2 Oli in Trouble

ROAR!!

Sprinting through the vegetation, Oli was frantic to escape. He didn't dare look back out of fear of being caught. Instead, he focused on the path in front of him, hoping to reach the clan before his pursuer reached him.

"Come back here squirt! I've got something for you!" Oli's chaser laughed at his easy prey. "I've almost got you, you'd better speed up!"

Oli paid the large beast no mind. He knew that if the panther wanted, Oli would've been caught long ago since the panther could cover the two krin gap between them in three steps. With only survival in mind, Oli kept up his mad dash for freedom.

"I think I'm getting a little tired. Maybe if you speed up, you just might get away?" the panther was enjoying himself a little too much. "Had enough yet? Just give up already and I'll make it quick, I promise."

Exhausted from the constant chase, Oli tripped on a vine and tumbled to the ground. He tried to get up but was far too slow to even think it before he was caught.

"Oh, is that all you've got? You're not much of a meal, but you'll make a nice appetizer. I imagine your clan is that way, right?" the panther pointed with his tail as he circled Oli. "Now I'm certain of it. I can tell by that look on your face… how pathetic. But I must thank you. It's because of you that I'll have enough meat to last me a while."

Oli had nothing left to say or do. No matter what he tried, there was no escape. He accepted his fate and steeled himself to at least run the other way and try to steer his hunter off course. While waiting for an opening he thought, I've already died once so how bad can it be?

"Good boy, I see you've finally stopped kicking," the panther slowly stepped near Oli, enjoying the fearful look in the young ape's eyes. "Now this will only take a second. Don't blink or you'll be gone before you know it."

"Didn't your mom teach you not to play with your food?"

Both Oli and the panther were started and looked to the side to find that someone else had neared them both without either noticing. The panther didn't know what to think. Oli was grinning from ear to ear at the sight of the mystery expert.

"Uncle Rathe!" with such a surprise development, Oli couldn't contain his relief.

"Uncle?" the panther joked. "So this brat isn't a Large-mouth ape but an Iron-body Gorilla, that changes my plans. I guess I'll have to take my appetizer to go and find a meal elsewhere."

"Why so quick to jump to conclusions?" Rathe approached the panther. "I didn't expect to find a Frost-fang Panther all the way out here."

"So, you know my bloodline?" the panther acted surprised. "What gave it away, my fangs or my frosty fur?"

"Oli, what've you gotten yourself into this time?" Rathe ignored the panther to berate Oli. "If you want playmates that's fine, but I don't think you're old enough to play with the likes of him. Leave that to me."

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Without a moment's notice, both the panther and Rathe clashed. Rathe used his powerful arms to bludgeon the panther, while the panther used his higher speed to evade the blow. Though neither of them went all out, they were able to set a baseline for their opponent's strength.

"You're not a mortal beast, are you?" Rathe's serious question threw Oli for a loop.

"Ha, you noticed," the panther couldn't help but smile. "You're a divine beast too, right?"

"You know it!" not hiding anything, Rathe pounded on his chest with pride. "If you want, I'll play with you, I think I'll be a lot more fun than that brat who fell flat on his face."

"True, but I think it's best we just both go our separate ways. Allow me to go first," the panther sneered and took off into the undergrowth.

"What are you doing, Uncle Rathe? He's getting away!" Oli spoke first.

"Forget about him Oli. This is all your fault for taking off and wandering on your own, so don't go blaming others brat!" Rathe lightly tapped Oli on the head, but it hurt Oli on the same due to the difference in strength.

"But uncle! He's going after the clan, not just me!" Oli's blood was still pumping. "If you hurry maybe you can—"

"Shut up boy!" Rathe had little patience and was long out it. "Like I said, forget about that pussycat. Let's get you back to your mom. If you think I'm mad at you, wait till you hear her side of it."

"What about the clan?" Oli was more relaxed now thanks to Rathe's casualness, but he still feared for his fellow gorillas.

"Don't worry about them, you'll see them real soon," Rathe picked Oli up by his head and put the boy on his wide back.

"But isn't the panther going to attack them?" Oli didn't understand Rathe's calmness. "If you're here then who will stop him?"

Rathe stopped walking, "Brat, don't you know who the clan chief is?"

"But you're always the one who fights and protects everyone. Dad just handles the politics and chief's duties," Oli honestly thought that Rathe was the most capable.

"Ha! Thanks for the praise, but flattery won't save you from my sister's wrath," Rathe laughed and turned his head to see Oli looking back at him. "The chief's first responsibility is to protect the clan. For that reason, only the strongest gorilla in the clan can hold the chief's position."

"You mean—"

"Yup, that panther is about to get more than he bargained for. Knowing Dioro, it's probably already over," laughed Rathe.

"Already?" Oli struggled to believe it.

"Just wait and see."

After over ten minutes of walking, the temporary gorilla campsite came into view and in the middle of it was the body of the Frost-fang Panther. Oli scurried off of Rathe's back and hurried over to check the scene.

To his surprise, there was no blood, no bruises, or even visible signs of being hit on the panther's corpse. Astounded at the sight, Oli was taken aback.

"You seem surprised?"

Oli turned around to find his father standing behind him. "Dad, did you do this?"

"Yes, Oli. I did," Dioro acted like it were just a common occurrence.

"But how did you do it? Uncle Rathe said you were even stronger than him," Oli tried to piece together the puzzle, "but even Uncle Rathe would've beaten him to death and left blood everywhere. What happened?"

With a half-smile, Dioro simply said, "Normally I wouldn't handle things like this, but he threatened your mother so I couldn't help myself. He attacked her first and left me no choice but to wipe away his soul."