HATE AND LOVE

Time passed quickly, the days became months, until the frost of winter made way for spring followed soon after by summer. The perfectionist who was in him forced him to work twice as much as normal to make the job flawless! Despite the oppressive summer heat, Shen had not stopped even a day, just to see the work of his new home completed as soon as possible! While Mei arranged the chairs, he carefully cleaned the table. He snorted when the wood caused a small tear on the piece of fabric he used "This old rag is really to be thrown away!". The door creaked as it opened and Lang Min appeared in the doorway. "I bet your ears were ringing!" Shen said with a grin on his face. The peacock looked at him confused but dismissed the comment "It is coming well!" He stated observing carefully what little decor that adorned the newly built house. "You know ... once we're free, you can be a designer!" Mei said to Shen, looking at Xing who had just entered. "Again you hope to escape! No one has succeeded in over forty years! "The peacock complained. "It will mean that we will be the first!" Mei said placing the last chair around the table. Shen was unable to hold back a grimace, his future home was coming, but being used to the splendid Tower of the Holy Flame, he would have always seemed so miserable to him. Fortunately the construction of the laboratory had been completed. Located underground and connected to his home via a long tunnel. Only as a precaution had he decided not to build it at the house, so in the event of an accident he would not run the risk of damaging it in any way. Even if he had promised himself not to cause damage so as not to let the humans discover this construction, since he would have set to work to design weapons that could allow him to annihilate the enemy and escape.

"But I saw that your house was finished!" Xing said "You would never have built it without the intention of staying ..." "... the time needed to devise a good escape plan ! "Mei concluded for her. "Already! Sleeping in bed with me was uncomfortable! "Shen said miraculously managing to remain serious. Mei became redder than the carpet placed in the center of the salon "It only happened the first night!" He complained with obvious embarrassment. A roar made them turn towards the entrance. "You know, if you open the door you will pass much more easily!" It was Yong "And avoid getting a few bumps!" With Hong. "I stumbled, deficient!" And Rose, to complete the trio. The girl entered, rubbing her head but with a huge smile on her face. "Here is everything you asked for!" He said, placing a large sack near the entrance cabinet. "What do you have in mind!" Xing asked as he inspected the contents. "Coal, sulfur, saltpeter, copper carbonate ..." Rose was interrupted by a shocked Lang Min "What do you have to do with these things?" He asked more frightened by the fact that he didn't know what they were talking about for other. "The fireworks?" Asked Mei who knew the passion of the peacock for the barrels. "Better ..." said Rose "... the joke of the year will be implemented thanks to him!" He explained with evident enthusiasm. Hong and Yong started laughing like crazy already anticipating the idea of watching humans run across the reserve with their backs on fire! Shen smiled. The primary objective was escape, but he would not have missed the opportunity to teach his captors a lesson! He knew very well that he would soon have to reveal his real intentions to Rose, to prevent the girl from feeling used and teased, but for the moment it was better to keep quiet about such details! "Perfect! Thank you! "Shen said to Rose. Another roar made them turn towards the fireplace. Shu, a white wolf, came out of a secret passage hidden near the chimney. "Marble is very slippery, especially if new!" He moaned, rubbing his injured arm. Shen had met her before the fair. Clever, strong and stubborn, Shu was the daughter of his pack's alpha, captured a few years earlier than he was. A great friendship was born between the two, since Shen was familiar with the canines and respected and understood the traditions of their race.

Thanks to this he had also known Syaoran, a young male hunted by his pack of origin who had found himself to be the beta of Shu. The wolves did not like to live behind bars and it was easy to take them on their side with a promise of future freedom. Thinking also that such a friendship would have given him more chances to survive once he was out of the reserve. "Could you fix these things in the lab?" Shen asked. A sudden amnesia made him forget the please. "Sure!" Fortunately Shu didn't seem to mind since the tone of that question had been extremely kind. It did not seem, but to behave like a humble people could be more difficult than expected. Of course, Shen no longer gave orders, but he kindly asked for things, even though at times they looked more like claims than requests! Rose and the two boys left the house and hurried to an unknown place to combine one of their own. But no one tried to stop them. Besides, that day had been too calm. A little action would have raised the spirits! "You will get yourself killed!" Xing admitted reluctantly "Come on, you don't have to express your joy like that!" Shen teased. "While you plan your suicide, Xing and I have to get ready for tonight's party! "What to wear, though, I haven't decided yet!" Said Lang Min, who didn't seem worried about a detail that was of vital importance to most females!

"I don't think that changes much! On the other hand it will be a simple meeting with old friends! "Xing said as he headed for the exit. "A nice little group of redwoods!" The white peacock teased. "Shen you are always more witty! It's a rare gift for a nuisance! "Lang Min said angrily. "Girls! Instead I finally decided what to wear! "Mei said trying to extinguish the flames of an imminent quarrel and rummaging in a large chest that was near the table. "Why did you bring your clothes to Shen's house?" Lang Min asked, laughing. "Because I had to help him complete the work and Shu would be there to give me good advice!" "But you have decided not to follow!" The wolf specified. "You clarified my ideas!" Mei replied, pulling out a beautiful blue silk dress. "What do you think?" He asked, showing it to the peacock. "Do you wear that gaudy rag for an evening with friends? What will you do at your wedding? I wouldn't even bring him dead! "Lang Min said that he hated things that were too low-cut just like the idea of impressing other males. "You should have been dead for two months to hope to get in!" Shen teased her before heading off with Shu to the lab and leaving the females to their arguments. Lang Min's mood had definitely changed in a matter of seconds, but fortunately he ran out, perhaps to take it out on the first unfortunate man who had appeared in front of her, just to be able to vent. "Those two have a lemon relationship!" Xing said before turning his attention to that pretty dress. "Not bad! You're going to look great tonight. Forgive Lang Min, but he changes his temper when there is Shen around! "Said the white peacock" Even though I have not yet understood why! "

"Shen loves to be contradicted. "It seems that he enjoys dialectically in the attacar." Mei explained. "And maybe Lang Min has found someone who can stand up to her and can't stand the idea!" Xing continued before he started laughing with his friend. Yes, those two, from the first moment they met, had started a war of looks, provocations and digs, just for the simple pleasure of having someone challenge them, biting at any provocation! In fact they were very similar in this! Which, in their battle, they had not yet noticed! "Are you invited to tonight's party too?" Shen asked not with real interest, but eager to break the silence. "Yes! I think it will be an evening of gossip about the nicest males you can pair with! The peacocks allure for Xian! It's unbelievable, to say the least, how that boy manages to please females! "Shu observed. "The peacocks are here recently, right?" Shen asked curiously. "Yes! Five years at most! Respect to Kang and others is an infinitesimal time! But with such a clear majority of males it was necessary to equalize, otherwise no eggs! And Derek would have freaked out! "The wolf replied as, once she arrived in the main hall of the lab, she began to sort things out. "What happens to them?" Shen asked, wanting to know everything. She immediately sensed what he was referring to "The eggs ... are sold once laid. But ... "he stopped abruptly, looking at the white peacock as if to ask him" Do you really want to know? "And he nodded" ... the chicks are killed! It doesn't matter if due to an accident or natural causes, but any chick or puppy, among the hundreds who left the reserve, has never been seen again! ... only two have survived! " last statement made the blood freeze in the peacock's veins "Who?" he asked anxiously to hear the answer.

"Chu and Zhi are the natural children of Ms. Yue and Mr. Cheng!" Shu replied. "How did they survive if hundreds perished?" Sheng demanded more and more agitated. "From what they told me, their parents, once they discovered the horrible fate of the other puppies, they hid the eggs and the newly hatched chicks. After a few years Rose presented herself to her father with two new purchases for the reserve ... "" ... Chu and Zhi! "The peacock ended for her. "They are great now! And from what I knew the last puppies were born fifteen years ago years ago! "Shen said, demanding an explanation. "The humans are not stupid!" For this reason, all the inhabitants of the reserve have stopped reproducing! "The wolf concluded sitting on a comfortable pillow. "Here is the mystery of the peacocks revealed! Derek is hoping for a new profitable commodity! "Shen said angrily. The greed of humans knew no limits! But not all! Rose was different and he knew it would be thanks to her if they would savor their freedom again!

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It was a good thing that soon there would be no fair. Because after the previous evening there was a trail of endless alcohol victims! The girls had exceeded, but even the boys had not gone slow! Not wanting to be outdone they had also organized a "party", if you could call it drunk together! The adults were trying to calm the waters and get seasick to many of the fallen. Shen was lying on his bed that at the time seemed extremely small due to all the people that occupied it! Xian, Jiang, Jun, Fai and Syaoran were lying next to him on the comfortable mattress, more intent on sleeping as if there was no tomorrow than doing anything else. Shen marveled at himself: a little less than a year ago he would not have endured such a thing! It was true that he was then a very respected Prince and no one would have allowed himself to enter the tower of the sacred flame, so let alone in his room! And second important thing: he would never get drunk! I mean, once it happened, but nothing could beat their evening! He was sure of it! Voices convinced Shen to drag himself out of bed and only when the world around him stopped spinning did he start toward the front door. Weak Xing and Lang Min came in and threw themselves on a sofa in the living room while they were tuning out a song. They were the only females to have such a confidence with him to show up at his house and occupy it without even asking! "I'm going to make a tea, do you want it?" Shen asked as he rubbed his temples in a desperate attempt to ward off an overwhelming headache. "Wind to the sails!" Xing said before collapsing on the couch asleep. "I bet you will dream of boats and pirates! He's been hoping to travel by sea all his life! "Lang Min said before he realized that Shen was still waiting for an answer" Let me have a lot of tea ... please! "He asked gently.

The white peacock walked towards the kitchen only to enter and find Syaoran who had just finished emptying his cupboard. "Sorry! After such a hangover, I always get very hungry! "He justified himself hoping not to be thrown out of the house. "Quiet, so are the humans who pay for food!" Shen said, sliding the door to close it only to stop when he heard a thud followed by a moan. He slowly opened the door and Lang Min was revealed "... but you didn't see me ?!" he asked angrily. "What do you think?" Shen asked, looking at her with equal hostility. It had to be reduced really badly if he hadn't heard her approach so much as to slam the door in her face. Even if it had been a great satisfaction! The brazen and disrespectful ways he often used against him gave him nerves! Once the tea was prepared, he served it to the wolf and the peahen, as well as filling a huge cup for him. "After this evening I will never fall again! I will never drink again! "Lang Min said firmly," The last famous words! "Shen thought, unable to suppress a grin. Lang Min made a suffering verse "Do you have something stronger?" He asked, hoping he could get her drunk. "Yes, but I don't dare!" Shen replied expecting a reaction to such a provocation. But perhaps the peacock was more drunk than she had imagined since she didn't answer. Shen could have sworn it was the only time he could have the last word. The sound of the front door opening and closing made the three of them turn towards the kitchen entrance. After a few seconds, Tai appeared on the threshold. "I see that you are better placed than all the others!" He stated with obvious amusement in his voice. "Then the others are really sick!" Syaoran said, starting to eat again. "Wait here while I go to check that the others are alright!" The peacock said before leaving the kitchen.

"Look! Someone who cares about us! My mother abandoned me as soon as I was born and my father raised me by hating me for it! He believed that I was the cause of the disappearance of his beloved companion! ... Of course Tai is really weird! I mean what does he care about us? Should he care about something? "He asked Shen, who automatically replied by turning his head. "No, in fact! But why the sun is so far away! If he had been closer, surely now I wouldn't be dying of cold ... "until the topic was consistent Shen listened with interest, but when Lang Min started talking about absurd things, he turned his attention away. It was not his first hangover, only the worst! He could have sworn he had never drunk so much in such a short time! Not having the weight of the real protocol had its advantages and disadvantages. He could turn to anyone without paying attention to the label, he could combine disasters without extreme punishment, like staying indoors for a week or having to completely tidy up the palace library! But he could also drink so much that he completely lost control of himself! A thud made him turn to the kitchen table and saw Syaoran and Lang Min fast asleep on it. Voices from the upper floor informed him that others had also woken up. He looked at Lang Min and smiled, finally he had met a strong and tenacious female who feared nothing! The women at court were frightening nuisances that did not suit someone like him, but perhaps it was in the reserve that he had found what he had been looking for for some time: a companion!