A Zusi's Path

Chapter 19: Twisted Words

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The father and son duo were almost home. Re3x0 had just discovered he was destined to become a healer. D6a50 was quite glad to hear about the safe and harmless task, while Re3x0 was completely disappointed.

Outside of the house E4r1c and Rw63y were talking, and he seemed bothered by something though the moment his father and brother showed up within earshot they stopped talking and looked over at them.

"So? How did it go?" Rw63y asked first, her pink eyes shown with a sense of happiness to them.

"He's going to be a healer! Isn't it great?" D6a50 answered, giving Re3x0 a pat on the back. "He is going to be a great one, I can just feel it." He added on, trying to assure Re3x0 that this a good thing.

"I guess." Re3x0 spoke in a low voice.

E4r1c and Rw63y looked at each other and then at Re3x0. "That is great news! That means your future kits may just be healers also! It is mostly genetic that Role is. Proxima knows how badly the Capital needs new healers!" Rw63y added in, going over and giving Re3x0 a friendly side hug.

Perking his ears up slightly, Re3x0 looked at the others. "I didn't want to be a Healer though. I wanted something that I could prove myself! A Warrior or Peacekeeper would have been perfect! Not some sissy Role that no one ever sees you." Crossing his arms he scoffed.

"I personally think being a Healer is a great Role" A deep and raspy voice sounded from behind the Home.

D6a50 quickly turned his attention around to the voice that called out, as did the others. Re3x0 could feel his heart sink, he knew that voice all too well.

After a few moments that felt like an eternity, a black Zusi with white diamond patterns and yellow-green eyes emerged from the shadows of the side of the home. Di3m8 revealed himself, his multi-colored gaze filled with an uneasy sense of confidence.

"Who are you?" E4r1c asked, his green gaze narrowed on the stranger Zusi.

D6a50 stepped towards him,"What are you doing here?" his voice sounded in a commanding growl.

Re3x0 just stayed silent, fear building up in him. He had no idea what Di3m8 was doing here, and wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Oh, I just happened to be in the area and decided to pay my old friend a visit", he sounded with an eerily sly tone, stepping closer the the four Zusi in front of him.

His words causing Re3x0's pulse to start racing, he wasn't going to tell everyone he was still apart of the group is he?

"You have no business here." D6a50's voice was on the verge of raising into a shout, his green eyes burning with hidden hostility. "I have told you last time, I want you nowhere near my sights or my family." Now he was visibly growling, his green claws unsheathed and his fur began to prickle.

As the only response to the threat, Di3m8 only gave a soft chuckle. "Or what? How would the Capital react if they found out you attacked an Honorable Discharged Warrior for just wanting to make small talk? I am no threat." He sneered, a grin forming on his muzzle.

"I have three witnesses that you attacked me first. That you crept up on me and attacked me in cold blood. What would they believe then?" D6a50 growled a challenge. His tail lashing side to side in anger.

Re3x0 sat there dumbfounded and astonished at the same time Di3m8 was actually a Warrior.. He knows dad too? He stood there thinking to himself. Extremely confused by the matter.

"I think you mean two witnesses." Di3m8 said with mockery behind his tone.His gaze not breaking from D6a50.

"Just get lost. I am hoping to have a good day with my family. I don't need you getting in the way of that", D6a50 said. Holding back a snarl from his tone as he tried to calm himself down.

"What is left of it anyway." A sinister smirk formed on the black and white Zusi's features.

Suddenly at those words E4r1c was getting hostile himself, and without a moment's notice he lunged himself at Di3m8. Horns ramming into the older Zusi's side.

Knocked back by the blow, Di3m8 took a moment to recover his balance before charging at E4r1c, his head lowered and he tackled E4r1c. Pinning him to the ground, his claws digging into the forearms of the pinned Zusi.

"No!" Re3x0 accidentally shouted out, he wanted to get involved also but his legs had grown stiff.

D6a50 snarled in anger and lunged at Di3m8, slashing the side of his face with his claws, and using his horns to knock the larger Zusi off his son.

Scrambling to his feet, E4r1c regained his posture and stood next to D6a50. Glaring daggers at him, and starting to catch his breath.

"See there. Your son attacked me first!" Di3m8 growled, his ears flattened as his face stug from the freshly made wound that grazed his face, with a dark golden liquid that came from the wound.

"I think you are mistaken. You attacked me first." E4r1c growled stepping forward, glancing at his father who nodded. D6a50 narrowing his gaze and was about to charge at Di3m8.

Suddenly, with an explosion of energy Re3x0 stood in between his father and Di3m8, suddenly taking the blow head on and their horns crashed together. Re3x0 getting knocked back onto his rear, his head pounding from the blow.

D6a50 looked bewildered, his green eyes widened in shock. "What are you thinking?! Get away from that crook!" D6a50 seemed to screech out.

Re3x0 was not getting up and recovering from his blow, and looked up at D6a50 with squinted eyes as the sun was in his vision.

"He was protecting a friend from unjust treatment." Di3m8 spoke up, a grin on his face and eyes narrowed. "He knows how wrong of your treatment for me is, the proper way a Peacekeeper should act!" He growled, giving a sharp glare to E4r1c.

"I knew it!" E4r1c growled, "You are still with that band of crooks!" He accused, glaring at Re3x0.

His eyes wide, Re3x0 got to his feet. Feeling the rush of heat flood his body. A mixture of embarrassment and anger flooding over him and he is unable to speak.

"What do you mean, crooks?" D6a50 looked over at E4r1c. "A few seasons ago I found out Re3x0 was hanging out with a group of thieves! I confronted him about it but his answer was always that he had left. Now I know that is not true for a fact!" He growled, glaring at Re3x0 and Di3m8.

Rw63y just stood there in silence, her ears drooped as she heard the news. It was obvious this was not new information to her.

Re3x0 just looked astonished, "No! That's not it. I." He started to try and defend himself, feeling completely hopeless on the situation at hand.

"How could you follow someone like him?!" D6a50 shouted, blood pounding in his ears and a snarl escaping from him. "Do you even have any idea what you are doing?!" He continued to chastise.

Just standing there, anger boiling within him. "He has been the only one who wants me to be the best! He is the only one who has actually been there! You leave for Moons at a time and never come back!" Re3x0 snarled, "He wasn't doing any harm, just coming up to talk and you threaten and attack him!" He growled, baring his teeth, his tail lashing and fur bristling with hostility.

Completely shocked by Re3x0's words, D6a50 was standing there dumbfounded and at a loss for words. His fur laid flat and eyes narrowed and tail drooped.