Wild Guardian: Issue 2 Chapter 21

By: jungleboy69



Nature Trek and Campout: Part 2



“There!!” David exclaimed. “It’s done!!!” The others have finally set up their campsite in the tree-house. “About time!!” Dennis added. “Our tree-house campsite is finished!!!” “Good!” Sophie spoke up. “I was getting tired.”

“Says the girl who sat by while we did all the work!!!” Jenny argued. “Oh, come on!!” Sophie protested, sitting with one leg over the other. “You expect me to ruin my nails?” Jenny groaned and laid out her sleeping mat on her hammock.

“Where’s Max, anyway?” Mikey asked as he and Bruce placed their sleeping bags on the ground. “He and Jake are tending to some patients in his clinic.” David replied “Well, I hope they’ll hurry so we can get on with our nature walk.” Mikey added.

“We’re back!!!” Jake and Max returned, the latter climbing up through the branches and jumping over the railing. “Wait for me, Max!!” Jake called out, climbing down the wooden stairway after him. “Hey Jake,” Bruce started to ask. “How’s the...woah!!!”

Everyone stopped and stared in astonishment. Jake’s arms were covered in nips and small scratches, his sleeves and trousers were slightly torn and there was a bandage on top of his nose. “Hey, guys.” Jake replied, smiling all goofy

“What the heck happened to you?!” Bruce asked. “Well,” Jake replied “We had a little trouble with some fawns, squirrels, blackbirds and a bobcat that tried to claw my face off.” “Could have been worse.” He added. “I just don’t know how Max does it.”

“Patience, compassion and good communication.” Max replied smiling. “Well,” Jake added. “if it wasn’t for you, that wildcat would have bitten my nose off.” “Well, we already set up your sleeping bag.” Jenny told him. “We’re going on our hike soon and we need you to lead us.”

“Oh yeah!!” Jake exclaimed, hurrying to get his bag. “Thanks for reminding me!” “Max, why don’t you help Jake by being our guide?” Jenny asked. “Sure, I’ll help out!” Max replied, smiling.

“Okay, guys!!” David called out. “Let’s be sure we’ve got everything we need for our hike.” “Anyone got a compass?” he asked. “I do!” Bean called out, holding a small compass out. “Okay, binoculars?” David added. “Right here!” Harold pulled a pair out.

“Bug spray?” “Here!” Jenny called. “First-aid kit?” “I got it!!” Bruce added. “Caps, water-canteens and cameras?” “We’ve all got them!” Mikey called. “Well then, let’s get going!” David exclaimed.

“Okay, jungle man!!” Jake called. “You ready?” “Sure thing!!” Max flashed a thumbs-up. “Let’s go!!”



(2 hours later...)

“Are we there yet?” Sophie asked, fanning herself with a hand-held fan. “This is the umpteen time you said that and the answer is still NO!” Jenny snapped. “Can you girls last at l minute without fighting?” Bruce groaned.

The friends were now on their nature hike, trekking through the forest. The sound of birds filled the air and the smell of pine was thick and sweet. The only thing that bothered them so far was Jenny and Sophie’s constant squabbling.

“Max, can you quiet them down?” Mikey asked. “Why me?” He asked. “They listen to you, so do something.” Mikey replied. “Come on, Maxie!!!!” Sophie whined. “Tell that gorilla-lady to stop being mean to me!!!”

“Max, tell that blonde-haired bimbo to stop whining like a big baby!!” Jenny argued back. “In my opinion,” Max whispered. “you’re both acting like babies.” The others chuckled at Max’s expense.

“So where are we going?” Harold asked. “We’re almost there.” Jake replied. “Just a little more.” “Well, I hope so.” Bean added, panting. Suddenly, Max spoke up and listened quietly. “Guys, do you hear that?” He asked.

“Hear what?” Dennis asked. Max immediately leapt onto a tree and climbed high. After climbing, he looked over in the distance. Instantly, his eyes gleamed with excitement. “Guys, there it is!!” Before anyone could ask, Max swung through the branches.

“Hey, Max!!” Jenny called, as she and the others ran after him. “Wait up!!!!” “Where the heck is he going?!” Bruce asked. “Does he do this all the time?” Harold added. “Yeah....” Mikey replied. “Pretty much.”

The others raced after Max who was swinging and leaping from tree to tree. “Come on, guys!!” He called. “We’re almost there!!” “Almost where?” David asked. “I don’t...think...” Bean panted. “I...can...run...anymore...”

Finally, they saw Max stop. “Max,” David spoke up. “would you mind telling us where are taking...” he stopped as his eyes widened in shock. The others followed after him and they couldn’t believe what they saw.

Before them was an enormous lake, clear and blue. The surface sparkled in the sunlight and the water flowed gracefully. “Cool.” Dennis whispered. “It’s so beautiful” Sophie added, breathlessly.

Max slid down the tree trunk and stared out onto the water. “Jii-chan and I would always come here to go fishing every Sunday.” He explained. “Jii-chan was the greatest fisherman I knew.” he added, smiling. “He told me the best fishing stories while we sat.”

“So I figured, that I would bring you here so we could fish together.” “Max, this is incredible!” David replied. “Unfortunately, we have one problem.” “We don’t have any fishing equipment.” Jake added. “That’s where you’re wrong!” Mikey called out.

Mikey took out a strange pen from his bag. “What you gonna do?” Bruce asked. “Write a letter to the fish?” “No...” Mikey replied. “This is.” He pressed a small button on the pen top and to everyone’s surprise, it grew into a mechanical fishing pole.

“Cool, cuz!” Bean exclaimed. “It’s my latest invention, the automatic ballpoint fishing pen or ABFP for short.” “I made one for each of us.” He added, handing out more pens to the others. “Thanks, Mikey!” David exclaimed. “Now, we can go fishing.”

“Max, you want one?” Mikey asked. “No, thanks.” Max replied. “I’m not very good with fishing poles.” “Too bad.” David explained. “Didn’t you fish back in the jungle?” “Yeah, but I mostly use a spear.” Max replied. “Besides, I don’t need a fishing pole to know how to fish.”

“What’re you going to do?” Harold asked. “Use your bare hands?” “Not exactly.” Max replied, before waking to the edge of the lake. He breathed deeply and slowly began to take off his shirt. “Ma-ma-ma-Max!!” Bruce exclaimed. “What are you doing?!”

“Catching some fish.” Max replied, his shirt now off, exposing his bare, muscular chest. “Sophie, likey, likey...” Sophie spoke dreamily, staring at Max’s body with a wide smile, pink cheeks and a lustful expression on her face.

“Don’t worry.” David replied, smirking. “Max’s got this.” “Got what?” Dennis asked. Before anyone else could reply, Max walked over to a nearby tree and climbed up. “What are you planning to do, Max?” Bean asked, nervously.

Max walked on a large tree branch and stood over the edge. Taking a deep breath, he bent his legs and to everyone’s amazement and shock, jumped off the branch, somersaulted in the air and dived into the lake “SPLASH!!!”.

“MAX!!!!” Sophie screamed in terror. “What the heck, man!?” Dennis exclaimed in shock. “Is he crazy!?” “Don’t worry.” Jake replied, smirking. “Max’s got this” “Aren’t you the least bit worried about him?!” Bean screeched. “Don’t worry.” Jenny added, smiling. “Max will be alright.”

Just then, a high squeaking sound was heard. “What was that?” Bruce asked. “It’s coming from the lake.” Harold replied. The friends raced to the lake’s edge and stared into the water. A slim brown shape slid through the water and a small head popped up in the surface, much to everyone’s surprise.

“An otter?” Bruce asked, confused. The otter squeaked again, staring up again. Suddenly, before everyone’s surprise, the otter glowed and started to grow bigger. Before long, Max was standing in front of them, soaking wet.

“MAX!!” Sophie squealed, hugging him tightly. “Dude, you really scared us!” Dennis added, his eyes wide in amazement. “Sorry about that.” Max apologised, scratching the back of his head. “Still, I won’t be needing a fishing pole to know how to fish.”

David chuckled. “Well, guys,” he asked. “who’s ready for some fishing?”