The Ties of Family Chapter 11

Jo: And were back with chapter 11! 8D

Livy: Did you guys miss us? I hope you missed us.

Jo: Of coarse they missed us! Were too awesome to not be missed!

Livy: So lets not keep them waiting! What time is it?

Jo: DISCLAIMER TIME! Johan and Peewit belong to Peyo and I belong to the ever awesome CartoonCaster21

Livy: And I and Gearheart belong to Flowerpower71

Jo: So get in a comfy chair and grab some snacks because here we go!


Livy groaned as she awoke from her unconsciousness. Her head pounding and feeling dizzy.She tried to put a hand to her head but found that her arms were unable to move. Her emerald eyes shot open, fully aware and she realized that she was tied to a tree in an unfamiliar part of the forest. She could hear the sound of rushing water, indicating that a raging river was nearby. She stuggled against the ropes and screamed into the gag around her mouth but neither attempts were useful. She was trapped.

"About time you woke up."

Livy whipped her head around and narrowed her eyes at a man whom she recognized from the previous night......one of the Snake Kings.

Den came over, his arms crossed and a sick sneer of a smile on his face. "Ya know, your really pretty. It'd be ashame if such a pretty little face like yours were to get damaged." he said casually pulling out a knife.

Livy's eye's grew wide as the sun's glare glinted off the metal of the blade. She was completely helpless right now. No arrows, no friends, and her hands and mouth were tied so she couldn't even use magic. She glared at Den with all the hatred she could muster as he yanked her gag down.

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The trotting of hoofs could be heard as the teens neared. The Snake Kings were getting ready to pack up and leave to a new location, getting all supplies together but hadn't been prepared, not expecting people to wander by this close to their invisible site. They froze, hearing the hooves.

"Who do you think is coming?" one asked.

"I don't know but..." the other pulled loose some type of gun, "I'm not taking chances..."


The sound of hoofs got louder as it got closer and soon the three emerged from behind the trees.

"Hold it!" the man with the gun ordered. The other thieves produced their own weapons and aimed at the intruders.

"It's those blasted urchins from last night!" one hollered, recognizing the kids.

"Urchins?" Peewit said, offended, frowning at that.

Johan still glared down firmly, now being prepared, there was no way he was going to be pushed by these men, not when he beloved Livy was possibly indanger by their hands. "Where is the girl in the purple dress?! Answer me or let me speak with your so-called chief!" Johan clutched Bayard's reins with every word.

The men looked at each other, weapons and threats still hanging drawn, but now they exchanged weary - otherwise - confused looks.


Gearehart, hearing the commotion outside, decided to go out and investigate.

"What's going on here?" he demanded stepping out of his tent. His eyes instantly locking onto his son and two friends.....wait two?

"Johan?"

The other thieves looked at each other confused. How could their chief know his name.

"What have you and your men done with Livy?" Johan demanded, still gripping Bayard's reins.


"Livy?" Gearehart wondered aloud, somewhat fazed.

"The girl in the purple dress," Johan said through clenched teeth. This may be his father but he had to grip the reins to the point of white-knuckles just to not throw punches. Livy could be injured for all he knew and he hoped nothing worse.

Gearehart remembered and frowned, "She's not here."


Not here?" Johan questioned. "What do you mean she's not here?"

"I mean she's not here, exactly as I said." Gearehart said.

"She is missing!" Johan exclaimed, although that was already completely obvious that even some of the Snake Kings snorted at the boy's stupidity. Johan realized what he had said and it only fueled his anger.

"You pigs or men?" Jo muttered, glaring at two Snake Kings close to her left.

"W-we're sorry to disturb y-you then-" Peewit stuttered weakly, backing up some.

"I know you," Johan shot daggers at his father, "or one of your men has something to do with her missing. I know it. It has been calm for some time. May I remind the King will comb kingdoms of forests in this girl's search? Will you risk that discovery?"


"Johan, I swear I'm speaking the truth. We don't have Livy." Gearehart insisted.

"If that's so then you won't mind if my friends and I have a quick look?" Johan glared.

"There ain't no girl here boys so get lost!" A Snake King ordered.

"I'm a girl." Jo snapped glaring at the one who spoke.

The majority of the Snake Kings whipped around and looked at Jo strangely. "You are?"

Jo groaned and slid her hand down her face.

"We don't have her Johan." Gearehart repeated earnestly. "And besides, why would we take her in the first place?"

"To get to me." Johan snarled. "To get gold, money! That's all you care about anyways."


"You know that's not true," Gearehart said gruffly, not wanting too many of his men to hear.

"Look, we just wanna find Livy!" Jo blurted, worry beginning to tear at her throat by now. She was insanely worried for her dear friend and wouldn't be going back to the castle without her. "So either you start laying out some trails for us to follow or you ain't gonna have a campsite in five minutes."


Gearehart groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose in agitation. "Fine. You can look, but I'm telling you your wasting your time."

"We'll see about that." Johan mumbled as he moved Bayard forward and the three began to search the campsite.

"Chief?" One of the Snake Kings asked.

"Not now, Alezan." Gearehart snapped.

"But Chief," Alezan insisted. "Den still hasn't returned from the market. He should have been back by now."

Gearehart's eyes widen at that, and he faced the member known as Alezan. "Den...when did he leave?"

"About five hours ago, chief. We haven't seen nor heard of him since. Shall we search?"

"N-no, I will once I remove these children. Go about with the other men, I will take care of this." Gearehart dismissed the man who nodded in understanding, leaving the subject and chief behind.


"So Den is missing and so is Livy...." Gearehart thought. His eyes suddenly widened as a thought struck him. "Could he have.....no-no he wouldn't-oh who am I kidding, of coarse he would."

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"What do you want with me?" Livy demanded glaring at Den.

"Nothing, I just wanna ask you a couple of questions is all." Den sneered.

"So you knock me out with chloroform and tie me to a tree to do so? Livy spat. Makes perfect sense."

Den narrowed his eyes and glared at the girl. "You ain't in no position to be back talking like that girl, so I suggest you watch your tongue."


"And I suggest you think through your plans next time, you have no idea what you're doing, so I guess we're both in for improvement."

Den growled and came dangerously close to Livy's face, Livy pressing herself as far away from the awkward man as she possibly could. He glared at her for what felt like the longest two minutes of her life, and she ever so desperately wanting to kick him where the sun don't shine.

"Now answer my questions," Den demanded.


"I know that that squire friend of yours somehow has a connection to our Chief. What is it?"

"I have no idea what your talking about." Livy lied but the tinest hint of fear that flashed in her eyes when Den asked that was all he needed to tell she was lying.

"Oh, I think you do." he said pressing the tip of his blade against her cheek. "I think you know exactly what I'm talking about."


"You know, cutting my mouth won't help. Then how will I tell you?" Livy tried to act brave, but she knew Den could sense her fear for he only smirked.

"Answer me, or that little pretty face of yours...won't be so pretty no more..."


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"She ain't here Johan." Peewit said sometime after he Jo and Johan had been searching for their missing friend.

"We searched the whole campsite and there's no trace of her." Jo confirmed coming up next to her boyfriend.


Johan angrily swung a fist at a nearby tree, so roughly that the old bark splintered, cutting Johan's knuckles. Jo worriedly looked wide-eyed at her granddaddy, surprised he'd hurt himself, jumping when she felt a presence.

"Oh, its just you, Faker," she mumbled.

Gearehart nodded, ignoring the girl's nickname for him. He walked passed her over to Johan, speaking one thing that had the squire hitch in breath.

"Den."


"What?" Johan asked wide eyed, fear running through his entire being. His expression turned to one of determination. "Where is he keeping her?"

"I'm not quite sure, but I have a hunch." Gearehart said.


"What do you mean a 'hunch'?" Johan growled. This was no time for riddles or guesses.

"I mean one of my men reported he was missing. Den is a suspisious character. Hasn't always been but recently has been doubting my authority quite dangerously. It would only make sense he would go after Livy. If she was alone."

"SKITTLE CAKES!" Jo swore, "She was alone at the market today!"

"Where would Den even take her?" Peewit panicked, clearly fearful.


"There's a place further off in the woods by the river. It's secluded and untouched by both man and animal. I have a feeling he might have taken her there." Gearehart said.

"I'm going after her." Johan said as he started to go off to get Bayard but was stopped by his father.

"Johan, no. Den is dangerous. I won't let you three go by yourselves."


"Livy is my girlfriend, I vowed to protect her! I won't have Den do anything to her!"

"Livy's my bestie, and I'll rip that Den inside and out and stab him with his own ribs if he does anything funny!"

"We can't leave Livy,"

Gearehart looked at the three teens, prepared to ride off any second to save their kidnapped friend in the clutches of one of his most untrustworthy men. Gearehart hesitated, he knew there was no time left to waste, Den would surly kill her if he didn't cooperate. Why wouldn't he? He knew how Den was, and of course a kid was just a kid to him. Den obviously wouldn't care, he knew there were three other kids to use for his sick ransom game.

"We are going to save her,"

"Then let me come too, Johan,"


Johan paused and looked at his father. Every fiber of his being kept shouting, screaming at him to just hurry up and ride off to save Livy........But something held him back. His head said not to trust the man but his heart......his heart was beginning to say the opposite.

".............Fine. But hurry!" Was all Johan said. Gearehart smiled relieved and went to get his horse.


Gearehart didn't say anything to his men, just leaving a quick note in his tent that simply read 'be back soon, went to seek Den - Cheif' and grabbed his horse. He jumped on without putting on the proper equipment of saddles or hooks, just urging the teens forward.

"Come on, lets hope they're there."

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"Now for the final time girl," Den snarled. "What is the connection between the squire and Chief?"

For her answer, Livy spat in his face. Den stumbled backwards, his face blood red with fury. He wiped the spit from his face and glared at her, making Livy shrink down in fear. "Your going to regret that."

He held the blade up in the air and just as he was about to bring it down onto her face.....


Jo: Your serious.......your seriously leaving it on THAT cliffhanger?!

Livy: Yep ^^

Jo: WHY?!?!?!?!


Livy: Because~


Jo: I'm supposed to be the mean one!!! D8


Livy: >:3 Anyway lovely people Jo and I will see you in the next and final chapter of 'The Ties of Family!'

Jo: Bye guys~!