130 Hungry Kittens

A large ring of light appeared in front of Dom, similar in size to the last one, big enough for the Red Hare and Sabre Tooth Tiger riders to head through. Tomoe led the way, flanked by four of the Forbidden Guard who were riding Red Hare. Behind her was Shang Yang who was flanked by the two Sabre Tooth Tiger riding Forbidden Guard, he looked a bit uncomfortable but kept a straight face, as the Captain of the Guard Chen Lu looked excited to be riding one. Behind him was Dom and Leonidas on their Red Hare, that seemed unafraid of the Tigers in front of them. Bringing up the rear were Subutai, flanked by the two Forbidden Guards with bows that also rode Red Hares.

As they passed through the portal they appeared on a dark soil road, surrounded by thick forest on both sides. The moon was high in the sky and the air felt chilly on their skin. They were silent as they appeared, with just the breathing of the animals making any sort of noise.

All of the warriors were fully equipped with their weapons and armour, as well as having side bags on their saddles full of food for a couple of days just in case. Dom hoped that this would be a short quest as their arrival felt eerie.

"What an eerie place." Tomoe commented from the front of the column.

"Very much so." Dom agreed from the middle, "Keep an eye out everyone, we need to get moving soon. I don't think it's safe to stay stationary like this."

"Captain Chen Lu and Chen Ping." Subutai ordered to the two Tiger Riders. "Head up and down the road and see if your Tigers can pick up the scent of anything."

The two accepted their orders and separated, with Chen Lu heading to the front of the column and off in to the distance, whilst Chen Ping did the same to the rear. Meanwhile, Shang Yang trotted his horse towards Dom and stood beside him, looking around silently and taking a deep breath as he did so.

"It reminds me of home." Shang Yang said reminiscing. "The trees and the smells are very homely, from times of travelling across the kingdom in my youth."

"It's always nice to be reminded of your youth." Subutai said from behind them, snapping Shang Yang from his slight trance. "For now though, let's concentrate on the challenge at hand. Make sure you are beside myself, Lord Lazarus or Leonidas at all times."

"I will keep myself safe." Shang Yang accepted, "Don't be worrying about me if we are in a fight, I have a sword and I know how to use it."

The group checked their weapons, whilst the four Halberd Forbidden Guard that were on horseback took up the four corners of the unit and created a small square formation whilst they waited for any update from the Tiger Riders.

It wasn't long until Chen Lu came riding back on his, he looked comfortable in the saddle as he rocked from side to side as the Tiger paced forwards, a lot less steady than a horse would be.

"Captain Chen Lu reporting." Chen Lu said, tapping his arm on his chest, his Halberd strapped to the side of his saddle.

"It's fine Chen Lu, relax." Dom replied, "I know you are new, but we are a bit more relaxed here than other places."

"Sorry, It's an automatic response." Chen Lu responded, "I heard voices on the wind in front, I suspect that there are travellers in that direction. The voices were getting quieter so I suspect that they are moving away from us, rather than to us."

"Amazing, that is our first clue then." Dom replied, "Someone go get Chen Ping and we will depart immediately."

"I'll go." Leonidas said, feeling like being assigned as just a guard for this quest wasn't what he had planned at the start of the day.

Soon after Chen Ping and Leonidas returned and the group headed down the soil path at a speedy pace, not quite at a run, but speedy enough that the animals wouldn't be able to maintain it for a prolonged period and then be able to successfully charge an enemy afterwards.

The two Tiger Guards took the lead and Dom was mesmerised as he watched them from the middle of the small column. Part of him wanted to ride one himself, but he had started to get used to his powerful Red Hare Horse and wasn't sure he was prepared to replace it, as at a sprint his horse would easily out pace the mighty Tigers.

"I feel that I need to do this more often, my aging bones are loosing up after riding for a while." Shang Yang said to Dom with a smile, "It is quite exhilarating getting out for a while and away from my desk, I am sure Lucius will be jealous when I tell him."

"You'll have to find an excuse to tour the edges of our territory when we return." Dom laughed. "It's nice to see you smile."

"I am always smiling." Shang Yang replied with a serious face, "I just choose not to show it."

Subutai and Tomoe both laughed when they heard this comment, not knowing if he was joking or being serious. They continued travelling for a while, until they could hear the sounds in the distance that Chen Lu had mentioned earlier.

"When we find those we are looking for, you must show your strength from the first moment." Shang Yang stated, "Show a bit of arrogance, but be kind, honest and friendly as well."

"It sounds like a lot of shouting." Tomoe interrupted before Dom could reply to Shang Yang, stating that he was kind, honest and friendly.

"Let's increase the pace!" Dom ordered.

The further they travelled, the wider the road became, making it much easier for multiple carriages to be able to pass each other at the same time. The forest was still thick with trees on both sides and the sounds of shouting and the clashing of metal could be heard.

"Nearly there, weapons ready!" Subutai ordered.

The Archers drew an arrow each and placed them in their bows, ready upon Subutai's order. Subutai did the same thing from the rear, whilst the Halberd Cavalry spread in to a line at the front, Tomoe central with her Naginata ready, the two Tiger Riders by her two sides. Dom was in the middle, his Slaying Spear in hand, whilst Leonidas held his own spear and Shang Yang an iron sword.

Their pace increased as they rounded a bend, noticing the chaos in front of them. A group of around eighty well dressed people where under attack by about sixty poorly dressed men. The poorly dressed men wore yellow headbands and brandished a combination of wooden spears and swords. The well dressed people were a combination of around thirty guards, a couple of well dressed men brandishing swords, with the rest being women and children. The women and children were stood amongst a selection of Carriages, where the first one had been blocked by a fallen branch in the road. There were also a couple of horses and oxen in the centre, and Dom wondered why these hadn't been used in the fight.

There were around thirty of the yellow headbanded men on each side, and the guards who were better equipped were struggling to hold their ground as they were trying to protect those that were stuck in the middle. There were a couple of guards lay on the floor, whilst there were also a few yellow headbanded men lay on the floor as well. Dom was happy to see that there were no Archers, as otherwise he suspected that their would be a lot more casualties.

"Attack the Yellow Headbanded Men!" Dom ordered, "Protect the rest!"

"Yes Lord!" The others commanded as Tomoe's group charged in to the left flank, catching the thirty warriors there off guard.

"Release Arrows!" Subutai ordered as he pulled his horse in, aiming his arrows at the right flank. There were thirty enemies on the flank and Subutai only had himself and two other archers, however they were better equipped and there were around fifteen guards who were pushing back.

Dom himself charged straight to the centre, where a few better dressed men were co-ordinating the defence.

"We are here to help!" Dom shouted loudly, "Have your men counter attack upon my order!"

One of the men turned to look at Dom as he shouted this, but Dom ignored him, remembering Shang Yang's advice on strength and arrogance, turning to watch as Tomoe's forces hit the flank.

She swung her Naginata at the first foe, quickly decapitating him as the two Tigers beside her charged forwards. The first one clawed at an enemy, it's claws ripping through his flesh and spine, easily disabling the yellow headed warrior, as it's rider, Chen Ping, slashed down with his halberd at the exposed back of another. The other Tiger grabbed a shocked yellow headed warrior's head, tearing it loose as it's rider Chen Lu stabbed the point of his halberd in to the chest of another.

The other riders quickly passed the Tigers and smashed in to the rest of the formation, who in shock at the distraction quickly turned and began to flee, having no taste for wanting to fight against cavalry.

Dom turned and looked at the other flank, seeing that six of the thirty had already been taken down by Subutai and his two guards arrows, as another three arrows flew towards them.

"Now!" Dom ordered, as the Carriage Guards quickly dashed forwards with their swords in to the yellow headed warriors, who were all turning on both flanks and running towards the woods.

A few more were either cut down or shot down as they ran, before Subutai called for everyone to stop chasing as soon as they reached the tree lines. Dom turned and noticed that Chen Lu and Chen Ping were now dismounted beside their Tigers, as they happily began eating some of the fallen enemies. Dom cringed at the site, thinking that he didn't want them to get used to the taste of humans.

"Wow!" Tomoe shouted from the side, "Look how good the Big Kitties were! They are so hungry!"

"I doubt we are that tasty." Shang Yang said from beside Dom, impressed at the brief exchange, and reading Dom's thoughts as Tomoe excitedly checked over the bodies to make sure everyone who should be dead, was dead.

"I hope not." Dom replied with a laugh, before turning to the leader of the Carriage's. "Sorry we arrived so late, My name is Lord Lazarus."

"I did have a plan." The man replied, the man seemed to be in his late twenties and had a a pointy beard and a moustache that separated in the middle. "But yours was a lot more entertaining. I am Xun Yu of the Xun family of Yingchuan."

"Nice to meet you." Dom replied, getting of his horse and clasping the Xun Yu's outstretched hand.

"And you." Xun Yu laughed, he turned and looked over Shang Yang, a deep look on his face. Xun Yu then turned and waved towards those behind him, "Come, meet my family."