The Star Within (Poohpavel)

Chapter 10

Disclaimer:
This chapter contains cats' violence

Totally not driven by his own instincts, Pavel transformed back to human form as he walked out of his condo. Once outside, he sniffed the air more until he was sure where the scent came from. Without waiting for a second, he immediately ran towards the emergency stairs where the scent was strong. Pushing open the door to confront whoever dared threaten and try to harm Pooh, Pavel found himself face to face with the guy who wore the same black raincoat and mask on his face.

Without warning, the figure lunged at him, aiming a punch straight at his jaw. Instinct kicked in, and Pavel managed to dodge the blow just in time. The space cat retaliated by swinging his leg towards the hooded guy, hoping to catch him off guard. To his surprise, the figure was quick on his feet and caught Pavel's leg mid-air with an agility that hinted at years of training. As they stood locked in this precarious position, a flicker of recognition passed through Pavel's mind.

Pavel stumbled backward as the hooded figure launched another attack. His mind was racing as he tried to make sense of the situation. He blocked each strike with precision as he felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. His muscles moved with a fluidity that he hadn't felt in years. It was as if his body had a mind of its own, reacting to the threat before him.

The hooded figure seemed to sense Pavel's confusion and pressed on with ferocity. But Pavel was not about to go down without a fight. With a quick sweep of his leg, he managed to knock the stranger off balance. Taking advantage of the opening, Pavel unleashed a series of punches and kicks, each one landing with precision.

As the fight continued, Pavel's mind drifted back to a time long ago. He remembered the countless hours spent training with his best friend in the art of hand-to-hand combat. The two of them had been inseparable, always pushing each other to be better, stronger, faster. Could it be...?

Elbow strikes, aiming at the opponent's side, then leg swings again - it's all the same! Pavel almost fought with his muscle memory only due to how similar the situation was. He could see the next moves of the hooded guy clearly.

The two combatants continued to exchange blows, each one more fierce than the last. The emergency stairwell echoed with the sound of their grunts and the sharp impact of their strikes. But Pavel was in his element, tapping into the muscle memory that he had ingrained through years of training.

With one final burst of energy, Pavel countered the stranger's onslaught with a series of well-placed strikes. The hooded figure staggered back, his defenses faltering. Sensing an opportunity, Pavel seized his moment and delivered a decisive blow that sent the stranger crashing to the ground.

Keeping his opponent on the floor with his weight, Pavel's eyes widened once he pulled the mask away from the stranger.

Pavel's heart raced as he looked down at the face of his opponent, the face of a person he never thought he would see again. It had been years since he had last seen his best friend, and now here he was, lying defeated under Pavel. Memories flooded back to Pavel - memories of the close bond they had shared growing up, memories of the day he had disappeared without a trace.

As the guy under him groaned on the ground, Pavel's mind raced with questions. Why had he disappeared? Where had he been all these years? And most importantly, why had he resurfaced now, why was he attempting to harm Pooh?!

"What's all of this, Chen!" Pavel shouted to the person under him who smirked as he locked his eyes with his old friend. Pavel could see Joong's eyes filled with a mix of hatred and pain.

"Took you long enough, Vel!" Joong sneered, pushing Pavel off of him with a strength that surprised Pavel. The force of the shove sent Pavel sprawling on the ground, his head spinning with a mix of emotions. Pavel stayed on the ground, his head hanging low as he tried to take a grip of himself. The other feline removed his hood, revealing the pair of cat ears that Pavel had always been familiar with.