*****
The stars were still shining in the dark sky when he woke up. He slowly blinked his eyes, adjusting his vision to peer through the dark. He stretched out, massaging his sore, cramped muscles, cursing the ground for being so hard. He looked over to the young cat-boy who still slept silently in a ball on the ground, oblivious to his companion's movements. But slowly his long ears flickered, and he yawned loudly as he opened his eyes drowsily.
His companion smiled at the cat's comic awakening. "Well, good morning Prince Charming! How did you sleep?"
The cat-boy licked his lips and wiped the sleep from his eyes. "Ha ha, Tati. It's not even morning yet, so you can't compliment me to try to get my spirits up."
Tati's grin grew wider. "And who says I'm complimenting you, you big ball of fluff! Joshu, I would think that with all these years of you being my friend you would know if I was being sarcastic or not..."
Joshu's ears picked up, and he covered his friend's mouth. "Shh..I think I hear someone. Get down!"
Joshu and Tati quickly and quietly crouched behind a small bush, breathing softly as they watched a group of strange men walk exactly to where the two boys had been a moment before. The leader seemed to be a golden haired young man, dressed in a blue jacket and carrying a long sword near his hip. He looked around the woods with a strange confused look on his face. He loudly whispered to his men, "I could've sworn I heard something out here..." He quickly turned to what appeared to be his second in command, ordering "Have anyone look in every bush, tree, anywhere they might have gone to..."
Tati heard a sound next to him, and turned to find Joshu with tears streaming down his cheeks. Tati wondered what was wrong, when he noticed his friend's paw was located on top of a large anthill. Large fire ants had started to climbing up Joshu's arm, leaving large red welts wherever they bit. Unable to stand the pain for much longer, Joshu tried to silently brush the annoying insects off, but instead lost his balance and fell from out of the bush.
"What was that?!" the leader asked, and swung his lantern towards the origin of the crash. Joshu quickly stood up with his paws on his head, walking away from the bush so Tati would not be discovered. He put on a mask of pride and strength, though his knees were shaking a little.
The leader shone his lantern on Joshu, blinding his eyes, but the cat-boy made no move to cover them, lest the motion was would be considered aggressive. Joshu looked at one of the many fuzzy dark shadows, which barked, "Who are you? What are you doing here? Is anybody else with you?"
Joshu lifted his chin an inch, and his eyes flashed with vigor, despite the lantern clouding his vision. His lips remained stubbornly closed, and they would remain that way to his very death, if necessary. The questions were repeated, although more rougher. "Answer me, you arrogant cat! What is your name?! What is your purpose here?! Who is with you?! Tell me now!!"
Tati, his body filled with tension, bit down so hard on his lips that they bled. He fearfully watched as a hard-featured coarse giant appeared from the shadows and lumbered towards Joshu, stopping a few feet past his friend, standing directly in front of Tati. If the giant had looked down, Tati could easily be found, but instead the man turned his back to the bush. Lifting one of his large legs back behind Joshu, he gruffly yelled, "How 'bout I kick him Boss? That should get the little twerp talking..."
Tati, seeing his friend in dire need, fitfully searched the ground for some sort of weapon. He looked up to the heavens, seeking some sort of miracle, when he noticed the two sword hilts sticking out from behind the giant. Seizing the opportunity, Tati hastily slid the swords out of their sheaths, and hit the giant on the base of it's skull. Tati leaped over it's huge fallen body, throwing one of the swords to Joshu, shouting, "ATTTAAACKK!!"
The leader stood back, watching the two young men fight off his crew. Despite their age, they were well skilled in swords mastery, and always attacked his men with the back of their swords, as to not seriously wound anyone. Taking in his fill of the fight for long enough, he raised a gloved hand and bellowed, "Stop!"
Everyone halted, with swords stuck in mid-air. His crew slowly put their swords down, but the two young samurai kept their fighting stances. Their facial expressions never flickered; their eyes were cold and hard as stone. The blonde leader studied their serious faces, asking "What right do you have to attack my men in their own woods?!"
Tati sneered at him. "And what right do your men have to terrorize defenseless travelers who've caused no harm?!"
The leader looked at the sword in Tati's hand, and then back at Tati. "Looks like defenseless travelers to me alright."
There were mumbles and jeers from the crew, causing Tati's cheeks to turn a light shade of crimson. But he shook his head, glaring at the leader. "We were defenseless until I was able to grab weapons from that big oaf over there. We were disturbing nobody and nothing, but then you come out and treat as some sort of criminals!!"
"Well, if you weren't doing anything out here, why are you here?" questioned a hidden voice from the crowd.
Tati shifted to point to Joshu and himself. "He and I are traveling to the country of Fanelia. We have urgent news for Queen Varie..."
"WHAT?!"
Tati and Joshu were taken back from the leader's astonished outburst. The leader then seemed go into deep thought, until a wicked smile appeared on his face. He regained his serious composure and faced Tati, shouting, "I doubt Lady Varie would even give a passing glance at you hooligans! Now tell the real reason you two are wondering about here, or I might have to take more extreme measures..."
Catching the leader off guard, Tati countered the attack and put the tip of his sword right near the leader's throat. Tati narrowed his eyes and hissed, "Don't move..."
The leader's poise never changed, but he did gulp visibly, making the sword cause a small cut on his chin. As blood slowly trickled down his neck, he protested, "I am a Heavenly Knight of Austria, Allen Schezar. I have many allies who will kill you and your friend if you raise the sword a fraction of inch higher. I do not wish anymore fighting between us, so please put down your sword."
Tati hesitated, but then reluctantly lowered his sword. Allen breathed deeply and tried to wash the sticky blood of his neck by using water in a nearby canteen. Joshu relaxed his fighting stance and anxiously swished his tail around, looking at Tati as what they should do next. Allen finished cleaning up, and took a quick swig of water, then daintily wiped his mouth of moisture with his handkerchief. He handed to Tati the canteen, absentmindedly saying, "Here. Drink some water. It's fine." Tati looked at Allen's offer accusingly, but then warily took the small round pouch. He took small sips at first, but then he began to gulp the water down, never taking his piercing eyes off Allen. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and tossed the canteen to Joshu, who also drank greedily. Tati sat down on a newly fallen log, drawing mysterious symbols in the dark dirt with his stolen sword. There was an uneasiness around the group that allowed a silence so thick it was suffocating.
Allen pondered what question he would ask the strangers next, but could not think of any at the moment. His mind seemed absorbed in closely studying the young boys' features and mannerisms instead.
The boy that had threatened Allen's life just minutes ago appeared to be around the young age of 20. He had unruly and tangled dark blond hair that barely reached past his shoulders, tied back merely with a strip from a clean rag. Allen had originally thought the boy had dark green eyes, but he now noticed they were softer shade with a bluish tint to them. His long tall body was covered with a lightly tanned skin, stretching to fit over his medium sized muscles. The young man wore a loose dark blue shirt, which almost reached the knees of his tan pants.
His cat-boy companion seemed to be younger than his friend; he seemed to be more along the age of sixteen. He was covered in light orange fur, which was marked with black stripes similar to those of a tiger. He was dressed in an old and tattered black samurai outfit, adorned with a silver emblem Allen did not recognize. His dark blue eyes full of pride and his stubborn pout on his lips reminded Allen very much of Merle.
As the sun was rising over the horizon, Allen stood up to admire it's beauty closely. Some of the men that were dozing were jostled awake by their comrades, for it was apparent the Boss was about to say something. Allen's eyes lingered on the sun for a little longer, and then turned to Tati and Joshu, softly saying, "My men and I will be glad to escort you to Fanelia. I'm sorry to say that Lady Varie had passed on a long time ago..."
Allen thought he saw pain and sadness fill the older boy's eyes, but it stayed only for a second so Allen could not be sure. He cleared his throat respectfully and continued. "...but you can speak to her only heir, King Van Slanzar de Fanel. However, before we go anywhere, can you please tell us your names and why you need to go Fanelia?"
Tati looked up from his thoughts and smiled. "Of course. I would've told you our names right away, if under different circumstances. I'm Tati and my friend here is Joshu. As for our mission, I really wish to speak to this King Van myself."
Allen shrugged, and ordered "Alright men, grab your gear and pack up the Crusade. We're going to Fanelia!"
