#wally's choker & the crystal

[simiansmoke]

@koopzilla

Like a driver shielding their passenger, instinct had Bowser tucking the ape behind his stretched arm as that haunting roar tore through the trees. Beady red orbs dart back and forth, absorbing every detail in the thicket. A howling wind makes every leaf in the jungle dance-- they'd have more luck finding Wally in a naughty magazine than the origin of that screech.

A lingering silence demands their response. First, Bowser grappled his prisoner's muzzle and shoved it aside. Protection comes at a cost DK has not yet paid. "No. I don't want a crystal pear! I want a crystal coconut!" Their second order of business was bickering. If their enemies were measuring them up right now... they were not making a strong impression.

Undeterred, the tyrant tore through the foliage as if he had missed that warning siren. The glow of a flickering flame beckoned them toward the temple; he will not be moved off the path.

In time, the hallowing quiet grows ominous. The skies are absent of chirps; no ants scour the floors. It was as if the jungle choked all life from the island. Or everything with a functioning brain cell had wisely abandoned the scene. The crackle of burning underbrush carries for miles.

Eventually, the need to fill the gap reached even the king of the koopas. "So, you've seen these idiots before. What am I looking out for?"

-------------------------

Though they sported similar chokers, the pair didn't share very much in common; although, if DK had a tail like his forced company, he very likely would have it tucked between his legs as he stood crouched beside the big Koopa shell like it might successfully impale anything that jumped out at them from the inky foliage. When the wind answered the first howl with one of its own, causing fan palms to bend and swat at them, DK was partially glad for the windbreaker that was Bowser's arm for the brief moment it lingered in front of him.

He staggered sideways away from his only barricade against the wind once shoved, and it was definitely a noticeable difference. Considering his fur was still damp, the wind caused his skin to to quiver and shift the mahogany hairs up into a bristled attempt to ward off the chill.

"I swear to a Goomba's asshole if you're dragging me out here just to get some ritzy ditzy gift to convince Peach to be your girlfriend again--" He began, annoyed at the very idea that Bowser's plan could possibly involve this scenario, the Kong paused mid-way accusation as they sunk deeper into the jungle's innards.

Something didn't smell quite right, but at the risk of offending the likely rank turtle terror toting the rights to his ability to breathe freely, DK simply scooted ahead of the big lug a few yards before rising up tall to give the fresh wind a couple of concerned whiffs, head on a swivel to try and determine the location of its origin.

"If you're worried you'll blink and miss them - don't be." It was hard not to notice a few heads above DK stretching out his very best to appear even a millimeter longer. After a bit of scouting, he decided it was nothing to worry about and had only just begun to drop to his knuckles and swivel back to Bowser when a mass of what seemed like massive shadow under the clouded moon seized the Kong in a tackle sporting the momentum of 4-wheeler truck kart.

Rolling a few times in tandem with the mass, it took the exposure of the moon to reveal a broad frame covered in black hair as it bashed DK's back onto the ground in one more turn of their somersault spin before shoving down large tan hands to propel the owner backwards and onto his feet. "Well, well...if it isn't the little donkey."

DK grimaced - partly from the bruise that was likely forming between his shoulder blades, and mostly from Dread Kong's greeting. He'd already scrambled to face the massive Kong - perhaps only a head or so taller than him, but definitely wider in the shoulders. He didn't want to give him another opening like that for sure.

Dread's narrow eyes flashed red under the moonlight as they swiveled from DK to Bowser, and back to DK. The sight had him expose a yellowing grin that stretched from ear to ear. "My, how big you've gotten." With a chuckle that caused the long vines of dreads the Kong sported to sway along his back, Dread swiped his tonged across the blunt edges of his teeth. "Looks like I'm still bigger."

Recognizing the hint of oncoming violence in the Kong's tone, DK reacted quickly. "More of your ass to kick, I guess!" He surged forward into a gallop, winding back and staggering to his feet to throw a jab at the former Banana kingdom's former chief only for the massive mountain of flesh to show some surprising dexterity by side stepping the blow entirely and swiveling around to catch DK's neck in an headlock before he go too far with his punch. He probably did not expect the collar of spikes to be there, but he didn't seem to let it deter his method of restraining DK aside from it eliciting a hiss.

"It'll take more than those little durian spikes to bother me, little donkey." Dread laughed. The guy really enjoyed hearing himself talk. Maybe not so much hearing himself shriek, but shriek he did once DK managed to use the looser grip thanks to the spikes to rip a red mark into the bastard's shoulder.

As the Kongs separated, DK staggered back again, his mouth tinted red and scowling. Flames erupt from DK's fists, burning and yet flesh-sparing. "...somethin' like THIS? Get outta here, dude."