darkSpyro

"Now White sharks!? Seriously? Is there any creature on this ocean that doesn't let itself be manipulated by him!? No offense!" Sybil said to Jet, but it didn't stop her from being furious. Why were so many willing to serve Shadow? Jet served him once, and she was lucky she was able to bring him on her side... but wait, that was probably the answer.
"Hold on... maybe... if I can convince the sharks to not help him..." Sybil said, but more to herself than Nero or Zera. It was going to be complicated considering that orcas and sharks were mortal enemies, and they won't probably be too cooperative if they see her allied with orcas, but she was willing to try...

Sybil wasn't convinced.
"Well that won't stop me from trying at least. I need to know what lies Shadow came up with this time to convince them to work for him!" Sybil said furiously, wanting to stop Shadow at all cost.
"Jet, where do you find white sharks in this country? Take me there!" Sybil demanded, practically ordering him.
The orca brothers were worried, and even a bit scared. The have never seen Sybil that upset before.

"Well, I'll just have to make him like me, don't I?" Sybil said rather bluntly, determined to win this Zonos. Sybil was stubborn by nature, but she was taking it too far.
"Come on Jet, take me to this other side of the island and let me talk to him. If something goes wrong, I'll yell for you." Sybil assured him, not realizing the enormous concern she was creating. The orca brothers were in a corner, very worried indeed, especially the youngest one...

"...Alright. But stay hidden." Sybil said to Nero, hopin he could get help in case she couldn't. The brothers didn't like the idea at all, but Sybil was known for getting out of dangerous predicaments, so they trusted she was going to be alright.

After Jet brought her to the place, she walked to the island, and headed to a rocky dune, which was a bit too close to the water.
"Remember Jet, stay nearby in case I need you, but far enough for him to approach. Now go." Sybil said, already nervous of having to meet a dangerous white shark. She hasn't seen many sharks in her life thanks to the orcas keeping them at bay back at the Haven, but she knew their horrific reputation, so it was getting a bit hard to gather the courage...

The greeting made Sybil cower. She didn't even called Zonos and he was already there, as if he was waiting for her. But there was no turning back now. After a brief glimpse at the teeth, Sybil controlled her fear little by little and finally spoke.
"G-good morning... Zonos... I-I presume?" she said in a strained voice, but trying to sound as polite and respectful as possible. She wanted to know she had the correct shark. She has heard that sharks are very proud, perhaps even more than orcas themselves.

Sybil gave a sigh, and answered.
"I-I'm here because... it is to my understanding that... you know a Komodo dragon named Shadow." Sybil explained, mellowing her nervousness but it was clearly still there. She wanted to take things one step at a time, but then again, she didn't want to take long either.

"Do you... by any chance... serve him?" Sybil said in almost a whisper, believing it could offend him somehow...

To Sybil, serving and helping was the same thing if sharks were indeed planning on helping Shadow and his kind get to her home, but she didn't let him know that.
"W-why? What do you have to gain?" Sybil asked politely, yet rather disappointed. She wanted to know how on Earth Shadow convinced sharks to help him...

Sybil was now backed into a corner. He said yours, which meant that this shark knew who she was. And what was worse, those seals were the main course of her orca friends, and deepening on how many sharks Zonos commanded, it could mean war between both species.
"That place is off limits, even for me. Only... orcas... are allowed there." she said briefly, hoping not to regret mentioning the word orca. She was growing desperate, and she knew that her marine friends were not going to like the idea of living peacefully among sharks, so the situation was growing severe...

Sybil almost took on the offer, but she didn't do what she came for. She saw the shark swimming away, and called desperately.
"Wait! I'm not done! Come back! Just... hear me out!" she yelled, almost falling to the water when she came to the edge. Managing to hold her ground, she started to think on how was she going to able to top Shadow's offer...

Sybil thought hard, when she realized she couldn't possibly top the offer. She didn't know of any other place that had seals. She then gave what she had in mind a try, even though she believed there was little chance of success.
"There is something else you must want! Come on, I'll give you anything!" she said, almost begging. She was determined not to let Shadow return to the Haven.

Sybil was having enough of Zono's rudeness and threats. It looked like there was no convincing this huge fish, and in her new mood, she came up with yet another idea.
"So... you are willing to serve as slaves for this huge lizard in order to have food that, like I said before, is off limits... Fine, have it your way, but know this; I made a deal with Shadow once, and he broke it! All I can say is... he's not to be trusted." Sybil explained, hoping to at least grow seeds of doubts in his mind. She then waited for him to leave so that she could call Jet...

"JEEET! Jet! Come on! I'm done here!" Sybil called, very, very furious. She couldn't convince Zonos, but at least she now knew what Shadow's plans was. So maybe his return was inevitable, but now she could plan ahead for what was coming. She really hated the fact that there was probably going to be violence, but she had no choice. Shadow had sharks, but she had orcas, so she was sure she could win the fight with them.

Sybil remembered that Nero followed her, and even though she couldn't see him, she spoke to him.
"Nero, thank you, and thank Zera for me." she said, before turning to Jet again.
"Let's go home Jet. I'm done with this place." she said, with a tone of hatred.

The orca brothers went behind Jet, whispering to each other. Seeing Sybil, something was very wrong. Her demeanor was kinda scary, though after a while, they voted to dismiss it as a simple case of disappointment and excessive stress. So she didn't have any success with he sharks? That was certainly something they were starting to be nervous about once heir former leader, Cairo, finds out...

As Sybil traveled back home on Jet, she was extremely disappointed. She use to change the perspective of so many animals for the best with mere kindness. She managed that with Jet himself. Why wasn't she able to do so with Shadow and Zonos? Why was it so difficult?

After a while of being ridden with guilt and failure, she finally calmed herself and told Jet the news.
"Jet? I suppose you have deduced yourself by now that I was unsuccessful. Shadow promised this Zonos to have all the seals from Hunted island, and it was impossible for me to convince him not to work with him." she said, when she gave a brief pause and spoke again.
"I... I think that maybe a war is at stake. You and Cairo must prepare the pod for the worst. Sharks are coming, bringing Komodo dragons with them to invade the Haven. You two must organize yourself and think of a strategy to fend them off." Sybil explained, terror surrounding her at the thought of an invasion.

Sybil simply nodded, not in the mood for more conversation. Orcas could easily beat a shark, but she was worried on the numbers. Now she really regretted not asking Zonos how many sharks approximately he had in his lead. If there were too many of them, it was possible that her orca friends could lose the battle. She tried not to think of it much though, and she proceeded to try to restore the sleep she lost last night.

Back at the Haven, it was already afternoon, and Warren has stayed in the beach, waiting for Sybil. More than two days has passed since her departure, and he was really worried about her. Not far from him, Cairo was swimming, very exhausted and cranky. Ever since Sybil left, he hasn't eaten or sleep anything. And he didn't intend to do so until Sybil returned.

As morning comes Royal steps out of the tree and stretches his legs and wings. His golden eyes glisten in the morning light. He watches the shoreline as something is tells him that danger is coming to them. He has no idea about the planned attack of Shadow and the Great Whites, but he nonetheless remains alert.

Jaerl is perched on a tree above Warren, gazing out at the vast ocean. He knows that Sybil has left on a journey to return Shadow to his home, however he believes with all his heart that she is safe and well. That she will be returning home soon.

Rose's yell was heard through the whole sea. After Jet passed through him, Cairo gave him an approving nod, happy that he was successful in protecting Sybil. But Sybil just gave him a brief glimpse, not looking forward to giving him the news.
"Who will tell him?" she asked Jet, knowing that one of them should tell him. She was more ready to tell Rose than him, since Cairo could be a bit unstable.

The orca brothers received a nudge from Cairo, who was now in a good mood. The brothers were quite happy, and returned to the pod, looking forward for more respect after such a long journey. Cairo in the meantime, was extremely sleepy and hungry, and went to hunt with what little energy he had left.

Sybil left Jet's back, almost hugging the sand of her beloved Haven.
"Hello Rose. Nice to see you again." Sybil greeted, forcing a smile. Rose was so young and optimistic that it hurted her needing to tell her the news of Shadow's return. She was trying to ser her mind at ease, but right now, she was wondering what Shadow was doing at that very moment...

Now it was settled. Sybil was going to tell Rose the news, but she was going to wait a while. There was no way she was going to ruin her good mood. She had a whole month to tell her, time that she hoped would be enough to prepare for what was certainly inevitable.

At Hunted island, Cairo managed to grab a young adult male seal. He has almost given up the fight since that seal was strong and healthy, but after almost half an hour of struggling, Cairo was successful. Finally with a full belly and Sybil's comeback, he was going to be able to sleep peacefully.

When Jet continued looking, it made Sybil uncomfortable.
"Later, ok?" she said between teeth, thinking that the stare was him forcing her to tell Rose already.
"Well, thank you for everything as always Jet. I really owe you big this time." she then said politely, pretending everything was alright.
"Come Rose. Escort me home." she then said kindly, walking away, and looking back at Jet sneakingly so that he wouldn't slip a word to the happy tiger.

The afternoon was very quiet. Not even Sholeh could be felt. She has given up all the struggling, and was even beginning to believe that the punishment was permanent, and that nobody was thinking of setting her free. But for the rest of the animals, especially the warblers and keas, news of Sybil's return were spreading like pollen. She was alive and well, and everyone was happy...

"Wh... oh, no. Well, his usual taunts, you know, trying to torture as always, but now he's back where he belongs..." Sybil answered, but knew that she couldn't keep that vital information for long.
"Also..." she was about to say, but didn't find the courage to do so.
"... just... practice your fighting." she concluded, trying to at least give Rose the idea of needing to prepare for the worst.

"Just... for the future. We never know what new threats may come." Sybil assured, trying to give Rose the impression that it was a precaution. She wasn't ready to tell her just yet.

Three days passed, and still Sybil didn't say a word. Whenever Rose tried to ask her what on earth was the matter, she remained silent. When Cairo requested her presence in order to surf together like they use to, it was an offer that she refused. Sybil spent most of her time on the tree, carving lines to count the days. She was barely eating, and when she did, she fed on berries and fruits, and left the fish out. The birds on the island were quite happy now that the Haven seemed to be getting back to it's normal, peaceful life. Sholeh was still in sentence, there was no more Shadow, and nobody heard about the dingos in quite a while. Even Yodel seemed to not be causing any trouble. All was great, but many of them couldn't help to notice Sybil's gloomy behavior as of late, and nobody dared to ask her or Jet what was going on...

"You'll know... today." Sybil answered, taking Rose with her to the kea's tree.

Early that morning, Sybil requested a meeting with the keas to finally tell the truth. Only the parrots were assisting, since Sybil didn't want the rest of the birds know yet. Once Mambo and his flock were reunited, they waited for Sybil to arrive. They didn't have to wait long. A sentry announced that the civet just arrived, with the young Rose in tow. The two of them climbed, and once everybody was reunited, Sybil shared a very saddened glance to both Rose and Mambo.

"I know... I owe you all an explanation..." she said sadly, beginning the meeting.
"The truth is... the truth is... Shadow will return in less than a month... on white sharks... and with an army of Komodo dragons to plunder our beloved Haven..." Sybil said with a deep sigh, finally getting that off her chest. Murmurs and panic surrounded that meeting, with the keas terrified on what the outcome was going to be. One Komodo dragon was danger enough, but a whole army? Now many of them were beginning to grow angry at Sybil for not having him killed when she had the chance, and others were even suggesting to leave the not so safe Haven anymore and leave the residents to their luck.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Mambo suddenly yelled, ordering his flock to end all those atrocious suggestions.
"This is our new home now, and we owe it to everybody here the chance we had to fix that unfair reputation our kind has. We WILL stay! And we'll use whatever we had at our disposal to fight these monsters." Mambo courageously said, willing to be loyal to Sybil to the very end. This made Sybil proud and grateful, but she was in deep worry. All the damage Shadow caused at his stay, and he was only one Komodo dragon. She couldn't even imagine what a whole army will cause. She was almost convincing herself that it was a lost fight, even with the mighty elephants, the huge polar bear and even a crocodile at her side...

Jaerl, who is beside Sybil, wraps a wing around her and smiles.

"We won't let them take our home away. I will always be by your side. I will protect you from that monster," he says, with his eyes glinting in the light.

The elephant brothers nod is agreement as does Royal and Ivor. They will not allow their home to be taken. They will fight and defeat this threat as they have any others. Anvor and Bjorn trumpet and stomp the ground.

"We will triumph over this threat. We drove away humans. We tamed the mongoose. We even defeated Shadow in his own game. We will defeat him again, no matter what allies he may have," they say confidently.

"I'll warn them." Mambo volunteered, understanding Rose. It was very possible that Shadow was planning to invade Hunted island as well.

"Since when did you two arrived?" Sybil asked Jaerl and Royal, believing those two were spying on her. Or did Mambo called them? He didn't say a word to them, so that must be it.
"Never mind that. You two can go around the Haven and tell the warblers, pelicans and seagulls what we just discussed at this meeting." Sybil instructed, taking advantage of their assistance. She then looked down the tree, and could see that the elephants were present as well, and with ears like those, they most certainly heard the news as well. That was great. That would give them time to prepare and warn the rest of the Haven residents.

Before Mambo left, he instructed his flock to think of traps they could build for the beach. They all obeyed, but were secretly upset with him for wanting to stay. As Mambo left with Cole to talk to the cockatoos, they all flew away, ready to build the traps that were going to be so necessary. But how many of them they needed? Not even Sybil knew how many of the deadly lizards were coming to shore, so that was a problem...