Chapter 6:Trailing the Beast

The glare of eight eyes centered on Tengu as a stirring silence corrupted the thirsty mountain terrain, the myth monster surrounded by four human souls. Lei Fang's desire for revenge had neared its point, her hand curling into a ball as the image of her people and Beijing burned before her in a twitch of rioting flames. The malignant demon had brought forth a shroud of uncivilized terror, thus disabling the blessed peace within China. Out of all that had occurred, there seemed to be no sign of regret coming off that disfigured grin of his.

Lei Fang sucked the reserved air in behind her teeth as she braced for battle, easing the tight knots in her stomach, hauling a fist and elbow behind her head as she assumed a combative stance. The first move was hers, cherishing the dire moment as if it were the last.

She lifted her leg toward the forefront and struck Tengu in the abdomen. The kick did not accomplish much to even garner a flinch as he carried a blank stare, shoulders heaving.

Lei Fang then withdrew her leg from his bulbous torso, but the creature's hand apprehended her and yanked her close to him. He confined her defiant arms below her waist as he clamped her in a squeeze, her fidgeting hands unable to swing at that repulsive face blaring nothing but laughter and wickedness. The gruesome, wrinkled feel of his warm, dry skin pressing against her made her whole body shiver, as she could smell the fumes of his smoldering breath rolling off his tongue.

His short arms tightened the clutch, worsening the pain as it burrowed even deeper into Lei Fang's back while her voice squeaked in pinches. Tengu could only laugh, no doubt enjoying the pleasure of torturing her.

A crow like bellow then rung her ears and a blurred kick from Jann Lee into Tengu's shin parted Lei Fang from his grasp. The bearded creature let out a gurgled moan, a hand brushing up and down his hit leg as his feathered wings shot out from his back.

"Annoying pests!" he shouted, staggering back a couple steps after a snarl. "Just wait until I…. wait until I…wait until I…..nevermind. You weaklings can have your win for the moment. But victory will soon come to betray you. I can assure that."

His sentence faded with those last few words as his sandaled feet lifted off from the ground, taking to the air, his arms wide in a spread. His cackled laugh was the last thing heard as he ascended higher into the sky, vanishing behind segregating clouds. This was not over.

Jann Lee muttered as he viewed the ground, spitting a string of saliva in the very spot Tengu once stood. " He retreated again. Of course, he knew I would cripple him anyway."

Lei Fang loosened her guard and left her arms fall to her hips, a heavy sigh being her first form of response before speaking. "I doubt it was because of you." Her eyes flared up at him as she shook her head, turning to Hitomi with a shrug. His arrogance was classic.

"Strange," said Gen Fu, driving a thumb and finger down his chin. "Doesn't seem like his nature."

Hitomi drove a fist into her open palm as her head was at a tilt. "We should go after him."

Jann Lee had already taken his leave from the group, not even issuing words over his hasty departure. He was but a few yards away before the rest of him faded into the hazed distance. Hitomi trailed after him.

Lei Fang was ready for hot pursuit, but adverted her gaze to Gen Fu and Mei Lin.

"Coming?"

The old master shuddered his eyes to a close with a grunt as he shook his head, hands withdrawn behind him.

"I cannot leave Mei Lin. Consequences would erupt if I were to bring her." He bowed his head and patted the shoulder of his Granddaughter. "I have forced myself to believe you can handle this. But remember to work together. Tengu is strong and he will not hesitate to kill you if given the chance."

There was so much to ask him of the knowledge he knew, but now was not the time. Lei Fang formed a nod and kneeled down to Mei Lin, arms draping around her with strong embracement. The little girl loomed up, implanting a soft, mild kiss on the college student's cheek as she frowned, her lips quivering.

They left from each other's reach and Lei Fang waved to both of them as she treaded back to catch up with her comrades.

"The mountains are home to Tengu. Be on watch!" Gen Fu's gruff voice called, the echo dying out behind a large pillar of rocks.

The ground was free of grass, masked by repetitious layers of dirt and rocks. Parts of the land were slanted, others curved, and others redeeming a straight path. Lei Fang could not recall a day when she had visited the mountains. However, her father did pressure her quite a bit to join him on his random trips here for sightseeing. School had consumed most of her free time, so it was out of the question.

The walk had not even lasted over a minute and Lei Fang was already feeling dehydrated, surrounded by gleams of heat that went on an endless spree to drain her of all moisture. She spotted Hitomi racing back to her, with no Jann Lee present.

"You ok, Lei?" She offered a hand, but Lei Fang shied away from it.

"I'm fine," she answered. "Where's…."

"He took off." The German put her hands on her hips, clicking her tongue. "I had asked him to hold up, but he wouldn't wait."

It was just the two of them alone now. The gap establishing the mountainous gorge seem to be getting smaller as they passed through, and Lei Fang's hunger grew stronger as she attempted to silence the impatient groans churning her stomach. Tengu could wait. She needed to eat something.

"I should have brought some food," Lei Fang sighed to herself, slowing her walk. "We didn't even have breakfast."

Hitomi reached a hand into her jeans, ruffling with something inside her pocket. "If your hungry, I have something here that might interest you."

Interest filled Lei Fang's eyes and warmed her heart, peering into the German's hand at a few paper wrapped bars.

"Their nutrition bars," Hitomi said. "Eat one and it should hold you down till we get some real food. My dad hardly eats these things, so I figured I'd snag a few."

"You're a life saver." Lei Fang's smile stretched wide as she took a bar and ate it up quick, silencing the peanut flavored belch that shot up from within. The bar had done its job, leaving her full. They could resume the travel.

She took a step forward and a sudden crack sounded off underneath her foot. Her eyes scanned the floor and saw the object before her, a small, white fragment.

"That's odd." Lei Fang bent down to examine the piece as Hitomi came near.

"Whatcha got there?"

Lei Fang heightened a shrug. " Looks familiar, but I can't put my finger on it." Her hand tossed the piece back to the ground and she continued the walk with Hitomi. However, laid out ahead of them, were even bigger fragments of white. Lei Fang chose to ignore them as she walked by, but Hitomi's voice stopped her before she got any more distance.

"Wait!"

"Something wrong?" Lei Fang asked, quieting her tone to a whisper.

"Shh!" hushed Hitomi.

Lei Fang listened for sound, but her ears picked up traces of nothing but her own faint breathes. Perhaps the German was hallucinating.

Then it came in a swoop, an aggressive sting crashing into her spine, knocking her off balance.

She sat up to meet the offender, only to have Hitomi push her down before she managed to stand. "Look out!" she screamed.

Something whizzed past Lei Fang, leaving a buzz and a stroke of wind to tickle at her lobes. She could hear it as she crouched low to the ground, waiting a few seconds for it to zoom past again. The coast was clear for now.

Once it seemed safe to stand again, her eyes searched the sky. Two small figures were hovering above them, wings flapping like that of humming birds.

A familiar laugh descended upon them, discovering it to be Tengu perched on a pillar.

"I see you've met some of the family," He said. He then looked to the figures. "My precious children! These two here are your enemies. I want you to play with them for a while. Do as you like. Have fun. Even if it means you must tear out their hearts and feed upon them."

Nodding to Tengu's commands, the two baby sized creatures flew down with four more flying in close by like a squadron of fighter jets gliding into battle.

Lei Fang threw up her arms, awaiting the first one to approach. But they traveled in groups, hovering around in circles as each took a random swipe at her.