18 The Cold Dungeon

When Liang was passed to Juugo, her clothes had already been emaciated and filthy. It had been weathered by countless journeys, perhaps stained by broth and beer but it had never been soaked in blood. As she found herself shackled to a chair, her clothes had been drenched with blood, fluids and vomit to the innermost layer.

The tormentor, Juugo, had a malicious affinity to cries of pain. Sometime ago, Liang's sensation had numbed after the bed of nail on her last finger had been pierced with sharp bamboo and her body was beaten with sharp and blunt objects. Juugo only brutalized the methods even more.

After the fifth or sixth torture, Liang had lost strength to scream. Her throat was dry and sore. She felt half dead but still fully awake. She had attempted countless litanies to ward off the Guren tormentor but none of her spells were effective.

When Juugo was finally bored with Liang, the wolf threw her to a dungeon cell and gave her a faded rag to change into. Liang barely had the strength to stand up. Once her body tasted ease, the pain of her wounds began to catch up, intensifying each second. She was lopsided on the cold ground, too weary to move.

"Change!" Juugo hammered the iron bars with a steel club. When he saw that Liang was not moving, he returned with a bucket of cold river water and poured it all over Liang.

The exorcist grimaced, releasing a high pitched squeal that finally wounded her throat. She coughed blood in the recesses of her gasps. Quickly, she pulled the strings of her tunic loose, the slightest press of her fingers ached where her nails once grew. She carefully disrobed layer after layer. Some of the shallow wounds punctured on her skin had already dried with blood and it stuck to the cloth on the wound. Liang had to peel it carefully before slipping out of the wet layers.

Juugo watched as Liang stripped in front of him, taking much pleasure in seeing the lamed exorcist writhe in pain. Once fully bare, Liang took the one-layer rag and wore it over her body. It did not even cover her past the knees.

The tormentor sneered and picked up Samagwi's corpse with one hand and with the other, he tore a limb like it was a piece of paper and began chewing on it. The crunch of bone and ripping of flesh was daunting to hear. Liang's stomach retched but she had already emptied whatever contents of it remained. Her extremities began to ache and little had it done blowing hot air around it. She was quivering like she had a seizure and her neck felt like it was about to snap from uncontrollably shaking.

"Perhaps it would not make much of a difference…" whispered a weak, raspy voice. Liang looked around her cell and that's when she noticed there was a figure sitting in the dark part of her confines. "But it would be best for both of us to share our heat."

Liang crawled to where she heard the voice. "M-makaskas?" she asked.

Makaskas crept to the moonlight. First, Liang saw his punctured eyes, oversaturated with tears if tears were blood. Then she saw his naked body, no longer gold and umber patterned like the first time she saw him. The clouded leopard had been shaved. His skin was full of abrasions and burnt parts.

"I-I don't have my coat anymore," his voice sounded so low and when he bared his mouth, his fangs had been pulled out. "But perhaps we could still warm each other."

Liang maneuvered herself toward the clouded leopard, using her forearms against the ground to move her way toward him. They went to the unlit part of the cell, desperate to believe that the darkness could hide them from Juugo but the tormentor sat and watched them bemusedly as he devoured the shaman's corpse.

"I-is this you, Liang?" Makaskas cupped around him. Liang pressed herself against Makaskas, stretching her palms on Makaskas's rough, loose skin. The warmth she felt was exchanged with twice the coldness on Makaskas's part. The B'koli grimaced.

"Y-you're cold as ice," he said.

Liang apologized hoarsely.

Their irregular breaths whistled from their lungs and their heartbeats were near death. Perhaps both of them were slowly dying but Juugo knocked against the dungeon cell with a metal baton and both Liang and Makaskas were startled awake. Makaskas's ears moved alertly and Liang pushed herself harder against the clouded leopard.

Juugo laughed at their sudden panic and returned once more to his seat.

"I'm sorry I could not do anything…" Liang cried. She could barely dictate words without her voice muting midway.

"Let's just survive for now…" although weak, Makaskas brushed Liang's head and pulled her closer for more warmth. "If we both die today, then perhaps in the next life we could avenge ourselves…" he chortled.

Liang closed her eyes, feeling sleepy at the motion of Makaskas's breath. The contraction of his chest was lulling Liang to sleep, making her momentarily forget about the ache in her body. It comforted her knowing that she was with someone alive and that she's not truly alone. But beyond her physical senses, she could feel Makaskas waning.

"You're dying…" Liang whispered but Makaskas did not reply. Liang shook him. "Makaskas…"

The clouded leopard jerked awake and although blind, he still looked at Liang's direction.

"Do you want to return to heaven?" Liang asked. "They're going to kill me as soon as I exorcise the warden. At least…at least let me save you so that I could tell myself I did something good with my power."

Makaskas wheezed. "No…" he heaved in a deep breath and let it out. "I want to die fighting, Liang."

"You've fought enough…"

"You don't know me…" Makaskas coughed, spraying blood and saliva with the air of his breath. "I was one of the gods who hid in heaven," he confessed. "I pretended not to see the deaths of our kind and feigned ignorance at the desperate prayers. I only crossed after the war was over, telling myself that I want to make a difference. If I had done it twenty years ago, who knows what could have happened? Perhaps Zhaohu would have been defeated or perhaps I would have died alongside the other deities…if it was the latter, then this, my death, just arrived late."

"Such valor…" Liang's tone went lower. She had always found everything that did not much her beliefs as strange. "The people I meet continue to surprise me…I guess it would surprise anyone who has been actively avoiding everyone for the past years."

"I understand, Liang," Makaskas said, "You don't have to justify your actions for the past twenty years. I know what it's like to be afraid. In the war against the dragons, I've lost many allies and I know of the fear watching the people you love get devoured. We're all afraid."

"We're all afraid…" Liang repeated as if she had been told the greatest secret in the world. It had always been herself and herself alone against the world. She alienated herself and pretended not to see the chaos around her. She was no different from Makaskas. "Even Bao?" she asked.

"Fearless as he may appear, he feels just as much as we do…" Makaskas's voice fluctuated. "He is every bit as much like us…but he's more like you, the last of his kind. He is the last of the eight heavenly guardians."

A realization dawned to Liang. "Bao…he's Wei Bao?"

"No other."

"The heavenly guardian of Shan Liang…"

Makaskas smiled despite it all. "Of course you knew him…"

"I thought they were all killed…I saw their heads mounted on Shinsou's wall."

"We thought all of the exorcists were killed and yet here you are," Makaskas returned. "The warden is possessed by the seven heavenly guardians and the godkissed souls they devoured. Their grudge will continue to grow and once the wolf dies, it will become a force of destruction. The heavenly guardians deceived Shinsou into thinking Bao is the cure. If ever the warden captures Bao, it will complete the grudge and chaos will reign on earth for centuries. But of course…I don't need to tell you any of that."

The locks of the dungeon cell clicked and was followed by the squeaky hinge of the door. Liang and Makaskas retreated as far back to the corner until they were pressed against the wall and could not go any further.

"Enough already!" Liang desperately pleaded, pushing herself to shout despite the pain. "Any more and both of us will die!"

Instead of Juugo's voice replying, it was a soft and feminine tone.

"I'm not going to hurt you," it said.

Makaskas turned his head toward the sound, his ears twitching curiously.

"E-eika?" he gasped.

"You're not going to like the sight of him," Juugo chuckled somewhere in the dark. His voice faded and was followed by the slam of a wooden door.

Liang turned her head toward the light where a white wolf with red eyes crouched before them. Slung across her shoulder was a giant wicker basket which she placed on the wet floor.

"Juugo's right." Makaskas spat blood. "You're not gonna like what you are about to see."

"I already see you," Eika whispered softly. She unfolded a thick, fur blanket from the basket and walked toward Liang and Makaskas. "Let me help you."

Eika placed her hand on Liang's shoulder, helping the exorcist to sit upright. Liang grimaced at the touch of the wolf's hand but no harm ever came out of it. Nevertheless, the exorcist remained suspicious.

The white wolf wrapped Makaskas and Liang with the blanket and returned to retrieve the basket. She pulled out ointments and bandages which she used to wrap the abrasions on Liang and Makaskas's skin. She took a mortar and pestle, and leaves of various kind which she crushed and pressed against Makaskas's deeper wounds.

"Why do you help us?" Makaskas asked as Eika cleaned the blood from his eyes. The press of Eika's hand on his cheek was soft and warm but the contact of wet cloth slightly seared the wound.

Makaskas hadn't noticed it before but Eika had been sobbing silently the whole time and it only became apparent when she spoke and her voice faltered.

"W-why not?" Eika returned and sniffled.

Liang softly interjected. "The last thing I want to do is drive you away…but you shouldn't be here."

Eika was upset. "What's it to you?"

"She's right," Makaskas seconded. "You'll end up just like us if that Juugo wanted it…all he has to do is lock the door and accuse you. You'll become his plaything."

"That won't happen." Eika's cry was finally clear. "I'm not doing anything against the law. Visiting prisoners is not forbidden."

"Listen to us, Eika…" Makaskas whispered. "Leave while you still can."

Eika nodded her head firmly. "I'm already here…and I will come back every day," she said. "I-I know someone who works here. I can tell him to stop Juugo from—" she paused after seeing all the damage Juugo had done. "I can tell him to stop."

Liang admired Eika's enthusiasm. It made Liang think that perhaps not all Guren were as cruel as the ones she encountered. It was almost as if Eika was a human inside the vessel of a wolf. Liang would have thought that if she was the one whose eyes were taken, she'd mistake Eika for just a kind woman. But the wolf's naivety will become her downfall.

"Does it still hurt?" Eika asked.

Makaskas subtly nodded up and down.

Eika took a small vial from the basket and uncorked it. She placed it inches away from Makaskas's nose and let the fume dissipate through the air. The scent was similar to mint and the moment Makaskas inhaled it, his throbbing wounds went numb. Eika then withdrew the vial and blew over its lid so that the fumes may reach Liang but not so much that it would overwhelm the human. After all, the numbing fume was created by a Guren avolar specifically for the physiology of their kind. Anything too much for a human could be fatal.

Makaskas and Liang hadn't realized that they were tensed the whole time. It was only when Eika relieved their pain had they finally been able to relax.

The white wolf continued to tend to their injuries until no wound was left to fester. Only then had Eika began to feed them soft rice cakes and lukewarm soup. She snuck a few buns wrapped in paper and tucked it underneath their blanket.

"I'll watch over you," Eika said.

Makaskas contradicted. "No. Enough."

"Juugo can't harm me. It would be injustice. As long as I don't go against the law, he cannot touch me."

"Don't be naïve," Makaskas scolded. "Do not wait for injustice to happen before you act. Eika, please…" Makaskas begged.

"Okay…" Eika stepped back. Reluctantly, she turned away and exited the cell but before she could get out, Juugo came in with two wolf guards by his side to intercept her.

"Tell me, boys," Juugo said, "What appeared to have happened here?" he asked.

One of the wolves laughed, the other replied, "Looks like treason to me, Juugo."

Eika backed away slowly. "I committed no such thing."

The other wolf joined in. "She conspired with the rebels."

"No!" Makaskas bolted toward iron bars until he collided with it, cupping his way through the open door.

"It seemed that the rebel is quite concerned for your wellbeing." Juugo ran the back of his hand on Eika's cheek. "Now wouldn't that be proof enough that you're allies?"

The white wolf shook it away.

Offended, Juugo slapped Eika so hard she stumbled to the ground.

Makaskas ran aimlessly toward them, tripping over buckets and slamming against the corner of counters where corpses were strapped. He ran into Juugo, pushing the giant wolf with all his strength. Juugo was taken a few steps aback and he slammed his elbow on Makaskas's back.

"I see you still haven't learned." Juugo cracked his knuckles. He ordered the wolf guards to throw Eika in the dungeon cell with Liang before pulling Makaskas by the skin of his neck and chaining his hands overhead. The Guren tormentor then hoisted Makaskas by the wrists and left him dangling by the tips of his toes. He commanded the two wolf guards to give Makaskas a hundred lashes and the guards were more than happy to take turns.

Eika was petrified in fear, whimpering but could not force herself to move or talk. The wolf guards each pulled out a bullwhip and alternated lashing Makaskas on the back. The clouded leopard's cry filled the dungeon as his blood pooled underneath him.

Liang stopped the torment with what little strength she had left. Mutilated hands extended, she hoisted the wolf guards in the air and flung them against the wall like ragdolls. The crack of bones echoed inside the dungeon and both wolves died.

Infuriated, Juugo unlocked the cell and dragged Liang by the hair. The large wolf pulled her to stand, hands pressed against the wall.

"If you do not want your friend to suffer, then perhaps you would like to suffer in his stead," Jugo said. He picked up the bullwhip from his comrade's corpse and tore the rag Liang wore with one hand. For every sharp whistle in the air, he made Liang count.

~

They haven't spoken a word since leaving the clan's base. Not that it would have been possible with the storm winds drowning every sound. Bao suggested that they wait until the storm passed before raiding the dungeon. He wasn't even sure if Liang was already there. But the Ronin was too impatient and claimed that the storm could cover their presence during the rescue.

Although his reason was logical, Bao sensed something else with Tenshi's intentions. Bao always hated Tenshi. The Ronin was arrogant and naïve. His motivations were never clear and it gave Bao the notion that Tenshi was only fighting in the war for the thrill of it. They worked together for years, assassinating generals and weakening the sovereigns of different countries for a few communities of humans to thrive. Not once did the snow leopard ever feel like Tenshi was sincere. Everything had always been a competition to him or an opportunity to flaunt his power.

Now, as they walk the storm, Tenshi was serious. Perhaps the years had changed him, Bao thought. It was common for humans to change behavior throughout their lifetime and Tenshi was no exception.

They spent an entire hour lost in the storm, searching for a landmark and another hour to get back on track. Bao feared for the human's sake as he was not sure how long Tenshi could survive the harsh cold. But it seemed like the Ronin was much more terrified of the storm ending right before they could infiltrate the dungeon.

When they were close, Bao's ears began to pick up noises with the wind but it was still too vague to be forming conclusions. They walked a little closer until they could surmise the buildings. No wolf guards were in sight. All of them were probably inside the dungeons passing the storm.

Tenshi cursed.

Bao walked deeper in the territory, trying to pick up where he heard the sound. The clearer he heard the cries, the closer he arrived.

"There!" Bao pointed at the building by the river.

They paced hastily toward the dungeon and when Bao heard clear enough that it was Liang's cries of pain, he broke into a sprint.

"Bao, stop!" Tenshi followed him from behind.

Bao heard Tenshi's warning but he acted impulsively, afraid that Liang was getting killed. The wooden door with locks of iron did not withstood the force of Bao's strength as the snow leopard slammed against it shoulder first. The locks from inside exploded inward along with the door.

Wind and snow infiltrated the entire dungeon like tormented spirits, howling as it traveled in the emptiness of the prison cells. Far at the back, he saw Liang whose back was torn open and bathed in her own blood. Before her was the giant wolf, Juugo holding a whip that ran with crimson liquid.

Bao roared so loud that the dangling chains rustled and the stone walls vibrated. The Guren tormentor looked at Bao's direction, baring his yellow fangs. Down on all fours, Bao crouched and sprinted like a landcrawler that locked on its prey.

Before the giant wolf could react, Bao had already pounced midway through the air. Sharp claws punctured the wolf through the chest, pushing him to the floor but before he could meet the ground, the snow leopard pivoted and lifted the wolf back in the air and flung him against the metal bars of a cell instead.

A heavy foot claw pressed against Juugo's neck and blood began to soak his tunic from the deep wounds on his chest.

"B-bao…" Makaskas whimpered.

Bao only noticed Makaskas dangling right in front of him. Bao got up and snapped the chain by merely tugging on it. Makaskas dropped to the floor on hands and knees, finally able to breathe without restriction.

When Bao turned to Liang, Tenshi had already wrapped her inside his cloak.

"T-tenshi?" though weak, Liang still held surprise and the moment she recognized the Ronin's face, she threw herself toward him in a burst of tears.

Tenshi embraced Liang and for the first time, Bao saw the Ronin cry.

~

They could not move during the storm. It was impossible with the half-dying state of the exorcist and the clouded leopard. Bao already had much to think about like how they could escape the dungeon grounds. Once the storm passes, the wolves will be out of the buildings and they would be surrounded. The presence of Takeshi's daughter was nothing but another weight to his burden.

Almost.

The white wolf, Eika, brought plenty of herbs, ointments and bandages. She had been tending to Makaskas's wounds diligently.

Liang and Tenshi were right across them. Tenshi personally cleaned Liang's wounds and wrapped it in bandages all the while assuring her that everything will be all right. Bao still found it strange that Mori Tenshi actually had a heart.

They kept Juugo alive and restrained if ever the situation became desperate. Perhaps they could escape with a hostage and just deal with him later.

"You have been quiet, Bao," Makaskas whispered.

Bao turned to his comrade and felt a surge of guilt inside him.

"I'm sorry, Makaskas…" Bao said. "This is all due to my incompetence and because of that, you lost your sight."

Makaskas frowned. "None of this is your fault, Bao…you came, haven't you?"

"Too late, I'm afraid."

"We're still alive."

Eika went beside Makaskas and asked to see his back. Makaskas had only been lashed a few times but it was enough to open the skin on his back. Eika applied crushed herbs and sealed it with a bandage.

"It needs to be stitched," she said, "But we don't have an avolar. For now, keeping the wound disinfected should be enough."

"Your father forbade you to come here, yet you did it anyway," Bao said to Eika.

"What's it to you, Oh Daehan?" Eika pouted.

Makaskas chortled and smiled like an idiot. "How did he become Oh Daehan?"

Eika mirrored his action. "Do you find it funny, Hi-ki-ko-mo-ri-san?"

Bao watched them amusedly and then his eyes turned toward Liang and Tenshi again. The snow leopard got up and grabbed the numbing vial from Eika's basket and approached the Ronin and exorcist.

"For the pain…" Bao handed it to Liang.

"I can take care of her," Tenshi said coldly. "Go back to your ally."

"She is my ally," Bao matched Tenshi's tone. "And this is for her sake not yours."

"I've already given it to her."

Bao nodded absentmindedly and turned back but before he could walk away, he turned to them again and knelt. He unslung the satchel bag over his head and reached it toward Liang.

"Your clothes," Bao said without taking his eyes off Liang.

Tenshi reached for the bag but Bao pulled it away before the Ronin could grab it.

"It's alright, Bao," Liang spoke hoarsely and the snow leopard handed the bag to Tenshi.

The Ronin searched the bag quickly, confirming if it was truly Liang's belongings. Then he pulled out a dagger.

"How did you get this?" Tenshi asked.

"It's Liang's possession."

"I know. I gave it to her. How did you get it?"

Bao took a deep breath. "Liang—" he stopped himself and corrected. "The exorcist left it when she ran away."

Tenshi opened his mouth to speak but Liang placed her hand on Tenshi's cheek and coaxed him to look at her. Bao felt awful after seeing the wounds on Liang's hand. In place of where her nails once grew was pink and red, where the flesh was thin and wounded. Bao did not even realize that something awful was poking inside his throat until he swallowed and felt it was difficult.

Liang mouthed something only they understood and after a while, Tenshi dropped the subject.

"Thank you for returning it," Tenshi said.

Bao bowed his head in acknowledgment and walked back across the dungeon cell, sitting beside Eika and Makaskas. The white wolf offered Bao a rice cake but he respectfully declined.

It was much quieter now compared before. The storm was soon to pass and Bao feared that they may not make it out alive. There were no safe options. If they move out now, they'll die in the storm and if they move out later, they'll die by the wolf guards.

Bao closed his eyes to separate himself from the distractions. In the darkness of his vision, he could only hear the blizzard—the howling winds, the rush of the river and the repetitive caw of a raven.