Chereads / Twenty Five Year Quest / Chapter 10 - Chapter Ten.

Chapter 10 - Chapter Ten.

Snowflakes fluttered to the ground like rain, and shouts of pain echoed off the glaciers. Blood splattered onto the white glowing snow, and Leo's breath came out in heavy pants as he leaned onto his axe for support.

"Damed beast, why won't it go down." Leo looked at the monster whose hackles were raised on its snow-white pelt. The air was permeated with the sounds of a low growl, warning Leo to not come any closer.

Zen observed from his spot behind the large glacier. "They are all idiots."

Zen had a disapproving glare in his eyes, he knew they would just attack recklessly. A sudden movement caught his attention, not too far from where he crouched.

The cat-like monster raised its paw, claws extended. It delivered a final blow to Leo knocking him out cold, the monster then continued its search from earlier. Letting out low chirps calling for something.

Zen had stayed frozen in his spot watching them all get knocked out by a few swipes of the monster's paw. He now made his way to the thing that caught his attention earlier. Upon getting closer, Zen saw a smaller version of the monster laying on the ground, blood-staining the snow.

"You must be what the monster is looking for?" Zen kneeled beside the small monster, looking at the deep wound on its back. "What caused this?" There were small jagged pieces of ice, embedded into the cub's back. Blood kept trickling down.

The cub let out inaudible chips in response to its mother's calls. Zen hovered his hand over the cub, whose green eyes had been tracking Zen's movements, it let out a low growl.

Zen's eyes widened, "Easy there little one, I'm here to help." Zen moved his hand back over to the cub's wounded back. The cub shot up swiping its small paw, and scratching Zen's right arm. He inspected the swallow scratch, looking at the cub who fell flat into the snow, not strong enough for another surprise attack.

"Feisty little tike, now let's get you cleaned up, your mother is looking for you." Zen removed his bag, taking out his water bottle, strips of cloth, and a vial of healing potion.

Zen held down the cub with one and removed the shards of ice with another. Removing all of the shards, while the cub squirming and growling trying to get out of Zen's grip. Once he was done with that, Zen washed out the wound and then wrapped it in clean strips of cloth.

"They almost better, no for this." Zen pried open the vial. "Since your so small, you'll only need half of it." While he held the vial to the cub's nose, its pink nose twitched as it smelled the contents.

The cub turned its head away. "Come now, I know it smells bad, but bitter medicine is good for you." Zen grabbed the scruff of the cub's neck, forcing the vial into the cub's mouth. The cub squirmed, trying to get out of Zen's iron grip hold. Zen tipped the vial up letting half of the contents down into the cub's throat.

"They're all done, you'll be a bit sleepy soon. I'm going to get your mother's attention." Zen packed everything back into his bag while the cub glared at him with half-lidded eyes.

Making his way to where he last saw the cub's mother, he paced by several glaciers before he spotted her. "HEY!" Zen waved his arms, trying to get her attention. Once he got it. "Follow me, I know what you are looking for." Zen began moving in the cub's direction while making sure she followed him.

Once they arrived, Zen stood to the side letting the mother pass him. She left deep imprints in the snow as she made her way to her cub, looking relieved. "You don't always have to attack everything that moves Leo."

Zen looked towards the unconscious group of the adventures. The mother looked towards Zen, her eyes thanking him before she disappeared. Zen began to make his way past the adventures, thinking that some of them were still unconscious.

Leo looked through squinted eyes, his brow furrowing as Zen passed him. Once Zen was out of site Leo sat upright. "So that bastard had followed us, and now he leaves us all to die and bleed out. Cures his existence and for being here, I won't let him live next time I see him." Leo's knuckles were as white as the snow.

"GET UP NOW! Compared to the dragon this is nothing." Leo ordered, and sounds of groaning were heard all around.

"Leo, did Zen leave us to die?" Laurie's voice was small as she looked in the direction that Zen had disappeared into.

"Yes, now heal us so we can catch up." Leo had not looked at Laurie as he spoke.

Laurie's heart felt heavy as she did what she was ordered to do. The others heard their conversation, their heads hung unsure of what to do, Zen had saved them a couple of times before.

Zen was steadily making his way towards the next cavern, while he took out the little snow monster, the difference between the cat monster was, they had gems embedded in their chest. Zen happily took them out without hesitancy or restraint, he had heard the conversation and words spoken by all of them.

His instincts were never wrong, he had stood behind a large rock, hiding his body and shadow. Even though Laurie was over-attentive, he began to feel something towards her, something he had not felt in years. But seeing someone else's arms around her, extinguished that feeling fast.

That's why he was now mercilessly towards the snow monsters that threw themselves at him. By the time he was done he was out of breath and near the exit of this cavern. Two large glaciers stood near the exit, Zen knew exactly what it was.

He waited, as he began to feel resentment in his heart for helping those adventures. Their true intentions were revealed very earlier. Zen felt something bubble deep within himself even though he was taught differently from when he was young.