Blood had clung to his fur with a strange stickiness, hanging from his form like a grotesque slab of meat from the butchery. His eyes were so bloodshot they looked almost entirely red, and his face was contorted in livid rage. He stunk of the metallic stench of blood, mixed with the smell of charred, blackened flesh. The blood that normally came from him had tripled in strength and was pouring out thick and fast so that he looked very much like a monster concocted from some strange and violent imagination.
Temutai looked ready for battle, one hoof holding the shaft end of the spear, the other held the pointed end. Both were staring each other down. Neither spoke, neither struck.
Taotie half-dragged, half-limped towards his son's limp form, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
Chi made the first move and swung for Temutai, who blocked, before stabbing forwards with the pointed end of the spear. Chi caught the bovine's wrist before he was scewered and for a moment they stood like that, locked in combat, face to face, then the camel broke the lock, kicking the water buffalo backwards, the shaft end of the spear flew out of Temutai's hoof and into the jungle, he fell backwards and acting distinctly not camel-like Chi pounced atop the bovine. Temutai was ready though, and twisted his feet upwards so that Chi threw himself into a kick that sent him flying backwards. Getting up the buffalo bore down on Chi like a mad bull. He tore forwards, his horn ripping a scar into the camel's ear, following up with a vicious headbutt and by bringing the camel's throat down into his waiting knee. Chi managed to shove the bovine away, but was gulping for breath- breathing had become a challenge it seemed.
Chi loathed it all. His plan had gone smoothly until his arrival on the feral islands. The kit had managed to escape him and it had all gone downhill from there. Now he was loosing a fight that would undoubtedly mean whether or not he died.
Temutai swung again with the blade of the bone spear, but Chi swerved to avoid the blow, his fist plunging into Temutai's snout, expelling the blade from his grip and a few teeth. Chi gave his opponent no respite and swung again, crushing another fist into the bovine's face. Blood splattered out, but Temutai recovered enough to land another headbutt, one that would have given most other fighters a concussion. Not Chi, though it did knock him off balance, allowing his opponent to barge his shoulder into his chest, shoving him backwards. Now dazed there was nothing the camel could do to stop the ex-mercenary from delivering a pair of powerful swings to his nose, sending a huge quantity of blood flying through the air and splattering onto the undergrowth. Chi retaliated with desperation, throwing himself at the bovine and knocking him to the ground. His hooves tightened around Temutai's throat, who's own grappled for freedom. For a while they struggled, Temutai going red, then blue and it was as he was going purple that Taotie slammed the point of the bone spear through the camel's skull, it's jagged white edge sticking out of Chi's head. Chi collapsed, dead. Temutai collapsed, exhausted.
Sleep began to sneak in, all were tired and had had a long day. It was only natural that they rest a while. Babirasu joined them, with Saras already asleep it seemed, or rather knocked out. Cradled in his hoof, glowing brightly was the bright green gem Tong For had declared the 'gem of wonders'. The night whiled itself away, and when morning came they realized they were not alone.
Surrounding them from every inch, in their tattoos and war paints, and furs and leathers, with their rusted blades and bone spears, were what seemed to be the whole might of the Kucha. A rhythmic kind of drumming came from around them as they beat their spears and weapons together, creating a kind of clattering. The noise was soon followed up by a rhythmic chanting as the Kucha began repeating a single word over and over again.
"What are they saying?" Taotie asked, gulping and cradling his hurt leg, knowing full well none of them would last very long against the full group.
"No idea." Temutai grunted, getting ready to go down fighting.
Then Babirasu noticed that their eyes were all staring right at the gem of wonders. He held Bei above his head and the eyes followed it there.
"If they wanted to kill us, they'd have done it already." He said slowly.
Then a member of the Kucha came forwards. He was a crocodile, in his twenties. Thick, muscle-bound green scales were covered from head to tail in blue swirls of ink. He bowed low, but his eyes never left the gem.
"By tradition you have won the Race of Life. Any you wish to take with you will be taken to the best ship and will be allowed to leave the island in good safety." He bowed low again and rose. "If you return you will be brought as honored guests and if you choose to stay you will be given a home. This is the Word of the gods and the Kucha shall abide by it." This time it seemed all the Kucha bowed.
Babirasu shared odd looks with his companions. "Right. Take all of us to the ships. Carry them-" he pointed at Saras, Bian Zao who were both dead to the world, and Taotie, who was in no shape to walk. "Gently." He added. "You can have him." He added, to quell the looks of disappointed looks on the face of some, he pointed to Chi.
And it was done. Someone slung Saras over his shoulder. Someone else picked up Bian Zao and carried him. Taotie was cradled like a child, Babirasu was hoisted atop the croc's shoulders and Temutai helped along by two giggling leopardess'.
The Kucha were good on their word and an hour later they were sailing away, the island soon disappearing in fog.
"I will not be missing that place." Temutai grunted.
"Me neither." Taotie agreed.