Chapter 4 – Family Time

 

Crunch walked on through the forest, before finally arriving near the place of his home. It had changed over the past 5 years, as it now has a beautiful backyard area, with a handmade and designed path, fences and planted gardens. All made by Tani, with some help from other family members. Crunch walked along the path, and then came across the stairway, which was still in its same place after all these years.

He walked up, eager to finally get up stairs and have a proper rest with his family, and he could already hear little footsteps running around the house above. He smiled and went up to the door. As soon as he slid the door opened, he was already greeted with affectionate hugs around each of his legs, by his two younger bandiger kids, and the oldest one too… Tasha,

 

“Hey Dad! We missed ya, we were waiting all morning to finally go out into the jungle to explore, and maybe watch you catch something!”

 

Said his oldest daughter, Tasha. She was around 5 years old now. But to a human, she would appear and act out as a 9 to 10 year old instead.

The two other bandigers were only just under 3 years of age, and were still quite small… as they clang to Crunch, while smiling.

 

“Where were you Daddy? Mum said you would have been back a lot earlier!”

 

Yelled Tayna, the female of the burgundy coloured bandigers. Crunch just smiled at them, and kneeled down to pick all 3 of them up in his large arms.

 

“Heheh Sorry rascals, I was just out doing my daily walk of the island… but I did end up having some breakfast too. But I’m sure you kids already had something better from your mother anyway…”

He said, before walking more inside and finally noticing Tani in the kitchen, cleaning up. She glanced over at them and smiled, before saying

 

“Seems they’re more annoyed at you for taking a bit longer to come home today then, heh”

“Yeah true… sorry though, I sometimes just, get carried away! But man, I really need to lay down for a bit more… I feel so bloated after that meal!”

“What?! You already had breakfast? Sigh, seems you’ll have to eat this later then…”

 

Tani replied, and grabbed a plate; which was for Crunch, and put it away into the oven. Crunch walked over towards the room, to lie down on the bed… looking very relaxed. Before the three bandiger kids started to jump around and become impatient

 

“Aww come on Dad, you said we could go out into the jungle today! It’s so boring doing nothing…”

Tasha said, and her younger siblings agreed.

 

“We can always go later on Tasha. Just let me have a rest for a bit heh…”

 

Crunch replied to her. Soon, Tani showed up into the room and noticed all the kids trying their best to get their fathers attention, but he just lay there; looking lazy. Tasha simply went to lie on Crunch’s chest, to try and annoy him a bit. While Tayna started to pull at his ears a bit,

 

“Come on Daddy, I wanna go!”

 

Tackle, the quieter one of the family, was sitting there and simply went to lay up against his Dad, unsure of what to do. But he did want to go out for the day, like his sisters. Tani just smiled and giggled a bit at the bandigers efforts, Tani then came to lie down on the bed, right besides Crunch. He opened one of his eyes, to see Tani lying right next to him,

 

“Aww man, not you too…”

Crunch mumbled, Tani gave off a devious smile and simply poked him with one of her clawed fingers on his side.

“Hey, stop being silly you. The kids were looking forward to going out for the day…”

 

Tani said, and she poked Crunch again while still smiling in a cheeky way and then Tayna decided to copy Tani, and Tasha noticed this, and did the same too… Crunch then started to smirk a bit… as it seemed to tickle him. Tani, Tasha and Tayna all looked at each other, and Tani winked. Before they started to tickle him, firmly with their clawed fingers. Tackle was slightly startled when Crunch started to laugh a bit and suddenly move. He even smiled, and did the same as his sisters and mother, then Crunch finally let out laughter and sat up,

 

“Ok ok ok guys, that’s enough! Ha, ah! No more, please!”

 

Crunch said, still laughing and flinching a bit as they tickled through his soft fur to get at his skin. They started to slow down, all glaring back up at Crunch, who was now sitting up against the pillows and wall behind him. Tackle then moved closer to crawl up to his father.

 

“Dad… what if we just go with sister, Tasha? Did not you and Mum used to go into the wild as kids like us too? I remember from stories you told about you and Mum from when you were both little, like us…”

 

Tackle asked. He was usually quiet, but not too shy with his own family. And he would speak out if he felt he needed to. He was also a lot more careful than the sisters, but liked to get into adventures with the family and get out and about to explore. Crunch raised an eyebrow from his comment, and looked at Tani… who also had the same expression.

 

“Hmm you know Tackle; you’re quite right about that. Tasha is around the age me and your mother used to wander the forests but still, it is dangerous in some areas! Especially up the mountain more. So if any of you ever do explore… never go uphill! And stay on the tracks, and do not wander outside of our homeland…”

 

Crunch said, telling his children, quite firmly and seriously. Tackle nodded and took note of it in his head, while his sisters also nodded, but didn’t seem to take him as seriously as Tackle, himself did.

Tani then moved to face her kids as well,

 

“Yes that’s true. But the only reason me and your father did when we were young is because we had no parents… we were all alone, besides having Kong as a ‘caregiver’ but he was near useless most the time!”

“But I think I’m old enough to take them out to explore!”

Tasha replied to her mother. Who then looked back at Crunch.

“You know… that is a nice idea, I’m sure your uncle would appreciate the company. But as I said… do not go uphill!”

 

Crunch told Tasha. Tasha nodded to him with a more serious looking face this time. The kids jumped off the bed, and Tani moved off as well. While Crunch was now sitting on the bedside, smiling at his family. Tani then walked over towards the doorway,

“Alright you lot, I’ll get Tasha a backpack with some lunch and other things you can take with you. Don’t forget to see your uncle, aunt and little cousin! And be sure to come back in the Afternoon!”

 

“Don’t worry Mum; I’ll make sure it all goes fine! I think I’m old enough to be responsible!”

Tasha said after Tani, before Crunch replied to her…

 

“Ok then… hope you guys have a good day now, and stay out of trouble too…!”

 

He said, and then he let out his arms, in which all 3 bandigers ran to him, to embrace, before going out of the room into the lounge.  

Crunch remained in the room, to lie back down and peacefully place his large pawhands onto his chest, to lay there… feeling relaxed. He was still a bit concerned about his young, but tried his best not to be or feel, too overprotective. But he thought to himself that he’ll go and check on them later on, to see how they are doing anyway.

 

Out in the lounge, Tani had prepared them a backpack, packed with some food for when they get hungry, and bottles of water for thirst. And also, a little gift for their baby cousin, Chris.

“Alright you guys, here you go… and be careful while roaming the forest, stay on the tracks and stay within our homelands…”

“Yes yes don’t worry Mum! It’s no big deal, and it’s easy to find Uncles from here too anyways!”

Tasha replied, Tani simply raised an eyebrow at her reply, and then smiled.

“Hey, don’t get too cocky now. Well, you guys can go off now… I’ll be busy cleaning up around here. Have fun out there and don’t be too late home!”

 

Tani said, as they all went to walk towards the sliding door, which Tani had opened to let the 3 bandiger kids walk out of. Tasha turned her head to her mother, before replying

 

“No worries Mum, we’ll see you and Dad in the afternoon then!”

 

“Bye bye mommy!”

Tayna shouted, while Tackle replied after her

“See ya Mum…”

 

Tani watched as her children walked down the stairs waving goodbye back at her, and then run off into the forest as soon as their paws came in contact with the soil. She was still smiling, but let off a sigh too, before going back inside and towards her room.

She walked over to Crunch, who was still lying there comfortably and looking calm. She sat on the beside, and looked over at Crunch

 

“You are going to go and check up on them later too though, right?”

Crunch slowly opened one of his eyes, and smiled

 

“Well of course, silly. Just let them have a bit of time together… like we used to as kids… and teens. I’m sure they’ll like it out there, and they will even more as they get older”

 

Tani simply grinned back, before coming to lay down with him, and cuddling up to one of his arms, before giving him a reply

 

“Yeah true… well, I may as well just lay down with you for a while, and be lazy like you. Silly…”

 

She said, and poked out her tongue, which Crunch saw with his one eye, and closed it. Before moving his arm over to place around Tani, who moved herself to get more comfortable with Crunch.

And they both lay there, finally drifting off into a snooze… while feeling calm and undisturbed, with only natural sounds outside and the shining sunlight and a smooth breeze coming through their bedroom window.

 

What a nice day it was for everyone.