Chapter Text
It had taken well into the second night before he had found everyone or they found his shack. It was a journey for him to get all of them kitted back up and on the road to his home on Scorched Earth. He growled like a dragon when one of his pet wyverns growled at his new ‘family’. His home was set up on a monadnock; an isolated, steep rock hill on relatively flat terrain, overlooking the desert itself.
He’d taken his time introducing them to his wyverns. He licked his lips as he waited for all of them to drink their fill from his reservoir tank. He’d go last. His mind flashed back to their first weeks together. Jin Guangshan had tried to undermine him.
One year ago: Herbivore Island
Harry was having none of it. Seemed like the others weren’t too fond of his holier-than-thou attitude either. Harry told him to come outside and fight him. “Outside. Fight me.”
It was hilarious to watch. The grown man had refused. Wen Ruohan had grabbed him and dragged him out to fight Harry. Harry made the rules of the fight clear. “Hand to hand combat. No weapons. If you win I’ll concede that you might know more about leadership than you. If I win you’ll shut up and never try to undermine my authority again.”
Jin Guangshan sneered at him. “You’ve been here alone since you were ten. You would know nothing of leading people.” He then started picking at his nails. “Fighting without a sword is barbaric.”
Taking a deep breath he handed all of his weapons to Wei Changze. Harry rolled up his sleeves and got into a loose stance. “Stop whining. You’re a grown adult.” He got a glare in return. He looked over at each of the others. His eyes landed on Xiao Xingchen. “Xiao Xingchen, would you do a countdown from three. We’ll begin when you say one.”
The blind man smiled. “This one can.” He held up a hand. “Three.” Harry bounced slightly on his feet. “Two.” He watched how his opponent still scoffed but took a position he guessed was what their people used. “One.” Harry dropped into a faster stance and rushed forward.
He used the side of his hand to knock at the taller man’s kneecaps. He was using his size to his advantage. He slipped between his tries at hitting him by utilizing both his height and speed. He hissed in pain as Jin Guangshan got his first shot in. Harry had already littered him with bruising hits.
Harry skidded backwards from the strength of it. That wasn’t normal strength. He grinned ferally as he spat blood from his mouth onto the ground. “Interesting.” He rubbed at his bruising jaw. “Well, guess that faults on me. I didn’t exclude using powers because I wasn’t aware you also had them.”
Jin Guangshan cracked his knuckles. “You should admit defeat now then. You could never defeat a sect leader.” He was acting like a pompous peacock.
Harry chuckled. “Guess I should stop holding back.” His words made the idiot freeze. Harry took a deep breath once more and shot forward faster. His punches hitting harder. The ground cracked from the force of his feet each step leaving indents of where he had once been.
Jin Guangshan could no longer keep up with him. He pulled back and punched Jin Guangshan in the chest hard enough to throw him several feet back. He hit the rock wall and coughed up blood. Harry stepped forward to stand over his crumpled form. “This is my ARKs and you listen to me on how things are done here. Unless I ask for your opinion or for your help don’t try to undermine me again.”
Present: Scorched Earth
Harry moved about getting everything settled back into a working order. Jin Guangshan had learned his lesson. The others had learned to respect him after that too. He was harsh but only as much as needed to be. The ARKs were not a playground.
It was dangerous out there and he wasn’t going to just let them get eaten. It wasn’t his way. Tough love. Even Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen pulled their weight despite their being mute and blind. The women were smart and everyone had the ability to do something. They just needed a little pushing.