Blood of the Father

The Storm

Author's Note: Just before I begin, I'd like to thank everyone for their support in all my fics, you guys have been so supportive. You can check my profile for other things about my fics but I won't really update that much. And now for the second chapter.

Kai kept close to him as ten or so figures walked out into the clearing, all copiously armed with obsidian swords and double bladed spears they surrounded Fox and Kai. They were a solid group of foxes and felines and Fox kept his shotgun low, they did not know what it was so it could come in handy for a surprise.

And he always had his concealed blaster.

"You." A vulpine pointed to Kai and she glared at him defiantly. They were all clothed in the same fashion but with a red loincloth instead of Kai's dark brown. "You will come with us." He walked over to Kai but she kept the dagger up, the vulpine kept a few feet in front of her and he looked at Fox. "Who are you?"

"Your worst nightmare." He replied in Cornerian. The vulpine looked at him strangely and there was a bolt of lightning, it smashed through the sky and clouds swarmed in like killer bees as rain began to fall.

"Take them; we must get out of this rain." The vulpine leader ordered. They walked through the forest and the rain increased as Fox kept his shotgun low, the other's weapons were still prominent and he did not want to risk Kai's life. Or his own for that matter.

Then the forest ended and the group stepped into the village, it was pretty much the same as the other except for that the tree was different specie and most of the villagers were inside the tree. There was an enclave and most if not all the occupants of the village were in it, Fox and Kai were directed to the tree and they were placed under heavy guard. In the thunder and rain, Fox saw a figure walk out into the sheeting water.

That must be their M'teras. Fox thought and the figure raised its arms, he couldn't tell if it was male or female but he was sure that it had some courage. Lightning played around the sky and the thunder was increasing as the figure let out yells and screams to the heavens. He looked over and Kai had her paws on her head, Fox couldn't hear her over the storm but her muzzle was wide as she screamed in pain. Fox touched her shoulder and Kai fell into his arms, she had passed out and her head hung limp as the thunder suddenly stopped. The rain only came down and the villagers had fallen facedown as the M'teras walked up to the enclave.

It was a female; her entire persona was the exact opposite of the other M'teras; her fur was pitch black, making her almost invisible against the night. Her loincloth was a crimson red, inlaid with garnet stones, deep green eyes, and a long black tail.

"Well, who are you and why have you come onto my land?" She raised a paw and looked into Fox's mind, unlike the first M'teras, she was extremely rough and Fox hit his knee in pain. "So, you are associated with the northern Ripars?" She extended her claws and Fox gripped his head as he cried out. "I see, well there is only one solution for this, you must be executed, in the morning is when you shall die." The M'teras raised a paw and Fox immediately passed out.

He awoke sometime later to the feel of soft sheets.

Wait a sec, sheets? His fogged brain couldn't work for a moment but he opened his eyes and darkness had prevailed. He sat up in the soft bed and reality hit hum like an anvil, where was Kai?

"She is safe; no harm will come to her." A voice echoed in the small room as the rain continued. Fox picked out the outline of the black M'teras and he tried to get off the bed, something blocked him and Fox stopped trying to resist. "You on the other hand will be dead at morning."

"What are you and why are you keeping me here?" The outline rose and Fox thought that the M'teras could be a panther.

"I am the M'teras, the leader of my people, I am of the panther race and I am keeping you here until I decide what to do with you." There was a flash of light and Fox saw a claw on her paw light up as she lit a lamp.

"How powerful are you?" The panther purred quietly and the glow from the naphtha lamp cast an eerie glow around the room.

"Powerful enough Fox McCloud." She took a long object from a chair and Fox saw his shotgun. "Now what is this?"

"Why should I tell you?" He asked and the M'teras smiled at him.

"Because I will find out whether you tell me or I force it out of you." She said it with a smile and the glow reflected on her pearl fangs. Her paws ran over it and they brushed the trigger as the barrel was pointed at her chest. Fox cringed and she saw it. "What was going to happen?" Fox kept quiet and the M'teras laid the gun down. "Fine then, you keep quiet and be executed in the morning." She walked out of the room and Fox felt the psychic presence released its hold on his mind as Fox sighed. He quickly moved off the bed and took up his shotgun, thankfully the shells were still in the right places and he smiled.

Time for the escape.

Fox crouch-walked though the massive tree and he hugged the wall as a group of Ripars passed him. He checked his Comm and Andromeda came up.

"It's about time you turned this thing on."

"Sorry, I've been a bit busy. Do you have any ideas how to get out of here?"

"Well, no but I just did a scan of the surrounding area and I did find Kai. She's being held in the lower chamber of the tree but I don't know how you are going to get there undetected."

"Well, I could just use my shotgun and blow everyone to Hell." Andromeda flashed red and he shrugged. "Only a joke."

"Not a very funny one." Fox hugged the wall again and he took a look at the map, maybe it would be better to sneak around on the outside of the tree. Fox opened the Comm and he slid out two sharp knuckle extenders; they were a bit like brass knuckles but had gripping spikes on the ends, it gave Fox extra power when he needed it. Fox slung the shotgun on his back and he slid the extenders over his paws, they glinted dully in the dim light and he opened a window, Fox climbed out and he dug the extenders into the wood.

"Fox, are you sure that you want to do this?" Andromeda asked and the rain pelted his fur as he nodded.

"Yes, now I need to concentrate." Andromeda vanished into his Comm and Fox looked down, he was very high up and he managed to keep his stomach down. "Oh Hell…" Fox gently eased his way down the tree and Andromeda kept him updated on his progress.

"Fox, wind speed is increasing; one false step and you're history."

"Thanks for the reminder." Fox replied and the rain came down harder. Fox passed four floors and he looked into a window, the M'teras was there with four other figures.

"How is the war being prepared for?" The figures were on their knees and the M'teras had her paw over them.

"We are training up warriors, manufacturing weapons, overall we are progressing." The M'teras smiled and the one that spoke rose, the M'teras stroked the top of his head but her claws came out and they sank into his head. A yell escaped his lips and blood ran down his muzzle as the M'teras gripped harder.

"Don't you lie to me or I will kill you. Now how are we doing?"

"M'teras, I am sorry that I spoke…ahhhh…wrongly. We have a force of fifty…AHH!" The claws dug deeper and he was forced to the floor as the M'teras let him go.

"Don't lie to me; don't try to impress me with your lies." She rested her foot paw on his head and the claws gently eased into his head. Blood was pooling on the floor and Fox kept going down the tree. He would tell the other M'teras what he heard just as soon as he got Kai and himself out of there.

Fox looked into another window and there was Kai, she was bound and gagged and there was one guard with his back to the window, a spear in his hand. Fox slipped into the window and he dropped to the floor quietly as he stood up behind the guard. Kai saw him but he held a paw to his lips as he slung the shotgun off his back. Fox raised it and he slammed the butt end on the guard's neck. He whimpered as he fell to the floor and Fox slung the gun back onto him as he sliced the bonds as she started to talk.

"Fox, where have-" He out a paw over her muzzle and he helped her up.

"I'm getting you out of here, get on my back and I'll get us out of here." Kai wordlessly climbed onto him and she put her arms around his shoulders as he climbed out the window. The rain pelted them as Fox adjusted to the increase in weight, Kai was pretty light but it was still a struggle and Fox latched onto the tree. He took a step down but liquid made him slip, he felt Kai slip also and the weight left him.

"Fox!" She yelled and Fox dropped, they sailed through the air and rain, Fox fell forward and he caught the screaming feline as the ground rushed toward them. Fox tucked the feline into his chest and she clung to him as he timed a roll perfectly, the impact of the landing was spread along his body and he screamed as Kai flew from his arms. Fox rested a bit but he had to get up, he sat up and his left arm felt numb as Kai crawled over to him.

"Fox, we need to get back to the village now."

"I know, I think my arm is toast." Kai helped him up and Fox took his shotgun off his back, surprisingly it was unbroken but some shells were missing.

"Are you going to use that?" At that moment, ten warriors ran out of the tree and Fox looked at Kai.

"We're about to find out."