Teddycats

by Mike Storey

  “I see something!” Bill yelled down. “I think it’s the humans!”

  His words echoed across the jungle. He took one last look, savoring the triumphant view, and then began his descent.

  BACK IN THE shady clearing, Bill reported his findings.

  “Huge plumes of weird gray clouds coming up from the earth, from the edge of the savanna,” he said. “Does that jibe with what you saw, Luke?”

  “Well, they did have a huge fire,” said Luke, shuddering as he remembered the humans’ cold-blooded carousing as their captives cried throughout the night. “I think there were dark clouds spewing up from it, but it was hard to see . . .”

  “This feels right,” said Bill, rubbing his paws together in anticipation.

  He was trying not to get too far ahead of himself. They had already been through so much that it seemed impossible they might finally be this close. But as the excitement chased away his lingering fatigue and got the crew back in shape, it was hard not to feel like they were close to finding Elena and starting the trip back home.

  “Wow,” said Omar. “Maybe that crazy river dropped us off exactly where we need to be.”

  “Stranger things have happened, mate,” Diego said.

  Felix was quiet, barely reacting to Bill’s news. The waterfall and near drowning had obviously taken a toll. He was shivering, unable to get warm despite the heat and exertion, and he still wore the same dazed, peaceful expression. His spots were fading. Bill thought back to when he first met Felix, and his condition in Cloud Kingdom. Back there it had been hard to see Felix as truly sick. But Bill saw now that Felix’s patience, generosity, and decency might have made him appear stronger than he was. It had never been just his leg. Felix was old, ill, and yet he had chosen to leave the safety and comfort of Cloud Kingdom despite all that. Bill was determined not to fail him.

  “What do you think, Felix?” asked Omar.

  “Well, if those clouds are coming from a fire, then that almost certainly means humans,” said Felix.

  “We can skirt the savanna and make it by dusk,” said Bill excitedly. “Luke and I will lead the way. Diego and Omar, help Felix. This is our shot, guys. Let’s make it count.”

  24

  WIND BLEW IN from the savanna, leaving dust on their tongues and in their eyes. Bill wished he still had his bindle so he could secure it over his snout. The others were having an even worse time. Felix was wheezing. Omar and Diego had to stop every few minutes to hold him as he hacked violently into his paw. Bill tried to ignore these painful sounds and focus on their destination. There were signs everywhere pointing to the humans: foreign litter, jagged and shiny wreckage, grooved and gaping tracks that spanned the width of the jungle paths, that sharp smell. The human mark on the jungle became glaringly obvious as they grew closer to the source of the gray cloud.

  Bill could still see the plume. It was one of those things that, once seen, became very hard to unsee. Every shaft of sunlight seemed discolored, every cloud disturbed. A sense of rue and violation permeated the wild. Everything was unnaturally still, the wildlife driven deep into hiding, as if waiting for the humans to take what they wanted and leave.

  But what if they never left? What if they never got enough? Bill imagined the humans were at least as stubborn as the Elders, so if they really wanted something, they had no trouble ignoring everything else to get it. Still, Bill was excited to see the humans. He also believed, secretly, perhaps even subconsciously, that the jungle would reward his bravery and determination, that in the end it would grant victory to those who had always been there, those who called the jungle home and treated it respectfully.

  Bill and Luke acted as scouts, blazing the trail. Every now and then Luke would point out something foreign left behind by the humans. Metal husks, shards made of a sharp translucent substance, deep tracks. Suddenly, somebody was calling Bill’s name. He turned around. It was Omar, running to catch up.

  “We’ve got to stop,” Omar said, breathing hard.

  “We’re so close,” Bill said. He knew that Felix was in pain, but he also believed that Felix would want them to reach the humans—and Elena—as quickly as possible. “Once we get within sight of the den we’ll take a break and plan our next move. Sound good?”

  “Yeah, sounds great, Bill,” Omar said peevishly, “but Felix can barely walk. He can barely breathe. We have to slow down if he’s going to make it the rest of the way.”

  Bill stared at the ground and rubbed his snout. “What does Diego say?”

  “He agrees with me,” said Omar. “Bill, we have to stop.”

  “We’re so close,” Bill whined. “Once we find the humans, Felix will have plenty of time to rest. Let’s keep up the momentum.”

  “How do you know that?” said Omar. “What if we need to grab Elena right away? What if she’s hurt?”

  “You know, you’re right,” Bill said, puffing his chest and trying not to lose his cool. “I have no idea how this will actually turn out. Happy now? But I’m here for Elena, and I can’t wait any longer. You’ve seen the humans’ litter; you’ve seen the tracks. We’re so close. Slow down if you need to, but Luke and I are going on ahead.”

  “Um, Bill,” Luke said. “I know you’re excited, but maybe we should rest for a while.”

  “But we could be there any minute!” said Bill.

  Omar sighed.

  “Just give me this,” Bill said, lowering his voice. “I know you haven’t trusted me for a long time, Omar, and I’m sorry that we grew apart, I’m sorry that I wanted Maia all to myself, and I’m sorry that I never stood up for you. But please, push the old guy just a little more.”

  Omar seemed unconvinced and slightly embarrassed.

  “Come on,” Bill said. “Of course I care about Felix. He might not even be alive if not for me.”

  “Okay,” Omar sighed. “I’ll let him know we’re close.”

  “Thank you, Omar. We are close, I promise. I can feel it.”

  THE FIRE LUKE mentioned was still smoldering, those thick clouds rising from a pile of charred wood, blackened tangles of twigs, and more of those sharp and metallic shards the animals encountered along the way. The ashes had scattered across the den and settled in the swirls of mud and freshly severed tree stumps. Luke and Bill wandered the wreckage, waiting for the others to arrive, shaking their heads in disbelief.

  “This was the place,” said Luke. “I guarantee it. I can still smell them.”

  It was true that the site had a lingering, ghostly presence, but there were no signs of Elena or Jack, no traps or cages, no bones or graves.

  “I don’t understand,” Luke said. “Where did they go?”

  Bill felt awful. He was not looking forward to the arrival of the rest of the gang, who had been carrying Felix for so many klicks, pushing him along because Bill had promised that they were close to finding Elena. But their best lead—Bill’s lead—had led them only to an abandoned den. Now the humans could be anywhere. They could be marching to Cloud Kingdom at that very moment. Bill had thought his insistence on speed was a sign of leadership, a hard decision made for the greater good of the mission, but standing in the ashes now, it felt more like a reckless tantrum. They had dashed through the jungle and nearly drowned, all for nothing.

  He turned away from Luke. He didn’t want his best friend to see his tears of guilt and frustration. A shudder of helplessness fluttered in his chest and pinched his brain. His ears were flat, his claws dull and useless. He would have to apologize to Felix, and he would have to find another way to save Elena and Jack, but he was all out of ideas.

  25

  FELIX AND DIEGO took the bad news calmly. Omar was steaming mad at first, but he swallowed his rage once he saw Bill’s slumped shoulders and wet eyes. Together the group walked the site, searching for clues. There were scratches and divots in the mud; a couple of smelly leather contraptions shaped
like a human’s paw; a pile of golden husks that Felix identified as part of a human weapon; and a menacing, claw-like blade stuck in a tree.

  The whole time, Bill half-expected the humans to return. The air felt occupied. He didn’t feel safe, even though it was clear they were gone.

  Felix motioned for the gang to take a seat around the gray fire pit. “I know you all are disappointed,” he said once everyone had gathered.

  Bill felt his snout heat up with remorse, and he stared down at his paws. Felix looked very tired. He shouldn’t have pushed him so hard. He should have listened.

  “It has been a long journey, and we still have a ways to go,” Felix continued. “But this is the jungle—things can change in an instant! Some of you already know that. Others are still learning. Yes, the humans were here. We can smell them and see their fire and the mess they left behind.”

  He gestured to the debris.

  “This is all useful. Their arrogance and lack of respect makes them easy to find. Despite our best efforts we did not get here in time, but we will find them. In the jungle we learn to adjust and adapt. Sometimes the current is fast and smooth; other times it drops you off a cliff. The secret to success—and survival—is a willingness to keep moving forward. The humans have moved on? Great—so will we.”

  “I’m sorry,” Bill said. “I got too excited and I didn’t consider the safety of the group. I just saw the cloud and chased after it.”

  “Your passion is an asset,” said Felix, his voice soothing as balm.

  “You did what ya thought was right,” Diego said. “Besides, I couldn’t have climbed that crazy tree. Couldn’t even see the top!”

  “It was pretty tall,” said Bill, sniffling.

  “So where do we go now?” asked Omar.

  “That depends,” Felix said. “Luke, you’re sure this is the site where you were held?”

  “I’m positive,” Luke said.

  Felix limped past the fire to the deep ruts in the mud. The tracks seemed to head in both directions—to the river and to the savanna. He knelt down and sniffed the tracks. “If the humans went to the river, then there will be no way to track them. But in the savanna they will be exposed. If we follow them through, day and night, we will find them.”

  “Does that mean they’re headed to Cloud Kingdom?” asked Omar.

  The group exchanged anxious glances.

  “That’s not important now,” Felix said. “What matters is our next move.”

  “That’s what my father always says,” Bill said.

  “Well, it’s true,” Felix said. “Now let’s see if we can use anything they left behind.”

  THEY DUMPED MUD onto the fire until the gray clouds turned white and wispy before finally getting snuffed out. This made Bill feel better. The sun was shining. The savanna was only a short ridge away, and the humans were sure to leave a trail in the dirt. Omar had forgiven him, and Felix still believed in their mission. All was not lost. Just another temporary setback. He was still a little embarrassed by his tears. If any of the group had noticed them, Bill hoped they were interpreted as a sign of his dedication, rather than immaturity. Besides, maybe he felt better now because of the tears. They had been a release. Also, hadn’t he pledged to be honest with himself and his friends? This was the real Bill Garra, flaws and all. He could squeeze out a few tears whenever he felt the need. Still, he wanted to apologize once more to Felix. And probably Omar.

  “Don’t worry about it, Bill,” Omar said, combing the tall grasses on the outskirts of the campsite, searching for lunch.

  Everyone was hungry, and the savanna was certain to be a dead zone, meal-wise.

  “I really did mean what I said back there,” Bill said. “About us and all.”

  “Right,” said Omar, head still in the grass.

  “I just got too caught up in the rescue, and I lost sight of the most important thing: our own safety. After all, like you said, what good are we to Elena if we’re too exhausted to move?”

  “Exactly.”

  The fact that Omar was speaking to him at all was a good sign, but there was something funny—stiff—in his tone, and he seemed very preoccupied with whatever was hiding in the grass.

  “So,” Bill said, drawing the discussion out, “we’re okay?”

  “We’re fine, Bill.”

  Bill looked up from Omar and surveyed the site. The jungle was already reclaiming it, curling about the edges, erasing the damage the humans had caused. “Hey,” said Bill, “remember when Maia carved ‘PET ME’ in your fur?”

  Omar didn’t say anything, but Bill caught the early curl of a smile.

  “Let’s just get back to work.”

  “Sure,” said Bill. “See you out there.”

  Felix was more gracious about Bill’s apology, maybe because he was older, or maybe because he was just too tired to put up a fuss. Whatever it was, he seemed more concerned with Bill’s well-being and emotional fortitude.

  “You’re a good kid,” he said. “Don’t forget that, no matter what happens.”

  Bill was surprised at how much better the jaguar’s words made him feel.

  THE RIDGE BETWEEN the forest and the savanna was short but steep. Together the crew pushed their way up the incline.

  Diego had found a new stick, Luke was whistling, Omar kept mum but was moving along. Meanwhile, Bill was completely focused on the bright side: This new direction meant that they were already on the way back to Cloud Kingdom. They were going home, and it was only a matter of time until they had Elena back and Maia could finally forgive him.

  He was also happy to be leaving the human site behind. While it was true he was still on their trail, in their wake, the tattered remains of their squat had made Bill uneasy. It was not a place he knew or understood, and it had an effect on him, a certain bitterness on his tongue, smoke in his eyes, ears and fur at an odd angle. The jungle was not meant to look that way, flattened and whipped, cut down and burned to a crisp. On the ridge they were back in the lush green, fragrant and chaotic and maddeningly dense.

  Secretly, Bill was holding out hope that they would see the humans from the crest, somewhere in the near distance, kicking up dust. He tried to temper that expectation. The air had cleared, smoke and grievances extinguished. No reason to get fired up all over again. Felix’s encouraging words stayed with him. Bill hoped this meant that he was truly becoming a member of the jungle, able to communicate meaningfully with other species, applying special Teddycat skills to the problems of others. It was hard to believe how deep they had traveled in just a few days. Bill used to think the Olingo den was really out there. He had never entered the savanna, much less crossed it. But these were the types of valuable experiences he could bring to the Elders in an effort to demonstrate the possibilities of life down below. Bill hacked at a web of vines. It felt good to make things a bit easier for those behind him.

  He turned, and there was Luke, right beside him. “Feels good to get out of there,” Bill said. “I can’t imagine how it must’ve been for you.”

  “So now you understand why I couldn’t draw a map?” said Luke.

  “I do, buddy,” said Bill. “Humans are disorienting. One more reason we have to stick together.”

  A final threshold of brush separated them from the crest. Bill flailed his arms, shredding a path through the thicket.

  “Bill, hold on!” Omar shouted. “It’s Felix!”

  Felix was lying on his side, his head cradled in Diego’s forelegs. That dazed and peaceful expression had returned to his face. His eyes were clear but narrowed, as if he barely had the energy to keep them open, and though his body seemed to have shrunken in size, it also seemed to be embraced by an aura of peace.

  “What’s the matter?” Bill asked, rushing over to Felix’s side. “What’s wrong? Did something bite you? Is it your leg?”

  “Nothing’s
wrong,” Felix said. “I’ll be fine.”

  He wheezed, that same sickening sound Bill had tried to outrun while chasing the smoke.

  “We’ll rest here for a bit,” said Bill. “There’s no rush.”

  “Nonsense,” said Felix. “You all go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you.”

  “No way,” said Bill. “Right, guys?”

  “No way,” agreed Omar. “We need you, Felix.”

  “We need you!” Luke said.

  But Diego was silent.

  “Where would we be without you?” Bill whispered.

  “I’ll be right behind,” Felix said softly. “You all run ahead. Remember the seasons. And if you get lost, just look to the horizon, the last line of light.”

  “We’re not leaving you here,” Bill said. “I won’t do it!”

  Omar and Luke dropped their heads. Even Bill knew his protests were futile. This was the jungle. There was no outrunning it, no way to hide. Eventually, the jungle came for everyone.

  “You must,” Felix said. “I insist.”

  Suddenly, a tranquil harmony closed in around them. A delicate composition of soft air, whispering wind. The sounds of the wild, the rustle of leaves. The color of the sky, the shapes of the clouds. Flickering light and shadows. It was as if the fierce, feral jungle paused for a moment just to reassure them of its balance.

  “Go on,” Felix urged. His eyes were pale slits, but they held no fear. Bill felt a spirit pass through the group, like a warm stream, pooling in their chests and delivering a deep sadness that somehow also promised peace. “You’ll be great.”