Spirit Animals - A Thief's Quest, A Warrior's Mission

Chapter Seven - What Are You Hiding?

"Why are you on their side? Surely you know who the good guys are."

"I may know but that doesn't make me good. I've been bad since I was born."

-Meilin-

The night was filled with screams and yells of terror and fear. All around them, chaos was breaking out everywhere. People were running blindly in panic, Zhongese soldiers fought with the mysterious enemies who was slowly outnumbering them, the enemies started lighting houses on fire. This was not what Meilin expected her birthday to be. Attacked by a mysterious enemy in her party. She remembered the thief's words, Roll's words.

"Run while you still can. They're after your talisman, your necklace."

The fire inside of her started to burn stronger as she kept following the Greencloak and Abeke. The boy, the thief, Roll. He was in their side all along.

He's working with the man who killed my father, the people who are currently destroying my home!

"Mistress Meilin," she jolted out of her thoughts at Abeke's voice which almost sounded hesitant, "Are you...okay?"

"What do you think?" Meilin snapped, "These people are currently taking over my country right now, tried to steal something from me and they killed my father on my birthday!"

"I understand that what you're going through is tough right now," the Greencloak told her gently but firm, "but we need your cooperation and to stay focused if we are going to get out of here alive."

"How can I cooperate when we don't even know your name?" Meilin fired, "All of a sudden, there's this army of soldiers from some unknown place who's currently destroying my home then you, another guest that's completely a stranger to me, comes up to me and say that you're the only one who could protect us!"

The Greencloak was about to open his mouth when his eyes flared with alarm, "Watch-"

But Meilin had already spun around and had grabbed the dagger mid-swipe from one of the soldiers. Filled with rage, Meilin kicked the soldier hard and pulled the dagger out of his grasp. Then Meilin did a quick spin and slashed the dagger at the man's thigh who fell down, grabbing it in pain. She scowled at the soldier, throwing the dagger to the side before turning to meet Abeke and the Greencloak's shocked gaze.

"What are you gaping about?" Meilin snapped, "We're supposed to be getting out of here."

They both eyed her warily before the Greencloak nodded, "Right. Follow me. I have a friend here in Zhong. She can help us escape get out of here."

"You still haven't told us your name," Abeke pointed out.

"Right, of course," the Greencloak answered, "My name is Tarik."

- - -

They finally got out of the burning city and had entered the Bamboo Forest. Meilin could still remember her father showing her the way through the Bamboo Forest. He mentioned a hidden military base around the forest but Tarik didn't want to risk getting lost. As they walked on in silence, the fire inside of Meilin kept on growing and growing. She kept on feeding it with every angry thought.

I'll find the person who's behind all of this. I'll hunt down that man who killed my father. And i'll find that boy who tricked me! And to think I was starting to like his company...