Chapter 16 – Trouble already

 

Everyone spent the day and first night at the village. It was a very peaceful and calm place, and everyone seemed comfortable with their stay there. Though Crunch wanted to find a way home in at least the next few days… and find out if anyone else came into the future, from the past. He was curious to know how the Islands would be in this future.

So far though, he seemed generally pleased with the future. And was relieved to know it was not heavily polluted and overpopulated. And knowing bandicoots and lots of other species were still around made things better as well, but he has yet to see another burgundy bandicoot, in the wild.

 

It was now morning, and the bandigers and their cousin were outside, playing with some of the other young anthros and human children. They had never seen a young human or even another kid anthro before, and they seemed to be easy going… they were playing a game of tag with Collide being ‘it’ and running after the dog anthros, and other bandigers, who scattered all over the place to avoid him.

“Aww come on!”

He whined and ran, until he finally tagged someone who stood still, as one of the scout kangaroos came rushing out from the woods, looking frightened

 

“Another Ambush is coming! Everyone, prepare yourselves!!!”

 

 

He shouted. All of the human children started to panic, with a few even screaming. The dogs and other anthros ran from the scene as well and went back to their parents homes, to rush inside. Their parents poked their heads out for the moment, while the bandigers ran back to their hut where Crunch, Tani and the other adults were.

Crunch was the first to rush out of the house, wondering what all the fuss was about.

 

“What’s going on here?!”

The kangaroo rushed up to Crunch and started shouting

“It’s an ambush! I suggest you and your family hide inside, we can take care of this…”

“No, we can help… we’re made for this…!”

 

The red kangaroo could only stare back. He then nodded and hopped away from the scene, and everyone was now hidden… waiting for the dangers from within the woods to arrive.

Crunch decided to stay hidden, waiting to see what this danger was.

And then it came.

 

It all came as a huge surprise. As dozens of warriors ran from the forest, barking and growling angrily, and seemed to be in a combat sort of uniform, some even held weapons. They all appeared to be canid anthros, but why only canines? And why anthros? Thought Crunch.

 

The village may have looked kind of primitive, but as the dangers came, the village warriors all rushed out, and were holding unusual looking weapons, which seemed to be futuristic. Laser guns, and strange looking sword like weapons. They all rushed and attacked each other viciously, swiping their weapons at each other, shooting their pistols… which blasted out plasma, shocking some of the anthros who were unfortunate to take a hit. The carnivore anthros fought with claw and tooth, while the herbivores like the kangaroos, fought in a boxer sort of style with their strong hind legs.

And from some of the hut roofs, there were some humans shooting shock cannons at the apposing enemies, to stun them and give a chance for their own fighters to beat them.

 

Crunch couldn’t help but watch and be somewhat amazed at the sight, they seemed to be doing well, until another horde of soldier anthros came rushing from the forest, all with raging snarls and barks, and this is when Crunch couldn’t just sit back and watch…

He turned around and gave Crash, Coco and Tani a look. They all nodded, and quickly rushed out into the battlefield, in the middle of the village.

 

Crunch came sprinting into the crowd of fighters, looking determined and eager for a fight, he quickly smashed through, shoving aside at least 5 of the soldier dogs from their place, after they were ganging up on one of the cat warriors of the village. The dogs looked all stunned, as they saw this burgundy figure come from nowhere.

Crash and Coco rushed from behind Crunch as well and helped out, as Coco performed some of her karate on a nearby soldier, with Crash spinning a few metres away… causing 2 of his attackers to go flying into the bushes at their side.

Tani ran on all fours and snarled loudly, before taking a huge leap into the air towards the action, she pinned down a somewhat large dog anthro, she pinned him and went to throw multiple punch to his face, causing him to yelp in surprise and pain, before he could finally throw the female thylacine off himself.

Crunch snarled angrily as he saw several of the canids taunt a dingo and human, by giving their multiple shocks with their ray guns. Crunch came lunging at the fighters, who were startled and tried shooting Crunch, but their plasma shots only caused slight irritation to him, and he threw a devastating punch towards some of the group, causing yelps of pain to wail through the forest, as they hit the trees ahead of them, Crunch turned to punch at the others around him, the ones who were too slow to run away from the scene, that is.

Coco kept trying to kick as many as she could, as they kept going for her with their claws… and she even took a hit from a plasma, which caused her to yelp. Crash heard it and ran over to the soldier holding cannon, and he came crashing down onto him with a sudden body slam, winding the opponent instantly, and damaging the expensive looking weapon.

Tani carried on her vicious attacks of slashing swipes and kicks, proving to be quite an opponent for a female. Making some of the canine villains angry, they tried firing their guns at her, and it only made her angrier as she got stunned a few times which she now tried to dodge, and then she noticed Crunch over at the far side of the fight. He seemed to be being reasonably well, as anthros kept being thrown away from him and hit without much mercy. And she looked over at Crash and Coco, who were darting all over the place to attack any enemy they could come to face with.

 

 

“Go Mum!”

“Go Dad!”

“Go… err Coco and Crash!”

Said Tackle, Tasha and Tayna. Who were seen from a distance, watching along with their aunts, cousin and the newly evolved anthros, Polar and Pura. The two males looked at each other, and thought with their newly enhanced minds…

We’re still deadly, like our unevolved selves… right?

The tiger and polar bear thought… then they both grinned, and ran into the battlefield.

Some of the dog soldiers noticed this, and panicked

“Look! A tiger and a bear!!! This is too much for us!!!”

 

Polar and Pura dashed into the crowd, tackling any of the opposition that they could. Crash and Coco smiled at their entry and then looked over at Crunch and Tani, who were dealing with the enemy canines in a rough way… many were injured, especially around Crunch but he didn’t kill anyone. Only after a few minutes from then did the canines start to back down, a general from the crowd started shouting out to his fighters

 

“Fang soldiers, retreat! Retreat!”

 

The words were simple commands, which sent them all running from the village area… back into the thickness of the forests around the area; with others trying to take back all of their injured. Crunch and his crew backed off to head back towards their family in the village, as the anthros and humans started to help their injured.

 

Crunch and Tani were quick to reunite with their kids, who started to cling to them uncontrollably and give them praise. With both parents smiling, Tasha and Tayna were picked up by Crunch while Tackle was picked up by his mother. Chayenne and Tawna stood in front of them as they stood near the doorway, the sisters gave them gestures to turn around, and as they did… much of the villagers were there in front of Crunch, Tani and their friends… and they bowed down in gratitude, with many saying thanks.

 

 

“Many thanks, for you help… all of you”

Said Ethan, after coming out from one of the houses nearby. Other humans and anthros soon came out from their hiding places to help with the injured.

 

“We’re very fortunate to not have lost any lives this time!”

“What was that all about? Why did those anthros attack?”

Crunch asked Ethan, still slightly confused with the situation. Ethan turned to Crunch and answered him…

 

“Well it’s been an on going problem for a few weeks now. They’re part of an organization; lead by an evil cybernetic leader… who is desperate for more territory. We’ve been doing our best to fight them off but we’re afraid we may lose our homeland to this growing problem…”

“What! That sounds awful… sounds like something me and the team here can tackle though… it has been years since we fought anyone evil, heh”

“Are you sure? I mean, you all are new around here and this organization is a powerful one, with a huge army of canine forces! But… you’re no ordinary bandicoot. All of you are unique actually, but you…”

“Trust me, I’ve dealt with many foes in the past… same with Crash and Coco here.”

“Yes, I am aware of that…”

“What?”

“If you and your team are willing to fight against this evil… then I support you with it”

Ethan said after Crunch, and gave off a nod. Others around him nodded as well, with some even bowing down. Crunch smiled back, with Crash and Coco near his side, as well as Tani still standing there holding Tackle. Others in the crowd of people were muttering, Crunch could have sworn he heard some discussing the elementals… and rumors about his species. He shuddered, and turned around to talk with Tani

“What do you think Tani?”

“I say go for it. Has been a while since you’ve kicked someone’s

 ass, and this new evil seems as if it deserves that kick!”

Crunch smirked at her reply, and then turned to Crash and Coco

 

“Yeap, she’s right Crunch. Though I was hoping we’d find our home before dealing with villains but... ehh what the heck, let’s do this!”

Coco said and stood up straight, with Crash nodding and giving off a big grin and expression of determination. Crunch still grinned and turned back to his mate, and let his two daughters down from his grasp. Both Tayna and Tasha looked up at their parents, asking them…

 

“Are you all off on a new adventure!?”

“Well yes girls but… you’ll have to wait here with the others alright?”

“Aww really?”

“Yes Tasha, really. Don’t worry though, once your father has dealt with these new bad guys… we’ll have a nice vacation around our new home, right Crunch?”

“yeah, of course! I still promised you kids that we’ll have a day out together, all of us… but for now me, Crash and Coco need to do this ok? Mum will be here to look after you, as well as your aunts and err… Polar and Pura!”

Crunch told his daughters and son who was still in Tani’s arms. They gave off a slight grin to their father, but were still slightly disappointed. But looked forward to finally getting home later on.
Crash and Coco got some of their gears out of the backpacks, still inside one of the houses. While Crunch got into a new outfit and was finally ready, with Crash and Coco waiting outside… before leaving, he went over to his family…

 

“Ok Chayenne, Tawna… please take care of yourself. And Polar, Pura… I know you guys are only new to the idea of being anthros, but I’m sure you guys know what to do if anyone’s life here is in danger. And Tani, kiddo’s… you know what to do already, but take care”

He said, and kneeled down to his bandiger children to give them a big hug. Then he stood up to give Tani a hug as well, and as he hugged… she whispered

 

“You should take care too, buster. I would have gone with you but…”

“It’s ok Tani; you need to be here for the kids too…”

 they stopped their embrace for that moment, to look back at each other. Smiling, they nuzzle each other quickly, while Crash and Coco still waited outside for them…

 

“Are you guys done with the fluff? Come on, we don’t have all day!”

Coco shouted. Tani rolled her eyes, and Crunch smirked before she suddenly kissed him, with both closing their eyes. A few seconds later, they parted and Crunch headed over to Crash and Coco, before the bandicoot trio made their way into the forest… waving goodbye to everyone behind them, as they followed the tracks of the canine soldiers.

 

 

 

Chapter 17...