Given the circumstances, a small break was needed. I chose to stay in the training hall and Viper headed over to the barracks to get some water. But it seemed that the surprises just kept coming. As I kept my back to the catwalk, I heard a small creak from behind me. I smirked.

"You know for a cat, you're not as stealthy as I would have imagined". I called out. Two feet dangled off the catwalk and a long black tail slapped my round the back of my head.

"I blame these wooden floors. Too creaky". Yinshen replied. "Besides, I need to talk to you alone".

"Well how about right here right now? There's plenty of time".

Yinshen said nothing and I slithered up the catwalk next to her.

"What do you need to talk about"?

Yinshen was quiet for a few extra seconds and spoke.

"Do you remember what I said back at the hospital, about how the lone airship was a warning"?

"Yes"?

"I've known Fennu for two years. He always makes his enemies suffer before killing them. A code of sorts that he has followed for decades. He's already made you suffer".

Yinshen poked gently above my arrow injury to prove her point.

"As he has made me. Mike, you know as well as I do that we can't just keep trying to push back his attacks on the Jade Palace. Every time his forces attack, it gets that much harder to push back".

"I figured that myself. When I was first captured and taken as a hostage, me and the guys got off easy. Second time round with those sappers, I had to fight until my last breath. And the airship... well we all know how that turned out".

"Exactly. If we let another attack happen, we may not stand a chance. We have to act now".

"And exactly how do we do that"?

"The airship from the previous attack is still to be scheduled to be taken back to Chorgom to be taken apart. We need to take it before they can do so. After we have it, we fly back to the Galadriel gates"-

"And battle an army of gorillas and get to Fennu". I asked with a low sense of enthusiasm.

"Not exactly. We can just walk straight through them".

"...How"?

"I think you already know how".

I grumbled to myself. I had a feeling.

"And what about everyone else"?

Yinshen sighed. I wasn't going to like what was about to come next was I?

"If we tell even one of them, they'll try to stop us".

I lowered my head. To me it meant that I may never see Viper ever again.

"I'm sorry Mike. Really I am. But it's the right thing to do".

I kept silent, taking in my thoughts. I did indeed know that it was the right thing to do, but the real question was COULD I do it? Really there was no choice. Not if I wanted to prevent life's from being lost. The last two times were tiring and I only made it with luck on my side for the most of it.

"When do we leave"? I finally spoke.

"Tonight. That's our best shot of getting away".

"Then we'll take it. Just be sure to explain the rest of the plan later won't you"?

"I will".

..."Okay then. Just leave me to get the items we need to pull this off and I'll meet you at the airship. Probably".

As Yinshen left, Viper reentered. She asked me what Yinshen was after. I lied and said nothing of the truth. I had to for her sake as well as my own.

THREE HOURS LATER

I had kept to myself for the last few hours. I didn't want the others to catch on to this... insane plan that I and Yinshen had formulated. I spent most of that time in my usual spot. Outside the Training hall on the grass. I was worried. For everyone's sake, but I did well to hide it from showing. We weren't just risking our lives, but the village too. Two skilled warriors leaving meant a weaker defense for the village. What if they attacked whilst we were gone? I didn't know whether I would be able to give my full support on this mission.

Trying to think of it from a more positive side. I go and defeat Fennu, I come back a hero, which means we've won. And if I die, I'll most likely go to heaven as, hopefully, a human angel, in which case means I've also won a personal victory. Sort of...

"Hi Mike".

Viper had seemed to have slithered up next to me while I was too caught up in my thoughts.

"Hi Vipes".

"Is there something you want to talk about"?

"Like what"?

"Just anything I suppose".

"... Not really all that much comes to mind".

"Are... you still upset over what happened with that talk about the venom"?

"Tha- no. No, I'm good".

I cursed myself. I had the feeling that she was going to figure out what we were up to. And when she did, she would not be happy about it. But then again, she always finds out what I'm up to one way or another.

"Are you sure"? I heard her ask as her eyes stared at me.

"Yeah". I turned over to face Viper. I smiled as I looked at her. Her big blue eyes, her small fangs and her lotus flowers were an incredible sight up close. But that also made it harder for me to go through with Yinshens plan. The sun went down in a hour. I wonder if it's enough time to... yes. I don't have much of a choice if I want to keep her safe. I only hope she could forgive me for it if I return.

"Vipes, you know I love you. Don't you"?

Viper smile slightly wobbled but didn't break.

"Of course. Of course I do".

I smiled back and kissed her on the lips for a second.

"Good. Because I do"...

I kissed her again.

"...And I always will no matter what".

"Mike"?

She was beginning to worry, I knew that she would. I needed to act now. I went and kissed her one more time. I tried to make it last as long as possible. While I did, my tail snuck up from behind and once in position, I struck the back of her head, knocking her clean out. I kept her from falling on the grass on her own and laid her down gently.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry". Was all I could say before I headed down into town. I just hoped that she would be unconscious long enough for me to get away in time.

The airship wasn't difficult to find. Just had to look for the big oval that towered above all the buildings. Yinshen looked to be already undoing the ropes that held it in position. Only a handful of villagers were around so they didn't seem to anxious about the panther. Just as well. I went ahead and lent a helping hand. As soon as I had slithered up to her, she turned and nodded. She saw that I had a bag filled with unknown items and decided not to ask.

"You're here". She gave a small chuckle. "For a second I didn't think you were going to go through with this".

I didn't say anything. I just climbed onto the airship up one of the many ropes and threw the bag to the side. I had to wait another twenty minutes until Yinshen had taken off all but one, barely keeping the airship on the ground. She used it to climb up to the top and walked over to me.

"Okay, what's the matter"?

"What do you mean"?

"You seem a little too silent, even for what we're about to do. So talk".

"... I had to keep Viper from learning about our little tactic so... I made sure she couldn't stop us. I knocked her out".

"I see. I'm sorry you had to do that".

"Me too"...

"How hard, if you don't mind me asking"?

"Not too hard. Enough to know I knocked her out. What else is there to it"?

Yinshen shook her head.

"Mike, you need to make sure that the hit was enough to knock her out for a good hour. Based on how you did it, she may have already woken up now".

"All the more reason to set off then".

...

Well, let's hope Viper wakes up in time to stop them. Cheerio!