Ailurophile
Author note: For those who have been following for a long time, you'll know that by my standard this update is pretty quick. The reason for that is reviewer DOGROCKER12, who has kindly prompted me on occasion to get through that final stretch, so this chapter's for you :)
Another mention is that in the past people have pointed out errors in the writing... I've seen them now, and I've been banging my head on the wall. Some are pretty bad... You see, when I first started on this I literally had no skill, so I couldn't pick up on mistakes very well. But now I see loads... Eventually what will happen is that I'm going to go over every chapter, and probably rewrite bits of it too, so if you chose to read from the the beginning at a later date you might notice some distinct changes.
Thank you for your reviews: LuxMentis, DONOVAN94, Remedy's Melody 109, kamaleen, SkylaBluefire, WILDWIND, Cycloprax, Guests, EB, PLacIDwiCkedNEss, clemia10, Tigerlover, Fuhrer-Karen, Time Lordess, DOGROCKER12, httydcat, Tigergirl713, thegirl59. (You guys still read? STILL!? You are all so great!)
Mature content from the start... and I hope for no complaints since so many have been asking for it... don't expect anything full on yet though (YOU WILL WAIT FOREVER, AND EVER!).
Slum Lord
This was it! If she were forced to choose just one luxury from back home, it would have to be this. She sighed happily.
Tigress palmed the lathered hand towel hung over the side of the bath. Raising her other arm, she rubbed the towel over her fur and allowed it's pleasant scent to cover her. There was something gratifying about finally getting to clean herself, it was a good feeling.
True to his word, Tai Lung had left her alone, which allowed her to enjoy this to the fullest extent. She also made sure to get her fresh clothes before she stepped in, for obvious reasons.
She thought about her choice of clothes. Of course, they weren't her usually wardrobe, but they were clean and untattered, and this was a definite improvement from the filthy, torn uniform that now lay in pile nearby. Not having this available to her for so long instilled a new appreciation for it, among other things. She would never take bathing for granted again...
Sparing a glance at the door, she shook her head dismissively and pulled her leg out water. As she lathered her fur in soap, she wondered about what would become of her months from now. The future was clouded, and freedom seemed completely beyond reach. It obviously wouldn't do to get worked up about it... at least not right now. Right now was all about her own relaxation.
She couldn't help but reflect on the last time she'd been in this room dim room. Her captor was overwhelming. He had laid on her his desire, and... her body had responded to him. She had never experienced a man like him in her life. How could a person be as bold as he was with someone like her? She dropped her leg back in and brought her knees to her chest. If she hadn't have taken up this Hong Kong crusade, none this would have happened. Tai Lung never would have taken her, and he wouldn't have ever touched her, because he wouldn't want her.
It was vexing, to feel so wanted by another person...
She didn't know what to do with that information... She didn't want him in her thoughts. All she wanted was to enjoy this nice, hot bath. She ducked her head under the water, then reemerged. Laying back, she allowed herself to sag against the smooth tub. "Mmm..."
"Mmmm is right."
The sound of his voice almost made her leap out of the tub. She snapped her attention to him, her eyes widened. He stood in the doorway, leaning languidly against the frame. He was smirking, it was barely anything, and yet... it was the most conceited display she'd ever seen.
Her heart was thumping so fast, but she was able to process things clearly enough to notice that he was audaciously eying what part of her he could without the slightest hint shame. She quickly dipped herself further into the tub.
His looked different somehow... wait no, he looked exactly the same as he had when they had fought for the first time, on the thread of hope. This meant little to her at moment, but it added to the strangeness of his sudden appearance. Should she have been surprised? Probably not, but it didn't change that she was... He obviously enjoyed catching her off guard.
But why was he here now...
He wouldn't try anything, he'd said so himself, taunting that she'd think it; he lied... "Tai... why-"
"Before you say anything, you should know that you look good enough to eat," he said with a raucous chuckle.
Her eyes went wide like saucers. "You... TAI LUNG! What do you you think you're doing! GET OUT!"
He shook his head mockingly. "Get out? But I've just come in." She glared at him for actually having the guts walk in on her like this. But more so because she was trying to hide how uncomfortable she felt at the moment. Once more, he showed up out of nowhere, and she felt like she had no bearing when he bore into her so intensely. He bowed his head, blackening his smile. "And as for why I'm here, you know the answer to that."
The air in the room suddenly took on a dangerous edge. Was he honestly suggesting...? He wouldn't... would he? An image of herself pressed up against the door flashed through her mind. She felt a familiar wave of fear. But... he hadn't tried anything like that since... and he wouldn't!
She was brought back by him pushing himself off the doorway, and now coming towards her.
As he came closer, she scanned the room. There was only one way out, and it was at his back. The best object she could get her hands on would be broken glass. There was no way that would work... She even played with the idea of using soap to sting his eyes, but even in the unlikely event that he didn't anticipate that, it would probably do her more harm than good.
"Whatever you're thinking, it won't work."
He stopped right in front of the tub, and she was frozen. She watched him put his paws on his hips, and wait for her to make a clearly expected move. She knew to try and escape or attack him would fail; he would stop her as easily as he had the first time she'd fought him one on one.
What he was doing now was a show of his superiority, over her and everything around him. Everything about him radiated power, his posture, the look in his eyes, his powerful frame, and something else, even more piercing radiated. It was in that moment she felt something else because she knew that this was an affirmation- that it didn't matter if she attacked him, what strategy she used, nor weapon or advantage. If he wanted her, he could take her, and he could do it right now.
She couldn't stop him.
What she felt right now she hadn't even consciously aware of, her fear and nerves covered it up well. Now it was stronger than it had ever been. All she understood was that he wanted her, and she would have to accept him. The fire inside of her was beating... so hard. It's source, at the center of her legs, and spreading all through her.
"You're blushing," he purred.
With that comment, she finally found her wits and took action. With mad desperation, she threw herself out of the water and dove past him . If she could-
His paws latched around her arms, halting her instantly. Her disbelief came with an inaudible whimper. He pulled her back to the tub and lowered her so that she stood shin deep in the water. Slowly, he pulled till her back was against him. The dumb shock of how quickly he stopped her receded and previous thoughts of his intent didn't seem all that ludicrous now. "Foreplay needn't involve a change in location, love. Besides the water's still hot," he condescended.
She closed her eyes tight. Never in her life had a person directly been able to overpower her. A voice in her head told her not to fight him, that it was foolishness. But that was who she was, and to simply give in, was not. So with all the strength her muscles would give, she writhed and threw her weight.
It was a valiant effort, it really was. She even managed to land a few punches, though none of them seemed to hurt him.
Ultimately her struggling left her spent and leaning on him. In a worn-out state it took her a moment to realised she was doing this. When she did, she pushed away from him so that she had as little contact as possible, but he had none of this and wrapped his powerful arms around her wet form. He was holding her... naked.
All of sudden the fire in her body that had strained in the background turned into a full inferno, it was a stab in her core. This was pleasure. That was what she had been feeling, and it was what she felt now with growing strength.
This had to stop... otherwise, she didn't know what would become of her. Her own paw shook as she put it on his beseechingly. "Tai Lung, please... Don't do this."
"But that's just the thing, isn't it? You don't really want me to stop," he whispered in ear while raking a claw gently under her breast.
He began placing soft kisses on her neck. He was all over her, touching everywhere. Whilst he used one paw touch her legs and her hips, he used the other to take her chin so that she was forced to look at him. "Tell me... Do you understand what's happening?"
She didn't answer, so he left the question in the air, and did something unexpected.
He shifted slightly, and secured his arm around her legs making her wobble and use him for balance. She watched him pick up the soapy hand towel, and swallowed nervously. He brought it up to her face. She felt his chest rumble, and the begins of a growl leave his mouth. "You are so frustrating, you know? Always tempting me, and pretending like you're ignorant. Remember when I pressed you up against the door, you liked what I was doing to you." The words were breathed out as he nuzzled the side of her face. "Why do you always deny yourself the things you really want?"
She blushed brightly. "I don't k-know what... you're talking about!"
He pressed the towel to her belly. "You do..."
It began slowly. The sensation of it made her tingle. Gently up, then gently down, circles, all places between her hips and breast. She barely stifled her whimpers. A whispy quiet noise came from the contact. The feeling was- was pleasant. Somehow she knew it felt the way it did because of who was doing it. He didn't stop till he'd thoroughly covered all the fur in that area; it left her breathless. He hummed. Tigress had no idea what he would do next... "I know you're confused, but slowly, I'll make things clearer."
She stared with apprehension as he rubbed the towel into his hands. "What are you going to do?" She whispered.
His voice was thick with... something she dare not name, making his distinctive baritone even more resonant. "I'm going to do the best that I can," he told, almost sounding giddy.
He dropped the towel in the water and reached. Lightly as was possible, he touched her breasts, causing a sharp intake of breath... ending on a whimper.
She had lost many times, but this was different, she recognised it, and he did. She had given him a tell of fervour, and she felt guilty now. The look on her face must have betrayed what she was feeling, because as she turned to look- the smile on his face was mountains above proud.
She arched into his soapy paws as they pressed under her breasts, pushing them up, appraising them. Urgent, protest rose but... never escaped her lips. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him staring, but she didn't move. She was mesmerised. The way he slid up his paws, cupping them fully... then gently squeezing as they slid in his slick paws. Her brow came together and her lips parted forming silent O's of irrepressible pleasure.
He continuing to work her breasts, and slipping his fingers over her nipples, up and down, in a circular motion. They were so sensitive... She hissed at his slow pace... he-he was torturing her! Her harsh sighs filled the room. She was trying so hard to control her voice, and it's demand to tell him that this felt wonderful.
He was so damned patient with it, like he knew she'd eventually crack. And it was true, she couldn't take much more this...
Like a mind reader, he seemed to know her thoughts and capitalise on them. With sedulous concentration, he trapped her nipples between his fingers.
Her mouth shot open. "-! ...AH!"
His hands were weapons...! Slight pinching and twisting, and every single one was like a shot of heat straight to her core. He was so careful, and it was it utterly immobilising!
"Tai Lung," she breathed almost unintelligibly.
He didn't let up at all as he replied. "Tigress?"
She fell flush against him. Her hands grasped at the air futilely. "Too much... I... can't! No more!" She said on a piteous moan.
"No more? You really want me to stop...? Now I'm certain you don't understand." He was merciless, pilfering touches in ways that were growing harsher, broader, yet she couldn't find the want to protest. It had her almost crying, she couldn't hold anything back. She couldn't take it anymore!
"Understand what!"
He let up on her, finally.
She bent her head to look at him. He met her halfway and...
"This," he said as he reached down...
...look at him.
He reached...
With heavy lids, she blinked slowly and the fictitious, couthy haze cleared. She groaned, then opened her eyes fully. Tigress took in her surrounds, feeling more confused than anything else. She felt like she was floating... When she looked down at herself she found out why. She had fallen asleep in the tub... No wonder she'd felt lighter... and the water was still warm. This was surprising, but it meant she couldn't have been asleep for that long. The water... was so soothing, it had sunk into her like a soft blanket of rapture. It had definitely been good for her... As her drowsiness dissipated, she felt surprisingly vitalised.
Yet, alongside her new found energy, she was high strung, almost restless, and she wasn't sure why... She wasn't used to waking up feeling like this. How long had she had been asleep? She eyed the door. If it had been a while, Tai Lung might-
Then it rushed back... Tai Lung.
She had dreamed of him.
It hadn't been an ordinary dream, it had been one those dreams. She felt her face heat up. She had only ever been heard of such things... By the gods, the detail had been incredible, vivid was an apt word to describe it... In fact, she looked herself over and yes, she was bare in the bath... not covered in soap, yet every imagined touch still tingled in admission. She looked around the room and everything was in the same place, and no one was with her. Obviously. It had all been false, but it seemed so real...
She sighed.
Now that she was awake, it was probably better that she finished up now. If Tai Lung really did walk in, she would just die...
She closed her eyes, and settled back. Even in her dreams... Even there. What if he did walk in? After all that sensation, she had to wonder what would happen...? Would he... really do all those things... and would he be demanding... or compassionate? He... would be both. He would show her, teach her, and then she could show him. Stealthily, her fingers slid down her belly. Where were they going...? Tigress knew where they were going. Right now though, the reservations that should have been there, telling her to come to her senses, were quiet.
Under the shelter of his cabin roof's overhang, away from the remaining light of the setting sun, he waited.
He kept an eye on Xiaodan, who at that moment rubbed the top of his head curiously... for the hundredth time. The lion cub was starting to miss his headwear. He was probably unkind for thinking it, because he knew that it meant something precious to the boy, but he felt that Xiaodan was of age were the time had come to outgrow that oversized, daft looking object. Xiaodan spotted him watching and grinned brightly. Thoughtlessly, Tai Lung returned the expression. The young one made his way over. "What you doing, captain?"
He leaned against the cabin wall. "Waiting."
Xiaodan copied Tai Lung and leaned back with him. "For what?"
He'd not seen her unclothed, and what covered her left it mostly to imagination. Thoughts of her totally bare came to mind- Tai Lung stopped himself from picturing it. "Our guest is cleaning herself. The gentlemanly thing to do is to wait my turn," he told the lion cub.
She'd seemed withdrawn prior to when he'd taken her to bathe, almost sad. It appeared that he was responsible. Obviously she didn't want him near her, and was castigating herself for allowing him to get close. When she'd confronted him... he had antagonised her, turn her words back on her, even told her she'd been sending signal and was overreacting. He'd obviously insulted her... She was so stubborn... and yet he felt uncomfortable with the way his words had affected. She hadn't been defiant towards, like always, only upset... and weary. That didn't sit well with him.
Xiaodan crinkled his nose. "Gentlemen? What's a gentlemen?"
"Hm... It is a man... with nice manners," he settled on.
He seemed to consider this. "Okay. I'll be one then too," he declared.
Tai lung then looked down fully at the lion cub. He was staring up at him with an emotion that had the snow Leopard almost nostalgic... That was the very same look he himself had worn when he was a young boy for his own- he cut of the thought. Shamefully, he avoid eye contact with the cub. He was unworthy of it, of Xiaodan's affection.
The incident had brought a sick feeling to his stomach. He would be the first to admit that he had absolutely no idea how to take care of child, and most of the time he'd just allowed Xiaodan to roam where he wished if there was no clear danger. He couldn't believe how utterly thick he'd been! When he'd taken in Xiaodan, he had done more than pick another sailor... What the hell was wrong with him to be so inattentive until now?
He would make this right by finding the miserable fool who'd tried to hurt the boy. But first he need to rethinking his nurturing skills... if he had any. Xiaodan wouldn't like many future decisions he was going to make, he definitely knew that...
But first, "Xiaodan, I have to ask you something."
The boy smiled. "What?"
He didn't want him upset, but made himself ask. "This Rhino. If you saw him again would recognise him, I mean would you be able to tell him apart from other Rhinos?"
Xiaodan looked put-off, but he nodded. "Why?"
"This person must be found and detained, Xiaodan. He was going to do you harm; this is a very bad thing," he explained. Rhinoceros were bigger than almost any other species, they even towered over him. There was a part of him, an intense part of him, that demanded he take care the whole thing himself right now. This one who was willing to harm children... had be disposed of. Even if he was biased to the victim, he would still be doing the world a favour. Tigress' loathing be damned, he'd not let this pass... He was who he was, if that meant dishing out cruel punishment to someone who deserved it... then so be it. For the moment, he pushed those thoughts to one side.
"Yeah, but... why?" Tai Lung realised that the question was directed to the reason why he wanted to know if Xiaodan recognised him.
"We may know where he's hiding, and its possible we'll able to find him if you can point him out." Xiaodan tried to save face, but his ears went back, whether he realised this or not was irrelevant, Tai Lung knew he was afraid. "He wouldn't see you, Xiaodan. You would be far away... I promise I will let nothing hurt you."
He obviously didn't want to, but seemed to find nerve not to completely blow off the suggestion. "When?"
"Tomorrow, only if you're up for it." He emphasized the last part.
It was reluctant, but, "Okay." Tai Lung was surprised, he wouldn't have pressed far if he'd said no.
Xiaodan didn't take his eyes of him, appearing expectant in some way. What was that look? Maybe he wanted reassurance... no, it was something else. Tai Lung grinned carefully at him. He rubbed the top his head, as Xiaodan had done for himself many times now. "I think your mane is starting to come through."
Xiaodan's face brightened. "Ya' think so!"
"Mm," he confirmed rubbing the almost unnoticeable tuff.
Xiaodan laughed. "Great!"
They fell into a congenial silence. It wasn't many minutes later that the sound of familiar paws could be heard padding nearer to him. They slowed considerably just before coming up on the main deck. He snorted under his breath, and waited for her to come into view. "Glad to see you didn't get lost on your way-" his breath caught up in his throat. Even knowing that she'd be upset with him, he stared, because what he was seeing now would be something he'd remember for the rest of his life. Her outfit was ordinary, just a simple pair of black shorts and a green vest, both decorated in ivory. They were more closely fitted than her uniform, but not too much. It wasn't indecent, not at all, nor was it suggestive, it was so far from that... It was just so... -The words escaped him. Yet, the bashful way she was glancing everywhere but at him, and... the way the sun touched her. To him, it was a...
It was too much.
Sadly, he pulled himself away from his revere. It didn't require effort to notice that she was doing her best to avoid looking at him. It was so obvious that he was almost insulted. "You can look at me you know. You won't turn to stone or anything."
She snapped up at him look almost bewildered. "Yes, I... I'm done now."
"So I see. You clean up nice, if you don't mind me saying," he told her quietly.
She quietly mumbled what sounded like thank you. Truthfully, he had toned down what he really wanted to say. That bath had been good to her... her face looked lightly flushed, but there was no tension behind it. It seemed almost gentle, instead of excited. For once she seemed to carry herself loosely.
Before it could even begin to get anymore awkward for her she boldly looked him straight in the eye. "If you don't mind, I have a favour to ask."
This easily got his attention. "I'm listening."
She hoped he wouldn't notice the difference... "My uniform, I'd like to have it repaired before we leave the city."
He gave her an amused smirk. "What for? They're practically rags now. It's not like you'll be needing them. I have just gotten you-"
She started by forcing out the first words she spoke. "Yes, and I'm grateful, but those rags are the only things I have left from back home. Unless it's too much too ask in regards to money, I don't see the problem."
He rolled his eyes. She was attacking his ego with the money comment. "It's not an issue of money. This visit was meant to be short, but I've allowed myself to be sidetracked. I wish to leave immediately once done with this pest problem. That's tomorrow, which won't leave time for a decent job. If nothing comes out from that then I'll relent, and leave it in Raja's... hands? No not hands, that doesn't sound right." He gave Xiaodan a puzzled look, then shook his head.
She blinked. He wouldn't be chasing Xiaodan's attacker? But he was... Why wouldn't he... "You're not going after him? Aren't you angry about this?" She was, he should be worse.
Tai Lung was angry, much more at himself than he'd be willing to admit. "Make no mistake, I am definitely not happy. But I have a good feeling something will turn up, and that it will be enough for me. If not, I have faith that Raja will handle this for me, and finally pull his finger out. Wait... no, that's not right either."
That was not what she expected to hear. When he'd shown resentment to her accusing him of wanting to murder the thug, she knew he'd genuinely been offended. Perhaps because it was true, but also... because it wasn't. Could it be that he really wasn't painted so clear-cut by all the horror stories? Dare she play with the possibility he really had changed, and he didn't want to be reminded of the way he had been before... The battle days ago was different, a totally different dynamic. Grim, but necessary. She couldn't blame him for that. It might be that he was trying to change. But why would any a version of him with principles, with honour... bring her comfort?
Why... did that get to her?
Why would that be a good thing to her?
Why had she touched herself!
"Are listening? Good morning, master!" She jerked in surprise. Tai Lung scrutinised her carefully. She unconsciously conjured up the mental image of him and herself without any- "Damn, what could possibly have you so entranced?" His keen curiosity was impossible to ignore.
She brutally forced herself into the present, and scowled. "Nevermind that. We were talking about my clothes, and your lack of capital."
He scoffed. "Please... If that outfit means so much to you I could buy a gilded case so that you can always look upon it, and the upside is that it would take about a minute," he said sarcastically.
"That's not what I want," she groused.
He frowned. "I'll sort something out at the very next port. Surely you can survive with what you've been given for the next few weeks in the mean time. Is that reasonable?"
A few weeks, a few months, what was the difference... She didn't like to being reminded. "Fine."
He stretched his arms behind his head. "Anyway... though I would enjoy further talk on the subject of your clothes, since you're your nice and clean, I'll be having my turn."
"Your turn?" She asked dumbly.
He smiled. "Yes. Get that last bit of warmth."
She had the sudden urge to crawl up. How could he say something like that? She reined herself in. He didn't know, of course he didn't. She made herself step aside for him. He patted Xiaodan's head one last time, then left the two of them.
Tigress watched him away... and bit her lip. She heard a shuffle and realised Xiaodan was still standing there. She turned and beamed at him. He smiled back shyly.
He glided through the streets with purpose, anyone one could see it, and those that did felt compelled to follow out of curiosity. After all, it wasn't everyday that the city's pre-eminent came down from his keep to mingle with the commoners. At his back were imposing individuals in various shapes and sizes, all of his guards. With that additon, it only made this visit more interesting.
He allowed them to follow, taking no issue with it. He wanted as many witnesses as possible to hear him today.
This day would hail the inception of a new Singapore. But the only way it would come true was with the cooperation of all these people. Hopefully he would find them in an obsequious mood, and if not, he would just have to try harder to win them over. He couldn't exactly tell where the drive to make this happen had arisen from, it was from many things, but he wasn't going to let die it down this time. Then, like thunder it hit him, it came something so simple; it was so obvious. He wasn't afraid, he wasn't afraid for his child anymore. No other hardship had mattered beyond that, and now, if he pleased, he could choose to rest easy. But he would not rest, not when there was work to do. He stopped dead center in the city square, where most of the citizens would converge at one time.
He looked around scanning the crowded area, then spotted a good place.
Monkey tapped impatiently. He wanted to be done with this as soon as possible, but Mantis had stopped at everywhere he thought was suspicious looking, or possibly helpful. Of course none these places had been helpful at all! They had found nothing, just like he knew would happen by staying in this city. They already knew that someone of Tai Lung's description had been here. He huffed. For all they could guess, Tigress was suffering right now. It wasn't time for careful planning, they couldn't do anymore of that and make any difference at this point. The only thing they could do is act as quickly as possible so that they weren't wasting precious time.
Finally Mantis exited the inn he'd been waiting by for the last ten minutes. When his fellow master didn't speak, he frowned. "So?"
"Nothing, alright?" The insect snapped. Mantis shook his head. "Look, I know how you feel, but who's to say that we find them at the next port. What if Tai Lung pulls something fast, decides to go somewhere else? We have to find out everything we can or we risk losing Tigress completely."
Monkey could understand, but if they couldn't the downside to doing things that way then there was a definite problem. "I could say the same. If we stay for too long then the risk is just as big."
They stared at each other almost aversely, because of course, they disagreed. Both seemed realise there loss of composure and looked down. "I hate this."
"Me too." Monkey looked to sky dejectedly. "If Tigress were here she'd know what we should do."
Mantis sighed. "Yep... Let's go."
They both agreed that they'd had enough investigation for the moment, so they set off back to the ship. Monkey smiled as he thought of something. "If she could see us now, she'd give us a piece of her mind."
Mantis laughed. He propped his pincer on his hips. "Yeah, she'd be like, 'knock it off, you two!'"
Monkey assumed the same stance, tilting himself back to seem taller. He sighed for effect. "So... are you making a special effort to go beyond your usual asininity?"
A few seconds after, Mantis guffawed at the impression. "T-that's really good! There's no way you didn't practice that! Oh man... When did she say that?"
"Something she said to Po one time, and I didn't practice, it just came into my head," he said with a grin.
Mantis leapt on his shoulder, and nudged him playfully. "Ha, ha, ha. You have to it again when we get back."
Monkey scoffed, but agreed. Not a lot of time passed before they noticed something bizarre. Everyone they passed was incidentally going in the same direction, and they were trying to get there quick. The two of them exchanged a questioning look, but neither had a clue. They might have shrugged it off, but more people kept overtaking them. It went on for so long that eventually the urge to know where all these people were going won out, and Monkey stopped one of them.
"There's a gather in the center of town, my brother tells me the liege of the city has finally taken in interest in us."
Monkey didn't understand why this would be seen as something big. "Interest? What do you mean?"
The fox shrugged. "I'm not sure, but with all these people... All I know is that until today he had remained a hermit in his stilted palace! If you will excuse me," he muttered, then rushed off.
Mantis didn't look especially interest. "Huh. You wanna see what's up?"
Monkey shrugged. "Might as well, since it's on the way." They carried on, not any quicker, but when they got to where everyone had gathered they realised that it was in fact, a big thing for these people.
There must have been hundreds of people. The square was was packed that over a field of diversely shaped people they could only just see the person they were all looking to, whom had placed himself on a raised platform. Still, it was a little difficult to make this man out... Looked like serpent, but he wasn't sure. Monkey took notice to how some people were observing from their windows, or sat on roof tops. Good idea. Nimbly, he climbed up the nearest house and jumped from roof to roof till he joined a group of avians where they sat with a good view things. They didn't seem to mind it, so he sat with them.
Monkey now had the perfect view.
The speaker was a serpent, a large one too. He glanced at Mantis on his shoulder. The insect was giving his full attention to the Cobra's monologue. To be honest, he thought Mantis seemed as though he didn't care before...
Finally, he himself started to listen.
"So many of these problems should rightly be blamed on me! I have been gone for a long time... It may sound odd, as I have not been far, but it's true. In the face of personal issues, I chose to view this city with apathy, and ignore it." He paused to look earnestly at the crowd, they were totally silent. Good, he had them.
"I tried justifying this to myself by pretending that the threats I faced would not affect any of you. But I knew... it was wrong. This why I'm here today! I had a responsibility to nurture you all, and instead I left you fend for yourselves!" He shook his head dramatically, and let the words sink in. No one had spoken against him... yet. A positive sign. He had played the guilt card enough, now he'd use probably his biggest artillery.
"Truthfully... I have returned from a mission of great importance regarding the safety of you all." This broke the silence. It began with mutters, and quickly grew to clamouring. He calculated this. They all knew about the threat of the north, and knew he couldn't have been talking about anything else. Before he lost control he stole back their attention.
"SILENCE!"
Everyone stared at him in shock, he almost rolled his eyes at them. "Hear me out! I have returned from a skirmish against invaders, successful! With the proper help, all it took was a single night to defeat them. You see, they are no longer a concern. You all have nothing to fear from them."
"But what about the their army!"
He couldn't tell who had called out over the noise of everyone agreeing, but he answered back. "I don't know how many more soldier they have now, but the host we defeated was their army." The crowd was clearly divided. While many looked relieved, others looked unsure, and some didn't look like they believed him. "If it would please you all, their General is now my captive, and I would be happy to parade him around the city in shame," he said sardonically. They didn't appear to want that as there was no great cheer, but more people perked up at this.
Now he'd get to the point. "I tell you all this because I wish to hide nothing from you. To know these things is your right, and I wish for you to understand that from today, Singapore, this antiquated city has an opportunity to grow." He pushed himself higher, and spoke louder. "I realise that some of you don't care for what I have to say, but the reality is that you could all become so much more than you are now! And the hard reality is that I'm the only one who cares!"
"Take a moment to look around you, and at yourselves! What do see?" He waited for them to do so... then he continued. "I'll tell you what I see, thieves, gangs... and some of you are even murderers. Those of you that try to remain honest, live your lives the hardest! You never had the chance to live any other way. But I plan to change that," he told them.
He dropped off the platform suddenly, and the crowd gave him space. He began moving between them, and looked squarely at many of them. They parted as he slithered through. He paused in front of an especially rough looking Marbled cat. "You, what is your occupation?"
The cat boy looked uncomfortable being the center of attention. "I... I sell goods I find to... a dealer." A thief. He obviously wasn't happy about it.
Raja turned his inquisitive eye on someone else. "And you?" He picked another serpent like himself.
"I get paid to throw out the unwanted at the local," he said said plainly.
The larger serpent frowned empathetically. "I imagine that's hard, what with there being so many idle people with nothing better to do, and no place to go." The blood python nodded in agreement, equally unhappy about it.
He rose to his full height and turned full circle at the crowd. "I can help! All I need is one thing from you all."
They all looked confused. Eventually, someone blurted out, "what?"
There was gleam in his eyes. "Cooperation."
Monkey found himself in a bewilderment. What were the chances that they happened upon this? A reclusive whom was suppose to be in charge around here, comes out into his city after who knows how long, at a time when they decided to visit. He scratched his head, and looked to Mantis. "What are the odds of seeing this?"
Mantis shrugged. "Pretty slim, I guess." Monkey hummed to himself.
"If we work together, we can make something of this dusty place... But I am under no delusion." Monkey watched the serpent emit a breath. "Tomorrow, on the morn, a meeting shall be held here in this very spot. Anyone is welcome to attend. We shall divide those care from the those that don't... and begin from there. It will take time, but greater tasks have been achieved through lesser collaborations, and we. Are strong. For now, return to your homes!"
That's right, the Mature part was only a dream. HA!
I decided to cut of there, because it leaves me a good point to carry on from. Can't say when the next chapter pops up, but I'll try not to be too slow. PEACE!