RATED M

The wolf patrol on Gongmen's western side was taken aback when the group of jackals, much smaller in size yet faster and more flexible, attacked them. The wolves, however were equipped with sharp knives and easily drove the invaders off. Jackals, on the other hand had only their teeth and claws as weapons. But they were, indeed, much more lethal than the wolves had thought. Almost one hour after the fuss, one wolf dropped dead on the spot, while another started to spit foam and bark like crazy. The patrol was frightened –they all know the symptoms of rabies- and drew away. But one of them was bitten by his frenzied fellow and collapsed shortly after. The worst part was many other wolves had also been infected through scratches or small bites; they just didn't know yet.

The palace had taken safety measures. More garrisons had been established. The port was anyway empty but troops were guarding the cove and no one could sneak in. A big gong had been placed in the central square, and every time someone got infected and threatened the civilians it would be clanged for reinforcements. Two groups of wolves that were trained assassins –five in total- were kept behind the tower walls and staid alert for any signs of trouble. The only move that had come to mind, but Lady Fei was unwilling to do, was to pen up the city and the port. But without a port, there would be no trade and those penned in would die of starvation. On the other hand, exporting goods that could be infected was a threat to all of China and cities that would engage in trading would no longer trust Gongmen as a producer.

These thoughts tormented her languid mind as she perched on her mattress. They were then replaced by the nightmare of thousand eggs laid in a room. She watched them pop, in her dream, and thousands of peachicks crawled out with pieces of shell stuck on their tiny heads. At first they looked cute, but when she threw a second look she realized they were miniatures of her husband. Fei jumped up, feeling her chest heave up and down and her heart pace. There was a knock at the door.

"LADY FEI!"

It was Kim's voice, only much louder and quavering than usual. The peahen rushed to the door and pulled it open.

"Lady Fei I…" the fox begun, and Fei ignored her tongue that hung out of her mouth –a sign of exhaustion.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! CAN'T I GET SOME SLEEP HERE!" The blue peafowl screamed. Kim lowered her eyes and shrank on her spot. Fei glued her green eyes on the chambermaid, whose knees were now shaking. But right after she was turned around by her own remorse and felt as embarrassed as ever. "I…I didn't mean it. I'm sorry Kim, the pressure is too much." The peahen breathed out.

"It's…alright, mistress," Kim replied, insulted yet patient, "The western patrol has returned with heavy losses. They claim to have been attacked by jackals which infected them with rabies." The fox kept a serious face as she announced the horrible events.

"I thought jackals only live in the mountains," Fei replied innocently.

Her maid shrugged, partly because she didn't know, and partly because she was no longer in the mood to share her thoughts with the peahen. Fei shook her head and then sighed. "Double the patrols. And those who return…kill them. At once. ," Lady Fei said, her mind still blur from frustration and sorrow. Kim was about to complain, but her jaw remained firmly shut when she noticed the dangerous spark in her Mistress' eyes. Without a word, she disappeared into the hall.

Fei was tired and her wings felt sore –common signs of a peahen about to lay- but the disturbance would not give way, so she decided to take a walk. Wandering in the backyard brought back painful memories, but moving around the courtyard seemed just as hurtful now. The blood of these wolves was already on her wings. But she had to protect her city and all of them were a potential threat. The chance some of them were clean was turned down, in an attempt to redeem herself.

Desperate and devastated, Fei headed to the dungeon, hoping she'd find some sort of an advice there. Masters Ox and Croc were in the same cell as she left them and had not aged a day. There is that rumour that prison changes people –if not internally then externally. That could in no way apply to the Masters, who had not changed a bit, in fact looked healthier than ever. Master Croc jolted delightfully as soon as he saw the peahen flouncing down the stairs. Fei stood in front of their cells and gazed at them from between the bars. Master Ox was laid on his back, while Croc neared her wrapping the bars around his small feet.

"Long time no see." The Master said, in a manner that could be characterized as playful.

"It's not easy to come down here unnoticed." She defended herself, but spoke the truth.

"Then how did you come?" Master Ox, with his usual grumpy frown asked, but did not bother changing his position.

"Shen is away, that's how I came," a sharp pain in the heart when she spoke his name out loud. The immediate question; why did it hurt?

"So you didn't stop him…" Master Croc shook his head disappointedly.

"Hey, I tried!" The peahen talked back, again telling the truth. "And my try has degraded me here, with a sick city to govern and a belly full of Shen's …." She did not want to say the first word that came to mind –bastards that was, it was no proper talk for a royalty, "offspring!"

The Master's both jumped up in shock. "You're having chicks?"

"How could this happen!" Master Ox wondered, although he did know how it could happen. What he didn't know was why.

"You said delay him, so I tried everything!" Fei crossed her wings around her torso.

"Well we didn't mean… that." Master Croc blinked, still shocked by her announcement.

"You should have clarified it. Anyway, I'm here for your help. Gongmen suffers and I know nothing of cures."

"What is it?" Master Ox sat up and fixed his red eyes on her. The glare sent shivers down Fei's spine.

"Animals from the mountains, jackals, invade it. A scourge has also burst out, it's rabies and half my…the city is infected," she avoided to claim the city as her own, knowing how protective the Masters were over it.

"So pen it up and execute the infected. Then cleanse the area of jackals and you're done." Master Croc spoke as if it was the easiest plan that could come to mind. Fei blinked.

"How will I cull the jackals? I've never lead an army before!" she complained.

"Fei," Master Ox got on his feet and neared the bars, coming so close she could feel his hot breath on her chest, "There's a first time for everything. And apart from that, you can do anything," he placed his hoof on his head, "if only you believe in yourself."

Shen's crusade halted a few miles outside the port of Hong Kong. Their leader being naturally intelligent, he had predicted how the fall of Xingfu would affect its neighbour port. What Shen didn't know was the squalor that awaited him when the two scouting ships preceded the fleet and made port in the abandoned docks. The scouting wolves spotted no threat and signalled for their retinue to follow. Only when the full army disembarked –or at least part of the full army for Shen had chosen to stay in ship for the time being, did the troops realize what was going on. The dark shadows that formed inside the poorly lighted city –Shen had been mistaken to attack during the night- and the narrow alleys were the ideal environment for the many pickpockets to attack. Rabbits that outraced the speed of light would rob the wolves of all belongings light enough to be rapidly carried away. Little did the wolves know they were being robbed, until they halted in front of the palace, where Wolf Boss –also the one leading their expedition- waited for the whole force to gather. Many yells like "Where's my sheath?" "Did you still it!" "I know you did it you son of a…" It took several minutes and lots of punching for Wolf Boss to stop the fuss.

But there was nothing to worry about, for as soon as they entered the palace Lord Xu-Yan's escort quit on the spot and surrendered unconditionally. Wolf Boss send a messenger back to Lord Shen, to inform him of their victory, making sure it sounded like lots of strive to win. The peacock flounced to the palace himself, and though many pickpockets surrounded him and his escort no one dared get close enough. For even mucky thieves could tell there was something different about him; something deadly.

As far as poor Lord Xu-Yan was concerned, Shen was much nicer than he had expected. Shen imprisoned him in his own dungeon, but respected his rights to food and water, accommodation and rest. Little did Xu-Yan know that Shen did not consider him a potential rival. In fact he underestimated Xu's intelligence that, much to the peacock's surprise, he showed no grudge, though Shen admittedly envied the Lord's vibrant tail feathers and the beautiful green of his neck.

"This city is full of pests." He spoke to his most loyal wolf later on this night. "I give you a day to uproot them. We'll live a hundred of our wolves behind with the command to rebuild the city. This port is useful for trade and I intend to use it."

The Wolf nodded silently. Seeing his master would not continue, he spoke.

"And when are we going home, sir?" he asked worriedly. Admittedly he had missed his beloved fox and the pain of their separation would become unbearable as days went by. It had recently been filled in with doubt; would she be faithful and wait for him? Would another fox take his place in her heart?

Shen chuckled nastily. "You've missed your sick lovemaking already, haven't you?" he devilishly glared at the wolf. Wolf Boss felt disgusted; it had been a long time since the two of them had had a dirty talk. And Kim was definitely someone he didn't think like this about. Even if Shen had picked up on this, it was characteristic of him to try and insult his troop.

"I…yes, sir," the wolf admitted with plenty of guilt. He did not, however, want to challenge Shen; the peacock had already outraged him enough.

"Lang," the peafowl turned to face him, a fatherly affection burning inside his ruby eyes. To Wolf Boss he looked…old. Maybe his age was starting to show. "We've both had experiences with other species, but this? I mean, you really feel something for a creature that was not designed to be with you?"

"With all due respect, sir, Lady Fei was not designed for you, either." Shen blinked in shock of his boldness. But it had been so long a time he had actually had some "men's talk" with anyone, he decided not to stop him. "What I mean is, she is the complete opposite of you, sir. Externally at least."

"Make your point," Shen narrowed his eyes, feeling a knife slide down between his wingtips.

"What I mean is someone like Xu-Yan would match her more."

The knife blade shot at Wolf Boss with the speed of light and –fortunately for him- landed inches away from his neck. The wolf felt the fresh scratch bleed with his paw.

"Bring that boastful maggot to me!"

Wolf Boss dashed to the dungeon and soon the colourful peafowl was kneeled in front of his leucistic fellow species, staring at the sharp edge of Shen's Guan Dao.

"So, you think you're so virile with this fancy tail of yours." The white peacock mocked.

"You're only saying that because you're jealous," Xu-Yan replied childishly, his abrupt manners being a trait that had got him in trouble many times in the past. Shen laughed, in a manner that was everything but cheerful. Xu-Yan raised a brow in innocent bewilderment.

"I have nothing to be jealous of. And I'll prove it."

Before Xu-Yan could react, the sharp pain of his tail being pulled almost knocked him off his senses. With one wet eye, he managed to see Shen smiling devilishly as he pulled another feather. Another one followed then one more and more….

"Stop I beg you!" the tormented peafowl screamed.