It was Winter, luckily it was nearly the end of it and Zao Zhan had been at the Border Town for two and a half years. He could be even called a Veteran in the area and the only one capable of an overnight in the forest nearby. Creatures and Wildlife in the area were less than friendly to outsiders but Zhan had grown up in the mountains, he was use to the bugs and the animals were his prey.
All other adventurers or travelers were easily chased from the place with either bite marks, missing limbs or worse, they would never come back at all. Being raised on a Mountain, Zhan was always good to those around him. Joining the Wolf Brigade he had been tasked to take care of the mounts at first. His primary duties were watching over Fletch while he and the Villagers made a living by crafting ammunition for the Elite Archers of the Wolf Brigade.
Two years with the Company, with the Fire-Wolves, Zao Zhan was the person the Commander Lowe liked the most.
Giving the riding beasts extra food and cleaning them occasionally made Zhan feel at ease. He had never found his specific quest in name but he had taken up the task of saving the villagers and even started training as a soldier. It was a little bit of a journey, the back and forth from Herl to the Camps and then back to the capital again. After a few times, Zao Zhan had memorized his route.
Mounted on one of the female Firewolves, he tore through the landscape. Zhan had heard about his family moving to Portano from Sergeant Morris, and while he wasn't sure why they had left the mountain home his father had built, he was sure that he would find out when they met again.
Stopping for some water, he rested his mount and looked into the distance.
There were a few disturbances in the plains, a swarm of large flat bugs had been running rampant and no one could kill them. Every now and then one would swoop down from the sky and leave with cattle or small animals between it's fang-like needle teeth. Their shells were armored and the damned things flew like leaves in the wind, on the top of their heads were two massive antenna that seemed to sense danger and help them evade attacks.
Sometimes when the Wolf Brigade tried to kill attack them, they would use the antennae to detect an arrows path and avoid it. The antennae could detect the arrow's path when they were fired upon. The Wolf Brigade came to the conclusion that they had to have sensory organs inside the poles. Each pole was as thick as a wrist, some of the platoon members believed that they would make excellent spears if they were still intact after the battle.
With another loud hissing sound, the flat bug tore the prey in its mouth to pieces and then trampled its way back into the Forest.
Zhan was not going to chase it. After a few skirmishes with flat bugs, the Wolf Brigade made a command decision to leave them alone unless directly attacked. The Razor Leaf Bugs never bothered the soldiers specifically and their defenses made them hard to kill. Their ability to fly away made things particularly difficult. Sometimes lucky shots could pierce their thick hides but they were like cockroaches, nothing ever seemed to just kill them.
He let the Razor Leaf Bug disappear into the sea of trees, Zhan saw bits of the prey which had been discarded by the giant Insect.
Among them was the Lightning Qilin's half consumed head. One of the horns gave off an electric spark, it was too precious ignore and be forgotten. The Horns of great beasts held power and were among the most prized trophies, they could be crafted into weapons and accessories or sold. Qilin parts laying in front of him were like pie that had fallen from the sky, he would not dare let it go to waste.
Pulling his father's dagger from sheath on his belt, Zhan gathered the hide, or what remained or it. Cracking the skull into pieces, Zhan left with the Horn in his hand. The Firewolf didn't like the horn being exposed so Zhan put it inside the rolled up hide and returned to their passage across the plains.
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Arriving at the next Camp, Zao Zhan stabled his mount, reported in and went to his duties. Most of his duties pertained to caring for all the companies animals that were spread out over the Red Plains. Ever since he had taken up the job, none of the Fire Wolves would act up along his route, at least intentionally, while in the pens. It would only be in the face of extreme danger that they would lose their wits, depending on the rider or situation.
Fire Wolves were very intelligent, losing out to some locals only because of their inability to vocalize words. Most of them could immediately tell when Zhan was nearby, he smelled like the forest and always brought extra food. Patting his mount atop its head, he cleared new bedding for her and made his way out to Rachael, she had been fawning over him like a lost puppy ever since that day at the shrine.
If you didn't know the pair, you would swear it to be a young husband avoiding his new bride. Although they had never discussed feelings about each other, Zao Zhan definitely like the way Rachael kept looking at him.
He had grown much taller and she had grown a much fuller chest, her hair falling down her backside. The Daughter of an Elder, she was not a simpleton or louse without any sort of education. He kept commenting to himself about her qualities when she approached him that evening.
"What sort of adventure did you have today?" Rachael wrapped her arm in his before giggling at his dirtied appearance.
He was use to this sort of discussion with her, she would tease him about his day and he would chase her afterward, tickling and teasing her from time to time. They were really a sight to see, the fragrance of youth between the two was unparalleled in their circles.
Reaching his hand to grab at the fleeing beauty, he slipped and she turned to catch him. She slipped as well. Falling atop Zao Zhan with her heart pounding, she felt her ears go red and gently pecked Zhan on the cheek. She was blushing and rushed off to the building where the other villagers lived.
The villagers stayed close to each other. More times than not, they readied themselves for yet another journey only to find themselves without the need to worry at all. The time they spent on the road and away from their old homes had taught them a lot of hard lessons. With the Wolf Brigade present during the majority of their traveling, they felt rather safe. The Villagers wanted a more permanent housing and eventually they could make the way to a walled city like the Capital of the Red Plains, Portano.
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The Sands around Portano were red, vivid shifts of the color made it hard to see at times but most of the sands were a bright red, it stained your clothes and landscape was a wash of red from time to time when the wind blew hard.
Everyone could see from the City very far away, sonic shields mostly kept the sand and insects away. With most of the City walls sitting in front of a cliff side thick with trees, they were well defended. If someone was able to look down from above, they would notice the thick walls surrounding the Capital, the forest to its rear and the guard towers spread across the entire area.
It was a fortress and Zhan didn't have to use his imagination to tell.
Having completed two years of solid and commendable service, Zao Zhan was already seventeen. He was at the age to take a wife and start his own family. Zhan was still a virgin, never bothering to contemplate lust, he never knew what he was missing. After his service, the Villagers had made enough money to support themselves on the journey ahead. The Wolf Brigade told him could leave with his mount, it wasn't a problem since his mount would let no one else near her, much less ride her.
The Villagers all gave their thanks and farewells while Zao Zhan quietly escorted the rest of them to the Capital. It was time for him to find his family and show them the Man he'd become. Packing across the plains was easier said than done but he had accomplished it. The flat road never failed them and after having passed through the final camp of the wolf brigade, no more beasts would approach them.
Twintails Electric Rats were easy to catch for dinners, he dissected them as best he could and saved their hides as well as their tails. When he was done, he put them away with the Qilin Horn.
It wasn't but a few nights and a few days before they could see the Capital in the distance. It was still another days journey and then they would have to register with the City Offices to find housing.
Just thinking that his parents and his little brother were in the same City, Zao Zhan couldn't help but yell out "BROTHER!"
The sound echoed out into the streets.
Even though it wasn't enough for Wu Hai to hear it, his voice still caught the eyes of residents making them feel a sense of compassion for the Soldier. He was full of vigor and vitality, everyone treated him with respect. A Firewolf was already a symbol of status, people recognized them as the personal mounts for one of the Kingdoms Elite.
Passing through the crowd, no one bothered the parade of refugees while they were on the path. The City Offices were not empty but they were completely swamped when Zhan finally arrived. "I have Forty-Eight, no.. Forty Nine, Mary had a girl last month." Trailing off, he regained his composure and continued, "..people that need housing, what can the City offer me?"
The man behind the counter looked Zao Zhan over, "Since you're with the Wolf Brigade I suppose it can't be helped. Don't make me regret this and keep this lot of people in line. We can't have any troubles here. The guards will not tolerate newly arrived foreigners to break even the simplest of rules."
"I am an Elite Archer of the Wolf Brigade, watch how you address me. What exactly do you mean? Cause problems? Have other groups been giving the City Guards problems?" Murmuring about what he had just heard, Zhan had to inquire about the recent happenings within the City Walls, it was still part of his duty.
'Most people were genuinely friendly looking, perhaps it was all just an act.' Zhan thought to himself as he kept listening to the problems that were undermining the peace in the City.
The Official was preparing some documents and other articles for Zhan and the refugees. While he was working, he spoke candidly. "Some of the local gangs had decided it was easier to split the loot across everyone involved and started organizing raids on Guard shacks for weapons and supplies. The costs don't come out of the soldiers pockets but the soldiers would be left without supplies. Making them look like idiots, the Guards are intolerant of being mocked openly. They would hang thieves by the City entrances, and in the streets between houses when they'd find them. Under the King's Order, the Guards have the choice to dispense justice when they see fit, some had taken it to the extreme." He took a deep breath before finishing. "Beggars are not given kindness here." His eyes looked to the crowd of refugees.
"I will attend to them myself, you should stow your worry where its better suited." Zhan left with his paperwork in hand.
Obtaining some houses for the townsfolk that had given him so much over the past two years was very positive for Zao Zhan's attitude. He and Rachael helped everyone settle in and went out to explore the Capital.
One flower shop on the verge of collapse had its many wildflowers outside in the cool air. With Winter ending, the crispness was enough to make anyone perk up in the Mornings, even the plants. Rachael was wearing a coat lined with the Sky-Mountain Ox Hide. Doting on her like a man would his Wife, Zao Zhan could see Rachael glowing. The excitement grew as they passed from shop to shop looking for things to interest them both or just pass the time.
Rachael pointed into the distance and pulled at Zhan's arm. Finding a bookstore in a corner of the main square, she wanted another storybook for the children. After her father had died, very few stories kept the children from crying. They needed new ones, since they had new beginnings themselves.
Passing through the door, a familiar smell lingered in the Air.
Zhan started to gag as he spoke, "Ugh, this place smells worse than my Brothers Boots." Unable to withstand the repugnance of the matter, he blurted it out.
The doors flew open, a large gust of wind blew the lingering foul air out and away.
"Eh??" Zao Zhan was suspicious of what just happened, the last time he felt a gust like this he had to fight a herd of Frost Harpy. Motioning for his sword, Zhan held the grip tightly.