Forging harmony.

NOTES:
Black Panther: Morpheus, Rider: Wolf.
Snow leopard: Talgees, Rider: Zechs.
Lynx: Shinigami, Rider: Duo.
Jaguar: Heavyarms, Rider: Trowa.
Puma: Epyon, Rider: Treize.
Lion: Wing, Rider: Heero.
Tiger: Natacu, Rider: Wufei.
Cheetah: Sandrock, Rider: Quatre.


CHAPTER 23: ALL THE BLIND MICE.

His internal clock woke Duo at a time he knew was just before the others would be thinking about getting up, even the early ones that liked to get their daily sword practice in. Today there would be no time to follow routine. This was why Duo was up so early. Though he normally liked to laze about in the mornings he was sneaking silently down to the bathing room. It would take him most of the extra time he had just to get his hair clean for the last time in quite a while maybe. On his own it was quite a task, still he would never considering cutting it short. Duo planned to indulge in the hot waters, something he had never known until he and Wolf had come to the palace. Oh both of them and their little band of kids had been clean, but on the street a bath was a luxury none of them could afford.

Finally finished with the long chestnut tresses the fun loving man watched as the first of the others filtered into the room, Trowa arm around Quatre chatting about their battle cats and how best to employ them in a close fight. Sandrock had speed over Heavyarms’ staying power and distance.

Both joined Duo who was now soaking over by the waterfall, an energetic water battle was begun and in full swing as Treize entered in just his silk sleep pants. He opted to sit quietly and watch his pack at play when Wufei joined him sitting on the bench clad only in a towel about his hips. He was ready to go into the water but not till the cries of the three already there quieted down. The water battle was over, with no clear winner between them all. With broad smiles at the now calming pool, both slipped into the water as the last of the pack came in.

Heero, Zechs and Wolf came in as usual silent and alert. The final noise quieted into hiccups of laughter out Quatre and Duo. Heero looked at Zechs and a slight curve tilted the edges of both men’s mouths and as one they pushed. Wolf hit the water slipping under to a chorus of laughter. The hot water was helping to wake everyone up, the air continued to hold a playful mischief and the heavy feeling of people who know they are the only ones to do a job nobody really wants to do. Wufei stole Trowa’s bar of soap only
giving it back once he had the green eyed man kiss Quatre. Wolf got revenge on both her pack mates by pulling then under the water at the same time. Zechs could not resist copping a feel off his lover.


Dekim had ridden close enough to Mercurous that the wooded hills could hide his dark army of zombies ready for the attack on the city itself. Mercurous was a new city built to the plans of both princes, unlike most that had a defensive wall to keep the city safe. Instead this one was arranged in a sprawling mass of buildings about the central clump of the palace. Ten red veined, round tall spire guard houses were spaced about the outer edge, 20 guards at one time manned each one. To most people it looked like an open city
which was meant to make trade easy, less roads cluttered with people trying to get through small gateways. The population was not hemmed in and was free to grow. They understood the openness was both a blessing and curse; long hours of talk had refined the vision.

Dekim smiled; it would be so easy to just swarm in with death and destruction, teaching the people their oppressed place beneath his boot heel or crushed in resistance. Half a day within reach of his goal it was so tantalizing to move too soon. But first he needed to take care of his other annoying problem, it would be hard to draw the pack outside and away from this plump place he planned to make his own. It would be hard to bring those eight people to him without risking his own personal safety. He had no problem when others died as long as he gained from it. Retreating back into the shadows that surrounded the
undead things he had made into an unstoppable army, Dekim splashed blood into the air. It froze in mid-fall to create a door of black. When he stepped through, the blood then resumed its course to leave dark spots on the forest floor, lost in the leaf litter.

All the pack and eight of the best shadow walkers were mounted, the small party slipping out in the pre-dawn grays, each battle cat lightly loaded for quicker travel. The earth was clinging to the mist as the land began to heat up for another bright warm day. No one really spoke having slipped into a reflective silence as they ate a quick first meal. They traveled through the surrounding low land towards the desert bordering the princes’ Kingdom with the wooded hills at their back thinking it was safe from that direction. No army could sneak through those matured trees undetected. Also the most logical place to look for Dekim and his cursed army was where they had been attacking from all the time’, the place between Quatre’s people’s lands and Mercurous.

The sun was hitting the half way mark along its journey when Duo gave out a cry of frustration. He was not one to stay as silent as he had managed so far. “Treize this is a hopeless quest, it’s not like we have any choice, but still it sucks.” The violet eyed man
sulked, making Shinigami’s tufted ears twitch. The lynx was used to his loud master and the quick change in his moods.

Duo thought no one was going to answer him, until a hand rested on the small of his back; Heavyarms pressed so close the two big cats fur mixed. Soothing warmth flowed from the slight touch that turned into small circles being rubbed up and down his spine. “Shush, just a couple of days at the most.” Trowa’s voice pitched to be a suggestive purr, light dancing in the one green eye he let be visible to the world.

“If you’re good I won’t be forced to paint you in honey.” Wolf added moving Morpheus past, a ghost of a smile on her normally dark face. All the pack could feel her contentment, baiting the braided man so his mind and mouth was fully occupied.

Trowa briefly thought of other ways to keep that same lush mouth amused, getting an instant erection for his troubles. Shifting his weight to ease a little of the tension on his groin; knowing looks from the others told him all he needed to know, that he was not the
only one having dirty thoughts about Duo and sticky substances dribbled over his body.

“You do that and I will steal your quilts.” Wolf stiffened in mock annoyance, a low warning rumble coming from Heero having missed interpreted the two street rats banter.

Quatre quickly stepped in to cool things down. “No she will steal my prized fire to warm her bed.” Those who had been listening giggled at the picture of one protesting Wufei being asked to keep the room hot.

“I found she was quite warm enough…” Zechs began only to be cut off by Treize’s mental voice, (You will sleep on the floor if you say another word. Besides you sleep with me or no one) the last was a good humored dig at the long silver haired prince.

The balance was once again restored, Wolf and Zechs slipping back to ride with the shadow walkers they had picked as they both worked together to change the appearance of them. Two hours passed and now it looked like a mirror image following them. It would not fool Dekim once they got into battle but it could buy time and cause confusion. As both princes were still under the impression the mad dark would never leave the safety his undead army gave him, there was the advantage of numbers he had. The evil man liked to win and did not play fair ever. This had worried them so a little added protection had been arranged the night before. Heero and Trowa under the guidance of Treize had performed a ritual unlike any other before. It had been draining for all three and this was part of the reason they were currently moving so slowly.