The gorilla and his subjects were hopeful this time. They believed gorilla is somewhat scared of their claims. Now they could chat about everything and laugh. Later in the evening the king sent for them.
“I have decided on something” The lion king said. The gorilla was expectant. “We will release your subjects to you, on two conditions. You will choose one of the alternatives you prefer. One will be like a competition. If you win, you will go with them but if you loose, I still keep them including the competitors from you. The other, you will take those with us and replace them with those with you now with an addition of five”
On the side of the competition, I have two competitors. I present to you Jaguar and cheetah for wrestling and racing respectively. You may have better competitors and they may probably win but I still stick to the agreement”
They were scared. The cheetah they have witnessed his speed that was like a lightening. Who could have stepped out to challenge him? Not even their fastest runners which none of them was with them on that journey. As for the Jaguar who looked comfortable with the idea. Who knows the extend to its powers? He must be deadly that he was chosen for that. Nobody in their midst was trusted for any of that. The elephant would have stood for them but he did not come with them. He replaced the king in Greenwoods. There was silence in the group.
“Shouldn’t we object to this?” the parrot suggested. “If they insist, we threaten them too”
“What if they put us on trial and we fail, or they decided using violence and so, we are unable to stand them. Won’t they kill us all? They will seize an opportunity to cage all of us left alive…..”
“It’s taking too long” the lion said. have already began to consider himself taking the challenge. He came out of the group. They were surprised to see that it was the one who claims to be their king that’s volunteered to take that challenge. Those with the gorilla were ashamed but could not go and sacrifice themselves and the rest.
“I repeat, which of the alternative is accepted. The racing, wrestling, or the exchange?”
“The wrestling” A voice roared behind which they all turned to see. “On which I stand out” it was the rhino from Greenwoods, the warder officer. He walked up to the king who was tongue-tied and asked him to step aside.
“I expected someone from your group” the lion said.
“He’s our member” the gorilla defended “He lost his way while we were coming”
“I don’t care. He’s not involved in this. Look for someone else”
“No. He is the one we choose”
The lion did not speak further, he instructed the nearest person and soon enough a giant hippopotamus was led in. The hippo was bigger than the rhino and merely stronger. He was dressed up with rattling things that made him look scary and Savage. Obviously he’s not new into wrestling. The scars on his body was an evidence of battles he has fought and won. At his arrival there was an applause. The hippo gave moves as one who trusted his strength. He got into the ring, prepared for the competition and began flexing.
“What is going on?” the gorilla asked muddled. “Have you cancelled the competition?”
“Why should I?” the lion answered. “You are the one we wait for”
“Should that suppose to be our opponent?”
“Already waiting over there. You can see that”
“No. That’s not the opponent you presented to us” the gorilla argued not really because the animal was not the one presented at first, but because it was bigger than they could face and moreover, the hippo was not from Skull-land. Maybe a prisoner there.
“You chose whom you trusted, I did same. You can’t choose for me”
“The rhino is not your citizen”
“Did you bring him along? Is he from Greenwoods? Didn’t you meet him here? Now, the muscular beast you chose, was he from your group? Did he come here the same time with you?”
Whenever the gorilla glances at the giant hippo he got discouraged. The challenge was difficult to accept. The gorilla thought if that ground shaking creature would beat the rhino and still compel the rest of them be thrown into the cage there isn’t a need struggling with him in the ring. Was it not better he adopts the parrot's idea and face the outcome? They would object to any of these options and if they insist they too will have to make threats. Hoping it doesn’t fail them. No one could tell what impression the rhino held for him. It was only believed that whoever in his position should definitely be scared so then they assume he must feel same.
“One more chance” the lion shouted again. “Are you in or out?” The question caused hearts to beat faster. For they were certain that death in the hands of those heartless beasts was far worse than being burned in a fire.
“Who’s the Challenger?” The Tiger said, in a provocative manner.
“I still stand” The rhino bravery replied. He removed his beads from his neck and put it on the chimp's.
“If you must go, take this” the squirrel gave him a poisonous substance. “It kills and is also harmful to the eyes. Use it on him. Whichever way you can but be careful not to use it on yourself”
“Are you sure you can do this?” the gorilla asked.
“It's better to try”
“If you are the one, come over to the ring” The lion hastened.
“Why should he give me his beads when we all are heading the same place?” Bara thought. The nearest animal stared at him as if he heard him or he was thinking the same thing.
When the rhino got into the ring there came another round of shout. Something in form of a trumpet was blasted in the air. Signaling the begging of the contest. As it began, the rhino rushed the hippo and immediately got a heavy blow that made him fell on his back. The hippo scorned him and the rest on his side joined him to laugh. The gorilla was humiliated already. Just as predicted in everyone’s mind, the hippo had more chances over the rhino. The hippo’s wide mouth made it easier for him to grab, and his weight to pull and push. Sometimes his long sharp teeth penetrate his body. The rhino received so much bites. He was badly beaten that those from Greenwoods started preparing themselves for what comes after the contest. The rhino was thrown on the ground four times. The fifth time he could not rise.
There was disappointments and regret on their faces so much that there was complaints and blames rising among them. There were certain to loose even before they got a Challenger. The rhino lying motionless in the ring shouldn’t be blamed. He stood for his people in the face of death. He couldn’t stand the shame of what they may think of them if no one stands for their king. The mistake was not from him. They would have refused any of those ideas the lion brought up.
Tears dropped from the gorilla’s eyes to see someone who sacrificed himself for him lying like a log. He pitied him. The commentator was to count one to ten and if the rhino didn’t rise he will be declared defeated. That doesn’t seem necessary. What could the rhino do even if he had the strength to rise? If he can’t do anything when he entered the ring should he do something now that he’s dying? He’s either dead or half dead and if he must get up, he needs a support. The number kept counting until eight, before nine he was up. Showing he haven’t given up. The audience were amazed. But that still did not restore hopes. The hippo who was ready to celebrate his victory, turned only to see the rhino standing. A wide insincere grin appeared on his large face. He roared then rushed with a heavy speed to finish him for once. But it was unfortunate he couldn’t do what he intended. The rhino poured something in his eyes. So he couldn’t open his eyes because it hurt. Nobody understood what happened, only the Greenwoods did.
The rhino cleaned his hands on his tusk. He stepped backward and observed the hippo then he attacked. They clashed heavily and stuck for a while. Suddenly, the rhino fell like a mud. Only the hippo remained standing. Again, numbers were counted but before they reach ten the hippo fell. None was up. Though, the rhino did not rise again but he did more than expected. Greenwoods will forever remember him in the history of lost heroes.
They cancelled the first counts and started over. This time before they count to ten the rhino raised a leg but the hippo remained in a heap. The gorilla and his subjects shouted for joy.
At last the victory was the rhino’s but they did not want to announce it. It was shameful to admit defeat. They went to check the hippo, there, they discovered he was already dead and soaked in his thick flowing blood. The rhino fell back seeing that the battle was over until they came for him.
The lion calculated how he would loose such a great deal of meal to those strangers after disgracing him in a contest. He said accused them of using charm thereby the contest is cancelled.
“We refuse that. You are bias. You have failed to keep your promise because we win. Had it been you won you won’t sound this way. We want this to go peacefully but I see that you don’t want it that way” Bara said in anger.
“I know you have magic but don’t forget that with your magic you can’t hurt any of my subject and go free. We also have our ways just as you do. Keep violence aside” the lion said.
“What then do you intend to do?” the gorilla asked.
“You will exchange some of your subjects with those in my custody”
“That wasn’t the agreement. I strongly object”
“I don’t care about what ever it is we discussed previously. Now, that’s the final decision. If you are not comfortable with it, I wait to witness your most deadly magic”
“this bastard has guts” the gorilla whispered angrily. They made angry murmurings among them for a little while. The lion seeing that they weren’t ready he turned to go. The gorilla called him back.
“Can i have my son now and come later for the rest with your demands?”
“While returning for the rest what will you come with?”
“Those to be exchanged”
“How many?”
“Same number as those you have”
“No. If you must go and return then it has to be double”
“For what? Why being so cruel and barbaric?” the gorilla got provoked. Bara picked him and told him to accept it first. When they release the prince to them then they will think of what to about the rest.
“Alright. I agree. So, deal?”
“Deal. But you are not leaving with any of them. If you are serious, you will come for all at once. Now, when do I expect your coming? For if you exceed the appointed day, I will hold a feast on them. It shouldn’t take long”
The gorilla made a request to know who and who was in their custody. They were led to the cave where they were locked. The gorilla saw about seven of them including his son, still alive, looking thin and tattered. The gorilla pitied them and gave to them the food left with them. Their stories were made short due to the limited time they had. But all stories were pitiful. They pleaded with the gorilla not to leave them there. Tears dropped from all eyes. When the given time was over the gorilla was compelled to leave in tears. He returned to the lion and they reshaped their agreement. Fixing an actual date to meet again and the number of people to bring in exchange for ransom.
They hurried to leave Skull-land before it’s too dark and before the king changes his mind. If they waste time anything could happen to them, since Skull-land was not to be trusted. Even at that, the wicked wolves still followed them but they lost them.