Chapter 12: The Masked Warrior

"LET GO OF ME! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" Jiao screamed as she was dragged through the ship's lower deck.

"Shut up you wench!" The leopard bandit yelled back in annoyance.

The middle aged she-wolf groaned in pain as she was pulled on solid wooden floor, the rope that bind her wrists together held tightly by the ruffian who did as his superior commanded. Though by the attitude he expressed and the irritated tone in his voice, it was clear that he and his fellow raiders didn't take kindly when ordered around by a female. The lupine family was dragged down the dark lower deck of the ship, lit only by encased, glass lanterns of foreign origin. Jiao looked around, seeing as much as she would while being dragged on her back. Her eyes spotted numerous cells on each side of the hall, featuring metal bars with doors under lock and key. She then heard the sounds of a metallic gate opening, and before she realized it herself, was thrown into a cell. The leopard bandit quickly shut the door closed and locked it with a key, making the heart sinking 'clinking' noise that sounded imprisonment whenever it rang. Jiao's heart only became more disturbed, as she watched her husband and all three of their sons befalling the same fate, trapped in small cells only as large as a master bed.

One of the bandits dragged Shu, getting ready to lock up the young woman as well. Before she could be thrown into the small cage, Shu decided to retaliate. Seeing that the oxen who was dragging her had his hooves right next to her paws, she devised a quick plan. Extending her claws, Shu quickly dug them into her enemy's hand, piercing her claws into his flesh.

"Ahhgg!" The oxen yelled in pain.

Turning his attention towards his now injured hand, the ruffian saw blood drew from his wounds for a quick moment before his prisoner got up on her hind feet, and without time to react, was kicked fiercely in the groin. Agonizing pain shot from between his legs, and the oxen grabbed his loins in response, only to be bashed on the head by the she-wolf's fists and fall onto the floor before all went dark. Shu messed with the robes around her wrists, trying desperately to free herself. Only seconds later she heard the thumps of another brute approaching her. Thinking and acting quickly, Shu swung her leg towards the leopard raider, successfully colliding her foot with his face in a kick that brought her opponent to the ground and out cold. But her small victory streak was short lived. Almost instantly the panther woman rushed and backed Shu against the metal bars. The feline subdued her prisoner in a choke hold, showing surprising strength despite her elegant physic. Grasped onto her opponent's arms, Shu attempted to escape the panther's grasp. Jiao and her sons watched in horror as their daughter/sister's movement became weaker by the second. Air began to cease from Shu's throat and a dreadful fear came to her petrified thoughts. Then the sounds of the cell door opening came to Shu's ears, and the young she-wolf was quickly thrown into her own cell. Landing on the wooden floor, Shu's lungs grasped for air, taking in as much oxygen as possible before exhaling. After some heavy breathing Shu's biological systems returned to a normal state.

The panther woman scanned her former foe as a surprised smile tugged her lips.

"Hmm, I wouldn't have pegged you for a fighter. Pottery store owners don't usually learn Kung Fu." The panther said with a hint of curiosity.

"Why… why did you want my… my boyfriend?" Shu questioned as she regained her breathing.

"Ugh… you make it sound like I'd want to sleep with him." The feline said with a hint of disgust.

"You know what I meant." Shu replied with anger.

"Don't get any wrong ideas, sister, this isn't anything personal. Now you be a good liability… or else."

Gin, expression anger himself, shouted "Or else what?"

The panther walked over the lupine brother, getting close to him.

"Or else; I'll take these claws of mine." She extended her large, curved claws from her paws and held them next to Gin's face. "I'll take these claws, tear open your chest, RIP YOUR HEART OUT AND CRUSH IT IN MY JAWS!"

The feline's demeanor almost instantly changed, now sounding chaotic and sadistic, as if the thought of such brutality was the only joy in her life. Seeing the grown man now shake and back off to the back of his cell, she stood and gave dark sneers to the rest of the lupine family before leaving the room and the wolves to their new imprisonment. Guards posted at the small prison brought the knocked out men back to reality via a small hit on their heads. Shu sat up on the floor of her cell, rubbing her neck again to tend the attack her foe inflicted. She looked to her brothers, bickering and talking in a panic of worry.

"I can't believe this… I can't believe this… I can't believe this…" Ru muttered to himself.

"Well, what now? How do we get out of this?" Gin asked, turning his attention to Gen in the cell right next.

Gen paused a moment, before answering in a deeply troubled voice. "I… don't know… I really don't know?"

Across from them, Renshu began to regain awareness as he slowly realized the bright sunny day was replaced with a dimly lit room with metal bars installed.

"W-what happened?" The middle aged wolf asked while seeing his wife in the cell next to his.

"We've been taken hostage by some ruffians, and a loathsome woman." Jiao answered, relieved to see her husband now awake.

"But what's going on, and how'd this all happen?"

Shu, looked to her brothers on the other side of the deck with an inquisitive expression. "Yeah, what have you three been up to?"

"Boys, tell us what is going on… NOW!" Jiao demanded.

Gen, always being the responsible brother, took it upon himself to provide the answers his family so rightfully deserved. He sat down on the wooden floor, ropes still wrapped around his wrists as he explained the recent events that lead to their current situation. He took a deep breath before revealing all he knew.

"A week ago, me, Gin and Ru were approached by that panther woman when we were working in the woods. We were surrounded by her gang and quickly overpowered. She told us that unless we found and brought someone special to her, she'd burn our village along with our people."

"And let me guess; that someone was my boyfriend?" Shu said with a raised eyebrow.

Gen silently nodded as he continued. "She told us to find a man named Yu, an ex-general who took refuge in the Valley of Peace. At the time, we didn't suspect it was your Zhong, Shu. All we were told was to look for a wolf with only one eye. None of us had any idea that the person we were sent to get was also your boyfriend."

Shu stared blankly as a realization popped into her mind. "And because I never told much about Zhong in my letters… you three had no idea at all."

"Our original plan was to visit the Jade Palace and ask this 'Yu' to come help our village. But when we first met him… all three of us knew what danger we've gotten our family into."

"Gen, I'm a personal friend to the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five. Why didn't you just tell us and asked them for help?" Shu questioned.

"Because that woman said she'd be watching us all the time. And if we were to attempt to gain help in any way, or reveal our intentions, she'd destroy our home and kill our neighbors without hesitation."

Jiao, with her jaw dropped in shock said "I can't believe you three. Did you really think you could have trusted that… that… she-demon!?"

"We felt it was the only thing we could do." Gin answered. "Believe us Shu, we had no intention of bringing harm to you or Erdan."

Shu's ears perked up, realizing that her own son was missing from their group. In fact, she hadn't seen him for a bit.

"Wait a minute; where is Erdan?" She asked with worry.

((()-()))

Darkness slowly gave way to consciousness as a muffled voice sounded over and over again.

"Wake up… wake up!"

Erdan's eyes opened slowly to find Fang in front of his face and began to look relieved. Ringing in the young wolf's ears slowly dissipated away and his brain started to wake up. Finding himself lying on his back in earthy ground, Erdan got up and took a moment to regain his senses, all while the muffled voice of his rabbit friend became clearer as the seconds passed by.

"Oh good, for a moment; I thought you were dead or something." Fang greeted with a relieved smile.

"Wh-what happened?" Erdan asked, still waiting for his mind to come into full again.

"We got chased by those goons and when we turned a corner, we fell down some hole."

Erdan rubbed his head while asking "H-how long has it been?"

"I don't know, twenty minutes?"

The area around them was dark, and abundant with dirt, soil and rock. From what his natural night-vision could analyze, Erdan deduced that they'd stumbled into a natural underground cave. It was small, the roof just barely high enough for Erdan to stand straight. On the ceiling, roots were visible, likely from the massive trees up top.

"What are we going to do?" Fang asked.

"About what?" Erdan replied, still getting his head into full focus.

"Duh, about your family, we have to save them!"

In an instant Erdan remembered the events of earlier the same day. The abandoned village, his family being taken hostage, and the chase he endured leading to where the two boys are now. Realizing what needed to be done, the teenage lupine stood up, taking proper time for his body to ready itself.

"We're going back now, right?" Fang urged.

"No, we can't go back yet."

"Why, don't you want to save your parents, and teach those bastards a lesson?" Fang protested.

Erdan raised an eyebrow at the bunny's choice of wording. "Where did you learn a word like that?"

The rabbit boy paused a moment before quietly answering "Oh… someplace."

Shaking his head, Erdan proceeded to correct himself, giving way for more important matters at hand. "Right now, our best chance to save my family is-"

A sudden sound of a gasp echoed through the tunnel, bringing the two boys' attention towards the dark hall before them. Readying himself, Erdan took Fang and placed him in the wolf's backpack, then instructed his friend to remain quiet. Trudging down the dark way slowly and cautiously, light soon became visible as the tunnel's end was near. The only sounds heard were the soft padding of Erdan's hind feet, yet something was telling his mind something or someone was nearby. Trudging down the tunnel, Erdan turned a corner, when his ears detected the sound of a knife un-sheaving and in a split second he turned and pinned a mysterious opponent to the soft ground, grabbing the knife and tossing it away. The attacker's arms reached for his wrists, attempting to pry away his grip.

"Let me GO!" sounded the attacker.

But only a solid second of realization revealed that not only was the voice of his attacker sounded like a young female, but its owner was another wolf.

"Let me GO!" She demanded again.

Seeing that he pinned down a fellow lupine, and not one of the raiders who pursued him, Erdan released his hold on her and backed up a bit, though he quickly confiscated her weapon, just in case. Fang realized their assaulter was a young wolf, a girl with fur as light a snow, which stood out with the leering light from the tunnel's near end.

"What the; she's a girl!?" Fang exclaimed.

"Of course I'm a girl, and I would like my knife back, if you'd please?" She demanded with an unshaken tone in her voice.

Erdan, choosing to withhold her weapon, asked "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same thing about you?" She replied, her attitude unchanging.

"Hey, we asked first." Fang replied.

The rabbit's response only fueled her tensed attitude. "Well, seeing as you're the ones in charge now, I'll have you know that I've been hiding for my life here, ever since those raiders came and murdered the whole town!"

Understanding that she was troubled and scared, Erdan tried to put her anxiety at ease, beginning to see she may not be a threat.

Choosing to speak in a calm voice, Erdan said "I-I'm sorry, I thought you were one of those raiders."

"Well, at the very least, one of you has decent manners." She took a moment to compose herself. After a minute of breathing and thinking, she began to forgo her alert attitude. "I… apologize as well, for the same reason."

"Exactly what happened with the village?" Erdan questioned.

"I'm not entirely sure myself. I was camping out here when it all happened. During the night, I woke from my tent to hear the screams and chaos. I watched as those barbarians ransacked the town and killed almost everyone. It was the most horrifying sight of my life."

"So the whole village is… dead?" Erdan asked with a fear in his heart.

"Yes, apart from my mother and father, who were taken captive. I watched from the bushes as they were brought into that ship of theirs."

A face of fear and worry painted her expression upon speaking those words.

"Why would they not kill your parents?" Fang pondered out loud.

"Probably because of their… wait, what are you two doing here? I've never seen you around before?" She asked, seeing this strong teenage boy was unfamiliar to her.

"My parents and I were taking a vacation with my mother's family here. We were behind a bit, but when the two of us arrived at the town my family was captured."

"They're not dead?" the wolf girl asked with a raised eyebrow and confused tone.

"No, they were taken hostage in the raider's ship." Erdan answered.

"Why?"

"I have no idea. But I need to rescue them."

"Heck yeah!" Fang butted in.

"You're gonna go fight a small army all on your own?" the lupine girl questioned.

"Uh, I'm here too." Fang protested.

Erdan held his paw to Fang, gesturing him to hold his tongue for a moment. The teenage girl listened as he explained himself. "I have a plan; I'm going to rush to the Valley of Peace and get help to rescue my family."

"What if the barbarians leave before you return with your help?" She questioned.

Fang, wanting to return to the conversation, butted in with "We overheard two of those goons; they're staying nearby for a couple days."

"Why?" She asked.

"They want to wait for another group to rendezvous with some allies. If we hurry we can make it back in time." Erdan corrected.

"Can you even get the help you'll need?" She questioned again.

"Yes, I'm a personal friend of the Jade Palace masters, and a fellow student." Erdan answered with certainty.

"Well, since you've got this strategy so well planned out, I want in. My parents are held captive by those monsters, and I want to help free them." She said with determination.

Erdan examined the teenage girl. She seemed healthy, wore average village attire and kept a large satchel around her shoulders. But bringing her into battle had its own risks.

"You can come with us. But it's going to be dangerous." Erdan informed.

"Well then, if it's so dangerous, then shouldn't I at least have my means of self-defense back, please?" She held her paw out, eager for her knife back.

Erdan, figuring that she was no longer of any threat (at least one in his mind) took his chance and gave her weapon back, upon which she sheaved it by her waist.

"Right then; may I have your names?" She asked, now relieved to have her blade back in her possession.

"I'm Erdan, and this is Fang, my best friend." He said while Fang gave a small wave.

She looked at the two of them, a wolf and rabbit best friends, a true social oddity indeed.

"So what's your name?" Erdan asked.

The girl was brought out of her train of thought before answering. "It's Galena… my name is Galena Hurley."

"Galena…" Erdan muttered.

"What?" She asked.

"Oh, nothing… I've just never heard a name like that." Erdan replied respectfully.

"Well, my family aren't from around here." She answered.

With matters settled and sorted, Erdan, Fang, now accompanied by Galena, traversed through the tunnel and out into the open forest. Making their way through the thick woods, the two young wolves (with Fang in Erdan's pack) sprinted on all fours, as they rushed to gain help in hopes to save their families.

((()-()))

(Fire Emblem ost – "The Dim Abyss")

The doors of the lower deck opened to give way for two oxen dragging a dangerous and heavy prisoner. The two men harnessed their might to pull this once great general through the halls, passing by various empty cells along the walls. The dimly lit ship only illuminated by hanging encased candles on the walls and beams.

Zhong remained quiet and examined his surroundings. The conditions of the enemy's ship, the number of men at their disposal, the choice of weapons they carried and the size and stature of the more experienced and built of henchmen. It was the only thing the one eyed wolf could do – at the moment. Upon penetration by the darts, whatever chemical concoction they contained drained him of whatever energy he had left from the journey. For now all Zhong was capable of was to keep himself aware and alert until his stamina regained itself. Being a soldier in his past, instincts long put away resurfaced, a self-made sense to visually scan his surroundings and formulate the best course of action in his head.

As he was dragged along the wooden deck, Zhong looked to his right, and noticed two other prisoners in their own cages. Both wolves, one a man and the other a woman both white furred– perhaps a couple, a pair who somehow survived the massacre.

But before he could ponder on such questions, Zhong was placed into a cell of his own and placed on a wooden bench. The two oxen stood by as that panther woman took a good look at her prize prisoner.

"So, are we done?" One of the oxen asked.

"No… bring in those special cuffs." She ordered.

The vixen gave a pleasurable smirk as her subordinates carried large metal confinements into the cell. One look was all Zhong needed, for those devices were well familiar to him. Eight point acupressure cuffs. Once used to imprison the infamous Tai Lung. And more recently; what the same one eyed wolf and his army used when capturing the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five during the occupation in Gongmen City just a couple years ago. Although he never imagined that he'd be subjected to their grip himself. The men took Zhong's wrists, placed them inside the contraption and closed them tightly. The slamming of the metal and the small pricking of the needles inside gave a short burst of agony. Then the men did the same with their prisoner's ankles, keeping his legs from running or moving at all. And so Zhong sat on the bench with his arms resting on his lap and his legs rendered immobile.

"If I were you; I'd keep myself from moving much." The panther informed with an almost pleased tone. "You see, they will-"

"Get tighter and more painful with every struggle, I know what they are." Zhong interrupted, his voice controlled yet tough sounding.

"Hmm, so you are a general. I mean, you must be to have such knowledge of well designed works of art." She replied.

Zhong returned to silence, responding to her devious teasing with dark glares.

"Back to silent treatment, are we?" She asked, getting close to him.

"Why did you want me, to the point of manipulating my mate's family?" He demanded.

"I'm not the one who needs you, I'm just doing a job. A woman has to make money somehow?" The vixen answered.

She fiddled with the fur on top of Zhong's head, continuing her teasing and working up his nerve. All the while, she was enjoying the sight of a powerful man bound and helpless before her. It sparked a nameless satisfaction for the vicious woman.

"Surprised you're not working in some dirty, infested brothel." Zhong insulted.

A furious face was suddenly shown as the woman rose up her leg and brought her foot down on her prisoner's crotch, the force brought agony to his tenders and the wolf winched in pain, no longer able keep his façade of strength. She grabbed his head and stared into his one good eye before extending her claws merely an inch away from his remaining visual organ, sparking fear into Zhong's heart and mind.

"Let me get one thing straight, shall we?" She informed while moving her foot a bit, causing Zhong to yell in pain. "YOU are in those chains, YOU are in this cage and YOU… are at MY… what's the word? Oh yes… mercy." She once again moved her foot, resulting in her prisoner struggling with the worst pain a man could endure.

"I am many things… but what I am not; is a plaything for sick, perverted minded fools. So if I were you… I'd learn to keep my mouth shut and my thoughts to myself… understand?" Zhong gave nod, still just barely prevailing through her torture.

As if drunk off of the scene, the vixen collided her fists with the wolf's face, repeatable punishing him with hard strikes to his face and jaw. All the while she gave pleasure filled, maniacal laughter with each hard hitting blow. After a solid minute, she finally released her grip on his tender loins, leaving him in a beaten and pain riddled mess of a man, at least in her eyes. Zhong breathed in and out, doing his best to compose himself, but to little avail after the torment she inflicted. Satisfied, the panther walked out of the cage before the oxen closed and locked it shut.

"Give it food and water, but don't kill him. And make sure he's alive when our allies arrive." She commanded.

"Y-yes MAM!" They both muttered loudly, a sense of fear filled their voices.

Seeing grown, brawny man cower before a woman like her was indeed a joy she relished in. She walked down the hall, leaving the beaten Zhong to himself. One of the fellow chained wolves looked at the new prisoner, feeling sympathy for him, while nothing could be done. Zhong sat on his bench, completely unsure of how to get out of this grave circumstance… or even if he will live through it at all.

("The Dim Abyss" ends)

((()-()))

Erdan raced through the forest, his feet almost a blur while rushing him by the trees, logs and various other flora the wild woods featured. Fang held on tightly while inside his friend's pack. He had forgotten how rapid the young wolf could navigate while under pressure. At the moment, Erdan's mind was stone set on reaching the Jade Palace as quickly as possible. It was all his mind could focus on, besides evading trees while running on all fours. A situation like such is what he prepared himself for. His family's lives were at stake, and unlike his long past, Erdan wasn't going to cower and hide while-

"Erdan… slow… down!" Galena shouted.

Suddenly halting, Erdan looked back and saw Galena catch up to him.

"We have to hurry and get to the Valley as soon as possible!" Erdan said in urgency.

"I… I know." Galena said, her breathing heavy. "But… can't we just… take a… a break?"

"But if we don't hurry, we may not-"

"Erdan STOP!" She shouted, surprising him for a second.

Galena took a moment to catch her breath as he lungs felt as if they were on fire.

"I know… we need to get help. But can we take a short rest? I'm not used to all this running." She requested.

Erdan looked at her, tired, sweat drenched and nearly exhausted. It was clear that she wasn't a girl who did much physical activities. Fang popped his head out of Erdan's pack.

"I need a break too, we're not as fit as you are Erdan." The bunny protested.

Realizing the limits of his companions, Erdan was about to listen to their requests. That is if a slight snap of a twig echoed into the teenage warrior's ears. Erdan immediately perked up, his ears raised and turning in all directions in an attempt to find the source of the noise.

"Erdan… are you-" Galena asked.

She was suddenly interrupted when Erdan held one finger up, gesturing to give him a minute. He listened again and another snap was heard, as well as some soft padding. Galena detected the sounds as well, and a nameless fear quietly crept into her inner being. Erdan placed Fang out from his pack and the rabbit boy hopped back on ground. His lupine friend took his bow, which was holstered between his back and torso, and pulled out an arrow. Placing the end of the projectile on the string, Erdan waited and listened. Galena, realizing the very real potential of danger, pulled out her knife from her satchel. Fang followed the two wolves' choice of actions and pulled out his own weapon, the nunchucks he 'borrowed' from the Jade Palace. The rabbit itched with anticipation. The girl slightly shook in fear. And the boy waited in silence. A full minute passed… and nothing. The three looked at each other for a moment, their minds contemplating that-

Out of the corner of his eye a glare of light and a sliver of silver flew from above.

"Aaahhhhgggg!" Erdan screamed as the flying blade grazed his upper right arm.

Immediately Erdan dropped his bow and arrow to tend to his sudden small wound. Though it didn't deeply cut his flesh, it still pained in his limb. As if out of nowhere, two bodies fell from the trees above, landing on top of the teens. One leopard landed on Erdan, pinning him down to the ground. He attempted to fight back, despite the pain still raging in his arm and blood beginning to leak out of his cut. Delivering a kick of his foot to the raider's face, Erdan looked back to grab his bow. But saw the other leopard grabbed it from the ground and slammed it against his knee, breaking the weapon's frame and string, rendering it useless. The first wildcat grabbed Erdan approached Erdan from behind, resulting in the wolf teen entering a struggle where his foe armed himself with a curved dagger. Meanwhile, Galena drew her blade out, pointing it towards the armed killer before her. She feared for her very life, and after witnessing the villain snap a weapon in two, she trembled at the thought of her own bones sharing the same fate.

"I…I-I'm warning you, STAY BACK!" Gelena shouted still keeping her blade towards her attacker.

The leopard was about the strike, when as if out of nowhere he felt the hard beating of something striking his leg. He looked down and saw a small rabbit boy, striking with all his might at the man's legs. His attacks weren't much use though, since the man wore shin guards under his uniform. Seeing the almost hysterical attempt before him, the raider gave a half-amused chuckle which didn't set well with his small and seemingly weak foe. Fang's anger boiled and directed his weapon between his target's legs and swung. Immediately the raider brought his paws to his crotch and bellowed in pain, before showing his fangs in fury towards the rabbit boy. With rage the bandit grabbed Fang by the ears and threw him onto a nearby tree. The impact was hard, resulting in the bunny's vision becoming blurry and his head began to ring. With one target out of the way, the leopard turned to that wolf girl. He immediately rushed her and fear overtook Galena, who froze as her attacker pinned her to the ground. She struggled, but her heart seemingly sank as she heard the sound of a blade being un-sheaved.

Erdan looked back as he struggled in his own fight, gasping at the sight before him. "NOOO!" He yelled as he rushed to help her, before being pinned down himself.

The fiend raised his paw up and drew his blade, ready to pierce the canine girl's neck. Only a second later, did he hear rustling in the bushes, and one more moment before an arrow flew into his forehead. The force of the impact flew the leopard back and off of Galena.

"What the!?" The second raider shouted.

Suddenly another arrow was shot into the back of his neck, causing the raider to drop dead almost instantly. The fiend fell on his side as Erdan placed his right paw over his cut arm, stood up and looked towards the bushed where the deadly projectiles originated.

"W-who are you?" He shouted.

(Fire Emblem Fates ost – "Pale Star")

Galena stood by Erdan's side, joined by Fang who's head still required time to settle itself. The three teens gasped with surprise as a large, armored warrior stepped out from the bushes. Tall and strong, his entire outfit featured pieces of steel encasing his limbs, a large torso plate covering both chest and back, swords sheaved and tied to his belt that were both curved and presumably deadly and a large helmet accompanied by a facemask that disguised his identity. Fang looked with intrigue at the durable, solid armor this strange savior wore, which was decorated in deep blues and trims of noble gold. The masked man held in his paw a bow as he walked steadily and examined the bodies of his most recent targets. He then looked to the three children, one dizzy, one scared yet curious and the third hurt, but still doing his best to act strong.

"Is your wound grave?" He asked, his low voice featuring a foreign accent.

Erdan then looked to his upper left arm, seeing red still pour from his cut. He winched and grid his teeth at the pain. Galena took a look, though only to be met by the boy's paw covering the cut.

"Erdan, let me see your injury." Galena requested.

"It's not a… pretty sight."

"Don't worry, let me get a look." She replied calmly.

Erdan then sat on the ground as she got a good glare at the condition of his left arm. Her eyes scanned the wound. It didn't cut much, just barely getting into the inner muscle. With her evaluation complete, Galena opened her satchel and pulled out an odd scroll. It was rectangular and featured numerous pages filled with text and detailed drawings. She flipped through the sections of the book before finding the right information she required. Her finger slid along the sentences while reading the text in her mind. A moment later she searched into her bag and pulled out some supplies, a small bottle and some cloths. Meanwhile, the masked warrior approached, noticing the focused and almost efficient work this wolf girl began.

"Do you know what you're doing?" The warrior asked.

"Yes, I do… it's just a minor flesh wound. Didn't do much at all." She answered while preparing.

Erdan, with a surprised looked, asked "Galena, were you taught to treat wounds?"

"Hold still a moment, and brace yourself; this could sting." She said.

Erdan remained quiet as she took his arm and dabbed a cloth draped in a clear liquid onto his wound. Instantly upon contact it brought a stinging agony. Most people would have groaned or bellowed in reaction. But Galena was surprised to see Erdan control himself quite well, merely flinching in response to her treatment. Once his cut was cleaned she patched the injury and wrapped it in cloth. Already Erdan felt a little better, now with his injury treated.

"Well… just when I lose one, I gain another." Erdan muttered looking to the lower arm that now healed from his spar with Tigress.

"What?" Galena asked.

"I-it's nothing… thanks." Erdan replied.

The wolf boy looked at his rabbit friend, finally gaining back his sense of balance. His eyes seemed focused once again.

"Are you alright, Fang?" Erdan asked.

"Yeah… now that the… the forest has stopped spinning."

The armored warrior looked at the dead leopards and then back at the three children he just saved.

"What are you children doing out here?" He asked in a low and serious voice.

Erdan stood back up, allowing Fang to climb into his back pack before answering "We're in a hurry to the Jade Palace, my family has been taken hostage by the band of raiders those guys belonged too." He said referring to the dead leopards on the ground.

"Th-thank you… for saving us, Mr." Galena said respectfully.

The masked man nodded in reply, relieved that he saved these children's lives.

"Why are you going to the Jade Palace specifically?" The armored man asked.

"Because I'm one of the warriors of the Jade Palace… well, warrior in training, actually. So I'm personal friends with the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five. We're hurrying there to get help to save our families."

"Our families?" Armored warrior pondered out loud.

Galena stood up, taking her turn to talk. "Yes, my parents are being held captive by those villains, so I'm going to help save them."

The warrior tilted his head down as for a moment in enveloped himself in his puzzled thoughts.

(Wait a minute; They don't take prisoners, not usually. So why this exemption?)

Fang, seeing the hero zoned out, loudly say "Hey, you alright, guy?"

The masked man's head perked up and asked another question.

"Do you even know if you'll make it back in time?"

"Yes; I overheard some of the guards; in fact they were the ones you… finished. They said they're waiting a few days for some allies to meet up with them. If we hurry we can just make it."

The masked man became silent again, debating among himself on his next course of action. He looked at the men he just killed, part of the fiendish faction, and the thoughts of his mission came across his memory. Realizing the heinous torment these criminals brought to the people of these two wolf teens, he knew what was needed. Finally, he made up his mind.

"If you're going to retrieve help, then allow me to aid you."

"Say what?" Fang replied.

"I will accompany you, for protection, until we reach the Valley of Peace." He said with a sense of authority.

Erdan held his finger up, asking for a moment as he and his two friends huddled.

"What do we do about this guy?" Fang asked.

"Can we trust him?" Erdan questioned.

"He saved our lives and is offering to escort us. I say we can." Galena replied.

"What if he's a bandit?" fang suggested.

Erdan, taking a quick glance and back, answered "I think I've heard of warriors like him."

"Really?" Galena asked.

"Yeah, they're called… samurai, it think?"

"What do you know?" Fang asked.

"Not much. I have heard that they're honorable warriors from an island nation called Japan. In fact I've heard rumors that master Tigress even had a friendship with one at some time."

"So, are we letting this guy join us?" Galena asked.

With a quick moment of thinking, Erdan nodded and the three turned back to the masked hero.

"We've decided to accept your offer… Mr?" Erdan asked.

"Its better you don't know my name." The samurai answered calmly.

"Ok, ok… but we need to hurry, we've lost valuable time already." Erdan said, realizing that a half-an-hour must have passed already.

"Very well… let get underway then." The samurai replied before grabbing his things and bag.

Fang, looking at the dead leopard, and with a chill asked. "What do we do about them?"

"Leave them." The masked man answered. "Those who willfully become savages, rightfully leave this world as savages."

The strange proverb wasn't much to the bunny's understanding, though it didn't set well in Erdan or Galena's brains either. In just a few short moments the small group then hurried off, out of the woods and down the road through the countryside, racing against time for the lives of their loved ones.

("Pale Star" ends)