Advent Of A Gunslinger

Eventually, night would soon fall upon Panthera, and everyone would quiet down along with it. Soon enough, Mio was able to remove the facial mask. The sensation of the burn had finally run its course and he was able to think clearly and get some rest.

“Alright...I think I’m good for now,” he said to Spitha, “But I want to thank you for keeping me company. You didn’t have to go out of your way and yet…”

The dragoness put a claw on his head and patted him affectionately. “It’s quite fine. After all the things you’ve been through, you deserve to feel comfort. So please, don’t think you’re causing me any burden. I want to help you.” She let go, and stood up as she got ready to leave the room. “To be honest, I quite like taking care of someone like you. So meek...it’s adorable.”

“So, is there anything else you need right now?” she asked.

“She’s so sweet. Such a beautiful dragon woman. Which makes it all the more upsetting that Rongu would not only lie to her, but actively spend time away from her. I just don’t get it. How could he be so--...blech. No time to worry about that right now I suppose.” Mio couldn’t help but respond with a blush and a small purr. “Rrrr...no, Spitha. Thank you. You’ve done more than I could’ve ever asked for. But if I do need anything, I’ll be sure to call for you.”

“Understood, Mio. And you’re very welcome,” she replied with a smile, and turned to leave, “You have a good night’s sleep now, okay?”

“I will,” the tom said as he smiled in return, “Goodnight, Spitha.”

Spitha had gone back to her hotel room, leaving Mio alone in his. Of course, if he needed anything, he would be able to shout for her at any time which put the tom at ease. Though, he still couldn’t figure out why Rongu would deceive and neglect such a wonderful dragoness.

And similarly, Spitha wondered her own thoughts about Mio as she shut his hotel room door, and entered hers nearby. She then entered the shower, and began to clean herself up as she started to think...

“...He’s had it far worse, and yet he’s turned out to be a much better, more mature man than Ron ever has. Even down to admitting when he knows he’s wrong. Ron on the other hand didn’t suffer through a war or anything of the sort. And yet he treated me like I didn’t matter…”

It was quite hard to describe indeed. On the one hand, Rongu grew up with a well-off childhood in the Dragon Lands and eventually grew up to be a slave-laboring swindler. On the other hand, Mio’s childhood was filled to the brim with enough death and hatred to cause anyone to lose their marbles. The dichotomy between the two was vast and rather confusing to say the least.

Once she was finished, she dried herself off, and went to lie down on the bed in the middle of the room. “...Are some people simply born evil?”

By 9PM, both the dragon lady and abyssinian tom had fallen asleep and were able to relax….for a while.

That is, until they heard some rattling noises followed by the sound of a vase hitting the floor outside.

CRACKLE!

Mio instantly jumped out of his sleep, and turned on the lamp at his bedside. “What in the world…?” His ear flicked in response to the sound of paws rapidly darting across the floor outside. “What is going on? Have I been found out somehow?”

Just then, his hotel room’s door knob would start to jiggle, clearly an attempt of being broken into from the other side. Whoever it was, it was more than likely not trying to say hello in a casual manner.

“...!” Mio quickly reached into his suit that was still on the coat hanger, and pulled out a small revolver. He then waited silently next to the door. His ears tense, teeth clenched, and heart racing…

SLAM!

The door was suddenly broken down, and Mio quickly pointed his weapon at the force behind the intrusion.

“Hands up, hombre! Don’t move!”

Thankfully he didn’t pull the trigger right away.

“Waitwaitwait!” cried the intruder with a mewl. It was a she-cat dressed in an all-black catsuit with pink goggles over her eyes as well as a brown cowboy hat and a lasso on her hip. “I’m a sheriff here on behalf of the King and Queen! They’d like your help!”

Mio lowered his weapon and tilted his head. “What in the lord’s name of litter--what kind of entrance was that?!”

“Sorry it’s...standard procedure for me to act stealthily. Y-you understand, right?” the sheriff gave her best, nervous smile.

The tom reacted with a press of his fingertips to his forehead. “Oi...it’s like trouble just finds me at this point.”

Moments later, an imposing figure would stand in the doorway to prevent the she-cat’s escape. It was an upset Spitha who had her arms crossed and glaring daggers down at the abyssinian. Her nostrils were already bearing smoke. “Oh really? The royal family sent you?”

“AH!” the sheriff squealed, “Y-yes! I swear!”

Spitha leaned down, and snarled. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

All Mio could do was stand there with a mix of shock and appreciation rushing through his veins. “...A bit extreme. But she really does care for me, huh?”

Meanwhile, in the Wukong Territory…

It was also in the dead of night in this territory. Though, they were about five hours ahead of Abyssinia in terms of time zone, so it was more like the cusp of early morning around 2AM.

Our group of intrepid mercenaries had found their way around to the place known as ‘Zhen Huxi.’ Why did they only find it just now in the dead of night? There was an answer for that.

Chang had allowed Vido, Kora, and Axel to get some sleep in his guest rooms in the palace so that they could rest for a bit. But now, it was time to act. Everyone had awakened and was prepared to leave out of the main entrance of the grand temple.

They had all assembled in the main foyer where they had spoken to Chang’s father Juzo. Naturally, the Emperor was nowhere to be seen--likely in bed with his entourage.

“Alright, friends,” the monkey doctor pointed to a map on a board on wheels that he had rolled out just for this. The map displayed an overhead schematic of the entire capital. “Zhen Huxi--or Poison Bird Breath when translated--is an arms manufacturer located somewhere nearby. All we have to do is find a building that smells of activity.”

“Well that won’t be hard at all,” Vido proclaimed as he pointed at himself with his left thumb-claw, and put his right claw around Axel’s neck--much to the gunslinger’s instant chagrin. “We got some of the best eyesight this side of the Zedong River! Ain’t that right, amigo?”

“Hrk!” Axel gasped upon being grabbed, but couldn’t refute the griffon’s claim. “Yeah, you right. We got ourselves some of the best eyes ‘round these parts. We’ll take to the air like before.”

Kora spoke up next. “What shall I do, Chang?”

“Use your sense of smell,” the primate replied as he tapped his nose, “Most of the citizens are going to be asleep right about now, so we have big advantage. Stay alert and keep your wits about you, everyone. This is going to be a difficult one.”