Midnight Droplet

Chapter Four

Harold and Bruno had left the clothing store by now. They are on the second level of the mountain.

"Let's go to the top of the mountain." Harold said. "Hopefully, we'll see Zhong or Lan there."

The boys ascended the steps leading to the top of the mountain. The top level has two houses. One big house and a smaller house. Both houses are surrounded by trees covered with snow.

Harold nods toward the bigger house. "That's where Zhong was when he and Shun spotted me."

"In your Wolf form, right?" Bruno asked.

"Yeah, I didn't know how strong they were, so I didn't want to risk fighting them one versus two."

"I'm here now, so it'll be two versus two."

As soon as Harold and Bruno reached the center of the top of the mountain, the door opened from the big house. The person who walked out was a young man with eyes the color of jade. This young man must be the Jade Cat that everyone was searching for.

He smirks when Harold and Bruno come into his line of sight. "Well, boys! It looks like you found me."

"You!" Bruno said. "He's the Jade Cat!"

Harold's eyes light up with excitement. "Finally! Time to take back Lily's portrait!"

The Jade Cat steps outside followed by Zhong and Lan. He turns to them and points at Harold and Bruno. "That's them, boys! Let's go!" He transforms into a black Cat and runs towards Harold and Bruno. He jumps into the air and spits a Spellbomb made up of jade-colored Earth Midrash energy. This is called Jade Spellbomb.

Harold and Bruno try to dodge but the Jade Cat is too fast. The Spellbomb explodes into jade rock particles. Both Harold and Bruno take the damage.

Zhong and Lan are surprised at how quickly things escalated.

"I guess we fight, too!" Lan said and then began to transform into a Bull.

"Yeah, me too!" Zhong said and began to transform into a Rat.

Both the Bull form from Lan and the Rat form from Zhong are mostly black in color.

Harold is the first to stand up from the Jade Spellbomb. "Time to fight, Bruno!"

"I'm going to get that Jade Cat!" Bruno said.

"These guys first!"

The Rat runs towards Harold while the Bull runs towards Bruno. Within close range, the Rat tackles Harold with blue Water Midrash energy. Typically, this move would be called Water Charge, but since it is a more powerful version, it is called Douse Charge. The Bull also does the same to Bruno, but with black Earth Midrash energy and the move is called Clod Charge. Since Harold and Bruno already took damage from the Jade Spellbomb, they didn't react in time for Zhong's and Lan's attacks; they ended up taking more damage.

Zhong, in his Rat form, attacks Harold with headbutts and claw scratches. Harold tries to regain his composure but the attacks from the Rat keep coming.

Harold rolls back to dodge the Rat's headbutt and transforms into his Wolf form.

The Rat charges up for another Douse Charge. With his head coated with blue Midrash energy, he charges at Harold. Since he is in his Wolf form, his senses have increased allowing him to dodge the incoming attack.

Harold, in his Wolf still, coats his fangs and bites the Rat on his lower back with Leaf Fang. The Rat jerks violently to get Harold to let go of the bite. Due to the nonstop shaking, Harold accidentally lets go of his target.

While getting attacked by the Bull, Bruno manages to punch him in the throat and transforms himself into his Bear form.

The Bull coats his horns with Earth Midrash to prepare for another Clod Charge. Bruno, in his Bear form, quickly dodges to the side. He coats his claws and attacks the Bull's stomach with Rain Claw. Blood comes flowing from the wound. The Bull lets out a loud cry.

Shun stares at Stella while waiting for an answer. "Please don't make me repeat myself."

Stella takes a deep breath. "How do you know Harold and Bruno? We didn't say anything to you about them."

As always, Shun ignores the question. "Ah, so you do know them."

Lyla walks over to Stella and whispers into her ears. "Maybe it's fine to tell her."

"But…"

Shun gives a condescending smile at the girls. "I'm still here, you know!"

Stella turns to Lyla and whispers back. "Yeah, Harold and Bruno would understand and will take care of everything."

Stella turns back to Shun. "They're our friends and family."

"Friends and family?" Shun asked. "What does that mean?"

"Harold and Bruno are my friends. And her family."

"Ah," Shun said. "Brother and cousin?"

Stella nods. "Is that all you want to know?"

"Who is the Wolf? Harold or Bruno?"

Stella turns to Lyla and whispers. "It'll be fine if we tell her, right?"

Lyla also whispers back. "Yeah, I don't see why not."

Stella turns back to Shun who has her eyebrows raised. "It's Harold, but we're here to cause any trouble."

Shun scoffs. "Hmph! After running through the second level of the mountain."

"It's true." Stella insisted. "We're here to look for the thief called the Jade Cat."

Shun's eyes light up. "So, it's true, then." She pauses for a bit and then stands up. "Come with me."

"Where to?" Stella asked.

"Just come with me. You'll know later."

Lyla whispers to Stella. "Let's go and hopefully we run into Harold and Bruno along the way."

"Let's hope." Stella whispered back.

During the walk, Shun refused to listen to anything that the girls had to say.

On the last step to reach the top, Stella gasps at the scene in front of her. It was the Wolf and the Bear fighting against the Rat and the Bull, respectively.

Shun immediately stops, turns to the girls and glares at them. "And here I thought you and your friends might be innocent!"

Stella quickly shakes her head. "No! It's not what it looks like!"

Shun ignores everything and transforms into a black Pig.