Hi everyone! I'm back with a new chapter to the story, enjoy!
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Chapter 5: Adolescence, Part 1
As months eventually turned into years, Zhen and I grew more adept in combat thanks to Chameleon's training. Her teaching was firm but fair, and I found my skills were starting to blossom now truly.
By the time Zhen and I both reached adolescence, we were already a formidable force to be reckoned with. Still, there was still much more we could learn such as improving our weapons training and our stealth tactics.
Despite the fact Zhen and I did everything we could to do our best, Chameleon never really gave us proper respect…at best it was praise for our training. Zhen never liked being mistreated, but even then the fox always appreciated the hospitality given to us…it was either this or being on the streets after all. I, on the other hand, I've learned to appreciate the discipline given to me by Chameleon. Secretly inside, in the back of my mind…I NEEDED to be on her good side. I haven't forgotten what she told me: that she knows my past and can ultimately decide whether I will find out about it. Plus…she knows I am attached to Zhen; Chameleon could try to use her as leverage to get to me…so yeah.
By now, Zhen was growing weary of living life in the palace.
Ever since we came here, we weren't allowed to go to the city and the fox was growing nostalgic for the "good old days." She missed going where she wanted when she wanted…and doing what she pleased.
She and I had too much of Lady Chameleon's attention and it felt so suffocating at times. I honestly felt like sometimes we were nothing more than slaves to her…
One particular afternoon, fifteen-year-old Zhen (who was close to reaching her mature size) was resting on a terrace overlooking the city. I'm resting on the ledge with my hands behind my head…not caring if one wrong move could send me falling to my death. The vixen was having a one-sided conversation with me. I didn't really mind, for I somehow added to the conversation.
"I dunno…don'cha feel like a hostage sometimes too?"
I moved my head toward her, removing a straw hat I was wearing to cover myself from the sun's harsh rays. I somewhat nodded my head to her, and she continued her "rant."
"Like, what's the big deal…I say for one day we go down there for a bit…see what's up, then come back before anyone realizes we're gone!"
I jumped up, realizing what she just said. Uh oh…I know she's up to no good…
I hopped down to meet her. By now, I was getting much taller than her…now she had to fully look up as if I was the same height as a wolf or a similar animal (despite the fact Zhen was older than I was.)
I threw my arms out to her and shook my head violently in protest.
This is NOT a good idea!
Just from looking at my body language, she could tell I opposed the idea entirely, "oh come on, Mei! One day out isn't going to kill us!" The teenaged Zhen snapped back.
I raised an eyebrow to her, crossing my arms…keeping my ground in response.
It just might…
She giggled, amused by my defiant posture. Look, I was just looking out for her, you know? Who knows what could be down there now…
I might be a bit nostalgic as her, but how on Earth could we descend into town without anyone noticing even with what we've learned in training?
"Look…if you're so worried about it, just stay here with Chameleon!"
She finally decided to go with her plan…she began walking away to leave the terrace, but I anticipated this. I step left to block her path. I gave a serious look to her, it's too dangerous Zhen.
"What are you doing!?" She exclaimed in frustration before trying to go the opposite way; however, I quickly blocked her advance again. The grey vixen pulled away, now getting annoyed, "Mei…"
One more final attempt by her and I pushed her back with a hand. She growled at me in response, showing her battle pose to me, "oh yeah? You really want me to go through you!? Fine!"
With great speed, Zhen jumped at me with a kick intended for the face, but I managed to duck and grab her hind leg: throwing her back to where she jumped from in the first place. The animal landed on her feet without much trouble, she shook her head and immediately looked at me with narrowed eyes.
"It's on."
She lunged at me again. This time, she tried using her fists to get through me. Zhen tried an overhand punch, but I blocked it with my arm. I soon tried to go for her shoulder, but she twisted around and rear-elbowed me…sending me back a bit.
In the second it took for me to get my bearings I saw her jumping at me again, and I skipped backward. Zhen and I began blocking each other's punches with our hands/paws and arms in a fighting style like Balintawak. As we tried to get an advantage over the other, Zhen managed to catch me off guard eventually by ducking and doing a spin kick: knocking me off balance. I hit the dirt just as she stops herself…grinning.
I looked up to see her paw stretched out towards me…she was offering to help me off the floor. I scoffed, shaking my head. Soon after, I take her paw as she helps lift me off the ground.
"Guess a little practice session on our day off doesn't hurt, huh?" She said between her panting. I sighed: nothing is going to stop her. Oh well…I guess if we get this done quickly…I might as well tag along and make sure she comes back in one piece.
I stepped aside, gesturing her to lead the way before she smiled firmly at me in response, "now we're talking, come on!"
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A few minutes went by. Zhen and I stealthily made our way through the palace. First things first I had to grab my old face covering (which barely fits me now) to hide my face. Once that's done, the fox and I made it to the lower levels.
I was familiar with where we were…this was where the servants (such as cooks and cleaners) resided. You can imagine their confusion when we passed by them to a particular area: sewage. Okay, it really wasn't a sewage pipe, but it might as well have been because the smell was foul! When we make it to the other side, the light blinds us for several seconds before our eyes finally adjust.
Zhen and I find ourselves at the edge of a cliff, but one that we can scale to get to the path that'll lead us down to Juniper City. H-how did she even know about all this, has she done this before, and I just didn't know!?
Ugh…forget it…
Once we make it to the white-colored stone path, we begin our descent just as my companion begins skipping around (all carefree and whatnot.) Soon she faces me as she walks backward…putting her paws behind her…leaning slightly toward me as if to rub it in.
In a singsong voice the vixen chirped, "see how easy that was? You just have to put a little trust in me every once in a while."
Trust, that wasn't trust…we don't know what's down there, Zhen. And don't tell me about trust, I've been with you since practically the beginning, I trust you with my life! Still, if Lady Chameleon finds out we're in Juniper City, what do you think will happen? A proper flogging might be in order for both of us at this point.
I figured Zhen was probably joking, but Lady Chameleon's lesson to us was always: to never trust anyone. It's one of the few lessons I couldn't really take to heart completely, at least in regard to Zhen or Lady Chameleon. After all, they're part of my life. I always assumed Chameleon meant never to trust people who we weren't associated with (including the people in Juniper City and beyond…whatever was out there…)
Then my thoughts went to Han and the Den of Thieves…and it sent shivers down my spine. They probably think we're traitors for abandoning them…taking up shop in the chateau above the city. They probably think we're both dead though…probably…
I decided to drop it, and I gave a passive-aggressive smile back to Zhen before she chuckled and returned to walking normally, "excitement awaits, Mei!"
My brown eyes lit up as the city's buildings got steadily larger and larger…it wouldn't be long before we would be among other animals again.
For the first time in six years, since I was about seven years old, we were going to be among people again.
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Hey reader, I hope you enjoyed this next installment. Take care and have a nice day!