Family Affairs
#10 of Legend of the Tiger Clan
The day finally came when Zeng and his friends would leave for the volcano region, the people and nobles bid farewell to their heroes but they would not be going on foot since Kerric had other plans. After reaching the outskirts of the kingdom Kerric launched a flare into the air and the ground slowly began to rumble and out of the horizon came a land ship like nothing Zeng had seen before.
"Say hello to the "Earth Breaker"!! greatest land destroyer money can buy, I should know...I spent my weekly allowance on it..."
"Why can't you people just walk?"
Zeng wasn't very fond of machines and guns, he believed that they made the hunt too easy and that they were the weapons of a coward but nonetheless they all entered the destroyer and were off. Two days had gone buy and Zeng hadn't really gotten use to his new company since the crew inside was of course other members of the Necrons and from top to bottom the ship had a barrage of cannons and harpoon guns meaning that it could travel by sea as well and because of its size it could fit half a city in its hull.
Abby gave him an entire tour of the ship while making sure he didn't touch anything that could set off the guns, she felt like a big sister around him and from time to time they would argue or get in a bit of a tussle which seemed to happen from time to time.
"Hey Abby have you-!"
"YOU HAVE STRUCK MY LAST NERVE KITTY CAT!!"
"BRING IT ON YA LITTLE NYMPH!!!"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
Angel had caught Abby holding Zeng in a head lock while Zeng tugged on her ears trying to break loose, Kerric soon arrived on the scene and after a few awkward moments the two began to laugh as Abby kept slamming Zengs head onto the floor before he flipped her over twisting her arm.
"Alright you two break it up!"
The captain was the last to arrive as he pulled to two apart while Abby and Kerrics laughter died down to a giggle.
"We're going to stop at a mining station and refuel, take this time to stretch your legs."
The ship ran on coal like a train and because it was so huge it required tons upon tons of it. The mining station was just on the mountains that bordered the eastern edge of the volcano region and each day was as busy as the next, it seemed like the workers never slept at all but because of the area they lived in many came to buy the jewels and minerals that were harvested from the mountain.
Zeng toured the city himself still holding his greataxe and claymore and wearing his new wedding ring which made him smile from time to time, as he walked down the street a huge hooded figure walked by him and under the shadows of the hood he saw two pierceing, souless feline eyes and for a moment time seemed to stop and in the blink of an eye the stranger was gone.
"ZENG! you okay?"
"What?"
Angel had grabbed Zengs shoulder snapping him out of his trance.
"You look like you just saw a ghost."
"Yeah i'm fine..."
"Come on! the others are waiting back at the inn."
As they left the busy street the hooded figure peeked out of a dark alley and hidden in his cloak was a large war hammer tied to his waist. The next day the group was packing up as they were about to leave the in, Angel was the first to get up in the morning to try and wake Abby and Kerric which was not going to happen as she heard giggling through the door.
"Abby, Kerric? i'm going back to the ship are you coming?"
"We'll be there! just give us a couple minuetes!"
"Alright."
As Angel left the inn a naked Abby and Kerric laid under the sheets of the bed. Abby got out of the bed to do a stretch as did her mate.
"*sigh* another day in-WOOO!!"
Kerric grabbed her by her cheeks as she bent over for her pants before proceeding to grab her left breast as he sniffed her neck.
"Oooh such a naughty doggy!"
"RRUF!!"
Zeng was right about Abby being a nymph but she would only admit it around Kerric, the couple decided to make out for a while before getting dressed while Zeng simply walked right past their door until he heard the main door crash down and a familiar scream was heard.
"ANGEL!!"
As Zeng raced down the stairs Abby and Kerric followed behind him and as the came to the bottom floor Zeng found himself staring at a familiar and unfriendly face.
"It can't be....Tien?!?"
"Hello cousin..."
Tien was Zengs cousin from the male village who was banished from the tiger clan for his ruthless killings and his uncontrollable desire for blood, as Zeng growled at his cousin he noticed a scar on his chest and remembered something that happened years ago during his hunt for Glayce.
"I thought Shayde did you in!"
"Shayde?"
"A bounty hunter like me. Only more skilled at catching his target."
Kerric knew of Shaydes reputation and steared clear of him and Zeng met him in a sword fight but in the end Shayde saved his life after nearly getting killed by a chameleon dragon named jade.
"So you know that mongrel...before I'll kill him once I deal with you but not here. Meet me in the field for a duel or your little friend here becomes tonights dinner."
"YOU BASTARD!!"
Before they could do anything Tien leaped like a spring onto the rooftops and dashed out of the station with Angel still held hostage. Later that day Zeng made sure his weapons were extra sharp while Kerric gave him a small land cruiser to meet Tien and the duel area before grabbing his shoulder wishing him luck.
"Be careful."
With that being said Zeng raced off into the horizon with the others watching him. Meanwhile Tien sat in front of a bonfire holding Angels spellbook while his hammer was tied to his waist while licking his lips thinking of how good wolf meat would taste when roasted and seasoned.
"Don't worry cutie i'll smash your skull in before I throw you on the spit *laughs* huh?"
Zeng had arrived on time just as the sun hit high noon, Tien gave a wicked smile as he laid Angels spellbok on the ground while he approached Zeng.
"COUSIN!! so good to see you!"
"Yes wish I could say the same for you Tien yet I know YOU are the one responsible for killing Shaydes family! I don't know how you survived but when i'm done you'll be in pieces!"
Zeng drew his claymore and charged in while Tien opened his arms allowing himself to be impaled right on the same scar that Shayde left him but to his surprise Zeng saw that Tien was still breathing as he slowly pulled the claymore out of him and wrenched it out of Zengs hands, throwing it aside.
"Impossible!"
"I should've died when that little mut pierced me through my chest but as I laid there bleeding I could feel the pain of my wound but not my heart, when I felt my chest I discovered that my heart was placed on the right side of my body but because I lost so much blood I spent years regaining my strength so that I could take my revenge and i'll start WITH YOU!!"
Zeng instantly pulled out his greataxe as Tien brought his hammer down for a head smash, the two seemed like titans in an all out battle as Zeng was given several punches and headbutts while returning the favor and by the look of things Angel could tell he had the upper hand as he forced Tien into a lock.
"GRRR ENOUUUGH!!!"
Tien used all his strength to break the lock and got Zeng in a choke hold, slowly Zengs vision became blurry as he felt his breath slowing down while Tien laughed.
"Any last words cousin?"
Then just when he was at deatsh door Zeng remembered a trick Abby taught him and jabbed him right in the kidney causing him great pain and forcing him to release his grip. Zeng then dug his hand a little deeper before allowing Tien to fall to his knees, holding his torso.
As Tien tried to reach for his hammer his body didn't respond, he was completely paralyzed all over then a look of horror came in his eyes as he saw Zengs axe back in his hands.
"Got to hell and this time...stay there-RRRRAAAAAH!!!"
Zeng cleaved Tien into three parts, staining the field with his blood. Once Angel was freed they went back on the main road to meet up with the ship but not before spotting a broken down house with two gravestones in the front.
"Zeng what're you doing?"
"I'll be right back I just need to check this out."
Zeng entered the shattered house and inside the walls were stained with blood that had been there for years and the whole place was wrecked from top to bottom, as he looked around Zeng stumbled on a family photo with a certain pup that looked familiar and placed it in his pocket before he left.
The next day a certain bounty hunter received a letter and package while he stayed at another inn.
*Letter*
"Consider this as payment for saving my life."
As the bounty hunter opened the package he found himself staring at a photo he had not seen in years.
The End.
Shayde and Tien are propterty of Arseus. Kerric, Abby and Angel are property of Angel the Vampiric. Linda is property of Terdburgler.