Hard Truth (18+)

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World © Blizzard
Story © Ekaterina N. Stadnikova
Translation from Russian © Eugene Selivanov

The path, chilly familiar, the cold steps - and the host himself standing near the gates with a welcoming smile and an arch gleam in his eyes. As if he already knows everything.

- Look who's here! You don't need a reason to come home again. Yesterday you left us so quickly, I began to worry about you.

- I always come back. Monastery is my home. And let's leave it at that. Maybe you will kick me out after you listen the story.

- And you will always be my brother whatever you did. Come inside. Let me offer you some tea.

Upon entering the courtyard, Tazhan Zhu turned around – and...

- For the sake of all four Celestials! What a fu... ff.. fuss! Who or what did soil the wall so hard? Ahem... and this place seems to be fired from slingshot with... groundhogs. According to ugly spots. Your late mother should see this! She would knock you into the middle of the next week before you had time to shout: “It was him!”

This wall once was white as snow, but now it was covered with odd paintings, portraits, notes (including indecent ones), names and dates. Not to mention paw-prints, hoof-prints and footprints.

- This is the Art! Expression of intentions and hopes, creative perception of reality! Our new friends from the fog are capable of much. Oh, and there you may see Prince Anduin, he's looking not so bad, if you're interested. Though I feel pity about that tiny bush.

Soon both brothers settled comfortably at the table.

- It seems I suspect what you came for. I deserve to know the whole story without concealment. And... drink your tea.

- No way. Last time I drank something in this house I woke up three days later and for two minutes I considered myself as a cloud serpent! Drink it yourself.

- Are you joking? Bad sign. You'd better tell me what is pushing on you. It is always hard to start. But I will help. Remember the sounds, smells, start with something tiny. Something simple. You won't even notice when your words begin to flow as a river.

Longer Zhu kept silence, more he hesitated. Finally he overcame himself and began the story.

The very first thing I remember – is darkness. Dense and lively, but cold. Then it was a white light, striking my eyes. I didn't feel how hard is my wound, I felt no doubt, no anxiety. I just went to the light. Then I ran. Then... Suddenly I felt the most amazing smell in the world. Don't laugh. These were patties. Fresh-baked hot patties! And so I woke up.

Few seconds were enough to realize that I'm alive. Pain came back, but it was not so acute anymore, it was aching somewhere far in the distance. I opened my eyes in a very strange place.

The smell of patties was the hardest one. But there was also the smell of flowers and ocean.

It is unworthy to steal food. But I could not resist. After all, the patties were left there for a reason. I was so carried away — that I didn't notice the woman came to the house.

- What did she look like?

- She was... usual. Warm. And she smelled patties too. And sun-warmed fur. The place had no windows, and the door was tightly curtained. I realized that I didn't know what time or date it was.

- What was the color of her eyes?

- The color. Ahem... They were like cabbage. Something in her – in that woman - attracted me. I don't know what exactly. I wanted to look away, but for some reason I began to stare at her again. And that was when she started talking.

- You may call me Raan. It is a miracle you survived. But we haven't won yet. Y'Shaarj knew what he wanted. To survive and endure. I wasn't able to rid your body of... him. This enemy is cunning. We must lure him out. Let him feel victory. Then he will make a mistake. And there's another thing. If we fail to cleanse you, I'll have to kill you.

- So why did you treat my wounds? You reduced your chances.

- I just believe in you. It was a long day. It seems I have not slept for ages. Ten thousand years or something like that. You will need all your power — so please eat up the patties.

But I thought not about eating while listening to her. Even not about my own death. It was no other pandaren nearby. That means she carried me here by herself. She didn't sleep. She treated my wounds. She made patties, after all. And I occupied a single bed in this humble little room. Her bed.

- I need to stretch my legs. Take a rest. Please.

- I do not allow. Stop it. Come back in bed.

But her body disagreed with her. The woman yawned so loud, that tears showed up on her lashes.

- You're right. There will be no trouble if I doze for an hour. It's nowhere to go. We are up in the sky. Even albatrosses don't fly here. Wake me up. We have not much time.

She fell asleep instantly. As soon as her head touched the pillow. Ready to wait I sat in front of her. A short time later the pictures I could not even imagine started to flash out in my head. And a subtle whisper began to crawl on my nape as goosebumps.

- Follow the fist law and take what is yours. You are Taran Zhu, the Shado-pan leader. You will confer an honor to this beggar, giving her the opportunity to wear your offspring. She will never have more descent man. You are the best thing that has happened to her over the years. Take her.  Take what is already yours.

That whisper ran along the veins as a sweet poison. My eyes lied to me. But I knew somewhere inside that it could be the chance Raan told me about. So I... succumbed.

- Scream if you have to.

Her scared sleepy eyes looked at me for a second. There was no shame, no remorse. Only understanding of what I want.

I'm not proud of what I intended to do. Quite the contrary. But at the moment it seemed there was nothing more pleasant and desirable. I could not understand, where was me and there was not me. That kiss was like a breath of coolness on a hot day. Her lips met with mine – but suddenly it was over.

- Well hello there, old enemy.

I suspected that it is not too pleasant when Sha is ripping out of your body. Once I did this trick myself. But Raan caught me off guard. The word “PAIN” began to sparkle with new colors.

When the nasty slimy slush died in convulsions on the floor, I was horrified. From all at once. It was inside me. It made me do terrible things, but at the same time... I have never felt so... So good. I'm a monster.

- Are you alright?

That was she asking me. Whether I am alright. And what could I say? From the depths of my shock I clearly said:

- Fine, thank you.

Cho didn't listen further. He anxiously looked at his brother who was ready to tear his fur.

- Well, I guess we need more than just a cup of tea here. But I have a remedy for these cases. We will take it all. Together. I won't let you alone anymore.

Splashing out the tea into the tub unnoticed, Cho scooped his “Deep thoughts brooth” and gave it to Zhu.

- And now it tells me that she is dead. And that her name isn't Raan. And I didn't even asked for her forgiveness. Did not say how sorry I am. And the patties were still there. Am I look like “the alright-man”? Thank you, just in time.

Taran Zhu tipped the cup of broth directly into his mouth. His eyelids became heavy, his movements became clumsy...

- Big brother. Tell me how did it happen that you needed an ancient god, an epic enemy and a good ax blow to realize that there is something more than war games in the world? May be it's my fault. You saw only pain from love. You saw your father grieving when he lost your mother. Then you saw my mother mourned him when he was gone already. And finally, my tragedy. You became more Shado-pan than your true self. May be it is a chance to change things for the better.

- I... hate... you... Cho. Again you... palmed off... this... slop...

Zhu fell on the floor and began to snore.