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Kiara's Sahifa   Fan Fiction Main   The Rogue, Part 4

The Rogue, Part 4: You Jump, I Jump

By Abmis 1

Check out the pictures accompanying this story in the Fan Art section.

     It was early morning the next day. The sky was a cheerful light blue and cloudless. It was cool out, a rarity in the desert. A tiny brown mouse skittered along the sandy ground, stopping every moment or so to lift his whiskered head and scent the air. During one of these pauses, a blur of tawny fur sprang from cover and landed atop the mouse with a quiet thud.

     Before the rodent had time to panic, Mpalio knelt down and finished it off. He tossed the morsel in the air and cought it in his jaws, then swallowed it whole. Mpalio smiled contentedly and licked his lips. "Ahhh. Now to wash it down," he said to himself.

     Aside from the Oasis, the greatest oddity of the Outlands was a winding river that snaked through the sands. It was calm and serene at some parts, but as it raced through the trechorous Montu Canyon, it became a dangerous whitewater river with dips and sharp turns and crashing waves.

     Mpalio trotted over to the calm part of the river and knelt down for a long, satisfying drink. He lifted his head and shook the water off. His ears cocked forward as he heard a faint sighing sound. He turned and saw Jak, streached out on an ancient fallen tree which hung over the river like a bridge. The old log sagged like a hammock under his weight. Jak was staring at his reflection in the water, looking as miserable as a caged elephant.

     Mpalio hurried over to him. "Jak, my boy, why so glum?" Mpalio asked. Jak sighed again. "She dumped me." he said in a hollow voice. Mpalio cocked his head, puzzled. "Nonsense. Waridi adores you." Mpalio said with a chuckle. Jak smiled faintly and shifted his weight. The log creaked and cracked slightly. Mpalio cringed at the sound, then trotted to the other side to look Jak in the face.

     "It's not that she doesn't love you. She's forbidden to love you. Her parents won't allow it." Mpalio said honestly. Jak's expression turned harsh. "Why does she listen to them! She obviously doesn't love them! What's there to lose if she runs away with me?" he shouted, obviously frustrated. "She doesn't know how, Jak! She's lived such a sheltered life, and she's afraid to go beyond that!" Mpalio shouted back.

     "I met Waridi when she and I were kids. The way her society....her own parents...treat her, it appalled me. But there was nothing I could do about it. I gave her the little courage she has...you must provide the rest! You love her, don't you boy?" Mpalio yelled. A tear rolled down Jak's cheek, and Mpalio could tell he was on the verge of sobbing. "Of-Of c-course I love her. The way they treat her, It-It kills me inside! I don't understand.....w-why would she leave me for them?" he said weakly, his lip quivering.

     Mpalio softened, climbing on the log. "Jak, be patient with her. I'll arrange you a meeting with Waridi. You need to tell her how you feel. She'll come around. I promise you." Mpalio said softly, placing a gentle paw on Jak's face. "You really think so?" he asked hopefully. Mpalio smiled. "Yes."

     Jak suddenly rose to his feet. "Well, what are we waiting for?!?" He exclaimed excitedly. It was then that the log began to tremble, and a loud crack echoed through the valley. Mpalio and Jak exchanged terrorfied glances. The log broke free of the banks and went plummeting down to the water. The two friends clung to the bark desperately as that sick feeling of dropping punched holes in their stomachs.

     The log landed with a tremendous splash that soaked them, but both were fine as the log began to serenly drift forward at a steady and easy pace. Jak chuckled. "Whoa! That was a close one." he said. Mpalio didn't look at ease one bit, and he pointed forward, his eyes wide and his body trembling.

     Jak followed Mpalio's gaze and gasped. The log's pace was quikening, and up ahead were the rocky walls of Montu Canyon. And from what Mpalio knew, there was an extremely steep drop-off at the entrance. "C'mon Mpalio! Help me row to shore!" Jak cried. They both dipped their forepaws into the rushing waters and paddled wildly, but it was no use. They neared the drop, and Jak glanced over the edge and nearly threw up at the height.

     "This is it! Nice knowing you, Jak." Mpalio said. the edge of the log tipped as it got to the waterfall's ledge, and finally plummeted straight down. The sensation felt like their stomachs jumped into their throats, and the fear was intense. The two continued to cling to the large old log as it shot to the ground like a rocket. They screamed out loud the whole way down.

     The log crashed into the river below them, sinking it for a few moments and then bobbing to the surface. Mpalio was still clung to it, shaken but uninjured, and Jak managed to swim to the floating dead tree. he pulled himself up and rested atop it as the water picked up speed again. They were inside the canyon now, and the danger was far from over.

     "Here we go again!" Jak yelled over the roar of the rushing river. Their journey through Montu Canyon was fast and furious. The old log was knocked from side to side, following the intense waves as they crashed violently on the smooth wet walls of the Canyon. At one point it followed a wave, skimming sideways across the wall like a skateboard shooting up a ramp. The log plummeted over small dips and turned sharply several times, nearly losing its two soaking passengers.

     After awhile, the fear slowly leaked from Jak's consiousness and he began to enjoy himself. It was like a fun trill ride for him, and since he spied the Canyon's end up ahead, he figured there was no more danger. He smiled winth a determined look in his eyes as he hauled himself to the top of the log. He used all his balance and strenght and managed to stand, spreading his feet and toes to make sure there was no chance of capsizing.

     Mpalio, clinging tightly to the front of the dead tree, gasped. "Jak, are you out of your mind? You'll tip us over!" he cried. Jak payed no attention. He looked out ahead of himself, smiling as he let the wind dry him. The log crashed over another dip. "Whooohoo!" Jak cried, then chuckled. Mpalio clambered to his feet, his fur dripping. "What are you doing?!?" the fennec fox shrieked. Jak just looked down at him with pity and said: "What, you're not having any fun?"

     There was another dip. "Woohoohoo!!!" Jak yelled once more. As adrenaline pumped through his body he felt energized and adventurous. The wind whipping through his sandy-colored mane and the log surging forward gave him the odd illusion that he was soaring. Mpalio had calmed himself, and was now perched on his hind legs, his forepaws resting on a small sturdy branch. He smiled slightly as he noticed the exit was coming up fast.

     There was a smooth, speedy hill that emptied back into the calm part of the river. It wasn't a drop-off, just a fast, curving slide. Mpalio smiled broadly. He would live after all. "I can see the Oasis already! Very small, of course." Mpalio annouced joyously, even though the Oasis could not, by any means, be seen. Jak chuckled lightly at the comment as they neared the hill.

     The log tipped over the edge and went racing forward, seding more cold wind surging through Jak's mane. Mpalio closed his eyes and smiled softly, completly at peace. Jak felt an amazing joy well up from inside him, and he opened his muzzle to set it free.

     "I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!!!!! Whoohoo-woohoohoo!!" Jak shouted joyously. Mpalio responded by howling lightly into the air, letting the wind wash over him, to caress his fur. The log continued to surge foward as it emptied into the calmer waters and leveled out. The two carefree passengers on board shut their eyes and let their emotions take control of their senses.

     Waridi walked quietly back from the late morning hunt, tears staining her cheeks. She recalled what Chachari had said to her that morning: "Waridi, you are not to see that boy again. I forbid it." She felt like a starving animal who had perfect acess to a filling meal, but was forbidden to ever consume it. She was starving for Jak. She felt such...emptiness. Such sadness. Just the thought of him made her eyes fill with tears.

     Jak watched her closely from a safe distance, hidden in a bramble of shrubs. Mpalio was by his side. The two were crouched down low, whispering. It had taken Mpalio a hell of a time to sneak Jak so far into the forest.

     The young rogue watched with aching sadness as his princess trudged along, head down and far behind the rest of the hunting party. She was a heap of pure misery.

     Once the rest of the hunting party disappeared into the jungle, Mpalio nudged Jak. "Alright, Jakie, this is it. Go speak to her." "What if she..." "Just GO!" Mpalio whispered firmly. Jak nodded, exiting his hiding place. He moved into the treeless clearing, using the tall, swaying grass to approach Waridi unnoticed. He crept up behind her and tapped her shoulder. "C'mon, Come with me," he urged.

     Before she had time to protest, Jak took her paw and pulled her hastily into the cover of a nearby cave. All was quiet, and they were alone.

     Waridi immediatly looked up into Majaka's begging eyes. She had to break this off before it became to painful. "Jak, this is impossible. I can't see you," she said, pulling away. Jak cornered her quickly, preventing her from exiting.

     He looked her straight in the eyes, refusing to let her gaze off him. "Waridi, you're no picnic. You're a spoiled little brat even." He began. He nearly kicked himself for that, and she began to pull away. Jak quickly recoiled. "But under that...under that, you're the most amazing, astounding, wonderful girl...lioness...I've ever known," he said strongly. His voice echoed through the cave.

     "Jak, I..." Waridi began, but Jak stopped her quickly. "NO! Let me get this out. You're amaz..." Jak stopped for a moment, and after a small pause, continued. "Look. I'm not an idiot. I know how the world works. I have no home, no pride, and I have nothing to offer you. And I know that. But I'm too involved now. You jump, I jump."

     "What?" Waridi asked, puzzled. Jak's gaze remained strong. "It means that no matter what trouble you're in, no matter where you go, I follow you through it all. If you jump, I jump. I can't turn away without knowing you're gonna be alright. That's all that I want. " Jak smiled softly at this. Hope was burning in his icy blue eyes. Waridi had to struggle to hold back tears.

     "Well, I'm fine. Really." she replied firmly. Jak shook his head. "Really? I don't think so." Jak noticed an ancient cave painting of a pride of lionesses. He pointed to it. "They've got you trapped, Waridi. And you're gonna die if you don't break free. Maybe not right away, "cause you're strong, but sooner or later that fire that I love about you Waridi, that fire's gonna burn out."

     There was a long pause. the two simply gazed at one another. Then Waridi broke the silence. "It's not up to you to save me, Jak." she said. Oh, how Jak wanted to feel the joy he had felt just moments ago with Mpalio on the log! He wanted to say to her "Yes, I can save you!" and have her fall into his embrace and kiss him passionatly. But he knew that would never happen. Waridi was right.

     "No. Only you can do that." he replied softly. A strong feeling surged through him, and he leaned in to kiss her. She pulled away from the wall she was cornered against, and the tears began flowing from her eyes. "Jak, you're making this very hard." She sobbed. Jak advanced on her, desperate. "Please, Waridi! I'm begging you!" He pleaded.

     "I'm going back. Leave me alone!" she cried, and ran out the cave as quickly as she could. It was all over. There was not a chance in hell she'd ever come back to him. It was useless to race after her and risk getting caught. He hung his head in despair and defeat. He'd never feel joy again.

     In the silence of the cave, his chest began to heave, and he collaspsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. His emotions soaked his cheeks and washed over the smooth cave floor. The emptiness he felt could never again be filled.

     To be continued...

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