Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ use it merely for entertainment purposes.
Ranma sat the bow of the ship staring into the night sky as the ship sailed across the Sea of Japan. It was just three nights after the full moon and he was on his way to China after coming back from Europe. To be honest he really wanted to stay back home after being away for over a month, but after Aishia and Cologne informed everyone what was happening he knew he had to go with them.
So that brought him here on a ship making its way towards China. While far from the quickest way to get to China it was the only thing that everyone; Cologne, Mousse, Aishia, Ryouga, and himself, could get on such short notice that everyone could travel together. Though it would only take a couple of days to reach China the tension that was onboard the ship made the trip seem much longer than it actually was. "Last time I went to China we almost died because of Saffron. And from what Aishia said an Elder Lycanthrope can be even stronger than Saffron was and a pack or pride of them have the power to slaughter a lot of people."
A noise to Ranma's rear alerted his that he was not alone. When he turned he saw Cologne coming up to him bouncing on her cane. When she was within speaking distance Cologne started speaking, "Troubling thoughts Ranma?"
"A little," Ranma admitted. "When I was traveling with Aishia I met and sparred with another Lupine. He beat me rather easily and I was just wondering if it will be like that when I face a Weretiger."
"That is hard to say Ranma," Cologne replied. "Weretigers are among the most dangerous of the Lycanthropes. They are known for their strength and overwhelming power. Their claws have been known to inflict even more damage than you were able to under the Neko-ken."
Ranma inwardly cringed at that. Even though he never remembered causing the damage in the Neko-ken he had seen the aftermath before. "Have you ever faced a Weretiger?"
"When I was much younger," Cologne answered. "I twenty five at the time, just after I met my husband actually. I was out of the village hunting down a lead on Happosai and ran into a single Weretiger. We fought because I was foolish enough to believe that I was unbeatable and he made me pay for my pride. The scar no longer remains but it was large and went from my shoulder to my hip across my back. He let me live simply because he didn't know I was an Amazon, being allies with Lupines make us kill on sight targets for Weretigers, but the scar was his reminder of my foolishness. And that was one I never forgot." She then looked at the young Lupine and saw him thinking about what she said, "The best advice I can give you when fighting one is to use your speed like you do against Ryouga. Do not use the Hiryu Shoten Ha as it will not work. They never fight in a spiral and cold will most likely not affect them."
"Thanks Cologne," Ranma said moving away from the bow. "I think I will get some sleep. Good night."
"Good night Ranma," Cologne returned.
In the room she was sharing with her Great Grandmother and Aishia Shampoo contemplated her return to the village. The fear of returning in disgrace had long since past but now but now there was a new fear. Fear for what might have happened to her family back home. She wondered how the twins and how her father were doing and hoped that they were safe. "Worried about your family?" Aishia asked in Mandarin.
"Yes," Shampoo answered back in Mandarin. "I am worried about both my father and the twins. Father is not a warrior and the twins are still in training I fear they are hurt or worse."
"There really isn't anything I can tell you that would alleviate those fears I'm afraid," Aishia said. "We haven't heard from your village in a while and the satellite phone my friend owns is not responding."
"That could mean your friend is dead," Shampoo suggested.
"I highly doubt that," Aishia answered. "He doesn't die so easily. The phone not responding could mean something as simple as its battery is dead and or it was damaged. Either way I know he's fine he's just about the best fighter I've ever seen." She looked at the young Amazon, "And like I said I can't assure that your family is safe I can assure that when we arrive there will be enough Lupine to successfully defend the village. There should be four there right now and three more are one the way not counting us. Us combined with the other Amazons we will be more than enough drive the Weretigers away." Shampoo looked at the Lycanthrope and gave her a nod in determination agreeing with her statement and also having her spirits lifted a great deal.
Across the hall Mousse was sharpening one of many silver weapons he was going to use against the Weretigers. A part of him found it amusing that these were the same weapons that he had tried to kill Ranma with two months ago and now they were going to be used to fight at Ranma's side. As he continued to sharpen his silver sword in his hands Ryouga spoke to him, "Would you not do that while I'm in here?"
Mousse turned to Ryouga then placed the sword into his robes. "Sorry forgot you were a Lycanthrope for a while there."
"You know I can't help but feel that this is going to be like Phoenix Mountain all over again," Ryouga commented. "We almost died there and this reminds me of it way too much."
"This won't be like fighting Saffron," Mousse replied. "Fighting Lycanthropes is very different than fighting a member of the Phoenix Tribe. It's dangerous to fight them no matter who or what a person is. A wound a Lycanthrope takes is healed very quickly except if it is caused by silver but even people that can use silver weapons like me it is often difficult to hit them. That feeling that you got when I was sharpening my sword is kind of like a more refined danger sense that all Lycanthropes have. It alerts then to when they close to silver and they are thus able to avoid it a lot. Then if you factor in any kind of Armour that the weapons can't penetrate it just makes them even more difficult to damage."
"Great," Ryouga said sarcastically, "Anything else I should know about?"
"Yeah prey you don't run into an Ebon Cat," Mousse became very serious. "They are the strongest of the all the feline type Lycanthropes."
"What's so dangerous about them?" Ryouga asked.
"You know how strong you are when you change into your bipedal form. Well an Ebon Cat is always stronger. They aren't a specific kind of Werecreature but they are limited to the feline types. They are born under a full lunar eclipse in bipedal form they don't have a human form but still have three forms. The first form is the bipedal form, the second is their animal form and the third is an even more powerful bipedal form. In their third form what ever their strength is in their bipedal form is tripled in their the stronger form. And worse is that they have high resistance to silver making them just that much deadlier. If you ever face an Ebon Cat prey you are not alone for it will literally rip you apart."
"I'll keep that in mind," Ryouga replied. After a few moments of silence Ryouga asked, "Is there anything that can take them on one on one? I mean I remember Cologne saying a Wearbears were pretty powerful."
"Wearbears are not fast enough to match an Ebon Cat," Mousse answered. "There have been rumors of a Lupine pack called the Children of Fenris that could match an Ebon Cat one on one. But as far as I know they are just a ledged."
"How do I know when I face an Ebon Cat?" Ryouga asked.
"Their rather easy to spot," Mousse answered. "They are always black. Hence their name Ebon Cats." Ryouga nodded before making his way to his bunk to and turned in for the night taking to heart the warning Mousse told him about.
The rose bathing Nerima in sunlight bringing a new day to its inhabitants. Yet some of those inhabitants did were not able to sleep well the previous night. Those people included Wolf's Eye Nodoka, Tendo Kasumi and Nabiki. The previous night their friends and loved ones once again left on a dangerous trip that could end up killing them. Making last night giving them a fitful nights sleep.
Kasumi was up early once again, though not out of habit this time, and was soon joined by her younger sister Nabiki and Nodoka in the Wolf's Eye kitchen. It was by an unspoken agreement that the two sisters would stay the night at the house as they were in no mood to deal with their father's wailing. That and the sisters felt Nodoka could definitely use the company. "Breakfast will be ready soon," Nodoka said. "I hope your not expecting anything fancy, I'm afraid that I'm in the mood to fix anything too fancy."
"We understand Auntie," Kasumi said. She understood perfectly, even if she were at home she would not be in the mood to fix anything more than toast at the moment.
"I don't mean to sound rude but I need to leave soon," Nabiki said softly. "I have some business to take care of at school and I can't wait around here." The truth actually was that she had nothing to do and was going to make something up. She needed a distraction from the feelings of hopelessness she felt at the moment.
"Ok Nabiki," Nodoka replied. "If you see Ukyou at school please tell her to stop by. I want to tell her what is going on personally. I think it would be best for her to learn it from me."
"All right Auntie," Nabiki replied. "If I see her I'll let her know."
Once Nabiki left Nodoka asked, "Kasumi what do you plan on doing for the rest of the day?"
"In all honesty I am not too sure Auntie," Kasumi admitted. "I do need to go home eventually I do not believe the kitchen will survive Akane more than once a day."
"I would have to agree with you," Nodoka admitted. No matter who tried to teach that girl how to cook she could never get the concept that the chef has to watch everything they prepared carefully but also that they needed to taste what was cooked so it was right. "But you will not have to return until this afternoon because she still has school herself. In the mean time why don't you come with me for the day. I need to take my mind off everything and could use the company."
After a brief moment of contemplation Kasumi agreed, "Where do you plan on going Auntie?"
"I planned on going to the zoo actually," Nodoka answered, "I here they just acquired a new panda for their breeding program and I wanted to go see him." Kasumi gave Nodoka an amused smile knowing exactly what she was talking about.
The moment Nabiki stepped foot on school grounds her ears were subjected to the blustering of Kuno who had just come back from Okinawa after finding out Ranma was not there. "Tendo Nabiki I must speak with you," Kuno said. "The information I purchased in regards to the Foul Sorcerer Saotome had proven false. I demand that you return the money I gave you and tell my noble person the true location of the Enemy of women free of charge so that I may smite him and free the pig-tailed-girl and the fierce tigress Akane!"
Nabiki rubbed her eyes at the headache developing from Kuno's voice. "Listen Kuno-baby the information I gave you was accurate at the time. Saotome Ranma did go to Okinawa if you couldn't find him then that was your problem. I even have the passenger list of the flight he took if you want proof." Nabiki at this point was in fact was telling the truth. There was a Saotome Ranma that that did go to Okinawa, it was just that this Saotome Ranma was over sixty years old going on a vacation to visit his grandchildren on the island.
"Then let me see this proof!" Kuno demanded. Nabiki casually shrugged and gave Kuno passenger list. How she was able to get something like that no one would dare ask they just knew if anyone could she was the one. "Your word have indeed been proven true. Saotome must have used black magic to aloud me while I was there. I must return to deliver the judgment of heaven onto the Foul Sorcerer, for I the Blue Thunder of Furikan High declare it!" After that Kuno left to book passage back to Okinawa leaving several of the people at the school relieved that they would be free of his speeches for at least another day or so.
A few minutes later Nabiki was stopped once again, this time by someone she was actually happy to see, Ukyou. "Hey Nabiki has Ran-chan come back yet? There is something really important I need to tell him."
"Ukyou Ranma had to leave again," Nabiki told the okonomiyaki chef. "It has to do with his recent changes and the Amazons." Ukyou was caught off guard by the news and for a moment thought the Amazons had used their treaty with the Lupines take Ranma away. But before she could go any further along those thought Nabiki continued, "Auntie wants to tell you the details herself. So the questions I know you have you should ask her."
"Is it serious?" Ukyou asked. Nabiki gave her a grave nod and Ukyou started for the entrance to the school. "I need to know what's going on so I'm skipping today. And thanks for the information Nabiki," Ukyou said over her shoulder. She had to know what was going and school took a back seat to that desire to know.