"Hey, wake up runt!"
A harsh slap to the face caused Bai Jian's eyes to open. His vision was blurry as he tried to figure out what had happened. Where am I?
Then it all came back to him. Lianghu's request, the attack, and now this.
"I said, WAKE UP!"
The voice rang in his ears as he glanced at his captor.
The guard sneered, "Get enough beauty sleep?"
He smirked, "Yes, but you definitely could use some too."
His response was another slap to the face.
Bai Jian winced, his face already beaten from the fight a few hours earlier. He tried to pull away, only to find out that his paw were roughly tied to the stake behind him. The guard raised his fist to release another blow, but a feminine voice stopped him.
"Xian! That's enough."
Xian quickly turned around to face Lianghu. "I-I'm sorry, I was just-"
She glared at him, her arms crossed. "I said, that was enough. You may return to your usual post."
"But the prisoner-"
"The prisoner will be watched by me and the other guards, until Geui comes to take his shift. Now, LEAVE."
Xian gulped, not wanting to deal with the angered tigress and quickly ran off.
Lianghu hurried over to Bai Jian, kneeling beside him, "A-are you okay?"
He was quiet, looking at her.
"Are you hurt?"
No response.
She bit her lip, seeing his green eyes fixed on her. "Bai Jian, please! Just answer me."
"….Why did you do it, Lianghu?"
"Do what?"
"Why did you lie to me?"
Lianghu glanced away from his eyes, not wanting to tell him. His emerald eyes never left her.
"I…I didn't mean to, Bai Jian. I swear it…Well, a-at first, I did. But as I got to know you and Li Ai a-and Da, I felt…wanted. Like I was actually cared about…What happened in the woods was none of my doing…"
He remained silent, studying her. "You betrayed me."
Her eyes widened, "I-I didn't, I swear it! I would never…"
Bai Jian was quiet, a trickle of blood spilling down his chin from a split lip.
"I-I could never hurt you, Bai Jian…you've shown me how to enjoy live and that there was something beyond the gypsy camp. I was finally able to see what freedom felt like! I-I wasn't living until you showed me how! Bai Jian, I love-" Her voice was overcome by the tears gathering in her eyes.
Bai Jian slightly smiled through the throbbing pain in his head. A large gash stretched across his left temple and down to his cheek. "There's no need to get choked up over me…I'll be fine."
Lianghu's eyes saddened at the sight of him. He seemed so…helpless now, yet still brave as he was going to meet his untimely death.
"Bai Jian," She softly started, "They're going to-"
"I know what they're going to do…"
She glanced at him, her eyes filled with worry, "Y-you do?..."
He slowly nodded, his breath labored from his major wounds. "But…As long as I know that you're safe, I'll be okay."
"Don't say that, I'll get you out of here."
Bai Jian shook his head, "No..if your father finds out that I escaped, he'll know it was you. I-I," he winced from a sudden side pain, "I can't let him hurt you."
"Bai Jian….," Lianghu gently wiped the trail of blood away from his chin, "I…I'm so sorry for all of this," A small tear fell down her face, "If only I didn't ask you to come with me…or better yet, we should've never even met…"
A cocky grin, filled with sorrow and joy mixed together, spread across his face. "Don't say that…for what it's worth, I would've kidnapped you all over again."
She smiled slightly, looking at him. "..I'm glad that you did…Or else I never would've met you."
He looked at her delicate features, taking in what might be his last time to see her. She was so beautiful; he had never met anyone like her before.
"Lianghu…," He softly whispered.
Her heart skipped a beat, hearing him say her name.
"Lianghu, I-"
"Don't…" She interrupted, "Bai Jian, I don't want to lose-"
Before she could finish her sentence, Lianghu was quickly cut off by two lips meeting her own. Her eyes widened at the sudden move, but she soon relaxed.
"You will never lose me, Lianghu…" He mumbled against her lips, "I will always be there for you."
All too soon, a voice in the distance pushed them apart.
"Lianghu!"
She sighed, looking at him, "I-I should go."
He nodded, "Stay safe."
Li Ai paced back again forth, muttering to herself as thoughts flew through her head. Bai Jian still hadn't returned from escorting Lianghu back to the border –which could only mean the worse. Da had left a few hours ago with a scouting party, but still hadn't returned.
She bit her lip, looking at the map stretched across her brother's office's wall. Several different shaped pin were scattered throughout, marking the camps of friend or foe.
Where could they be?, she thought.
"Y-you're majesty!"
Li Ai whirled around, finding a servant kneeling in front of her.
"Oh just get up and tell me what it is!" She said frantically.
The tiger nodded and wrung his hands, "I-it's the leopard clan, m'lady."
She raised an eyebrow, "Well what about them?"
"…They've come."
Her heart froze as she faced the window. Outside stood an army dressed in black and gold –the colors of the Leopard kingdom.
"Tell the citizens to evacuate immediately, and do NOT let anyone leave this palace unless I have ordered them to."
He nodded, "Y-yes ma'm. What about you?"
Li Ai pressed her lips together, "I'm going to save us."
The servant raised an eyebrow and quickly left, carrying out his princess's instructions.
Li Ai quickly went to her room, changing into one of her nicer dresses. She needed this to end in peace, but first she needed a plan.
"Sir! There's no trace of them anywhere."
Da looked up from the footprints he was studying in the mud. A young soldier stood in front of him, his eyes frantic with worry.
"W-we can't find them sir, do you think they were-"
Da interrupted him, "They went south 12 hours ago, heading towards the gypsy camp."
He stood up, facing the other soldiers.
"Men, we have two options. We can pursue them, and most likely bring about Bai Jian's death, or we can return home and hope for the best."
His second commander's eyes widened, "But sir, he will be killed!"
Da eyes narrowed, "He will be if we make an attack. And with the Leopard kingdom's borders surrounding the gypsy camp, we will be spotted no matter where we hide. The area is to flat and open to go unseen. Our only hope is that Bai Jian will find a way to escape. Remember, this is our leader, not a damsel in distress. He knows what he's up against."
The others were silent; they knew what was mostly likely to happen to Bai Jian.
Da scanned the distraught soldiers.
"…Good. Now-"
"SIR!"
A soldier's eyes widened as he pointed northward, to the sky.
Da turned around, seeing smoke coming from the palace.
His heart caught in his throat.
Li Ai, he thought.
Pink and purple slowly mixed with the navy night sky, showing hints of light on their way.
Bai Jian pulled at the restraints tied around his hands, but it was no use. Dawn would be coming soon, and the time for the greater Tiger Clan leader to die had come
One of the gypsy guards walked over, cutting the ropes that bound him.
"It's time, rodent."
Li Ai took a shaky breath as she finished putting on a necklace and looked in the mirror. She had dressed in a maroon velvet dress with diamond studs to match her necklace. If she wanted to be taken seriously as the 'leader' of the Tiger Clan, she needed to look the part.
Be confident, strong. You can do this, she thought.
There was no one to save her this time. Li Ai was on her own.
She quietly exited the hallway as the servants were scrambling around, packing up whatever they had and getting ready to flee. Two guards followed her, they were one of the few left behind by Da.
The Leopard army had already burned several fields, destroying crops and houses as they went along.
Li Ai walked out of the palace and to the village's gates, meeting face to face with part of the enemy army. A higher ranked official saw her and stepped forward.
"State your business."
Li Ai squared her shoulders and narrowed her eyes, "You may refer to me as Queen Li Ai, and I demand that you take me to you king."
"The king is currently busy at the moment."
"Are you deaf? I said, I want to see the king."
His eyes narrowed as he studied her, "…Come with me, but your guards stay behind."
One of them went to protest, but Li Ai raised a paw. "Agreed." She stepped forward, passing the village's gates and into the unknown.
The officer led her beyond sight of the palace and the village, taking Li Ai further than she had ever been from home before.
It was a few hours from dawn when they arrived at the Leopard army's camp. The officer directed her to an elaborate tent, directing her to wait outside.
Li Ai raised an eyebrow, hearing the conversation going on inside.
"Sir," the officer started, "Queen Li Ai is here to see you."
A gruff voice answered him, "Queen Li Ai? I'm not interested in some silly queen. I'm here to see Bai Jian!"
A large THUD filled the air as the leopard king slammed his fist on the table.
"Send her away! And don't bother coming back until you have Bai Jian."
Li Ai clench her fisted; she would NOT be turned away. Without thinking it through, Li Ai shoved aside the curtain and walked in.
"Good evening, gentlemen."
A well-toned leopard glanced her way, scanning over the tigress. He was dressed in a black shirt and pants, gold detailing trailing along the edges. He seemed rather…young, only a few years older than herself, to be such a powerful leader.
"Ah, you must be Queen Li Ai."
She straightened her back, "I am, and you are?"
The leopard king smirked slightly, this tigress seemed full of fiery determination…he liked it.
"…King Yao, but you can call me Yao."
A large crowd gathered around the Rom Bora as he gave an eloquent speech concerning the destruction of the Tiger Clan.
Bai Jian was on his knees in front of a large stone, his hands tied behind his back once again. Hundreds of the gypsies sneered at him; his reign of oppression was finally over.
Lianghu was held back by a guard, keeping her from running to Bai Jian. She strained against her restraints, but the guard held her back.
"Today is the day that the mighty leader of the Tiger Clan finally meets his end!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, clapping as a few tambourines and flutes celebrated this momentous occasion.
Lianghu felt sick to her stomach; this couldn't be happening.
"No longer will he hunt us down and slaughter us like bugs in a field. We are now FREE!" The Rom Bora drew his sword and pointed it at Bai Jian, "HE will suffer, as our beloved ones have suffered! Let his blood stain the ground as a reminder to those who dare strike against us!"
The cheers grew louder, roaring in her ears. She couldn't stand it. People danced and clapped, they were finally free from this mighty 'oppressor.'
This can't be happening! She thought.
Bai Jian never broke his gaze from the Rom Bora as he walked over. He knew this was his end. He wasn't going to fight back; if he did, it would mean the worse for Lianghu…He couldn't let her get hurt.
A sword was raised about his head as the Rom Bora sneered, "I hope you're ready for a reunion with your parents, tell them I said hello."
Drums echoed from the crowd, matching Lianghu's heartbeat.
"BAI JIAN!" She cried, only to be smacked by the guard.
"Shut up!"
A cry caught Bai Jian's attention, causing him to scan the crowd and find Lianghu being beaten by a nearby guard.
He growled, but knew he could do nothing. Resisting would only bring more harm.
The Rom Bora raised his hand, causing the crowd to go silent.
"With your head, Bai Jian, I claim victory over the Tiger Clan."
The crowd erupted with praise, cheering and yelling of their triumph.
And with that, the sword came crashing down.
The last thing Bai Jian saw was Lianghu running towards him, but she was too late. Her brilliant blue eyes met his, burning in his mind as the world went black, and he stopped fighting.
The crowd erupted in uproar once again.
….I know, I know….I'm a terrible person.
Don't hate me, hate the feels.
Love you guys
-Kung Fu Tigress