Knuckle Down
Chapter 5
Cast looked back at where Fox was still lying on the ground. He was probably going to regret that later. Peppy had been telling him that Fox was the protector of the village. He didn't get that way by being a wimp. Cast knew he had caught him off-guard, and that could mean trouble later, he hadn't learned that much (The normal boxing stance, and some jabs and hooks among other things.), so if he fought again he may very well lose.
"Well then bring it on!" He said to no one in particular. He was taking a walk in the woods, he would have to go back to the town and find Yun soon. It would mean trouble. More scolding. More drama.
"Aaaaa!" Cast fell down. He was feeling defeated. He lay on his back looking at the sky. He would have to deal with whatever Yun was going to tell him. With a sigh he headed back to town.
………………………………………….
"He punched you?!" Falco asked incredulously. Fox nodded. They were hanging around outside Krystal's house. Krystal had gone to market for a little while, so he and Falco had some time to talk.
"I don't know what to do. I feel like trashing him, but I don't think Peppy would appreciate me waling on his semi-god son." Falco looked Fox in the eye. He could tell what Fox was really feeling. He really wanted to help the kid out, but somehow was struggling in what to do with him.
"Fox, maybe you should talk to him, let him know how to deal with what he's going through right now. You know he really wanted to learn what the human was teaching him, so maybe you should talk to Peppy and ask him to allow him to train under him." Fox looked at Falco.
"But we don't know anything about the guy, only that you told us he wouldn't hurt anyone." Fox countered.
"Have I been wrong yet?" Fox had to nod, it was true, he hadn't been wrong.
"Na, I guess I'll talk to Peppy and see what he says." Fox got up, and started the walk to Peppy's house.
……………………………………………….
Cast walked had been to the Pub. Yun wasn't there anymore though, The bartender said he had gone to the market, to pick up some supplies. Cast had thanked him and continued on his way. He closed in on the market, and saw in the hustle and bustle of furs, Yun trying to buy some apples, and some firewood. He noticed that all the furs seemed to create a small circle around him, trying to keep there distance.
"Will there ever be an end to this?" He thought. He noticed as he was passing, Fox's blue vixen Girlfriend. Odd, for a vixen to be that color. He hadn't noticed it much before. Meh, he thought. Yun had moved in his musings, he was almost to the edge of the market, heading towards the main village. He jogged to catch up with him. He caught up with him in front of Krystal's house, where Falco was lounging around on the side.
"Yun, wait!" He asked. Yun obligingly stopped. Cast ran up to him. He had had some thoughts on what he was gonna say, all of them ended up with his doom. Well, he would understand.
"Yun, can I stay with you for a little while?" Yun looked down at his suitcase then back at him.
"Why?" Here's where it comes. Cast thought.
"Well, My Guardian kinda said that I couldn't train anymore. So I said I'd leave." Cast looked back at him. Yun looked slightly amused.
"Now why would you say something like that? What if I DIDN'T let you stay with me?" Yun looked at him. Cast was uncomfortable now.
"Well, I sorta didn't think of that." He looked sheepishly at Yun. Yun looked at him more seriously.
"Cast, I think you should go back and talk to your uncle."
"He's not my uncle."
"Whatever. If he says I cant teach you then there is no reason for me to continue against his wishes." Cast was stunned. Now he was in big trouble. He couldn't very well go back.
"But I CANT go back!" Cast yelled. Yun looked at him direly.
"What exactly did you do that meant you couldn't go back?" Cast looked at him. Now It was really gonna be rough. If he wanted to continue with his training, he would have to tell him.
"I woke up, and Fox and Peppy were in the kitchen. Peppy called me in, then Fox told him what you and I had been doing. He told me continue. After he told me, Well, I was mad, and I told him he wasn't my father. I packed up my stuff and left, then when I was walking, Fox came up behind me, I was really angry so I punched him and went to find you." Yun looked REALLY angry now. It was like he was trying to contain his anger.
"Cast, did Fox make a move to attack you?" Yun asked with dead seriousness. This would tell whether Fox should continue his training or not.
"Not really, but I was really angry so…" Yun didn't let him finish his sentence.
"Cast, I will not teach you how to Box anymore." The anger was apparent on Yuns face. No one would use the skills taught by him out of anger. No one would tarnish his legacy like that. If he could not contain his anger, he was not worthy of learning.
"But," Cast started. Yun cut him off with a shout.
"No! Don't talk. My decision here is Final. You need to find your own way. Now leave my presence." Cast stood there. Yun walked away and went into the village, leaving Cast standing there.
"Now I have nothing…" He stated. He picked up his bag, and started wandering towards the forest. Krystal, who had been on her way home from the market, paused then ran to find Fox.
………………………………………….
Fox marched into Peppys house. He had already hurt Cast once, (And been hurt by him, his jaw was still sore.)So now was the time to make up. Be that as it may, he was still pissed off at him. He hadn't deserved that punch. He saw Peppy sitting on the couch. He looked half asleep.
"Peppy! Wake old man!" Peppy's eyes slowly opened. He tolerated Fox's semi-disrespect because it was only a jest. He didn't mean any harm by it.
"What's up Fox?" Peppy asked slowly. He had a feeling he knew what was happening though.
"Peppy we need to talk. I've been thinking about it. Why don't we let Cast keep training under the human?" Peppy eyed Fox.
"I don't think so. It seems that I have no choice in the matter anyway. As he said, Im not his father." Peppy looked slightly defeated.
"Cmon old timer. You know as well as I do he didn't mean that. He was just being a typical angsty teenager." Fox had been through this time as well. He was only two years out of his teens himself.
"Sigh, I just don't think it would work. Even if he does listen to me, which he probably wont, Before I allowed him to endanger himself, I'd have to meet this human first. Just to make sure nothing was up." Peppy said.
"Peppy you're a tough one. How about if I made it so that you could meet the human?" Fox asked.
"I guess I'd do it." Peppy replied.
"Hmm. I think that would work. I'll have to go find Cast right now before…." His attention was drawn away by Krystal opening the door and stepping in. She had just arrived, and had news for Fox.
"Hey Krystal, what's up?" Krystal responded quickly.
"Fox, the human, Yun he said, said he wasn't going to teach Fox how to 'Box' or something, and Cast ran away into the forest. Fox, you know that there's been sightings of a human hunter in the woods!" Fox looked astonished. It was starting to get dark now. Damnit! He should have thought about that! But the hunter hadn't been seen for month's! But last time he had managed to claim a villager. Fox had went after him without any success though. What if he came back today?
"Peppy, I'll be back." Peppy looked at him.
"Watch yourself Fox." Fox was already out the door. Unnoticed, Conte slipped out after him.
…………………………………………..
Conte followed behind silently as Fox ran toward the forest clearing. Conte would have broken off and gone her own way to keep out of they way, but she didn't know where he was. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself if something happened to Cast. She should have made more of an effort to stop him. Then none of this would have happened. She hadn't ever properly thanked him for what he did. If he had just left her he wouldn't have had that scar on his face. But he had to go and try and deal with that jerk on his own. She should have let him know that she was always indebted to him for that. She knew Cast well, and he was a great guy, loyal, nice, always there to help. Maybe if she was a little nicer to him. She couldn't dent that his various misguided come-ons were funny, but maybe she could give him a chance. It was just that they had been friends since early school days, Conte thought that if they went out it would ruin the friendship they had. Beside's he was still a cute guy. These thoughts were made all the urgent by Cast's apparent danger. She would have to hurry, Fox was starting to get ahead.
…………………………………………….
Fox spotted Cast in the clearing up ahead. He quickly came out of the brush.
"Cast!" Fox said quickly. Cast looked up. He didn't see all that glad to see him. In fact, he looked all kinds of distraught.
"What do you want?" He asked almost silently.
"Cast you need to come back to the village. There were sightings of a human hunter around, and It's not safe for a Fur to be out here by himself." Fox stated.
"Bah. I don't wanna go back. Everyone hates me now. I screwed up really bad." He stated it simply, the defeat in his voice was heart breaking to hear.
"Cmon Cast. I talked to Peppy. If you come with me there's a chance for you too keep on doing your thing with the human." Fox replied. That should spur him on he thought.
"His name is Yun. And he said he wouldn't teach me anymore. Besides I cant go back after how I treated everyone." Cast said. Fox mentally sighed. It was going to be hard to get him back.
"Cast, we all forgive you. We know how you were feeling. We've all had feelings like that. Just come back. It's not safe out here." Cast was looking up anymore now.
"Fox, how do I know your not lying?" Fox looked at him. Stupid teenager.
"If I truly hated you, would I be out here trying to save you now?" Cast looked at him. He stood up, and walked toward Fox. Fox extended his paw, like Shane had done to him. Cast looked warily, then they clasped paws.
"Cmon lets head back." Fox stated. Cast went back to get his bag.
……………………………………………….
Conte saw the glint to the side of the forest. Fox had walked ahead, so there was no doubt what the shining figure was trained on. Conte sprung into action almost unconsciously.
……………………………………………….
"What the!" Cast yelled. Conte had come out of nowhere and shoved him! Why would she do…. His thoughts were shattered as the sound like a thunder clap shattered next to him. Cast saw Conte, where he would have been, Stand there for a second, then fall to the ground.
Authors note: Wow. Another chapter done. Well, tis about time for a decent cliff hanger. Is Conte alive or dead? Were people beaten up in the making of this Fic? Only me and god know, and if you wait a lil while, you will too. As always, reviews are mucho appreciated. Makes me feel special, so keep em coming.