The History of Zato
#3 of The History Of Zato
((All characters in my stories are Copywritten me, please do not use them without my permission. 18+ for most of my stories due to the fact I normally put something yiffy or violent, extremly, in it >.=.> Also, Demon and Mercy Dragons are copywritten me as well, since I created this version.))
Veon held onto Zato as tight as she could as she slowly began to nuzzle against his helmet, and as she did she heard the footfall of the human healers from the castle and reluctantly moved away from her injured friend as they drew near. Quickly, they set about stripping off his armor which was quite a task seeing as they could hardly move any piece of the armor easily. However, after a good twenty or so minutes they finally managed to get every piece of his armor off, as well as most of his clothes save for his pants.
Now, with his entire body shown, everyone could see that Veons three strikes were well placed, since a lot of his blood was now on his scales and freely dripping down onto the dirt of the arena floor. One of the healers grunted to this as it was hard to tell where each stab was, all of his chest and stomach was red which say atop pitch black scales, only easy holes to see were the two on his stomach, with neon blue scales. The one that caused the most worry could not be seen.
However, before long another healer began to use his robes to clean off the blood and slowly, each hole become visible. None bigger then a small coin, yet so much blood was coming from each. No one knew why, not even Veon. As the healers worked on saving Zato in the middle of the arena, Ragna jumped into the arena and ran over to Veon before gripping the sides of her armor and drawing her head close to his.
"What else do you have enchanted on that weapon of yours!? How could you do such a thing to him! I only wanted to show my father yours and his skills, not for you to kill him!"
She forced herself not to hit her master for saying that she actually wanted to kill him while tears streamed down her face and onto the ground.
"I didn't mean to do this! I only asked my weapon was able to pierce thick armor, nothing more!"
Ragna roughly gripped her arm and dragged her over to a healer that was standing over the others as they were knelt down onto the ground, chanting with the hands over Zato. And just as roughly he pushed her head next to Zatos, so she could hear his faint breathing before lifting it and making her look to the other healer. Glaring to her shortly, he looked to the healer and nearly growled out.
"What exactly is wrong with him?!"
The healer looked to the dragon on the ground and looked back.
"His rapid bleeding is caused by a unique poison that must have been fused into that blade which increases blood lose. His already lost close to half his blood, how he is still alive is unknown. We'd be lucky if we did save him."
Ragna, upon hearing that last line, twisted around and glared straight into Veons eyes.
"You are hereby sentenced to be thrown into the dungeon and whipped ten times every other day til..."
Before he could finish, Zato's faint voice could be heared over the chatter, causing nearly everyone around him to gasp.
"No...Lord Ragna, you must...not punish her..."
He took in a few deep, strained breaths as Ragna knelt down beside him and Veon lowered herself next to him on the other side, as he slowly opened his eye, only managing to get it half open. Ragna's attitude switched immediately as he gently tried to shush Zato.
"No...Lord Ragna...I must say....it was not her fault, I moved into..."
He paused for a few to get in a few more breaths.
"Her blades path...she would have...stabbed my arm if I had not moved into its path...do not punish her...I beg of you....punish me...if you must....for being foolish...."
Ragnas and Veons eyes both went wide from that statement as a weak chuckle came from Zato.
"You two look like Owls."
He smiled as he shut his eye again and passed back out, while Ragna tried to ponder how he could state something such as that in his current state. Shaking his head, he slowly rose and looked to the healer off to the side.
"Take him to my room and care for him there. Use my bed."
With that, he waved for the two lions to come over and carry him off as the healers followed, not even bothering to question why he offered his bed, knowing it would be ruined from how much blood would be on it.
Slowly, Ragna turned around and looked to Veon, who was now laying completely on the ground, sobbing into her arms. He lowered his head and walked out of the arena as it slowly emptied, everyone seeming to mutter about Zatos condition.
As it emptied, the eagle from before walked out into the arena floor and slowly lifted Veon up a bit to give her a strong hug, while Veon quickly hugged back tightly and sobbed into her feathers.
"How could he...He is almost dead because of me and he still put himself on the line for me..."
The eagle slowly moved her arms up and took off Veons helmet before giving her a soft nuzzle with her beak and dropping the helmet.
"Veon, hun. He moved into your blades path, you heard it...he didn't want to hurt you and Im sure he wouldn't do something like that unless he knew he'd survive."
Veon opened her maw to speak as the eagle put a finger on her maw.
"Shh, now come. Lets go to the room and get you out of that armor and get you some rest, you will need it. Im sure be tomorrow Zato will be fine."
Veon slowly lowered her head and nodded before following her to the room.
As Veon went off to her room to get some rest, with the help of her friend, the healers and two lions brought Zato to the young masters room and placed him on the bed before beginning to chant once again as the lions left. Through the night they tried their hardest before placing their trust of his rescue into normal healers, doctors. There chants did little to stop the bleeding and close the wounds, so they hopped normal methods would help him. Cause if he died, he knew the master would have all their heads.
Veon laid coiled up tightly beneath her blankets as the eagle gently rubbed over her tail through the blankets.
"Samon..."
The eagle tilted her head and hmm'd to her friend. Veon looked to her eyes and sighed quietly.
"Never mind."
Samon giggled a bit and smiled.
"You go to sleep, now. You've been up all night, it's almost dawn. Try to clear your mind and believe and know that he is going to make it."
Veon weakly nodded and laid her head down onto her pillow and the instant it touch it seemed to trigger a loud roar from the other side of the castle, causing both of them as well as most of the castle to jumped before Samon ran out of the room, as most of the other doors opened at the same time and lots of chatter could be heard, before Samon went back into the room and looked to Veon, a shocked look upon her evident.
"The roar came from Ragnas room..."
Quickly, Veon bolted out of bed and slithered right past Samon and quickly made her way to Ragnas room, as most of the others followed Suite. And as they approached the door, another roar came from behind it, causing shivers to run through Veons and the others spines as the door opened to show Ragna standing there, a pillow wrapped halfway around his head as he looked to them and dropped the pillow.
"Ah..I see you all have heard...regular doctors healing Zato...and they seem to have actually worked...other then the evident pain it caused him...Now, Veon. Come in. And to you others, please head back to your rooms."
With that, all the others who came to find out the cause of the roars left as Veon slowly slithered into the room and looked over to the bed. In it laid Zato, still breathing heavily and sweating tremendously, with doctors all around him before Ragna waved his hand to them and each of them left while he moved to a chair near his bed and motioned for Veon to come close. As she drew near, she seen that Zato's eye was open and looking to her, with a look she quickly understood. He didn't want her to tell Ragna he was up. She looked to Ragna and lowered in a soft bow.
"Veon...I for one want to apologize for yesterday...in the arena...I didn't mean to react like that...I was worried. You know all of you, from when you were all cubs, have become my closest friends. However...Zato...Zato to me is more like a bother...I remember a few times I almost called him it aloud."
She looked up with wide eyes as he continued.
"Now to the main reason I asked you to come in...it would seem my father overheard Zatos earlier request and once the posion from your blade has passed through his system and he has recovered somewhat, he is to be whipped thirty times. I do not know why my father would want to do such a thing to him...specially.."
He was cut off as Zatos tail poked against his side. Ragna turned his head to see Zato looking right back, but before Ragna could say anything, Zato spoke.
"Your father just likes to hit me...I believe he enjoys himself a bit too much from it...if he wants to...just let him...don't try to stop him...either of you..."
He sighed as he weakly sat up, causing both Veon and Ragna to nearly tackle him to stop him.
"No master, this is your bed...it has far too much blood in it now...you need to get it cleaned and probably a new one...Veon, please lend me a shoulder to my room..."
Ragna kept quiet as he slowly moved out of the bed before Veon moved his arm around the back of her neck and placed her hand at his side before giggling and gently placing him on the back of her tail.
"There, easier."
He let out a weak chuckle before she began to slither to her room, Zato clueless as his eyes were shut. And as they left Ragnas room, he shut the door and sighed before moving over to his bed and sitting on the side.
"Why father...why do you put him through so much pain...He is already obediant, doesn't try to escape...has never struck anyone in the castle...hell, he has never raised his voice...he has been like this since the day you brought him..."
As Ragna pondered in his room, Veon slithered into her room and tapped Zato, who slowly opened his eye to see a eagle looking down at him. Both just stared at each other before Veon twisted her tail a bit and moved him into her bed.
"Veon...why did you bring me to your room...now...and Samon, please forgive me for intruding...I should not be in a ladies room..."
She put her hand on his maw and smiled.
"Lay down and sleep."
He knew he wouldn't win in a argument right now so he slowly laid down and drifted quickly into a deep sleep as the eagle dragged Veon to the other side of the room.
"What are you thinking!"
Veon giggled and smiled.
"In here I can care for him...it is much easier then if I was to take him to his room."
Samon shook her head and glared to the naga.
"You know how I am around him! Im shy!"
Veon giggled and put a finger to her beak, silently telling her to be quiet.
"Go to sleep Samon."
Samon just huffed and jumped into her bed before forcing herself to sleep. After Veon had checked to make sure Samon was actually asleep, she slithered over to her bed and next to Zato, looking to him and thinking about yesterdays events and while she did a clawed hand was placed on her shoulder that caused her to eep as she looked and seen that Zato was staring at her, the neon blue slit easily visible.
"For the last time...everything is fine...Im alive...the poison will be out of my system in a week...til then I just can't get a boo boo."
He chuckled as Veon gently hit him on the maw before a yawn emitted from her, finally realizing just how tired she actually was.
"Ohh...is the snakey tired?"
He smiled as she hit him again.
"How can you be so fun filled and energetic after nearly dieing."
He simply smiled to her and chuckled softly.
"Don't live fearing the past, it has come and gone. I ALMOST died, I did not. I am here still. So why should I act like Im dieing? Sure it hurts to move, but I can take it."
Another hit came to his maw as he chuckled, and as he laughed he slowly wiggled over in the long bed and pulled her in under the covers.
"Just because this is my nursing bed, since you wont let me go to my room, doesn't mean you cant..."
He fell silent as she hugged around his chest tightly and quickly fell asleep against him, causing him to sigh happily.
"Reminds me of when you use to have those nightmares...and during the times during the great storm"
He smiled as he gently rubbed over her head, petting her and getting soft hisses from her.
"Most snakes hiss when they are mad, you hiss when you're happy..."
He chuckled to himself as he held her and felt her lower coils wrap around his legs and waist, while his mind went back into the past. A few weeks after he had healed up and a large storm washed over the castle, named the Great Storm since it caused tremendous damage to the lords kingdom.
"Veon! Where are you! You don't need to hide, it is only thunder!"
Zato kept yelling, searching for Veon when he heard a faint eep a few doors down and slowly, he walked down to the door, still a quadruped dragon. As he approached the door, he noticed it was cracked open and gently used his maw to open it so he could get in, thankful it was not shut.
"Veon?"
Another eep emitted as a bolt of lightning struck the ground near the castle and lit up the room for a second,causing Zato to look outside for a moment before looking through the room. Thankfully, he was able to see in the dark. He continued looking through the room before noticing Veons tail sticking out from underneath the bed. Slowly, he walked to it and put his maw on it before pulling on it. Dragging her out as she clawed at the ground, her being not much longer then himself.
"Stop, Zato please!"
"Veon, stop. You don't have to be scared. I am here. I will protect you."
"Truly?"
"Truly."
She quickly whipped around and climbed onto Zatos back as her tail coiled tightly around his waist and chest.
"Tail promise?"
He chuckled as his and her tail wrapped around each other before the tips pressed to each other, getting a cheerful smile from her before she coiled tighter around him and squeezed around his neck for a second as another lightning strike came, but this time she slowly relaxed as Zato bit into the blanket on the bed and threw it over his back, covering her as she rested her head between his still developing horns and drifted slowly to sleep.
"Next time I need to stop you from running from the dining hall...masters are going to be mad. Wish Master Ragna wasn't traveling around right now..."
He chuckled to himself once again as he slowly walked out into the hall and back to the dining hall were he was greeted with a few playful oohs and awws from the other cubs as they began to sing in unison.
"Zato and Veon, sitting in a tree."
He quickly yet out a quick, short roar to silence them.
"She is asleep, be quiet."
They all giggled to one another and whispered the song as he walked to the end of the table and bowed to the master and mistress.
"Please, forgive her for running away. She is just scared of the storm. I will take her punishment, if you would allow it."
The master grinned as he looked down to the dragon and the naga coiled around him.
"I'll allow it. Your punishment is no food for two weeks, if it comes to you actually needing it you will get just enough to pass the two week time. However, I punish you both to sleeping outside for that time."
He lowered his head in acceptance as he slowly began to walk outside as all the cubs began to chatter amongst themselves and the others at the table shake their heads. And as he got outside he whimpered as Veon awoke with an eep.
"Zato, what are we doing out here!"
"Its a punishment from the master...for running off from dinner. He punished both of us with sleeping outside for a week, and me not getting food for a two weeks."
"Why two?"
"He's mean, duh?"
She giggled shortly before shivering strongly.
"Damn...you're probably going to freeze...forgot you don't like the cold that much..."
He looked around for a moment before sighing, seeing no where to sleep in or underneath before he turned his head a bit to look back at Veon.
"Get on the ground and coil up as tightly as you can..."
She nodded, not wanting to ask why, and quickly slide onto the ground and coiled up as Zato curled around her and put his head on top of her, shocking himself as he was able to completely shield her from the pouring rain.
"Zato, what about you?"
"I'll be fine...go to sleep."
She nodded as best she could before closing her eyes and trying her best to sleep, her fright still with her as she shivered from each flash of lighting. She slowly opened her eyes and wiggled her head a bit to look at Zato, who was looking off into the forest.
"Zato..."
"Hmm?"
"Will you be my guardian dragon."
He chuckled a bit and gave her a lick before covering her back up.
"Of course I will be, now sleep."
She smiled before quickly falling asleep.
It was now afternoon as Veon slowly awoke with a soft yawn, before her eyes fell onto Zato who was still coiled tightly in her coils and asleep. A deep blush flushed over her as she uncoiled herself and slide off the bed. She smiled to Zato as he continued to sleep and slowly covered him with a blanket as he chuckled and jumped up, wrapping the blanket around her and getting an eep as she wiggled around.
"Zato!"
"Veon!"
He chuckled as he pulled off the blanket and smiled to her, before she tackled him to the ground.
"You can't be doing this stuff, you aren't well!"
"Aww...come on, Im fine. I just can't get cut."
She huffed as she kept him pinned down. And as she kept him down, she curled her tail around his legs and tail, as well as his arms and lowered her head down in front of him.
"Now try to move."
He chuckled and licked over her nose as he smiled.
"Its comfy, why would I?"
They both couldn't help but chuckled as the sound of someone clearing there throat came to their attention and they both looked toward the door, seeing Ragna and most of their friends behind him.
"You two love birds going to get up?"
They looked to each other as they blushed deeply and Veon quickly wiggled off and moved away as Zato stood.
"Ragna, you know."
"Yes, yes. you aren't lovebirds. Certainly act like it"
All of them chuckled as Zato and Ragna blushed and looked away.
"Now come on you two, it's time for my father to speak to you two."
Ragna turned and left as the others followed, and soon after Zato and Veon. Following them all to the throne room before each of their friends got into a line on each side of the room as Ragna took his sit beside his mother, and Veon and Zato knelt down in front of the three after moving closer. They stayed kneeled and quiet as they heard more and more people enter the throne room, both knowing it was now something important the master wanted to say. And after about thirty minutes, the room was filled with everyone from the castle as the lord rose and moved to the two of them.
"Zato, Rise."
He couldn't help but blink before standing up and looking to the lord, and to his shock the lord moved forward and gave him a strong hug. Causing all of the audience to grow puzzled, whispering heard as the lord backed away and smiled.
"Veon, Rise."
Veon did and once again, he gave a hug to her. More whispering heard behind them before the lord backed up near his throne and smiled as he looked around the room.
"These two have deserved it...for they are both going to be Captain of the princes guard. And Samon Swiftwing will be sub-captain. I am both happy to see them both alive, and Zato so well only a day after being injured so gravely. All of you are shocked to see me so happy, but my son is highly important to me and my wife, your mistress. Knowing he will be protected by these three causes the two of us such joy. Oh! And Zato, the punished for you is canceled. Now you are all dismissed."
Everyone stood in place, still highly puzzled before a clap came from the lord, causing everyone to leave rather quickly. However, Zato and Veon stood in place a bit longer before slowly turning around and leaving with the others before stopping outside the door as he slammed shut.
"Veon..."
"Yes, Zato..."
"Was he just happy, kind...and gave us both hugs...?"
"Yes...yes he did..."
Both of them didn't know what just had happened. A lord who had been mean to them their entire lives...was just kind. The lord who had never touched them, unless punishing them, just hugged them both. They still just stood there as Samon and the others came to them, all of them laughing save for those two.
"Hard to believe he was nice, huh?"
Said a wolf in the back, laughing with the others as Veon and Zato nodded in unison. The laughing continued as Samon and the two lions moved behind Zato and Veon before pushing and pulling them to the courtyard where Ragna met them all with a smile and wide arms, giving a hug to both Veon and Zato.
"I can tell you two are both shocked from what just happened, however. My father was mean all those years cause he wanted to make sure you would be able to protect, while respecting his wishes...and fearing him, of course. Now he knows I am to be so well protected, they cant help but be happy."
Ragna moved away and smiled to the two of them as Zato fell onto his rear, puzzled beyond belief as Veon lowered down and rested against him, both now looking to each other.
"Come on all of you, lets leave them alone and go have some fun."
Ragna and the others took off to the lake as Zato and Veon slowly rose and followed, whispering to each other.
"Well Veon...guess our lives here are about to get a lot easier, huh?"
"Yes...hard to believe it..."
"Like you wouldn't believe...lets try to get our minds off that."
Veon nodded to Zato at that and speed up, giggling playfully as she stuck out her forked tongue back at Zato as he chuckled and charged after her. The both of them passing the others, causing them all to laugh, as Veon and Zato neared the lake. As Veon turned and slithered off to the right, Zato came to a stop at the lake and looked over it. Been about three years since he had last been at the lake and smiled, it always calmed him down and just felt peaceful at the lake. Sure, the lake wasn't as big as others, probably quite small compared to them. However, what he loved most about the lake was how it blended with the cherry blossom trees so well. The water was also crystal clear, plenty of fish in the lake and always the perfect temperature. His mind always seem to just get lost here, which become quite evident as Ragna and the others tackled him and dog piled a top of him and all laughed, specially Veon who was watching off to the side.
"Now catch me dragon butt."
She giggled now, happy to see she was safe, but her giggle soon ended as Zato formed a neon blue aura around him and quickly shifted to his feral form. Easily bigger then most houses now and after he had changed, he lowered his head to the water and bucked his rear legs up, forced all those on his back to slide into the water with laughs heard from them all before Zato gently, but quickly, grabbed Veon by her tail in his maw and smiled as she began to wiggle like a worm handing in his maw.
"Caught ya snakey."
"You cheated!"
"Did not."
He smiled as he let her go over the water, getting a loud eep from her before he jumped into the air and spun before shifting back to his anthro and landing in the water beside her, smiling innocently to her as she began to playfully hit his chest.
"Cheater."
"Nuh uh."
She was about to say it again when a kiss came from Zato onto her lips, silencing her before he swam back and smiled.
"I win."
She blushed deeply and hissed loudly, all the others around them laughing as Zato dove under the water and began to enjoy his time as Veon began to chase him. Both enjoying themselves fully.
Back at the castle fifteen carriages arrived at the front gate and slowed to stop while two guards began to talk to the lead carriage's merchant.
"Ah, guards. Could you tell the king his shipment has arrived. Everything he has asked for are in these carriages."
The guards all nodded and opened the gate, allowing them access to the courtyard while the captain of the guard approached.
"The king has ordered that you drop all the shipment here in the courtyard and your money will arrive by messenger later today."
The lead merchant nodded and signaled to the others to begin unloading while the guards watched, making sure no traps were hidden.
Back at the lake, Zato had climbed out of the water and laid on the grass, naked. Veon had stolen his pants and was currently in the tree over him, giggling, with him just looking up at her.
"I still win."
"Nuh uh, I got your pants."
"And, I don't need them."
Just as he said that Ragna walked over to him and playfully tapped Zatos side with his foot. The contact to his wet scales causing his foot to slip and stomp onto the ground next to him, causing Zato to shot up and bow.
"I'm sorry lo.."
Before he could finish, Ragna had wrapped his hands around Zatos maw and chuckled quietly.
"No. More. Apologies, got it? It was an accident. Wet scales are hard to hold."
He said as he just slid his hands off of Zatos maw, causing Zato to sneeze to the side a few times and sniffle, which caused Ragna and a couple others to laugh even more before Ragna turned back to everyone and signaled to begin heading back.
"Night draws near, time to head back to the castle."
Groans came from nearly everyone at the lake as they slowly got out of the water and began the walk back to the castle, as Zato and Veon strolled along behind them, whispering to each other.
"Zato, are you really sure you are ok?"
"Im fine Veon, look if I was in pain still, would I even be able to walk, let alone all that rough housing back there?"
She giggled in relief at that and continued to walk with the others, wishing to move over and hold onto Zato, but she feared that might upset. But her wish came true without her even doing anything, as Zato moved closer and put his arm around her shoulders and smiled to her.
"Still alive, and still your guardian dragon. Truthfully though Veon, from what I heard the doctors say. My wounds healed themselves. Look, no holes. Only little scars."
He was right, and Veon hadn't noticed til just then and she looked over his chest and stomach. No bandages, no wounds only three small scars.
"I didn't notice that til right now..."
He smiled a bit more to her before they collided into the back of Ragna, who stumbled forward a bit before Zato caught him on his tail.
"Please, forgive me Ragna. Didn't mean too."
Ragna just looked up and pointed forward, causing him and Veon to look and both just went silent. Piled high in the middle of the courtyard were boxes, nearly a hundred of them. Ragna couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"All the stuff we ordered is here."
Everyone looked to him now, all with their head tilted.
"It's just some stuff for the castle, all of you. Please go in the castle and get some sleep, eat, whatever you want."
Most rushed in, Veon included as she was starving, but Zato just stood there for a moment before the Master and Mistress came out of the castle and began to make their way over to where the stuff was, so he took one last look and went straight into the castle and went to his room.
When he arrived he opened his door and slipped in, sighing to himself as he sat in his bed and looked around the empty room. He always felt so confined in the castle, 'specially his room. He only had six possessions. His Zanbatou, armor, bed, a bible Ragna had given him as he was curious what a religion was when he was younger, one cabinet filled with simple, cheap clothing, and his last item was just a simple flute. He had heard Master Ragna play one long ago and wanted to learn how, but his maw made things a bit hard so he had given up on it some time ago. He gave a soft shake of his head as a knock on his door got his attention.
"It's open."
As he said that, the door opened to show the lord and mistress enter, causing him to instantly stand as they walked over to him and smiled, or more so grinned. He blinked, and slowly knelt down onto both of his knees, knowing something bad was about to happen. He knew when the lord acted so kind had to be a lie.
"I see you already knew the earlier show was just that."
Said the lord as he lowered down and moved both of Zatos arms behind his back before shackling them and clipping a leash onto the collar that had been given to him by Ragna when he was a kid.
"We got something exciting planned for you."
He just lowered his head now as the mistress spoke and sighed.
"Please, don't punish Veon...pl.."
"Not another word, we are not going to touch her. We know you always take hers so we just jumped passed that."
He closed his eye now as they began to walk, whistling now and then for the others to come out and follow as they lead the way to the courtyard, with whispering and chatter heard behind them.
When they did arrive, they all looked upon a large cage that must have arrived after the others, because the boxes that were once there were now gone. It being covered as the lord and mistress stopped in front of the middle cage and looked back to the ones he had called out. All of the beasts of his castle, and smiled before un-clipping Zatos shackles and pulling off the leash, causing everyone to almost blink in unison. Veons soft laughing heard among them as they did.
The lord smiled down to him and chuckled.
"Sorry Zato, Ragna asked me and my wife play a trick on you. Since its hard for most of you to believe we have became nice. Now, onto the main event."
He looked up as Zato rose and stood next to them, confused.
"Zato, in this cage are some...things for you and only you."
Zato tilted his head to that and pondered, as a few behind him grumbled and Veon snuck up next to him and poked at his side, causing him to snap back and look to her.
"Did you know about this?"
"No...why would I, of everyone here, get...gifts?"
Veon let out a quiet chuckle before the lord cleared his throat, causing the both of them to look back just as Ragna walked out from behind the cages.
"The boxes we walked passed earlier are for whats in this cage, and the contents have been moved to your room. Now Zato, please open the cage. Or well, take off the cover. Opening it right now might be a bad idea."
He just blinked as Veon and some of the others gave him a push, causing him to grunt before moving closer to the cage and grabbing onto the cover and pulling back on it hard, earning the shuffling of the cover as it fell onto the ground. Permitting everyone to see what was inside, which caused most to look away. In the cage laid four raptor hatchlings, no more then probably five or so years old and each of them looked to have been beaten severely as each laid in a large pool of their blood. The sight caused Zato to spin around to face his master and growl deeply at him.
"What kind of trick is this!? Is this suppose to be funny, what the hell did you do to them! Look at them, they are dieing in there! Give me the fucking key to open the cages!"
The lord moved forward and struck him across the maw, earning a bite to his hand soon after before Ragna jumped in and pushed the two apart before it increased.
"Zato, father stop! Zato, we did not want to say it aloud but we should have, we found these four like this! We are giving them to you, or well the right to you, to care for them. No one else is willing to care for raptors..."
The lord glared to him now as Ragna took the key from his father and gave it to Zato, before moving his father and mother back. Zato didn't even pause to apologize for the bite, before running over to the cage and quickly unlocking it and forcing himself into it as Ragna moved and closed the cage, which Zato ignored as he looked to the hatchlings who just looked to him and let out weak growls and tried to move away. Slowly and gently, he moved his claw over each of their cheeks, trying to comfort them.
"You all need to stop moving, you are hurt too badly. Please, just lay still. I know it must hurt."
He quickly set about looking around in the cage for something that could be used to wipe up the blood but found nothing and he knew asking someone to go get something would take too long. So, he stood up slowly so he didn't startle the hatchlings before taking off his pants and tearing them in half before ripping them in half again before sitting back down and and lifting up one of the hatchlings as it started to squirm and wiggle. He thought for a moment before remembering what his mother use to do, so he lowered his head down and began to nuzzle it while letting out soft, caring coos which seemed to calm the hatchling, as well as the others, so he quickly set to cleaning them all while Veon set about getting other stuff he might need.
Outside of the cage, everyone just watched, most shocked. None of them ever seen him act motherly, let alone so caring for anything else. Sure, he was nice, kind and careing, but motherly set it in a whole different realm. The lord, mistress and Ragna all smiled to the sight and let out soft laughs as Veon came with some others supplies for Zato, who quickly took them and set about caring for the hatchlings. Before he gently cradled them all and made his way out of the cage, ignoring everyone as he did, and quickly set made his way to his room with Veon following close behind.
"Zato..."
He continued to ignore her before he finally stopped outside his door and looked back to her.
"Please, Veon, don't disturb me for now...and please don't let anyone else."
She slowly nodded to him as he slipped inside of his room and the distinct noise of his lock was heard, which was new since he never locked his door. Soon after, she carved "Do Not Disturb" On his door with her claw before slithering her way into her room, which she was greet by Samon as she pulled the naga into the room and chirped loudly with a deep blush on her face. Causing Veon to be highly confused.
"Did you see Zato! How could he just strip like that in front of everyone! I was embarrased just to look at him, but he seemed unphased as do you!"
"Me and him train in our normal spots in the nude Samon, it allows more movement to be made. plus, you could only see his slit. Nothing really special or anything like that, never complained about it when you saw it when he is in his feral."
"Yes but...its normal...to see animals..."
A swift smack came to Samon the moment she said animal, which caused her to look to her friend baffled.
"Do not call him an animal!"
"But Veon..."
Before she could finish, a knock was heard on the door which Veon quickly answered to see the still nude Zato standing there, holding one of the raptor hatchlings in his arms, close to his chest. Both Samon and Veon just stared at him as he slowly looked up, tears coming out of his eye.
"He killed one of them....the lord killed this one and I didn't notice it was dead until I was cleaning it in my room..."
He looked back down to it before gently rubbing a claw over its cheek, then he looked back up to Veon and Samon.
"Please...I don't mean to be so rude...but could you two look after the others while I bury this one..."
They both slowly nodded to him as he turned and made his way out of the castle and to the lake, as Samon and Veon made their way to his room and walked themselves in, both just staring as they entered. Zato had used all the soft material in his room, including his pillows to make a nest for them on his bed. Each of the hatchlings fast asleep and cleaned so much that their scales almost sparkled in the dark, since his room had no lights in it they could barely even see them if it wasn't for the torches in the hallway. The continued to just stare until Zato weakly moved passed them, in a much smaller feral now other then his anthro, as he slowly bowed his head to them and smiled weakly.
"Thank you both...you two can go back to your room now."
They nodded, but stood there as he climbed onto his bed and curled up around them as soft chirps were heard, as they all snuggled closer to him which caused Veon and Samon to aww before the finally left him alone and went back to their room, both of them silent now.
For the next two weeks, Zato hardly left his room or even answered anyone who would come and knock on it. The lord, the mistress, Ragna and even Veon were all ignored. Everyone was worried, something actually thought the raptors had killed him, but most knew it was impossible so they all just waited and on the morning of the beginning of the third week, Veon went back to his room to try again.
As she raised up her claw to knock on his door, it slowly creaked open as Zato made his way passed her in his anthro form with one of the raptors in his arms as the other two followed close behind him, neither further back then the length of his tail as she tried to get his attention but went completly ignored, save for the two raptors who just looked to her before following after him.
Veon just stood there, it was the first time she went completly ignored by him other then when they played around, so slowly she followed after him...hurt, but understanding why as he carried the hatchling to the lake and began to bury it right next to the other that had died the first day. And after about twenty minutes, he muttered something before standing and walking over to Veon. Before she could utter a word, a tight, strong hug came to her as well as a kiss to the lips, before he backed away and bowed.
"Forgive me Veon, I did not mean to ignore you back there. But I had been trying to save that one since the first day, he lived for two weeks...before finally just going."
She just blinked a few times before he continued.
"Drakier, Drac, those were the two who died. I named them since they did not get a name of their own. These two are..."
He smiled softly back at them as they jumped up and pounced onto Veon, hanging on her as she looked to the two, now clearly able to see their scale colors. The one hanging on her right was a bright pink, with red markings while the other was red with blue markings. The pink spoke first as she gave a kiss, just as Zato had.
"Im pink, daddy let me keep the name even though he says it isnt one."
She smiled before jumping into Zatos arms while the other spoke.
"Im Ruby."
She gave a kiss as well before jumping into his arms as well.
"Thankfully Draconis taught me a bit more of his magic before he left. Aged them just a little so they could talk and understand everyone."
They smiled and murmured quietly as they nuzzled against his neck.
"So they are both...raptor...ess'?"
He nodded and chuckled before slowly making his way back to the castle with Veon and him talking along the way, with the two hatchlings just nuzzling against him.And as they got to the courtyard, they found the lord and Ragna standing there as well as everyone else, all with their eyes focused on Zato and the two raptors. The lord smiled and walked forward, as Zato lowered his wings down and covered the two.
"Ahh, Zato. I knew I could count on you to heal them. Now please, hand them over. We only entitled you to care for them."
Zato just glared to the lord and growled out deeply, his eye taking on more of a feral look in it as the lord drew closer.
"Come now Zato, Im the king of this kingdom and your owner."
"You take another step to me and Ill rip out your fucking throat, you killed their brothers. I know you did it because they had the same injuries as everyone else you...own."
The lord chuckled as everyone just went wide-eyed a bit, this was the first time he had stood up against the king so...fiercely. The king, however, seemed to ignore his warning and made another step forward. And in that instant, Zato rushed forward in a flash and took the king down with both of his feet, One clawed foot on his chest while the other was locked around the kings ankles as his maw shot down and locked in place around the kings throat. His arms and the hatchlings never moving, only faint whimpers coming from them as he did this movement. And when everyone took in what just happened, they gasped and the guards in the area readied their weapons and slowly drew closer, with Ragna begging him to let go as the king struggled underneath him. Zato felt this was the best time as any to show a talent he kept in this form that came from his ferals, talking without moving his maw to form the words.
"If anyone takes even a step forward, Ill tear his neck open and let you all watch as he chokes on his own blood. These hatchlings are mine, not yours, not Ragnas not the mistress'. If either of them are injured, the king will die as well as the mistress, and Ragna."
He tightened his maw now around the kings neck, peircing his flesh to show he was not kidding, which caused everyone to back away and most of them were in shock in the first place, this wasn't Zato.
"Fine fine Zato! We wont touch them!"
Said the lord as Zato let go and made his way to Veon, smiling softly to her with blood on some of his fangs as the raptors began to lick it away.
"Could you watch these two please? They know how to do everything themselves, just don't want them causing any trouble while Im away."
She tilted her head as he handed the hatchlings to her. And as he did, his wings shot open as arrows pierced through him and four hit him in the back, before the lord yelled to everyone not to kill him. He turned now, un phased by the arrows, as his eye shifted from its normal color to pitch black. Seeing this, the king instantly called everyone to stop and all the archers did as he walked forward with both of his arms open, to show he wasn't playing any tricks as Zato took a few steps forward, both stopping in front of each other.
"Zato, now you know whats happening to you and if you let it out everyone in this castle is doomed. Veon, Samon, Hollow, Ragna...those two hatchlings? If those two mean so much to you, I will not try to take them."
Zato just stood there silent as he thought for a moment, making the king worry a bit and slowly back up before Zato just gave a grin and blinked. His eye returning to normal, as he turned around and smiled over to the hatchlings who instantly jumped from Veons arms and ran over to him and jumped into his arms.
Veon and everyone just stood there, unsure of what just happened as he slowly began to walk to his room with the arrows still in his back, causing Veon to snap back to reality and run over to him.
"Zato...you do relize you have arrows in your back, right?"
He gave a soft chuckle and smiled to her, causing her to shiver for some reason.
"Oh, I know. Not much I can do about them though...unless you are willing to pull them out. I truthfully don't feel any pain from them."
She gave a tilt of her head and gently wrapped her hand around one before giving a swift pull, ripping it out of him, and him not even showing a hint of pain as the blood began to drip free. He just continued to nuzzle and play with the two hatchlings in his arms as she continued to pull them out, everyone else just watching and wondering what just had happened. The king was attacked, Zato was shot with arrows and ignored them, his eye went black...everyone was just completely confused as he just walked into the castle with the hatchlings and Veon.
A few months go by with little trouble ever arising, the king seeming to have totally ignored Zatos attack on him but he always seemed to be happier after Zato had attacked him and his preparations for war seemed to have picked up, but most ignored since they had been preparing for this war for who knows how long, so they thought the king had just became paranoid.
Zato just went day by day like normal, save for the addition of the two hatchling raptors who were now teens due to the magic from Draconis and Zatos weekly trip to the graves of the two raptors who didn't make it. The biggest change for them, other then there now eight foot stature, was how they always called Zato their brother, instead of daddy like when he first saved them. Veon had asked why they did, and only got a shrug in response and a joke reply.
"Least they don't call me food."
Which earned a smack from Veon before their usual day of rough housing, with the hatchlings jumping in and playing. Just like their "brother" the raptor sisters, as most called them, were well liked and loved. And just like their brother, they trained. Though looking at either you really couldn't tell they knew how to fight.
Pink was a shy, carefree raptoress that loved to spend her free time down by the lake in a secluded spot were the cherry blossom tress always seemed to be dropping their blossoms, wind always carrying them away and making a setting that most would just melt from how peaceful it was. And of course, she would not go without her brother and sister.
Ruby was almost exactly like her sister, other then being a bit more...free of mouth. If she wanted to say something, she would. Of course, even if she insulted someone, most wouldn't do anything about it other then leave the room. Since Zato protected them just like a parent would. And the only other difference between the sisters, was she was more open showing her love to her brother. She gave him kisses, tight hug, hung onto him, asked to be carried, and anything else she could think of when people from the castle were around. And Pink was far more secretive about it, only kissing, hugging, snuggling with him in the room or in their spot by the lake. Whenever Zato did do something to show his love to her in the open, she always blushed brightly and tried to hide her face while Ruby just show boated about it.
Whenever they did train though, you knew it. They were just as aggressive with their training as Zato was. But both loved different weapons then him. Pink loved the bow and arrow, but despised the crossbow to no end and Zato didn't really enjoy either. She, however, knew exactly how to use them and could hit any target from nearly any distance. Though seeing her train with Zato would cause most people to laugh. She always wore black light armor with a blue Z on either shoulder, while he and Ruby trained in the nude and each of them near each other. So whenever she trained, she had a deep, bright blush pasted onto her cheeks. And whenever Veon trained with them, it deepened even more since she as well trained in the nude.
And Ruby on the other hand loved Daggers, throwing stars, throwing knives, and poisoned darts. Pink and Zato both had a hard time following her movements since she was swift, nimble and extremely quick. She, just like her sister, wore the same light armor. Her armor though had a tail sleeve, since she felt an assassin should either have their entire body covered, or have no clothes at all to be even quicker.
And sometimes when they all did train, you would know. Since Zato would be in a smaller feral form, roughly the same size as Ruby and Pink non-feral, as well as the two sisters. All of them training in their feral forms usually got the whole castles attention, since each would roar or shriek. No blood would ever flow, but from seeing it you would think they were trying to kill each other. To beat their brother, they had to both be hanging onto him with their signature claw and their maws around his throat. He, to win, had to have his maw around ones neck and the other pinned beneath his claws. Most of the time would be a tie though, all of them too tired to continue. And currently, for the actual wins, it was Ruby and Pink eight, and Zato seven.
And this was their normal routine, with the addition of Veon time to time. for nearly half a year, until the king called all from the castle to the courtyard.
Zato, Veon, The Sisters, Samon, and Ragna all stood before the king and in front of everyone else in their armors and with their weapons displayed on a table in front of them, save for Zatos Zanbatou which was currently held by him. While the ones behind them were in their armors with their weapons held close by them, or sheathed.
"Everyone here is my elite unit, under the command of Zato and those before you! My son, however, having the most command at any time! You will be the head of the kingdoms army and the last resort should my army fail. However, I do not seeing that happen any time soon."
The king took a few steps forward and put his hands on Zatos shoulders, getting a growl from the sisters as he did. He, however, ignored them.
"Since this one is with us, as well as these four with him."
To be continued...