Part one of a long story :P There will be other fursonas besides my own

All characters © me and their respectful owners

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Cracking the leaves under them and pushing branches out of the way, the two guild members trudged through the jungle. With the red panda panting he increased the distance behind the black, barefoot lion. Hearing the soothing sounds of birds chirping and insects buzzing, and looking at the morning dew on the leaves put a smile on the lion’s face. He sighed and looked up at the canopies, putting his hands behind his head.
“Ow, dammit!” exclaimed the little panda. “Think I stepped on a rock.” He rubbed his foot as he hopped along. He put down his backpack and sat down.
“Zhao, what are you complaining about?” The lion turned around and put his hand on his hip. “You’re the one with shoes on.” The lion looked Zhao’s black shoes then at his own black feet. “Come on. Let’s see.” He also put his backpack down and took off his friend’s shoe, inspecting it. Nothing visible could be seen under his dark brown fur—no cuts or bruises. “Oh, you’re fine, you big baby.” He let go of his foot.
“You’re so caring, Takaa.” Zhao replied, putting his shoe on and standing up. “Say, why don’t we switch bags?” He lifted his pack and handed it to Takaa.
As the lion held the black bag, he gasped at the heaviness of it. “W-what the hell is in here?” He opened it up and saw rocks. “Why do you have rocks in here?”
“Strength training, partner!” Zhao stretched, exposing his belly, and adjusted his sleeveless oriental shirt that barely reached his waist. “Training shouldn’t stop when we’re on a mission—a mission that you agreed to.”
Reluctant to agree, Takaa hoisted the backpack onto his back, sighed, and handed Zhao the other. “It’s not like you gave much of a protest before anyway. Besides, it’s a Raid Assault mission. You like Raid Assault.” They continued to walk.
“Yeah, I do,” Zhao mumbled, hitting another stone on his walk. “Dammit! But not when I’m going through a jungle and hitting rocks on every step.” He rubbed his foot.
“Come on; put some fur on your chest!” The lion pounded his own chest and laughed. “The jungle is nice place to find some peace.”
Zhao’s ears twitched as he heard monkeys screeching. “Yeah, peaceful.” He rolled his eyes. His ears twitched again as he heard something deeper in the forest.
Bushes rustled and a low snarl could be heard. A black feral drake emerged from the bushes and pounced on Takaa. Pinned down, Takaa pushed the beast’s face back as it bared its fangs. He looked to the side for Zhao. “The hell did you go?”
Soon a loud battle cry could be heard. “Hiyah!” A hard dropkick landed on the side of the drake and knocked it away as it yelped. Standing next to Takaa, the red panda scoffed. “Get out of here, you!” The drake scurried away and whined. “Still think it’s all peace and flowers?” He smiled, offered a hand, and helped the lion up.
Looking at Takaa’s handheld GPS, the two members made their way to their target location. Their target was an abandoned one-story building on the edge of the jungle. The worn, stone building had trees growing into the sides.
“Nice hideout.” Takaa looked up at the building as he put his hand on his hip.
“I’ll say,” replied the panda. “You ready?” He looked at the lion, Takaa tying his silver hair back. “Let’s get this done!”
They rushed into the building. As they looked around, they saw nobody inside—just trash sprawled across the floor, turned-on TV with a weak signal, and a few pieces of furniture. It then hit Zhao…
“Uh, Takaa? Do you think they were expect—” A group of guys rammed through the back door. “Shit! They got guns!”
“Take cover!” the lion replied as they ran, the guys shooting; submachine guns and pistols alike. Takaa hid behind a couch, while Zhao kicked a table up and used it as a shield. “Zhao!” Takaa peeked out, but retreated from ricocheting bullets.
“Stay down!” replied the panda as he did the same, hearing the bullets hitting everything else.
The panda started to push the table towards the gunmen, getting closer and pinning them against the wall. He kicked a thug that wasn’t pinned, disarming him. Not hearing the gunshots, Takaa leaped over the couch and helped Zhao, fighting off stray enemies as well. Knocking them out and even killing some, the thugs’ numbers dropped. As some ran away, Zhao picked up two guns and finished them off.
“Ruthless, huh?” Takaa chuckled and crossed his arms.
“Says the one that ruined the furniture.” Zhao raised a brow as he looked around at the damage of the room. “Besides, the contract wants this place destroyed and their “treasure” found. Their Lago Jewel? Whatever that means.”
Takaa saw one of the thugs still conscious. He grabbed him by his shirt. “Hey, where’s the jewel?”
“We don’t know nothing about jewels!” he replied as he struggled to escape. “Let me go, you bastard!” Hearing that, Takaa growled and knocked him out with a headbutt.
Takaa scratched his head and sighed. “Let’s look around for this jewel.”
The two started sifting through the rubble; however, they had no luck.
Zhao groaned and crossed his arms. “Where could it be? We don’t even know what it looks like”
Well it’s…shiny? I guess?” As he chuckled, Takaa was interrupted by a thud and a pounding sound coming from a barred door. “What’s that?” The two sifted through the rubble and unbarred the door.
Opening the door, they were greeted with a loincloth-wearing bison on his knees, mouth and eyes tied with cloths, and his hands cuffed in front of him.
“A sex slave?” the panda asked. “A hostage?”
While Zhao was guessing, Takaa took the cloths off his eyes and mouth. The bison’s brown eyes looked as if his spirit was broken. As he peered up at the two, his eyes went from calm to anger as he snarled at us.
“Easy, big guy!” Zhao put his hands up and stepped back.
“Here,” said Takaa as he held the bison’s wrists. He hummed curiously, and then unsheathed a claw, poking around in the keyhole until he heard a click and unlocked the shackles. The bison stood tall, well over Takaa and Zhao, his thick fur, strong physique, and horns adding to the intimidating look. He said nothing as he looked at them with a stoic face.
“Well, I’m Takaa.” The lion held his hand out, though no response from the bison as he just looked at it. “Okay. And this is Xianzhao.”
“But everyone just calls me, Zhao.”
“What’s your name?” Takaa tilted his head at the silence, his ears twitching for a response. “Do you have a name?” He stared at the bison’s unresponsive face.
Cutting the pleasantries short, Zhao stepped forward. “How did you get here? Do you know anything about the Lago Jewel?”
Hearing that, the bison’s eyes widened. He closed his eyes and put his hands on his broad shoulders, bright green crystals slowly covering his arms like armor. He exhaled, showing off his “armored” limbs.
“Neat trick,” Zhao said with indifference.
“So, that means you’re the Lago Jewel?” The lion looked at the arms with more attention than the panda.
The bison nodded with a low growl as the armor dissipated. “La…go,” he said in a low voice as he gestured towards himself and bowed his head.
“So you can talk. I’m guessing he doesn’t speak English?” Zhao shrugged.
“What was your first clue?” Takaa smirked and rested an elbow on the panda’s head. “At any rate, we have to return you back to your tribe. They sure were cryptic with their contract. Let’s go…I’ll call you Lago for now. At least until we can communicate your name.”
Before they left the building, Zhao pulled out a lighter from his backpack, as well as a flask from his pocket. “Better safe than sorry.” He drank from the flask, drew a flame, and sprayed the alcohol, causing a wildfire inside the building. He did it again for good measure.
Takaa pulled out his GPS as they headed into the jungle, the time saying 19:00, the sun almost disappearing over the horizon. “Come on—better hurry back. Go to: Lago Tribe.”
“Searching for…Haman Rai.” The GPS replied in a robotic tone.
“This thing’s always screwing up,” said Zhao as he took the handheld. “See? Go to: potato pie.”
“Searching for…Lago Tribe. Encampment found.”
“Ugh, this thing makes my head hurt.” Takaa groaned and rubbed his head. “Anyway, it’s south of here.” He held up the GPS and looked at the surrounding dense jungle. “Wait, where’s the Lago guy?”
“Searching for…Lago inhabitant. Moving south to Lago Tribe.”
“Wait up, big guy!” shouted Zhao as they maneuvered through the jungle catching up with the bison. “It looks like he knows his way already.” He turned off the GPS as they followed him. “Saving the battery.”
As they went through the grassy fields, the guild members looked at the wall surrounding the village-like camp. The small, wooden makeshift buildings were much different from the modern city of the kingdom. They looked at the cubs playing with a ball, others gathering water, and others cooking over a fire. As they saw us approaching, some bison cubs ran up to Lago and hugged him.
An older, more rugged bison in a loincloth and bow strap approached us, though not as tall as Lago. They held each other’s forearms and smiled. They began talking in their language. From the sound of it and Lago’s gestures toward Takaa and Zhao, they seemed grateful. Meanwhile, one bison child played with Zhao’s tail, and another was pulling on Takaa’s braids.
The two tribesmen looked more serious, crossing their arms, as the older bison closed his eyes and approached the two members.
“Thank you, members of the Shield Brigade, for bringing Anhari home.” He put his hands on their shoulders. “I am Sumrac.”
“Anhari’s his name, huh? So where’s our pay?” Zhao asked without hesitation.
“Zhao!” Takaa argued and shushed him. “It was our pleasure to help you, sir. We didn’t know your treasure would be another member of the tribe.” He peeked over at Anhari, playing with the young ones, one swinging from his bicep.
“Anhari is a special, gifted with the ability of Verdstont. He has told me he showed you his ability.” He looked at Anhari. “Those fiends you defeated were a group of people smugglers looking to sell Anhari. People of his caliber would catch the attention of many buyers. Knowing that he was in despair, the elder would then suffer, as well as the rest of the tribe.”
“So that’s why you called us.” Takaa rested his chin on his hand.
“This tribe’s well-being depends on his existence. Heavy stuff.” Zhao shook his head.
“There is one more thing that I request. His happiness is also a part of his well-being.” Sumrac lowered his head and sighed. “I know I am asking for much, but he wants to join your guild. He said he feels confined to the tribe.”
“Well, we’re always taking able and willing newcomers,” Takaa said with a grin, “but—”
“Can he fight?” Zhao interrupted. “He looked pretty vulnerable when he was kidnapped.”
“He can.” The bison nodded. “He may have a language issue; however, he is willing to take on any challenge, even if it means giving his life, as well as all of us.”
“Well we try to keep our members alive.” Takaa chuckled and shrugged. “But he does look strong, so I say welcome.”
Sumrac nodded and smiled. “Thank you, guild members. You will not regret it.”
Sumrac approached Anhari as they talked again. They looked at the members with stoic eyes. Anhari then took the time to say goodbye to his friends and family as he was ready to start his own life. The last person he said goodbye to was the elder, who stood in front of him, hunched over, and held Anhari’s hands and bowed to him.
After he was finished with his goodbyes, we set out to go back to the guild hall. As the two tried to make conversation with Anhari along the way, Takaa suggested that they take him to Amira, the guild’s linguist.
Making their way back, Anhari gasped at the size of the castle-like building—the Shield Brigade HQ. The building was surrounded by a stone wall, built after the Obscurum-Midnight Defense. Entering HQ, a holographic scanner came down to scan the three from head to toe.
“Hey!” shouted an echoed gruff voice. “He’s not a member.” The scanner turned red, focused on Anhari.
“He’s with us, Ven.” Takaa put his hand up. “He actually wants to join us. Where’s Amira? I need to talk to her.”
“Upstairs,” replied Ven. “Keep that guy close, Takaa.”
Going up stairs, Zhao split off from the two. Takaa introduced the bison to the lizard Amira. She spoke with him easily, managing to get him to smile again. She sent him up to the third floor to get initiated.
“So how does he feel?” Takaa asked as he approached her.
“More comfortable now that he can understand someone.” She put her glasses on as she started looking over papers. “The he’s getting the crest from Junan now.”
“So where will he stay?” He watched her performing minor spells with the words.
“With you, of course.” She lowered her glasses at him. “This was YOUR idea, boy.”
“I don’t even know how to speak his language! Can you at least help with that?”
“I would, but…” she looked around. “I have some…important pieces to decipher. Good luck, Takaa!”
“But I—” Just as Takaa could raise his hand, Amira was gone. Takaa sighed and rolled his eyes. “Well I guess I have my work cut out for me.” He sat down at one of the tables, resting his head in his hand. He then heard footsteps coming upstairs.
Zhao came upstairs, his brows furrowed as he growled. “Where’s our pay?” He shouted.
Takaa jumped at the question. All he could respond with was a chuckle and a scratch of the head.
***
Meanwhile, at the destroyed building, someone with their phone picked up the handcuffs that were on Anhari.
“Yes,” she said. “He’s escaped. Let his majesty know.”