FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Twenty-Nine: Conflicting Resonances

"Dear Daughter,

"There is so much that I wish I could tell you, even when I know that my days are numbered. No matter what happens to me, know that I always loved you. I swore on my life that nothing horrible would happen to you, that nobody would hurt you, that nobody would take you from me, and that nobody would use you for their gains."--

I climb to the roof, having donned my blue suit, brown vest, and golden mask. The time has come for this gang war to end.

--"Know that there have been people after me, and people that could use your step-father against us both. You and I have both seen the horrors in the world, but we have also seen the beauties in the city. I anticipated my recapture, if not my murder, even on the day you came into the world."--

I leap from rooftop to rooftop, climbing up one chimney. I care not how many hear my boots tapping against the shingles or the metal, for time is against me.

--"Crime is rampant and blatant in a city as sophisticated as Highcond. We who lived in the slums know that better than anyone. I only wanted you to attract no attention to keep away the people that held me as their disposable asset. Those people are slavers and racketeers, the crime syndicate with a tighter grip on the city than the rest."--

I climb down from one house, to the corner of the sidewalk. I look up, smiling at the sight of my raven friend in the distance. Then, I focus on the street. I tread the cement and pavement with only one intention.

--"Whether their leader kills me, whether her son kills me, or one of their thugs do it, you must promise that you will become fit to fight these people. I know that you will do anything for me. I know you will pursue the criminals that swarm the city. You will carry the grudges of a thousand women and prevent another thousand from becoming victims of such crimes."--

I punch the first man to approach me, knife in hand. I sweep his leg, and then stamp his muzzle. I walk over him. That will not be the last, for another two muggers--no, mercs--appear. Both of them draw their sabres from their canes. I leap, kicking straight toward the one on my left. I let him block the strike. I then let them both strike at me, only to grab their wrists. I leap, yanking them. Upon swiftly turning around, I stamp the second mercenary. I pinch his sabre, with which I stab his back. As the one still alive recovers, I kick his knee. Though barely, he blocks it. I lunge aside, and then body slam him. I yank his cane out of his hand. I thrust its end to the man's jaw, and then swing it to the side of his face.

--"I need you to be strong, and be able to think straight. That is why when the time is right, we leave instructions that you must follow. I cherish the memories of you: the day I first held you in my arms, the times I taught you to read, the lessons that I taught you that schools do not, and every time I would see the face of my special cub. I have spent years protecting you. Now, you must protect others from the clan that enslaved your grandmother and me making for a family curse.

"The Lowell House. In my time under their employment, it was led by an Arctic Wolf named Rodica Campana. Her status is unclear to me as I write this. She was my oppressor. Her son would be taught to do the same thing to everyone I have seen rounded up like pigs.

"Whether out of hatred or the intention to help the poor, make the monsters suffer and die in any gruesome way."

Only two days passed since I got Nadine to speak of Giffard and Coombs, at a moment of vulnerability. Now, here I enter the Queen o' Clubs, having hung subtlety. I enter the pub casually. I walk to the end of the bar, past the tables and barstools occupied by mercenaries known best for fulfilling the Arctic Fox's contracts. I recognise quite a few of them, and I can sense their anticipation of today's events.

I enter the tasteful office where Jack paces in front of his desk. He just stops upon seeing who has just crossed the threshold. I close the door behind me. As I slowly approach, the Arctic Fox barks gleefully, "Best o' the day t-yeh, Lass." I quietly smile back at him, treading the carpet. I embrace him. How I wish I could control time, to make hugs such as this last a lifetime.

Upon pulling away, I stare into him and take in every line of his grey summer fur. I stroke his face, just to feel how soft he is, even at this time of year. I look into his one blue eye, in which I see a man with a warm heart for a criminal. Jack speaks, "Yeh came 'ere fer more than just affection." I look down, ears drooping, for he reminds me of the reality of war. He adds factually, "I know. I 'ad ta say farewell t-many under me orders, both when I served the navy, and as an arms racketeer."

I state, "It is time, Jack. Y-want Coombs; he is oll yours."

Jack cocks his head on an angle. "Yeh'll be absent from the gang war? I thought yeh wanted t-kill Coombs yerself."

Looking away, though stern, I clarify, "I cannot risk it. He olready knows that I've bin in Knightsedge. There is another man who will alert Giffard of me presence. Better he sees me before Coombs does."

Jack moves in front of the table of his liquor bottles as that is where I face. He places a hand on my face, though he feels more metal than my fur. He says, "I question not yer plans, Lady Death. But there is more to address." I gaze into his eye. So, the fox lowers his arm. I close my eyes before lifting the golden mask from my face with one hand. Outside of the Sanctuary, I can trust only him to see me with my face. He continues, "I hope y-know whot yeh're doin'. After oll, Leigh-Anne told me that you ordered her to locate the red-eyed wolf. He would, without a doubt, help Lieven."

Vadimir could also kill Lieven himself, or have me fight Lieven alone and expect it to wear me out. "I see no other way, Seàn. I rely on chance, but others 'ave taken gambles on locations, threats by bluffing, effective use of ammunition, and weather." I would know of the last part, because of one of the most significant historical events in Seikat.

Jack chuckles. "Like I said." He continues factually, "Coombs knows the rules of gang wars like the ones that he took down to claim Ignisater Pillars. I do lead me men there because the fight is mine. Me mercs will be so busy with whomever he scrounged up that none will interfere between him and me. We should be able ta quickly divert whomever the Lowell House still pays, if not have lied to." He then jests, "If no mortal kin slay that badger, his wrath won't be enough fer Death herself."

I respond, "I hope we kin share yer whiskey an' play some Cribbage after."

Jack snickers, "I may need that. Forgive me if me aim with a gun is off." I hope to tell you, as well, why I hate guns.

I pull a few notes from my pants pocket and present them to the fox. I say plainly, "This is fer Leigh-Anne. I am afraid that I cannot tell 'er myself, how helpful she's bin."

Noting my dismay, he asks, "Is there anything else y-wish t-say, Lass?"

I sigh. "As much as I wish to, I cannot help everyone."

"We cannot focus on so many places at once. You would overwhelm yerself if you did. We must compromise ta make things work."

I get near him, cupping his chin. "Today, you prove that I can rely on you." He grins at even that. He is a man that is hard to believe that has no wife for whom he willingly provides. Again, I wish that I could kiss him, but something tells me not to. One day, we could be as divided as the social classes. I lower my arm, adding, "Five minutes. Then, I move in."

"Aye, Lass. And I won' go dying on you in five decades."

Here I am, waiting right outside the slum of the borough. Patient, my raven friend perches on my shoulder. I present my hand, which he playfully nips. I have already given him something to eat. Whatever he finds in the aftermath, he will welcome to take. Almost as quickly as Jack and his men arrive, other ravens begin gathering. I have to smile at Michi. No doubt, he has told as many as he could on such short notice that a feast awaits them. Though I cannot see him perfectly when he stands on my shoulder, I take in the lines of his every ebony feather. He has shown no sign of slowing down, and I know that he will not start such now. Not when the clock that is the Lowell House has lost most of its gears, barrels, and counterweights.

I mentally time from the first time the sounds of gunshots echo in the streets. True to laying siege, Jack's mercenaries attack from all entrances. I drown out the bangs and clanks as I continue calmly timing, and reach five minutes without interruption. I assume that Jack already has Coombs in his sights when I begin scaling one of the townhouses. On the other side of these units, is the entrance to the most dangerous pub in all of Highcond. If Lieven is not there, he could be anywhere else.

On the rooftop, I stop and take a butcher's to the chaos below. No sign of Jack from where I stand. Outside the notorious pub Sin Lover's Den, there Lieven is, looking around and pacing. From here, I can tell that he wears a tan tweed suit with a vest, a white shirt with a raised collar, and a maroon necktie. He still stands out among the crowd accompanying him, for the red tinge in his white fur. I can see that from here, as well. Lieven, you are an urgent matter. I lift a bomb from my pocket and toss it to the wooden deck. I climb down from the edge as a cloud of smoke rises and the goons cough dryly. I take three sharp breaths before leaping.

Through the smoke, I can detect the dog at whom I aimed. Again, as if nature is aware of my action, thunder booms, which I can discern from the gunfire, as I land on the dog that I use to compensate for my impact. I barely recover when I leap to another dog and tackle him to the ground. I quickly draw my Khopeshes, and thrust both blades into his back. I head back as quickly, to the one that I jumped on, to put him out of his misery. In the billow dissipating to wisps, I quickly discern two other dogs. They just recover when I lunge toward them and drive my Khopeshes into their stomachs. To ensure more damage, I raise the blades slightly, making each of them retch a crimson splash. Then, I pull the blades out, the dogs stumbling to the ground as I do so.

I take a deep breath as I hold my Khopeshes behind my back, and stare Lieven down. I speak, "You can hate me for that wound, but killing me won't undo it." He sounds like he groggily mutters, speaking his mother language. Then, he prances toward me, snarling, his metal claws all pointed at me. I dodge, and then spin with my Khopeshes straight out. That causes no injury to him. He is so willing to fight me in such close quarters. Even though I deflect his claws, he is quick to recover and strike again. Now, I am back on the defence. He begins with the low scratches, which I block, followed by him leaping with his fingers and claws stretched out. I swing my left Khopesh as I strafe. Upon him landing, I kick with my leg stretched out, and quickly withdraw before I slash with my left Khopesh. As quickly, I swing my right Khopesh on an angle. I have my Khopeshes meet with another swing. At the same time, I turn both blades downward on the opposite angle. I rely on the momentum like he does. I perform a spin kick with both legs, and then another one. For my third spin, I stretch both arms, slashing the air--or so I believe--with both blades. Then, I see blood on his shirt. This makes him angry. He pounces as I perform another spin kick, this time landing. He falls aside. I swing my left Khopesh, and this time follow it with a spin, landing a hit again. I notice a slit on the side of his midsection. I kick straight out. I let him catch my leg, so I can jump straight up. Bringing both Khopeshes downwards, Lieven is too late to let go. I slit both his forearms. Continuing to utilise momentum, I jump again. This time, he backs up. Upon landing, I duck and slash up his leg. He staggers; this is my chance.

However, he still puts up a fight. The badger catches my Khopeshes with his hands, and then jumps. He just grazes my shoulder when I shove him away with the hilts. Lieven hits a house's wall. Then, I thrust my Khopeshes.

Both of them get through his chest; he splutters blood. I look into his forest-green eyes for a second, feeling like an hour, and then slash between his ribs. The sides of his chest are split open. I catch my breath as I look upon my latest work, the flowing blood making a large puddle of red.

I look around, the pings of metal colliding and the booms of pistols firing returning as if I went deaf for that minute. Where is he? I sheathe my Khopeshes. As I await the mercenary, I strip the four freshly killed goons. Michi can bring his acquaintances here if he wants.

As if I could be isolated to a makeshift ring, a familiar voice announces, "I wondered why you would strip naked the people you kill." I quickly turn around and there he is. The red-eyed wolf continues, "I also wonder why you would draw me out."

I scowl. You could have shot me dead while my guard was down, but you didn't. I speak up, "You and I are on opposing sides, Vadimir. I ally with MacNiadh; you chose Giffard as your employer." I kick a table on its side, and then proceed to another.

I push the small tables over on the small deck as Vadimir says, "Giffard still has more money than MacNiadh. I also feel obliged to finish the fight. When you slay crime bosses, the kind of man that I am would have nobody with whom to makes deals."

He probably cannot hear himself. Lightning flashes. I stare him down as I orate, "You still know nothing about that bastard! Before I began interference with their affairs, the Lowell House had control of traffickers--child slavers and labourers fer Christ's sake. Whot think you Shady would say about his friend aiding that kind of man?"

He narrows his eyes and points his muzzle downward, growling. "You will not hurt him!"

"Of course not", I scoff. "My fight is not with 'im. I do not object to you doing whot you do fer Shady or his extended adopted family, but you have chosen the wrong side, Vadimir." I continue, staying in one spot, "Giffard's men stormed into an embassy that is also an orphanage. They hold a woman and five kittens hostage, one of which is her daughter. Both of them are family to me."

Vadimir pauses as if he is conflicted. He snarls, "My fight is not with them, either!"

I sigh, looking at the ground, and then back at him. "Is there no getting through to you? Your client is a bloody craven. He would kill a cub or anyone much smaller and weaker than he is."

Vadimir hesitates. Progression. If not Giffard promising money, he needs a reason to challenge me. "You still know nothing about me!" he objects. "My first instinct is to fight you until only one of us stands! Looking down at the other! I bin fightin' since long before you surfaced. I may never find another adversary as skilled as you are, but goddammit, you will not humiliate me and get away with it!" So, that's his reason... Or so he claims...

I have always tried to let no ego betray me, as I assume Vadimir's has done him. I comment, "And yet, you and I wish to do good fer the same kind of people." I lift my left arm over my shoulder, slowly pulling out the symbolic sword. True to its design, I have the hilt in both hands, the blade flat, as if to indicate my body's line of symmetry. The next flash of lightning does nothing to stun me. He aligns the end of his cane with his feet. It clicks, the claw popping out.

Vadimir dashes toward me, lifting his cane, and swings upward. It collides with the Katana's guillotine-like blade. That is when the rain starts to fall. He withdraws his cane and backs up quickly. I lunge, thrusting my Katana. Instinctively, the mercenary backs up. I swing from the left, and then from the right. I spin kick, narrowly missing. I make the same move again, this time making an impact with his shoulder. He staggers. Taking the opportunity, I perform a low swipe, aiming for the leg, but it collides with his cane. He scrapes against the blade, utilising his strength to lift my arms. I take my right hand off the hilt to allow the sword to retreat to the side.

He swings upwards again, and I deflect the strike. At that moment, he pulls the dragon-like hilt and unsheathes the sabre. He thrusts it, and I turn to dodge. I back up, taking the Katana in both hands again. I turn, aligning my heels, the blade pointing away. I step sideways, testing Vadimir's patience. He watches intently. I take one step forward, swiping from left to right. As quickly, I turn the blade and swing back. This time, Vadimir attempts to deflect it, but it only absorbs the impact. I lunge forward, thrusting the sword, only for Vadimir to step aside.

As I withdraw the Katana, now holding it straight upward, to the left, he thrusts his sabre, lowly, and then swipes upwards. I deflect it, but the mercenary swings his cane, aiming its claw at my neck. I back up, raising my arms. I rely on gravity to bring the blade down like the guillotine of which it reminds me, colliding with both his sabre and cane. He pushes it back upward with the cane, and manages to grapple it with the spike. I swiftly turn to his side. I withdraw my Katana. I spin and slash, connecting with his leg. I manage to cut his pant leg and make a slit above his ankle.

Holding the Katana to the right, I thrust toward his midsection as a feint that he falls for. As quickly, I retreat and leap aside. I turn the blade upwards before slashing in that direction. He blocks it hastily, but the force brings his cane to his bollocks. He forces my Katana downwards. Keeping it grounded, he moves to my right. He thrusts his sabre into my midsection. He draws my blood, but not enough to concern me.

I sheathe the Katana, using two straight kicks as a feint. I reach over my right shoulder and open the hook there. I draw the bladed staff sideways before taking it in both hands. I step and thrust the blade three times, and then slash straight up. I seem to connect that. I rely on speed again, spinning with the Naginata at foot level. On the second pass, I have it at head level. This time, Vadimir catches it. As he can tell that the pole is metal, he doesn't attempt to cut it. Instead, he forces it aside, having grappled with the claw again. He approaches, thrusting the sabre. I dodge it. Whilst I wrestle my Naginata with his cane, I dodge another stab, and then kick his leg, to no avail. I step back, slicing the Naginata at mid-level, which he stops with his cane again. I approach quickly, driving the tine, and then more of the blade in his midsection.

That comes at the cost of Vadimir stabbing my right arm. I back up, grimacing. I pull out my Katana again after switching the Naginata to my right hand. Now, Vadimir must get close to me if he wants to kill me. I lunge, thrusting the Katana. I swipe at the same angle with it, back and forth. I swing the Naginata with its blunt end outwards. I drive that end up, narrowly connecting with his chin. I then rely on my strength to bring the Katana down, letting out a growl.

My recovery is his chance to counter. I allow him. He jabs the blunt end of his cane to my chest, but I quickly parry back, making an arc with the Katana. I drive both the Katana and Naginata toward his chest, only for him to catch both with his cane and sabre. He forces both his arms and mine aside, both of us refusing to let go. He kicks my shin, and knees me in the abdomen, making me stagger. Vadimir then lunges toward me, his maw open. I duck before his jaw can snap at my throat. I then sweep his legs. He loses his balance, and therefore his grip. I get a better hold of my weapons.

Upon standing up straight, I knee his abdomen, managing to hit his open wound. He grunts and staggers. I aim for his lung with my Katana. I stab him again, but his cane lessens the impact. He growls as he attempts to stab me. I back up, and then return. This time, I make a horizontal arc with my Katana, barking as I do so, and then another arc with my Naginata. I make a long slit across his abdomen.

Snarling, he retaliates with a flurry of slashes from his sabre and spike. He concludes that series of reckless strikes with a slit across my chest, to which I yelp. I pant, realising how evenly matched we are with fighting prowess. Even now, Vadimir is unpredictable. I deflect his slash aimed for my chest. To counter, I slash upward, cutting into his brown tailcoat, and then straight back down. As he is too late to block, I slit his forearm. He pants and growls at the same time, his patience seeming to have run out by now.

_You and I have endured much pain, Vadimir, but even you have a breaking point._He switches hands of his weapons. I re-hook my Naginata, but still hold the Katana with only my left hand. I lunge toward him, thrusting the blade. I retreat as quickly. I allow him to close in on me. Then, I slash upward, interrupting the blow with his cane's claw, and then straight downwards. He attempts to stab my left arm with his sabre, which I deflect. Then, I swipe, making the same cut on his leg a little deeper. I raise my arms, expecting Vadimir to strike my in the midsection. He does so, and misses, though barely. I shift to stand sideways, slashing across, and then back. Though he blocks both strikes, I swiftly turn and kick his leg, making him grunt--

But then he swings his cane's spike and lands it in my right shoulder. With the hilt of my Katana, I jab his forearm, where I cut him, interrupting his death blow. Then, I lift the spike out of my shoulder. I back up and lunge to the right. That is when we both run. I can feel my heart racing as time seems to slow down. He shares my intention, having his left arm stretched out. The blade of the Katana is almost as long as his cane. One step makes all the more difference. Only one of us can win this time...

Our arms narrowly miss each other's... The spike tears through my jacket, vest, and shirt. The Katana tears through his jacket... and flesh... I turn my head...

Vadimir is bleeding! And he staggers! He groans, dropping both the cane and sabre. I swipe the air with the blade, shaking droplets off of its edge. I turn to him, panting, as if I have just sprinted a kilometre.

I look at Vadimir sadly as he stays on one knee, clutching over the worst wound that I have given him. Katana still in hand, I stride past him, to where I discern the gunfire from the thunder in the sky. _I must help Jack._Finding the workshop is where to start. None of the mercenaries or criminals close to the other row of townhouses pays me heed as they are otherwise occupied.

Upon entering the familiar unit, I am quickly greeted by a corpse of a Bloodhound, having been shot dead. Not the same Bloodhound that is Coombs. I can imagine a scene, spotting a corpse of a Greyhound in the living room and one of a Rottweiler in the kitchen, both of them aligned with the doorways. Upstairs is where the action is, as I hear thumping from there. I tread the stairs, where I find a dolphin in a leather thong sprawled, four bullets in his chest.

Only two men in this building currently remain standing, and I see that halfway up the stairs. There the Arctic Fox is, having shoved a greying Bloodhound across the floor. Based on the cut on the dog's face, the bullet hole on his shoulder, and the slit on his leg, Jack has put up quite a fight. The Arctic Fox swings his staff, successfully hitting the leg. Jack closes on Coombs, bludgeoning his side, and then where Coombs has been shot. The Bloodhound yowls, though hoarsely. Noting a pistol by the Bloodhound's side, I lunge from the top of the stairs, to his side and scoop up the infernal machine. Both Jack and Coombs pant. I dash past the dog, allowing my friend to finish him. Jack aims his pistol with his left hand, taking a good look at his opponent's anguished face.

Bang! The bullet takes a chunk of the dog's skull out and he lays in perpetual shame. Jack comments, "Thanks fer caring, Death."

I reply, "The red-eyed mercenary has been defeated, but he will require medical attention."

The fox knows where I am going with that, for he responds, "I kin 'ave someone despatch him to the right people." He adds nonchalantly, holstering his gun, "Now to get everybody else's attention." He picks up Coomb's body himself and carries him down the stairs. I watch it as I weigh the pistol that I filched from Coombs. I look down at the side and examine the etches and the rivets--

Only to toss it aside before catching up to Jack. He has already caught the attention of many fighters from both sides, having stopped their fighting. Where Jack goes is to the place I have left Lieven's mutilated corpse and an unconscious Vadimir. The ground is wet enough to dilute the blood.

Nearing to the fox, he comments, "So, yeh did kill the badger. Yeh _really_impress me this time, Lady Death."

I reply, "I 'ave other intentions with the corpse." He is soon to understand my implication, for I approach where Lieven lay dead. I grip my Katana with both hands as I kneel in front of Lieven. I raise my arm--

And bring them down with force, separating the head from the neck the first time. Seeing this, Jack laughs as if it is nothing unusual about me to him. I return to him, sheathing the Katana. I add, "Giffard cannot know yet that his right hand is deceased."

Jack grins. "Me men kin handle that, too." He props up a table himself and climbs on it, taking his rival's body with him. Jack then lets out a shrill bark repeatedly, until he can see with his one eye that everyone who has fought here today are his audience.

He holds up the corpse as far and as long as he can with one hand, and then drops it. He orates, "My name is Jack MacNiadh! Leader of the Snowfox Syndicate! From this day on! All those who followed Hyatt Coombs and the Lowell House! You work fer me!"

I place my hands on the hilts of my Khopeshes, expecting someone to challenge him. Thankfully, no more blood needs to be shed here. Jack's mercenaries are the first to approach, appearing to outnumber the enemy side. The rest of the mercenaries and petty thugs join in, speaking in agreement. "MacNiadh!" they chant. "MacNiadh! MacNiadh!"

I approach my friend once more, to embrace him. This time, I nuzzle his neck. Upon pulling away, I keep a hand on his face and caress it. I whisper, "Working with you has been more than an honour. I value our friendship. I am glad to have felt connected with you."

I can sense him blushing. "I feel the same, Lady Death." I rub his face again, before turning away. Right away, he barks to his men to take Vadimir somewhere safe, where he can be saved. I watch someone carry him out of the slum. I carry the severed head of the badger inside the pub, where I expect I can set it up for delivery with little of a mess. As I do so, Michi and his acquaintances glide down to begin their glorious banquet.