"War can make strange bed fellows."

Episode 14: Of hunts & bounties

The gentle waters lingered in the Tenshu river, on this calm afternoon a boat sailed into a port town. Once the ship docked and was tied to the harbor, passengers made their way off and into the town. Some of them simple folk coming to see family or friends, others arrived for business and to deliver messages. But one passenger was radically different then the others.

One of the crew fished up tying the ropes to the ship, ensuring it will remain here for its next voyage. Then he heard a deep voice from behind him.

"I have a question." The low voice asked.

The crewman looked back and saw a large bull, but he wasn't like the bulls in China. Instead of a large gut, this man was huge, both in figure and muscle with a large chest, strong arms and an overall ripped physique.

"I said I have a question." The bull said in annoyance.

"Uhh, what is it?" The pig crewman said, feeling intimidated by the man in front of him.

"Is this town to the Valley Peace?" The bull asked.

"Y-yeah, just head south." The man answered.

The bull then walked off, with a large sword on his back and a determined mindset.

((()-()))

"Five more laps!" Shifu ordred.

"Yes… master." Erdan replied, feeling exhausted from the drills his teachers was putting him through.

"Pick up your pace!" Shifu ordered.

Erdan groaned to himself before saying "Yes master."

For his entire training session the young wolf has been working out, strengthening his body for beter performance in his martial arts. But after an hour of drills the boy was becoming sick of this period of training. The muscles in his arms and legs ached and sweat poured down his forehead, creating a state of pain and tiredness.

Finally the youngest student reached his goal of fifty laps, each one more stress inducing on his inner body. He breathed hard, his lungs pushed his chest in and out, and upon finishing Erdan immediately laid down on the training ground's floor.

As he laid on the floor, Erdan looked up at the sky, seeing the clouds and a few small birds fly freely. And the cub wondered how great it is to go wherever, whenever you wanted. Then the smallest of the Furious Five jumped on Erdan's bare chest, checking on the youngest of the Jade Palace warriors.

"Hey, you ok kid?" The small bug asked with his face right by Erdan's snout.

Erdan huffed and breathed hard before replying "Ye-yeah… I'm… I'm fine."

The teen then got sat up as Mantis jumped onto the wolf boy's shoulder, then Shifu walked over and said "Well done Erdan."

The tired wolf then stood up (even if his legs said otherwise) and said "Thank you… master."

"Take a rest." Shifu said.

Then at that moment Erdan was more happy than ever, that right now all he wanted was a drink of water and a step seat to rest on. He grabbed a towel and washed the seat from his body, and let the warm spring sun shine on his face.

Shifu then ordered the other warriors to begin sparring and training, while Zhong sat next to Erdan for a chat with his boy.

"You ok son?" Zhong aksed.

"Yeah, I guess. My body feels awful." Erdan said while rubbing his arms and legs.

Zhong chuckled and replied "I know it's difficult, it sure wasn't easy for me when I trained in the guard years ago."

"Was it that bad?" Erdan questioned.

"Kid you got it easy. I had to make a hundred laps and press ups in a row, then run laps around the training ground fifty times, plus the combat training hurt like hell." Zhong explained before realizing his choice of words at the end. "Um, don't tell your mom I sweared, ok?"

"My snout is sealed." Erdan replied with a tired smile.

"Yeah well, those years were tough for me and all the other men born to be soldiers. But, all the sweat, all the pain, and all the struggle made me strong in the end. And it taught me discipline." The one eyed wolf told his son.

After his training concluded, Erdan was about to leave when Shifu stopped him.

"Erdan wait!" Shifu yelled.

"What master?" The boy replied.

"I have decided, that from now on you'll do a share of chores in the Palace." Shifu said.

"Ok." Erdan said back.

But Shifu then said "Right now."

"What?" Erdan asked.

"From now on, you'll do some cleaning in the palace every day, after every training period." The old red panda explained.

"But I'm tired." Erdan protested.

"You took a twenty minute break, you should have the energy." Shifu replied.

"That's not it. Today I had my part-time job, and then training, and-" However the boy was interrupted.

"Erdan, a little cleaning won't kill you, you'll get back home in time for dinner, now get to it!" Shifu ordered.

Erdan wanted to say something, but he remained obedient and did as his master ordered. For another hour Erdan cleaned and sorted the training area. Normally he'd be at home, relaxing while his mom finished her work in the pottery shop. But now the boy has to get some work done before he can go home. After he was finished he was excused. Then as he walked down the stone stairs, he mumbled ot himself about his day.

"Training, my job, archery practice, now this." Erdan mumbled. Then he was a small rock,a nd in a fit of rage grabbed it and threw it over the mountain side. Then proceeded to do the same with a few more stones. After his fit, Erdan looked up and saw the birds from earlier, flying high and free.

The young lupine sighed and said to himself "Why can't I be like them. Without all this training and jobs and stuff?"

Erdan then sighed once more and made his way back to his home.

((()-()))

Dark clouds floated in the pitch black sky as a wolf boy opened his eyes. He once again found himself in this dark world, these foreboding plains. The boy got up, and he walked through the black colored ground. Like before he found a large wolf creature, who said that he's nothing like a god or spirit. The boy looked up at the mysterious being before him, just standing there with his silhouetted body and glowing blank eyes.

The large wolf looked at the small creature and said "Why are you here?"

Erdan then replied "I don't know? Why do I always keep coming back here?"

"This is of your doing." The large wolf said.

"No it's not!" Erdan shouted. "If this was my doing, I never would have come back here in the first place!"

"Little creature you are a part of this plain, between everything, in the middle." The large wolf said.

"Screw that! I don't want to be here!" Erdan yelled back.

"You do not wish to leave your home?" The giant wolf asked.

"NO!" Erdan shouted.

"Why?" The dark furred one asked.

"Because of my family, my mom and my dad. And all my friends." Erdan protested.

"One day, whether soon or far, they will all be nothing but dust and bones." The one in the middle said.

"Well what would you know abou-" Erdan said before.

((()-()))

Erdan suddenly woke up with his bare furry chest breath rapidly, grasping air after such a strange dream, the latest of many for weeks. Erdan felt annoyed, for many nights the boy's sleep was plagued by bizarre visions, never granting him a completely peaceful slumber. The boy put his paw on his forehead and looked out his window, noticing that the sun hadn't risen yet.

Since it would only be an hour before morning light, Erdan decided to go have an early breakfast, and then afterwards do some meditation to clear his mind. The lupine teen got out of bed, put on a vest and bandana, then made his way downstairs to the kitchen. But as he walked in the ground level, he heard some noise from the other side of the building. Curiosity took over the boy's mind, and he went to investigate the strange sound.

In Shu's shop, three weasels were braking into the she wolf's savings one of the robbers successfully picked the lock and unveiled the stash of hard earned money.

"Score." One of the weasels muttered.

"Alright, put everything in, we don't have much time." The leader quietly said to his fellow bandits.

But as the three were stashing the cashed coins in their bags, the heard footsteps from behind them.

"What the!?" Erdan said in shock.

The three weasels looked back and saw a teenage wolf boy had entered the room. A moment of silence passed. Upon realizing that someone walked in on their little heist, the leader weasel grabbed something from his bag and threw it down, creating a puff of smoke. After a brief second, it settled and Erdan saw the three left. But he also noticed that all the money in his mother's safe box was gone. So Erdan grabbed his backpack, his bow and arrows and gave chase, hoping the bandits didn't get too far.

((()-()))

A large and muscular bull sat at the table that suited his liking, a spot that was nice and away from the center of attention. As he waited for his drink to come, he looked and observed the low lives of this country called China. Among the tables and bars of this low establishment, many of the country's hardest of crooks visited, whether for a few drinks, to catch up on comrades, conduct dirty dealings, or look for work in what some folks would call; the tough muscle department. Crooks and mercs of all kinds were seated and drinking. Bison grunts, fox gangs, gorilla mercenaries, and all other kinds of scum.

Finally the boar waiter brought the foreigner his drink. And after tasting the alcohol's flavor, he decided he enjoyed the wines of his home land better. Then the doors of the bar opened, and in came three weasels. Everyone looked at the new arrivals, and after scoping them out visually went back to their business. The three weasels then walked up to the bar tender and whispered into his ear.

After a few moments the boar bar tender said "He's in one of the private rooms."

And the weasels walked over and made their way to conduct their meeting. But the bull with the large sword on his back watched the three small bandits closely, paying attention to which room they went into. After a few minutes, the doors opened again. This time a wolf entered the bar, but everyone noticed that the lupine was a teenager, barely an adult. Erdan tracked the robber's sent for a whole hour, and it led him to this place.

The boy felt the weight of a dozen pairs of eyes, as everyone in the drinking place looked at the kid. Erdan walked forward, trying his best to not look scared. He turned his head to his left and saw some gorillas, large and incredibly muscular. To his right he saw leopards playing a knife game with their paws. Erdan then swallowed his fear the best he could, and proceeded to talk with the bar tender to get some information on his hunt.

The boar scrubbing cups saw a young wolf walk up to him, he asked "Are you lost or something?"

"No I'm not lost-" Erdan answered before the man interrupted.

"Well scram! This isn't a place for you, kid." The boar said, turning his head to face Erdan, who noticed the eye patch on the bar tender's right eye. The bull watched all this as it transpired. "If I were you, I'd get the out of here before you get a few broken bones."

Erdan then looked at the man and asked "I'm searching for a small gang of weasels. They stole from my family earlier this morning. I tracked them here. Have you seen them?"

The bar tender crossed his arms and said "Maybe I did maybe I didn't."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Erdan questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"It means get lost!" The one eyed boar said back.

Erdan was getting frustrated. He sniffed the desk and floor a bit, which certainly earned him some watchful eyes among the hardened crooks. Then the lupine got up, stared the at the bar tender and said "Their here, I smell them."

The bar boar stayed quiet. Then Erdan asked "Where are they?"

Then the boar turned around and said "I gave you a warning. Now you're either brave, or idiotic."

He then called a gorilla merc to come over, then Erdan looked back and was faced with a massive hulking brute. The ape only wore an armored kilt and bindings on his wrists and feet, showing his large muscles. He was the kind of fighter who always stayed bare topped, always showing his strong pectorals with their nipples, abs and trunk like arms. The kind of warrior who valued physical strength above everything else. The massive ape cracked his knuckles and Erdan now realized the trouble he got himself into… again.

"Make him learn a lesson, then get rid of him." The bar tender ordered.

The gorilla then got ready to pound the boy. But then Erdan pulled out his bow and arrows, immediately aiming and his bigger, stronger opponent. Everyone in the building took notice and drew out their weapons. Knives, swords, and weapons of other sorts were pulled out and pointed at Erdan.

The cub became nervous, wishing he had his dad or his friends with him right now. Then the bull got up, walked over and snatched Erdan up from behind. As the boy struggled in the brute's arms, the bull whispered into the wolf's ear "If you wana live, follow me lead. Got it?"

Erdan didn't really have a choice, so he nodded. The bull was carrying Erdan with one of his muscular arms, looked at the bar tender and said "I'll take care of him." Then handed some coins on the desk and said "Here's for my drink, and a little more for us to forget about this."

The bar tender then accepted the money and the bull carried Erdan out of the bar. Once they were outside, Erdan was let go and set back on the ground.

"Kid, just what were you thinking?" The bull asked.

As Erdan brushed himself off he replied "I was trying to get my mother's money back."

"Kid, a few pocket coins aren't worth getting killed for." The bull said back.

"It's not some couple yen, it's my mother's earnings. I caught three weasels braking into my Mom's shop." Erdan explained.

"You welcome, by the way…" The bull said.

The lupine boy then realized that this guy saved his skin, and he didn't show and gratitude. "Oh, sorry. Thank you for saving me, I'm Erdan."

"Ahh it wasn't a big deal. I'm Taurus." The bull replied.

Erdan shook with the man and studied his attire. The bull wore armor on his right shoulder and upper arm. A strap wrapped around his torso to hold a big sheaf that carried his large sword. The bull was bare chested, possessing mighty pecs and abs, as well as well built arms and legs. He wore a strange armored kilt, and steel cuffs on his wrists. He also didn't look like the other bulls or bisons in China. His accent was different too.

"Well, keep out of trouble kid." Taurus said before leaving.

"Yeah, sure." Erdan replied.

Then the boy ran to the bar again, but this time he walked around the outside of the bar, searching for a back door. Then as he located what he was searching for, he saw the door open and then hid behind some old crates.

Three weasels along with a fourth one came out talking. "With the cash we got from that pottery shop, we'll have enough to get out of this country."

Erdan then tried to climb the crates to get a better view. But then he put too much weight on one side and went tumbling down. All four weasels became alert upon seeing someone listen in on them.

"You!?" One of the weasels said urgently.

"You're not getting away from me!" Erdan said.

"Run!" The head weasel yelled.

Then all four bandits made a mad dash followed by Erdan.

((()-()))

Taurus searched around the small town, keeping an eye out for his bounty, wherever its hiding. Then the bull's ears detected the sound of ruckus nearby. So he ran out to the street and saw four weasels being chased by that wolf kid, Erdan. But the bull recognized the lead weasel and gave chase as well.

Erdan ran after the thieves, dodging object they threw back at him, evading market stands, dashing down the street to catch and get back his foster mother's money.

"Who is this kid?" The head weasel asked while running on all fours.

"Some boy who caught us robbing his family business." Another weasel answered.

The head thief looked back and saw Erdan rushing and gaining up to the four. Then he ordered them to split up. Erdan kept his focus on the bandit with the money pouch. The wolf boy ran through the alley the weasel ran in and tried to follow. Although Erdan tried his best, the weasel was much faster and sly, Erdan began to worry if he'll get away. But from around the corner, Taurus came out from around the corner. The weasel had just a second to think before he was grabbed by the large bull, then pinned to the ground.

"Hey let me go!" The weasel shouted.

"I don't think so, now tell me whe-" Taurus said before Erdan came running up to them.

Immediately the two noticed each other and both simultaneously said "YOU!?"

"I thought I told you to go home!" Taurus said.

"I will in a second." Erdan said before grabbing the money pouch from the weasel's belt.

Taurus then turned the weasel around and held his arms as he tied his wrists.

But then Erdan said "What the?" As he opened the pouch to find not his mother's money, but instead found gold and silver rings. "Where's my mom's money?"

"I aint telling telling some brat, or a muscle headed lug head." The weasel snarked back.

Taurus then looked at Erdan, then the weasel, and he got an idea. He pick up the thief and said "How about we make a deal?"

"A deal?" The weasel questioned.

"Yeah, you take me to your gang." Taurus said.

"And what do I get?" The rodent asked.

Taurus then pulled out a dagger, pointed it to the weasel's throat and answered "Your life."

"AHhh, ok ok, I'll take you, just please don't kill me, please!" The rodent pleaded.

"Good mouse." Taurus replied.

"Mouse?" The weasel said, feeling puzzled.

But just as the bull was about to leave, Erdan loudly said "Hey, I'm coming too."

"Kid what's with you today?" Taurus asked.

"Those weasels stole from my mom's shop, and I'm gonna get that money back." Erdan explained.

Taurus examined the boy, who looked a bit stronger and more fit then an average teen. And he even had a bow and arrows, but the question was, can he use them?

"I know that look in your eye. I can't stop you can I?" Taurus asked.

"No, I'm going no matter what." Erdan said with determination.

"Can you even work that bow?" The bull asked.

Erdan then pulled out his weapon, drew and arrow, and hit a bottle on a far away crate, striking it in it's center. Erdan decided to answer with action instead of words.

Taurus looked back at the boy and said "Alright, just don't get in my way."

Erdan simply nodded and the three walked off.

Whlie walking through the town, Erdan wanted to asked the bull some questions.

"So, why are you after this bandit gang?" The boy asked.

"Money." Taurus smply answered.

"Money?" Erdan pondered out loud.

"Yeah, I'm a bounty hunter." The bull replied.

"So you like, hunt down criminals and get pain for it?" Erdan asked.

"Yeah." The bull answered. "I've traveled across many lands, always going from one place to another looking for my kind of work."

Erdan then got interested in his new ally and asked "Where are you from?"

"A country called Grease." Taurus answered.

"What's it like?" Erdan asked.

"Well, the food and wine is ok. However the gods there are a real mess." Taurus explained, bringing back memories of his home country.

"Why?" Erdan questioned.

"They only care about themselves, whenever they're not sleeping with each other, they're wagging wars and power struggles against each other, and people always get caught in the middle." The greek minotaur explained.

"Sounds like a pretty bad place." Erdan commented.

"Well at the very least, the woman in Grease a very good." Taurus said with a smirk.

"Are they really kind and generous?" Erdan asked.

Taurus paused a moment, realizing what the kid meant and said "Ye-yeah that… that's why."

Although he was getting a bit annoyed by the boy's questions, he was starting to gain a liking to the kid.

After awhile they reached a river port where small boats docked and set out for small journeys. Taurus then held the weasel and asked "Is this it?"

"Ye-yeah that's where they are." The weasel answered.

Taurus examined the small ship, thinking of how to go about this.

Erdan though was thinking as well. "I think I got an idea."

"Really, do you?" Taurus asked.

"Yeah, and it's more of a plan." Erdan replied with a sly smile.

((()-()))

The three weasels were sitting in the corner of the lower deck, amongst other crooks and shady types wanting to flee town.

"What do we do about our comrade?" One weasel asked the leader.

"Forget him, we're almost home free." The head rodent said.

But then the other weasel walked in, with the others baffled by his return. But a large minotaur was with him.

As they both sat down, the head weasel asked "Who's this guy?"

"H-he's… a… body guard… i-" The weasel nervously said. Then Taurus put the dagger by the rodent's back and he continued "A body guard I hired."

"We don't need a body guard. Where'd you find this guy?" The lead weasel questioned.

"Umm… I uhh…" The rodent tried to say.

One of the rodents looked closely and said "Hey, I've seen you before."

"I get a around often." Taurus replied.

"I've seen you this morning, at the bar." One of the rodents said.

Meanwhile, a hooded figure walked around the lower deck, locking up the exits, but then he walked over to the other side of the room, and one of the rodents saw a bushy gray tail sticking out. He then raised an eyebrow, then proceeded to trip the hooded figure.

"Hey, it's that wolf kid!" the weasel yelled.

Then the other rodent thief splashed his drink in Taurus' eyes, freeing his fellow bandit who shouted "He's a bounty hunter, kill him!"

Then every scumbag, crook, and low life got up and got ready for a fight. Taurus cleaned out his eyes with a cup of water in time to dodge an incoming punch. A pig goon tried to take a jab at the minotaur, but due to his strength and skill as a fighter, he dealt with the wine quickly. Then some bison attacked the Greek bull, so he pulled out his large blade and engaged in steel combat. Meanwhile, Erdan was busy with his own fights. However simple goats and pigs were no match for a young wolf archer. With some swings, kicks and blows Erdan fought off his attackers. But then the door opened up and in came a large gorilla.

"Oh, great, it's you again." Erdan said sarcastingly.

"Time for that lesson you needed." The gorilla said while getting ready for a brawl.

Erdan picked up a chair and tried to bash it on the gorilla's legs, in an attempt to trip him. But the ape's legs were just as strong as his torso. He then grabbed the boy and threw him upward, sending Erdan up on the higher deck and outside. Erdan flew up and landed on the deck of the ship. Feeling soreness on his arm and shoulders, Erdan got up only for the gorilla to jump up and knock him back down from the massive ape's shockwave. The gorilla walked up to the boy while pounding his large fists together.

Erdan searched around, and saw some crate hoisted up by the mast. Then the lupine saw the chance he needed. Erdan took out his bow and arrows, pointed upward and let the arrow loose.

The gorilla chuckled a bit and said 'You missed."

But Erdan had a sly grin and replied "Did I?"

Then a snap of rope could be heard, and then the gorilla looked up before the hoisted crates slammed down on top of him. As dusk settled Erdan saw the ape laying on the deck, under a pile of wood and supplies. The hulking ape then passed out, form taking such a hit on his thick head.

Erdan then got up and said to his fallen opponent "And that's my lesson to you; You mess with the wolf, you get the fangs."

Erdan then made his way back below deck. "Hey, Taurus, you o..k." Erdan asked before seeing all the cooks laying on the ground defeated. And Taurus holding all four weasels tied up and in his arm.

"I'm fine kid, what about you?" The Greek bull asked.

"I'm fine, just a regular day for me." Erdan answered with a smile, followed by a small smirk by his bull ally.

Erdan then walked up to the knocked out weasels and found the money pouch that had his mother's earnings. "Finally." Erdan muttered to himself.

((()-()))

After the fights ended, Erdan and Taurus got off the ship and onto the river docks. With his hunt finished, Taurus decided to board another boat to meet up and collect his bounty, while Erdan plans to return to his home.

As they both sat on benches, with the tied up, unconscious weasels next to them, Erdan asked his Greek friend "So, this is what life as a bounty hunter is like, huh?"

Taurus looked at his young ally and replied "Yeah, pretty much. It's not the most respected job, but it pays for food and beds in inns."

"Would you ever want to do something else with your life?" Erdan asked.

"I was raised as a warrior, fought as a soldier, and I live as a hunter. It's what I'm good at, so I guess that's what my life will be. Plus, as long as there are people in this world, I'lll never run out of work."

Erdan just sat there thinking, then Taurus asked "Hey kid."

"Yeah?" Erdan said in response.

"You're pretty good for your age, and you make good company." Taurus complimented.

"Thanks, you're a cool guy too."

"So, you wanna join me?" Taurus asked,

"What?!" The lupine questioned.

"Join me, as a bounty hunter sidekick or something. I mean you're pretty skilled for your age. And you remind me a lot of myself when I was your age. Life on the road gets kinda lonely, plus you can see all kinds of places. So what do you say?" Taurus explained.

Erdan thought about it for a minute, and answered "It's a nice offer, but I belong at home, with my mom and dad, and all my friends. I've gone through so much to get a happy life, and I wouldn't give it up for the world."

Taurus sighed and said "Well, had to try, right?"

Erdan chuckled and replied I guess."

Taurus then stood up and said "Well, it was fun kid, here."

He handed Erdan a small pouch of coins and the lupine asked "What's this for?"

"You're cut. You helped catch these guys, so you get a share of the profit." The Greek minotaur said with a smile.

"Thanks. And thanks for the help." Erdan said.

"Hey, it's no problem." Taurus replied.

"I need to get get back home, my parents are probably worried sick about me." Erdan said.

"Well, till we meet again, China wolf." Taurus said while putting his hoof out.

"Some here, Greek bull." Erdan replied as he shook with his friend.

And afterwards, Erdan and Taurus went their separate ways. Erdan returned to the Valley, and Taurus went to collect his bounty.

((()-()))

It was sunset, and Shu paced back and forth, waiting for his friends to return with her son. Zhong came back from the search with his son. Upon seeing her family back Shu ran up and hugged her boy.

"Oh Erdan your ok." Shu said greatfuly. "Where have you been!?" Shu said sternly.

"I'm ok mom, I went to get this for you." Erdan said as he handed his mother the money pouch.

Shu recognized it and said "Thiese are my earnings from yesterday. How did you?"

"It's a long story mom." Erdan answered.

"A pretty exciting one too." Zhong said, now calmed down instead of worrying his head off.

"Well, come in and we'll have dinner." Shu said now relived.

As they went in, ZHong asked his son "So, how was life without training or responsibilities?"

Erdan thought for a moment and answered "Well, adventurous. But there were no goofy pandas, or trigger happy bunnies, so yeah, it's good to be home."

And with that, the wolf family went in to enjoy the rest of their weekend together.

((()-()))

A tired and annoyed fox walked down the street of the seaside city of Ocean Paw. Earlier that night he got beaten by thugs bikers in a bar, and now was exhausted beyond belief. Now he needed a place to sleep. Then he saw a couple unlock their vacation home, one of many the city is known for. Before they knew it the couple saw a bright green light and blacked out. Then the fox went inside, slumped down on the master bed and went right to sleep. Ever since arriving his this weird future, his life has been nothing but crap, similar to his old life in ancient China. No matter what he got the worst end, and he wondered if things will ever get better for him.

But as he slept, the necklace on the bedside desk opened. And out came a small inky substance. It slithered its way up the bed, and then quickly made its way into the fox's nose. He suddenly woke up, but didn't feel or see anything strange, so he went back to sleep. At least the beds in the future were much more comfy, better than the one those goats in black gave him. But the black inky substance stayed in his head, waiting for the right moment, in its next vessel.