FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

***********

CHAPTER 11

************

Aceh

I stretched and rolled my legs over the side of the bed, the cold stone grasping the pads of my foot-paws with their chilling grip. I looked around the pitch dark room, my sensitive eyes adjusting and picking out the shape of objects. The room was silent apart from the soft snores of Reece who slept in the bed next to mine.

Since discovering the hardships he had suffered to attend training at my dojo I had taken him in. He was currently living with me in the back of the dojo. I had not yet taken him to visit the home I shared with Eric and the others. Partly that was because I didn't like being there when they weren't. It made me worry about them and made me feel helpless in being able to protect them.

Since I had taken the young drake into my care he was showing an improvement in his health. I had made sure to feed him well to regain all the weight he had lost since he had been cast out by his father.

I nudged him with my foot-paw, enticing a groan of discontent from him. He rolled over and pulled the blanket over his head.

"Just a little longer..." He mumbled.

"We need to get ready." I said sternly before turning to get ready for the day.

He got up a few minutes later after another prompt from me, bleary eyed and yawning. Once we were both dressed we proceeded with the morning routine. First starting with a run, using the circular tunnel that acted as a ventilation for most of Zangar. I always felt better after the run. It helped to shake off any lingering effects of drowsiness and got my blood pumping. Reece joined me on my morning runs. The first few days it was obvious that his poor physical condition made it difficult for him to keep up, but now that he was getting fed properly he was able to keep up with me, even though I was not running as fast as I could just to allow him to keep up, he was always breathless by the time we were done.

After that we would head to the public baths and get cleaned up before having breakfast. However this morning I didn't have anything in for breakfast, so I decided to treat us to a meal in one of the local eateries and then do a bit of shopping in the market before heading back to the dojo and wait for the first students to arrive.

By the time we had finished breakfast the market was bustling with the local traders setting up for the day, only a few early risers, and a few servants, were out browsing the stalls for wares this early in the day. Even after two years it was a little disorientating telling the time of day while inside the mountain. There were signs which helped, Periodically through the day dragons would work their way through the settlement and either light or extinguish certain braziers or torches. To those who knew this you could tell what part of the day we were at. A clever ingenuity I must admit.

Fresh food was starting to become scarce unless it was grown locally. In the next couple of days only the local foods would be available until the trade caravan arrived back from Yanzomien*, But for the moment there was plenty to choose from. I made sure to buy plenty, Reece was still recovering after all and he had quite an appetite, as all males should have at his age.

"What do you want for dinner tonight?" I asked Reece as I looked at several cuts of meat. The meat was freshly cut, apparent from the scent that filled my snout as I leaned in to examine it. The drake running the stall was standing patiently for me to make a decision. "Reece?" I asked again, this time turning round to look at him after he hadn't answered me.

The young drake, dressed in the distinctive white uniform of the dojo had his back turned to me and was staring at something. From the way his wings drooped I could tell he was upset by something. I looked and located what, or rather who, he was staring at. It was his father. The older drake was speaking to one of the merchants, no doubt negotiating a deal for some goods that his farm produced. I felt my whiskers stiffen as I thought about what he had done to his son, the sweet drake who was now in my care.

I had yet to confront the drake since finding out what he had done to Reece. Such behaviour was deplorable. Just because his son wanted to do something other than spend all his time working on the farm that he ran was no excuse for beating him, or casting him out. I placed my paw on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze which snapped the young drake from his thoughts.

"Sorry Master I..."

"No need to be sorry." I assured him. "You don't need to fear him anymore. He has no power over you. He has made his choice to cast you out, now your life is your own." I said as I looked him in the eyes. "The only power he has over you is the one you choose to give him."

"I understand Master."

"Good. I know it is difficult, but it will get easier with time." I smiled down at him and thankfully got a smile back. "Now, what would like for dinner?"

His thoughts no longer on his father he helped me in choosing the cut of meat. Afterwards we made our way back to the dojo. The first students would be arriving soon and I needed to be there to greet them. I was proud of Reece, it wouldn't be easy for him to let go of the fear of his father, but I knew he could do it. I was glad that Reece didn't look in his direction again, or he would have seen his father glaring at us.

***********

Slowly my students began to filter into the dojo to begin their training. But before any training would be allowed first there were lessons and meditation. One by one the Zangarians came, changed into their uniform and went directly to the room where lessons would be held. Same routine as always, only someone was late. I would not usually worry about late arrivals, many students had to complete chores before being able to come to the dojo. However I was concerned due to the fact that the one missing was Vizimaar; Lord Valelors son. He came by four days a week to give lessons on reading and writing.

"Sorry I'm late!"

I turned to see Vizimaar running in the entrance. He looked very harassed and flustered. The drakes clothing, as fine as it was, was in some ways not entirely at it's best due to the fact he had thrown it on in a rush.

"It happens." I assured him. "As long as it doesn't happen too often." I gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Take a moment to gather yourself."

"Thank you..." He sighed a breath of relief. "I over slept because I was up late completing the task my father gave me."

I felt that there was more to that story than he was letting on. But it wasn't my business so I didn't press the matter. Once he had adjusted his clothing he entered the class to teach the days lessons. It was during this time that I would give some of the more advanced students, most of them being warriors whose limited time didn't allow them the luxury of both learning and training. Only those who actively went on patrol were excused from lessons, if they so wished. Some made the effort. After all knowing how to read and write opened up opportunities for them. And mastering such skills required no less effort on their part than mastering the art of combat.

After a couple of hours a few of the students began to filter from the class, having completed their assignments from Vizimaar and were now able to participate in training. First thing I did was send them for two laps round the market place, using the same route that both Reece and myself used that very morning.

The exercise would do them good. It would also loosen them up and get their blood pumping after sitting in class for so long. Once they got back I would decide which exercises to run them through or who to pair up for sparring. I would watch everyone at a distance, and give some words of encouragement or instruct them on how to improve their techniques as they came up. At midday, when there was the most students present and before some would have to leave I would gather everyone and run them through drills together.

Barnus and Karnal appeared late in the afternoon, both of them excited to tell me that they had entered the tournament at the upcoming festival and promised to do me proud. I couldn't be happier for them. And I will not lie in saying that their success would represent the dojo well. What surprised me however was that they had entered the benders tourney rather than the one that was purely paw-to-paw combat. The said that they wanted to prove that bending ability was not the be all and end all of a warriors ability.

Truer words could not have been said.

Some Zangarian warriors relied too heavily on their kii and their gift of bending. Their ability to bend the very elements themselves truly was an impressive and imposing skill. But there were ways round those abilities. And with their own bending skills I'm sure both Karnal and Barnus would put up a good fight against any opponent, perhaps even one of the Master benders themselves!

A couple of other warriors also came by to inform me that they would be participating in the tournament, albeit the one in which bending was not allowed. The use of kii however was, and at that point I pledged to them that in the last few days leading up to the tourney I would spend some considerable time with them to help them hone their skills in both the martial arts as well as utilising their kii.

I announced to both them and the rest of the students, that we would turn out at the tournaments to support them. This was well received by the participants and the younger students who were all eager to go and watch the tourneys. With the anticipation of the upcoming tournaments all of my students seemed to put a little more effort into their training.

I couldn't think of anything I enjoyed more than watching my students grow and enjoy their training. I loved what I did here. But even loving what I did was not enough to not feel tired at the end of the day.

As the day drew to a close, and the last of my students left, I allowed myself to breath a sigh of relief. A few warriors remained to practise with some weapons but they were experienced enough to not require my supervision. Only warriors, or those I deemed skilled enough, were allowed to practise with weapons unsupervised.

Reece himself was looking tired after the days trials. The young drake was currently stretching out the days strains from his muscles. A wise move. No need to suffer cramps and other such discomforts for a few moments of stretching. I turned to head into the back to begin cooking supper for Reece and I.

"Father!"

I turned round due to the tone of distress in the voice of Reece who was staring at the drake standing in the entrance to the dojo, flanked on either side by two rather strapping looking drakes. By their resemblance to both Reece and his father I was fairly certain that they were all related in some way. Which would make sense since his father didn't hire anyone outside of his family to work on his farm.

I turned and walked forward a few paces, slowly. I would allow no harm to come to Reece but this was a family affair. I could only hope that his father had come here to apologise to his son and ask him to come home. If he hadn't... well we would cross that bridge when we came to it. For now I would give him the benefit of the doubt. I made sure that he could see me however, hoping that my presence would remind him that he was in public.

Reece's father walked, more like stormed, towards his son in an aggressive way. The two drakes with him followed a couple of paces behind. Reece backed away from them initially but held his ground.

"Reece!" His father snorted angrily. "Stop this nonsense and come home!"

"Father?"

"You heard me boy!" He snapped. "This is beneath you! The fact that you continue to do this... this!" He exclaimed waving his paws to gesture at the dojo. I won't lie that I was already getting angry at what he was implying. I snorted but held my tongue for the moment and continued to watch. "You are shaming our family with this stunt and I shall not stand for it any longer! You are coming home with me!"

"I don't want to!" Reece mumbled.

"What was that!? You dare speak back to me! Why I ought to..."

"If I may interject!" I announced and strode forward to stand at Reece's side. His father didn't flinch at my presence, however the two drakes with him stepped forward to stand between me and him and stood imposingly. "I believe Reece said he did not want to return home with you."

"What business is this of yours!?" He spat.

I was impressed at myself for my self restraint. I really didn't like this drake, and the way he dared to Reece in my dojo made me want to teach him some manners in a very satisfying way. But I could not allow my emotions to get the better of me, despite how protective I felt of the young drake in my care. Any act of unprovoked violence would be detrimental to the situation. Not to mention my reputation, and consequently the dojos reputation.

"I believe that you have already cast your son out of his family home." I said. He seemed slightly disgruntled that I knew that and glared at Reece for a moment before returning his anger back towards me. "Since then I have taken him in. Fed him. Clothed him. He is my ward, and I am responsible for his safety and well being. The same care his family should have provided.."

I couldn't help but give a little dig, as unhelpful to the situation as it was. But the anger in his glare made it obvious my comment had struck a nerve.

"You..."

"And as my ward I am honour bound to protect him." I interrupted his rant before he could begin. "If you wish to apologise to him, and ask him to return home I shall not stand in your way. But until he wishes to return, 'home', my home is his. And until such time as he decides to return of his own accord I will protect him as if he were my own kin."

"You have no right!" He snarled.

"I have every right!" I said, raising my voice to something just short of yelling at him. "You have already cast him out from his family home! Disowned him! Beat him!" I took a moment to calm myself as the memories of Reece's scarred body flashed in my minds eye. "You have given up any parental right you had to him and as such he owes you nothing! But you owe him everything!"

"Master..." Reece muttered behind me. I was not sure if he was upset or happy, but the emotion in his voice was impossible to miss.

"I am not leaving here without my son!"

"Then apologise to him. And ask him."

"I will not apologise!"

"Then I ask you to leave and not return until you will!"

"Do you know who I am!?"

"I am very aware of who you are." I said calmly, or at least as calmly as I could. "You are a small minded drake who believes that everyone is below him." I realised at that point I may have over stepped a mark with that last comment.

"I'll teach you some respect!" He snarled.

The two drakes he was with took that as their cue to act. They were shorter than me by a good few inches, but much stockier. Theirs was not the muscle of a warrior however, it lacked the definition of someone who trained themselves. This was the muscle built up by years of hard labour.

I'm sure that many would find themselves intimidated by their mere presence, even most warriors when confronted by the two of them. I'm sure Reece's father had used them many times to intimidate those he needed intimidated, and they seemed not only familiar with the role but comfortable in it as well.

They were however as slow as they were strong. I easily stepped out of their initial clumsy attempt to grab me. One of them had stumbled when he couldn't catch his own weight without the expected resistance my body would have provided. His stumble placed him directly between myself and his partner, becoming a barrier between us. Before they could catch their balance I grabbed him by the wrist and with little effort flipped him over onto his back. The padded floor that served as protection for my students as they practised would protect him from the worst of the damage he may have suffered otherwise.

While that move would hardly incapacitate him for any length of time it did allow me to deal with his partner one-on-one for a moment. This drake raised his fists and came at me with a simple left right combination. I dodged his blows and landed my own, an open palmed strike across his snout. It stunned him for less than a second, but that was all the time I needed to use my left leg to drag his leg out from under him and with nothing more than a light shove he was flat on his back.

I stood and waited. The two warriors who had been sparring with weapons saw what was happening and began to run over but I stopped them by motioning to them with my paw. They slowed to a walk and then stopped as they understood my silent command. I didn't need this situation to get any more out of paw than it already was.

Within seconds the two drakes were back on their foot-paws. But this time neither of them seemed eager to attack me. That wouldn't last, eventually they would over come the small amount of fear they were feeling at the sudden shock of how easily I had dealt with them and go back on the attack.

"STOP!" Reece yelled.

The young drakes shout snapped the two drakes attention away from me and seemed to drain all of the fight from them.

"I won't go with you father!"

"Stop this foolishness Reece!" His father snapped.

"I will not stop father! I love this! I miss my family... I miss mother... but I will not give this up for anything!" The resolve in his voice was impressive.

"YOU ARE COMING WITH ME!" He roared savagely, spittle flying from his maw as his anger got the better of him. He lunged at Reece.

I wanted to step between them, but the two drakes that had escorted his father here stood between us, I had no time to do so. However I also didn't want to step between them. It was time for Reece to show his father that he would no longer put up with his abuse. He had the skills he needed to defend himself, all he needed to do was use them.

And use them he did.

As his father pulled back his fist Reece stepped forward and struck his father in the chest with an open palmed strike. That stopped him in his tracks and he stumbled backwards. I had no doubt that he would have fallen to the ground just from that blow alone. But before he could fall Reece caught hold of his arm, pulled his father towards him and drove his knee into his gut. The grunt of pained surprise that escaped his fathers muzzle was like music to my ears.

But Reece wasn't done yet. As his father was doubled over from the attack Reece leapt up, wrapped his leg around the back of his fathers neck - thankfully his father had bone ridges running down his back rather than the spikes that some other Zangarians had I noted with slight relief - and then spun round and threw himself into a roll and dragged his father through the air, as if he was nothing more than a rag doll, and sent him crashing into the padded mats we stood on.

I could tell from how he landed that that had hurt. He obviously had no combat training. He hadn't even attempted to brace himself or roll through to minimise the damage. But given that he believed that being a warrior was below his status, which was the whole reason for this very situation, it wasn't particularly surprising.

I'm sure that was the reason he had brought the two large drakes with him. He hoped to intimidate Reece, and anyone else who might have attempted to stop him, with their mere presence. I doubted that they had much fighting experience either, at least noting beyond perhaps a few drunken brawls. I'm sure they were used to simply getting their way, most of their intended targets backing down rather than fighting. Cowards. Bullies.

After dragging him to the floor Reece could have easily locked in a hold, since that was what he specialised at, but instead he simply released his father and rolled back to his foot-paws as his father lay on the mat winded and disorientated. The two drakes that had been standing between us turned to see him in his current state and were suddenly lost as to what they were to do. Eventually they turned their attention fully to Reece's father and helped him back to up. He continued to use them for support, even though I'm sure he didn't need it. He wanted to play the victim I'm sure. Perhaps attempt to get Reece and probably myself arrested. I'm not sure if he had yet noticed the two warriors standing just a short distance away who would be more than willing to be witnesses to the whole event.

"You'll regret that..." He finally managed to croak out.

As we watched them escort him out I motioned to the warriors to go back to what they were doing, making sure to take a mental note of their names in case I required them to act as witnesses. I stepped next to Reece, who was staring at his fathers back in mixture of anger, shock and disbelief; and perhaps a little worry.

"I am proud of you Reece."

"You are? But I thought you might be mad at me for doing that to him."

"Why? You defended yourself." I said with a smile. "Not only that but you stood up to him. I don't think he'll be bothering you for a while."

"But he said...."

"I know what he said. You're father is a very selfish and closed minded drake who thinks only about himself." I said casting a glance towards the entrance to make sure he was finally gone. "I'm very happy that you are nothing like him."

That got a smile from him.

"Now come. Lets go get dinner ready."

With a smile back on Reece's muzzle we set about the task of preparing dinner. We ate in silence, but I could tell that Reece was still worried. The heaviness of the silence told me that. I wasn't sure what else I could do for the young drake to reassure him more than I already had; but maybe that was for the best. Sometimes we need to come to terms with things ourselves.

Before he had simply been cast out for disobeying his father. Now he had not only refused to bend to his fathers wishes for a second time, but had fought and defeated his father, standing up for himself and showing both his father and himself that he was his own drake able to make his own decisions and stand by them. Now I suspect he is coming to terms with the fact that he had chosen his path, and expects to be unable to return to his family home ever again, or for as long as his father remains in charge of the farm.

I remember facing such a choice when I had chosen to leave home.

Still to this day I feel like a coward for running away like I had. Part of me regrets leaving my mother, brother, sisters and grandfather in the wake of father and Doma's death. The loss of both of them had cut a hole where my heart had been. I had been so filled with rage... I wanted to hurt those responsible... hurt them in ways that would let them know the pain I was suffering.

My anger had scared me.

Grandfather insisted that we do not retaliate, lest we stain our pride and honour the way that others had. He would petition the King for justice. I didn't want that. I couldn't settle for that. My blood rage scared me. I never wished to defy my Grandfather, and the only way I could stop myself from doing that was to leave. To leave my home, my family and the pain behind.

Only... the pain followed me.

"Master?" Came the sweet voice of Reece, his tone one of concern. "A-are you okay?"

I kicked myself. Here he was suffering under the weight of his decision of choosing his path in life, and yet here he was comforting me when it should be the other way around. Stupid tiger! What kind of master are you?

"I'm fine Reece." I assured him and gave him the most reassuring smile that I could muster. "How are you doing more importantly?"

"I... I think I'll be alright." He smiled, but it was obvious he was not.

He was putting up a front. For now that was fine. What he needed was time and I'd give him that. Sooner or later he will come to terms with his decision and that will be that. All I needed to do was ensure that he didn't do anything too foolish while he worked through it.

What he needed was a distraction. Something to take his mind off of it for a little while. But there was nothing I could at the moment. Perhaps tomorrow....

"Master?"

"You know you can call me Aceh when we are alone." I said reminding him of a previous conversation. "When we are not master and student we are friends. And now in the confines of our home I can assure you that I am not your master. Not unless your wanting me to teach you something." I added the last part as a bit of humour for myself and chuckled slightly at it.

"Well... there is something I've been wanting to ask." He said shyly. "And I've been worried about asking..."

"You can ask me anything Reece." I assured him and gave him my undivided attention.

"Well... Aceh... Master" He paused as if he were thinking hard about what he was going to say next. The way he had used my name and then the title master... he was unsure if he was asking me as a friend or a student. I will admit I was curious to what he wanted to ask me.

"I... I-I w-was... w-wondering..." He was blushing wildly now. It was hard to tell with Zangarians and their dark scales but I was sure I could see the faint hint of a blush. He couldn't even look at me he was so nervous. "If you... f-find me... attractive???"

That caught me off guard. I hesitated to answer, not because I didn't know what I thought, but because he had caught me so completely off guard. As the seconds passed I could see the regret and fear and worry creep into his expression. Any moment now he would think I was rejecting him... TALK YOU DUMB TIGER!!!!

"Reece..." I paused for a moment to be certain of the next words that came out of my maw were the ones I wanted to say, and how to say them. "I think you are beautiful."

Now it was his turn to be stunned. The stunned expression quickly melted away into a bashful smile. I reached up and placed my paw against the side of his muzzle and smiled as he leaned into the touch, his eyes closed and I stayed there and stared at the content expression he wore. He really was a special drake. And truthfully as much as his question had taken me by surprise I was now realising that I had been oblivious to my own feelings towards him. I had been so focused on taking care of him, that I hadn't realised how much I actually cared for him.

His question had brought my feelings rushing to my attention. I had no doubt how difficult that question had been to ask. At that age... I remember how difficult it had been. While I had thought he had been stressing over the decision he made to defy his father... he was actually stressing over asking that question? Or perhaps the incident with his father was what pushed him to ask? I don't know if I'd have had the courage to ask that sort of question if I had been in his situation. He truly was a special drake.

"Ma... Aceh...." He said tentatively. "Can... can we... I mean..."

I had been wondering just how far he had been wanting to take this. But no... I couldn't take advantage of him like that. I would take this slow. Ease him into it. I would make him feel good, and teach him how to pleasure a male in return. How could I deny this beautiful, brave drake?

"We can Reece." I assured him. "But lets take it slow okay?"

"Sure." He smiled giddily.

************

Authors Note!