Ru stood at his tent. The rhino had taken the responsibility of carting Kun and Sun off with relish. He could do whatever he wanted with the two, but could not kill them. He had taken great pleasure in causing whatever pain he could to his former Lord and Lady. Now he was in control with a group of elite two hundred strong. When Canku and Xisong, his true leaders, returned with the bulk of the army, he would head back and assume control over Mengyou City. He finally had the leadership he deserved. Kun Zhu was soft – not when he had gone berserk in the hallways though. His short tail twitched in annoyance at the memories of the large male tiger tearing his way through his troops. Sun was just as soft as Kun, even more so. He would rule Mengyou City like no one had ever ruled it before. There would be changes, but for what he thought would be the better. He walked to a black tent made of heavy canvas. As he stepped inside the smell of blood, both dried and fresh met his nostrils. The hooded torturer, a panther, turned from his task and bowed to Ru. He took no notice of the panther but went straight to what animal the panther had been torturing. A female tiger was kneeling there, her face to the canvas wall. It was Sun Nushi. They had known that Kun was stronger than Sun, but he would do anything out of love for his wife. Thus, the rhino had chosen to torture her. Right now she wore no shirt – they gave her no privacy when they tortured her. Ropes ran down her back. Pieces of barb, glass, nails, and other jagged objects had been embedded in the rope. Already, strips of fur had been ripped off and the pink flesh showed underneath. Places that had already undertaken the device were red with blood.
"Carry on," Ru motioned to the panther.
The panther took the strips of rope and shoved each piece of jagged edge into her skin. Sun groaned and gritted her teeth. Taking the ends of the strips he tied them together to a piece of wood. The panther gripped the wood in his paws and put it against Sun's back. He started to pull slowly, letting the sharp edges cut and rip the skin. Blood oozed out of the fresh wounds. The panther ignored the cries of pain from the tiger as he pulled in along her back. Ru enjoyed watching the tiger's body twist in agony.
"Again, along the scabs from last time," said Ru once the panther had finished.
The panther nodded and huffed through its nose. The panther got the pieces of rope back in position to repeat the process. Twice more did the rhino have the torture done to Sun.
"Untie her and throw her back in the prison tent," Ru said. He sneered at the limp body of Sun. He couldn't kill her, but he could harm her past his wildest dreams. The wolves' had given him a position of revenge. He intended to use it to its fullest. Guards dragged the female tiger to a different black tent fifty feet away from the torture tent. Ru had placed them so close so that the other prisoners could hear the screams of the tormented. It was all part of physiological warfare that Canku and Xisong were so keen on. This helped with persuading the other captives to tell them whatever they needed to know.
The Guards tossed Sun onto the dirt floor of the tent. Kun turned to watch. Scars were visible all along his body. They had tortured him mercilessly the first week before moving onto Sun. His long fur was hiding the scars well, but they were still very noticeable. He growled as menacingly as he could. The guards were impassive. They tied up Sun just out of reach from Kun with practice only they had and left. As the tent flap swung back to its original position, Kun got as close as he could to Sun.
"Are you okay? No, you're not okay, of course. What am I thinking? Talk to me!"
Sun just lay there. Kun sat back and waited for his wife to regain consciousness. Time passed sluggishly. When she finally stirred, Kun was back as close as he could get.
"Sun?" Kun asked weakly.
"Hello, Kun," Sun said quietly. "How I wish I could….be at your side."
Sun tried lying down, but the wounds on her back prevented her from doing so. She rolled over and reached out her paw. Kun reached out also. They were barely able to hold their paws together, a small sign of comfort, but stronger than anything.
"What did they do to you this time?" asked Kun, knowing what the answer was anyways.
"The same as last time, the barbed ropes."
"At least they didn't do that thing were it seems like you are to drown."
Sun coughed up blood. She spat it as far away from her as she could.
"I don't know where that came from."
Kun could tell that his wife was embarrassed. She had never been one to be able to withstand such horrendous pain. Added to that, she was used to an easier life. The thought of spitting was such a low thing to do. Yet her she was doing it.
"We will be okay. Just be happy knowing that Tai and those two made it safely away."
Sun smiled at the thought of her son free as she fell into a deep sleep. Her body needed it to recover and endure the future tortures. A gruff voice spoke. It had a strange accent, it wasn't from anywhere in China Kun could tell.
"You love her don't you?"
Kun sat up straight and looked around the tent. It was dark since the tent was black canvas and they provided no light other than that which shone through the split at the tent entrance. His night vision was good, but the tent was beyond that.
"I do. I love my son also."
"I wish I could have found love sometimes, but I am fortunate I didn't."
Kun shakily stood up and tried to move around the tent. The chains clanked together.
"Why not?"
"If I had, my lover would have been heart-broken knowing that her mate was to be captured and forced to kill for these wolves."
Kun froze and his heart thudded. This animal had no problems killing it seemed; but it was forced? What did that mean?
"What do you mean forced? And what is your accent?"
The sound of foot paws padding on the ground met Kun's ears. A dark eye surround by pure white fur met him.
"I am forced to kill. While I am intoxicated, I do things I would not normally do. One of the things those damn wolves found out is I kill without second thought. A terrible curse as I live with the burdens of innocent faces etched into my mind. I see them walking before in my sleep. As for where I am from, I come from a place north of your homeland, China. Past Mongolia where the wolves have come out from – though they did originate in China. No, I live in a frozen land of ice and snow during the winter and a wet, green summer awaits me after the ice has thawed. It as no name, but I have one. I am called Aleksey Kochevnik. What of you, comrade?"
Kun thought for a moment. The name the white furred animal spoke was foreign to him. Never before had he heard those sounds before. He spoke the name aloud three times to get used to the strange combinations.
"An honor to meet you Aleksey. Where I come from, I was called Lord Kun Zhu. You may just call me Kun. My wife, as I assume you have figured out that is what the other tigers is to me, is called Lady Sun Nushi."
The black eye widened.
"You were the ruler the whisperings of the camp had been about. The ruler of the conquered state of Mengyou City? Am I not correct?"
Kun sighed.
"Correct you are. I have lost everything. My son, I pray to my ancestors, has escaped and is out of harms way."
"I don't mean to be such a pessimist, comrade, but I fear he is in harms what regardless."
"Why do you say that?" thundered Kun. Did he know how weak Tai was? Kun shook his head and corrected himself. No, Tai was not weak in mind, just body. Physical strength would come to him.
"Because, if he had gone with way, he would have run into this group of elite," the gruff voice said. "If he had gone the way of the wolves, he would have gone into Mongolia, a place that would not be smart to go. The only other option, from what I know, but what do I know? The only other option, based on what I have heard, is following the River, what is that river? I have spent a while with your language, but it is still difficult to me."
The white-furred face looked down as Aleksey thought.
"No matter with names. He will run into the mountains."
Kun's mind flashed back to the geography of the Mengyou Valley. The snow blasted mountains that surrounded it where deadly. Kun's heart dropped to his stomach. Perhaps his family was doomed. Aleksey continued,
"Still, take heart comrade, if whoever you pray to is listening, they will help your son out."
Kun gnashed his teeth together. Hopefully they would. Kun decided he had enough of the topic and switched it back over to Aleksey.
"Tell me, Aleksey, what species are you. And how did you end up here of all places? If you live so far north as you say, how did the wolves get to you?"
"Comrade, you tread on my territory now. But, you have shared much of your life, I can only repay back."
Aleksey got to his full height. Kun was shocked. He had expected a massive beat to tower above him, yet the white furred animal only reached his shoulder. Aleksey got as close as he could to Kun and sat down, crossed legged. The black eyes bored into Kun's orange and yellow ones with such intensity. The white furred animal started his tale.
"I come from a band of nomad snow foxes. We inhabit the farthest northern reaches of the North." He chuckled. "Some say it is so cold, our blood as ice in it. I do not believe that though. As I was say, my comrades and I roam the land for food. Whatever we find that has not been claimed we take. We settle in a place for a year at the most and then move on. You would be surprised of how well our tribe was doing. Regrettably, the good times could not – will never – last forever. Food was running low. We were forced to go south and walk on the lands of others. Some were kind, other hostile. We reached a place of good health and started out daily routine. The land was different, remember that comrade. It was hard to live for the months ahead, but we toughed it out. I decided to search for food even lower. The tribe called me crazy, but they let me go. A bird was hired when we reached a small village of Iktusk. The bird was to give me direction, help, and a way to communicate to my comrades. I started out. Now, I didn't plan on going out for a day, no, I traveled for a long time. Always heading south, never turning to the east or west….unless I had to go around something. Little did I know I had wandered into Mongolia. The open space was different. It was green all the time as I was told by a local and that shocked me. Well, I started back up north to return to my tribe. The bird though, was in league with the wolves. They captured me and bid the bird to return and tell my tribe I had been killed I later found out. I fought hard that day, but to no prevail. They let me sit in a cell to 'cool off.' When I did, they came in and stated their proposition. What it was, I will let it by a secret. I refused. I expected a wrathful retaliation. Instead, they brought in some of their finest wine. Being a chump to any alcohol, I took it gladly. Before I knew it," he snapped his claws, "I was drunk! And drunk I was! The headache I got the day after was atrocious. Well, they told me to go kill the animal in front of me without a weapon. As I stated before, the alcohol drove demons into and I did so. With blood on my paws and my fangs, they smiled and ushered me to a tent. After that, they feed me alcohol and off I go a mindless killer. I don't do it voluntarily, comrade. I tell you this so you don't judge me as a horrible being. No, they force the bewitching liquid down my throat. After a few gulps though, I am theirs. It saddens me that it only takes alcohol to change me. There you have it, comrade Kun, my story. Not very cheery if you ask me."
Kun processed the information.
"That was an interesting story," a female voice said. Sun!
The snow fox turned to Sun.
"You liked it?"
"The way it was told, yes. The context, no. A sad tale, no doubt."
Kun spoke up this time.
"Sun, this is Aleksey Kevoch…..nik?"
Kun looked at Aleksey. Had he said the snow foxes' name right?
"You pronounce my name funny," laughed Aleksey. "It is okay. It adds humor to my life. Who doesn't like laughter and humor?"
"It's not my favorite thing," a gloomy voice said. This voice had yet another new accent to Kun and Sun. It was almost musical despite the depression that filled it.
The snow fox sigh heavily and turned to face the back of the tent.
"You the most depressed person I know, marten," Aleksey said in an irritated tone, made even more so by the foxes natural guttery voice.
"Who is that?" asked Sun.
The snow fox turned back to face the tigers.
"A beech marten from a place west of China. A place he calls Rome. Another odd name for you to remember, comrades."
"What is his, or her, name?" asked Sun.
"His name is….what is it again marten?"
"Timoteo. Timoteo Argento. Not that you would care to remember it."
The fox shrugged.
"I can't remember it because of the dark clouds that surround it."
"Metaphors are terrible. Speak out of riddle, please?" whined Timoteo.
The snow fox leaned in and motioned for the tigers to do likewise.
"He is always gloomy like this. Don't worry. He gets better the further along you know him. For now, he is a pain in the…..what's the word?"
"Behind," muttered Timoteo.
"Ass! That's it! He is a pain in the ass!" said Aleksey, almost jubilantly. "Marten, why don't you come out of the darkness and show yourself to our new comrades?"
Timoteo muttered under his breath how he always had to do what the snow fox told him to do but still got up and moseyed over. In the light that was so sparse in the tent, the tigers could make an out a thin, short beech marten. Its face was sallow and the eyes were somewhat deep in their sockets. Though the face seemed to mirror death, the eyes were still alive. A vibrant brown iris surrounded a pitch black pupil that betrayed the marten's gloomy outlook. The eyes spoke of a fiendishly clever mind. Besides the snow fox from the north, this beech marten – Timoteo as he called himself – was the most peculiar character they had ever met.
"What is your story?" ask Sun, softly. She needed something to take her mind off of tomorrow's pains.
Timoteo's face contorted and he wrung his paws together in a nervous fashion. He sighed and took a shallow breath.
"I'll spare you most of the story. You probably don't care about it. I am a merchant, well was a merchant. I traveled to your land, China, doing business. I sell fruits and vegetables exotic to China. In return I trade them for silks and other resources hard to come by in my country. It is a good business. I was unfortunate to be in a village when the wolves Canku and Xisong attack. I should have known, expecting the worst is a good habit. Some disagree."
Aleksey harrumphed and elbowed Kun in a playful manor.
"He means me."
The marten gave the fox a sour look and continued on.
"As I was saying, I got captured. I already knew your language as I needed it for trade. So, they took me as prisoner and when they finish their conquest, I will be set free. The first, they said, to establish the road of trade between them and us. So here I sit, waiting for that day. It bothers me what they are doing, but I wish they would either get defeated or emerge victorious so I can get back home."
When Timoteo finished, he shuffled back to his original position. The three others just thought over what he had said. Nothing as terrible as Aleksey's story though, Sun reminisced.
Aleksey waved a paw at the depressing creature.
"There you have it comrades! Our stories for your ears! Not the best, I'm sure you would agree. Ah, let us make use of what time we have now. Let's go get some sleep!"
The gruff voiced fox turned around and lay down.
"What?" asked Kun. "Like that?"
"Yes," said Aleksey. "Rest is a powerful tool of rebellion and resistance at the smallest level. Use it to your advantage."
Kun looked at Sun.
"We should take his advice," replied Sun back to Kun's unspoken question. "He knows best."
Kun nodded and lay down, his mind swirling from what he had heard today.
Canku and Xisong were finally leaving Mengyou City to continue on their bloody war. As the army streamed out of the City, slightly lessened because of the number left to help keep the city under their control, the civilians watched with grim expressions. There went their old way of life. A new ruler was to take the place of the beloved tiger family. What was to become of them in this new chapter? The rumors that went around the City told that Ru was to be the next ruler. Was he going to be as just and kind like Kun was? Or was the rhino to be completely different. The citizens feared the worst. Any follower of the murderous wolves' was sure to be a tyrant.
The last of the wolves' mighty army drained out of Mengyou City and headed south of the River Yisan. They crossed the plains that led to the mountains and proceeded to hike up them. With a force of this scale, the climb was tough. Sergeants were constantly yelling out orders to ensure nothing but order was maintained. The wolves stood at an elevated position as they watched the large mass make its way up the mountains. It was almost fascinating to watch. Kar stood by his masters, looking over his fellow soldiers with impassive eyes. He was above them now. He served as the wolves' right hand and nothing less.
"We need to move faster," growled Canku. "We should make it to Ru's camp in a day and a half. At this pace, it will be more like a week!"
"Patience," Xisong said quietly. "Patience is what will get us the final prize, not rushing headlong into a fight without knowing our prey."
Canku nodded. His mate was correct.
"Still, they need to move faster. It is critical that we make it to the camp. We are on a tight schedule."
"How so? We said that we will take at least three years to get to the Valley of Peace. Remember? We were to give the inhabitants and the Furious Five along with whatever lives there a false sense of security."
"Yes, but if we strike too late, something could happen. Timing is critical, you know this."
"As I do. I agree with you. They need to move faster."
Canku spun around to face Kar.
"You wish to have the army move faster, my Lord?" asked Kar.
Canku grinned toothily.
"Exactly."
Kar bowed low and ran off to give the instructions to the Officers.
Canku turned slowly around and paused to face Xisong.
"How long does it take for someone to go truly crazy?"
Xisong cocked her head to the side.
"What do you mean?"
"If something terrible happens and you are driven insane with grief, how long does that take you to become truly insane? As in, you have completely lost your mind."
Xisong thought about it for a moment. This was an interesting question, even from someone as diverse as Canku.
"I don't really know. A year perhaps? Two years? Three years? Four? I'm not sure. It really depends on what state the mind of the victim is in, I would think."
Canku nodded.
"What if these were hardened kung fu Masters? Trained from almost the start of their life to the present."
Xisong finally got where her mate was going with his question.
"Oh, I'd say maybe at least six months minimum."
Sly grins appeared on both their faces.
"So, our bird shall leave the nest, what do you think?"
"Yes, soon. I'd say a day and half's time we send the messenger out. A certain monkey perhaps?"
Canku and Xisong went back to looking at their army move. A full two hours had past when the last of the soldiers had moved over the steep climb; even with the sped up pace. The wolves' howled out to the air and the army banged their weapons to their shields. At the beat of the clanging of metal, the army surged forward like a massive centipede – the front portion moving first with the back following shortly afterwards. Canku and Xisong followed the army at the back, relying on the bird scouts that communicated with the vanguard. The march forward to Ru's camp was seamless. As the first day fell short and the moon rose taking the Sun's position in the sky, the army settled down for the night. With the campfires roaring, the army drank all that the wolves' allowed them, told stories, gambled, and did other deeds of debauchery. It was a sinner's delight. At the back of the army though, Canku and Xisong just sat at entrance of their large tent, gazing up and down their army hearing the howls of laughter and the roars of delight. The army was in a good moral. That was good. When the army was happy, they were happy. When they were happy, the army was happy.
Canku's gaze turned to the stars. He stared at them with an uninterested look. They were nothing but pinpoints of light dotting the sky. Shadows here and there…no, there were no shadows in the sky right now. It was a cloudless night. A flutter of wings was heard next. His assassins at returned to bring him back the good news, otherwise, how could they dare return?
The contingent of raptors landed each bowing low to their leaders as they did so. They smiled when they saw that dried blood that caked their bodies. Canku even thought he smelled a mixture of innards as well. By their looks, they had been victorious. Three were missing. The prince might have been more difficult that they had imagined. Fighting for ones life does that to most animals.
"How was your assignment?" asked Canku cheerily. "Judging by your gruesome apparel, I'd say it was a success."
Quan looked around before answering, as if he had not noticed what the birds had carried along with them.
"Yes, the tiger prince, Tai, along with his two friends were killed. We lost three. The felines attacked back, much to our surprise. The smallest were their targets as we sent them in first as bait. We did not like it, but it was necessary. They died for a noble cause."
Canku snarled a bit. Quan looked up. Had they seen through his façade?
"Noble it is. What other evidence though are you going to show me that the tiger is dead… besides the blood! It could be your own!"
Quan's life flashed before his eyes. He could just imagine what the wolves' were going to do to him if he couldn't give them concrete evidence. The eagle stepped forward and placed the strip of fabric on the ground before the two.
"We cut this off of one of their clothes. You see the blood around the edges and how it is torn. This one was fleeing as we cut her down."
Canku and Xisong relaxed, though not visibly.
"Good, at least one of you has sense to bring back good evidence. You are dismissed. Your reward for not failing is your life. Go!"
The birds bowed one more time, a few chuckling at Canku's dark humor – even though it was not a joke.
Xisong leaned back and lay on the ground.
"You see now? The prince is dead. No one is able to escape and now of our plans. Tomorrow the bird shall be released from its nest and the Valley of Peace shall plunged into turmoil in a year and a half's time."
"It will be ours," agreed Canku, crushing a rock in his paws. "After that, Gongmen City and the capital will fall. A glorious new era will rise up with us at the head. The best part, we will be the rulers. You and I, together. Ruling over China with everyone doing what we say."
Xisong took a deep breath.
"You will also be a father."
Canku laughed.
"You could put it that way. A father for China."
"And your pups."
Canku's laughter died in his throat.
"Pups?"
"Yes. You remember that night? I'm would be surprised if you did not. Well, here we are, parents and conquers of China."
Canku sat up. This was unexpected for even his mate! Pups? He now had to worry about pups and ruling China?
"You are as low as I could have ever thought," growled Canku playfully. "Using that to your advantage….."
"Yes, your weakness…. Good night. Remember Canku, we will still take over China with our legacy being carried on! Our family will rule, keep that in mind."
The next morning, the army was on the move as the sun started to rise to its throne in the sky. By lunch, Ru's camp was in sight. The elite in the small prison camp welcomed the numbers, for many had friends within its ranks. Canku and Xisong spent no time with introductions, but sent Ru and a few of his own guard back to Mengyou City. After bowing low and swearing his oath, Ru was heading back to Mengyou City.
"Have the tiger couple brought before us," Xisong commanded the prison guards.
The hulking boars lumbered in the tent and threw them before the wolves. Kun and Sun were forced to their knees and into a bowing position.
"I thought I would give this news to you personally, Kun. You too Sun. Your beloved offspring is dead. Yes, he was brutally murdered."
Kun growled. Sun stifled a sob.
"Prove it to us, vermin."
Canku bent down to face Kun. He spoke with a peaceful voice.
"Always the brave one, right? Give your wife the support she needs right now. She knows we do not lie right now. If you insist….."
The bloodied piece of cloak was laid down before Kun.
"I remember this pattern; your family had a matching set. I found two but Tai's was gone. He must have taken it and flew. Well, there is your evidence Kun! Your son is dead. Let this be a warning to you of what we are capable of."
Kun shook with raw anger. A small, evil thought slinked into his mind. He had heard it before, yet it felt sweeter than ever.
Kill him. Let yourself feast on the flesh of this desecrator of your family. Let his screams be heard from the edges of the world and the Mandate in heaven. Let he bath in his own blood. Have your fangs and claws sink into his body…
"No," he bit out, fighting against the white hot idea.
Canku rose his paw to strike Kun. Xisong held her mates paw back.
"He looks different, Canku. Look closely, see how he struggles with himself," she warned.
Canku lowered his arm down to his side and studied the tiger. It was contorting and relaxing. The muscles in Kun's face twitching. His claws shot out and then hid themselves again many times. The wolf watched with growing fascination as he ran his eyes down the tiger's body. Kun's body was constantly moving; the tail moving to a mysterious, frighteningly quick, tempo. Canku bent down to look at Kun's eyes. He saw the pupil's were slits. The eyes iris glowed almost. A predator's look was captured in the stare he looked upon now. Canku stepped back. Xisong was right.
"Take them back to the tent!"
The prison guards bowed and took hold of their chains. Something snapped inside of Kun. He roared and lashed out at the nearest guard. The tiger's claws buried themselves into the wolf's flesh. Kun mauled the wolf's stomach, unable to reach the vital parts of its body. The wolf screamed in pain as his flesh was ripped to pulp. Pieces of muscle tissue flung out. Yellow fat also started oozing out of the wounds in his flesh. Grey fur flew out as the tiger gave the wolf a grim haircut. The wolf danced back, vainly keeping his pink stomach and other organs from slipping out of the gash. The other guard watched with a grim look on his face. A shout from Kar sent him into action. Taking the butt of his spear, he hammered it into Kun's side. This did nothing but enrage the tiger. He paused mauling the now misshapen wolf to turn around and snap the spear in half. Taking the closest piece, the one without the actual spear blade, he took the serrated end of the spear shaft and shoved into mercilessly into this wolf's chest. The wolf howled and screamed. Vainly trying to stop the inexorable, the wolf kicked and punched the tiger. As the spear cut in, blood flowed. Canku raised a wooden club over his head and brought it down on Kun's head – effectively rendering him unconscious, but not killing him. The tiger collapsed, limp. Sun screamed. The sound made Canku twitch. It was the first sound that he had heard from her in a long time.
"Shut her up too!"
Another blow to the head silenced Kun's mate. A wolf dropped dead, its innards spilling out like grotesque confetti. The dirt below the dead wolf took on a pink and red pallor. The other wolf struggled to pull the wooden shaft out of itself. A medic was able to reach the surviving wolf and escort him to the makeshift hospital.
The onlookers stood as still as stone. Each soldier's face was frozen in a look of horror. No one had seen something such as this! Canku and Xisong also looked at the corpse of the unfortunate wolf. Canku felt his loathing for the tiger heighten. Xisong was just happy that thing was away from her.
"Clean it up!" ordered Xisong. "We leave soon! You will have your glory in battle before long! The rest of you who do not clean up are dismissed!"
The crowd of astonished spectators hurried away. Few stayed to clean up the mess. As they carted the torn up carcass, Xisong mused over what she had just seen. Canku seemed distressed and they retired to their tent.
I will have to think on this later, she promised herself. Her paws met together in a single clap. Kar appeared by her side.
"You require my assistance?" Kar replied, bowing.
"Call a trusted monkey, tell her to go to the Valley of Peace and tell the bird to leave its nest."
"Why a monkey, ma'am? A bird would fly much faster."
"I know, but at the same time, that will not give us the time we need. Six months is enough for the villagers to remember the death and for the Five along with Po to have danced with madness."
Kar smiled maliciously.
"You are wise. I will call one at once."
Kar bowed once more and left to get the messenger for the Valley job. The monkey was soon on her way, carrying few items with her, but all vital for her mission.