The Silent Guard (mxm)

Chapter 29

Zen focused his ability in his legs as they hurried through the forest. The foliage was growing denser as they moved, forcing him to dart the slightest bit ahead in order to cut through the worst of it with his sword. 

He was just swinging his blade toward a thorn bush when Qi wrapped his arm around his bare waist, then jumped. The sudden change of direction caught Zen off-guard, making him nearly drop his weapon as they abruptly ascended into the canopy of a vibrant green fur tree. 

The cats quickly encircled it on the ground and began shooting up lightning bolts, growing frustrated as Zen and his master landed on a large branch. He was just about to start concentrating on gathering his spiritual power to begin attacking from above when he felt Qi, who had never released his waist, tug him backwards until they were both resting against the main trunk. 

"Behave, my Zen. They will lose interest when they realize they can't get us," Qi said, making Zen glance at him over his shoulder. 

He didn't like the bursts of electricity that were coming dangerously close to them, though. 

Qi slowly slid down the tree trunk, bringing Zen with him until he was situated in his lap. He then, finally, released his middle and gestured toward Zen's purple, crackling weapon. 

"May I, Zen?" 

Of course. 

Zen relinquished his sword immediately, allowing Qi to hold and examine it in front of him as the man leaned forward, his chin hovering just-barely above his shoulder and his chest pressing against Zen's back. 

"I feel as if I am touching a new part of your soul," he whispered after a short bit of silence. "How did this resentful spirit get into the sword I gave you?" 

Zen was just about to respond as he turned to get more comfortable in his master's lap, while also facing him as best he could, when he had to lean forward abruptly and hug Qi to his chest, shielding his head in his arms as they both ducked to avoid a massive lightning bolt from below. It sliced through a piece of the large branch they were on, sending little zaps of electricity into their systems. 

Zen squeezed his eyes closed and coughed a little while Qi tensed, but made no sound. When no more attacks came, Zen hesitantly released his master. The man immediately smiled up at him, a bit of dirt speckled against his left cheek from the lightning blast that had just singed the tree branch. 

He quickly reached up to softly brush it off, but Qi reached up at the same time, aiming to grasp his hand. Zen hesitated when he did so, but before either of them could act further on whatever was going on, an earth-shaking roar rumbled around the entire forest. 

Qi released his hand immediately as the two carefully looked over the edge of the branch they were on. The moment he was able to see down below a creature he'd never seen before, that was easily ten times the size of the panicking felines, came barreling into the scrambling pack. 

It looks like a weasel... and a bear. 

The tannish-brown animal had a large dead cat in its jaws as it stopped beneath them, breathing heavily. It easily stood as high as halfway up the tree, with claws that were at least one foot in length. 

After several tense minutes, it lowered itself back to stand on four legs, then slowly meandered off into the thick underbrush with its kill. At that moment, Zen felt his body finally relax, having not even realized he'd been shaking as he watched the massive beast attack the Shandian cats. 

"That was exciting," Qi said with humor that Zen didn't understand. 

His master slowly stood from their spot, then offered him a hand up. Zen scowled but took it, feeling slightly annoyed at Qi's odd enthusiasm for their poor situation. He was just looking down to figure out how he wanted to descend when he realized that he hadn't even fixed his robe yet, since it had gotten quite disheveled earlier.