Ch. 11: Vengeance & Forgiveness

“So I assume that whatever was going on out there, it’s all resolved?” Romotan glared at the two of them, and Aspect and Frostbite nodded numbly.

“So long as that creep’s gone, I’m fine,” Frostbite muttered under her breath.

“Well, then.” The rat sighed and rubbed his brow. “Now, concerning Dragonscale. I’ve heard lots of stories about it myself. Mien, I assume you’ve heard the tales of treasure that lies in the temple there?”

Aspect nodded. “Yes, but that’s not why I need to go there.”

Romotan gave him a long look. “...I won’t press you,” He murmured slowly. “But I must warn you that, while I can tell you about what you could find there, I can’t tell you how to get there.”

“WHAT! Then what are we supposed to do?” Frostbite asked. “Do you happen to know a guide who could take us there?”

“...I only know one person who’s been there,” Romotan replied. “His name is Venge. Tall, muscular and surly. He’s a smooth talker, but a dirty fighter. If you make him upset he’ll beat you to a pulp in a matter of seconds.”

“We can deal with that.” Frostbite scoffed. “What’s he look like?”

“Pale green with darker markings and a black ‘X’ mark on his hair. He wears a brown bandage over his left eye.”

The Blacklai Fox’s eyes widened, and she scowled. “...Crap. It’s that creep from outside! Hard pass, dude. Any chance there might be anyone else you know of?”

Romotan shook his head, and Frostbite slumped forward, muttering to herself.

Aspect glanced at her sadly, and spoke again. “...She’s… really shaken up from earlier, Romotan. She needs time to recover. But, in the meantime… Do you suppose you might have a room for us to stay in? We slept in the woods overnight, and we could make up for it.”

The rat smiled fondly at them. “Of course. Follow me.”

He led them down the hall and stopped in front of a door to one of the rooms. “Now, we’re pretty full at the moment, so you’ll just have to make do with what we have.”

Before Aspect could ask, the rat opened the sliding door to reveal a small, simple room, with a white bed and a table beside it. A little window let in some light.

“...It’s really nice, Romotan,” Aspect commented. “No need to act so bashful.”

Frostbite slid in beside him and smiled, taking it all in. Meanwhile Romotan was quietly sneaking off before they noticed. Something was off…

And Aspect noticed with a jolt. “Erm- what? We need two beds, Romotan. Huh?” He whipped around to find the rat shutting the door with a click.

“ROMOTAN, YOU RAT!” Frostbite snarled angrily, banging on the door. “You knew exactly what you were doing!”

“No refunds!” The rat called from somewhere outside. “Sorry, ehe!”

Frostbite banged on the door for a while before finally hanging her head in defeat. “What a sewer rat,” She muttered. “First our guide is supposed to be some ruffian, then the innkeeper thinks he can play a twisted game of mix and match! Is this place only filled with lunatics?”

Aspect, who had been standing there with his face flushed red, dared to step toward his friend softly. “Frostbite, I… I apologize. I didn’t know-”

“Shut up.” She snarled, whirling around to face him. Then her face softened. “...There’s no need to apologize. You did nothing wrong. Aspect, I… I’ve treated you like dirt.”

Tears formed at the corners of her eyes like little diamonds, and Aspect couldn’t think of anything that was more precious or saddening than the sight of them. “You’ve been nothing but kind to me,” She continued shakily. “You were only trying to keep me out of trouble earlier, with that Venge dude. I don’t deserve you, and I don’t know if you’ll ever forgive me. I think-”

“-Frostbite.” Aspect said gently. “There’s something you need to understand. Nobody’s perfect.”

“Yes, I know! But… I yelled at you. I keep getting us into these weird situations. I feel like a terrible friend.”

“...Maybe that’s what you think,” He conceded, “But reality is a different story. No matter how many times you mess up, you’ll always be my best friend, Frost. Nothing could ever change that.”

Frostbite was quiet for a while, only staring up at Aspect with an unreadable expression. Finally she let a smile cross her face. “That… was really wholesome, actually. I… could I… give you a hug?”

Aspect felt his heart skip a beat, not expecting her to say this, but before he could open his mouth in reply, the pretty Blacklai Fox threw herself against him, wrapping her slender arms around his neck. “You’re an amazing friend, ‘Spect.”

Aspect stood there, letting her hug him, while sweat poured down his face and his heart raced a hundred miles an hour. Finally he let out a contented sigh and sniffed her hair deeply, embracing her back. Holy stars, she smells like vanilla and honey.

After some time Frostbite pulled away, looking up at him shyly. “...Thanks. I needed that. Everything that’s been going on… it’s shaken me up a ton.”

Aspect willed himself to try and speak coherently, an idea suddenly crossing his mind. “...Frost?”

“Yes?”

“How did this Venge character act towards you?”

The contented look on Frostbite’s face instantly vanished, to be replaced with unease and disgust. She shivered. “Super creepy. The minute he walked in through the door and saw me, he wouldn’t leave me alone. I won’t stand for that, you know.”

“I know,” He reassured her. “Listen. Since Romotan said that Venge is the only one around here who knows the way to Dragonscale, how about I go ask him myself?”

“But-”

“It’s okay. You’ll stay here.”

The Blacklai Fox still looked uneasy, but some of it seemed to fade when she saw Aspect’s resolve. She felt a rush of admiration come over her. “Thanks, ‘Spect. You’re the best.”

Aspect felt his face flush red again, and he shrugged. “Well, you’re my friend. We look out for each other, right? Anyways, I’m going off to find him. If you need anything, go talk to Romotan, okay?”

He opened the door and left, shutting it behind him. Frostbite stared after him, an unusual warm, ticklish feeling bubbling up in her chest. She let a warm smile cross her face and she sighed dreamily. “Maybe sharing a bed wouldn’t be so bad after all,” She mused.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aspect stepped outside of the inn and stood for a moment, basking in the warm afternoon air. Venge was nowhere to be seen, but after hearing Romotan’s words about the green fox’s occasional appearances in the village, he felt it would be wise to ask a regular in the area. So he looked around.

He immediately spotted a short rose-colored cat, with a ginger braid trailing behind her head. She was pushing a food cart, and appeared to be selling noodles.

Aspect padded towards her and cleared his throat, and the cat turned to look at him. “Excuse me, miss. I need to ask you something.”

The cat smiled warmly. “Of course! What would you like?”

Before Aspect could gladly answer, she added, “I’ve got tons of piping hot noodles, just begging to be eaten! I’m selling them for two Yukkin a small, and five Yukkin a large! ‘Course, you could always get the deluxe meal, which includes lots and lots of healthy vegetables and delicious fish, for only ten Yukkin! What’ll be, Mister?” As the black fox stared at her in confusion, she picked up some chopsticks and waved them in front of his face. “If you throw in 2 extra Yukkin I’ll give you some high-quality utensils! More quality for less price, I tell you! Made of only the finest bamboo Nideryn can provide! AND I’ll throw in a free egg! You can’t beat THAT, now can you, Mister?”

“I’m sorry,” Aspect finally broke in. “I’m actually here because… erm…” For now the delectable smell of the food was getting to him, and a grumble from his lean stomach reminded him that he hadn’t eaten that day. He was working up an appetite.

“It can wait.” He finished shortly, fishing around in his cloak for some spare change that Frostbite had shared with him a while ago. “Can I have the large?”

Her face lit up at the prospect of a willing customer. “Of course, Mister! Here you are!” She handed him a bowl of piping hot noodles after he handed her the correct change, and he stood for a moment, scarfing down the food.

“You must’ve been hungry, Mister,” The cat observed, watching him eat. “You eat like a pack of wolves! Anything else you’d like?”

Aspect slurped up the last of his noodles and nodded. “Yes, actually. Do you happen to know somebody named Venge?”

To his surprise the rosy cat suddenly got a dreamy, faraway look in her pale golden eyes. “Oh, him? Ahh… I could never forget a handsome face like his… Of course I know who he is! He’s the traveler that comes to Xaisuki once every two moons. Why do you ask?”

“I’m looking for him. Have you any idea where he might be?”

The cat thought for a moment. Then she nodded slowly. “...He was in front of the Setting Sun Inn roughly half an hour ago. But then he went to a woodworking shop, then left that and headed outside the village. There’s a tree on a hill that overlooks the south side of Xaisuki. He likes to go sit under there and carve stuff out of wood. He’s quite good at it.” She gave another long, dreamy sigh and slitted her eyes.

Aspect gave her a long look. “How do you know what he does there?”

She jumped. “OH! Um… I just like to watch him, is all. He’s so dreamy…”

The black fox only shook his head slowly and turned from her. “Thanks for the help, Miss…?”

“-It’s Catherine.” Catherine interrupted, swishing her tail. “And I’m happy to help! Who are you, anyway?”

“Mein.” Aspect answered shortly before appearing out of sight from behind a building.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a hill overlooking the village of Xaisuki, Venge sat under an ash tree, silently carving a figure out of wood. After some time he held it up in the sunset light, admiring his handiwork, which was a curiously designed dragon. Yet his expression never changed.

Then he flicked his ears. Someone was coming towards him. He lifted his head and saw a cloaked figure standing before him, his straw hat darkening the upper half of his face so that Venge couldn’t read his expression. His blue cloak and scarf flowed out behind him in the evening wind, so that he seemed ten times more majestic in the fiery light than he would’ve in the village.

Before Venge could say anything to assert himself, the figure spoke.

“Are you Venge?”

The green fox stared at the black fox for a long moment, not putting down his handiwork. “...Depends on what you need him for, kid.” He replied brusquely. He fully intended to use the term ‘kid’ to assert himself as the clear head in this situation, and so wanted to maintain control.

The figure stared at him with unseen eyes. “I was told that you knew the way to Dragonscale, and you had been there yourself many times before.”

“Then I daresay you’ve come to the right place.” Suddenly Venge glared at him more closely with his good eye. “...Hold it. I recognize you now. You’re the dude who was hanging with the hot blue chick back at the Inn.”

Aspect flipped back his scarf defiantly, standing tall and regal compared to the handsome ruffian sitting idly before him. “About that. She wants nothing to do with you. You made her feel unsafe and, frankly, uncomfortable. Leave her alone, got it?”

Venge stared at him for a long moment, before letting a devious, sly smirk cross his chiseled face. “...Oh. I see how it is.” He rose to his feet and glared down at the Black Warrior. “Looks as if I’ve got some competition.”

Suddenly he lashed out, striking Aspect square in the jaw and knocking him backward. As the Black Warrior fell, Venge came on top and pinned him down by his wrists, a low growl rumbling deep within his throat. “Listen here, punk.” He hissed into his face, his hot musty breath fanning his whiskers back. “Nobody tells me what I can or can’t do, especially not a puny worm like you. Got that?”

Aspect never lost his head for a second, and he glared up into his opponent’s face defiantly, a scowl playing at the edges of his bloody torn lips.

“...If all you can do is bust my lip, then I’m hardly impressed.” The black fox said quietly, never blinking. “Besides, someone has to learn boundaries.”

Venge’s fur flared at that comment. “Oh, now you’re really asking for it.”

He briefly let go of one of Aspect’s wrists and went to strike him in the face, but Aspect shifted so that he hit the grass patch instead. Then while he was in position, he shifted his knee so that it was square with Venge’s crotch. Then he drove it upward as quick and hard as he could.

Venge’s eyes widened in pain, and he let out a small shriek and stumbled off of him, clutching his nether regions while tears streamed down his face. “You little punk!” He screamed shakily, staring wild-eyed at his opponent. “You’ll pay for that! How about I rid you of your manhood, too?!”

He began to crawl to his feet but was pushed back against the tree. A sword was tantalizingly close to his exposed throat, keeping him trapped unless he wanted to have his throat slitted.

The Black Warrior spoke quietly, and now his voice became horrific to Venge, sending chills down his spine. “Listen here, Venge. I’m not going to have you bully my friend or I. If you thought you could, I suggest you think again.”

“Bullying? Who’s bullying?” Venge stammered, inching up against the tree while keeping his eye on the blade at his throat. “Last I checked, I never threatened to slit your throat.”

“I haven’t. But that doesn’t mean I won’t.” Aspect replied simply. Then he sighed, almost tiredly as he shut his eyes for a brief moment.

Then he opened them again. “Look. I never meant to start a fight. In fact I’m trying to prevent one. You disrespected my friend earlier, and I don’t know how other girls are with you, and whether or not they consented or enjoyed that, but she didn’t. And if I didn’t close her off from you, she would kill you. Literally. Kill you. Understand that I’m trying to do you a favor.”

Venge opened his mouth to speak, but Aspect continued, “And no, I’m not going to let you go if you promise to leave her alone. For one, you’ll most likely just start harassing her again as soon as I turn my back. And secondly, we still have unfinished business to tend to.”

He pressed the flat of the blade against Venge’s throat so that it rubbed against the muscular folds of his fur. It took Venge all he had not to flinch.

“Now, tell me.” Aspect spoke quietly. “What is the way to Dragonscale?”

Instead of answering immediately, Venge scrunched up his snout and glared at him, angry that he had been beaten by the mysterious warrior. “You’re too clever for your own good, kid, I have to give it to you.”

The Black Warrior was unfazed by his reluctant praise. “Maybe that’s for the best, seeing as you aren’t the sharpest blade in the smith shop. But I was never here for empty flattering. Now, tell me. How do I get to Dragonscale?”