Chapter 2

Run, run, run!

Early the next morning they set off it was not far until they reached the bottom of Mythical Mountains. They started the gruelling climb to the peak; they hear the mountain calling. Rushing to the top it took the best part of 8 gruelling hours. Finally, reaching the summit, they realised that Fred Banjo, John’s friend who had joined them; had fallen to his death. John was heartbroken, he couldn’t bear to lose another companion. John and the badgers didn’t have time to mourn, John wasn’t sure if they’d made it to the top in time. They crawled around the peak, total darkness. They were too late. There was no choice, they had to stay the night on the top of Mythical Mountains.

By the time the badgers rested, and heads were counted, things were getting worse.  “21,22,23,24” John counted out loud. From the one hundred healthy badger’s living in peace at the beginning of this story only twenty four remained healthy. It wasn’t looking good for the tribe.

The next morning when thy woke John Pie was crying. The mountains had been awakened by John earlier that morning. He had spoken to them, and they had told him everything. It was a virus from the new predator its name was Scorpant.  Little ants are infected by the Scorpant and they in turn bite the badgers. Mia tried to comfort him; he didn’t think she quite understood. “Once you are infected, it controls you, you become their servant. Their order is to kill us. We need to get out of here.” He knew that the infected badgers weren’t far behind them. “What can we do?”

“we need to get to the unknown burrow before it gets bad, the burrow also has the cure.” Getting down from the top was easy but as they got further down it got steeper and sharp rocks edged out of the mountain. There were skeletons laying over the rocks, some had fallen on to the spiky rocks and died, they’re body lying so still now. John and badgers knew that not many badgers had survived this terrifying descend, they had to take care, they couldn’t afford to lose any more of the tribe.

By the time they reached the bottom, ten more badgers had lost their life to Mythical Mountains.  There was no time to think about how bad this was, they had to carry. Shakily they ran all the way to Predators’ Paradise. It was the only way they could go, if they tried to across over at Blood River, they would lose more lives, the current was always too strong there. It was a singular log that would allow them across the canyon. Nervously John Pie and the other eight crossed successfully, but as Maverick was about to cross the Scorpant unexpectedly appeared behind him, sliced his arm.  Maverick turned around, he tried to fight back cutting the Scorpant’s antennae, but the Scorpant was too fast and stabbed him in the stomach. He was thrown down into the gorge. His last words echoing around the valley “Run, run, run!”