ATTACK OF THE POACHERS

 

 

‘ ' : Thought

 

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It was one usual day in Kamui Kotan. Nakoruru was accompanying her sister, Rimururu, to play around with the environment and animals. But, soon, she noticed that it's almost time for lunch, and so, she called her.

 

 

"Rimururu, please return. We're about to go home !" She said. Rimururu, who's still giggling with her ice spirit, Konril, replied, "But, sis ! I want to play a little bit longer !". Nakoruru then continued, "It's almost our time for lunch... Grandmother and grandfather are away, so...". Just then, Rimururu's stomach grubbled, signing that she was hungry. "... Ooo... Okay, sis... I'm coming !". Then, the two sisters headed back to their humble home.

 

 

Nakoruru soon cooked the food she specialized in, the 'Ratashikepu' (a/n : I don't know what the hell is that and how it looks anyway, so don't ask !). And soon, she ate them together with Rimururu.

 

 

"I'm stuffed ! Sis, your cooking is always the best !" Rimururu made a comment, and Nakoruru just giggled a little, "Tee hee... don't flatter me, Rimururu... I'm not that good !". "But you're still the best for me !" Rimururu continued. "You should rest a bit before you play again. Otherwise it will be harmful for your stomach.". "Okay !"

 

 

However, little did they know that outside of the house, a group of people surrounded their house...

 

 

"So the information is true... In the home of the Nature Guardian, Nakoruru, there's a lot of animals..."

 

"What should we do, boss Gamou ?"

 

"Heh... not only we'll poach the animals... I want to make that Nakoruru suffer for driving me away from this forest last time..."

 

 

Moments later, Nakoruru got out of the house with Rimururu and Mamahaha. However, just a moment after she got out, she sensed something horrible. But, Rimururu didn't notice and continued playing. Just then, Nakoruru saw a certain shadow approaching Rimururu.

 

 

"Rimururu ! Look out !" Nakoruru tried to warn her. Rimururu just giggled, "What is it, sis ? Trying to play a prank to me ?". "I'm serious ! Get away from there !" Nakoruru pleaded, but Rimururu ignored her, until she suddenly felt the shadow coming close to her. "What's this..." Rimururu's sentence was cut short as she receive a hit on her head from behind. She soon fall unconscious.

 

 

"Rimururu ! No !" Nakoruru hurried to her sister, but suddenly she felt numb. She felt like something was shot to her... and it turned out to be a tranquilizer. She soon started to lose consciousness too. "Ma... ma... ha... ha..." Nakoruru muttered to her falcon, trying to make it call for help, before she totally lost consciousness. The falcon read its mistress' order and tried to fly away, but soon it was shot with another tranquilizer and it collapsed too...

 

 

"......"

 

 

"....."

 

 

 

"Mmmph..."

 

 

With that voice, Nakoruru woke up. When she realized what happened, she was already on her house again. But, she saw Rimururu sitting on the floor, leaning to the wall. Her hands were tied behind her on her wrists, and her legs were also tied on her knees and ankles. Then, her body was also tied on her stomach and between her breasts, pinning her arms to her body. And finally, a thick white cloth was gagging her over her mouth. Nakoruru tried to say "What ?", but it didn't came out as she expected. Instead, what came out was "Mmmph ?". To her horror, Nakoruru realized that she has been bound and gagged in the same fashion like Rimururu !

 

 

Both started to struggle a bit, but the knots and binds were too tight for them. Nakoruru then looked around, hoping that she might find her knife somewhere and she would use it to free both of them. But, she couldn't find it or even Rimururu's knife. Suddenly, a figure entered. It's a red spike headed thug.

 

 

"Well well... what do we have here... that cute little protector of nature..." The man said. "MMMMMMPPPHH !?" Rimururu scowled, as she didn't recognize the man. Nakoruru herself made a muffled gasp before the man introduced himself. "I see you now has a little sidekick as well... All right, the name's Gamou, and my profession is a poacher !".

 

 

"Mmmmmppph ?" Nakoruru tried to ask him his purpose. But suddenly, Gamou pulled her cloth and lifted her up. "Listen up, little girl. Last time you drove me away from poaching little animals, and now it's payback !". As Gamou said that, he kicked Nakoruru's knees from behind, forcing her to kneel down. "Mmmph !" she moaned. Gamou continued, "And thanks to you, I couldn't find any better forest to find animals to poach ! My business went down ! Now do you have anything to say for yourself ?". Nakoruru tried to warn him that poaching animals is a form of violation towards nature, but she was obviously gagged, so what came out was "Mmmpphh mmmpphh mmmphh !". Just then, Gamou punched her, causing her to fall. "Mmmmpphh !!" Rimururu was worried about her sister, but she could do nothing. Gamou continued as Nakoruru continued to struggle and make weak moans as she lay on the ground, "I'll see you suffer... soon enough !"

 

 

Just then, a thug entered, and said, "Boss, we're ready !". "Good, take them outside."

 

 

More thugs appeared and they lifted both Nakoruru and Rimururu by hugging their stomach from behind. Both of them made a lot of "Mmmpphh !"s, but they were ignored. The thugs took them outside where they see a cage filled with animals. They were soon seated to wooden chairs located there, and were tied to them too.

 

 

"Now watch...!" Gamou said as he gave a signal. A thug pulled out an innocent rabbit. And then, they started stabbing it with the knives and started poaching it, peeling its skins, ripping its bones and meats... all these horrible sights were displayed in front of Nakoruru and Rimururu.

 

 

"MMMMPPHH !! MMMMMMMPPPHH !!" Nakoruru made a muffled cry, trying to plead the poachers to stop, but it was no use. She cried as she struggled, cursing her own inability to protect the animals. Tears started to flow down from her eyes. Rimururu also made a lot of muffled cry, trying to support her sister, but it was no use. The poachers were not moved. And the poaching continued until....

 

 

Suddenly Gamou pulled an unconscious bird. Nakoruru was shocked... it was Mamahaha !

 

 

"Mmmmpphh...!"

 

 

"Feeling familiar ? I believe this is your animal sidekick... Well then, prepare to say good bye to your dear bird !" Gamou laughed as he pointed his knife to Mamahaha's belly. More tears slid down from Nakoruru's eyes. "Mmpphh.... Mmmmpphh... Mmmmmpphhh...." , she tried to plead him not to poach her beloved companion. Rimururu then made a lot of muffled shouts, "MMMMMPHHH !! MMMMPPPHHH !!!", trying to say that they're monsters. But, Gamou replied.

 

 

"Oh, so you are willing to die with them ? Sure ! Guys !" Gamou whistled and then, two poachers appeared. After a bit instructions, they pointed their knives in front of Nakoruru's neck, as well as Rimururu's neck. "After I count to three... swipe their neck off !". Rimururu was shocked, but she's too afraid to scream right now, and so did Nakoruru. All they can do was pray for a miracle to happen.

 

 

"One... two... thre..."

 

 

But, in the exact time when Gamou counted to three, the poacher who's pointing his knife to Rimururu's neck was hit from behind and he dropped his knife. The other was suddenly electrocuted with electric currents. Gamou was shocked, but he had no time for that. Suddenly, he was sent airborne due to a whirlwind from behind and fell unconscious. Both sisters were surprised, and looked behind. To their surprise, they saw Galford and Shizumaru behind them... and Haohmaru in front of them.

 

 

"Phew. Looks like we made it just in time." Shizumaru said in relief. "Yea. But they made Nakoruru cry... I'll make sure they'll taste the wrath of justice, now !", Galford continued. "Uh... shouldn't we free them first ?" Shizumaru suggested, and Galford have to agree. But, when they got close, the remaining poachers encircled them.

 

 

"Kill them ! If we don't kill them, we'll be captured !"

 

 

"Just a bunch of weak thieves. If you don't want to go to the sick bay, just go away !" Haohmaru taunted them, and Galford added a bit humor, "Just don't go around killing them.". Haohmaru was a little mad and said, "Hey, I'm not Genjuro ! I don't kill people mindlessly !". "Whatever. They're criminals, they're evil ! They need to be brought down in the name of justice !". Shizumaru sweatdropped and said, "I swear this is the 1000th time you said 'in the name of justice'..."

 

 

Soon, the trio, along with Poppy, made a short work of the poachers, without killing them. Then they untied both Nakoruru and Rimururu.

 

 

"Thank you... We owe you one..." Nakoruru said. "No big deal. It's been a part of training anyway." Haohmaru said. "Umm... what are you doing here ?" Rimururu asked. "Uh... Well, we met Galford and Haohmaru thought he's gonna use him as a sparring partner for my combat training. But our training went too far and we ended up seeing you girls in distress." Shizumaru explained.

 

 

"Well it's a good thing that you're both safe. Not to mention our sparring led me to a criminal I've been looking for... Gamou the Poacher !" Galford said. But, he soon stopped, as he saw Nakoruru still crying. "Sis ? What's the matter ?" Rimururu asked.

 

 

"I.... I couldn't stop them..." Nakoruru sobbed. "Even though I am safe now... a lot of living things perished in front of my eyes, and yet... as their protector.... I couldn't do anything to prevent it !". She then buried her face to her hands, crying. But, soon, Galford gave her a hug.

 

 

"Don't worry about it too much..." Galford said. But, Nakoruru continued, "But I...!", she stopped as Galford patted her on her hair. "What's done is done, we can't do anything to change the past." Galford said, continued by Haohmaru, "He's right. You better use that to motivate yourself more to fulfill your duty better... just like me after I was defeated by Jubei."

 

 

".... You're right." Nakoruru said and she stopped crying. "But, sis... maybe it's my fault... I didn't listen to your warnings..." Rimururu began, but Shizumaru stopped her, "That's enough ! None of you two are to blame... right, Nakoruru ?". Nakoruru nodded.

 

 

"Well, Shizumaru... still want to spar ?" Haohmaru asked. Shizumaru nodded sternly. "Good ! Well, still have some spare time, Galford ?" This time, Haohmaru asked Galford. "Maybe after I send these guys to the place where they belong, the prison. After that, I'll be back." Galford answered.

 

 

"All right, we'll continue the sparring later. Let's go, Shizumaru !" Haohmaru then started to walk away, followed by Shizumaru. But, as Shizumaru walked, he looked behind and saw Rimururu waving her hand to him. He replied and waved his hand too. Galford then carried Gamou on his shoulders and started leaving, but he was stopped when he heard Nakoruru calling his name. "Galford... Thank you..." She said. Galford smiled and he saluted her before he left.

 

 

"It's over, Rimururu... Let us go home." Nakoruru said to her sister. "Okay !" Rimururu replied. And they freed the animals in the cage, and brought them along as they headed to their home...

 

 

The End