I walked back out to the tree and asked the tree for some practice sparring. It was back to its mischief as usual as it took the first attack surprising me.
Which was just fine because I had become quicker. I ducked out of its brunches way, that was aimed at sweeping my feet from the floor.
The sparring went on, for some time. We kept at it, exchanging blows and evading some attacks.
Once we where done. I sat in its shade and asked it, if it had a name. To which it didn't respond.
But once I told it that then we would have to give it a name! and asked if it had any suggestions.
It moved trying to right something on the floor.
I tried to make it out and saw that the tree, had tried to write Angie's name.
Which made me burst out laughing as I said, you can't have her name. Besides Angelique is a girls name.
To this it crossed its leafy branches again. So I said okay, here is what we can do for you buddy.
You can have a name, that is close to Angelique's but not exactly it.
How about Angelo? It swayed it's leafs around, like it was happy. Making me smile. Okay so Angelo can you talk?
To this it made a cracking sound. That was a bit constant. Okay I believe I can't speak your language but we can teach each other.
I went to go get a water container in kiway's cave then came back to sit against Angelo's tree trunk. Trying to get comfortable the water spilled a little
I got the container with one hand and had my other hand on the floor.
Thinking that it would be nice if Angelo, could move to go closer to a water source himself, every time he wanted a drink.
Before I could say this out loud the ground shook making a rumbling sound.
Out of instinct I climbed, on to Angelo quickly because he was a tree. All I could think of, was to get to high ground.
It was so loud I thought it would probably be a stampede of some sort.
Kiway speed walked out of his cave with a spear in his hand and something in a bowl in the other.
He scanned the area and kept listening, but there was no sound. Like there had never been any rumbling at all.
We waited for a while with a lot of anticipation. Yet nothing jumped out of the forest.
Instead we heard Angelique and Nehu coming back from border patrol, as they came from behind kiway's cave.
As they came into view, kiway signalled for them to stop and be alert. Then the two of them started to search the forest around us, with raised spears and cautious steps.
After a while they came back to report to kiway that we are safe. He told them that, there was this strange rumbling sound and even the guy in the tree heard it.
I had climbed out of the tree. Apologized to Angelo for climbing onto him and scratching him, as I got up his bark body.
Unfortunately. I never took of my strapped claws when I was outside. Even when using other weapons to fight. It is because they are my basic weapon.
I got to the entrance and started complaining, that kiway was making me sound like a coward.
He just smiled at me. To which I carried on to say, that it is part of my training to get to high ground. Until I know what the opponent is and if I can take it on.
Besides with that sound, even if the thing came at you, you would be in trouble.
Then Angelo and I, would have to come rescue you.
Every one looked at me, like I had gone crazy.
We got drawn to the forest again as three people walked out. It was Priska and her parents.
As they walked out, the child said, don't bother the source of balance, even though he is scared of worms.
Which got me all defensive as I told her to keep quiet saying, that she doesn't know what she is talking about.
She just made her eyes wide and covered a smile. Which got everyone laughing except kiway.
Who was just as amused, about the worms but he also, seemed to be thinking about something.
When she removed her hand from her mouth, she greeted everyone, then skipped away. When she got to the tree, she waved her hand and said, 'Hi Angelo!'
Then Angelo brought a branch down to her head and brushed it gently.
But everyone accept kiway and I, was already raising a weapon and charging at the tree.
To which it just blew them away, with that trick that it once did on me, to keep me away.
While it held Priska protectively closer to its trunk. This time it used less wind, because it only made them back up. While with me, I was leaping in the air.
The little girl clapped her hands happily, saying that was cool Angelo.
To which everyone was now confused. They thought the tree was trying to hurt the girl.
Angelique was confused, about more than one thing but piecing it together quickly, stuttered.
The. the tree is Angelo? Asking no one in particular, more than making sure, she understood her own thoughts.
Then she turned to me and with that face, which she was making. I knew, That I had to run. So I ran behind the cave.
Once I had gone around the cave. I ran directly for Angelo and climbed on him again, while Angie was on my tail, still trying to catch me.
Everyone started laughing. Angelo protected me from Angelique for a change, as she tried to get to me.
Angelo made a dome out of his branches keeping me just out of reach.
Angie frustrated started removing the leaves, but I heard cracking. When I looked on the floor, the leaves that she removed dried up, immediately.
Shouting I screamed, Angelique your killing the tree! Nehu was running to stop her and kiway was speed walking towards the tree.
Angelique had a bunch of leafs in her hands, as she got pulled away, from the tree by Nehu.