Author's note: So, hey everyone. This is a new story that has been inspired by what's happening around me right now. There is currently a string of wildfires where I am. i live in Vista, California. I'm right in the middle of all the fires going: Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido, etc. Wait, did I just use an 'etc.' for fires? Man, that's bad. I haven't been hit by fires yet, but my family's ready move on a moment's notice. I decided that this would be an interesting plot device and kind of went from there. So, yeah.
I hope you enjoy, and hope anyone affected by the fires is safe and sound!
Prologue - A Summer's Night
Flames...nothing but fire and char as far as the masked man could see. It was an absolutely beautiful sight to him. Nothing was more gorgeous than a massive bonfire, except for a fire with a purpose. That's what these scorching blazes were for: a purpose. The multiple assailants that has set the dry lands ablaze felt a pride that they could not express into words, for this was only the first step in their plan. This was only the beginning of the greatness that was to come to them.
The masked man whose form was that of a feline had gazed at his masterpiece. The fire continued to grow rapidly, singeing every piece of dry foliage it could touch. The fire was so incredibly hot that it would have caused any other person to look away in fear of their own face being melted off, but not him. He indulged in the fiery greatness that he had created, and it made him smile widely behind his skin tight mask.
"Sir," he feline heard come from his left. It was his lieutenant, a canine dressed in the same apparel as he. "The last of the target zones have been lit in this area. We are all prepared to move on your word."
The feline boss nodded firmly. "Yes, my friend," he confirmed as he rested a hand on the lieutenant's shoulder, shaking him slightly. "Let us spread this beauty to more of this...lifeless land." The canine gave a quick nod to his companion before they darted away from the burning monstrosity.
They sprinted through the valley's forest, dodging and ducking the oncoming trees swiftly as they did. The bonfire was still immensely visible behind them, but they continued on forward. They passed through the many trees without a single nick in their pace. Their next objective was the same as their last, but the eagerness that grew in the feline was starting to grow. Containing his excitement was becoming extremely difficult to him, but he managed to keep himself tamed. However, his elation was beginning to manifest itself into words that he spoke to his friend.
"Months of planning, my friend. All of it is coming to a thrilling fruition." The canine glanced over as they kept up their speedy pace. "This is the hour of truth, our finest accomplishment. Our executions are flawless, our actions are with purpose, and our motives are unarguable." The rising aspiration in his voice caused the hound's attention to be equally divided between the trail ahead and his ally. "Some will see our actions as an act of terrorism on the innocent. I see it as an act of justice by our people. They considered our slaughter to be a victimless crime. For you see my friend, when justice is not served by your government, that does not mean that the justice is not apparent. It just means that it must be taken into your own hands. So we are to take our own justice for ourselves, in the form of a fire."
The canine looked at his partner with a minor surprise. He had never heard his friend talk like this, but it didn't bring him any form of worry. Instead, it brought a joyous smirk behind his own mask. The feline had just described everything that they had wanted in only a few short statements, and made him almost as eager to get moving as to the target zone as well.
"Hopefully Kun Te didn't get started without us, then," the canine huffed as he continued the sprint through the seemingly massive forest.
"Yes, yes. I wouldn't want to miss out on that joyous opportunity either."
They rushed through on through the night, not stopping until their objective was complete.
"Detective Constable Chengnuo."
"Emperor Lang Fu, my lord."
The old, stodgy voice of the emperor complimented the constable's young and firm tone. They exchanged honorific pleasantries in the emperor's own private dining area. It was unlike the normal dining area, which was much more massive and used primarily for parties and balls. They sat at opposite ends of a small table silently. The old nobleman gave the cheetah a cognitive and intrigued look. The constable noticed this and remained quiet, waiting his majesty's word.
"I apologize if I offend you in any way, it's just that my advisors hadn't informed me of your current youth," the emperor said with honesty.
"It's quite fine, my lord," Chengnuo raised his hand in the air. "I understand that it's extremely irregular to be as young as I am in my current occupational position, but I assure you that I do my job as well as any other constable."
"Well, I'm sure you do," the emperor huffed as he poured tea into two small cups from the tray that a maid had left on the table for them. "You wouldn't be here if you didn't."
The two eyed each other for short moment. Chengnuo knew this was especially urgent. Not just because the emperor had summoned him, but in the location they were in, with no one else around. Not even the private guards which followed the noble around almost anywhere were asked to stay and wait in the other room. It appeared that the emperor wanted to keep this conversation quiet.
"Now, Constable Chengnuo," the emperor proclaimed, breaking their momentary silence. He also set one of the two teacups that he had poured in front of the feline. "You were born and raised in a city to the north known as Sui Boli De Tudi, correct?"
"The Land of Broken Glass, yes," he confirmed as he brought the warm cup to his lips.
"Yes, the name it was dubbed by the neighboring villages. The city is know for it's incredulous crime rates. There are reports of kidnapping, theft and murder everyday. I also understand that you relieved the late Constable Kong of his position after his untimely and brutal death."
"Yes, it was rather untimely..." the cheetah murmured darkly. He had worked with Kong for a few years before his passing and had grow a fond and respective relationship with one another. However, having to flash the image of the old man's corpse in his mind made him wish he didn't even know him.
"And, when you took over the city, crime rates began to fall. You were quickly putting away criminals, stopping thievery and even saved a few lives in process. How many cases did you solves, Chengnuo?"
"One hundred forty-seven."
"That's a very impressive amount, wouldn't you say? Yet, crime kept continuing and showed no sign of dying out in slightest. Even after all you did, that city still remains on the no-fly list for travelers and nobles in the like."
Chengnuo could feel the emperor's main point beginning to surface, but he was growing slightly impatient. The elder seemed to be dragging the conversation on for some abstract reason. Using what he had learned through years as a detective constable, he began to thoroughly examine the emperor's physique, posture and visible attributes.
He first noticed the man's minor slouching, which would normally go unnoticeable. That could imply that he has been up and about recently. He could have been walking long distances, he may have been standing at an official gathering for too long, or he could have just been pacing too often. Chengnuo then payed attention to the semi circles below the eyes, showing for lack of sleep. The person who does his make up could have not showed today, but that seemed highly unlikely due to the make up already present on his face. It may have been hardly visible, but he could still identify that he was much more tired than he let on. Finally, the emperor's complete ignorance of the tea he had poured for himself. He had not even given it a second glance. That could imply that the emperor had already had tea before, perhaps trying to stay awake. Chengnuo's final deduction - the old man was up all night, most likely with a troublesome issue and is still searching for a proper solution. That's brings him to the meeting with the esteemed nobleman himself.
"Your majesty," the constable stated loudly, gaining the emperor's attention. "I hate to appear rude in any way, but I would very much appreciate if I knew why you summoned me here. Your message seemed rather alarming."
The emperor nodded his head in agreement as he rubbed his chest. "Yes, I suppose I let myself lengthily ramble. I should proceed to the main point and stop prolonging this visit further than need be."
"Yes, that would be preferable." The constable straightened himself up as he took another sip of the warm tea. The emperor finally did the same and let the drink keep his mouth from being dry.
"Okay...are you familiar with the Valley of Peace?"
The cheetah shifted his head from side to side. "Only a little. I've heard of it from a few friends."
"Yes well, you see...that valley is under siege by wildfires."
Chengnuo felt slightly confused. "Fires?"
"Yes. It appears that the valley's dryer outskirts have caught it on fire. The brush and loose foliage seemed to have lit from the sun's marvelous heat during this summer season. It's created a ring of wildfires all around the valley and its villages."
"Is there any way in or out of the valley?"
"There is only the main road, and even that may be blocked by walls of flames soon enough." The emperor's voice seemed to shift to a more maleficent stage, almost without emotion. "The fires are consuming yards of land each day that it remains."
"How many fires in total?"
"Nine," he replied nonchalantly. "And that number may grow even larger soon. They've been raging for nearly two weeks now. I just received word from Shifu, the grand master that resides there. He says that at least one hundred acres burn every day."
Chengnuo thought for a moment. There was one obvious option that should have taken by now.
"Why hasn't there been emergency groups dispatched there to bring them water?"
The emperor sighed heavily. "We haven't the budget to send that many troops and water out there."
"Budget?" Chengnuo felt a shock run through him, followed my a large anger that he barely managed to keep at bay. "What does the budget have to do with anything? Those people are in danger!"
"I know they are, Constable."
"They're most likely in a massive panic, probably using all the water they can to put it out. They're probably scared out of their minds!"
"I realize that," the emperor huffed, waving his hand in the air. "That's why I'm sending you there; for an investigation."
"What?...That doesn't make any sense. These are wildfires, I would have nothing to investigate." Chengnuo began tap his fingers on the armrest of his chair, irritated. He couldn't believe how absurd it all sounded. "Your majesty, can I get an explanation, please?"
The emperor remained silent for a short moment before he withdrew himself from his chair and strutted over to the window behind him. He seemed to be staring at the sun as it prepared to set on the horizon. He exhaled wit an exasperated sigh, then turned back the young constable.
"The people down there are in great turmoil, I understand. However, we haven't the time nor the money to provide help. Believe me Constable, if I could I would have already. But all of our funds are directed towards the creation of the wall to the north to keep our Mongolian enemies from invading. There are higher priorities at the moment."
"That still doesn't explain why you want me to investigate a blatantly obvious cause to a blatantly obvious effect."
"But there is. You see, Shifu requested that I send help to the Valley of Peace in some way. You will go down there to investigate to make sure that this is truly a wildfire."
Chengnuo patiently unbounded his jaw. "So you're sending me there...to delay them?" he asked, still frustrated with the circumstances. The old man nodded solemnly.
"It will help give the people a peace of mind."
"It will make them angry that they got a detective instead of more water."
"It doesn't matter," the emperor stated firmly. "You're to go there as I have instructed you to. Search the ashes around for a few days, then leave and confirm that it was a wildfire."
"This is madness, they need water!"
"And they will get it!" the emperor snapped. "Just not now. Once the wall is finished, all of our efforts will be directed towards the Valley of Peace. As of now, you are to depart immediately."
Chengnuo was going to retort, but knew that it would be fruitless to try. He was going to have to go whether he wanted to or not. He got out of his seat and bowed to the emperor.
"Yes, my lord."
Then, the cheetah strolled out of the room without another word.
He hated this plan, he hated every bit of it. He was basically going to waste people's time as danger grew closer and closer. The only thing he would be able to do is tell them the obvious and leave. However, he was going to at least investigate the scene. Chengnuo may have been angry, but he would still do his job no matter what. For some reason, he knew that it wouldn't be the warmest of welcomes when he reached the Valley of Peace.