Captured

Chapter Eight

The next morning, Chips and Charley hopped over to Rocky and Rhonda's shelter. Rocky and Rhonda were sitting by their fire. When they saw Chips and Charley, they quickly told the news about the Gubazah Monster.

"We saws him!" shouted Rocky.

"We hit him with our stones," said Rhonda

"He was hurt by our stones and sad that we were so mean to him." Rocky continued.

"We tried to help him, but he would not let us," explained Rhonda.

"We begged him to stay, but he left."

Chips was excited that the Gubazah Monster actually existed. However, Chips was very concerned.

"How badly was he hurt?" he asked.

Rhonda replied, "His head was bleeding."

"Then we better find him to see if he is okay," Charley declared.

"But he won't let anyone near him," Rocky stated.

"What does he look like?" asked Chips.

Rhonda said, "He's very big. He had dark brown fur. He has black eyes and large sharp teeth."

"We have to show him we can be his friends," Charley stated. "What direction was he heading for when he left?"

Rocky and Rhonda pointed to the north, and they all started off to search for the monster. They did find a few tracks, so they knew they were heading in the right direction. Soon they were at the base of Roly-Poly Hill.

"Maybe he is at the top of the hill," suggested Chips.

Rocky stated, "He may have been too hurt to climb it. Why don't we look around here first? We can walked around the bottom of the hill."

They all agreed and began to make their way around the base of the hill. As they approached Grumpy's house, they could here someone roaring.

They all looked at each other and realized what must have happene.

"Grumpy is at it again!" shouted Chips.

They quickly races to Grumpy's house.

Grumpy was standing in front of his house. He looked like he was very proud of himself.

"I have captured the horrible Gubazah Monster!" he announced. "I found him slumped over in the pain from a wound in his head, and I pulled him into my cage."

"You will have to let him out!" Charley declared.

Grumpy was angry. "Let him out? Not on your life? He is fierce monster that tramps on animals gardens and...who knows what else?"

Charley hopped into Grumpy's backyard. Everyone else followed behind him.

Grumpy continued, "You are not talking me into letting him out. It would be foolish."

The poor Gubazah Monster was struggling to get out of the cage. He was grabbing the bars and roaring very loudly.

"You know," said Chips. "Maybe Grumpy is right. He looks mean. We better leave him in there."

Charley shook his head. "He is angry because he was treated badly. He did not do anything to deserve to be in there."

"How can you say that?" asked Grumpy.

"What has he done? We do not have any evidence that he hurt anyone. He did not hurt Rocky and Rhonda last night, even though they hurt him. All that he has done is walk on your garden. Is that a reason to treat him like this?"

"Well...he bent some of my plants."

"Now, Grumpy, that is not so bad."

"If I let him go now, he will eat us all up! Look at him!"

The Gubazah Monster did look very fierce.

Charley approached the cage. "I am very sorry for our behavior. We are all scared of you because we heard that all monsters are mean. Are you mean?"

"No, I am not the one throwing stones or locking animals in cages. I leave you all alone. Why can't you leave me alone?"

"So if we let you out of the cage, will you not hurt any of us?"

"Not if you promise to leave me alone."

"Well, Grumpy. I think you better let him out now. He did nothing wrong and he has promised not to hurt us."

Grumpy grumbled, "You spend all your time looking for this monster. Now you want to set him free. It makes no sense."

Grumpy opened the latch to the cage. The Gubazah Monster stepped out. He let out a roar, and everyone jumped back in fright. Then the monster ran into the forest as quickly as he could.

Grumpy was shaking, "I thought he was going to eat us alive."

Chips said, "Me too."

Charley agreed that is was scary, but he was glad to free him.

"Maybe he want to be left alone because everyone misjudges him," Charley reasoned.

"Maybe it is because he feels he is different from the rest of us and no one will ever like him," said Chips.

"Maybe it is because he is even grumpier that I am!" Grumpy stated. The friends could not help but laugh.