2 Oli in Trouble (2/2)
”What are you doing, Uncle Rathe? He's getting away!” Oli spoke first.
”Forget about him Oli. This is all your fault for taking off and wandering on your own, so don't go blaming others brat!” Rathe lightly tapped Oli on the head, but it hurt Oli on the same due to the difference in strength.
”But uncle! He's going after the clan, not just me!” Oli's blood was still pumping. ”If you hurry maybe you can—”
”Shut up boy!” Rathe had little patience and was long out it. ”Like I said, forget about that pussycat. Let's get you back to your mom. If you think I'm mad at you, wait till you hear her side of it.”
”What about the clan?” Oli was more relaxed now thanks to Rathe's casualness, but he still feared for his fellow gorillas.
”Don't worry about them, you'll see them real soon,” Rathe picked Oli up by his head and put the boy on his wide back.
”But isn't the panther going to attack them?” Oli didn't understand Rathe's calmness. ”If you're here then who will stop him?”
Rathe stopped walking, ”Brat, don't you know who the clan chief is?”
”But you're always the one who fights and protects everyone. Dad just handles the politics and chief's duties,” Oli honestly thought that Rathe was the most capable.
”Ha! Thanks for the praise, but flattery won't save you from my sister's wrath,” Rathe laughed and turned his head to see Oli looking back at him. ”The chief's first responsibility is to protect the clan. For that reason, only the strongest gorilla in the clan can hold the chief's position.”
”You mean—”
”Yup, that panther is about to get more than he bargained for. Knowing Dioro, it's probably already over,” laughed Rathe.
”Already?” Oli struggled to believe it.
”Just wait and see.”
After over ten minutes of walking, the temporary gorilla campsite came into view and in the middle of it was the body of the Frost-fang Panther. Oli scurried off of Rathe's back and hurried over to check the scene.
To his surprise, there was no blood, no bruises, or even visible signs of being hit on the panther's corpse. Astounded at the sight, Oli was taken aback.
”You seem surprised?”
Oli turned around to find his father standing behind him. ”Dad, did you do this?”
”Yes, Oli. I did,” Dioro acted like it were just a common occurrence.
”But how did you do it? Uncle Rathe said you were even stronger than him,” Oli tried to piece together the puzzle, ”but even Uncle Rathe would've beaten him to death and left blood everywhere. What happened?”
With a half-smile, Dioro simply said, ”Normally I wouldn't handle things like this, but he threatened your mother so I couldn't help myself. He attacked her first and left me no choice but to wipe away his soul.”