Disclaimer: I do not own Zoids

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Chapter IV: Unseen enemy

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Ivers sent out another search party. But now it consisted of Red Horns and Command Wolves. His team had just left the Whale King but Ivers had this fears.

A fear that cannot be quashed.

The fear of the unknown.

***

Naomi was almost being mobbed as she entered the bar. Especially by the men. But a stern glare from Chioni made them sated.

After a few introductions and a LOT of battle stories, that the children enjoyed especially Chioni, she and Naomi picked an isolated part of the bar and they enjoyed their iced tea.

"Hey! The Blitz team is on!" one of the children said as a large screen came on. Naomi was surprised. Seeing this, Chioni smiled.

"Uncle Weis enhanced our Communication boosters," she said proudly. "For the past two years we've been getting the zoid battles in clear pictures."

"But before that we did not have communication from the outside world," the bartender said as he cleaned his mugs. "I heard he pulled some strings to fix the environmental dome."

"Pulled some strings, bah! He practically built the damned thing in two months," one of the patrons said.

"Weis sure is popular, isn't he?" Naomi smiled.

"He tried his very best to tend to our needs," Chioni said. "He also gave me my first zoid."

"Really?" Naomi seemed intrigued.

"Even though it was a second hand zoid, I'll treasure it with all my heart," she blushed. Naomi saw the admiration of the girl towards Weis. And her blush told it all.

"It was his zoid, wasn't it?" Naomi asked. Chioni flushed as she looked at the woman.

"Yes," she smiled. "And I'll train hard to become a zoid pilot like you." Naomi was awed by her devotion.

"Why does he live out there and not in here?" Naomi asked.

"His cabin is a way station for travelers and sometimes hunters. He keeps it operational for search and rescue operations. He painted his snow cruiser red so that he could be seen in the snow."

"He explained that to me," Naomi smiled. "He said that that's how he found me."

"Blood on the snow," Chioni sighed.

"Pardon?"

"Blood on the snow is the most prominent sign that one could see in this region," the girl explained. "Red on this vast whiteness is always visible even if you are not searching for it. It catches your attention immediately and sometimes your memory will have a hard time of letting go."

"Did Weis teach you that?" Naomi asked impressed by the girl's view.

"Yes," she said softly. "He always says that if you travel through the snow, always check for blood on the snow." Chioni looked at the older woman obliquely and smiled.

"He found his," she said. Naomi was confused by her last statement and asked to clarify. But Chioni didn't answer. Seeing that the subject will not linger, Naomi changed the subject.

"So, have any plans of forming your own team?"

"Maybe in a few years," Chioni admitted. "I must gain experience first before I even think of making it on my own."

"You'll make it," Naomi smiled. "Trust me. Not every time has the Red Comet won battles."

"I know," Chioni smiled. "Uncle Weis also had hardships. He doesn't talk about them. But I know they're there."

"But how does he stay calm?" Naomi asked. Chioni smiled and looked around. Following her gaze, Naomi saw the smiling faces of the people as they watched the zoid battle on the vid screen. Everyone seemed at peace without a care in the world.

Everyone seemed happy.

Naomi looked at Chioni and the young girl nodded.

Seeing the smiles of the people eased her heart.

Naomi knew that Weis will do everything to keep them smiling.

**

"Horn leader, this is Wolf leader, do you copy?" the leader of the Red Horn units called from his radio. But there was no answer.

"Horn two, what's the status?" he asked.

"The magnetic field is disrupting the radio waves," Horn two said but the signal was garbled. "We should get SOME kind of signal."

"I doubt it," Horn three said. "We should have received them even if it was just static."

"Let's just keep on searching," Horn leader said. "We may find them."

Suddenly, and explosion rocked Horn three, creating a gaping hole on its side.

"What the?" Horn two didn't have any time to react for another explosion sent his zoid down.

Horn one began firing at random, but all he did was cover the area with smoke and snow.

"Who's there?" he asked nervously. But from all the firing he has done, nothing was visible.

Horn Leader felt that something was behind him. Slowly he turned to look behind him.

Only to meet the ends of the barrels of his enemy.

Horn leader screamed as his enemy fired.

***

"What's taking Weis so long?" Naomi asked as she walked with Chioni through the streets of the town.

"He may have a few errands to run," the girl said.

"Maybe," Naomi sighed. "He's a hard man to figure out."

"It took me almost a year to figure him out," Chioni said.

"One year?" Naomi's eyes widened. Their eyes met and they suddenly burst out laughing. When the laughter subsided, Naomi remembered something.

"Chioni, are there any Command Wolves in this town?" she asked.

"Several," Chioni answered although confused.

"Any of them painted white?"

"We refrain from painting our zoids white. It makes rescue near to impossible in that color," she explained. Naomi nodded and frowned in confusion. Probably she was seeing things.

"You saw it, didn't you?" Chioni asked in a soft, cold voice that made Naomi shiver.

"Pardon?" Naomi asked but she had a pretty good idea what she was going to say.

"You were saved by the Guardian of the snow," Chioni said. Naomi blinked in intrigue.

"Guardian of the snow?"

"What did you see?" she asked. Naomi thought deeply before answering.

"It's a little hazy but I remember a large white wolf-type zoid that defeated every zoid that came after me. As it came for me, all I saw was its red eyes and I heard it howl."

"How was its howl?" Chioni asked.

"How?" Naomi was puzzled. "It was like it was in sorrow." Chioni smiled softly.

"Do you know what it is?" Naomi asked.

"Legend says that a wolf-type zoid roams these parts, protecting the land from those who disturbs the peace. There are still rumors that a large zoid destroyed a battalion of zoids that were piloted by raiders."

"Really?" Naomi was astounded. "What kind of zoid is the guardian?" Chioni smiled softly and looked at the sky.

"They call it the Majestic Wolf."

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End of 4.

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A/n: Please read and review.