A/N: Chapter 17 of Ginga Densetsu Alayus. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own. Ginga Densetsu Weed belongs to the rightful owner.
Special thanks to the reviewers, I truly appreciate it.
Chapter 17: Mixed Emotions
Wood clearing...
Cries of pain filled the air as John slashed his way through the enemy defenses. Whirling around like a savage, John let out a loud battle cry before faltering. He stood there breathing heavily, the quick attack patterns were taking a heavy toll on his damaged body. Most of the dogs around stood paralyzed and frightened, whimpering among themselves.
"Kill them!" The captain shrieked his ear wound bleeding like a stream of water down his face. "Don't take a step back! Kill them! Attack!"
"Yes!" Gaining confidence the dogs surged forward in an all-out slaughter. Roshi, Tomi and Lefty quickly leaped in front, tackling and biting whatever they could get their fangs around. John watched with slight interest knowing full well that they were worthy of being the heirs of the Ohu warriors. Even the angels in the heavens do not smile upon them as the captain wrestled Lefty to the ground.
"John! I'll be waiting for you in the next life!" He yelped out once he knew he wouldn't be able to get out of the grip. The stench of death hanging like a cloud over his head.
"What?! Don't give up, Left!" Tomi called out.
"You're not the only one, Lefty!" Roshi added as he flipped a dog over. Soon both dogs found themselves pinned. John watched in silence as he stopped to catch his breath.
"You're probably regretting this, right?" The captain growled to Lefty. "You can have one more chance!"
"We will never change our minds!" Lefty cried out in protest. "Our souls have already been given to the leader of Ohu!"
"Well said, Lefty!" John said in encouragement. "I am so happy, Lefty!"
"Haha, go on and see if you can change my mind!" Lefty taunted.
"I have a family to protect…!" The captain stated simply. Having this sort of sympathy towards the enemy would mean instant death. "I am killing you to protect my family as well!" Lefty scoffed as he spoke his last words.
"Kids that have grown up, trotting on others like yourself….can never become great! I want you to know that, morons! You and I are of totally different class!" Enraged, the captain ripped his throat out, ending Lefty's life. Roshi and Tomi cried Lefty's name in sorrow while the captain spat his tainted blood out of his mouth.
"John, please flee! Leave us here and run away!" They said as they tried to free themselves.
"Thank you Tomi, Roshi!" John called to them. "I am so happy right now. No one will understand what I feel." Soon enemy dogs rushed upon him and managed to pin him down. He watched with sadness as Roshi and Tomi were slaughtered in front of his eyes.
"John, it's a great honor to fight alongside you." Roshi said as he felt his life draining. "Our last wish was to fight for our leader, Gin!"
"Thank you." Tomi added. "If possible I want our leader to know of our true intention."
"What are you saying?! Don't give up!" John snapped at them in protest. "If our leader…..if Gin was here, he would definitely be scolding you for giving up!"
"S….sorry….." Roshi muttered.
"This is the best we could do…." Suddenly a paw slammed down on Tomi's face, ending his life and anymore words from forming. John knew immediately whose paw that was.
"Hahahaha, such lovely last speeches." Hougen stated. "Such fools! If they had the strength to talk, they should have used that to bite the enemy!" He then adjusted himself comfortably on top of the dead body and proceeded to scratch his ear with a hind leg. "Huh? It's only this old fart? Reika? Where is Reika?"
"What are you doing to the dead?!" John snapped angrily. "Do you have any idea of what you're sitting on?!" Hougen paused mid-scratch and glared at him.
"Hah, sitting on top of this dead body keeps me warm. When it cools down, it'll be your turn!"
"The storm cleared up. We can track down John's group easily." Missile commented as he raced along.
"Hopefully they haven't been caught yet." Alayus said as she stayed by his side. "Wait...I hear something through that thicket." Pausing, both dogs lifted their muzzles into the air and smelled the scent. There was a strong scent of blood and the sound of many dogs barking reached their ears. Padding forward, they looked at a swarm of dogs crowded in a circle jeering and hollering.
"It seems like there's only one survivor left. We were too late for the others." Missile nodded toward the limp bodies of Lefty, Roshi and Tomi. Alayus bit her lip when an idea crept into her brain. Nudging Missile with her nose, she inched closer so that she could have a better chance of catching Hougen off guard.
"I thought of a really good plan." She whispered quietly as Missile followed her. "Here's what we'll do." As they started their planning, their ears strained to hear some of the conversation between Hougen and John.
"You! It doesn't matter how strong you are…..your life is now under my command!" Hougen snapped as he looked at the bloodied dog before him.
"Disappointed that I'm still alive? That's just like you think that!" John shot back. "I won't be whatever you expect!" Sudden energy rushed through his body and he leaped at Hougen, jaws out stretched. Dodging it, Hougen decided to let his cronies deal with the almost dead dog, ignoring John's challenge. The dogs thrashed him about, slamming him repeatedly to the ground and ripping new wounds on his body. He collapsed on the snow, his chest rising slowly with each painful breath.
"Go on John. Let me hear your begging voice! Beg for your life and I'll let you go." Hougen sneered. "Or even better, you can eat my shit and then I'll let you go!"
"Let me tell you something Hougen." John's breathing was ragged but he continued talking, "there's no one from Ohu that would beg for their life to a pig-face snot like you. No one you fucking bastard." He growled as his piercing blue eyes glared deep into Hougen's soul.
"Say your prayers you old fart!" Angered, Hougen gripped John by the scruff of his neck and ran towards a tree with a protruding limb; his goal was to stab his enemy through the heart or anymore for that matter.
"Alayus, now's your chance!" Missile urged quickly and she shot out of her hiding place. John saw a sudden shadow bolted out from beneath the bushes and barreled into Hougen's side, throwing the Great Dane off-balance. Losing his grip on John, he crashed to the ground with a surprised yelp, his head buried completely in the snow and gravel.
"Hougen-sama!" The rest of the group shouted simultaneously. John stirred and looked up to see another dog standing over him protectively.
"W-w-who are you?" The mysterious dog looked at him and smiled before facing forward.
"Missile, take him to 'that place'."
"As you wish."
"Who are you?! What do you think you're doing?!" John soon found himself hoisted over the back of another dog but his body refused to obey him when he tried to escape.
"Are you going to be alright, Alayus?" Missile asked. Alayus kept her eyes front as the dogs bristled around her.
"Don't worry about me, just make sure my dad lives. Once I'm done here I'll go rescue the leader. If possible, after my dad heals, the two of you go and join up with Weed. I'll try to meet up with you later."
"Promise me you won't die. Promise me that." Alayus glanced at him and nodded.
"I promise. Now go!" Springing forward, Missile took off without looking back. Hougen's henchman gave chase but Alayus blocked their way and threw snow in their faces with her paws. Shaking the white flurries out of their eyes, they attacked only to bite empty space. They looked around and noticed their enemy taking off through the trees, her tail streaming out behind her.
"You lot, follow that dog. Those who are still able to run follow John and don't let him escape!" The dogs gave chase to the best of their ability but because Missile got a head-start and was built for speed, they couldn't catch him. Alayus's nimble and agile body allowed her to allude capture.
"SHIT!" Hougen cursed as he shook the snow from his pelt and stared at the fleeting figures. He still had some snow on his head but it soon melted due to his boiling rage. Some of his pursuers returned with tongues lolling out of their mouths. "Tch, let's go back you useless bunch."
"What about Reika?" One of the dogs fearfully asked. Hougen's head snapped so fast he could've given himself a whiplash.
"Fuck that bitch! I've already lost interest in her!" Rage still pulsing through his body, Hougen was still seeing red; in fact it was safe to assume that he could no longer see what was in front of him. He allowed his body to carry him back to his hut where he curled up and stayed silent for the rest of the night. There was something else on his mind and it was John's strong defiant spirit. For the first time in his life, he felt fear. From inside his secluded shelter, Gin could tell from the voices outside that Hougen didn't succeed. Startled grunts reached his ears and he lifted his head to see both guards slump forward. All senses were on alert as he feared for the worse.
"It's okay leader I only put them to sleep." Alayus assured him before padding to his side.
"What happened to John? Is he…" Gin began to ask but she shook her head.
"I'll fill you in on the matter but for now we don't have much time. Hougen will probably notice a change." Lowering her body to the floor, she helped Gin maneuver his body over her back. His weight surprised her and she faltered a bit but managed to struggle to stand. Stepping out, she carefully made her way around the guards and disappeared into the woods.
"Luckily another storm is on its way." She whispered as she looked up at the gray skies.
"Then we better make the best of this and try to get a far as we can." Gin spoke wearily, his eyelids starting to droop. Alayus noticed this and nodded in agreement. Taking a step forward, she suddenly yelped and whined. She just realized a gash on her right leg and what's worse it left a blood trail.
"Damn it, must have been one of those dogs back when I escaped. Lucky shot." She growled as she continued to move. "Hopefully the snow falls soon."
Missile's group…...
Missile continued running nonstop. He hadn't realized how many miles he had ran nor did he realize how tired he was until he stopped running. Panting, he sniffed the air and noticed that he was really close.
"Hey you, how far do you intend to carry me?" John's raspy voice broke his thought and he looked at the leader on his back.
"Not far, I just need to carry you up there." John lifted his head weakly to see some stone steps that led up to a small plateau. Missile slowly climbed up the rough path, sharp pebbles pricking at his pads but he didn't let that bothered him.
"May I ask you something?" John asked as he watched the snow on the ground.
"Fire away." Was the reply.
"Why did you…rescue me?"
A slight pause.
"It…it wasn't my choice. You see, my brothers and I used to work for Hougen. We were sent on a mission to capture Gin's son Weed and crush his little army. However, our eldest brother named Rocket broke from us and joined them instead. Jet and I had no choice but to return to Hougen. Never in my life did I encounter a sly, two-timed weasel like that bastard. He killed Jet in front of me and I would've followed his path if not for your daughter."
"My daughter?" John's ears perked up as he heard that word. Missile nodded as he finally reached the top step.
"That's right, your daughter." Missile made his way to the edge of a natural spring. "Here you go leader, this natural spring should heal your wounds or so I have been told." Lowering himself into the water, he helped John feel comfortable. The old German shepherd sighed with content as the warm waters soothed his wounds. "As I was saying, your daughter Alayus saved my life. I was upset when she couldn't save Jet. In return I agreed to help her save you since you're her only father in this world."
"I see. And she was the one that saved me back then?"
"Yes sir."
"What's the plan after I have healed? I would like to sink my fangs into Hougen and watch him bleed to death…but as you could see, I was at a huge disadvantage even before the battle started."
"Your daughter wishes for us to meet with Weed and the others. Who knows, you might be able to see your friend Akame."
"Oh? Akame will be there? Then I must thank you for carrying me here, I'm in your debt." John bowed his head and said no more as he rested. Missile helped himself to a couple of hunts and returned with a few birds, squirrels and rabbits. Placing his catches in a dry corner, he positioned himself at the entrance and proceed to be a lookout.
Weed's group…...
"What's wrong Weed?" Jerome asked. Weed and his group made it into the mountains and thanks to the train ride, they managed to get there in half a day. With Rocket in the lead, they had trouble getting over the mountain but managed it. Now the entire group huddled together for warm into an unused warehouse. Weed stared outside, his ears perked.
"I hear a noise outside." Curiosity getting the best of him, he used the broken window to escape outside. Some of the others followed him and they looked at the path down below. They saw a struggling figure stepping blindly forward.
"I hope that John and the others are okay. Ooh I'm so cold." Reika mumbled to herself. She was jolted out of her reverie when Weed ran up to her, his tail wagging.
"Excuse me, are you lost?" He asked politely. Unsure on what his intention was, Reika lowered herself to the ground with her ears folded to the back of her head and looked at him with big doe eyes.
"You're not gonna hurt me right?"
"We don't have that kind of mentality to hurt the weak like Hougen. Please rise and tell us what is happening. But let's not do this out here, please follow us inside." Feeling relief, she was escorted back into the warm sheltered where the rest of the army greeted her with open paws.
"Well I escaped from Hougen's clutches." She started after she helped herself to some food. "I fear that I would have been subjected to torment and bear his kids but John helped me escape."
"John? Is he the one that fights alongside my father?" Weed asked. At this Reika's eyes lit up and she bowed her head.
"Is Gin your father? Please forgive my rash manner."
"There's no need for that so please continue your story."
"Yes. After getting out of the hut, John and a couple of others led me down the path. We had to split up and I wondered up here alone while they stayed behind and fought Hougen's dogs. I wonder how they're doing. Did they escape or did they…." She shook her head.
"There's no way John will die." Jerome stated calmly. "I don't know him personally but knowing his daughter, he doesn't seem like the type of guy to let himself be killed by some mutts."
"He has a daughter? I'd love to meet her and tell her how brave her father is." Reika scanned the group in hopes of seeing her but looking at their faces, she understood that her savior's kin wasn't among them. "Is she not with you guys?"
"I…uh…." Weed looked at his paws in awkwardness. "We may have had a slight argument so she's not with us at the moment."
It wasn't just an argument Weed and you know it. Jerome thought but kept that idea to himself. In his heart he knew that Alayus wasn't the reason for Blue's murder and sooner or later, he is going to expose Rocket for who he really was.
"Oh, that's a shame." Reika sighed and sat down to lick her pelt.
"Weed, it feels like another snow fall is due soon. We'll probably have to wait it out." GB announced as he padded back in. Nodding, Weed gave the order for the dogs to bundle up and keep warm. Jerome offered to take first shift and stepped outside. He looked up at the moon, its shining light captivated him and his thoughts flew to Alayus. It's been too long and he sighed to himself. Noticing the change in the air, he trotted back inside and continued to keep watch from the inside.