Chapter 9: Cliffside Ambush

Everyone began to get settled and Adam started inaonyesha Humphrey and fira, viper through the maze inside the cliff. It was pretty dark inside for a human, but Humphrey and Adam had no problem seeing down the many tunnels and Adam knew his way around.

“We dug this out in case we were ever attacked again so we’d have a salama way to retreat without anyone knowing,” Adam explained. “Each pango has a tunnel in the back that both connects the dens, and also leads into the maze.”

“So, what’s on the other side of this cliff anyway?” Humphrey asked.

“Not much, really,” Adam replied. “Just a small kilima that leads to our emergency escape tunnel in the back.”

The trio came across a tunnel that led upwards toward the juu of the cliff.

“Where’s that one go?” fira, viper asked.

“That leads up to the juu of the cliff,” Adam answered. “It’s for ventilation, nothing more.”

After a while, they came back out and found Steven frantically rushing up to them.

“They’re here!” he shouted. “Viggo’s coming!”

“Then we better go,” Humphrey replied. “Everyone, into the maze!”

The group quickly retreated into the cliffs just as Viggo and Robert came out of the forest. The two waited outside the various dens before Viggo began to head inside.

“Viggo, what are wewe doing?” Robert asked.

“What do wewe think?” Viggo replied. “I’m going after them.”

“Viggo, wewe can’t be serious,” Robert said. “It’s a labyrinth in there, you’ll-“

“You underestimate me, Robert,” Viggo said, impatiently. “I am one of the greatest trackers the world has ever seen, and wewe don’t think I can make it through this?”

Robert remained silent.

“Wait here,” Viggo continued, putting on a pair of night vision goggles. “Our troubles will soon be over. Now, let’s not keep them waiting, shall we?”

Robert waited outside of the dens as Viggo ventured inside. He used his tracking skills to follow the Mbwa mwitu loups through the dark tunnels, listening for the echoing sound of their footsteps, following the smell of mbwa mwitu that he had grown all too accustomed to throughout his life and eventually, Viggo caught up to Humphrey and the others.

The group began to rush through the tunnels, following Adam as quickly as they could, but Viggo was able to separate Humphrey from the rest of the group. Following the feel and smell of fresher air, Viggo managed to force Humphrey up the ventilation tunnel and out onto the juu of the cliff. He backed him up against the edge of the cliff, slowly walking toward Humphrey and forcing him back farther than he could go.

One of Humphrey’s back paws suddenly slipped off the cliff, sending some small rocks falling to the bottom. He quickly pulled it back onto the edge of the cliff and looked up at Viggo. The rest of the group came out the escape tunnel at the backside of the cliff and were about to start heading up when suddenly, they were surrounded kwa Viggo’s men.

“Really, Humphrey? I’m insulted,” Viggo alisema after seeing Humphrey’s shock at the sudden arrival of his men. “After everything we’ve been through, wewe seriously didn’t think I’d leave myself so exposed without some added protection. wewe people never learn.”

Humphrey looked behind Viggo and noticed a rotten mti on the far end of the cliff near the hill.

“I can say the same for you, Viggo,” he replied as he dashed toward Viggo.

Just as Humphrey reached him, he did a spin-out and dodged Viggo’s attempt to grab him. Without missing a beat, Humphrey rushed toward the tree. Viggo spun around, pulled out his pistol and started shooting at Humphrey. Humphrey reached the mti and rammed into it, sending the new logboard hurtling down the hill. Without stopping, he leapt into the logboard and rode it down the hill, leaving Viggo looking down at him from the juu of the slope.

Humphrey collided with a couple of Viggo’s men when he reached the bottom of the hill. He jumped out of the logboard and the group ran back into the forest. Robert met Viggo at the bottom of the hill, watching the Mbwa mwitu loups retreat into the woods.

“What was that wewe were saying, Viggo?” Robert asked, sarcastically, “something about our troubles being over?”

Viggo gave Robert a dirty look before walking away back toward the valley, holding his hands behind his back.