A Night in the Tail Underground
#3 of Tail Underground
It was a peaceful night inside of the tavern known to all as the Tail Underground within the Land of Arca. A country that bans Tail Raising to a severe degree... The night was quiet and all inside the tavern were celebrating, for the Tail Underground, as it's name applies, is the only safe place for tail raisers to be. Suddenly, the peace is shattered by the quick swinging of the door to slam against the wall. All patrons turn to look as a young blue dragon stood dressed in ornate oriental armor holding up a young fox dressed in beautiful red silken garbs his Brown hair flowing down to his lower back. "Help!" he screamed as he dragged the young fox through the tavern, the fox's arm over the dragons shoulders, "Please help... we've traveled from across the desert to the east... my master... he's... he's collapsed in exhaustion, somebody help please!" The young arctic fox from behind the bar sprung into action, practically jumping over the bar to grab the fox's other arm and lead the two upstairs, "Quickly, to my room..." The two quickly lead the young fox up to the first room on the right, the tender's room, and lays the fox upon the bed gently. The Rest of the tavern, curious as to the scene all followed the three and watched them as the young dragon knelt next to the fox, praying to the gods he would be ok.
The Young Arctic Fox genly lays his paw over the dragon's shoulder and smiled, "he will be fine, let us return downstairs young dragon..." With that the young dragon left his master and went back downstairs back to the tavern. Everyone else slowly began returning back to their business. "So," said the young arctic fox, "what brings you to this lowly kingdom of Arca dragon?" The young dragon looked up to the fox at the bar and sighed, "I do appologize for the rude interuption, I am Feng from the Kingdom of Han-ma, my master who is upstairs, is Prince Xing, the soon to be emperor of Han-Ma... the only problem is we are at war to find who will be the next emperor of Han-Ma..." The Young fox looked at Feng with a concerned look, "I'm so sorry to hear that, I do hope your war goes ok..." Feng nodded softly, "That is why the prince and I came here... to ask of this country for aid in our war..." The young fox nodded, "dunno about that... Arca can be quite stubborn, but he's always interested in learning about new countries... so you never know..." the young fox said sliding a stein of ale to the young dragon. The Dragon shook his head gently, "I've no money to pay... er... I never caught your name..." he said as he pushed the Stein back. "Ian..." said the young Fox, pushing it back, "Sir Ian if you please... and... it's on the house..." The young Dragon bowed his head gently, "you are most gracious in our time of need, I know not of how I can repay you..." Ian smiled gently and looked to the young dragon, "don't you worry about payment, you were in need, and it is my duty to help..."
Ian then went back to his work of cleaning his glasses on the bar, "So tell me... what is Han-Ma like?" The Dragon smile, reminicing about his homeland the six years before the war began, "Han-Ma is a beautiful place, crystal clear lakes, wonderfully warm climate, beatiful sceanary, and the city structures are quite the marvel!" Ian smiled gently, "I see, sounds beautiful, how about your Prince? what are his views on running the country?" he asked out of curiousity. "The Prince?!" asked the young dragon, blinked a bit, finding it quite strange to be asked, as though he were being interogated. He blushed slightly and smiled, "Prince Xing is the most magnificent leader so far... he cares for his people, he loves them like any father would love their children... he creates plans that won't kill anyone..." Ian smiled, "I see... and what side is he on?" Feng looked to Ian, "He stands on the side of Ying, with the other fox of Xun, I am a Dragon of Shang, also on the side of Yin, our enemies are of the Yang coalition, they include the Tigers of Ping and the Wolves of Xiaou... The Phoenix of Ming on the other hand... remain neutral..." Ian looked to the young dragon and smiled softly, "You have a sence of pride working for you master... almost a love for it..." The dragon became rigid and looked at him sternly, "My service to the my lord, Prince Xing, is professional an nothing more Sir Ian..." Ian looked to the dragon, smiling, almost knowing the truth, "Are you sure about that... I sence a hint of love behind your words..." The Dragon quickly looked away, his blue scales turning red in embarrassment, "I... I... yes... yes I love him Sir Ian... I... I would give my life for that man..." Ian looked at him calmly and smiled, finally knowing the truth, "I see... well then Feng, tell me, what's the young Prince's stance on... Tail Raising?" he asked. The dragon looked at him confused, "Tail Raising?! what do you mean by that?" Ian looked to him, "Homosexuality..." he calmly said. Feng nodded, "ah, Prince Xing isn't a 'tail raiser' as you'd call it... but he does take men and women..." Ian smiled gently and looked past the young dragon, "so... how do YOU feel about the young prince..." Feng blushed at the question, and then looked over to him, "Prince Xing is a wonderful man... he's charming... handsome... I... I can't think of what I'd do if I were to fail him in my duty to protect him... I... I'd have no choice but to commit Hara-Kiri, just to see his smile again..." Ian smiled softly, "that's a little overboard but..."
At this point Feng finally realized that Ian's attention was diverted and slowly turned to see the young prince standing at the bottom of the stairwell. Feng in utter shock knelt down in front of the young prince, "P... Prince Xing... I had no idea you were awake... I..." The young prince gently silenced the dragon, allowing him to gently stand up and smiled, "you've no worries, I'm fine now my dear guard... and I am touched to know that you have feelings for me young Feng..." The young dragon blushed and looked up, "Thank you sir, it is an honor to serve." With that, the young prince looked to Ian and smiled, "How much will it be for a room?" he asked softly. Ian waved them upstairs and smiled, "on the house..." With that, the prince and his guard slowly disappeared up the stairs just as Ping, the panda bellhop came around down after attending to a guest, watching the two go upstairs, he stared in utter amazment at the young fox he passed as he pointed, "IAN!!!! tha... th th th th th th..." he stuttered, but Ian nodded, not seeming surprised, "I know Ting... I know..."