Is Love Safe
Chapter Three- Like looking in a Mirror
It was cold, so very cold.
The floor was wet and freezing; Shen physically shivered as he felt something frosty brush along the shins of his damped pants. He opened his heavy eyes as he starred down on a white blanket of fuzzy snow. The panther let his head swing before gathering enough will power to ensure that his sense returned to him. He wasn't walking, he was being dragged. Shen tried to move his wrists but was met with a sharp sting of tight rope cutting into his skin, the burn in his chest and shoulders told him that he was tied with his arms behind his back. He tried to move his legs, same situation.
There was a dried metallic taste of blood in his mouth.
The panther twisted his neck to either side of him. He managed to catch sight of two hazy portrayals of what could he could only guess were large boars. He didn't see their faces: he didn't need to- the smell was too rancid to be of any other animal. Shen felt himself slipping through one of the hogs' grasp; the boar was quick to take a firmer grasp as he reached out and took a hoof against Shen's left shoulder. The panther yowled in response; the boars took no notice of him other than chuckling darkly.
Savouring his strength for the right moment Shen let his head drop again as he left his physical body, sinking deep into his mind as he tried to replay the last events that his mind could fathom on how he came to be in this predicament. He could see it all in his mind: he was at home with Fu, Hao was in bed. He could see himself running around their house and into the kitchen, their loving moment of pure bliss. And then the shadows, the feral snow leopard, the raid on the house.
Fu!
Hao!
And then he was running, running with his family before...before being struck in the shoulder by an arrow, collapsing to the floor and screaming at his wife and son to keep running; to run for the Valley of Peace. He remembered watching them leave him as he was surrounded by all the shadows of the attackers, smiling at them before letting the darkness consume him.
It was then; Shen felt his body get dropped to the floor. He was brought back into his body and out from his mind. The snow was bitter against his bare upper torso, the ice soaking his pants to the point where his legs were far from being able to sense anything. A prickly wind poked at his fur. Shen groaned as he struggled to sit up. The panther grunted as he dragged his legs to his side and forced his body to sit up on his knees. He sighed once sat in the snow.
Taking a few deep breaths and collecting his senses fully, Shen allowed his vision to focus in. He looked around as the hazy images turned sharp, he was in the centre of what seemed like a camp; tents all encircled the panther, facing in on him. A low wind danced through the encampment, snowflakes passing by like shooting bullets. They had to be in the mountains somewhere. Shen caught a few glimpses of occupants that weaved around the tents- none giving him the slightest glance of attention. But there was a wide range of species: there was a certain amount of boars and oxen, maybe one or two gorillas, a small pack of wolves and horde of felines- ranging from white and south china tigers to both normal and snow leopards. Even a few aviators flew overhead- all them criminals, no doubt.
But out of all that was happening, Shen focused his yellow eyes on the large canopy situated right infront of him. It was larger than any other tent in the camp, to his guess. The front curtains were drawn back, giving him the full view of everything that went on inside. Positioned around a small rotund table a large eagle, a hulky-looking wolf and a third figure underneath a cloaked hood all starred down on the table and the contents lying on its surface. Shen squinted his eyes as he tried to see beneath the darkness of the hood, useless attempts.
The panther watched as the bandits that had raided his house scatter into separate tents, disappearing inside- all for one, the large snow leopard he had first run into. With glaring orbs Shen followed the feline as he walked inside the canopy and stopped at entrance. After a short while the wolf and eagle rose from their seats on the floor and exited the tent. The snow leopard followed and stood next to the entrance, still as a rock.
In the light of the horizon Sun Shen could make out the eagle and wolf much easier. The avian was huge for his species; his wings were broad and stiff underneath his sinister black, yet jagged feathers. His claws and beak were malicious, long and dark, like his feathers. He starred down on Shen with a pair of piercing blood red orbs that looked as if they could kill with a simple blink.
The wolf was tall and surprisingly muscular; his fur was ashen grey. A thin, menacing white mane ran from the tip of his large tail running all the way up his powerfully built back- halfway covered by a criss-cross of two strapped sheathed swords- to the tip of his bristly hair, the white fur marks drizzling down around his eyes like a mask. His eyes, themselves, were too a crimson red yet surprisingly held a serene glint in their gaze. His pointy ears were perched forward at Shen. The wolf tiled his head aside and stroked his long fur-coated chin.
"Hmm, are you sure he's the right one?" He asked in a softly spoken but deep voice.
The eagle stepped forward and scoffed. "This surely cannot be the right guy." He hissed. "Look at him! He's not even of the same species."
"It doesn't rule out the fact that it still could be him, Hei Xin." The wolf countered calmly as he placed his paws on his hips. "This fresh meat looks fit enough, he has some features that do match the person we're searching for."
The avian snapped his head at the lupine and glared harshly, the wolf seemed unmoved. "I'd keep that loose tongue of yours tucked away behind your teeth, Leo." The eagle spat. "It's going to get you killed one day."
The wolf- presumably named Leo - raised a white eyebrow. "Is that a challenge, Hei?"
"A threat is more the word I'd choose." Hei, the eagle, smirked as his red eyes hardened.
Shen eyed the wolf and eagle with inquisitive orbs; it was obvious that these two animals loathed one another, and yet they seemed to balance each other out. Like yin and yang. The panther noticed that whoever they guys were, however, they were nothing to look over: they were large and very strong. It could be possible for Shen to take both of them on but he was in no position to fight. He was half naked, his arms and legs were bound and his shoulder was shot to Hell- literally. And yet, out of all the odds against him and in his current condition, with the members of the camp gathering around Hei Xin and Leo, Shen couldn't help but hold his own tongue.
"Umm, excuse me, ladies?" The panther piped up. Leo and Hei turned to him. "Is there any reason why you're getting your panties in a twist?" Hei's eyes thickened and gleamed a red aura. Leo was smiling. Shen still carried on. "I'm guessing that you're here to kill me or torture me but can you finishing your little baby cries till after you've done away with me?" He gave a comedic grin and shrugged his shoulders. "Just a guy's last wishes." A few of the members of the camp looking in cackled at the panther's jokes. The snow leopard to at the tent's entrance was still and solemn, the same for Hei.
Leo, surprisingly, was laughing like everyone else. "I like this guy."
Shen turned his head away to encourage the spectators but was only met with a strike across his temple when he looked back to Hei. The eagle had smitten him with a strike from one of his large bulky wings. Shen was knocked on his side and into the snow. The laughter stopped immediately.
"You dishonourable cub!" Hei barked. "How dare you make fun of me, you have any idea who I am?" He screeched. Shen rolled onto his front; he could feel a warm liquid trailing down the side of his head. The panther grunted and suddenly roared as he felt Hei's razor like claws sink into the open wound where the arrow had struck him in the shoulder. The pain was intense. "I'm your worst nightmare! And I'm going to make you wish you were never born..."The eagle slowly rose up his other claw, ready to swipe them down on Shen's neck. "...insignificant whelp!"
Shen braced himself and closed his eyes as he waited for the strike to come, yet he never felt it. Opening his eyes and straining to looking up, Shen spotted that the eagle's claws had been stopped by the silent snow leopard's firm paw. Hei snapped his head to the feline with a death glare.
"What's going on out here?" Came a tuneful yet influential voice. All eyes turned to the canopy as the third figure finally stepped out and into the sunlight. Hei managed to wretch his claw free and removed himself from Shen's body. The feline gasped as the claws were taken away from the wound.
The panther was quick to get back onto his knees once more. He eyed the hooded figure as they made their way towards him, Hei and the snow leopard. All the campers bowed down to one knee- even Leo- as the figure passed them, they stayed in that position. Finally coming up to Hei Xin, the eagle reluctantly bowed, the snow leopard was quick to follow. The darkness of the hood leered over the two figures before turning to Shen. "What is your name?" A voice hissed.
Shen hesitated as he pursed his lips. "Shan, Shan Yi." He lied through his teeth.
"Shan Yi." The hooded form repeated. "It would do you well not to anger my men, especially Hei. He has a rather...short temper but a mighty fury. I'd be sure to keep yourself well disciplined. If it was not for Ling here..." The figure nodded towards the kneeling snow leopard. "...your head would be bouncing down the slopes of the mountain like a pebble."
"Well that's great." Shen sarcastically hissed. His ember eyes burned as the memories of the night when his family was attacked flooded his mind. "I guess I can also thank him for breaking into my house and trying to harm my wife and son!"
"That was not the mission. I was not after them, I was after you." The form stated as they eyed Ling.
"Why me?" Shen cried.
The mysterious figure looked back to Shen from underneath the darkness of their hood. "Because I have searched for you ever since I learned you were born into this world. Because I know who you are, and your name is not Shan Yi." The figure kneeled into the snow so that their hood was mere inches from Shen's face. The panther's eyes were like slits, trying to see into the shadows of the hood.
"Your real name is Jing Shen."
"How do you know that?" The panther asked, pursing his lips and keeping a stone-like face.
"Why by blood of course." The figure chuckled. "I know that this panther look of yours is a fake, Shen. And how do I know of your real name, well?" It was then, the figure bought out two arms and drew back the hood of their cloak. Shen's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. The figure was a female, not a male, a lioness to be precise. Her fur was a golden auburn, short and smooth. Her ears, small and round atop her head. Her eyes were like Shen's, a glowing set of golden orbs set alight with a burning fire that had a commanding yet tender gaze.
"That's because I'm your Sister, older sister actually." Shen's heart stopped, his skin went pale and his black fur turned ashen slightly. It was almost like looking in a mirror, in a nightmare. The lioness cupped Shen's cheek; it was cold against his fur. The panther shivered at her touch. "You can call me Jai Wu, Little Brother." She gave Shen a soft hitherto straight smile. "But for now, I think we'll start with just Commander." Jai stood to full height as she turned back to the tent. The members of the camp got to their feet. "Ling, he's your problem." The snow leopard bowed his head slightly. "Make sure he's got a tent and something good to eat; he's going to need it."
"Oh, and one more thing..." The lioness topped as she turned back to Shen. "Welcome to family Little Brother.
