Woo awoke to a scramble and a shriek. Dawn was breaking, and he tore out of his bedroll to see a purple Monkey wrestling with Hardwin. Hardwin managed to pin him, and the Monkey looked ready to bite him. Woo jerked his knife from his belt and pressed it to the purple throat, his eyes gleaming with anger. The rest of the camp began to stir, but Woo was focused on the intruder. The Monkey's breathing was shallow as he gazed at the knife.
"What do you want, fool?" Woo demanded in Monkey.
"I bring a message."
"From Severne?"
"No, sir. From Gui."
Woo pursed his lips. "Let him up, Hardwin."
Hardwin obeyed, but the other simians surrounded him, muttering amongst themselves. The purple Monkey rubbed his throat, eyeing the knife warily.
"You are Woo? And Hardwin?"
"Yes," they replied.
"Gui said to tell you that Severne has captured several Humans, and he's bringing them and our prince to the battlefield. He plans to execute them if you don't surrender."
"Why would Severne capture Humans?" Hardwin asked suspiciously.
"Who are they? Why are they important?" Woo demanded.
"I don't know, sir. Gui said to say that the king hunted for these specific Humans for a long time."
A chill spread through Woo's blood, and he clenched his jaw as he looked at Hardwin, whose eyes showed that the same thought had occurred to him. They said nothing but looked over the purple Monkey. He looked frightened, his violet eyes glancing around at the crowd that was beginning to gather around them. Woo rubbed his chin.
"Prove Gui sent you and you will be allowed to wander around and fight with us," Woo said.
The Monkey reached down for a pouch at his side and held out a small object. Woo took it, turning it over in his hand. It was their prearranged signal, an old toy that Blayze used to bring over to play with him. Woo nodded.
"He's safe," he said, showing Hardwin the toy.
"Good. Didn't want to have to kill him," Hardwin said grimly.
"What's going on?" Mystique Sonia asked from the crowd.
"False alarm," Hardwin replied. "I thought this Monkey was going to kill Woo, but he's on our side."
"What's your name?" Lin Chung asked, staring at the Monkey.
The intruder didn't answer, his face blank. He turned to Hardwin.
"Is that Human talking to me?"
"Don't speak Human?" Hardwin guessed.
"No, sir."
"He wants your name," Woo said.
"Dingbang, sir. But can it be translated?"
Woo smirked and turned to the crowd. "This is Dingbang. He is a loyal messenger of Gui, the servant in Monkey Castle that is our spy. He does not speak Human, so there's no use peppering him with questions. We must prepare for battle. So eat a bit of breakfast then arm yourselves."
"Yes, sir," they said.
Woo took his food to go, walking over to stare across the plains to see what was going on. Bohai trundled with him, chewing on some grass. The plains were wide, covered in grass from forest to forest. Off to the side, a cliff cut off retreat, and the sound of running water reached Woo's ears. He knew from Hardwin's descriptions that there was a river on top of those cliff that ended in a waterfall that dropped for over a hundred feet. He paid no mind to that. Nobody could go up there that couldn't fly or climb like a Monkey. So he turned away and froze. Severne was standing there, his eyes locked on the small man. And he gave the orders to march.
The temporary leader of Big Green cursed under his breath and gobbled the rest of his food.
"Get your treads, Bohai. The Turtles finished their task?"
"Yes," his small voice replied.
"Good. Gather the others. Quickly!"
Woo turned and sprinted for the camp. He slid to a stop and shouted. "Shovel it down, soldiers! They're coming now. Hurry! We must march out to meet them or they'll box us in the forest!"
There was a scramble as everybody practically shoved the food down their throats. They scrambled to their feet, still chewing, and the Humans got into formation. The Animals quickly followed suit. Hardwin swallowed his frugal meal and called for his rebels. They stood right behind Woo, and then there was the trained silence of an army waiting for orders. Woo waited for Bohai to join him on his treads, then he turned and gave the order.
"Forward, march!"
As soon as Woo came out of the forest, there was a stream of cursing so foul from across the battlefield that he was very glad that besides himself and the Monkeys, only Rahim, Althea, and Parrot King could speak the tongue with any fluency. Woo ignored it, leading the troops across the grassy plains to meet the oncoming force. Almost as one, both armies halted when there were only a few yards separating them. Woo heaved himself on top of his Turtle to get a better view, and the jeers of derision from the Monkeys across the way filled the air. The man ignored them as he got his footing.
He scanned the Monkeys in front of him. He saw Blayze with a collar around his throat, staring at him with such surprise that Woo nearly grinned. Nearly. Then he saw the Humans that Severne had spent so long looking for. He had been correct about their identities. The man hadn't seen them in so long, not since he'd told them he was going to join Big Green. They looked haggard and unwell, thin and bruised, and Woo felt great compassion for them. Their eyes were big as they stared at the little man before them, a man they had excluded from all family functions because of his ties with Animals, especially the red Monkey that had caused ruin and destruction in their lives. The look of disbelief on their pale faces told him that they hadn't expected to see him, and especially not with an army at his command.
Severne stepped forward, grim anger in his eyes. "Hail, Human. Like my new pets?"
"They're unruly," Woo replied. "But you seem to have taken the spunk out of them."
The black Monkey scowled. He had thought to make Woo fear for them. He hadn't expected the almost uninterested way he spoke of them.
"They are your family, no?"
Woo shrugged. "Yes. But they do not want me."
"Then you won't mind if we kill them?" Severne asked, grinning.
"I don't think that's wise."
"So you care."
Woo looked over them, his eyes blank of any emotion. "I care for all lives, Human and otherwise."
Severne was clearly frustrated by the news. So he turned his attention to the one thing he knew for a fact that Woo cared about.
"Bring me my disobedient son!"
Woo's gaze moved to the red Monkey, who was jerked and led forward at spearpoint. He stumbled and was forced to the ground in front of his father. His red eyes gleamed with passion and hope as he stared up at Woo. He opened his mouth to speak, but Severne struck him so hard that he hit the dirt, dazed. That roused Woo's anger.
"Stop it, beast!" he shrieked, and the Monkey rebels around him shouted their displeasure.
"I will kill him."
Woo thought for a moment then gave a whistle. "Archer?"
"Yes, sir?"
The man saw the king lean forward, and he suddenly realized something. The king, despite his hatred of Humans and everything to do with them, had learned their tongue. The Monkey wanted revenge on Woo and his shameful son so badly that he'd done something he considered abhorrent. He hummed.
"You have what I asked of you?"
"Now, sir?"
"Not yet." The king's eyes glittered, and Woo smirked and turned toward the Panthers, speaking in their tongue. "Rahim, I want you and your people to go around and free the prisoners from behind once the battle begins. Take Fang He, and try not to kill anybody, okay?"
Rahim's ear flicked, and the great cat nodded. Woo glanced at Lin Chung, and the young man nodded, too. Woo turned back to the Monkey, and he grinned to see fury on the dark face. He obviously hadn't counted on another language besides Human-speak. Woo laughed jovially.
"Nice try, idiot," he taunted. "I'm not stupid."
The king snorted, then opened his mouth. "You are a nuisance that will die today," he boomed, his tone harsh. Blayze gazed up at his father with his mouth agape.
"If you think you can keep your promise, then you're welcome to try," Woo said calmly.
"So be it!"
At the next call, the Monkeys surged forward as Woo made a single gesture, and the battle began. Immediately, Rahim, Lin Chung, and several Panther warriors disappeared. As Humans and Animals clashed around him, Woo kept his eyes on Severne and Blayze. The red Monkey was handed off and shoved back toward the Humans, guarded by two big Monkeys. Severne, his dark glower focused on the small Human, gestured for Woo to come forward to face him. Woo nodded once and leaned down to speak to Bohai.
"As we planned, Bo," he whispered.
The Turtle looked up. "Woo will live?"
Woo pressed his lips together. "Go on."
The non-answer was answer enough, and Bohai nibbled his fingers then pressed forward. No Animal touched him as he rode forward. The king wanted to kill Woo himself, that much was clear. Based on his personality, Woo thought that it was likely to be a violent death. If the king could catch him.
When Woo got to Severne, he dismounted and stood unafraid in front of the most vicious creature he has ever met. Severne sneered at him, his disdainful eyes scanning the frame of the small man. Woo hadn't been this close to the black Monkey in good light in years, so the horrid burn scar on the dark face was surprising. The Monkey King gave a grim smile and lifted his fingers to trace the scar.
"I owe you, Human," he hissed.
Woo raised his right arm and pulled the sleeve down. The ugly wound looked even worse in the sunlight, and Severne grinned.
"That's not enough. I want your head, Human."
"Then come and get it," Woo said softly.
Severne and Woo stood in an undisturbed circle as if the earth around them buzzed with their enmity. The chaos of the fighting forces around them didn't matter to either of them. All of their focus was on the other. Severne began to prowl around on all four paws, his tail twitching with anticipation. Woo kept his eyes on the dark figure, turning with him as his mind analyzed everything. It was rare to find moments in which Woo's inner critic stilled and had nothing to say, and this was one of those moments. All of his thoughts were narrowed down to survival and fighting. But none of the thoughts showed on his face, unlike the unmistakeable hatred and vindictive glee on Severne's face, which spoke of thoughts too vile for the Human to even consider.
Then, with only a twitch to betray him, Severne jumped forward. Woo launched himself to the right, tucking and rolling as his hand went to his hip. As he turned, he felt hands clench upon his neck, but his blade slammed deep into the black arm. Severne shrieked and swore so violently that Woo grimaced.
Severne stepped back, staring in disbelief at the wound in his arm. Then his black eyes met Woo's again, and Woo knew immediately what he had to do. As Severne took a step forward, Woo screamed at the top of his lungs
"Archer! Now!"
And then the Monkey was on top of him, pinning his arm with one of his paws while two others began to squeeze at Woo's throat, cutting off all air. Triumph was in those only pools until a strange whizzing, whining sound filled the air. A small, sparking arrow shaft was falling toward the edge of the battlefield, far away from any targets. Severne grinned.
"Pathetic archer," he crooned. "The Porcupines are better."
Woo had enough air to say, "Perfect shot."
Then the arrow struck the ground. As the sparks spread out, smoke and then flickering light built up in the lush, green grass. Severne released Woo in surprise as the cries in Monkey began to spread. Woo sucked in a breath and smiled in victory.
"No," Severne snarled, reaching up to cup his scarred face.
"Yes!" Woo gasped, rubbing his throat. "Fire."