Chapter 7: Reunited

Monkey wrapped the cloak tightly around him. The air grew colder as the snow continued to fall. And by the twelve did Monkey hate the cold. He was forced to remain outside in the center of the fort. Where the rest of the Bhediya can keep an eye on him. Oh boy, did they not like him. Every time he looked in one of their direction, they returned it with an angry glare and a snarl. Monkey just didn’t understand, he just wanted to see his brother. How was he supposed to know that the war was still going?

“they’re just mad that you were able to get this close without them noticing” Black Monkey appeared on his right.

“did you see the look on their face when you made your appearance? Oh man. I mean, Bhediya are prideful creatures, just like the Draco's. but it was priceless regardless, even more hilarious when the big guy missed with that giant ax of his.” Black monkey continued to brag.

Monkey couldn’t help but smile as he held the hood closer to himself trying to warm up. Annoyingly while that guy missed Monkey, he did split the hood Monkey was wearing when he traveled here. So here he was, using a half-torn hood to keep warm. Could be worse he supposed.

“Wasn't so funny when that woman almost killed us” Grey monkey sat down on the opposite side.

“let not forget, tension are high right now. Remember they’re waging a war against their former king. Its understandable everyone would be on edge. And they don’t know whether we’re friend or foe.” Grey monkey finished his statement.

Monkey thoughts were interrupted as what remains of his hood was roughly snatch away from him.

“hey, what your pro-”

A long white fur coat smacked him in the face.

“that should keep you warm” Wolf said as he sat beside Monkey. Holding out a cup towards him.

“here, some nice warm tea.”

Monkey quickly put on the coat and gratefully took the cup. He carefully took a sip then stopped as if he just been burned. Blowing on it to cool it off. Wolf just laughed.

“I don’t believe. You’re literally freezing your ass off and that tea too hot for you? Aren’t you a fire user? Isn't heat your thing?” Wolf teased.

“Can’t help it. I got a cat tongue” Monkey replied, taking another, longer sip of his drink.

“c'mon now. A cat tongue? What kind of saying is that? I swear you’re the only one who uses it.” Wolf continued to joke.

“hey, hey I’m sure plenty of people say it! They're some who have very sensitives tongues” Monkey defended himself

“riiiight. Sensitives tongue. You haven’t changed one bit”

Wolf couldn’t hold back his laughter. Neither could Monkey. Right now, it almost felt like they were back at the cathedral.

“seems like you two are enjoying yourselves”

The woman who attacked Monkey took a seat across from them.

“so, Wolf, going to introduce me to your...friend?” the woman asked

The air suddenly grew tense. Wolf suddenly grew serious. Monkey almost thought he was about to cut the woman down. Apparently, the rest of the Bhediya thought so too. Everyone was on guard. Everyone except the woman.

“now, now no need to get hostile towards your own mother wolf” She said.

Monkey jaw dropped, Wolf continued to glare at her.

“Monkey, this is Carmilla. Leader of the rebellion and yes, my mother. Carmilla this is Monkey. My brother”

He said the last statement in a threatening tone.

“oooooh. Your brother?” she stared at monkey, measuring him.

“I don’t remember giving birth to a Houzi” she waved her hand, signaling to the rest that there was no need for concern.

Wolf relaxed. Monkey drank more of his tea. Even though it seemed his very life was just on the line, he couldn’t help but be intrigued by what was happening before him. Wolf rarely spoke about his mother. Only explaining how she led a revolt against their king.

She leaned forward, eyes narrowed as she continued to stare at Monkey. A small smile playing at her lips.

“I’m curious, what brings you all the way out to this frozen land?” she asked.

Monkey took another sip of his tea.

“I just came to see wolf.”

They stood silence for awhile.

“that all?” she asked

“that’s all” he told her.

Wolf tried to hold back a laugh.

Carmilla was stunned. Not by monkey answer but by Wolf reaction. She never seen her son laugh before.

“tell me, Monkey. What do you know about the dog kingdom and its ruler?” she asked.

“Not much. Just that you started a war against your own nation.”

Monkey couldn’t help but take a few looks around. Noticing a group of kutta survivors were surrounded by the Bhediya

At that remark Carmilla glances briefly at Wolf.

“yes, and do you know why?”

Monkey wondered why she kept questioning him. Did she still think he was a spy or something?

“From what I’ve been told, you’re doing all of this for your people sake.” he answered.

Again, Carmilla looked at Wolf, this time however Monkey could make out what that she was happy. but Wolf looked away.

“Regardless of the reasons a traitor is still a traitor” Wolf told her.

Monkey felt like he should leave them alone to talk this over, but they were outside, already surrounded by Carmilla’s own troop. So, privacy mattered little in this very moment.

Carmilla nodded “Yes, regardless of the reasons. A traitor is still a traitor.”

Her eyes carried a determined looked in them now.

“if I am to be called a traitor, so be it. But I won't stand by letting my people suffer. Which is why, Monkey, You have to leave.”

Monkey didn’t know what to say to that. But it was clear on her face that she wasn’t joking.

“We’re close. After all these years of hiding, recruiting others for our cause, we’re now waging an all-out war against them. And we’re winning. Just one more push. We march on to the very heart of the Kutta Kingdom. Akita Castle. That is where Lord Ti Shin is. The ruler of this kingdom. Once he is dead, I plan to lead our nation to a better future. One where my people aren’t subjugated anymore.”

Monkey was confused, is this the same woman that Wolf hated all those years. Yet, when monkey looks at Wolf. He can see the hatred in his eyes. But why? It seemed all this woman want is for her people to be treated fairly.

“It’s true, Carmilla wants the Bhediya to be respected and treated the same as the Kutta.” Wolf finally spoke. “But don’t let that blind you to the truth about this woman, The only thing she respects. Is Power.”

Carmilla smiled

Wolf continued,

“Not many outside would know this, But Lord Ti Shin has very little trust in the Bhediya race. Treated us like outcasts. Making sure our race was always on the Frontlines. In The battle against the Black Beast it was our people that got slaughtered like pigs. While the kutta stayed in the back. Safe. But the one who continued to feed his paranoia, The one who decided to make true all his worst fears about us. Is none other then Carmilla herself. She’s ambitious, she always wanted the throne for herself. Believing that Lord Ti Shin is just a proxy”

The more Wolf spoke on the matter, the angrier he gets. Monkey never seen this side of Wolf before.

“Carmilla continued to question his judgement, disobeying his orders whenever she felt like it. A regular soldier would’ve been beheaded. But not Carmilla, she won too many battles for our nation. Repelled any invaders constantly. Bhediya and Kutta respected her. She was too valuable. But... It was her constant act of defiance that even had some of the Kutta question their own king. And Ti Shin did not like that, which is why he made things harder for the Bhediya.”

Wolf took a deep breath. Calming himself.

“Well...you make it sound like I’m the villain here.” Carmilla held the same expression the entire time Wolf spoke.

“while I agree my relation with Lord Ti Shin was.... strained. He was slowly killing us over time. Was I just supposed to sit back and let him butcher our people? While his stayed back, where it was safe. No. I refuse.”

“No, we were gaining his trust. Even his son, Lord Ti lin sided with us against his father’s irrational judgement. It may have taken some time. But surely Ti Shin would eventually see that we were not his enemy.” Wolf insisted.

Carmilla stared at Wolf. “Interesting to hear you say that, does that mean you’re going to betray us s second time?”

Wolf looked away as Carmilla continued,

“That day would never come, and I refuse to wait until Lord Ti Lin ascended to the throne. Not when I can make a change now.”

Monkey finally spoke interrupting the two. “Everything I’m hearing right now. Is telling me that you intentionally push him into a corner. Why continue to fight against every order? To disobey on a whim? To constantly have the people doubt in his own ability to lead? From the way things sound. You forced him into a corner where he believed he had no choice.”

Carmilla didn’t respond right away. She signaled one of her soldiers over. It was the giant brute who attacked Monkey earlier.

“Yes milady?” he asked.

“let the captives go. Let them go to Akita Castle. Unharmed. Gather the other generals as well and prepare couriers. I’ll be over soon to discuss our assault” she ordered.

“At Once” He responded. And went off to carry out her orders.

“Power is everything in this world.” she said with conviction.

“I once, believed that in time our lord could be convinced not to see us as a threat to his rule. But as proud Warriors willing to die for our Nation. But even before I started questioning his judgement. The treatment of our people wasn’t getting any better. In fact, it was worsening. At the time. I couldn’t make sense of it all. Why treat all Bhediya like this? Why isolate us from the rest? What have we done to deserve such treatment?”

Her eyes seemed to looked pass Monkey. Sadness shown in them as she seemed to be remembering the past. Wolf noticed as well, his face once showing his fury now turning to sympathy.

“then I realized, that our lord didn’t hold any true power at all. Easily swayed by those in his court. Easily frighten by those who sworn to protect him. A true ruler, doesn’t hide behind people or politics. Ti Shin is no longer my king.” her eyes now mirrored Wolf’s fury.

“and I will slay not just him but his entire court as well.”

She got up to leave.

“you may have fought creatures of the wild but fighting in an actual battle is different, and I won't risk my plans being ruined by a Houzi”

She left to speak with her generals.

In truth, Monkey didn’t expect the war to still be going on. But, could he really leave now knowing that Wolf could die in this battle?

~

It feels like years.

“how long has it been since I’ve seen wolf” Monkey thought to himself.

Monkey couldn't help but notice how serious wolf had become. Or maybe, this was how he was before they met.

Wolf’s whole demeanor was different. Less relax, more tense. And the outfit he was wearing...all black

The sword he used to carry was gone. Replaced by a smaller one. On his back.

“you going to say something or just stare at me all day?”

Wolf’s words snap Monkey back to reality

“I know I know. I can be quite charming. But c'mon now don’t, let my beauty distract you?”

Monkey laughs at Wolf

“oh yeah, because I came all this way just to gaze at your beauty.”

“no, you came all this way because you got lonely”

“shit” Monkey thought.

“HA! I knew it!...I’m going to kill the black beast. I’m going to avenge my father and uncle”

Wolf took a more serious tone. Mimicking Monkey when they were younger.

“the moment you left, it dawned on you how big the world really is huh?”

Monkey looked down.

“yeah. It was all so clear, inside those walls. Go out, become a mercenary, hunt down the black beast and kill it. But the moment I left. The moment I was finally outside. I had no idea where to go or where to even start. The cathedral was all I ever known for the longest. I’ve had no other home since coming there. Hell, my old home most likely isn't there anymore.”

Monkey hasn’t even thought about his home for years. Was he just supposed to live a life journeying?

Sounded nice. But when all said and done it’d be nice to have a place to call his own.

Monkey looked at his brother, Wolf.

“how have you been? I didn’t think this war would still be going on.”

“yeah, my mother been busy over the years. Convincing the other clans to join her cause. Slowly crippling the king, making the people lose faith in him” Wolf once again gotten that serious look on his face as it seem he made a decision.

“I’m.....not here for my mother. Or for my people. I’m here for revenge against a king that tried to kill me”