, wide-eyed, at his sister.

      “Come here!” she hissed. She grabbed his hand and led him to a rock not far from the shore. The two pets crouched behind the boulder, peeking through a crack in the middle.

      “Ugh!” a voice said. “I can’t stand all these trees.”

      A deeper voice answered, “Well, this explains why no one’s ever been here. It’s a wasteland.”

      “I can’t wait until we get this over with,” the first voice said. “Then I’ll be--”

      “Shh!” said his companion. “Did you hear that?”

      The talking subsided, as did the crunching noises. They started again, after a moment.

      Finally two pets walked out of the forest and onto the beach. From what Julia could see, one was a Purple Draik and the other a Striped Grarrl.

      The Grarrl spoke, and Julia could tell that he had had the deeper voice.

      “Guess there’s nothing here,” he said. He turned to leave, but the Draik stopped him.

      “Wait!” he said. “Over there.” He pointed in the direction of Jaraiya and Julia, who held her breath. He began walking toward the pets. Julia’s grasp on her brother’s fur tightened.

      The Grarrl followed reluctantly.

      “Canik,” he said, “it’s not worth it. There’s nothing there.”

      The Draik flew up in the air, and swooped on top of the boulder. He laughed in delight when he saw the Acara and Poogle.

      “Got you!” he said. He reached for Julia, but she pulled away. She dragged Jaraiya with her onto the sand.

      The Grarrl motioned for Julia and Jaraiya to come next to him. They did, and stood by his side.

      “Let’s just bring them to the castle, Canik,” he said. “The King can decide what to do with them.”

      ‘The King?’ Jaraiya mouthed to Julia.

      The Draik sneered at the two pets.

      “All right, then, Kyle,” he said. “Let’s let them go first, shall we?”

       ***

      The walk through the forest was slow-moving. Julia could feel thorns stuck in her paws, and she knew Jaraiya was just as uncomfortable. He winced with every step.

      Canik the Draik kept poking her in the back, prodding her to move faster. As they walked, Julia ducked to avoid branches and twigs. She smiled in satisfaction when they hit the Draik instead.

      “Are we almost there?” Jaraiya asked, breathing heavily. Canik pushed him roughly.

      After a while, the forest began to grow less dense and the surroundings more civilized. Julia could see a few paths leading to small cottages that were protected by a wall of trees.

      “We must be close,” she whispered under her breath.

      Soon they approached the edge of the forest. The Draik overstepped Jaraiya and Julia, and took the lead. He led the group away from the town and down a rocky path.

      After a couple of minutes on the path, Canik led the group through a set of gates and over a drawbridge. Two guards inspected the pets, and let them enter.

      Jaraiya gazed, speechless, at the castle. Ornate decorations covered the walls, and the ceiling was a simple pane of glass. Sunlight spilled through it and onto the floor. Julia shook herself, and the last drops of water fell from her fur.

      Julia tried to lean closer to Jaraiya without the guards noticing. She tilted her head so that she could whisper in his ear.

      “Remember,” she said, “let me do the talking. I’ll try to get us out of this.”

      Jaraiya was too entranced by the view to hear her. He nodded absently.

      “Pay attention,” Julia said. She pulled Jaraiya away before he crashed into a passing servant. The servant’s tray tipped, and she focused on not spilling the bread and water that it carried. Jaraiya didn’t notice, and instead peered into a side room.

      “What’s that?” he said. He was stopped by Kyle, who gave Jaraiya a soft push.

      “Sorry,” the Grarrl said. He grimaced. “They make me do that.”

      They soon entered a larger hall, where more pets milled about. A couple of vendors had come in from town to sell their wares, and citizens crowded around their stalls. They stopped to look at the passing group.

      This time, Jaraiya didn’t look at them. Julia could tell that her brother was embarrassed; his bandana had fallen to the side, and his eye patch now covered one ear.

      The procession stopped suddenly, and Julia bumped into Canik. The Draik scowled and flew up to a tall wooden door. He opened the doorknob, and flew back down. For the first time since they’d arrived, he turned to address the pets.

      “You are to be on your best behavior in front of the King,” he said. “That means no talking.”

      Jaraiya gulped.

      The doors opened slowly. The pets walked down a long red carpet, their feet squeaking with every step. Finally, they approached a tall throne.

      “Who is that?” a booming voice asked. Canik coughed self-consciously.

      “I think we have found what you need, Your Majesty,” he said.

To be continued...

This is my first long series! ALL comments are appreciated :) Thanks for following.

 
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