A/N: Chapter 15 of Ginga Densetsu Alayus. Enjoy!
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Chapter 15: A life with purpose
Somewhere...
Alayus dipped her mouth into the river for a quick drink. She didn't stray far from the group but far enough that they couldn't pick up her scent. Shaking her coat feverishly to get the cold snow out, she heard the thundering of paws across the ice; the group has started moving and she followed shortly afterwards. There were a couple of times Jerome caught her scent and he came up with excuses just to run at the back of the pack. Weed thought that he didn't feel like running in the front, which was odd in Rocket's opinion, but he ignored it. At times where the group takes breaks Jerome would slink off and try to follow her scent but she would cleverly cover her tracks.
Please forgive me Jerome. She agonized on the inside as she watched him walk back to the group with a sad face. I know this is for your own good but I cannot show my face around you guys anymore.
"What's with Jerome? He's been acting strange after his girlfriend left." GB said when his companion trudged back, head low and tail dragging in the snow. "It's like all the fun was zapped right out."
"Jerome and Alayus were dating? When did that happen?" Weed looked up in curiosity.
"Don't tell me you never noticed?!" GB opened his mouth in disbelief. "Those two were sooo close you wouldn't know the difference. Seriously Weed you need to be more observant."
"It's none of my business what my comrades do unless it's dangerous and their lives are at stake." Weed shook his coat to get the snow out. "Besides it's okay if they're in love with each other. I feel happy for them."
"But Weed…..you were kind of the one that drove his love away." GB said kindly but realized that his words had an opposite effect on him. Weed sighed loudly and his ears drooped slightly. The English Settler tried his best to cheer his friend back up but that only dampened his mood. He signaled the others that he was ready to leave. They didn't go very far when a blurry object shot out from the undergrowth without warning.
"Weed! Watch out!" Other dogs barked out. Caught by surprise, Weed turned his head slightly but was swept off his feet. The mysterious dog bounded away with Weed trapped in his jaws while group behind him gave chase. Tightening his focus, GB poured all of his strength into his legs and rushed ahead of the rest, closing the distance between him and the target.
"With my Settler legs and stamina, I won't be beaten! He can't outrun me!" He rushed right beside the giant dog, matching him step by step. "Let Weed go you bastard!"
"Well hello there." The stranger grinned slyly before bounding ahead. The extra burst of speed threw GB off course and the poor fellow tumbled into a heap in the snow.
"Don't worry about me! Go after Weed!" He shouted to the rest of the group and they fanned out in hopes of finding the trail. Unfortunately the scent popped up in three places and the group ended up confused and frustrated. Jerome on the other hand picked up the scent right away and he padded off before the others noticed him.
Somewhere not too far…...
"Way to go Brother." Jet mused as he watched the confused soldiers of the army below. "By running in three different directions, we totally threw them off our tails."
"Your tactics are flawless as usual." Missile added as they looked at Rocket in adoration. "Of course, Jet and I played a very good part in this mission."
"Yeah yeah no need to boast about it. We only managed to slow them down a bit but I think they'll catch up to us once they figure it out. In the meantime," He nudged Weed with his paw forcefully. "Hey kid, wake up." Groggily Weed opened his eyes and looked from one brother to the next. He recognized Rocket immediately but he was a bit uncertain with the other two.
"You're awake…...sorry, but I have to ask you something." Rocket placed a paw against Weed's head to keep him from running away. Weed just looked at him in silence but carefully formulated a plan in his mind. "Don't be afraid. Just answer the questions then you can go back to your friends. Understand?"
"You were the one who caught me!" Weed growled as he latched onto Rocket's throat. "Don't underestimate me, or you will lose your life!"
"Damn it, kid!" Rocket yelped as he vigorously thrashed about, kicking up clouds of snow like a mad bull. Missile and Jet just looked on as Weed flipped their brother over before they busted up laughing.
"Hahaha, what on earth are you doing, Rocket?"
"Can't you beat a kid?" Weed stood and snarled angrily at the three of them. Rocket stared into his eyes and realized the similarity between them and the true leader's gaze. He imagined the last time he came into contact with the real leader, how his gaze was similar to Weed's and then everything came together.
"Gin's son!" Rocket snapped suddenly as he placed himself in Weed's way. "Gin's son is the leader of the Ohu Army!" Startled, Missle and Jet recognize it as well and they placed themselves behind Weed, enclosing him within their tight circle.
"How do you know about my father?!" Weed looked at them in surprise before noticing that they had him surrounded. Escaping was no longer an option.
"I knew it!" Missile laughed.
"I was surprised at how easily the Ohu Army was attacked!" Jet added.
"The once great Ohu Army now has ten lonely members and they are so old that they need a kid to lead them, heh!" Rocket turned to his brothers. "What shall we do now?"
"I have an idea Rocket." Missile grinned cruelly before stating, "Let's sell him!"
"We'll sell his head to Hougen! We would be well-respected for it." Jet smiled as they waited for Rocket's agreement. Weed froze up once he realized that they were Hougen's minions. "Besides if we kill the heir to Ohu….the empire will be completely destroyed!"
"No, Jet." Rocket finally stated, "We're spies, not assassins. We don't kill children."
"He may be a child, but he's also their leader! We can't let him go!"
"Are you working under Hougen's command?!" Forgetting his fear, Weed bravely directed the question to Jet, staring at him straightly in the eye. "I can't forgive your actions!"
""Forgive us?! You can't even defeat us." Jet chuckled, "When will you stop being so naïve? Your friends aren't here to protect you." He suddenly lunged forward, mouth wide open. "You have been spoiled all your life! Now I will teach you just how frightening the world really is!" Weed crouched low ready to attack when a bigger shape darted past him and slammed into Jet. With a surprise yelp, both of the dogs rolled around in the snow to the surprise of the other three.
"Who the hell is that?!" Missile growled as he watch the mysterious dog slam Jet head-first into the snow.
"I finally found you. Who are these guys, Weed?" Jerome asked after he slammed Jet into the snow. Weed quickly stood by his side and faced Rocket and Missile. "Who the hell are you?"
"We're working for Hougen of the Alps!" Rocket answered calmly. "We're tracking the Ohu Army's movements."
"Hougen huh? Bullshit!" Jerome replied. "Then we'd be in your territory. What nonsense."
"Your pack is too small. There's no point in resisting!" Rocket tried to persuade him but Jerome snapped.
"Shut your mouth! Do you have any idea who this kid is?!"
"Of course we do!" Jet snapped, shaking the snow from his pelt. "And if you want to keep your life, leave. The kid stays with us."
"What?!"
"If you leave this kid with us…I will spare your pathetic pack." Rocket said.
"Do you really think I'm that much of a coward?" Jerome narrowed his eyes, "None of us will abandon a friend to spare our own life!" The three brothers silently looked at each other before looking at the two dogs. "I would gladly sacrifice my life….to save a friend!"
"I've never heard anyone speak like that. You're the first." Rocket calmly looked from one to the other, looking at their facial expressions and the emotions that ran through their eyes. He's so calm…even facing terrible odds, he shows no fear. That shepherd…would he really give his own life for another?
"I never thought anyone could be that stupid! You've chosen your fate!" Missile growled. "Let's see if you're more than just talk! I will take your life!" Lunging forward, his burst of speed threw Jerome off as he managed to land a blow on the shepherd's right side.
"Jerome!" Weed shouted, causing him to look up just in time as Jet attacked his undefended left side. Jerome staggered as he absorbed the stinging pain. Lastly, Rocket charged forward his fangs bared. Unfortunate, Jet's attack did not faze Jerome one bit and he met Rocket's charge with one of his own. Both dogs collided in a sickening head-butt. Reeling backwards Jerome and Rocket separated at once, one dog with three wounds and three dogs without wounds.
"Jerome! Are you okay?!" Weed asked, looking at the damages with worry.
"They are nothing but cowards Weed." Jerome assured him, not even bothering checking his wounds. "I will take care of them. Get away!"
"Huh?! Rocket you're bleeding!" Missile noticed a long gash on his brother's forehead. Rocket looked at his brothers and noticed that they as well had wounds as well. He inwardly growled as he stared at Jerome with anger.
"No, Jerome! I won't leave you!" Weed answered. "I will fight too!"
"Now then, who wants to be first? Bring it on! Or, you can all come at once! Then I can kill you all faster!" Jerome snapped his teeth together menacingly. Rocket and his brothers gave each other tentative looks, unsure how to proceed.
"Ah, there they are! Over here!" A lot of voices reached their ears and they realized that the rest of the army found their trail.
"Let's get out of here." Rocket motioned for his brothers to follow him. "Our job is done for now." Without another word, the three of them took off running. GB and the rest of the pack tried to catch them but Weed called them back. After making sure Jerome was okay after the scuffle, a few of the dogs offered to go and hunt. Weed felt like the entire thing was his fault but with Jerome brushing it off like it was nothing calmed his nerves. He vowed to become a better leader so that no one else would have to suffer for his sake.
Little Clearing…...
The Borzoi brothers were silent as they ran through the bare trees. Rocket had a lot on his mind as he numbly weaved in and out through the trees with his brothers behind him. He was really focused on the interaction between Weed's pack and Jerome's words rang over and over in his ears. He couldn't let it go, his mind wouldn't allow it.
NO! As if it had a mind of its own, Rocket's body halted to a stop while his brothers flew ahead. Missile and Jet turned to give him a questioning look.
"Rocket, what's wrong?" Jet asked, tilting his head in bewilderment.
"I….I…Would you give your lives for me?" Rocket wanted to know his brothers intention as well as how they would respond to his question.
"Don't ask that. Why do you bring this up?" Jet asked.
"I've been thinking…..the stories of Ohu must be true. They're more than just soldiers. They're friends. They fought as one, and that's how they could defeat Akakabuto. That dog, Jerome….he was willing to die for Weed. How can one be so loyal….I want to be like that!"
"Brother what are you saying?"
"You still don't get it? I want to join the Ohu Army. It won't be a loss for you, or for Hougen." At this his brother protested angrily. Rocket held up a paw to silence them.
"Until now, I've felt empty…..now I know why! Five years ago, the courage of one dog..I still remember him. He has never left my heart." Rocket proceeded to tell his brothers about their savior, a dog named Sunshiro who saved them from neglect. However the husky brothers Hidari and Miki overtook leadership and bullied the brothers to no end, even along the line of death. Sunshiro protected the three of them up to his death, yelling "Live your life with purpose!" as Rocket and his brothers ran from the pack. From that experience, they learned that only the strongest survive.
"We have our strong legs. We survived for Sunshiro. No, we should live for him! To live with a purpose, like he said! That's different from just surviving! Until now, I have only thought of living longer. But the Ohu soldiers think differently." This statement caught the other twos attention but they didn't want to interrupt just yet. "They know how to live. They live a hard life, but one that has a purpose! They will die for each other. I want to live like that!"
"But brother…." Missile started to speak but Rocket interjected quickly.
"Don't you think?! You should come too!" He turned back and looked at the direction the army are, his mind solely set on living his life with purpose. Step by step he slowly walked back.
"There's no way they can win though!" Missile protested as he watched his brother go.
"If we resist Hougen, we will die!" Jet yelled after him. Rocket slowly looked over his shoulder at his brothers.
"I won't force you to come with me. But I will choose my own way!"
"Wait brother!"
"How will we explain this to Hougen?!"
"Just tell him the truth." With that, Rocket took off, leaving his brothers behind. Jet and Missile looked dejected as they saw their older brother leave. Unknown to them, one of Hougen's spies stood there silently beyond the trees. He calmly watched the partings of the Borzoi brothers, the wheels in his brain slowly turned together as he saved the entire conversation in his head. Afterwards, he disappeared into the shadows no doubt on his way back to Hougen to tattletale. As Jet and Missile made their own way back to Hougen, another dog carefully watched them from the treetops. Her eyes trailing after their forms till they disappeared. Only then did she jumped to the ground and took off after them before their trail disappeared under the falling snow.