Truff in the Arctic Part 3
I don’t know how long we stayed in that area, listening to the fighting as it got closer and closer. Suddenly a shot rang out. I turned to Chris, who was staring in horror at the place where the shot had come from. I had to squint, but I saw a form in the darkness moving about, coming towards us.
Truff walked into the clearing, the moonlight revealing his identity. He raised his gun and pointed it at Chris again. I jumped in front of Chris, spreading out my arms protectively. Chris was a head taller than me and Truff could easily blow his head off, but I knew he wouldn’t risk hurting me. “Meg, move! If I don’t kill him he’s sure to kill us both!” I shook my head back and forth, not moving from my spot. He re-aimed the gun to lock onto Chris’ head and repeated “Meg, move! The others are on their way and if they see me they’ll kill me and you! I don’t want you to get hurt! Suddenly the area just outside the clearing was full of sounds of the fight. An instant later I was the rope in a tug-o-war. Truff, upon sensing the enemy, had grabbed one of my arms and began to pull me away. Chris realized that his shield was leaving him and grabbed my other arm. As they both pulled I cried out in pain and was instantly let go. Both men were looking apologetically at me, then glared at each other. “There’s no time to fight now,” I said, “we’ve got to get out of here.” They both nodded. “Good,” I said, “now I want you to both agree to a truce until this is over. Neither of you is going to try to kill the other person. Got it?” They both nodded, and Chris picked me up. “No offense,” he said to me, “but you’d only slow us down if I had you run. And Zerenix’s aren’t as strong as a Valior.” Truff glowered at him then we were off into the woods again. “Where are we going?” I asked them. “To the place I was staying at,” Truff replied, getting ahead of Chris so he could lead the way.
We got to the house and Chris put me down. I knew I had to take charge or this unstable truce would collapse. “Now listen up, I want to get home just as much as you do, Truff. But I can’t leave Tuft and his pack without trying to help them.” I turned to Chris, “how long do you think a Zerenix wolf would stand against a Valior from your family?” “Not very long, I’m surprised they’ve lasted this long.” I gulped. “Then I’ve got to help them! Who’s with me!” Truff raised his hand, Chris didn’t. Truff scowled at Chris who replied “What? You want me to go against me family?” Truff didn’t answer and just looked down at me. “I don’t want to get involved with any Valiors but I won’t let you go it alone.” I smiled at him, then turned to Chris who said, “don’t worry. I’ll stay here. Just please don’t kill my family. They’re all I have.” I looked to Truff who closed his eyes and nodded. He looked at me again, “let’s go.” and we were off.
We made it back to the clearing not to much later and the scene was horrific. Tuft and his pack, all of them, were running all over the place, biting anything they could get their fangs on, while Chris’ family were using their brute strength and punching and kicking anything in sight. At times a Zerenix would bite another Zerenix and a Valior would hurt another Valior. However a moment later everyone froze and looked over at the two newcomers. Truff secretly moved his hand to his gun, and I awkwardly waved. Suddenly four Valiors were charging at us and five Zerenix wolves stood between us and them. Before they collided, I recalled Chris’ words you’re a key piece to this problem. I suddenly had a crazy idea and quickly whispered to Truff “hand me your gun, but make sure the safety‘s on, and act like it isn‘t.” Truff looked quizzically at me for a moment, then handed me his gun. I screamed out “STOP!” and again everyone froze, both sides about to attack one another. I quickly put the gun to my head and said “everyone stop fighting or I’ll shoot! I mean it!” “Go on,” Charlotte said, “do it. You’re nothing but a burden to us anyway.” “That’s where you’re wrong,” I said, not taking the gun away from my head, “and if anyone tries to take it from me (I shot a look at Truff), I’ll shoot.” “Meg, NO!” Truff called, hesitating from reaching out to me, “the safety’s not on. If you shoot that thing you will die.” He’s doing a great acting job I thought to myself, then continued, “I don’t care! This is the only way to stop the fighting! If I die, there’ll be major consequences.” “Like what?” Matt asked. “First off, Truff will go berserk and kill you all. Secondly, the wolves will also attack. I’m very close friends to all these Zerenix, and if I die here, it’s because of you Valiors, so that’s who they’ll take their revenge on. Secondly, I play a major role for you Valiors too. If you kill me and Truff and the wolves, you’ll hurt one of your own. Chris is your family, and I don’t think you want to see him upset. He doesn’t want me to get hurt over something that is not my fault. I know you want revenge for James, but for a moment put yourself in Truff’s shoes. Imagine what its like, day after day, always being hunted for no apparent reason, always wondering if you’ll live to see the next sun, or the moon for that matter. Please, just let it go. You’ve told me the reason you hunt Zerenix, but I’m sure you’ve already solved your own problems pertaining to that, so please, just let us go. We’re sorry for what happened to James, but we don’t need this senseless violence. You don’t need to kill Truff, and therefore he doesn’t need to kill you. Let us go back home, and we’ll never bother you again. But you also have to let the wolves be, as well.” “What!” Adam said, “why should we let the wolves go?” “Because they’re part of my family, too.” Truff replied, “and killing them is like me killing Christopher. I do apologize for what happened to James, but I didn’t have a choice. Either me and Megan died, or he did.” “Please,” I concluded, “just let us go.” The Valiors looked at one another for the longest time. I put the gun down by my side, and nobody seemed to notice. Finally Jewel spoke up, “fine. It goes against basically everything we stand for, but we’ll let you go. You, Truffer and the wolves. You must just promise to never set foot on this land again.” We all nodded and I said “Thank you.” Dusk walked over to me again and I hopped on. A moment later we were running through the woods back to the shack. Chris looked up when we entered and looked troubled. “They’re fine, and they’re waiting for you.” I said. Chris smiled, jumped up, ran over and hugged me. He whispered “thank you, I’ll never forget you,” and ran out the door. I got off Dusk and walked over to Truff who held me close. “That was very brave of you, but how did you figure you played an important role to both parties?” I sighed, “it’s a long story, maybe tomorrow…” and drifted off to sleep as he held me close.
The next day we took the earliest plane we could back to New England. We also brought Tuft and his pack, since they were no longer welcome in the Arctic. When we finally got to Truff’s home, it had been decided that Tuft and his pack would live with him, since they were family. Or at least the same species. I left Truff to unpack his things and went back to my own house to finally relax.
The next day Truff called me and asked me over. He sounded really excited, and I wanted to know what was so great, so I rushed over.
I should’ve known something was fishy when I opened the door and found Truff at the kitchen table going through his mail. Like déjà vu, he looked up, smiled, and waved me over. I took a seat and he handed me a letter he was just reading.
Congratulations!
You Have Won The Following:
2 Airline Tickets to
Auckland, New Zealand
I looked over the paper at Truff’s grinning face, and smirked back at him, “I’ll go with you, but this time, if you get into trouble, don’t expect me to come save you.” Truff laughed, “I never have, Megan, and I never will. And next time, don’t expect me to let you handle a gun.” I laughed at that and handed the paper back to him “so, when do we leave?”
And that was the start of our next adventure.
