Tracked

The two companions came to the Gate "Oh so you are able to make friends?!" The Gate said annoyance. "He's my guard," Red Demon spoke up. "Whatever, well this might have been your messiest mission so far kid! Jeez that was hard to watch" the Gate said with disgust. "Sorry I've let you down?" He said with sarcasm. "Smart ass…" the Gate mumbled. "Ready for the next shit show?" The two then stepped into the Gate walking into another realm. This one compared to the Land of Madness was a reprieve. All around them was green. And overhead white and green serpents flew in the aqua sky. The place was lush and full of birds chirping filled the forest. "Where did you bring us?" Red Demon asked. "Land of Winged Things. This place looks nice but don't be fooled. The Emerald King has thousands of eyes all over this forest. Each wild bird serves him. You'll find a town not far from here to the east. The Bird Folk that lives there are humanoids that are very intelligent. Bird Folk are the biggest population here of all the species of this realm. They can be friendly but they live under harsh rule and are also paranoid" the Gate explained. "What makes this place harsh?" Smiling Demon asked.

"He likes to kidnap his subjects and eat them. He's a cannibal of his own people. He also likes to kidnap women, especially newly married women. It's a great blow to the groom's ego. He has quite an army of Bird Folk warriors they also do as they please on his behest so they will not be swayed by you. There are some human cultivators that live here that also suffer the same fate of the Bird Folk. So your appearance won't be a shock. Use stealth here" the Gate suggested before his face disappeared. "Best keep our faces covered, but no masks for now. We're no one special. Keep your brand hidden" Red Demon ordered. Drake took a half mask from Red Demon and covered his goatee and mouth. His scars on his face are still visible, but the mask gave him more of a sinister look.

They walked through the forest as the Red Demon used a compass to point them east. "So how are we going to gather information? Where do you even start to know your enemy?" Smiling Demon asked. "Mainly observe, watch, and wait. Granted that tactic was not usable in your realm. Witch King hiked up her plans" Red Demon stated as she passed through big trees. Birds were watching them from a branch. "We should repress our chi. We don't need those birds divulging anything about us, "the Red Demon said glaring at the birds.

"Familiars? Never did like them Witch King used those damn crows a lot" Smiling Demon scoffed at the birds. The two finally came to a trail. They took the path and the Red Demon sighed. "Seems we have someone tracking us" Red Demon whispered. The Smiling Demon kept his composure and found traces of chi in the forest not far from them. "I count ten assailants," Smiling Demon said. "Best we don't kill them. Maybe we get information from them," the Red Demon whispered.

The two made ready as the ones tracking them made their moves. Darts came flying their way. Red Demon dodged letting them embed into a tree. The darts sizzled the bark from some kind of poison. Smiling Demon jumped up a tree grabbing a bird folk warrior with blue feathers, large talon feet, a curved beak, a bandana, and had two blades sheathed on his belt. His arms spread out morphing into feathered wings. He tried to fly away when the Smiling Demon grabbed his foot and then threw him to the ground. Red Demon ran towards one behind a tree dodging a spear and then slammed the bird folk male's head into the tree knocking him out. He kept moving, ducking a saber blade letting it sink into a tree. As came up throwing up a fist to the elbow and then his armpit. He gave a squak in pain as his arm went limp when a fist came across his face. Red Demon then saw darts coming at him. He ran straight at the direction coming upon two human cultivators. They had branches tied to them and in all green camouflage. They looked surprised as the Red Demon took them down with ease. He straightened up and saw the Smiling Demon standing triumph with people lying unconscious around him. One last person was left standing and he had a sword drawn. He had an eagle head with white feathers and tight clothing leaving his arms bare. He pointed at the Red Demon. "I ask you to spare my people. Fight me one on one!" He demanded. "Or we talk? As you can see none are dead. You shot first so?" Red Demon said, hiding his arms under his cloak. Right hand gripped around Moon Ray.

"You look like mercs heading to my village and home? Why wouldn't we defend ourselves!" The Eagle man said. "We are merely travelers. Wanderers even. Name's Hugh and this is Cain" Red Demon explained approaching the weary Eagle man. "Spies would say so. You fight like his soldiers!" He never wavered to keep his sword up. "True. But we are warriors because the world is dangerous. Anyway we are merely heading to the village to resupply, perhaps eat some food and rest. That is all. Your village will have no fear from us" Red Demon persuaded. The Eagle man was silent. "What's your name?" Red Demon asked. He looked hesitant, "Cornelius," he said. "Well Cornelius, are you willing to at least talk to us for a moment?" Red Demon kept his tone flat. "Talk about what?", "Well what happened in these lands recently?" He asked. Cornelius lowered and sheathed his weapon. He approached one of his men dragging them to a tree leaving them sitting up. "Emerald King is organizing a feast. More of our people have been rounded up. Soldiers have been seen with mercenaries from the Pride, a big cat organization, and the human capital Circle to assist. They will also be attending this feast" he said, dragging more men to the tree clustering them together.

"This feast to mark some occasion?" Smiling Demon asked. "Birth of his heir. And the death of the King Slayer. He executed the man two days ago. 'Don't react' Red Demon thought passing a glance at Smiling Demon who remained stoic as well. 'Good he gets it. He's becoming more useful by the day' he thought inwardly nodding. "King Slayer is dead?" Red Demon asked with a surprising tone. Cornelius was none the wiser keeping his attention on his men. "Yes, it seems the fool wore some demon mask and was a human. So…Emerald King made short work of him and then had him tortured before execution. Now he feels untouchable and has divine blessing. He will show his heir at the feast. Out of his hundred children he chooses the newest one…again!" Cornelius uttered annoyed. "Again?" Cornelius nodded. "Yes, see this isn't the first time he's done all this. It's become somewhat of a pattern. It's a pretense actually he eats us for cultivation purposes, and he makes all his children fight to the death. Last one standing is the real heir. Last time he did this though the heir chosen decided to try a coup. Didn't work. He was also tortured and executed. So the newest kid will have some shoes to fill" Cornelius spoke of all this as nonchalantly as possible. As if it was another Tuesday. But the Eagle looked tired and worn down. Red Demon could see the eyes he held were heavy.

"So what will you and your people do? Will you stop this massacre?" Cornelius paused and turned facing the two. "I have been fighting this king since I was a chick. To be honest I am tired sir. Very tired. This oppression doesn't rest. At the helm is a mad man who is gluttonous. My parents were taken to be eaten. Friends, other family members and even lovers taken. Death is something daily here," he sighed, rubbing his beak. "Listen if you would allow for an escort into town by my men when they awake I'll buy a meal and room at the inn. This is for attacking you without knowing your intentions. I feel no violent aura from either of you, so I ask you not to abuse that kindness. I will kill you both if need be?" Cornelius was cold as he said this. Kindness only in name was the reason this agreement came to be.

Red Demon and Smiling Demon nodded. "We are no threat to you. Know that if attacked we will defend ourselves. What I said was true food, rest, and supplies. That is all" Red Demon spoke plainly so the Eagle heard his words to be true. Cornelius nodded, "Fair enough. We wait for them and we go."

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After the men awoke and let their guards down enough to listen to Cornelius. They escorted the two to the village. Every bird folk and human along with cat humanoids stared them down. "Seems you are a progressive village?" Smiling Demon said with glee. "Yes, all species live here in harmony. We have all suffered in some way by the regimes. So we thrive together in that" Cornelius leads them to an Inn with a nest and eggs painted on it. Cornelius's men stayed outside to wait for him. They approached a counter and a clerk behind the counter. The clerk was a parrot-like female with long feathers coming off her head. She had red, green, and yellow feathers upon her body.

"Cornelius, what can I do for you?" She said with a chuckle staring at the two strangers. "Guests. I'll be fitting their bill" he told her. "Lucky them!" She said laughing.