>>5330508Biting your lip to avoid crying, you quietly massage your bruised ankle as your opponent begins strutting around the circle like a coach giving a speech to his team in a sports movie:
“Beasts and birds, mammals and marsupials, fish and… reptiles… at long last, I, <span class="mu-r">TORY THE TORRIBLE,</span> will demonstrate why I alone am fit to lead the pack–not <span class="mu-r">KING,</span> not <span class="mu-r">TERRY,</span> not <span class="mu-r">TIMOTHY</span> over there,” he adds, glaring at a squat, uneasy-looking skeleton with a possum’s skull, “but <span class="mu-s">ME!</span>”
Stomping over to you, the foul fowl picks you up by the scruff of your neck and stares daggers into your still-moist eyes! “You may have <span class="mu-i">gobbin</span> away with murder twice before, Stanley, but an elephant never forgets–and neither do we!”
Holding you aloft like that cub in ‘<span class="mu-i">The Lion Emperor</span>’, you feel your heart sink into your gut as the crowd erupts in raucous cheers and roars! He just <span class="mu-i">had</span> to make this a thing, didn’t he?
“As per the <span class="mu-r">LAW OF THE JUNGLE…</span> <span class="mu-i">Article 18A, Subsection 21e, Paragraph 2,</span> to be precise, ‘<span class="mu-i">he who defeats the reigning ‘King of the Jungle’, A.K.A the ‘Leader of the Pack’ will take the aforementioned mantle for his/her/theirself and hold said office until relieved by natural causes and/or a challenger!</span>’ <span class="mu-s">GOB!</span>”
So wait, you mutter, still grimacing from the throbbing pain in your ankle, you’re… you’re the <span class="mu-r">QUEEN OF THE FRIGGIN’ JUNGLE!?</span>
“No.” Replies Tory in an annoyed tone, “You’re the ‘<span class="mu-r">QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE.</span>’ Please try to pay attention.”
“<span class="mu-i">C-congratulations, S-Stan!</span>” Cheers Denise from behind the rest of your friends. Note to self, you mutter under your breath, sic the pack on <span class="mu-r">THE NERD</span> once this duel is taken care of…
“It’s been a long, winding road, Stanley Parble,” Spits Tory as he lets you drop to the ground, “One that might even be worth its own sub-par one-shot quest, but tonight… tonight I get revenge not just for my brother, but for every skeleton you’ve eviscerated!”
As the crowd erupts into cheers again, you quietly ask Nats how she’s doing!
“<span class="mu-r">This is all pretty exciting!</span>”
Yea, you nod, it’s pretty much par for the course for you… so listen, you continue, is she ready to do that <span class="mu-r">DEMON POWER</span> thing? It’d really help you out!
“<span class="mu-r">Dude… I JUST hopped into your body.</span>” She scoffs as you watch Tory perform some kind of dance around the circle, “<span class="mu-r">I’ve barely got any energy!</span>”
Is she <span class="mu-i">serious</span>!? Lame!
“<span class="mu-r">You blew off my arm and leg, Stan. ‘Sorry’!</span>”
Yea, you snort, you bet she is!
>CONTD. 