Groggily, Chloe opened her eyes again to find herself tied to what resembled a large pile of wood. She seemed to be on top of an enormous stone sun dial. Several thunderbolts hieroglyphics were written in the stone and they were all directed at her. She craned her neck and witnessed a temple composed of several yellow-green stone blocks. The entrance was lined with statues of ThunderBawks clutching spears with their pompom antennas. At the center was the goddess Electra towering over all of them with her hands cast dramatically.

"Twice in one day," Chloe muttered. "This is the second time I've been knocked out. And now I'm tied to a blasted bundled of sticks."

"I say," a familiar and rather posh voice cried. "Thank you for using that word to describe the sticks and not the other one! I thank you for that!"

"Rammy?" Chloe called back. "Are you tied to this makeshift bonfire too?"

"Oh my queen, " Ramone cried, turning his neck to face her. "I am! Monica, Abacab and the annoying clown child are here too."

"Hey guys!" Chloe called out. "How's tricks!"

"Not so bien," Monica said. "I wouldn't have fallen for these chicken balls and their weapons if they hadn't swindled me."

"What the young lass means to say," Captain Abacab chortled. "Is she was snookered in by their cuteness and they took her for a ride!"

"That's ridiculous," Chloe said, shaking her head. "How come you aren't snookered in by my cuteness, Miss Swordslady?"

"Err…" Monica stammered. "You're not my type?"

"And chicken puffballs are?!" Chloe exclaimed.

"They are my type!" Laura said dreamily, she made no attempt at struggling against her binding. "I also talk to rocks!"

"Shut up, Sunny!" Everyone shouted.

Soon, everyone had to shut their mouths because a large parade of Thunderbawks marched into the jungle. Vinnie was being carried on a golden chair, magically lifted by the bird creatures and their pompom antennas. In the front, was a much larger Thunderbawk. Pinstriped yellow and green much like Vinnie's suit, the bulky bird wore a golden crown upon his head.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"I am King Featherbutt!" the Royal puffball said, proudly puffing out his feathery chest.

"Uh oh," Ramone muttered. "This guy has perfect diction. He's clearly smarter than the average bird."

King Featherbutt glared from his dark black eyes. "You may laugh at our dimminutive species and the size of our brains. But we will have the last laugh."

"I dunno," Chloe smirked. "That Thunderbawk over there is sucking a full guava. That's hilarious "

"Jerry!" King Featherbutt snapped. "Stop that!"

"Mokay!" Jerry said, and he gulped the whole orange fruit into his circular body.

"Anywho," Featherbutt shouted as two Thunderbawks carrying lit torches flanked him. "That's beside the point. We have gathered here today for a good old fashioned sacrifice! All in the name of our Demigod, Vinnicus the Eelus, prophesized in ancient Thunderbawk scriptures to set us free from the demurge."

"The demurge?" Chloe asked. "Who is that?"

"None of your bird poop!" King Featherbutt shouted. "For you are our sacrificial lambs that will give Vinnicus the power he needs!"

"Uh yeah…sure…" Vinnie said.

Monica snapped at him. "Vinnie! You're more of a birdbrain than these birds. Get them to untie us!"

Vinnie looked around helplessly. "My greatest apologies my beautiful vixen. I already told dem to cut youse guys down. But they said no can do."

"Why?" Chloe shouted.

King Featherbutt's face darkened in the shade. "We need the blood of tourists to complete our harvest ritual! Simple as that. Then we can fight the demurge!"

Chloe thought deep inside her mind. The demurge? Who is the demurge.

"I'm surprised your royal tutors didn't teach you better critical thinking, child," Rosemary said proudly. "The demurge is the same goddess they claim to worship!"

Chloe's eyes lit up. Electra? she thought. Electra is the demurge?!

Chloe wore a look of sudden confidence. "Looks like you birdbrains have yourself a god problem! Is your goddess oppressing you and your people?"

King Featherbutt's eyes narrowed. "Yes…" he growled. "Anytime we do not honor Electra with gaudy statues, pedestals, temples, sacrifices and routine chants praising her greatness, she fries our tail feathers!"

Chloe grinned wide. "How about you let us go!"

King Featherbutt raised his whispy eyebrows. "And why would we do that?!"

Chloe grinned even wider. "So we can punch your goddess in the face, Featherbutt!"

King Featherbutt shook his head. "No can do. It is imperative we follow the holy scriptures."

"Scriptures smiptures!" Chloe mocked. "Are you really gonna let the same rules that Electra wrote for you dictate your whole lives? If I did that, I'd still be the stuffy queen of the Mainland!"

King Featherbutt scratched his head feathers. "You know..." he said. "You do have a point, you arrogant girl."

Everyone's eyes brightened in hope, but Featherbutt shook his head. "But we aren't gonna waive hundreds of years of sacred writing all because an outsider said so. Guards! Throw the torches!"

The two Thunderbawks beside him hurled their torches at the pile of wood. Soon the whole pile started to smoke.

Chloe grimaced. "Well that plan goes up in smoke. Much like us!"