The Tiger and The Bird

Chapter 26

General Rangshi's scream caught everyone's attention in the room.

The Witch Fire spread over his body in the blink of an eye. He staggered back on the jade bridge – unable to put out the undying flame. Nong gasped in horror as even his ashes incinerated into nothing. The soul lock continued to burn for a while longer, the shadows struggling and squiggling like tentacles, and then eventually it too melted into nothing.

No one dared to move. And then – a whisper of beads.

"NONG!" The sea dragon cried as Princess Yuenne came up behind Nong and shoved a blade right through her back.

He leapt for her – barreling against anything and anyone in his way. The soldiers tried to stop him but it was no use. They tore at his scales and tried to pin him down with their swords but the sea dragon kept on going until Nong looked at him with desperate eyes filled with tears and lifted her hand to stop him.

"I'm telling you..." She breathed. "To go now,"

The dragon stopped in his tracks. His white eyes not understanding her decision to leave her in this situation.

Nong fell to her knees coughing blood. Her fingers curled around one of her blue feathers. "Go," She muttered to the dragon. "Go," Her hand carefully released the now golden feather stained with her blood. It fluttered over to the sea dragon. He looked at it with wide eyes.

"Go," Nong said weakly.

"Get him," the princess growled. She pulled the knife from Nong's back splattering her blood like petals all over the bridge.

But the dragon darted away with such agility. He grabbed the golden feather in his white claws and smashed through the top of an arched window into the sky.

Princess Yuenne grabbed a fistful of Nong's hair yanking her back up. "This isn't over yet," She snarled.

Nong tried to look at her but her sight began to blur. The pain in her back and stomach overwhelmed all of her senses but a tug in her chest fought to keep her breathing. Nevertheless, she began to falter and her mind went to the dream she had of her and Ru Feng walking through the Bird Village. She could see him – see his smile. See that he was ok. Even if she could never reach him.

Shouts stirred her hearing. She saw Prince Edan leading his army through the room capturing the soldiers. They pulled Princess Yuenne off of her. Prince Edan's horrified face was the last thing she saw as she drifted in to the darkness.

---

The sea dragon crashed into the underground chamber wearing his human form surprising Ru Feng and Sage Turtle. His breathing was ragged – he'd barely stopped for rest. His wounds bled from the exertion, dripping onto the cold ground. But the golden feather was well protected in his hand.

"What happened?" Ru Feng clamored over to him. "Where's Nong?"

The sea dragon tried to catch his breath as Ru Feng struggled to grip his shoulders. He was back to his ghostly self and couldn't make any physical contact. He grunted in desperation as he tried to touch his brother. Finally giving up, he raked his trembling hands through his own hair.

"I'm sorry," the dragon whispered remorsefully, "I couldn't do anything to save her,"

Ru Feng stared at him in disbelief. His heart beat thundered in his ears. At the same time, the cracks on the stone beast pulsed in rhythm. Sage Turtle observed them from his perch with worried black eyes.

"Let's all calm down," he said.

But sorrow rushed through Ru Feng's body like a harsh storm. She was always doing things like this. Always risking herself for his sake. She didn't owe him anything and yet...she told him she loved him. Realization hit him. She knew. She knew this would happen. His heart twisted with the torrents of pain that barreled in him.

"This other woman you were talking about – it's Princess Yuenne," The sea dragon started, "She's hell bent on revenge for cursing Tiger all those years ago. Sparing no human – no god. Nong destroyed the soul lock. However, Princess Yuenne got to her by surprise. It was bad. There is no way she could have survived that wound...but," he showed them the feather.

It glistened in the dark room. On it a sun was drawn with blood. Ru Feng didn't bother to look but Sage Turtle nodded, "The rune of Life,"

"Nong might have actually figured it out," the sea dragon said to Ru Feng. "Right here, right now...with this feather...all four gods' powers are in this room! We might actually be able to lift the curse on you, brother,"

But Ru Feng remained as still as his stone counterpart. Even the dust motes seemed to suspend in the air.

"Brother, I know that you loved her...but this...this can help you," the dragon said trying to reassure him. "Isn't this what you wanted?"

Sage Turtle regarded Ru Feng with regretful eyes. "I'm afraid" He said solemnly, "The day of darkness is upon us,"

They watched as tears slid down his cheek. Ru Feng's silhouette turned to shadow and then he faded into nothing. The sea dragon picked up Sage Turtle and hurriedly backed up towards the exit.

"Ru Feng...don't do this," He shouted. "Snap out of it! This isn't what she died for!"

But the room began to shake violently as the stone beast's eyes flared alive. The ground cracked as it's legs shifted to stand. Stones toppled and weeds upturned from their roots. Everything around them started to collapse.

"Brother! Stop this!" Sea Dragon shouted once more dodging the falling debris.

The stone tiger paused and turned to look at his brothers with lifeless eyes.

"Find him," Sage Turtle said to Ru Feng. "Find him,"

But the beast's only response was a deafening roar that cracked the ruins into pieces as he leapt from the ground tearing through the forest and bounded towards the Lotus Kingdom.