102Is Love Safe?
Chapter Twenty Six- One Dance, One Chance
Kella, Chou-Hen, Hei Xin, Fu, Jai, Husto, Leo, Shen and all Pure Ones (c) mine
The sunset was slow and bright.
As the great ball of golden ball descended upon the world, all of life was sent into a torrent of yellow and orange, setting the world into a fiery haze as the upcoming coolness of night approached. The blue core of the moon hung high in the ember sky, staring down on the world as it prepared for its cycle of giving off its luminous white light, but the bank of dark clouds that rolled in from the mountains of the Dragon's Pass boomed threateningly to cover it up, teasingly creeping in over the sky.
Leo stared coldly to the incoming storm with squinting eyes. His long grey fur waved in the winds, pulling towards the flashing tempest. The tall wolf stood planted with his feet spread out on the forest floor, feeling the crunch of the dried leaves between his toes, his back to the cabin. All day he had remained in that same spot, watching the mountain range and the storm which thundered above make its way towards him. Leo sniffed the air; a damp scent tickled his nose. The grey lupine took a few deep inhales of the smell, his predatory instincts nudging in the back of his mind; speaking in a voice he had not heard for some time. It was his animal side, the spirit of the creature he once was, calling out to him. Leo embraced the voice like a forgotten memory. The storm would hit the village of Xi'an very soon. Leo's white mask faltered no emotion as it gawked out to the horizon: he was waiting.
After he had made his call to Husto, howling endlessly with a pleading heart to hear a reply, the old wolf sighed as his naturally-trained ears picked up the friendly cry of a lupine responding. The yowl was unmistakeable. Leo knew it belonged to no one else than his younger brother. And now, adrenaline surged through his veins as he awaited the arrival of the sibling he had not laid eyes on in years. His tail long striped tail wagged in anticipation.
The Pure One's white tipped ears pulled backwards as the sound of creaking floorboards and footsteps approached from behind. Leo swung his head round to find the rotund figure of Po's black and white frame standing at the top of the stairs. Leo smiled warmly at the panda. In Po's paws were two steaming hot cups of freshly brewed tea. Po trudged down the steps of the porch and walked up to Leo, holding out one of the beverages. Leo took the cup in his large paw and lifted it to his nose. The sweet aroma coming from the tea calmed his nerves. He lifted his cup to Po in thanks and took a small sip. The hot brew burned as it ran down his throat, Leo breathed a sigh of gratification.
"Still good as last time." He complimented eyeing Po.
The panda removed his own cup from his lips and grinned. "Thanks, I thought you could use something to refresh yourself."
Leo chuckled as he took a sip. "Always thinking of others before your own, you are a true gentleman, Dragon Warrior."
Po felt the blood rush into his cheeks; he tried to hide himself in his cup, though it was already empty. His jade eyes switched between Leo and the ground over the rim of the mug. After passing off his illusion, the panda cleared his throat. "Um…L-Leo, there….there's something I've been meaning to ask you?"
Leo was midway through drinking his tea when he hesitated, his muzzle still dipped into the hot liquid. The wolf's red eyes shifted to Po questioningly. His white mask lifted a pale eyebrow as he finished off the rest of the beverage with a few quick gulps. As Leo lowered the cup from his lips, his tone was understanding and sincere. "I know what's on your mind, Dragon Warrior. I can see it in your eyes. You're thinking about tonight. About the battle."
"Well, yeah…I-I mean…sorta." The panda stuttered he cuddled the cup with both of his paws. They shook nervously. Po's mind: wondering how to express his thoughts and be held back by mortification. After a lengthy pause to end his gibbering, Po sighed heavily and stared embarrassingly at the ground. "Yeah."
Leo held up his cup to his muzzle, holding the top rim in between his claws as he twisted it around, gazing intently at the oceanic design snaking around the exterior. He gave a side-glance to Po. "Take a deep breath, Dragon Warrior. You'll find things can be done much easier when you're calm."
"But how can I be calm," Po retorted grimly as he faced Leo. "….when I'm about to go up against an enemy I know I can't defeat? Chen Leigh was hardly anything like those guys and I almost died, and lost Tigress at the same time."
"True." Leo admitted as he lowered the cup from his face. "I've heard the tale in full." Leo turned his view to the panda, a sympathetic look in his gaze. "Shen told me the whole thing." He explained. "But you managed to come out of it, didn't you? Alive and with all of your body parts?"
Po rubbed a paw up to his shoulder, feeling the missing chunk of flesh that had long since grown into an unpleasant scar. The wound reminded Po of Chen Leigh. The wolf's howl troubled the panda's small round ears as it went on like an echo. "Well, yeah. I mean, we did defeat Chen Leigh. But my memory of the fight is….kinda fuzzy. Like…like a dream."
Leo bobbed his head compassionately. "Maybe." He answered, raising a sharp claw up to Po's face. "But answer me this, Dragon Warrior, and be truthful about it." Leo hiked an eyebrow in warning. Po rose up his paws defensively and nodded for Leo to continue. "I've spoken with Tai Lung a bit, I asked him about his life after me and Jai told him about Ling, his father. He told me everything, from his first kung fu move to his marriage to Ming. He even told me about the battle you and he had in the Valley of Peace, over- what was it, again?"
"The Dragon Scroll."
"Ah, yes, that's it. And he made no lie or spoke with no shame when he told me of how you defeated him…..and then let him go." Leo's red eyes looked past the giant panda and stared at the motion occurring from inside of the cabin, shadows of the residents moved about as they all prepared for the upcoming fight that was to take place shortly. Leo's feral orbs caught sight of Tai Lung's spotted fur coat moving past the front window. Po turned and followed in Leo's line of sight, catching his old ex-enemy before he vanished behind the wall of the cabin. "He's grateful to you, y'know. He truly thanks you for letting him have another chance. But the thing that I want to ask you now, Dragon Warrior, is this," Leo slipped his free paw up onto Po's shoulder. The Dragon Warrior spun his head round to meet Leo's burgundy coloured orbs. "…what did you feel when you first went up against Tai Lung, when you had your first real battle?"
The tip of the sun was now settling into the thin skyline. Night was beginning to fall. All around the sky was draining of its colour, the last few rays of light shining blazingly on the two males and the hidden cabin. The air was growing pale.
Po brought his arms together in front of his belly, his paw rubbing the black of his forearm, feeling the bumps of the marks that were enshrouded in the strands of furs. Po inhaled the cool air through his nose. "Truthfully?" He asked Leo.
"Truthfully."
"…I…I was afraid. But at the same time I felt so excited to know that I was going into my first real fight, my own enemy. My mind was screaming for me to run like a coward, but my heart was shouting out how awesome it would be to do battle. When Shifu sent me and the Five with the rest of the valley I felt like I had failed my master and was giving in to my fear, but when I realised the secret of the Dragon Scroll I just could not leave Shifu behind to die. He's almost like a second father to me."
Leo tensed his lips and gave a glance to the fading sun. He rolled his muzzle back to the panda. "And now, what do you feel?"
Po blinked and placed a paw against the breast pocket of his waistcoat, feeling the solid form of the box containing his proposal ring and the thump of his heart through his chest. Po lowered an eyebrow in misunderstanding. He ogled at Leo. The Pure One stared back at him evenly with steady eyes, he already knew the answer. His pointy ears picking up the faint rhythm of Po's heartbeat. It was slow; steady and pumping at the normal rate. Po couldn't comprehend it, but replied non-the-less. "I feel…ready." He rubbed his chest just to check he wasn't dreaming. "Wow….that's pretty weird."
Leo chuckled softly as he lifted up the panda's paw and placed his emptied cup inside Po's own. "You once asked me what it's like to be both a feral and a Pure One." Leo reminded the Dragon Warrior, thinking back to the previous morning of when the panda had brought him and Jai cups of tea, just like he had done now. Po turned his head to Leo and gazed at the wolf's white mask. "I can only tell you, from my position, what it's like to be a feral. And the reality of it is, my friend," Leo's long lips stretched out as he grinned knowingly to the panda, settling Po's wavering thoughts. "…it's nothing to be afraid of. When the time comes, just let go and give in. Only then, will you have control of yourself. Trust me, Po." It had been the first time Leo had addressed Po by his name and not his title. The panda smiled back with appreciation as he clutched the two stacked cups in his paw. He nodded his head and turned away from the wolf, walking back up the steps of the porch. As he came to the front doorway, Po happily stepped aside as Shen walked out. The two colleagues met eyes. Shen smirked and patted Po supportively on the shoulder before walking across the porch, down the steps and made his way over to join Leo. Po watched him leave before heading inside to unify with his friends.
Leo had his back to the feline as Shen approached. Just like Leo, Shen squinted his feral eyes to the disappearing circle of light, the rim of it now slipping behind the cracks of the horizon. As he came to the towering wolf's side, Shen growled in satisfaction and determination. "They're ready." He said casually, speaking of his cohorts in the cabin. "Everything is set for tonight."
Leo twisted an ear at Shen but did not break his sight from the sunset. "Are you nervous?"
Shen eyeballed the lupine. "Should I be?" He asked back.
Leo shrugged his shoulders lightly. "I don't need to remind you of what it is we're going up against. This is unlike any enemy you've ever fought. To battle a Pure One is not something to take on a light heart. But my main concern lies with you, Shen." The great grey wolf dipped his muzzle and turned it till Shen came into view. Leo's bloody orbs danced to the cabin. His ears fell back as he leaned in and whispered to the feline. "You know what you saw in your vision! It still could come true!"
Shen listened to his associate, taking in the murmur of words at the mention of his dream. Shen could see the village, the falling of the rain, the river blood and the litter of grey lifeless bodies covering the stone cobbled streets. He saw the gathering around the single lying figure, all attention drawn down the mysterious person that seemed cast grief and sadness into everyone's heart. Dripping tears from their bloodshot eyes mingling with the falling droplets of rain. The pain in his chest; the burning sensation that tore at his rubs. As Shen thought of what he had seen in his dream, a breath of fear escaped him. He hung his head in uncertainty. The fore sense of doom lingered above his head.
"Maybe so." He sneered. The feline then pulled his head up as he stared severely at the sun. "But in my vision I could not see who it was that died, it may not be me. There is still a chance I'll come out of this alive. And I plan to keep it that way."
Leo said nothing to respond to Shen, he felt that nothing needed to be said. The grey wolf retracted his head and went back to gazing at the sundown. Staring off into the distance, Leo watched the coming of the storm clouds in the sky. But Shen's attention was fixated on the falling of the sun, his red eyes witnessing as the sky faded of its colour and grew dark in a blue haze. The sun had set. But no light shone down upon the world as the face of the sapphire moon had been covered by the storm clouds as they trundled above. Flashes of white light sparked on its underbelly. Both Shen and Leo raised their noses as the dark sea in the sky flew overhead; a deep drumming clap of thunder rumbling from within its core.
And as both men glared into the storm a single drop of rain fell, coming into a tiny splat on the dried leaves on the ground. Then two more drops went plop. Before too long, a symphony of pitter-patters cackled in the silence of the night as the rain intensified.
Twilight was at hand.
They could wait no longer for Husto.
"It's time."
It was dark.
It was cold.
The Heavens did not reside here in the village of Xi'an. There was no place for the innocent and the just, only those who held darkness in their hearts, borne of cruelty and violence: given into this world with no love in their souls, only an empty space void of all affection and adoration for anything or anyone besides themselves. These beings did not care for the world, they desired only to burn it, to watch as it went up in flames and they danced on the ashes. But all of them halted their dreams of power, for they waited on the edge of the settlement. They snarled, growled and snorted with anticipation. Their eyes glowed in a sea of red, all watching the tree line of the forest for the arrival of their foe. They had put aside their desires, now craving for the taste of blood on their lips and the sight of bodies at their feet.
The birds flapped their wings eagerly, pawing at the stone tiles of the village wall, staring out over the horde of their feral comrades. The wolves growled, their breaths blowing from their open hungry muzzles, forming clouds of warm vapour that curled and twisted before fading into nothing. Their tails all lifted, lips drooling for fresh meat. The cats clawed at the dirt, feeling it between their sharp claws: their long limbed tails swishing across the muddy terrain. The apes and gorillas smashed their chest impatiently and the boars grunted repulsively. Their multiple of patterned furs soaked heavy with rainfall.
As this army all wailed and crowded together in the rain, one of them remained silent. His dagger sharp red eyes poked through the rain to the woods. His dripping jagged black feathers ruffled all over his body, puffing up and down as he heaved heavy breaths in and out of his razor beak. His curled talons gripped the top tiles of the tallest tower. Hei Xin watched over all of his feral army below. He then snapped his attention to the woodland tree line, something was moving. The Pure One dipped his head and craned it out towards the edge of the village with snarl.
The entire army saw them. And they cried with excitement: they roared, howled and beat their chest wrathfully as twelve forms appeared along the forest edge. The uproar of the feral mass echoed with the thunder claps of the rainstorm. A flash of lightning bolted downwards in the background, lighting up the entire village in a bright white glow.
The faces of those twelve statures, positioned on the forest brink, were illuminated; highlighting the same cynical expression they all wore.
Shen's hardened rubicund eyes looked out across the open fields to the swarm of creatures that yowled in a chorus of shouts. The black feline felt frozen beneath his drenched fur, his knuckles ached against the icy rain and the biting winds. Tiny drops of water fell from the tips of his whiskers. His clothes clung to his body, chilling him to the bone. He did not care. Standing in the centre of the line Shen turned his head to the left. His gaze travelled down the line.
Leo stood poised, his claws out and looking sinister; his long grey fur sodden with water. To his side, Shen's wife raised her head high as she fiddled with the pouch of throwing knives Jai had given her. The lynx's violet orbs stabbed scarily at the growling mass of ferals. Next, Po stood poised with his staff in his paw, gripping the mangled stick tightly as he stared out at Hei Xin's men. His lengthy monochromatic fur dripped with rainwater. Ready at his aid, Tigress waited for Shen's order to move out. Her beautiful striped fur was sunk with heavy rain. Tai Lung's hulking frame stood hunched at the very end, his drenched fur quivered with exhilaration and his ember eyes scorched for a good fight. His regular toothy grin plastered firmly on his face.
They all turned towards Shen, meeting his softened face.
The feral feline swung his head and viewed the other side of the line. Jai stood ready, her right paw resting on the carved dragon head on the end of her sword handle, her thumb tenderly stroked its wet metal surface. And further along the line, the rest of the Furious Five all gazed over their adversary with an examining stare. And at the very end, Shifu's stern brown and white face glared intensely at the army, accessing them with disgust and hatred.
They, too, averted their eyes from Hei Xin's followers to the black cat.
Shen swished his head either side of the line a few times. And, for reasons he nor anyone could not explain, Shen gave a thankful smile filled with pride and vanity. The grin was contagious, for it spread quickly to all twelve of the gang and they gazed to Shen: their leader. Still wearing the smile, Shen reached across with his paw to his waist, grasping the material of his sword holder. With a firm tug and a swift motion, Shen pulled the blade free of its scabbard. The weapon sung a high tune as it was pulled free from its sheath out into the cold weather. The sign was given as Jai pulled her own sword free and Fu yanked two knives into her paws. Po spun his staff in his paw before holding it up behind his back and dropping into a stance like the rest of the kung fu masters.
"Let this day be known," Shen growled as he dipped his head and glared heatedly through his eyebrows. "…for it is the day we save not just our land, but the entire world. Let this be day be sung forever in stories by children all over the world. Let it be told to their children and their grandchildren that on this day twelve brave souls made the biggest sacrifice to protect both Pure Ones and non-ferals alike. To unify an old bond long forgotten, so it may live on in peace."
"…As it was always intended." Finished another voice.
All twelve of the warriors gasped, spinning around instantly and preparing to jump at the word go. Leo growled out of disbelief and warning to the creature who had managed to sneak up on the group from behind. He drew his ears right back and rose up his claws ready to swipe the unknown speaker, but hesitated. There was something very familiar about the voice. As Leo scowled into the darkness of the forest, a pair of scarlet orbs stared at the line of warriors. And in those red eyes, Leo brought up his ears and hushed the growl in his throat. Lowering his paws, Leo peered into the shadows, a small smile snaking its way onto his lips.
"Husto?" The grey wolf inquired.
At the recognition of his name the animal stepped out from the void of shadows. Shen, Jai and the rest of the gang stood dumbstruck, eyes bulging in amazement at the towering wolf that now stood before them. He was a tall wolf, wearing no clothes, but his long black fur, mixed with a shabby line of grey running up from his large, powerful hind legs to his broad shoulders did well to hide the skin and toned muscle beneath. The tips of his long triangular ears were dull with ash. The pair of mighty bloody eyes gave a look of a leader yet the gentle touch of a father; all these things were true about him.
"Hello, brother. Long-time no see." Husto greeted.
"You made it!" Shen blurted out, astonished at the time of the Pure One's arrival. The rest of the gang eased up.
Husto eyed Leo incredulously before he turned his attention to Shen. The black wolf growled gently through his muzzle at the feline. "Of course, I made a promise. And by the looks of things," Husto glanced out to the feral army holding on the outskirts of the village, he gave them a leering stare. A long grin curled at his lips. "…I arrived just in time."
"Well this all good, an' all." Tai Lung sneered as he gazed between Shen, Leo and Husto, throwing his paws into the air. "But what good is one more to the team going to do against an entire army of ferals?"
Husto eyed the kung fu master. His long grin transformed in a mischievous smirk. "Who ever said anything about just 'one' more to the team?"
All of the gang swapped suspicious looks about them, wondering what it was that the newly appeared dark lupine meant. But as Husto stepped aside and looked into the forest the sound of snarling and growling reached everyone's ears. Shen and Jai shared glances at each other, a glimmer of hope stirring within their eyes. For as the gang gawked back to the woodlands, more eyes of crimson faded from the gloomy mist and with them creatures slowly edged forwards. Large wolves wearing colourful coats prowled the floor, their muzzles dropped low to the ground and their lips raised to reveal the rows of glistening white fangs salivating. Behind them decorative felines poured out into the field as a steady stream; tigers, lions, lionesses, cheetahs, leopards of all kinds, there was too many of them to count up. Boar hoofs squished in the mud as they trotted out, their outsized tusks dripping with rain. Apes, gorillas and rhinos stomped their way to the front of line, grunting and snuffing out hot breaths of air through their noses.
High animalistic screeches pierced the stormy night as rows of birds dropped out for the clouds in the sky, sinking down to the ground like thunderbolts yet landing with grace that their claws made no sound as they touched the squishy floor. The great avians' beat their massive wings frantically, showing off their striking feathers before folding them into their bodies as they wavered from claw to claw anxiously.
Leo looked out on the large quantity of animals he had once leaded on as alpha male, this was once his pack. But that was a long time ago, now it was Husto's pack. It was even to Leo's surprise that the numbers of the pack had grown, among the familiar faces of his old friends, the grey wolf spotted creatures of whom he had never met before. All these animals, both male and female alike, were here to his cause. To aid their once great leader in his time of need. Shen, Jai and the rest of the others were in too much of a stunned bewilderment to say anything, for they had never seen so many Blood Knights at once.
No.
These weren't Blood Knights, that name no longer suited the courageous predators that stood amongst them. They were a proud race. A true symbol to what every living being on the planet once was.
They were Pure Ones.
Leo laughed with powerfully at the army he now had at his side. But one thing did not slip the old Pure One's notice. Leo gave his younger brother an arched eyebrow from his mask. "Where's Kella?" He asked. Kella was the alpha female of the pack, Husto's mate.
Husto motioned with his head back into the woods. "She's with the other members of the pack who cannot fight and the cubs, safely hidden deep in the woods. All those who could fight stand with you now, brother. We are under your command."
Leo grinned profoundly at his younger sibling. So many years apart and nothing had ever changed. Husto was still loyal to Leo both as a follower of the pack and as a loving brother. It warmed his soul. "I am glad to see you have returned, Husto. But this is not my battle to lead." Leo moved to the side and waved a large paw towards Shen. "It is his."
Husto had known his brother all his life before their separation, it was clear to him when the older wolf was humouring him or nor not. This time, he was serious. Husto stared into Shen's feral eyes and was only met back with a friendly gaze of trust and keenness. Husto grinned; it was almost like looking in a mirror. "Lead the way, Shen."
The black feline nodded in thanks to the great dark lupine as he turned around and faced the immense army awaiting him on the other side of the meadow. Their uproar had now turned into a booming chorale of angry shouts and challenging hollers. Hei Xin's army lusted for blood. So blood they would be taste. Gripping the handle of his sword with a constricting grip, Shen tightened his jaw and pursed his lips. His feral eyes were ablaze like infernos, highlighting the scars running diagonal across his face. The feline squinted his eyes and paused for a second. Shen sheathed his sword. Everyone eyed curiously. The furry cat glowered at the eagle perched high in the village.
"Hei Xin is mine." He snarled.
A flash of lighting struck the earth, everything went white.
Shen opened his mouth a let out a vicious roar before his body dropped to the floor onto his front paws. The mud squished between his claws as he crawled forwards. His large tail swished back and forth in time with the rise and fall of his shoulders. His pace was slow and controlled. Following in his lead, Leo and Husto gave each other one last glance before they too sunk to their front paws. Their tails rose into the air and their ears pinned down against their skulls as they followed in Shen's footsteps.
Jai watched as her brother crept forward with her lover and Husto in tow. The lioness had never given into herself before like Shen and Leo did right now, but for the first time, she saw that this moment at hand called not for her to run into this battle a civilized woman, but to sprint in like the animal she was: as her Pure One ancestors had done so in the past. Jai straightened her lips and sheathed her sword back into its scabbard. The lioness drew in a deep breath and braced herself as she slowly crawled onto her front paws and snarled at the enemy on the other side of the battlefield. She joined the three males at the front of the pack.
Fu had never seen this side of her husband before, it was something of completely paranormal sense to her. It only confused Fu more as she watched her sister-in-law link with Shen as they moved out onto into the open. But, deep down in her heart, Fu felt it natural. She felt the need, the urge to fight like her husband. It was the right thing to do. Giving into her desire, Fu pocketed the two knives back into their pouches as descended into her ordinary cat form, claws unsheathed. One by one each of the twelve warriors set out from the safety of the woods. Tigress and Tai Lung did the same as Shen, Jai and Fu, crawling out on all four of their paws. Po was hesitant but slipped his staff through the collar of his waistcoat as he gave his signature little-lost boy smile and copied his lover. The Pure Ones were unhurried as they trailed behind their leader. Those with wings took flight into the thunderous sky, flapping their wings as they gained altitude. Crane took the front at the tip of the swarm.
From on the other side of the field, a feral black wolf with an ugly scar running down his left visionless eye to the tip of his muzzle, watched as Shen and his cohorts moved towards the village. The name of the shadowy wolf was Chou-Hen: a title he had chosen himself after disserting the one his parents had bestowed upon him as a pup. The new General of Hei Xin's feral army zoomed in with his good eye at Shen and Leo. Chou-Hen growled deep from in his throat, he loosened his shoulders and cracked the bones in his neck, slackening his muscles as they carried the weight of Leo's old swords on his back. Chou-Hen could not wait to try them out.
The slightly-blind lupine smiled a toothy grin as he lifted a paw into the air and signalled to the sky. All of Hei Xin's eagle and other avains spread their wings and squealed delightedly before they jumped from the wall of the village and swooped into the air. They over flew the army and soon became but tiny silhouettes amongst the clouds. Chou-Hen brought his gaze down from the clouds. The lupine took in a deep breath of freezing air as he arched out his chest, lifted his muzzle to sky and howled against Shen's call for combat. All around him, other wolves swayed their heads at the call; felines roared with passion, apes and gorillas bellowed as they drummed their chests. Chou-Hen snapped his head back down to the field, and as the wolf lowered himself onto his front paws the army of the ferals advanced at a tantalising pace in his wake. Hei Xin watched the scene unfold from his tower.
Slow at first either side snuck towards each other.
The rain slashed at their faces and the winds bit at their skin.
They increased their pace to a moderate trot.
The Heavens boomed intensely, striking the village with bolts of silvery lightning.
The opponents now ran. Their bodies hurtling across the field, the rain sliced at their fur.
And as Shen watched his rivals come nearer, the world slowed down around him. A single thought passed through his mind, something that he had heard Tigress and Po say together one morning's rise in this very village. One dance, one chance. The sounds of the earth dimmed into a hush. All he could hear was the measured pant of his breath and the steady beat of his heart inside his chest.
Tum-tum, tum-tum.
Tum-tum, tum-tum.
Then silence fell.