Ben and Lucy: The Sunken Kingdom
Chapter 16 Baggy

The crunch of the snow was the only sound Ben could hear as he and Max made their way through the trees. Max stopped abruptly. Ben froze. He knew that Max could sense things quicker than he could. Max looked back at Ben and motioned with his head for Ben to take cover behind a huge tree to his left. Ben leaned against the tree and pulled out a sword from his backpack. He knew something was coming. The backpack had not provided one of these before. Ben held the sword in his hand. It felt perfect. Lightweight yet sturdy and powerful. Max even was impressed by the sword. Now could Ben actually use the thing was the question.

Max crept to the tree on the right. Whatever was coming would go right between them. They could ambush the creature from both sides. Ben remained quiet and listened. Something big was coming their way. The trees crashed in the distance. Birds flew up from the trees. Max tensed.

Ben could make out his muscles through his fur. Max was a powerful hound. Ben knew that Max could easily take down an elephant back home. Ben was still uneasy. The thing coming toward them was also huge with very little fear. Even the wolf he met earlier in the day was quieter than this thing. There was no concern for stealth with this animal. Ben realized that this thing coming toward them had no enemies or at least was not afraid of anything. Then something odd happened. A sound that was cheerful came through the trees. This thing was actually singing.

“Oh carry me home to the den where I lay.

I am going to sleep all the live long day.

Dreaming of the sweetness of the hive

The delicious honey is what makes me come alive.

Buggy, sarcasm, boogie, bye.

Fascination, cautious, cautious, why”

Ben chuckled to himself. The singing stopped. Ben froze.

“Who goes there? Is that you, you egotistical Tiger?”

Max looked at Ben. Ben looked puzzled back at Max.

“What, the human got your tongue? Ha Ha Ha.” As the last line was spoken, the huge creature came into view making its way between the trees in front of Ben and Max. Ben was completely confused. This laughable jolly creature was a huge Grizzly Bear, but as everything else in this land the Bear looked to be prehistoric and larger than any Bear Ben had ever seen, live or in books. The bear stopped and sniffed the air. The good nature air was suddenly filled with a growl from the creature.

The bear then moved faster than Ben could see. Suddenly he was grabbed from the tree and when he got his wits about him Ben was being pinned down by the bear with one paw. Ben could barely move or breathe. The bear eased off just a little to let Ben have some air. Ben looked to his right and saw that he was not the only captive of this bear. Max also was being held down by the bear’s other paw. Ben was impressed. How could this big lumbering creature move so quickly?

“Ok, mankind. What brings you into this forbidden forest?” The bear stared down into Ben’s eyes.

“I, uh, fell and Max hear came to save me.”

“Fell! From where?”

“Off the cliff.”

“Ha Ha Ha, that is a tale. You mean to tell me that you made it past the White Tiger?” the bear laughed in Ben’s face.

“Yes. I did and fell into the snow.”

“Oh come now. No animal, least of all a frail thing like you could survive that fall.”

“It is true, he did fall.” Max added.

“Silence! Servant of man!” The Bear yelled back at Max.

“So I see you have the power to speak to us animals.” The bear said with a hint of sarcasm and distaste.

“A nice trick but no magic could save you from the Tiger.”

“We did not see the Tiger.” Ben answered.

“Oh really. He never lets anyone pass. Why would he let you?”

“Honestly I fell while he was chasing us, but he went after the sled.” Ben stopped short, thinking he said too much.

“Ah, a sled. So there are more of you.”

“Yes, they are twins.” Max added.

The bear quickly pushed down on Max caused Max to whine in pain.

“I told you to be quiet Man slave!”

“Please don’t hurt him.” Ben pleaded.

The bear turned toward Ben. Then he looked Ben over, now more interested in what he looked like. The bear continue to exam Ben in quiet. This knowledge that Ben was a twin suddenly made the bear take notice. Ben wondered what was going through the bear’s head.

Suddenly the trees around them came alive. Fierce growls erupted from all sides. The wolves were back, they were everywhere. The bear was attacked by three at once, as the wolves knocked the bear off of Ben and Max, this freed them. Ben rolled over and looked for his sword, to his amazement the sword was glowing blue. Just as Ben was about to grab the handle a wolf jumped in between him and his weapon.

“Now, I have come back for you human.” The wolf that previously left Ben alone was now back. Ben realized that this wolf was now intent to devouring him. Fear overtook Ben, his thoughts left him. His body reacted by instincts alone. Ben dodged the wolf’s lunges. The wolf tried over and over to pounce on his human prey. Each time the wolf had Ben cornered, Ben sprang out of the way, each time jumping faster than before.

“You move better than any human I have seen.” The wolf commented with respect.

The speed in which Ben was moving was now grabbing the attention of the other wolves, the bear, and Max. The animals had never seen a human react with such dexterity and speed. His moves were unlike any man they had seen. As the animals stood in awe, Ben made his way toward the sword. He reached for the handle, it was still five feet away when the sword moved to Ben. It flew in the short distance. Ben did not have time to think.

As the sword was grasped in Ben’s hand, the wolf pounced once last time. The sword swung around in a flash, sparks flying out of the blade. In a blink of an eye the sword sliced through the wolves body, slicing the beast in two as smooth as a hot knife through butter. The wolf had no chance. Ben froze on the spot, on either side of him lay halves of the gigantic wolf. The remainder of the wolves were driven back by Max and the bear. Yelping animals ran from the clearing in which the three combatants now found themselves. The Bear, Max, and Ben looked at each other in silence. The Bear was the first to make a noise. He began to laugh. Max and Ben exchanged confused stares.

“Ha, ha, ha. The small young human has powers and magic unforeseen. My good fortune was for the wolves to attacked, otherwise I would have been the vanquished.” The Bear bowed toward Ben.

“What are you doing?” Ben questioned the bear.

“Let me humbly introduce myself. I am Balucius Bagari Boozarius. You can call me Baggy Boo, or just Baggy.”

Ben tried to keep himself from laughing. Max could not hold it in an longer. The three laughed together.

“Well hello Baggy, nice to meet you.” Ben finally said through the laughter.

“So my new friends, what brings you to these woods?” Baggy said with a blink in his eye.

Ben then told his story from the beginning where he and Lucy flew in his bed. Once finished Baggy was quiet. The bear was deep in thought. Ben looked at Max, Max looked back puzzled as well. No one spoke. The Baggy smiled. “I guess I am the lucky one once again. Where do you head now my dear friend?”

“We were on our way to the sunken kingdom to meet Eloise.”

“Eloise!, Oh I have heard great things about her. She is what they call a mermaid, I believe you humans call them. We bears call them talking fish. Ha ha ha.” Baggy chuckled at his own joke. No one else did. Quickly Baggy stopped laughing.

“Well, it is funny with us bears. Anyway, I think I will just have to tag along and make sure you get there in one piece. I wouldn’t want you to trust your fate to this man servant.” At this jab, Max growled at Baggy.

“Even after this bit of show. I fear there are more dangers out there that even you cannot handle alone.” Baggy smile and ruffled Ben’s hair. The bear’s huge paws shook Ben’s whole body.

“It’s ok Max. Baggy does not know you. What would you expect from a bear. Sleep and honey?” Max stopped and looked puzzled.

“What is honey? It sounds delicious” asked Baggy licking his lips.

“Oh come on. You mean to tell me that in this place there is no honey? You know the sweet sticky stuff that bees make.”

“Bees?” Both Max and Baggy looked at each other. Neither of them knew what Ben was talking about. Now that he thought about it Ben did not see any insects around not even flies. This land was beginning to get even stranger. Ben desperately wanted to get back home.

“So, do either of you know of insects?”

Both of the animals tilted their heads and shook no.

“You know, the little bugs that fly around.”

“Bugs? Are you speaking of the creatures that come after death?”

“Yes, the bugs that eat the dead bodies.”

“Oh, you mean the Antnids.”

“Antnids? Yeah whatever you call them here. Do you not have any that fly?”

“Oh god no. That would be disgusting.”

“No insects that fly? Then no mosquitos. Excellent.” Ben exclaimed. He hated mosquitos, they always seem to replace him no matter where he went. Back in New York he could recall when Lucy and he would play I the woods, he would always be bitten but Lucy was never touched. He thought at least this place has one good thing. No mosquitos!

“So man-child, you said you were on your way to Eloise. Then I believe we should get going. There are more dangers in the woods that the pack of wolves. Baggy exchanged glances with Max. Both understood the other. They knew they needed to get moving soon and get through the woods.

“Max, how did I do that? You know the moving etc.” Ben asked Max.

Max was confused as well. This stranger boy had more surprises than he was used to. He was starting to feel uneasy around the boy. Max moved ahead.

“Where do we go from here?”

“I know a route that is quick but we need to travel quietly. One false move and the wolves will look like a pack of squirrels.” Baggy warned both Max and Ben.

“Follow me.”

At this the huge bear sprang off due east. Ben grabbed his backpack and began after him. Max followed behind. Keeping behind Ben to protect him. Although after tyne last scene with the wolf Ben appeared to be able to defend for himself.

The three moved through the woods quickly and amazingly to Ben quietly. Ben was impressed with how Baggy nimbly moved between each tree. It was if he knew where every tree lie before he got there. Ben was struggling to keep up. Baggy stopped every few seconds to allow Ben and Max to catch up. Each time the huge bear smiled at Ben and then exchanged a concern look toward Max. The two animals knew that their human companion would bring trouble.

The sun began to creep down in the sky, with its descent, the temperature began to fall as well. The three had traveled only an hour or so, but by this time Ben was seeing his breath and beginning to shiver as they traveled. Baggy looked back at his traveling companions. He was concerned that they would not make the river crossing before nightfall. Then things would really get difficult for the boy.