A Zusi's Path

Chapter 9: Corruption

 (Art of 5k10L by CommanderWolfie on DeviantArt )

Upon waking up, Re3x0 jumped out of bed before anyone else was awake. And he darted outside, feeling the wet grass beneath his paws. The wind in his face, he was ready for whatever the day brought. Just as he was about to leave his yard he heard his name being called. "Re3x0!", Rw63y called out as she ran up to him and gave him a friendly shove on the shoulders.

"Sorry I forgot to get back with you yesterday, I got a bit busy", she apologized. Re3x0 nodded, "Oh, it's alright. I was about to go down the road for a bit, I met these guys yesterday and they seemed cool", he admitted.

"Oh.. I am guessing you're going to see them?", she asked tilting her head. "Yeah, I'll be back in a bit to hang out with you! Just don't tell my brother where I went", he said to her before dashing off to the building where the three were. Rw63y just stood there a bit disappointed, "Oh, alright. See ya later!", she said before she went back to her yard.

Re3x0 dashed through the streets he made his way towards the building he was at yesterday. He managed to get back at the broken glass and damaged building, snooping around he saw the three Zusi from yesterday.

"Alright, F4ng1 what are we gonna do about that runt?", 5k01L said looking at his two henchmen. The shorter Zusi responded, "Uh.. How about we beat his face in if he comes back around here!", he suggested as he snickered. "No, there is no 'we' in this situation", 5k01L spoke up. "That runt broke my horn, I want to be the one to end him!", he growled.

Re3x0 heard them talking from a distance, his ear twitches as he can't help but chuckle at the three. "Hey! Come say that to my face", he cackled as he made his presence known to the three. The taller Zusi then jumped up, "Come on R4y1n, let's go get him!", he said before running towards where he heard Re3x0's voice. The shorter Zusi soon followed after his taller counterpart. "You idiots! Where do you think you're going!", 5k01L growled as his two left blindly out the building. Re3x0 watched as the two ran past him while he hid in the bushes, feeling a bit cocky he decided to head closer to the building where the monochrome Zusi was.

As 5k01L paced back and forth in irritation, kicked a rock that was on the ground and it hit the wall. "They better bring the runt alive", he muttered under his breath. "They don't need to bring me", Re3x0 spoke up and stepped away from his corner. He could feel the tension in the room the moment him and the other make eye contact. "Foolish mistake runt! You better start running now", 5k01L snarled as he was about to charge at Re3x0. "I was thinking I could hang out with you, that's what I was trying to do yesterday", Re3x0 said as he prepared himself to run away from the scene with full speed.

5k01L narrowed his eyes on Re3x0, "What would make you want to join us?", he asked in a low tone. Re3x0 gave a shrug, "I am bored really. My brother is a pain, my dad does nothing with us, and my friend is a girl", he answered, not taking his eyes off the older Zusi. "And uh.. Sorry about your horn, I didn't mean to do that, I was just-". 5k01L cut him off, "No, no need to apologize. It is quite alright", 5k01L gave a nod. "Water under the bridge", he added on. Re3x0 nodded, his ears perking up slightly, hearing a few twigs break behind him he quickly running into the building and faced to where the sound came from.

Both R4y1n and F4ng1 came walking into the building, both laughing to themselves. "Looks like the boss got him here without us!", F4ng1 said, glaring at Re3x0. "Go on! We'll make sure he doesn't escape", R4y1n said rubbing his paws together.

"No need boys, the little runt wants to join us", 5k01L said with a smirk on his muzzle. "What's your name runt?", he asked looking down at him. "My name..", he started before taking a step forward. "My name is Re3x0", he said boldly holding his head high. "Well, Re3x0. You want to join us here now? Well, it ain't that easy you have to pass a test", F4ng1 said bouncing up and down slightly. "What kind of test?", Re3x0 asked tilting his head slightly.

"Oh nothing too difficult. We just want to see what you're willing to do already", 5k01L said as he stepped closer to Re3x0. "I just want you to bring us a little due, bring us 50 gold. I don't care where you get it, just get it to us by the end of the day", he instructed. Taken aback by the amount, of gold he was asking. "What? How can I possibly bring you that much gold by the end of the day!", he exclaimed. "Sounds like a personal problem", F4ng1 sneered. "You better get going", 5k01L said before he unsheathed his claws and got ready to chase Re3x0 out. "And you better not come back unless you have that gold", he growled.

Standing there thinking for a moment, Re3x0 nodded and then on all fours left the building. "Do you think he can get the gold boss?", R4y1n asked looking up at 5k01L. "I highly doubt it, takes us a week to get that much", 5k01L answered.

Re3x0 was walking back towards his house. 'How on Proxima am I going to get that much gold...' he wondered to himself before entering his house, when he figured something out. There was a safe in the floor of the den's main room that had their savings. "I just need a little bit of it", Re3x0 muttered to himself as he padded towards the main room. Lifting the stone plate that covered the safe, he pulled out a box and he opened. 'Only take what you need' he thought to himself as he looked inside.

Seeing a bunch of gold chunks, gold lined cloth, and even ancient battle gear that was worth more than their home. His eyes widened at the beautiful sight he saw. Grabbing two pawfuls of gold he then put it in his coat and quickly hid his tracks. Putting the box and stone back where they were before dashing outside.

Once he was outside the house he put the gold on the ground to count it. Seeing he had grabbed 143 worth of gold he split the 50 gold he needed and then hid the rest, buried outside his window. He was going to give the three what they wanted, and he made his way back towards the abandoned building.