The Magic Within ↠ Once Upon A Time

[Chapter 18] Humans

"Sure; you did."

"If I didn't defeat Sabor, then you wouldn't be little Miss Popular."

"Me? Please, I was very well known before you decided you play hero."

"Sure..." Tarza sarcastically says. She knew exactly when Terk was lying; it was as obvious as seeing Tantor hiding behind a small bush.

"But, hey, at least you were able to reach my level, Tarza. Not many out there are blessed enough to be as great as I."

With that, Tarza sticks out her foot, causing Terk to trip and fall on her face. Terk falls right on-top of a mud puddle, allowing her face to be covered in mud. "Oh, please, tell me your wonderful ways, oh 'Great One'," she snickers.

"Why you little-" Before Terk was able to finish her phrase and chase after her cousin, a gunshot, an unknown sound amongst the trio, rang out throughout the jungle.

They all turn their head to face the source of the noise. When they look out, they notice a flock of birds flying out in the distance. From where the bird flew from, that is where the origin of the noise came from. With that, Tarza starts walking off toward the source.

"Tarza, where are you going?" Tantor asks.

"I have to go see what that was," she answers.

"But, you know Kerchak is going to want the troop to come together."

"I know, just... give me some time. Don't worry about me. If I'm not back by nightfall, then send some reinforcements to come and rescue me." Before the elephant and gorilla could stop their friend, Tarza was already on her way, leaving behind her small group of friends.

After journeying through the short commute towards the source of the gun shots, Tarza finally stumbles upon what she was looking for. She hid in the bushes while eyeing down the group of humans right in front of her. She couldn't believe her eyes. Actual people just like her were standing right in front of her. But, how could that even be possible? Last she knew, it was almost impossible for any human to travel to the Forbidden Jungle. How were these group of people able to make it to here?

Tarza was taken out of her thoughts when one of the larger humans shot their gun towards the direction in front of them, as if there was an animal in front of them. The muscular man then looks around, seeing if he had hit anything.

"Mr. Clayton, would you please stop shooting your weapon like a madman," another voice speaks out. With that, a young man, slightly smaller than the other, pushes past all of the bamboo in his way. From Tarza's perspective, she was able to make out the matching yellow jackets the two men wore. Looks like they were working together from the looks of it, and the way the older man was using his gun did not give off a good vibe towards Tarza.

"But, Mr. Porter, you need me to as a navigator. You and your father clearly do not know anything about this land," the man that goes by Clayton said.

"But, you don't know anything about his land either," says Mr. Porter.

"Then, that is why I am taking the lead." With that, Clayton points his gun ahead of him, which unfortunately was directed right for Tarza. The girl's heartbeat raced a mile a minute as the gun was pointed to her chest. This wasn't the way Tarza planned on dying. But, before the man had the chance to shoot, the gun was brought down again much to her relief.

"Mr. Clayton, if you keep on shooting, then you'll scare away the animals. How else are my father and I able to do our research?"

With that, a short elderly man emerges from the bamboo. "Jean, Jean!!! Don't run off on me like that; you know I can't keep up."