The Treasure of Change

Chapter 1 - Alone

The smell of jasmine rice emits from a Japanese rice cooker, ready and being put into two separate bowls; a Yin Yang bowl and Flame bowl. Closing the rice cooker, I walk over to the house's staircase, where an orange and black Hedgetiger with flaming eyes sits, quiet and stressed. I hand him the bowl and he looks, smiling ruefully and taking it with his chopsticks. I sit beside him with my own bowl, hardly touching the rice, much as the Hedgetiger.

"What are we going to do?" I finally asked, looking at him. "I'm not sure, it's just too sudden...," the tiger responds in his scratchy voice, "I just know we need to get new recruits or we can't hunt." I grimace at his last words. It's not like Cody to sulk, or not eat. I clearly remember the event that put us in this situation.

~Flashback - 3 days ago~

A drunken Kitsune with long blonde hair and stunning white and hot pink clothing staggers into the living room, I watched from the kitchen, where I was helping Cody with the cooking. "Kiss? Where have you been?" Cody asked, however, getting no reply from the curvy Kitsune, but a hiccup. She continues to clumsily strut her way up the stairs until stopped by our leader, Biten. Biten is a no non-sense leader, so things were going to get ugly.

"I see you're finally back, are you pregnant too?" Biten sarcastically questioned with his icily tone. "None of your business, Hedgewolf!" Kiss remarks, with a few hiccups in her slurred sentence. "This habit is out of control, Kiss. You either stop this or you're fired. I've been far too nice with your other chances."

"Yeah? Like I need your job to be happy! I can always quit if I wanna!" "Then why don't you? Better yet, why don't you just get your bags now and go?" I had to hold onto Cody's arm in fear, Biten's voice reeked the hints of pure anger. "Know what!? I will! Your sorry pale ass will regret it too!" Kiss yelled, shoving Biten away as she stormed into her room.

Biten let out a deep growl that sent shivers around me. Cody even gulped and kept quiet. We just continued to cook when Biten walked in. "Cody, when Kiss leaves, read the note on my desk." "Yes sir." Cody responded, raising an eyebrow at Biten's order. With that, Biten left the house with a slam.

I was finally able to breath, holding my chest as I sighed. "You too huh?" Cody asked, "I don't blame you, Kiss has been doing nothing but club for the past week. Leaving me to the cooking since Rendezvous can't cook for his life." I couldn't help but giggle at Cody's tone about Rendezvous. They're always at each other with jokes and sarcastic remarks. "Well Mr. Cook, let's just finish up dinner, then you go read that thing Biten left for you." I commented, thus, we continued cooking, deciding on easy teriyaki stir fry.

After dinner, Cody excused himself from the table of three; Rendezvous, him, and me. He walked upstairs and out of our sight. "Oi Racer, what happened with Biten and Kiss? I kept hearing yelling!" Rendezvous questioned with his usual Australian accent. "Kiss got drunk and Biten blew up at her. I'm just worried about Biten now, we waited as long as we could until dinner got cold, but he's still not here." I explained, ears tilted back from my worry. "He's likely relaxing. Oh, but hey! I got a call from Dasht-i-Margo back at the Oz! He gave me the idea of making a treasure hunting crew in the outback so we can find treasure there!" Rendezvous exclaimed excitedly, his cheerful grin touching ear to ear. "That's great! Is Dasht gonna be the leader?" I replied. "Nope! I be the leader!" Rendezvous grinned, making my smile falter. "You're...leaving the Treasure Crew?" I asked dumbfounded. "Yup, but don't feel bad, Racer, I'll visit whenever I can, promise!" he assured, patting my shoulder. I did my best making a smile for Rendezvous, since he'll likely leave tomorrow, knowing how hasty he is. That's when Cody walked back down, note in hand, and paler than a ghost. "Oi! What happened to ya!?" Rendezvous yelled, obviously concerned. Cody shake his head before replying, "Biten retired, I'm leader now." My eyes widen from both shock and excitement; shocked that Biten left us and excited that Cody is now the leader, but he didn't seem very happy with the news.

After we congratulated Cody, we cleaned up. Rendezvous finished fast to tell Cody his plan, only making the tiger lose more color. Cody forced a smile and approved Rendezvous's request, whom hugged Cody with glee. I laughed at Rendezvous's antics as he bolted up the stairs. Cody walked over to me with a hollow smile, his usually tan muzzle matching Biten's now. "Don't tell me you'll leave too." He asked, still sarcastic, but afraid. "Of course not! Why would I? I'm homeschooled and I like it here with you, Cody! Who knows? You'll likely be a better leader than Biten!" I smiled and hugged the hot-blooded tiger, whom returned the hug with an actual smile. "Hopefully Racer, hopefully..."

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Author's notes-

Holy shiz, I finished it! I finished the FIRST page! This is too awesome! Poor Cody...I know you'll be an awesome leader! But with more than half the hunters gone, we're gonna need more...see what happens next time!