Chapter 8- Attack

Quan Chi's henchmen had set up a rest area that Blue was not used to. Instead of sleeping on the hard ground, she would be sleeping on a soft mat in a tent like structure. It was big enough for three people but only two would be occupying it. Blue wanted to cry because she knew Quan Chi would be right there beside her.

The henchmen were quietly directed to sleep on the ground outside the tent by Quan Chi. He then walked back. Blue could see his silhouette before he entered the tent like structure.

Blue was lying down on her mat staring up at the roof with her dry tears still intact. Quan Chi entered and lay himself down next to her. Blue's stomach twisted into a tight knot with despair.

Scorpion was still running. He knew that the direction he was running in was the correct one. He just hoped that he could make it to Blue in time. In time for what, he hoped he did not know.

Suddenly, Scorpion saw light up ahead. It looked like a lantern. He ran even faster than before, his side hurt and he was suffocating from not breathing enough but he didn't care. He ran until he almost reached the light.

It was Quan Chi's resting area. The light he saw was a lantern suspended from one of the corners on the tent like structure. Six henchmen stood between him and the structure. They weren't going to be a problem.

Silently he crept to the further most man from the tent. He pulled out his mugai ryu from its sheath and killed him. He crept to each man until none were left alive. Now it was just him and Quan Chi like it was so many times before only this time, Quan Chi would not be left alive.

Scorpion held his sword above his head, and he made his way towards the tent like structure.

Inside the tent had fallen asleep, Quan Chi had also. Just as Scorpion reached the tent, Quan Chi opened one eye and saw the shadow of Scorpion dance across the outside of the tent like structure. He sprang up and off the mat. He dove through the air and out of the tent like structure's exit with enough force to tackle Scorpion to the ground.

Blue had awoken at the sound of Scorpion's surprised yell. The tent like structure's exit was open and she watched the fight from safety.

Scorpion and Quan Chi had both managed to get to their feet. Scorpion's mugai ryu was knocked out of his hand by the surprise tackle and both men were unarmed they were forced to fight with only their bodies. Scorpion, however, pulled out his roped spear. It was covered with Drahmin's blood and he hoped it would soon be covered with Quan Chi's. He threw it at Quan Chi but Quan Chi ducked just in time. He grabbed the rope and used it to pull Scorpion to him. Quan Chi threw a green skull fire-ball at Scorpion; it hit him in the torso and inflicted serious damage. Scorpion lay immobilized on the ground. Quan Chi walked slowly toward him thinking that he had been triumphant once again. Quan Chi looked through the entrance of the tent like structure at Blue. While Quan Chi had his attention on Blue, Scorpion reached as far as he could with out really moving, to get his roped spear back. After stretching his arm out to its fullest extent, he grabbed a hold of the rope and pulled the spear back to himself. Quan Chi looked back at Scorpion but it was too late. Scorpion pulled back his arm to throw the spear. Quan Chi had no time to react and Scorpion had no time to aim. The spear flew through the air and pierced through Quan Chi's shoulder. Blood gushed down his side. Scorpion pulled on the rope. The spear was pulled out leaving a gaping wound which continued to bleed uncontrollably. Quan Chi stared at it before he finally placed his hand over it. He turned to Scorpion. "This is not the last you will see of me," He yelled.

Quan Chi began to run into the woods. Scorpion did not follow him. He turned to the tent like structure. Blue ran out of it and threw her arms around Scorpion. She ripped his mask off and they kissed. Both hugged each other in the lamplight.

Blue looked down and saw the wounds the skull fire-ball had left on Scorpion. He bled from his chest, shoulder and abdomen. "Don't worry about those," Scorpion said as comfortingly as he could, "They'll heal." Blue smiled and looked in the direction Quan Chi had run, darkness was all that could be seen. "What about Quan Chi?" Bluesong asked. "We'll see him again," Scorpion said, "Next time he won't get to run away."

Blue knew they would see him again, and soon too.

"So, are you still going to come with me to the tournament?" Scorpion asked. Blue nodded her head finally wiping away the dry tears. "Okay," Scorpion said, "I guess we had better get going then." They both stood up. Scorpion walked over to his sword and picked it up off of the ground. He wiped the blood and grass from the blade. Scorpion placed it back in its sheath. "Let us go," Scorpion said. He began to walk and Blue followed. They walked together. They both still felt pain but they did not feel it alone anymore. They felt it together.

Blue did not feel empty anymore. "Why did you come back to get me?" Blue asked. "I think you should already know the answer to that question," Scorpion answered. "Scorpion," Blue said seriously, "You had a family, you withstood years of torture because of them. You can't just cover your wounds up with me." Blue regretted saying this but it was something she had to say, it was something that she had been thinking ever since the night she had given an important piece of herself to Scorpion.

Scorpion looked hard at her, "I already told you that I can't stay alone. All these years I've traveled without anyone to talk to, I've always thought about what would've happened if I could've just stayed dead. Blue, now that I've found you I want to live. I need you." Blue's worries that Scorpion was just trying to help himself by using her were gone. She felt the same way about him. "Okay," Blue said with a crooked smile. She hugged him and they were on their way once again.

Scorpion did not pay attention to where he was going. He was reminiscing about his life before his family was murdered. He remembered his wife's face. It was similar to Blues in its softness and prettiness. He recalled his wife smiling at him, it brought him peace but Blue's smile brought him peace also. It was a different peace; it was a completing peace, something that his wife did not bring. His wife was always missing something and he thought that maybe he saw it in Bluesong.

While Scorpion was not paying attention to the path, he tripped over a large rock and fell hard on the ground. Blue tripped over him and fell on him. The both looked at each other and Blue began to laugh. They stayed that way for a while just resting and lounging. Blue got up on her own, Scorpion followed her and they walked.

"I just realized Scorpion," Blue said breaking the silence, "If you hadn't saved me from Drahmin, I'd be skinless and dead right now. Thank you." "You're welcome," Scorpion said, "It was nothing."

They continued walking wordlessly. Night was turning into day. They came upon a large water fall. It was a sign that the forest was about to end. "Let's swim!" Blue exclaimed. Blue ran into the water splashing and sloshing about. Scorpion ran in after her, he fell in face first into the water and disappeared under the surface. Blue looked around for him, but she couldn't find him. Scorpion suddenly burst out of the water in front of her spraying water all over her, they laughed and played. "I never used to play around or laugh at all, what is she doing to me?" Scorpion thought to himself.

Little did they know that they were being watched. Waiting in the trees, just beyond ear shot was a man wanting revenge and a new group of his assassins waiting to carry out his death orders.

Blue became very tired of being in the cold water. She had felt too many slimy things encircle her legs too many times to ignore. "Scorpion, we are almost out of the forest, I think we should get to the small portal at least by today. It's still very early," said Blue already starting to get out of the water. Scorpion had a hard time pulling his large feet out of the thick mud as they quickly sunk in after every step. "Alright," he said as he filled his drinking pouch with water, "Let's go."