Dodo Tales S4 Ep1

Author's note: I have returned. I don't know when I made S3, but I believe it was back in 2021. Anyway, don't be confused by the timeskip. I want to thank you all for the amazing support, and apologize for leaving you with a cliffhanger for two years. I may be a bit out of practice with writing, but at the same time I have matured a lot since dodo tales season 3.

Jerry held his shinehorn proudly, letting it shine a circle of light around him. He had never been afraid of the dark until about two months prior, when he arrived here. Adjusting his shining gauntlets, he turned to search for signs of life, but neither heard nor saw anything. Suddenly, a pebble tumbled in front of him, and he turned to where it had fallen from. He grabbed his pike, ready to face the threat. He slowly moved closer, still hearing nothing.

A figure dashed into the light for a moment, leaping through the air onto his shinehorn. He stood in shock as he watched the beast disappear into the darkness with his shinehorn, and as the shinehorn's light faded abruptly. He was cast into darkness; a world he did not want to be in for another second. He bolted up the slope away from the creature, careful not to stumble. He knew it was a ravager, which meant there were more. The second ravager leapt toward him, but Jerry slipped away and it instead hit a boulder head-first. The first ravager tried to climb the slope, but Jerry shoved his pike toward it, impaling it. He struggled to free the pike, deciding to leave it and running further uphill. He could hear more ravagers behind him, but continued running. Suddenly he spotted it; the nearby light of a torch. "JEFFERSON!" He yelled, running into the light with relief. "Jefferson...ravagers...shinehorn gone." He said, panting. Jefferson understood immediately, preparing his shotgun. As another figure leapt toward them, Jefferson unloaded his double-barrel shotgun into its face. It slid to the ground and did not move again. He turned the gun, unloading into another approaching ravager. Reloading, he turned to Jerry. "You know, I've never seen one of these up close. They're uglier than I imagined." He said before scanning the area for more ravagers.

"How old are you again?" Jerry said, his heart still pounding.

"A 'thank you' would suffice."

After no more ravagers approached, the two headed back home to see the others.

Jerry lifted his flak helmet from his head and placed it on a table. Another day had passed, and no progress had been made. As Jerry prepared food, a figure started to approach him from behind. "Henry, you had plenty of time to decide." Jerry started, still focused on his food. "That's right."

"So, what do you think?"

"To hell with the plan."

Jerry finally turned to face Henry.

"Have you gone insane? Do you want to be stuck here forever? Do you not value Rick's life?"

"Rick is likely dead, and there is no way out of here. Do you have any idea how much danger I've been put in to save a dead man? I tried being kind, and I tried being compliant, Jerry." Henry walked out of the room slowly and quietly, lowering his voice to a somewhat apologetic tone. "The kid and I are leaving in the morning. Jefferson can come too if he wants." He finished, walking up the stairs. Jerry listened to the buzz of the electric generators, empty inside. What fulfillment was out there untouched? Perhaps none now. Everyone he had ever known swiftly died. Was it his fault? Was Henry right?

He turned his gaze to the transponder tracker in his left hand. He wasn't going to allow himself to lose another friend.