Appie shoved the spear as far as she could, then bracing with her feet, ground the blade in, rotating around like rowing an oar. The T. Rex roared but cut off half way through as he listed to the side. It wasn’t a fatal injury, not by a long shot. It would take another foot of spear to get to the brain cavity, but hopefully the injury was disorienting enough to give the robotic T. Rex a fighting chance.
It took the other dinosaur a few seconds, but then he saw his opportunity and used his good claw to grab the T. Rex’s neck, forcing the giant predator to the ground.
Hanging onto the last few inches of the spear, Appie was holding on for her life as the force of the attack swung her out into the air. Her feet churned, trying to find purchase. There was none and her fingers were slipping.
As the robotic T. Rex pressed his attack, Appie did the only thing she could. She let go, dropping onto the robotic T. Rex. She clung to a bent metal sheet.
* * *
“We’ve got to do something,” Drake moaned watching Appie try to ride the synthetic T. Rex.
“And that would be what?” Mattu asked.
Drake didn’t know, but neither did Mattu. Guess robotic T. Rexes were pretty rare. Even the powwaw was stumped by this one.
While the humans held back, Ruby wasn’t going to go down without a fight. She ran over, darting between the giant T. Rexes, pecking at their feet which wasn’t doing a whole lot of good, but it did give Drake an idea.
“Lev!” Drake yelled, remembering Star Wars. He had always wanted to write a book titled, “Everything I ever needed to know I learned from the Force.”
The lion lurched up, padding over cautiously as if he was recovering from an all-night bender. Drake grabbed the rope they had draped over the lion’s neck.
“Ruby!” Drake yelled as the T. Rexes went for it. Poor Appie was getting tossed around up there.
The ostrich cocked her head, turning from side to side to look at Drake. He waved her over. For a moment she stayed by the T. Rexes probably thinking he wanted her to give up the fight. He lifted the rope to show her his plan.
If an ostrich could smile, she did, rushing over to him. Drake climbed onto her back then gave her a squeeze with his thighs. She raced over, head bobbing the whole way.
Whether Ruby understood or not, she did exactly what Drake needed. Ducking under an attack, Drake tied one end of the rope around the T. Rex’s leg then let Ruby go for it, weaving in and out between his legs.
“Tonka! Lev!” Drake yelled and the two recovering synthetics ran over. He hooked the rope to both of their necks, then shouted, “Go!”
They strained, but finally were able to pull the T. Rex’s legs out from under him. On his side, he had no chance as the metallic T. Rex went for the jugular. Literally.
CHAPTER 15
Appie slid down the T. Rex’s smooth metal skin until she hit the ground. The battle was over. The other T. Rex wasn’t moving, his blood saturating the wet ground, his throat ripped out.
The metallic T. Rex backed away, roaring into the evening air. The setting sun’s rays sparkled off of the synthetic dinosaur. Cautiously, Appie tried to tiptoe away, but the T. Rex noticed her, turning its huge girth in her direction.
She knew even injured the way he was, she couldn’t outrun him. A three second start wasn’t going to cut it.
So she stopped, hoping he would lose track of her.
He did not. He lumbered over, shaking the ground under her feet until he stopped right in front of her and lowered his head. Hot, metal smelling breath blasted from his nostrils into her face.
She cringed but didn’t move. The great monster put his nose down and nudged her chest. Appie wasn’t quite sure what to do until he nudged her again.
Tentatively, she reached a hand out and rubbed its silver nose. It gave a grunt of what Appie could only imagine was of satisfaction. She patted the great nose, rubbing up and down as she would Tonka, Lev or Ruby. He turned his head on its side, clearly inviting her to pet further up his face.
Mattu and Drake approached from behind her. She turned and smiled at her powwaw.
“So can I keep this stray?”
Mattu lips parted in possibly the widest smile she’d ever seen from him. “Most definitely.”
* * *
Drake watched as Appie petted the T. Rex. Out of all the surreal images he’d seen since he woke up, this had to be the most surreal of them all.
The rest of the clan slowly approached from the camp.
Mattu turned to Popi. Her face was awash in tears. “The rest of the Syns?”
“They fled as soon as Durnag was killed,” she said with a sniffle. “Besides Salvve, we lost another five including a toddler.”
Mattu frowned. “So a day of great sorrow along with victory.” The powwaw put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Salvve will be well remembered.”
“But his line is now dead,” she sobbed. “Gone.”
Mattu took Popi into his arms and held her as she cried.
So there was a softer side to the powwaw.
Then Chimmus burst from the crowd and launched into his arms. “You’re safe!”
No thanks to you, Drake thought but didn’t speak. Later and more kindly he would tell her to back off, but for now he wouldn’t humiliate her in front of everyone. He looked over Chimmus’ head to find Appie’s eyes. She averted her gaze before he could roll his eyes at Chimmus’ attention.
Appie patted the T. Rex on the side of his face. “That is all I have for now, but I promise to give you enough pets this evening.”
The T. Rex seemed to understand as lifted his giant head back up, following the other robotics to join Tin. The craftsmen and robotic herdsmen patted the T. Rex on the leg as they walked along. “Let me see if I can’t fix you up a bit Mr. Rex.”
Then she and the others were overwhelmed by good cheer and congratulations. It seemed the whole clan was hugging him. Children ran around the periphery, giggling and laughing in jubilation.
Chimmus put her hands up. “Everyone, stop for a moment. I have an announcement.”
Drake tried to pull away, but she held him in place.
The din settled until only the whisper of light snow remained.
“I want to announce, Drake and I’s bonding.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Drake replied, breaking her grip, moving away from Chimmus.
“Is this what you want?” Appie asked a little pointedly.
“No,” Drake blurted. “Not at all.”
* * *
Never had Appie been glad to hear such a denial.
Mattu stepped forward. “Chimmus, a bonding must be mutual.”
“It is,” Chimmus tried to insist, grabbing at Drake’s hand but he avoided her touch.
This was not without precedence. Girls led on by boys who whispered forever at night but in the cold light of day no more wanted to bond than to clean the gnarly potatoes they pulled from the winter ground. Had Drake led Chimmus on? Or worse?
“Is there a child?” Mattu asked clearly thinking along the lines that Appie was reluctantly following.
Chimmus’ chin jutted out. “Yes.”
“Not mine, not mine!” Drake shouted, sounding shrill to Appie’s ears.
Mattu cocked his head. “Chimmus, he has only been with us a few days. Even if the act was committed, you could not know if it bore fruit.”
The girl’s cheeks flushed red. “We are meant to be together.”
Drake stepped forward, “Chimmus, I am so sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, but I do not want to bond at all. It isn’t just you, I’m not ready for bonding at all.”
Chimmus’ cheeks blew in and out. Appie knew that look on the girl. She could be stubborn if she wanted to be. This was not going to end well.
But even Appie was surprised when Chimmus said, “There is one way a bond can be forced. The Shawnee can have anyone she chooses.”
Appie frowned. “But I would never do that.”
“Not you,�
�� Chimmus sneered. “I challenge you.”
Appie took a step back. “Chimmus, think of what you are doing.”
“I have thought,” the girl said, indicating around her. “We’ve all thought. All of this was brought by you. If you were not here, the Syns would never even bother with such a small clan.”
Appie looked around. No one seemed to argue. Had she not just found the bunker and helped fight off not only the Syns but half a dozen other dinosaurs? She’d even tried to sacrifice herself. What else could her clan ask of her?
She looked to Mattu.
“It is in her right to challenge you,” the powwaw said.
Why wasn’t he pulling Chimmus off to the side? Trying to talk her down. It was almost like he wanted this to happen as well.
“Chimmus, please, think on this overnight.”
“To the death,” Chimmus hissed.
Appie looked to Mattu again, but again he shrugged. “It is the challenger’s right to choose the manner of the challenge.”
This was crazy. Certifiable. She looked to Drake who seemed ready to become sick. She couldn’t believe that he had any hand in this.
Appie swung around to Chimmus. She wasn’t all that worried about the challenge. Chimmus was a strong but impulsive fighter. Her technique was poor from lack of diligence in training and while ferocious, the girl had little stamina.
Setting her feet apart, Appie nodded. “Then a challenge it is. Right now, I take it?”
This was ridiculous. They had known each other since they were toddlers. Playing with stick swords until Mattu made then come in for dinner.
Chimmus nodded. Of course now while Appie was still fatigued from the battle that saved the clan while Chimmus hid in the camp. Nice and rested.
Putting her hand out, Mattu gave her a short sword as Pipo gave Chimmus a matching one. This fight would be even. At least, in weapons.
“The challenge begins,” Mattu said.
* * *
Drake felt physically ill. How had it come to this as Chimmus yelled, rushing toward Appie who stepped aside, knocking Chimmus’ blade away harmlessly.
This was all his fault. If only he had spurned Chimmus from the beginning. If he told her straight out he wasn’t interested, then she wouldn’t have concocted this bizarre notion about bonding with him.
Chimmus pivoted and came back around, connecting an elbow with Appie’s back. The girl stumbled forward, having to catch herself with her hands, giving Chimmus the opening she needed to bring her sword to bear, but instead of hitting flesh, she hit metal as Ruby rushed between them, blocking Chimmus from taking the fatal blow.
Then Lev was there. Then Tonka and finally the T. Rex leaned over the match, putting his giant snout in the way.
“This isn’t fair!” Chimmus cried, trying to get through the robots as Appie got herself up and dusted off. “It is approved weapons only.”
“This is true. You can have no defenders, Appie.”
“Trust me, I didn’t ask them to do this.”
“Then call them off.”
Appie snorted. “Yah, right, look how well that’s worked with Ruby.”
Mattu glared at the Shawnee and she sighed.
“Shoo, get,” she said, waving them off. Drake wanted to do the opposite. He wanted to keep the robotics right where they were, between Appie and Chimmus’ blades.
Finally, the metal creatures backed away, fleeing in the face of Appie’s urging. Then Chimmus jumped in, taking advantage of Appie’s distraction, swinging her blade high and fast.
* * *
Trust Chimmus to always take the easy route. Appie stepped aside, putting her foot out tripping the girl as she came in for the attack. It wasn’t eloquent, but it was effective. Chimmus stumbled, overshooting her lunge by a few feet.
Appie’s previous “fall” had been a feint. The animals hadn’t saved her, they had interrupted her ploy to lure Chimmus in and expose her midriff.
Chimmus hit the line of the clan and bounced off of them, turning with murder in her eyes. She clutched her weapon too hard. Not listening to the hours of training Mattu tried to instill in the both of them.
Whereas Appie held her weapon lightly, keeping it in balance and ready to switch positions if necessary. She allowed Chimmus to charge, head first as she always did, thinking that speed would win the day.
This time, Appie clashed swords with the younger girl. They thrust and parried around each other. The clan surged around them. Backing if they came too close. Approaching if the battle flowed in the other direction.
Appie let Chimmus tire her arms out. The girl just wasn’t that strong. Wielding the short blade for this long and this hard, her muscles were going to give out soon.
And as the minutes progressed, Chimmus’ attacks became weaker and weaker. Her reaction time lengthened. The girl was tiring. Her foot slipped and Chimmus barely caught herself before she landed on her butt.
Still, Appie did not launch into her attack. Chimmus was also smart and might be trying to lure Appie in.
So the fight went on. Appie stayed on the defensive. Watching Chimmus’ swings long before she swung them, dancing out of the way. She’d taken minimal damage except to her pride during the encounter.
“Fight!” Chimmus growled.
Wouldn’t you like me to, Appie thought but did not voice. Instead she kept just out of reach, forcing Chimmus to take greater and greater risks to land a blow. Chimmus threw a round kick then came back with an overhand swing. Appie fell for it, coming in for a parry, except Chimmus didn’t finish her swing. Instead she threw a fairly good right hook, snapping Appie’s head back, spraying blood from her nose.
Appie dabbed her face with her sleeve. Not like she hadn’t bled before. At least it didn’t feel broken.
“You punch like a girl,” Appie said and got the expected Chimmus furious response. The girl launched, heedless of the danger.
Appie ducked, came up with a punch to the solar plexus. As Chimmus struggled to breath, Appie threw a left hook, probably dislocating the girl’s jaw. Appie didn’t stop. She used the hilt of her sword and slammed it against the side of Chimmus’ skull. The crack was audible. A collective gasp went up as Chimmus staggered, falling to the ground, holding herself up on one elbow.
She kicked the girl’s elbow out from under her, knocking Chimmus flat on her stomach.
Appie raised her sword ready for the keening blow, but Drake rushed forward, grabbing her arm.
* * *
“No!” Drake shouted keeping Appie from stabbing Chimmus. “Please, please, don’t kill her,” he begged. “This is partially my fault. Please, isn’t there another option?”
“She chose this,” Appie hissed through gritted teeth.
“I know, I know, she did, but please, I beg you, don’t kill her.”
Appie’s eyes narrowed, but she seemed to be listening. Luckily the blood lust didn’t seem to be in control any more. She lowered her sword, pointing it away from Chimmus.
“The powwaw can call the match if either combatant is too injured to fight,” Appie stated.
“That does take away the ‘to the death’ part,” Mattu answered.
“But it’s an option?” Drake asked, suddenly hopeful again.
Mattu nodded. “The victory goes to the Shawnee. The challenger will be banished.”
“No!” Chimmus screamed as Appie put her foot over the girl’s neck.
“I can kill you now, Chimmus, what shall it be?”
“Chimmus, please, take the banishment.”
The girl’s eyes were filled with un-spilt tears. Her face scrunched up in anger, but she did not ask for Appie to finish her.
The Shawnee pulled her foot off of Chimmus’ neck. “You are hence forth banished from the Tucker clan. You will walk from here with the clothes on your back and nothing more. You can never reenter our camp or marry into our clan. Forever more we shall never speak the name Chimmus.”
Drake knelt down and helped Chimmus up, but the
girl threw off his help.
“You should be happy, I am dead to you now,” Chimmus commented.
“No,” Drake said as she passed by. “No, you aren’t.”
The girl snorted and headed out into the snowfield.
Drake couldn’t believe this is how it ended. That they would just kick her out like that. Of course it probably wasn’t the smartest thing to challenge the leader, but she was just a kid. Younger than himself and Appie.
He rushed up to Mattu. “Isn’t there a ‘get out of jail free’ card?”
Mattu frowned. “I know of no such thing.”
“I mean, isn’t there some way for Appie to forgive Chimmus? Let her stay?”
Mattu shook his head. “The law is the law.”
“But laws exist for reasons. Clearly, Chimmus was distraught. She made a bad call. Isn’t there some kind of do over?”
Mattu’s eyebrow went up. “Would you rather have Appie dead or banished?”
“No, of course not,” Drake spat. “This just seems so…harsh.”
“That is our life, boy, you had best get used to it.”
* * *
Appie cleaned her blade after she had changed her clothes. Pipo had taken them to clean the blood out of them. Her head hurt, but her heart hurt worse. Chimmus was always needling her, but Appie feared how much she would miss the younger girl.
Her arms were like lead. She could barely lift them to wipe the blade. For perhaps only the second time in her life she wanted to crawl into her bedroll and never come out.
In her darkest hours, she turned to Chimmus. The girl would always tell it to her straight. If Chimmus thought Appie had tried her hardest, no matter the consequences, then Appie felt relieved. Who would fill that role now? Mattu, while brusque, would at times temper his answer since she was the Shawnee.
No one should suffer banishment over love sickness. How she wished she could go back and convince Chimmus not to challenge her. Now it would set an impossible example if she allowed Chimmus to come home. It would give fuel to those who might wish to challenge in the future. If they thought there would be no consequences they would challenge with foolhardy speed.
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