Animalia by Cristian Johnson (free novels to read txt) 📕

“As you all know, we are being put in jeopardy of our location and it's a big possibility that the Giant will send more of his mutants to fight us and that we may end up in a war. I know that some of you haven’t been in a battle, with guns, or with sickness, or mentally, but you must use this form that we are given as a weapon. It is strange to some of you yes, and others you have made this part of you instantaneously but it does not matter when we fight, for we are going to fight as one, fight as a pack. So today we will have a sparring buddy, and that buddy you have will also be with you when we fight the mutants God forbid soon… ALRIGHT, *ROAR* DISMISSED!” Issac says.

Chris looks at his sparring buddy Reginald and smiles. He knew he had lots of experiences in combat, he fought in many wars. His experience would come in hand for the war that is to come.

So with a serious mindset Reginald had a plan laid out to keep Chris in check. “Alrighty my boy it’s time to get started with your training. I was thinking we can go for a jog, and then we work on your mmmmm hand to hand combat plus reflexes you hear boy?” Reginald says.

“Yeah we can do that. The big question is can you keep up with me Reggie?” Chris remarks feeling confident of himself. He looks as Reginald is already out of the sparring circle and running toward the savannah.

“WAIT! I WASN’T READY!” Chris yells as he runs as fast as he could to keep up with Reginald.

Reginald continues to run until they hit the border of the savannah with another habitat zone. The grass got greener and the dirt was fresh on both of their feta

. The air was wet and sweet enough to make sleep a bliss. Chris and Reginald stop to take a breather.

”Not an old-timer now eh boy?” Reginald says laughing out loud.

“You still have a lot of energy for someone that's an elephant,” Chris says.

“HAR HAR, that's just but of some of my power, you haven’t seen when I have breakfast in my belly. Are you ready now to fight Chris?” Reginald chuckles as he takes his stance.

Chris smiles as he lowers his head and arches his body in a pouncing position. He takes a deep breath as he focuses on Reginald, who is holding his ground staring back at him and lowering his tusks. Chris makes the first move as he jumps forward, and Reginald easily counteracts picking up Chris with his tusks and tossing him aside. He is launched to the grass, as he gets back up and goes for Reninald’s side. With this move Reginald can’t counter with his head having to tilt a long while. Chris gets on top of him and tries to make him lose balance. Reginald begins to shake his shoulders and back aggressively as he starts to run into the valley. Chris struggles to grip on, without actually hurting Reginald. Then a flashback comes to his mind of Cole roaring at him and swiping at his face, with a loss of concentration he loses his group on Reginald and falls to the ground. He begins to look at the sky and begins to breathe fast.

“Chris are you alright boy?” Reginald walks to him with a concerned look.

He looks up and takes a deep breath. “Yeah, it's just I was thinking of the fight I had with Cole, and how he jumped me from the back. It's just messing with my head.”

Chris wishes to continue fighting but Reginald feels like he should take a break. Reginald then looks at him with a serious expression and then decides to walk back to the Smoky Den. As they walk back they notice Issac outside pacing back and forth thinking about the ‘training’ he has been observing.

He is upset and disappointed at the same time. The majority of the trainees have no experience, no combat skills at all. Instead of learning how to fight they are doing poorly and are screwing around. They do not realize that the threat is here, right in front of our doors. He notices Chris and Reggie come back from their training. He decides he needs to talk to him to see if he can listen and take commands or will be a wild cannon. He needs trustworthy fighters. Chris was so quick to fight the mandrill and he can not have insubordinate fighters with him when the battle starts.

Issac looks at Chris and asks. “So young man…. teammate. Do you promise that you have your anger under control and that you will not have a temper tantrum? I need you to fight the enemy not us.”

“Well the thing is I don’t know why I do it. It just happens to me whenever I am in danger I think. Afterward I just have no control nor the memory of what I did until the carnage is done. I hope it will happen against the mutants and not against you, but I can’t keep promises of the safety of the pack.” Chris replies.

He looks at Reggie and then Chris. “You better find away, and you Reggie you need to find a way to control him if he can't. He’s a menace to our group if he becomes uncontrollable. If it comes to the lives of my pride and him I will choose pride. I do not want to be the one to end his life if it has to be it.” Isaac walks away and looks at the rest in disappointment. He goes back to yelling at the other animals to get back to training.

Luke and Emma run-up to Chris full of energy and excitement.

“YO! Man did I have fun today. We ran, we ate some good food, and I got to launch Emma in the air!!!” Luke says loudly.

Emma, who feels beat down by today's events responds to Lukes comment. ”More like, not fun. She stares down at Luke. “You were bullying me with your antlers, plus that grass was sour and rough on my tongue,” Emma says.

Chris laughs. “Well I’m glad you guys are here. It’s weird how we used to have kid lives and now as animals, we are training for a battle that may or may not exist…”

Emma nods her head and lets out a sigh. “I know..we all know at least someone that has died or has been injured….”

This one time Luke seems to just be silent, he knows its a topic is too serious to be joking around. That's when Reginald barges in and looks at all three.

Reginald interrupts the trio talking jumping into the conversation to make it less important. “Woahhhh… you guys almost sound like us boring adults. Can't have that now. Well children I think it's time to eat. Let's go see what there's to eat.” Reginald says as he pushes all three toward the cafeteria.

The group goes inside to have some food. That is when Chris overlooks a group of predators, a (pack); talking privately. He moves closer to overhear what they are trying to say. There is a recon group that Isaac is sending to scout later tonight into the city. Chris questions this act, knowing that even though he doesn’t know how to fight well he is probably the scariest thing they have here as a predator. He should be included in this recon group. He decides he will talk to Isasck when he has a chance after his meal. Later that night after dinner he notices Issac alone and goes to him to talk about the recon tonight.

“Hey Issac, I heard that there is something later tonight for training, can I join?” Chris asks him.

With a puzzled look Issac replies. “What do you mean? There isn’t any training later tonight everyone is either going to be sleeping or on the watch.”

“Are you sure? I’m pretty sure I overheard some of the predators just talking about some scouting in the outer boundaries of the city. I was wondering because I’m a big scary dinosaur like animals say, and I feel like I should be included in this.” Chris says.

Isaac looks back to the group of predators with a pissed off expression and disappointment and sighs. “It seems you have caught me (red-pawed). I don't need you to interrupt my plans but you are right. You are a predator too. You can go only under one condition. The lead predator is in charge and you have to follow all his orders. Do you understand?

Chirs nods and walks away. He is very excited that he was able to go to the night hunt with the other predators, he did feel a bit sad and angry that he would have to answer to the instructions of other animals. Later that night when all the other animals were sleeping or on watch he and the group of other predators set off to their mission. As they walk away from the Smoky Den the tracks can be seen of a wolf, bear, tiger, and dinosaur. The tracks lead toward the city.

Once closer to the city's edge the leader a tiger looks at his team and says, “ something something something.”

“Ohh... so that's how this thing is going down.” replies the bear.

“I don't know but I hope these scumbags will get off our lands and leave us alone” says the wolf.

The leader, a tiger looks at Chris. “Alright Chris, we all know that Isaac sent you on this because he feels bad you can’t do anything in a real battle. So let the big boys do the job and continue our work and you just stay here so we don’t get in trouble ok?”

“What in the actual Hellman! Why do you have to be so rude to me? Why can’t you just let me do something and contribute to this place.” Chris responds.

“Well uh I don’t know because you chewed off the arm of my best friend, you retard. So just shut up kid and leave us alone!” The tiger roars.

The team continues heading into the city and stops just before heading into one of the main streets. They try to stay close to the buildings, then loud footsteps are heard.

The bear whispers “ everyone get down to the ground and keep quiet.”

Chris struggles to lie down in a comfortable position as he hears large footsteps being made along the concrete. Out about walking on the street is a large creature that is getting closer to them. The team continues to crouch down hidden by a large trash bin, but then a dark brown foot stained with blood can be seen within inches of them.

The tiger looks up to see the giant standing there with a serious expression on his face as he grabs the back of his skin and looks him dead in the eye.

“IM SORRY, IM SORRY, PLEASE DON’T KILL ME” the tiger says with a pathetic whine.

The giant grabs his neck as the wolf pounces from behind. The giant’s reflexes are fast as he reverses his body to make the wolf bite into the neck of the tiger.

“NO!!!!” the wolf screams realizing he just bit into his friend. The bite is lethal and the tiger is dead.

Short words are made as the giant slams both of his hands cracking the wolf's back, as his rib cage is plunged deep into his lungs making the wolf collapse in front of him. It was now the bear's turn as it started to charge, the giant takes no emotion as he steps away from the charging bear who struggles to make a u-turn back at him. The giant then watches as the bear is panting tired already and makes a feeble