Chapter Text
“Huff... Huff... Faith...!” Noah wheezed, collapsing onto his hands and knees. His frantic sprint had been in vain; the crocodiles had already claimed her. Each breath felt heavier, a stark reminder of his helplessness. Desperation surged within him, but the harsh reality was undeniable—there was nothing he could do to alter what had happened. Hope shattered like glass beneath his feet as the weight of reality overwhelmed him, leaving him powerless in the face of loss.
“Wh-what can I.. What can I do..?” cursed Noah breathlessly as he tried to force himself upright. “Get up..! Get up..!” was all he could mutter to urge himself on; he couldn’t stop, no matter what.
“Noah!” cried Caleb, finally catching up with his companion, who was nearly crawling on his hands and knees. “Please, you have to stop!” he said, holding his friend, the heat radiating from his body almost suffocating.
“I... I can’t..!"
“Please, just stop it!” Caleb yelled. “We can’t catch up to them right now. We need to pause and calm ourselves, okay?”
“B-but..!"
“Noah!”
Before the brown-haired boy could reply, he collapsed onto his side, exhaustion finally overtaking him as his vision blurred and he drifted into unconsciousness.
Noah was dreaming, a dream in which he was trapped within his own head, as usual. It was a bad habit he always possessed; he would often become lost in his thoughts when something caught his interest or when he simply wanted to enjoy what he was doing. He never found it easy to connect with people; he always assumed there was something everyone inherently understood that he didn’t. It infuriated him. He felt as though he wasn’t normal, as if he’d never truly experience companionship. However, that proved to be nothing more than an unfounded fear when he met Faith. In her, he found companionship, a genuine connection with another person. In his heart, he was happy—he was glad someone had taken the time to get to know him and enjoyed his company. Nonetheless, a lingering fear clung to the back of his mind: how long would this feeling of comfort last?
“Am I… going to be alone again..?” was a question he often asked himself, and every time it crossed his mind, it would fill him with fear. He didn’t want to be alone; he wanted to be cared about. He dreamed of connecting with someone. “Faith…”
Noah felt his eyes opening gradually, initially keeping them shut due to the glare, which caused some mild discomfort.
“Ngh…” moaned the boy, rubbing his eyes.
“Noah!” said a gentle voice. “Thank goodness, are you alright?” It was Caleb, he asked attentively.
“Y-yeah… I think so…” groaned Noah, sitting up and realising he was leaning against a tree. “H…How long was I out?”
“Maybe about half an hour?”
“Faith…! W-we need to do something! She-”
“Shh shh, Noah, it's okay.”
“No, it's not! She’s in this mess because of me! Why am I such an idiot?!”
“It's fine, really, none of this is your fault.”
“But, I…”
“Please, stop blaming yourself. … maybe try focusing on what we can do, you know? Oh right! The tank that took off with Faith; its tracks are still fresh. If we follow them, we'll find her," he explained, standing up and pointing to where the tracks were. Sure enough, they were evidently clear to follow, and wherever they led, Faith would be there.
Noah got to his feet, using the tree for support “C’mon, Faith needs us,” he declared, his eyes lit with a newfound determination all due to Caleb’s acuity.
As the duo raced to rescue their friend, Faith found herself trapped in a sinister predicament. Bound tightly within an X-shaped contraption that secured her against the cold, hard wall, Faith glared defiantly at the four crocodiles in front of her. Each one varied in appearance, but they all shared a menacing demeanour, particularly the brute who had captured her. He stood smugly with his arms crossed, a twisted mix of disgust and curiosity etched across his scarred face. But Faith refused to display any shred of weakness. Terror stormed within her, yet she masked it with defiance. Her sneer was a challenge, a vow that she would bring chaos to their ranks if given the chance. The way she locked eyes with the crocodile commander spoke volumes—she would rather fight tooth and claw than submit to his intimidation. The very thought of tearing the scales from his hide fueled her resolve.
“You’re gonna tell me what exactly you are. You’re clearly not from any of the Tribes, so what are you then? C’mon, cough it up, I know you wanna,” the crocodile playfully mocked her, a grin on his face as though this were a game.
“Like I’d ever tell you.” Her defiance was strained, the intensity of her gaze barely concealing the tremor of fear beneath the surface. “Just let me go!”
“Mmm… I'm afraid not. You’re going to reveal your secrets—tell me what you are and where you came from, and then we’ll consider letting you go. Otherwise, you’ll wish you hadn’t crossed me, girlie!” The crocodile snarled, his eyes flashing a menacing red, an apparent attempt to unnerve her. Inside, Faith’s heart raced; each beat was a reminder of her vulnerability. The bravado she had tried to project was slowly crumbling under the weight of intimidation, but still, she dug her heels in, refusing to yield even as fear gnawed at her composure. She gathered any remaining moisture in her mouth and fired a projectile of saliva directly into his face.
“What the-ew! That’s disgusting!” He whimpered, walking away from her in utter disgust, not for what she was but for what she had just done to him. It was not until the visibly female crocodilian stepped out from the shadows into the light from above, using a piece of dirty, leftover cloth to clean the saliva off of his brow.
“There, there, Cragger, you’re drool-free now,” she said, her voice slithering like a snake’s hiss. She resembled Cragger, the crocodilian commander, suggesting they might be related, possibly even twins. However, her outfit was simpler than his. She wore a pink, ragged single-strap chest covering secured by a bone piece, complemented by a spike-adorned amulet. Below, she wore a tattered pink skirt, held up by a large red rope. In addition to her unique attire, she had multiple piercings, particularly noticeable in her left nostril and belly button. She carried herself with a powerful dignity and a hint of grace, but there was an underlying complexity hidden beneath her alluring exterior. She was not one to be trifled with.
“Ugh, I can’t believe she actually did something so- blegh..!”
“Indeed, brother,” his apparent sister replied. “But from everything you’ve shared, I have a feeling she’ll prove to be a useful tool, heh heh heh.” With that, she melted back into the shadows, her presence merging seamlessly with the darkness.
“I’ll be seeing you soon, girlie—mwah hah hah!” Cragger’s laughter echoed eerily as he too exited the dungeon, leaving behind his two guards. They stood watch over her, seemingly as sharp as a dull stone, utterly oblivious to the unfolding drama.
“Noah…Caleb…Help me...”
After nearly an hour of trudging through the rough terrain, Noah and Caleb couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of frustration. They were tracking the imprint left by the vehicle’s wheels, but despite their relentless effort, the distance they had covered felt minuscule. With each passing minute, the vastness of their surroundings seemed to mock them, stretching endlessly in every direction. Noah’s mind raced with thoughts of how much longer they could walk without a vehicle, trapped in this seemingly infinite expanse. They had moved for what felt like an eternity, yet the landscape around them remained unchanged, amplifying their feelings of desperation and helplessness.
“I can’t believe we’ve walked this far and still haven’t gotten anywhere..!” Caleb moaned as he walked, frustrated by their stalled progress.
“Come on, we have to keep going; the more time we waste, the longer Faith stays in danger"
“I-I know, but still…”
“I would’ve taken that stupid bus over this. We would’ve got there by now...”
The hot weather did nothing to improve their mood. The more they walked, the more uncomfortable it became, as if some unseen force had decided to punish them by wrapping them in an unwanted damp towel. Their legs began to ache, and their muscles felt like they were on the verge of rebellion, ready to protest the strain they had endured. Caleb himself occasionally stumbled, feeling as though his legs might turn to liquid beneath him.
“How are you holding up?” Caleb asked, trying to ease the rising tensions between Noah and himself.
“Oh, I’m wonderful…”
“I-I mean, hey, we’ve made progress, y’know? We won’t accomplish anything by just standing around and waiting for something to happen.”
“Right…” his voice trailed off
Suddenly, the two teenagers could hear something—something that was not the sound of the trees nor the birds flying overhead; this was something artificial
“Wh-what’s that sound?” Caleb starmered
“Huh?” It was only then that he heard it, the sound. It grew louder, the distance between themselves and it growing closer as the seconds counted down towards its inevitable arrival. “That sounds like-”
VROOM!
Before Noah could finish his sentence, something burst out from the bushes so quickly that neither of the teenagers had time to react. Their only option was to dodge out of the way.
As they did, a youthful voice called out, “Whoa, sorry about that!” The voice belonged to a red-maned lion who, upon seeing Noah and Caleb on the ground after narrowly avoiding the impact, realised who they were.
“It’s you guys! You were with that girl!” he exclaimed, jumping off his vehicle and rushing to help them up. As the duo got a clearer view, they recognised him as well. Noah knew exactly who he was—the very person Faith had saved before being captured.
“You...!” Noah rose to his feet, stomping toward the red-maned lion, disgust written all over his face.
“Huh? What the—”
“This is all your fault! You idiot!” Noah screamed, his eyes wide with rage and his heart pounding so intensely that the lion could practically feel it.
“Noah!” Caleb shouted, attempting to intervene. He grabbed Noah’s hand and unwound it from the lion, releasing him. “Please, try to calm down! Th-this isn’t his fault!” Caleb cried out, grabbing Noah’s hand in an attempt to soothe his emotions. He turned to the red-maned lion, who was busy resetting his harness that Noah had disturbed “I-I’m so sorry about my friend, he didn’t mean to!” Caleb apologised on behalf of Noah, wanting to come across as honest and sincere as he could, so as not to possibly further disturb or upset the new arrival
“I-I’m really sorry! If it wasn’t for Cragger, I could have saved her!”
“You…You knew that guy’s name?”
“Yeah, he’s the king of the Croc Tribe. He’s trying to steal the Chi from the Lion Temple and use it to take over Chima!”
“Hang on there, slow down there. Tribe? Chi? Chima? Do you mind filling us in?”
“You don’t know what Chi is or that you’re in Chima?! Where’ve you guys been living, a cave?!”
“I-it's a long story…”
“Oh, I can only guess! The name’s Laval, by the way. Who're you two?” He boisterously introduced himself as he perched his paws on his hips with a confident smile.
“I’m Noah.”
“Caleb.”
“Noah, and Caleb… Kinda weird names, huh?”
“Well, to us, your name’s the weirdest here… What’re you doing out here anyway? You were clearly following those tracks"
“I gotta help that girl, there’s no way I can just abandon her after what she did for me! It's my duty!” he nobly declared, grabbing onto his sword and hoisting it skyward as a showcase of how serious he was about his intentions, or simply to impress the two – either case could be what he was trying to do.
“Laval…” Caleb lamented
“In that case, we should probably team up. We're lacking in manpower, anyways.”
"Good idea, Noah."
“Now that’s what I like to see! Operation save… uh, what’s her name?”
“...Faith.”
“Operation Save Faith is a-go!”
“What a moron…”
“So cool…”
Laval returned his sword to its original place, a more inquisitive look forming on his face. “So, uh… What are you exactly? I’ve never seen any Tribes like you before,” he admitted, crossing his arms and leaning forward as if trying to decipher what they were upon closer inspection, much to Noah's mild annoyance.
“We… We’re called Humans.”
“Hugh…Mans? Never heard of 'em"
"I’d be surprised if you did. We’re... how do I say this without sounding crazy...? Uh, we’re from... another world?” Noah attempted to explain
"Wait, what?! So, you’re not from Chima?! Guess that explains why you’re so in the dark... But still!”
"Yes, that’s exactly what it means. I’m surprised you’re not suspicious of us..." he said, bemused.
"How did you get here?!”
"W-well, um…"
"It’s my fault. We went to look at some ruins and found this strange gem thing, and the next thing we knew, we ended up here”
"Noah!"
“Oh man, I’m really sorry… And she still went out of her way to help me…”
“I-it's okay, Laval. I mean, I only just met Faith, I doubt she regrets helping you out, y’know?”
“Yeah, you’re right! We can’t wait any longer, we gotta get goin’!” He nobly declared, rushing to get on the small bike-like vehicle he was riding before
“Hey, so, what exactly are you riding on?” Noah asked, walking up to it and taking in its undeniably cool design, which resembled a lion. Fitting, he thought to himself as he ran his hand across its shell.
“This right here is my Speedor, and not to brag or anything, but it's the best in all of Chima!”
“So it's a kind of vehicle then?”
“You bet, it’ll take you anywhere faster than anything else!”
“D’you think we’d be able to fit on it? I mean, it looks big enough to transport all of us”
“Hmm…” Pondered Laval as he got off the Speedor and looked at it, estimating something in his head with his hand on his chin, “Hmm..!” he mumbled before announcing his answer, “You guys might need to hang on at the sides; there are grips on the side that you can stand on and hold on to,” he explained returning to his Speedor.
“Uh, what?! At the speed you were going at?!”
“We don’t really have a choice. It’s better than walking, right?”
Noah let out a defeated sigh, “...Fine.”
“Good! Now, um… Let's see…” Caleb said, gingerly placing his feet upon the very appendages Laval pointed out and grabbing the shell of the vehicle that surrounded the single wheel it used as locomotion. “Hey, this isn’t too bad.”
“This baby’s used to handlin’ weight, so don’t worry”
“If you say so…” Noah remarked as he too positioned himself onto the chariot, holding on with a noticably intense grip as if to say, ‘Don’t fall off, don’t fall off!’
“Okay, team, let's move out!” Laval roared as the Speedor began to move at blistering speeds; the environment seemed to transition into a flurry of colours. The vibrations produced by the Speedor were far greater than Noah and Caleb expected, only causing them to increase their grip strength further.
“Th-this is a lot faster than I thought!”
“Need me to slow down?”
“N-no, it's fine, keep going! The less time we waste, the faster we get to Faith!”
“Alright, full throttle it is!” Laval cheered, his face becoming all the more confident
“W-w-wait- Ahhhh!” Screamed Caleb, eventually forming into an echo throughout the forest.
As they rode along, Noah saw an opportunity to ask Laval about their location and the situation. The most valuable tool they had was information, and Noah wasn’t going to leave a single stone unturned.
“You said this place is called ‘Chima’?”
Huh? Oh, yeah! We’re a kingdom made up of different Tribes: Lions like me, Crocs like Cragger, Eagles, Gorillas, Rhinos, Wolves, Ravens, and Bears. Though there are smaller tribes like the Skunks and Beavers, they’re pretty small compared to the main tribes, though"
“I see… So then, what’s that Chi stuff you mentioned? You said it before, but never elaborated on it.”
“See, Chi’s a natural resource here, and it flows down from Mount Cavora. I’m sure you saw it before. It’s kind of hard to miss, heh heh. Anyway, as I was saying, water flows from Mount Cavora into the Lion Temple, the capital of Chima, where it forms into an orb by mixing with minerals in the Sacred Pool! Or, at least, that’s what my old man says.”
“I thought the water around here looked odd. Back where we’re from, we don’t have ‘Chi’, so our water looks different.”
“You said it was a natural resource, right? Wh-what’s it used for?”
“Chi’s used for nearly everything! But mainly, it's used to give ourselves a power boost so we can fight much better! How awesome is that?”
“I didn’t expect it to be so versatile.” It was then that a flash of insight struck him like a lightning bolt, “Wait, is that why that army attacked you? Was it to get Chi?”
“Whoa, how’d you guess?!” he asked, feeling impressed by his intuition.
“Well, that place they attacked was obviously the Lion Temple. Mount Cavora, was it? Yeah, Mount Cavora’s waterfall flows right into it, and that’s where Chi comes from. It's just basic context clues!” Noah explained. “So, this is a war for resources…” he muttered, a familiar feeling washing over him. He’d read books about nations or countries going to war over natural resources in the past, so the fact that the inhabitants of Chima followed a similar pattern couldn’t help but make him feel a little disheartened.
“Man, you’re sharp! You remind me of Eris!”
“Eris?”
“She’s a friend of mine, we go way back!"
“I didn’t expect the Eagles and Lions to be allies”
“There’s a lot you don’t know!”
Noah rolled his eyes “Obviously, wiseguy…”
“Where do these tracks lead, d’you think?”
“My guess is… The Croc Swamp”
“Is that where their home base is?”
“Yeah...”
“Oh, nice, great, wonderful in fact. Let's wander right into the heart of the enemy’s territory!”
“Hey, we’re in this together, buddy. I’m a great warrior, I’ll have you know!”
“Someone just shoot me already…”
“Don’t believe me, huh? I’ll make you eat those words!”
“Fine, if you want to become a walking sword barrel, be my guest.”
“Noah! Please, both of you, at least try to get along. Faith’s life is on the line, you know.”
“I know!” both Laval and Noah said in sync.
“Please, you two… For my own sanity…”
More time had passed since the two humans met Laval the lion, and with his help, their journey toward saving Faith became much smoother. However, the same could not be said for the road ahead. As the party pressed on, the familiar forest environment they had raced through began to dissolve, yielding to an entirely different biome that enveloped them in an eerie embrace. The rich greens of the forest faded, replaced by the dull, muted tones of a landscape caught between water and land. A thick, murky bog spread out before them, its surface dappled with the soft reflections of overcast skies. The air grew heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying foliage, a musty aroma that clung to their skin and filled their lungs. The oppressive humidity wrapped around them like an unwanted hug, making each breath feel thick and rich, alive with the essence of the swamp. As they ventured in deeper, the ground squelched beneath the Speedor’s wheel. The occasional patches of drier land bore tufts of vibrant green, resilient plants peeking through the muck. Massive trees rose from the swamp waters like ancient sentinels, their colossal trunks gnarled and twisted. Vines hung from their limbs like serpents, and luminous green moss blanketed their bases. The sounds of the environment were intertwined with the sensations around them. There was no mistaking it; they had entered the Crocodile’s Swamp.
“This is it,” Laval said, his voice sounding much more serious compared to his usual light-hearted tone. “Huh? C’mon, Speedor, don’t let me down now!” Laval grunted as he kept pulling on the ignition pulley, which activated it. All that came was a pathetic grunt from the vehicle as it refused to move further.
“I think our combined weight’s become more detrimental,” Noah surmised, the ground squelching under his feet.
“S-sorry, Laval,”
“Nah, it's okay. I’ll park my Speedor so the Crocs can’t find it. I’ll come back for it once we rescue Faith,”
“Good idea.”
“B-But how are we gonna use it to get away if it gets stuck in the mud?”
“Good point…”
“Eh, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Crocs are pretty dumb,” Said Laval, assembling nearby foliage as a disguise
“Laval, that’s too risky, what if you forget to come back or they find it whilst we’ve got Faith and they capture all of us? Who’s gonna rescue us?"
“It’ll be fine! Really, if we can’t get to my Speedor, we’ll just find a different-”
“No, we can’t just find a different way out! We need to think about this as carefully as possible, otherwise-”
“We can take ‘em, I know how to fight!”
“Fighting isn’t all there is to a rescue mission. If we rush in guns blazing, all it's gonna do is alert the enemies!”
“Not everything needs a plan, sometimes we gotta just wing it-”
“Winging it isn’t good enough! You think we can waltz in there, save Faith, and frolic out of there? I thought you were an idiot, but this is ridiculous!”
“I’m not an idiot! If you think you’re able to save Faith, then why even ally with me then, huh?! You clearly can’t do it yourself, you coward!”
“Shut up, don’t you dare call me a coward! Your recklessness is just gonna get us all killed, and then no one is gonna save her! Stop acting like such a brainless moron and just-”
“Both of you, please just stop it! I-If we’re here fighting each other, nothing’s gonna happen! Put your egos aside and focus on what needs to be done! Or are you just gonna let Faith stay trapped because you’re too self-absorbed?! Why can’t you understand that?!” He sobbed, his voice becoming hoarse, his eyes stung from the tears he cried whilst yelling, his throat felt dry, he couldn’t swallow properly, and his hands shook as though he had lost all the warmth in his body.
“C-Caleb, I… I’m so sorry, I-I didn’t mean to…I didn’t consider how much all this had been weighing on you. I’m sorry…”
“Oh gosh, I… Geez, I’m such a jerk. You’re right, Caleb, we have to save Faith. You really brought me to my senses there, huh?”
“N-no, I-I just… I got so fed up with the two of you fighting that… I-I couldn’t handle it anymore.”
“I don’t blame you. I guess it's been a long day, and we’ve gotten on each other's nerves. Still, it wasn’t fair that you had to deal with us all that time. We need to think about this rescue plan. Laval, how well d’you know this area, if at all?”
“Well, let's see… Last I was here… Hm…” Laval had crossed his arms and closed his eyes. “I’d say I know the area pretty well. I mean, I…”
“Hm?”
“N-nothing! I just know the area well. I think I have an idea of where Faith’s bein’ held. If we get moving, we might be able to find her”
Noah’s eyes narrowed somewhat, an unshakeable feeling deep within his mind, “Alright, lead the way”.
As the party made their way across the swamp, Noah noticed that Laval had a more worried look on his face the entire time. At first, he dismissed it as nerves about their situation, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper was going on between Laval and Cragger, and that they were getting closer to uncovering what it was.
“Hey, Laval…”
“Huh? What’s up?”
“You’ve been pretty tense ever since we got here.”
“Oh uh, have I? It's, uh… It's this swamp, it's just kinda… stinky! Yeah!”
“Yeah, it doesn’t smell great here. Like, dirty water… Which, y’know, makes sense.”
“Hm… I guess you have a better sense of smell than we do”
“Oh, believe me, Wolves have the best noses in all of Chima! One time, we played a prank on my buddy Worriz where we had Skinnet, a pal of mine, get Worriz out from hiding with his special ‘skill’, and he got so mad about it!”
“Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me if that means what I think it does…”
“Guys, look..!”
Halting in his tracks, Caleb gestured towards a striking sight that unfolded before them. Towering in the distance was a foreboding fortress, its architecture resembling a massive crocodile, its jaw wide open, revealing an unsettling array of razor-sharp teeth glistening ominously in the dim light. The fortress was not only impressive in scale but also in its detail—each scale etched into the stone façade was almost lifelike, instilling a sense of dread in those who dared gaze upon it. Surrounding this menacing structure was a surreal landscape illuminated by a medley of light sources. Some twinkled like stars above the water's surface, their reflections dancing in the ripples, while others flickered from beneath, casting eerie glows that hinted at the depths below, as if the water itself was alive with secrets. The crocodile's head formed the entrance to the stronghold, flanked by a series of tall, cylindrical towers that soared skyward, each one adorned with watchful eyes peering down upon the area below. Rope bridges, some weathered and frayed by time, spanned across chasms, connecting the lookout towers and allowing scouts to traverse the heights with a precarious grace. The tension in the air was palpable; this was undeniably the place where Faith resided.
“We're here... the Croc Fortress...She’s gotta be here...” Growled Laval
“E-Easy, Laval. Don’t worry... We’ll save her.”
“Heck yeah, we will! It’s payback time, baby!” Laval declared as he rose from the bushes with his sword in hand.
“Wait!” Noah grabbed Laval by his cape and yanked him back to where they were hiding.
“Ough!” Laval gasped as the harness he wore rubbed against his throat, “What’d you do that for?!”
“We can't just charge in. Look!” Noah pointed towards the watchtowers where a handful of crocodiles were stationed. “If we go charging in and they see us, we’re screwed. We need to sneak in.”
“And then I get to kick some croc butt?”
“Yes, and then you get to kick some croc butt”
“How are we gonna sneak inside, though? The whole fortress is surrounded by water.”
“Hm…” Noah hummed to himself, scanning their surroundings to see if they could utilise the environment or if a pathway was available. “Ah!” He exclaimed, pointing out what he realised, “Look at the way the water goes into the mouth, it's like it's on a shoreline. If we go behind the fortress, we’ll be able to stay on land the whole time and sneak in.”
“I like that plan, it sounds pretty good”
“Sure, we can go with that”
“Great, let's go.”
It took some time, careful manoeuvring, and a bit of luck, but the trio finally managed to get behind the crocodile-headed fortress and found a small entrance. It was hard to tell exactly where it led, but it was far enough out of the way to serve as a reliable entry point.
“C’mon, before someone spots us,” Noah advised. Before watching Laval and Caleb enter, then ventured in last.
As they all entered, the distinctively musky smell of the swamp began to fade, though it still lingered to their dismay. That wasn’t enough to deter them, however. They had come this far, and there was no intention or benefit in simply giving up. They continued, it was all they could do, and as they ventured deeper and deeper within this hornet’s nest, something emerged from the gloom: a cage. This was not an ordinary cage, not because of its exterior, but rather what lay inside. Tied up within was the very person they’d spent all this time trying to save.
“Faith!” At this moment, any logic or reason he followed disappeared without a trace.
Upon hearing his voice, Faith seemed to react as she turned to face him from within the cage. As she saw him, however, her face turned pale as she realised what was about to happen “Noah, no! It's a tra-” before she was allowed to finish her sentence, a red light from the darkness danced around and stopped right before Noah had a chance to get to the cage. Before he could blink, he looked down at his neck, and pressing ever so gingerly against it was a vicious-looking double-sided blade that emitted a horrible heat like a hot knife. Noah wanted to run, he kept telling himself to flee in his head over and over, yet his legs were stuck. No matter how desperately he wished for it, he couldn’t get himself to run; he was frozen with terror.
“Tsk-tsk-tsk. Can’t believe you fell for the oldest trick in the book!” Said the gravelly voice as he emerged from the shadows, revealing his owner: Cragger
“Hey! Leave them alone, they’ve got nothing to do with this!” Faith pleaded
“Oh, they don’t? What about the mangy fleabag over there?” Cragger said, removing the sword from Noah’s neck as he pointed it directly at Laval, “He’s why we attacked the Temple, ya know”
“Wh-what’s he talking about? Laval?” Caleb's eyes shifted towards the lion
“I…”
This hesitation only caused Cragger to laugh, “You’re funny, you know that? You try to act like some hero, but couldn’t admit to ‘em that all this was your fault? Guess things never change with you, huh, Laval? It's easier for you if I’m the bad guy!”
Laval clenched his fist, a fiery rage bubbling away inside of him. All the while Cragger mocked him, the anger he felt became harder and harder to maintain until he gave in to his fury.
“Cragger!” He roared, his voice cascading throughout the area as he swiftly drew his sword from his back and went to strike Cragger with it, being effortlessly blocked by the crocodile.
“Ooo, scary! off with my head then?” Cragger mocked as he deflected Laval, knocking him back
“Shut your mouth, you jerk! Don’t try to act all innocent!” Laval cried out as he ran towards Cragger and swung to the side in an attempt to exploit his literal blind spot. Cragger once again blocked Laval’s decisive strike, and when he did, he retaliated as he went for a quick piercing attack with his double-sided sabre. Still, Laval jumped back as he charged in again with his sword “We’re both to blame, why can’t you see that?!” he roared as the clang of cold and hot steel rang throughout, the two in a battle.
“At least I tried to do something! I'll never need your or any of the Lions’ help! All you needed to do was give me your Chi orb!” Cragger hissed viciously, taking a swipe at Laval, who only narrowly avoided the attack with a well-timed crouch.
“You can’t keep blaming us! You chose to try and save them on your own, but you couldn't!” Laval cried out as he performed a fast sweep with his legs, causing Cragger to fall to his back with Laval rushing to strike him down whilst he was vulnerable, but Cragger was all too familiar with Laval’s fighting style, he blocked the attack with his sabre and performed a kip-up at such a degree that he kicked Laval in the stomach and sent him flying
“Shut it, you piece of trash! I can’t rely on anyone, least of all you! All of this is because you only think about yourself! My parents are dead because of you!” Cragger screamed out in agony, rushing towards Laval and swinging down at him, but Laval managed to block his attack in time, just seconds away from Cragger puncturing his stomach
“Why can’t you just accept it's your fault, Cragger?! We tried to help you! Why can't you believe me?!”
Faith, Noah, and Caleb could not believe what they were hearing. Cragger and Laval were friends, and the Lions were the reason why Cragger’s parents died. It almost felt like they shouldn’t get themselves involved, especially if what was going on was this personal.
“Laval…” Caleb frowned, observing the turbulence of emotions surging between Laval and his old friend. Each exchange felt laden with unspoken memories and unfulfilled tensions. Meanwhile, Noah stood to the side, his intuition sharpening. He had long suspected the bond that tied Laval and Cragger together, but the depth of their connection took him by surprise. Now, witnessing their interaction firsthand, he could see the unmistakable threads of friendship woven tightly between them, illuminating a past dense with shared adventures, loyalty, and perhaps even tenderness.
“Don’t worry about me! Just figure out a way to free Faith!”
“O-okay! Don’t worry, Faith, I’ll get you out, I promise!”
Grabbing the metal bars, Noah attempted to pull them off, which was an ultimately fruitless endeavour “C-come on!” He grunted, eventually slipping off due to the sweat on his palms from their journey. “Gah!” he cried out as he collided with the ground, yet this did not budge his resolve; he attempted to try once again, each try ending in abject failure.
“Try something else, for goodness' sake!”
“I-I’m thinking, Faith!” his voice trembling with urgency as he anxiously scanned the chaotic battlefield for anything—anything at all that could serve as a lifeline to free her from her confinement. “C’mon, think, think...!” he repeated, the words almost a desperate whisper. His eyes darted across the landscape, heart pounding, until finally, he spotted it—the glimmer of hope shining amidst the turmoil, the one object that might have the strength to shatter Faith's prison. As Laval and Cragger clashed violently, each blow echoing like thunder in the air, Laval ducked behind a massive rock, a refuge that seemed solid enough to provide temporary safety. However, in an instant, that illusion was shattered as the rock was effortlessly cleaved in two, splitting apart like warm butter beneath a knife, leaving nothing but dust and debris swirling in the aftermath of the fierce battle. The air was thick with tension, and Laval's resolve was set—he wouldn’t give up on Faith.
“That’s it!”
“What, did you figure something out?”
“I did, but it's gonna get messy”
“O-okay, I trust you!”
“I really hope this works… here goes nothing!” He declared, his eyes fiery with determination, “Hey, scale-face! You know, this is all your fault! If only you weren’t such an idiot, you might actually have a shot at beating Laval and getting Chi, but I seriously doubt a weak fighter like you could pull even that off!” Noah cried out, attempting to be as loud as possible to draw in his target’s attention.
Cragger stopped attacking, his head turning to face Noah with his eyes emitting an ominous red glow before transforming back to their original state “What did you just say..?!” He demanded, his eyes having become like those of a wild, enraged beast as his attention turned away from Laval, now transfixed on Noah.
“Uh-oh, that’s way angrier than I expected…” Noah muttered, realising he may have crossed a line with how vitriolic his insults towards Cragger were. Even Laval looked at Noah in such a way that it seemed like he was going to be staring death in the face, and there was nothing he could do to prevent this.
“I’ll make you regret saying that, you absolute piece of garbage!”
“Noah!” Caleb yelled, terrified at what his friend was trying to do. It was just then that he saw the result of this gambit. As Cragger went to strike his enemy, Noah leapt out of the way, not a second too soon; the only target damaged by this was the bars holding up that side of the cage, which had been completely split and distorted by the crocodile's brutal hit. With them gone, the cage lost its integrity and buckled as the entire cage collapsed, with Faith just barely making it out before it crushed her.
“Faith!” Laval cried out as he ran to help the escapee, cutting the binding rope and finally freeing her.
“It's you, from before!”
“I had to rescue you, as thanks for savin’ me from… Cragger!” Laval then remembered who Cragger was after: Noah. Before he could stop and admire what had transpired, he sprinted over to Noah before Cragger was able to strike him down with a barbaric slash.
“No so fast, you mouthy mudlover!”
“Faith!” Caleb and Noah both cried out as they went to their friend, embracing her, “You’re okay now, I promise…”
“It's good to see you too, but we need to leave now!”
“Yeah, but how? Laval can’t get back to his Speedor from here.”
“Speedor? No, I’ll think about that later. When they brought me in, I think I saw a dock with some boats on it, we might be able to take one and escape!”
“Got it! Laval!”
“What? I’m kinda busy!”
“We need to go, c’mon!”
“Alright. Sorry to cut this short, mud-boy, but we’ve got somewhere to be!” Laval mustered as much strength as he could to strike Cragger with so much force that he sent his old friend flying away, like he had done to him back at the Lion Temple.
“Laval! Don’t think you’ve won! I’ll end you, you hear me?!” Cragger roared as he watched the group of four run for their lives, back from whence they came.
The now quartet of Laval, Caleb, Noah, and Faith began to run through the swamp, all the while having to handle crocodile warriors on their way, whom Laval managed to hold off, being far easier by comparison than Cragger.
“Told you you got to kick some crocodile butt!”
“And oh boy is it satisfying!”
“C’mon, we’re almost there! Just a little bit longer and we’ll be at the docs!” Faith exclaimed as she ran, being the one to lead the way. It was then that they saw it: their escape vessel. It was a large-looking swamp-specific hoverboat, and it had a surprisingly modern-looking engine on the back, attached to a large propeller. It had enough space for all four of them, with two seats naturally, one for the driver and another for a co-pilot.
“Can you drive it?”
“I could drive this with my eyes closed!” She confidently claimed as she sat herself down in the driver’s seat, Caleb sitting behind her in the co-pilot’s seat, and Noah holding onto the framing. “Hold on, guys, we’re heading out!” Faith exclaimed as she activated the engine, and the whole boat roared to life. Their getaway had begun, and there was nothing that could stop them. “Whoo-hoo!” Faith cheered as they zoomed across the water, practically grinning from ear to ear.
“Careful, we’ve got company!”
“Why couldn’t things just get smoother from here?! Always something!” Noah complained, “Can’t you go any faster?”
“I’m still getting used to it, so give me some time!” As she said this, however, one of the pursuing crocodile boats managed to gain on them and pull right next to their vessel
“I’ve got this covered!” Laval exclaimed with determination, seizing his sword and bracing himself for the impending clash. Suddenly, two menacing crocodiles leapt onto their small boat, their eyes gleaming with malice as they brandished their weapons. One of the crocodiles lunged at Faith, its sharp spear glinting in the sunlight. However, Laval was swift; his instincts kicked in as he deftly parried the strike, sending the first attacker tumbling overboard with a powerful slice, splashing into the murky water below. Enraged by the humiliation of their companion, the second crocodile let out a furious hiss. With a fierce growl, it charged at Laval, brandishing a jagged spear that glinted ominously in the light. The tension escalated as Laval readied himself, his sword raised and his heart pounding, prepared to defend his friends against this relentless foe.
“Not a chance!” Laval jeered, a confident grin spreading across his face as he effortlessly knocked the spear aside. With a swift, fluid motion, he sliced the weapon in two, leaving a trail of bewildered silence in his wake. Seizing the moment, Noah summoned every ounce of determination and strength he had left. With a fierce grunt, he heaved the crocodilian warrior off the edge of their vessel. The creature splashed into the water, and with the adrenaline coursing through him, Noah almost tumbled in right after; however, his arm was grabbed by someone, Laval.
“Close call, huh?”
“Thanks, Laval”
It took them some time, but the party arrived at a small, quiet riverbank after their adventure. Now that everything had transpired and they could finally relax, they all realised just how draining, both physically and mentally, this whole ordeal was.
“I’m so glad that’s over…” Caleb groaned as he slumped in the chair on the boat
“Yeah, for real…” Faith agreed, resting her head and arms on the wheel, thankful that the boat had stopped moving “Thank you all, by the way.”
“Huh?”
“Thank you for rescuing me, I mean.”
“Eh, don’t mention it, Faith! After all, it was a team effort!”
“Yeah, you’re right. You know this might be the first time we’ve ever agreed on something” Stepping down from the boat onto the bank.
“Huh, it is!” Laval chuckled, “So, now that we’ve saved Faith, what’re you guys gonna do now?”
“To be honest, I have no idea. We got here somehow, but we have no idea how to get back home…”
“We need something we can follow, something that we can use as a clue or a lead”
“Hm…” Laval mumbled as he crossed his arms, deep in thought, “Oh! Maybe my dad can help you out!”
“Your dad? You mentioned him before. Are you sure he’ll help us? I mean, we’re not exactly from Chima”
“Yeah, sure he will! I’ll take you guys to him and we’ll see if he knows anything about what's goin’ on with you.”
“Well, it's better than nothing. Alright, let's go see your dad.”
“Great! Off to the Lion Temple we go!”
And so the young heroes began their real journey. Why did they end up in Chima, and was there any way they could find their way back home to Earth? All they could do was search for the answer themselves.