Chapter 2: Trembles of the beloved
Erdan stepped out of his home, making sure to fully close the front door behind himself and begun a part of his day he greatly looked forward too. Morning brightness beamed and warmed the wolf teen's face, and Erdan look upward to be greeted by a beautiful blue sky once again. He looked at the town's people, whom were undergoing their daily routines as well. Fathers giving their wives good-day kisses before heading out to the fields, mothers keeping their households clean, and children running and playing together as they spend their childhoods in fun happiness. Erdan always took a moment to be thankful to live in such a peaceful, lovely home, even if there was the occasional gang of bandits every week.
(Fire Emblem Fates ost – "Shine in the light")
Erdan started a nice walk though the village, taking in the sights, smells, and sounds of a quiet life. He knew that he could make it to his part-time job in as little as two minutes running on all fours, but he preferred to take the time to slow down and relax, given the life of his apprenticeship it was almost required to balance his life. But even still, the sun beamed down hard on the young lupine, resulting in the boy sweating and panting, bringing the appropriate reaction, since he is technically a wild dog. Erdan wished he could just remove his vest to lighten the load the season's heat laid on him. But he knew that action would not be so well suited around other people, and the boy always tried his best to preserve his modesty.
The teen wolf walked into the market, passing through it on his way to work. Along the stone paved road a number of vendors were set up, selling produce and goods of all kinds. Wares ranging from fresh fruits and vegetables, to jewelry and home décor, and even some imported products from traveling merchants. But as the boy walked through the shopping area, one stand caught his attention. A produce stand owned by an elderly goat woman, who was placing her sales to be in bins and boxes laid out for all to inspect.
Erdan walked over and decided to greet the old woman, saying "Hello Mrs. Yung."
The old goat heard the voice and turned around, noticing the boy who greeted her. "Oh, Erdan you nearly startled me." She said with a slight laughter, putting the boy at ease.
Erdan chuckled a bit before replying "S-sorry Mrs. Yung, how are you this morning?"
"Oh I'm fine, just getting ready for today's sales." The old lady said as she finished placing her produce.
Once she concluded her task she took another look at her young friend, and noticed his growth. He was taller, and looked stronger. She knew boys grow fast, but seeing him go from her height to nearly a head above her is quiet a perplexing sight.
"My you've grown." She said with surprise in her tone.
"Oh yeah, huh, if I had a coin for every time I was told that I could buy my own house." Erdan replied jokingly.
"And how's your parents?"
"My mom is ok, as is my dad, Zhong. In short, we're all well." Erdan answered with a smile.
"That's good to hear." Mrs. Yung replied with a warm smile.
Erdan then remembered his job duties and didn't want to be late, so he said "Well, I better get going."
But before he could walk off he heard the old goat say, "Here Erdan."
As he turned Mrs. Yung tossed him an apple. As he caught it in his paws she said "It's on the house."
The boy smiled and replied "Thank you." Before placing the snack in his backpack and continuing on. The old goat smiled, glad she could be friends with such a nice young man, then proceeded to open her stand for business.
Erdan strolled along the road, leaving the market and entering a resident area, where the people of the Valley reside in- "Watch out!"
Erdan heard a familiar voice shout, and then he looked and saw a gray and green object fall near him. With almost split second reflex Erdan ran forward held out his paws and caught the falling object. He held a young boy in his paws, a rabbit lad how he knows all too well.
"W-what happen?" The bunny boy said confusingly. He wasn't sure why the stone ground was soft, and dark gray, and fluffy?
Then a voice, in a half sarcastic tone, said "You getting yourself in danger again Fang?"
Fang looked back and saw the lupine that saved him. "Erdan, what are you doing here?" Fang asked.
"What were you doing falling from your roof?" Erdan replied, answering the question with one of his own.
Before the rabbit could answer his father from above yelled "Fang! Fang are you alright?"
Both boys looked up and the bunny replied "I'm fine dad, geez."
The father, Gerald, quickly climbed down the latter and rushed to his son's side. Upon settling down on solid ground he noticed his boy was safely in his best friend's paws, and the father rabbit was able to put two and two together.
"Oh Fang, thank goodness your ok." Gerald said with relief.
"It's all good dad, Erdan was here, see?" Fang said in a mixture of annoyance and false confidence.
Erdan raised an eyebrow and asked "But what if I wasn't here?"
Fang stayed silent a moment before answering "Umm, well… I'd-"
But a voice shouted "Fang!" as a mother rabbit rushed out of the house.
Erdan placed the boy down right before his mother hugged him. "Oh your ok." But before he even knew it, Fang's mother went from deathly afraid to fright inducing angry. "What happened here?" She sternly said to her son.
Fang felt a little tense and answered "Nothing. Me and dad were just looking over the branch on our roof."
Margaret, his mother, looked toward her husband with a face that would make men shake to their core. Gerald quickly tried to defend himself, though he knew such efforts wouldn't do much now.
"N-no-now Margaret, I know what you're gonna say, but I-"
"I can't believe you let our son up on the roof again, after what happened last time!" Margaret yelled, half of her mind overrun with frustration and the other not aware of her current actions. "We're lucky Erdan was here to catch Fang when he fell… again!"
Gerald was trying his best to remain in a level-headed state, though this was no easy feat with an furious woman lecturing in his face. Let alone his wife.
"I know, and I'm thankful for Erdan's help. But the important thing is that Fang is unharmed." Gerald commented, trying to slightly change the subject.
Margaret calmed down after a few seconds of silence, she looked over at the wolf boy who saved her son and said to him, "Yes, thank you Erdan."
The teen wolf silently nodded before talking to his little friend while the adults continued their… conversation.
"You know I had everything under control before you showed up." Fang said, attempting to save himself from his blunder.
"Right…" Erdan replied with a roll of his eyes. While the wolf boy had a habit of trouble finding him, he knew well the his best friend was just as good of causing mischief.
"What were you and you're dad doing up there in the first place?"
Fang pointed his finger up towards the roof of his family's home. "See that big branch?"
Erdan gazed and realized that a large part of a nearby tree was broken off and fell on the roof, and made a hole through the house's top.
"What happened?" Erdan asked as Fang jumped from his lupine friend's paws to sit on his shoulders.
"That branch has been getting lose because of the heavy winds in the last few weeks, and last night it finally snapped. Me and my dad were heading up there to check it out."
"And your dad let you?" Erdan questioned.
"Well, no, I just sort-a… climbed up with him without permission."
Upon hearing the reply Erdan just sighed with his paw on his face. Then before he could give a piece of his mind Margret came over, sternly saying, "Come on Fang."
"Are we going somewhere?" The rabbit lad asked after jumping down from his friend's shoulder.
"Yes, to the kitchen, where you'll clean every inch starting now!"
"What? NO!" Fang shouted.
"Don't talk back at me, now get to it!"
"bu-"
"No buts, NOW!"
Fang then mumbled ot himself as he walked into the house followed by his mother. Gerald would go join them, but first he wanted ot have a quick word with Erdan.
"Thanks Erdan."
"Are you guys gonna be ok?" the wolf asked with a concerned face.
Gerald scratched the back of his head as he answered. "Well, it will be difficult to remove that branch from the roof. Luckily that thing went through into the storage room and not where any of us sleep."
"I can let my dad know, with some help he could probably get it out for you." Erdan suggested.
Gerald's face lit up and replied, "Oh that would be great, any help from him is appreciated."
"Ok, I'll let him know." Erdan replied.
After coming to an agreement, Gerald said to his young friend "Well I better try to calm things down with the mistress." He then made a beckoning motion with his finger, asking Erdan to get close before whispering "A word of advice; marry a woman who doesn't have a… thunderous temper, if there are any."
Erdan chuckled a bit and replied "I'll write that down, thanks."
And with that, Gerald returned to his home, hoping to settle his family affair quickly. Meanwhile Erdan continued to arrive at his part-time job, while thinking of his best friend, Fang. Ever since first meeting the young rabbit boy he's known him to always be at the center of trouble, all while Erdan always has to save him. Though he did have a solid, close friendship with the bunny, there were those occasional moments where the wolf teen would ponder on the reason why his friend always runs head first into danger, though Erdan wouldn't deny that he's done the same as well. Perhaps that's what makes them a good pair, a wolf and a rabbit, partners in crime fighting. The wolf teen brushed off his thoughts and hurried his way to Mr. Ping's noodle shop.
("Shine in the light" ends)
((()-()))
As the teen wolf was making his way to his part-time job, his mother had just begun work on her full time duties. After cleaning and sweeping her pottery store, she proceeded to work in her clay room, where she creates new additions for her wares. The she-wolf would mold a hump of clay and place it onto the platform with a mechanism under it. Then she'd press down on a peddle over and over again to make the tray spin as her paws slowly moved along the shape of the clay, gently guiding her fingers to arrange the material into the same and form she imagined in her mind. This would continue for a little while, than once the step was finished she'd place the sculpted object into an oven to harden. Once it became nice and solid, Shu takes out her paints and brushes to decorate the pots, jars, or whatever she crafted from clay. She always looked forward to the final step, where she plastered and dressed her work in pattern and colors that would become a pleasure for one's eyes in an artistic sense.
Ever since she first opened her own shop, Shu has always found joy within her chosen work. It provided a means for her to make a living off of her passions, a life where her joy for art allowed her to maintain a stature of stability while also putting purpose and enjoyment into a career of her own. And she could also give and contribute to her community, plus a few off perks. Such as those moments when her son would help her make her pottery, and she could teach her craft to her foster son. Or those few but nice memories when her boyfriend would wrap his arms around hers and they made vases together. Shu wouldn't deny that she sometimes daydreamed of those sweet moments shared with her mate and cub.
The she wolf opened up her shop an hour ago, and although no customers arrived she had nothing to fear. Most of her sales transpire within the midday hour or the afternoon, meaning she could create pots or vases in peace and quiet. Just as Shu was placing some pots that dried overnight on the shelves, she heard the sound of her shop's door open.
"Welcome, just browse around and let me know if you see something you like." Shu greeted as she was finishing placing her wares.
But a familiar voice from behind said, "What I like is sorting things right now."
Immediately Shu stopped and turned around to see a middle aged wolf woman wearing a purple robe. And in just a second a sense of joy and surprise over filled the young she-wolf's mind.
"M-mother!" Shu happily said before quickly sharing a hug with her visitor.
As the two wrapped eachother in their arms the mother lupine said "It's so good to see you sweety."
Shu let go of her grip and asked "What are you doing here?"
"A mother can't come and visit her only daughter?" she said with a slight chuckle.
Shu gave a slight giggle as well before replying. "Of course, but from your last letter I had no idea you'd be visiting so soon." Shu noticed that her mother looked tired, especially given the summer heat.
"Dear I would love to talk, but first I need to sit down." The middle aged wolf replied.
Shu quickly moved two chairs over so they could rest and catch up. As her mother sat down a sense of relief washed over her, finally giving her feat a rest. Shu took mental note of her mosther's physical state, tired with aching feet and sweat on her forehead. Realizing this she went and fetched both her and her mother a cup of cool water. Upon given the drink she gulped down a few mouthfuls, hydrating her inners refreshingly and bringing her dry mouth moisture. Once relief and rest came, the mother lupine was ready for a nice conversation.
"What are you doing here all of a sudden?" Shu asked.
"Well, I guess because of you… kind of." Her mother answered before taking another sip of her water.
Puzzled, Shu raised an eyebrow as she replied. "Because of…me?"
"Or, rather your brothers. You've kind of, inspired them." The mother corrected herself, feeling much better in the moment.
"What are my brothers doing?"
"They're starting a business."
"Really?" Shu said with and intrigued tone.
"Oh yes, they plan on starting a lumber business. After reading your letters, and learning of your independent success, they decided to try it for themselves."
"Lumber huh?" Shu added.
"Yes, your father is helping them, with some of their inheritance money to give them a head start." The mother wolf said before enjoying another sip of cool freshness.
Shu entertained the idea of her three brothers running a lumber company, realizing that for once they've taken a page from her life in progress. But more questions were still lingering in her mind.
"And, where are dad and the boys?"
"They're in the market, buying supplies for the group, we've all been traveling for a few weeks, helping the boys find a suitable place for their venture. They'll join us when they finish."
Memories of her brothers came spiraling in her mind, and Shu could easily picture the sight of a new family business in her mind. Her brothers were always more likely to work in building then more cultured duties.
"But we need to set our priorities straight." Her mother said as she placed her cup on a nearby table. "Where is this Erdan, I have to meet my new grandson."
Shu finished a sip before answering. "He's not here now, he just left awhile ago to his job."
"He has a job?" Her mother asked in a surprised tone.
"Part time, he works the mornings at a noodle shop in the center of the village."
"Hmm-" Her mother muttered with a sense of pride in her grown daughter. "And where is this man of yours, Zhong?"
"He works up at the Jade Palace." Shu replied. "They both won't be back until dinner time."
Shu could tell her mother was imagining her daughter's new family, all by the look on her face. She had written about her mate and kid to her parents and brothers. Although she never quite thought through on how to introduce them, since she left out certain details in her letters.
"Well, since we can't see them for awhile, I can at least get a good look at your shop."
The mother lupine stood up from her chair and slowly walked around her grown daughter's pottery store, scanning her eyes all over the establishment. Potts, vases, cups, and all sorts of goods were displayed and placed on shelves and inside boxes. It was a fairly sized main room, with two tables in the middle with cups sitting on them. As the two walked around, Shu felt the urgent desire to know her mother's thoughts, given that for the last five minutes she's been looking over silently.
"So, pretty nice huh?" Shu asked, trying to pass off with a causual tone.
Her mother looked back and replied "Well… it is, cute."
"Cute?" Shu commented in a puzzled tone.
Her mother looked at her and said "Oh sweety, you're wonderful but, organizing was never your strong suit was it?"
"Why do you say that?" Shu questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Honey, look at this, the way you sort your goods." Her mother said while looking at the store's vases and pots, arranged randomly.
"I like it this way. I let my customers explore and find what they might enjoy, like a little adventure for them." Shu replied with a hint of offense.
"And it's like I said, cute. But sweety, you're running a business, and it's important to take such matters seriously."
Shu crossed her arms, and in a mildly angered tone asked "Ok, well what would you do?"
The middle aged she-wolf turned back to the vases and answered. "Well, everybody knows that when you're running a business, you sort your wares by color and size. That's what the farmers do with their produce stands."
"This isn't a pottery shop!" Shu argued mildly.
"True, but to make good profit, you have to do everything in your power to… catch the attention and eyes of your customers." The mother wolf replied.
Shu developed a sense of annoyance, and was reminded of one of the reasons she started her dream business away from home.
"You're only here ten minutes and already your criticizing my choices like always." Shu muttered in slight anger.
"What'd you say?" Her mother asked.
"Nothing…nothing." Shu stated with a quick change of tone.
"Well then, let me see the rest of your business, where you make your pot and things."
Shu sighed before replying. "Alright, no ever comes in the mornings, so why not?"
Shu then showed her mother the rest of her home, and the two slowly started acting like their past selves again, for better or worse.
((()-()))
High above the village, the Jade Palace grounds stood. The area of mountain sanctuary dedicated to those of nobility in the art of Kung fu. There are many distinct sections of the grounds, each serving its own intended purpose for those in pursuit of mastery of martial arts, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually. The training hall and barracks are meant to serve the needs of one's body. The scroll keep and hall of heroes were built to aid in the mental, and the meditation caves and ponds provided an environment for the long road within the spiritual, though one place was special among the grounds, one that has served in aiding all three attributes of martial arts. A small spot the featured a breath-taking view of the Valley of Peace, as well as a tree that bared sweet fruit and reveled in its beauty. It was here, that the previous master and founder of the Jade Palace passed off.
Climbing up the ground leading to the tree, Zhong trudged upward while feeling the heat of the summer morning, though he didn't care much, not when the nightly visions have done their damage. Even now in the daylight they haunt the ex-general, plaguing his thoughts almost every day. The middle aged solider took his master's advice, and decided to clean himself and meditate. He finished his bath and changed before heading outside, though he remained topless due to the summer atmosphere.
After walking for five minutes he at last reached his destination, the Sacred Peach Tree, a place of peace and tranquility. And though all of the members of the palace respected this special patch of spiritual ease, Zhong regarded this spot as something special. He didn't quite know why, but he always found this little place to be a sort of sanctuary for him. It was here in the past that he's created memories that aided in his growth as a kung fu master, in more ways than one would think.
Zhong walked up to the tree, gazing in awe at its juicy fruit and elegant golden leaves. The one-eyed wolf looked out at the massive view before him, and he breathed deeply before releasing the air. He sat down and crossed his legs, then placed his paws on his knees and closed his one good eye. He relaxed his body, rested his mind, and opened his spirit.
He saw nothing but blackness, but heard the sounds of the environment around him. The blowing of the wind, the rustling of the grass, and a faint ring of a gong from the training hall that was echoing through the palace grounds.
…
…
…
Zhong continued to center himself, but after nearly an hour of this practice had passed and nothing changed. It wasn't uncommon for this to happen, even to the most experience of masters. But as Zhong felt the wind flow though the fur on his broad torso, nothing changed in his soul. Nothing at all. He begun to attempted mediation again.
…
…
…
"D-"
Zhong heard a faint voice.
"-ad-"
It was muffled, like under a thick blanket.
"-ca-ae—me?"
Until it finally came clear.
"Daddy can you hear me?" a child's voice said.
Zhong woke up and found himself in a kitchen, his kitchen, in his house. He realized he was sitting at a table, and with him were two children. A wolf boy and girl, and putting the finishing touches on dinner was his wife.
"Honey, dinner will be ready in a couple minutes." The wife said.
"O-ok." Zhong said.
The scene was pleasant, with a sense of accomplishment and love in the air. The setting was all too familiar, his family home back in Gongmen City from many years ago. The walls, floors, and décor were all the same as if untouched by the passage of time. Zhong stood up from his chair and walked to his wife.
"How's dinner looking?" Zhong asked.
'It'll just take a few minutes to cool, then it'll be ready."
Zhong then wrapped his arms around her waist while she did the same around his neck. They looked at each other and he marveled at how after seven years her eyes still contain that sparkle he saw from when they first met. The two wolves kissed, turning their backs to their kids so they wouldn't 'gross them out' as they've said.
They finished their act of love and Zhong happily said "I love you Helen."
"I love you too Zhong." Helen replied. "And I love that now we can be together every day, and all weekends now."
"Yeah, if only I could do without the summer heat, its dreadful." Zhong commented.
"Well it's not all bad." Helen protested.
"Why? Zhong questioned.
Helen smiled in a way only her husband saw before answering. "It means I get to see my husband's sexy body all day long."
She then placed her paw on his chest and felt his pectorals, in all their solid, strong substance.
Zhong smirked in response, but remembered their surroundings. "Honey, not in front of the pups." He whispered with a hint of embaressment.
Helen stopped, then rested her paw on her husband's stomach and replied. "I know. Just think of that as an appetizer for the main course tonight."
Zhong smiled and said "I look forward to it."
"But could you do the thing for me, just once." Helen playfully asked.
"What thing?"
"You know, the thing with your…" She hinted while patting on his chest.
Zhong smiled and knew what she meant. He then flexed his pectorals for her, bouncing his chest for his wife. First one after the other and then both together three times.
"You never get tired of it do you?" Zhong whispered.
Helen whispered back "Nope, that and you will always be sexy to me."
The two kissed again, and after a few moments of calming down, the dinner was complete. The family of wolves sat down and begun their family meal in the evening. The father, his wife, and their son and daughter talked and ate in as the sun begun to set. The main course was a roasted trout with a side of soup, Helen's best dish in her husband's eyes.
"Mmm, delish as always dear." Zhong complimented.
"Oh it's nothing special." Helen replied.
As the family ate, the two parents noticed their little boy wasn't enjoying everything on his plate.
"Timber, eat your vegetables." Helen said to her son.
But the young puppy became annoyed and replied "I don't' want to."
"Timber-" Helen said before the boy repeated again, interrupting his mother.
Zhong thought a moment and came up with an idea. "Timber?"
"Yeah daddy?" Timber replied in a cute tone.
"You want to grow up big and strong right? And have muscles like your dad right?" Zhong asked.
Timber thought a moment, and looked at the vegetables in his soup. Zhong could tell his boy didn't want to, even though he wanted to be strong like his father. So the boy's dad came prepared.
"If you do, I'll give you a bean bun… with honey."
Timber perked up and instantly ate his soup, resulting in a slight laughter from his mother. After a few minutes of eating, Timber came up with an idea of his own.
"Daddy-" the little wolf boy asked. "Tomorrow can we go swimming?"
"I wanna go too!" The young girl lupine added.
Zhong chuckled and answered "Sure, how about we all go. We can cool off in our secret place."
"Can we mommy?" The little boy asked with food on his snout.
Helen lightly laughed and answered "Of course, it'd be good for these humid days."
"Then it's settled." Zhong proclaimed.
"YAY!" both the kids shouted in joy.
The family continued their dinner as the parents disscusesd what to bring for the swim trip.
"We could bring packed lunches, and som-" Helen said before…
Crackle… crackle… A strange sound echoed from outside.
"Um, what was that?" Helen questioned.
"I don't know?" Zhong replied. After some thinking he said "I'm just gonna go out and check, just ot be safe."
"Ok." Helen replied.
Zhong went out the front door only to see a strange sight. Cracks in the stone street. He walked over to investigate. They weren't small, but big enough to notice them from afar. Then out of nowhere the cracks grew bigger! And before he could react, Zhong heard the same sound, but much louder from behind him.
(Fire Emblem Fates ost – "Endless nightmare")
"AAAGGGGGHHHHH" Helen screamed.
Zhong turned around and was met with a sight that horrified his core. The whole house was ripped apart as giant white feathered hands broke from the ground and grabbed Helen and the children. The three were trapped in the giant white hands with talons for fingers. The air turned red as blood and the mother and her children experienced extreme pain from the grip of the talons.
"Help me dad HELP!" cried the young wolf girl.
"Daddy SAVE ME!" the little wolf boy cried with tears in his eyes.
"Zhong help us ZHONG!" Helen screamed with a face of utter pain.
"I'm coming!" Zhong yelled.
But just as he was about to rush for his family, another pair of white feathered hands came from the ground and grabbed Zhong. He tried as much as could to free himself, mustered all the strength his body could bring, but nothing would succeed in freeing himself to save his family.
"Helen! Julie! Timber!" Zhong yelled as he struggled to get loose.
Then, more cracks formed on Zhong's left and right, and out of them came weapons of war. Cannons with dragon faces craved into them. Then another crack and out of it came a white peacock who held a torch in his hand. Zhong then looked down and saw a rope that was attacked to the cannons. And it was there that a mortifying thought came into his mind. The peacock lowered the torch over the rope.
"No, please NO!" Zhong yelled in desperation.
But the peacock lit the torches and in mere seconds the lit flame ignited the cannons. And in a single moment, all the weapons fired on the family resulting in a blast that left nothing alive. The man finally broke free and ran over to the remains of his home… only to find the burned remains of his beloved wife and prestious children. Sorrow overcame the man and all he could do was cry heavily in despair.
"Why? Why? Why? Why?" Zhong cried.
Then the white peacock stood in front of the wolf. And once he looked up, the white bird drew out a dagger and stuck the wolf's face, resulting in-
((()-()))
("Endless nightmare" ends)
Zhong was suddenly brought out of his slumber, returning from his dreamly paradise turned personal hell. He breathed in and out, his large chest moving back and forth as he regained the sense of his surroundings. After a minute he came to reason that he fell asleep against the peach tree while attempting to meditate. He looked around, and once again found himself separated from his wife, Helen, and his two puppies, Julie and Timber. Just like before, he was given a brief time of past joys, only for utter cruel truth to bring it all to a nightmare of loss and despair. Zhong shed tears down his face as he buried his paws over his eyes, unable to bear the sorrow. After ten minutes he calmed down, and noticed the sun was almost stationed in the sky's center. He knew it was almost lunch time, and his fellow warriors would be worried about him. So the large wolf stood back up, took one last look out to the Valley's village, where his girlfriend and son are. He hoped that a good evening will make up for a terrible morning.
The wolf walked down the path and headed toward the barraks. But little did he know that a swirl of peach leaves spiraled, and out of them came a transparent figure. A turtle, who watched as the wolf master returned into the palace. After Zhong left the old ghost's sight, the turtle looked down at the village, specifically the center of town and he sensed the presence of a boy with a strong spirit.
"Hmm… Erdan." The turtle said with a smile.