Memories and Moments

Bam* a tall man carrying someone burst into the decrepit building. He stumbles as he fell with the girl slightly rolling to his side. "Aaagh…. Aaagh" the girl on the floor groaned in pain. Lance Corporal Adel Orson had an injured leg, he was currently the only man alive from his 12-man squad. During a patrol, his team was ambushed. Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) were scattered everywhere. After continuing to drive through their patrol became trapped as they were led into a dead end. A firefight broke out as the surviving marines looked for a break in the encirclement. Adel took the last three surviving privates into a nearby building as they assessed the enemy and their best course of action. It was a miracle they were not killed in the ambush. While they maneuvered through the ruins of the city, they communicated with headquarters to find the nearest extraction point. As they moved to the specified location, they came across a basement door that was somewhat well-maintained.

Underneath they found a refuge for terrorists, while these men claimed to be warriors of god, they had built this base to house the women and girls they trafficked for funds and relief. Adel and his squad made quick work of the men in the base. They moved methodically and swiftly as they knew the enemy was everywhere and time-limited. One girl was locked in one of the rooms. Adel could have left her but couldn't bring himself to do it. She was clearly around 15 years old, and the abuse was evident in her emotionless and vacant stare. Adel spoke the limited Farsi he knew "You… with us…safe." She merely kept staring as Adel led her and his team out of the basement. They stealthily walked through the streets as they engaged the enemy and slowly made it to safety. So, they thought, another IED was activated effectively killing the rest of his squad and injuring Adel and the girl. He was forced to carry her as he continued the journey holding his M27 in one hand while supporting the girl with the other. He heard a fight occurring nearby and recognized the sounds of soldiers fighting with assault rifles. After what seemed like an eternity he found another squad of marines, that were fighting the terrorists that ambushed us. Adel gave his report and soon after lost consciousness due to blood loss.

…

Matt woke up in a cold sweat, he wore his armor and was hidden in the brush instead of using his camping supplies. It was easier to blend in should a beast or demon find him sleeping in his tent. Adel was accustomed to sleeping in all manner of conditions and this experience helped Matt now. However, the past few nights he has been having visions as he slept. Reliving parts of Adel and Matt's past. He was two weeks into his journey and yet he felt as if his psyche would break at any point.

*Haaa, haaa*

Matt breathed heavily as he collected his thoughts.

"What the hell am I? Am I even human? Is a half-animal a human or beast?"

In many ways, Matt was a green soldier. Matt believed in law and order, never questioning orders or hierarchy. The Jaguar clan was the first clan to start a tribal nation. It lay the footprint for the other demi-human tribes in the Vale Forrest to establish themselves many years ago. As a clan with a rich history, Matt was indoctrinated by his father at a young age to value justice, bravery, and peace. His father Ross would often tell him.

"Through justice, we find the courage to be brave, with bravery we gather the strength to fight, by fighting we can establish peace and order."

The Vale Forrest was in many ways a frontier, it bordered lands that were near Rewera Alliance races, Raging Ross made a name for himself protecting the forest alongside the other clans.

Matt had developmental problems because of the interruption of his ritual, because of this he made up for a lack of physical capability by emphasizing form and technique. His father capitalized on his physical abilities and immense mana to instill fear in his enemies, but his efficiency and technique left room for growth. Matt on the other hand could maximize mana efficiency and his combat techniques to cut down on fatigue and increase his strength. By doing so he was able to become a strong warrior but not as capable as full-grown elites from the tribe.

While Matt took in the morning rays he once again reflected on his life. It felt as if whispers were guiding his thoughts somewhere as he slept. Matt had vacant eyes, the stress of his memories and the conflict of what he was weighed heavy on him.

'Did I save any lives, was I simply a murderer? What was justice, what was freedom, why am I alive, why not them?'

These questions that were once shadows in Adel's mind are now rampant in Matt. He took out a small pot and canister of water from his ring and began to cook over a small fire pit he made last night, he started meditating and controlling his breathing a method he learned to deal with PTSD. He made oatmeal and hydrated before he began to move through the forest. The day here was the same as on earth, it is had 24 hours a day, but Matt found nighttime to be surreal. He gazed at the sky and noticed there were two moons smaller than the moon on Earth.

Navigating through the forest he smelled food that was not his. He investigated the smell he found and located a small cave resembling a humongous snake hole by a mound of earth. He stealthily walked toward the cave that descended as he began to make out a conversation.

"200,000 marks!"

"Ugh quiet down you fool, my head is still ringing from the booze last night."

Two dirty men were around a fire in the cave as half a dozen more lay strewn about, their revelry of a recent conquest evident.

"Still why would she fetch such a price? I mean we haven't damaged her much other than trapping her but why so much?"

The other man sighed "You idiot take a good look at her fox ears with a long fluffy tail…. Still don't get it she is from the hidden Fox tribe."

"How are they different from those other beasts?"

Matt clenched his fist as he understood the situation but stayed passive as he gathered more information.

"They live as assassins in hidden villages. It is difficult to make contact let alone see one without having your throat sliced. She is a RARE commodity, get that through your thick skull."

"She does look rather tasty, it's for the money but I can barely contain mys…."

Thud*

"hmm?"

Thud*.

Matt had snuck into the cave and sliced the bandits' necks. When he was done, he slit everyone's throat, he was disgusted by slavery and even more offended by the thought of someone being taken advantage of, as far as he was concerned it was a living death sentence. He had seen many broken people in the war zones he toured. Every empty stare cracked his heart a bit more.

He took inventory of everyone's supplies and pillaged the resources he could find. He moved deeper in the cave to find two more guards outside a large cell with a person that seemed to be unconscious in the corner.

"Who are you?!"

The guards noticed Matt.

Tch*

He clicked his tongue as he circulated mana into his body and blindingly approached the guards. He lunged and pierced the heart of the guard who first became alert. As the other guard struggled to unsheathe his sword Matt retracted and chopped the man's throat before he repositioned his sword to thrust straight into the last guard's chest. He gurgled in pain as he slumped to the ground. Matt rummaged through their pockets and found the key to the cell. It seems the bandits' only victim was the girl in the room.

…

"Mmmhmm"

Ayaka moaned as she woke up, as soon as she did, she felt as if her body was dipped in ice. A few weeks ago, a group of humans wearing masks threw bombs filled with sleep toxins at her as she gathered wood for her mother's forge. She was able to knock out most of the humans before the toxins overtook her.

Now she could feel the fresh air and her hands and feet were not bound. A clear difference from when she was a prisoner. She felt a presence by the fire looking in her direction but gave no indication that they would move on her.

"So it seems you are up…"

She jumped up and balanced herself on the branch of a tree. She found that there were still some side effects of being restrained as she lost her balance and fell with a heavy sound where her bedding was.

"Jeez, calm down I freed you from the bandits, look at my ears I am not a human but a Beastkin. She squinted at him and indeed found two round fluffy ears on his head. Perhaps because the man looked young and somewhat innocent Ayaka decided to talk to him.

"Why am I here?"

"I brought you here and set up camp. I cooked up some food, I imagine you are hungry…" just then her stomach growled.

"Who are you?"

Matt sighed, "A member of the Jaguar tribe going home. Yourself?"

" I am asking the questions if you do not mind. What happened with those humans." She received a chill when his eyes reflected an abyss.

"Dead, I wish they would suffer more, but they died quickly."

"Why did you save me?" Matt took out a cigarette and lit a match before taking a puff.

"Fuuu*, honestly I just hate slavery, but things changed…"

Matt looked at Ayaka, "Why do you have a champion's crest?"

"Hmm?" She took a second to process the question but then looked at where his finger was pointed. She looked down and saw the tattoo that appeared on her years ago and her breast was almost exposed, she wore a loose and clean fabric over her. She was filthy, the humans stripped her to make sure she had no weapons. She remembered spending a few days in naked shame as the men gave her perverted stares. A few even pleasured themselves and sprayed their filth into her cell and when she slept it covered her face and pale skin. She was mortified and rueful that a member of the fox tribe could find themselves in that position.

"Sorry I wrapped you in that thing on you because I didn't think finding yourself ass naked would do much in trust building. But I also did not want to be overly familiar and dress you in more fitting clothes. Next to you are some of my clothes. You are a bit taller than me, but they should fit somewhat and are cleaner..."

She found herself embarrassed but more at ease knowing the cub seemed trustworthy. He got up and she flinched,

"I ll go over here while you change, give you some privacy. Tell me when you are done so we can keep talking."

He stood at the edge of the fire pit's glow as a plume of smoke leaked from the cub. She took off her garb and saw he had left a bucket of water and a rag so she could wipe herself down. As she did she couldn't help but feel relieved and tortured as she washed off the filth from her body. She started dressing into the tunic.

Ayaka stood at 5'6' her ivory skin looked smooth to the touch, retaining an elegant appearance. Her lean body fit into the clothes, but she had to shimmy into the pants because her toned rear and hips made it difficult to bring them up her body. She then tied the pants as they wrapped around her waist accentuating her figure. Her tail popped out through a slit, but she had to pull the whole tail out due to how fluffy her tail is compared to Matt's Jaguar tail. She then brought the tunic over and found it fit tight around her voluptuous chest. Her ears and fur had a deep black color with purple lining. Her face was soft and elegant, her eyebrows were naturally thin, framing her large peach blossom eyes. It broke her mature allure and gave a hint of innocence. She had bright purple eyes with strands of gold mixed.

"I am done" she came closer to the fire and sat down.

She took up a canteen and fixed herself a plate of stew from a wooden bowl. Adel stomped on the cigarette and walked back and took a seat across from her to give her space.

"I am glad to see you a little more at ease, eat as much as you want. I made plenty, I doubt that garbage treated you well in their hell hole." It seems he made it some time ago and kept it warm over the small fire, it was the perfect temperature to eat.

"So, when did you get the champion's crest? Was it 7 years ago as well?"

She tilted her head and thought about when her tattoo appeared.

She nodded "yes that seems about right. My mother, a master blacksmith and craftsman for my village told me to no one. At one-point soldiers came in and asked to see if I had it but my mother started using a powder the same color as my skin to cover it up. After a few years she convinced the leadership nothing good would come of letting their champion go out to the world and I was able to live freely. Until then she told me if I showed them this tattoo that I would be in danger and that they would separate me from her. I didn't know it was called a champion's crest."

Matt pondered 'I see, it makes sense the fox tribe had a champion, seeing that many other groups had one. I wonder if her existence is an easter egg or hidden character after completing a quest. If it was, I feel Jack would have told me, he knew everything… also knowing my son she is his type, fox ears and all. I should stop thinking of this as a game and more of an alternate reality. This world is much more detailed it's obvious things would be missing or new.'

"Allow me to give you, my gratitude." Matt's concentration broke as she addressed him.

"If it were not for you I would most likely be enslaved, raped, tortured or perhaps all of these. The fox tribe lives in secrecy, we are taught many things from a young age but one is the survival of the fittest. The strong determine who lives and dies. If one is to save your life, then your life now belongs to them. Master, my name is Ayaka, I am a skilled blacksmith only second to my mother the master blacksmith of my tribe. I will serve you well, will you tell me your name and please take me along with you."

Matt stared at the girl proposing this on one knee.

"Nah, you can keep your life."

"huh" She looked up at him dumbfounded.

"I told you, I saved you because I find slavery disgusting, yet you propose I take you in as a slave and call me master? Sorry but if you wanted me to wretch out my dinner you almost succeeded."

She fell onto both knees and her head touched the floor "this is more of a religious or moral edict of my people. I know you wish not to take in a slave but at least allow me to follow you as a companion to help you."

"Hmm, I am not against having you follow me around, but I have an inkling in your mind I would be you master, although you wouldn't say it out loud."

She flinched as he understood her intention and he hit the nail on the head.

"I have a feeling you won't let this go, so I will let you travel with me but there are conditions."

She looked up from her position and met his gaze.

"I am serious, I am not your master. You have free will, you can leave when you want, do what you will, and live as you please. Think of our relationship as a companionship or maybe even as a new friendship. You must also acknowledge that you may be in danger. I plan to travel and fight many great enemies in the future, having a blacksmith to maintain my equipment along the way would be helpful. Lastly, and the most important rule…"

His gaze turned deadly and sent shivers down her body as a cold sweat formed on her forehead.

"Your life is your own, I will not tolerate prioritizing my needs or life above yours, if I tell you to retreat, hide or flee you will do so no questions asked. Am I clear? Do you accept these conditions?"

Ayaka felt a warmth from inside she never felt before. This young cub was kind, generous, strong, determined, virtuous and he saved her life. She approached him and extended her hand.

"Deal, let's start over, I am Ayaka. I am happy to meet you." She gave him a genuine and stunning smile, Matt couldn't help but feel attracted to her at that moment. He cleared his throat to distract himself " I am Matthew Tequiti, my friends call me Matt." They shook hands and then sat by the fire again. This was the beginning of their long journey.