Karmartha by Rodney Strong

Author:Rodney Strong
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LoreQuinn Publishing
Published: 2019-02-24T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

KEEPING THE PEACE

Gerry burst into a clearing, closely followed by Joshua and Kat. In front of them Stanley was fighting with a giant brown bear. The bear had a considerable size advantage over the panther, but Stanley was faster with sharper claws. Bits of fur flew as the two wild animals tumbled across the ground.

Joshua grabbed Kat by the arm. ‘You’d better let me handle this,’ he automatically took two steps forward before his legs realised what he was doing and came to a screeching halt. He swallowed and cleared his throat.

‘Joshua ...’ Kat started to say.

‘HEY,’ he yelled.

Stanley and the bear – whom Kat knew was an Atlas bear called Callum[8] – stopped fighting and turned towards Joshua. Stanley slowly licked his lips and Joshua’s terror increased. ‘What’s going on here? Stop that fighting,’ he continued in a squeaky voice.

Stanley and Callum exchanged glances.

‘Is this guy for real?’ Callum asked Stanley.

‘I think so.’

Joshua, to his credit, remained determined. ‘Now I want you to shake hands...um...paws...ah thingies. I want you to shake thingies and make up.’

Callum and Stanley stared at him in amazement.

‘Can I eat him?’ Callum asked Stanley.

‘I saw him first,’ the cat replied.

‘Half each?’

Stanley thought it over for a moment. ‘Fair enough.’

They shook paws and Joshua sighed with relief, thinking it was all over. He turned to gloat to Kat and didn’t see Stanley and Callum heading towards him. Before they could reach the unsuspecting boy a sharp whistle pierced the air. Everyone looked at Kat, who lowered her fingers from her mouth.

‘No one eats my brother.’

Joshua stared at her blankly, then glanced over his shoulder to see Callum standing at full height only a metre behind him and promptly fainted. Callum took a step back in surprise.

‘Don’t worry, he does that all the time,’ Stanley told the bear.

Kat stepped over her brother and came to stop between the two animals. ‘So who wants to tell me what’s going on?’

They both shuffled about on their feet. Callum lowered his head in shame; unfortunately, since he towered over Kat this meant he was still peering at the top of her head, while she was only able to see the reddish orange fur on his stomach.

‘Come on, who started it?’ she demanded.

Callum pointed at Stanley. ‘He did.’

‘Did not. He did.’

Kat glared at them both sternly.

‘I just wanted to go outside for a little while,’ Stanley finally said. ‘I wanted to see the stars again.’

‘You know why you can’t,’ Callum growled.

‘I don’t care,’ Stanley snarled back. ‘I’m sick of being stuck in this place like a caged animal.’

‘But you are an –,’ Gerry began, and Stanley bared his teeth. ‘Never mind.’

Kat sighed. ‘Do you mind if I talk to Stanley alone?’ she asked Callum.

Callum shrugged and sat down as Kat led the panther away. At the edge of the clearing she paused and looked back. ‘Gerry, make sure nothing happens to Joshua.’

Callum shook his head in disappointment as Gerry climbed onto Joshua’s still body and sat on his back.

‘Grrr,’ Gerry bared his teeth.

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