[sageofmyoubokuzan]

The girl replied, "There is a small village this North of that has been attacked by bandits several times, the leader of the village is hiring anyone who is willing to guard the village."

Kys asked, "How long will it take to reach the village?" Nat replied, "Three days if you go by dragon, I will be accompanying you to the village since I have business of my own with the leader, we should leave as soon as possible surely the enemy will hear what has become of their comrades and they will soon be searching the area for the person that has done this."

[Kystal]

"Hmph!" I commented, looking at sage and grinning. "I think we can handle it . . . who do you think knocked that General into the woods?"

Nat cocked her head. "You two?"

"Duh!"

"Fine. Well, if you are willing to go, come on." She turned and walked quickly, mounting her dragon with ease. I gestured to Heru. He looked away, laughing. Feeling slightly embarrassed, i went to him instead and got on: Sage had already mounted.

"All ready?" Nat asked.

"Well, i guess so; you lead," said Sage. Andusk leaped into the air, and started to fly north: Sage followed. I began to follow, and probably kept up for about four or five hours: then I flew into a mist, and could no longer see them ahead of me. Turning Heru's head, i guided him down to a running stream: blundering around in the fog i knew would get me in trouble: i would join them in the village later.

"If i can figure out the way," i mumbled to myself. Heru looked at me anxiously.

"Do you not know this area?" he asked.

"Not really," i sighed. Heru shook his head. "A lot of help you are to me. I don't know where we are either. And an energy scan tells me there is a high concentration of hostile will just behind us.

"Enemies are following me?"

"Precisely."

"Oh. Great."

[sageofmyoubokuzan]

As me and Nat continued towards the village I asked her. "You do realize that Kys isn't following us anymore don't you?" To which Nat replied. "Yes we lost her some time ago, you're barely noticing this now? We better circle back the enemy might have caught up to her already."

The enemy drew closer to where Kys and her dragon had landed, she drew her sword and Heru said. "There is over one hundred them we can't beat them by ourselves, hopefully Nat and Sage realize our absence soon because we can't hold them off for long."

[Kystal]

"Where is your battle spirit?" i said to Heru. "We can't hold them long frontal attack. I have a taste for hide and seek." We scurried to the cover of the trees and held our breath. I put my sword down beside me, and strung my bow. the enemy reached the clearing.

I put an arrow to the string, and squinted to pick out a target. A large warrior was just ahead of me . . . I began to release the arrow.

Slip! A white head darted in front of the warrior and snatched it in its mouth; cursing i misfired and it richoceted off of the dragon's hide: it was Andusk. I felt sage pull me backwards just as a sword came driving towards me, he blocked it with his own and slide the blade up to catch the man's neck. It became a bloody and confusing war.

[sageofmyoubokuzan]

The man fell to the ground hitting it with significan't force, Nat was in the clearing dispatching the enemy one by one. They were all killed before they realized what had happened, Artemis and Heru charged in to help with the clean up of a few stragglers. The bloody conflict ended just as quickly as it had began. Kys asked Nat, Who was the enemy that attacked us?" Nat replied: "They were the soldiers of the emperor whose general you killed, it seems he is out for revenge and he has placed a bounty on your heads. We better find a place to hideout until this all blows over."

[Kystal]

"Oh isn't that just GREAT!" i cried. Sage tapped my shoulder.

"Well, it really isn't her fault, you know," he said to me. "And i think her advice is good."

"Fine," and I looked at Heru. "Do you know where anyplace safe is?" Heru tilted back his ears.

"Perhaps . . . there is a system of caves and grottos somewhat nearby. I do not know if they are above the waterline, however." He looked at the sky: it was torn by dark clouds and the wind brought a light scent of rain. "I should hope we would not be flooded out; on the other hand, any scent would be eradicated by the water."

"Then let's go," said Nat impatiently, from Andusk's back.

Standing on one leg, I regarded Heru thoughtfully. He seemed nonchalant, but there was an undercurrent in his words that i could sense . . . he was deeply troubled. I watched Artemis and Andusk prepare to fly: i jumped onto Heru.

"What's wrong?" He refused to respond. Spreading his wings, he slowly began to lead us all to the caves.

[sageofmyoubokuzan]

We continued flying towards the caves and I slowed down to the speed Kys was going, and then we started talking for a while. "Is Heru okay he has been acting a bit strange as of late."

Kys replied, "I'm not sure ever since the end of the previous battle he has been acting like this, I hope he is alright." We began scouting the area from the air as we approached the caves to see if there was any enemy activity nearby, we saw none so we decreased our altitude and began flying towards the caves where we were going to be staying for the next couple of weeks. Before we went to sleep for the night Nat said, "Since there are three of us we will have to keep watch in eight hour shifts. I will go first then Sage and then Kys."

[Kystal]

"That's quite logical," I looked at Nat. "Are you sure you want first watch?"

"Yes," she replied shortly, then "I would recomment you both sleep well. This will be a bit of a haul, and you'll need your strength if we are discovered."

"All right," said sage. He smiled a little bit and prepared a bed for himself; instead i looked at Heru. He looked back at me, quietly, but still i felt the current of his hesitation and almost . . . fear, I realized. Something was not right: i had better keep watch. Usually, if he had something to say to me, I remembered, he would merely use telepathy: he had been talking to me openly. I contacted his mind.

"What is wrong, Heru? I can tell, so don't lie to me. What is it?"

"I would highly suggest," Heru said out loud, locking his eyes on mine, "I would highly suggest a good night's rest." He shook his head slightly. I understood that i could not sleep that night. I then turned to look at Sage: he was watching me, his eyes questioning.

"Something is wrong," i telepathed to him. "Heru feels something . . . i am not sure. Sleep lightly: i don't think i will sleep at all."

"Is there anything i can do?"

"Not that i can feel," Heru cut into our conversation. I winced. Then i surreptitiously pointed to Nat.

"Her?"

"No . . . I think she will be the one to save both of you."

"I don't need saving," i laughed. Sage grinned as well. Heru narrowed his eyes at both of us.

"Your arrogance is amazing, Kystal."

"When have i ever lost my head in battle?"

"Let's just see," said Heru. "We'll see what you'll be saying when it happens."

[sageofmyoubokuzan]

Kys lay awake next to Heru as I was awoken by Nat to continue the watch. I walked over to Kys and asked, "Do you have any idea what Heru was talking about? From what he says it seems like some significant event is going to happen in the near future, whatever it is we will deal with it like we always have so just forget about it for now and we'll take care of it when the time comes."


I winked at Kys as I walked towards the mouth of the cave in an attempt to raise her spirits, I returned a couple of hours later to find Kys was still lying awake as I informed her that it was her turn to continue the watch.

[Kystal]

After talking with sage i attempted ancient Chi Gong to try to relax myself . . . but that didn't work. Play-prodding sage as he walked past, I leaned against Heru and communed to Someran . . . he wasn't exactly happy to hear from me. "Busy" is all he said. I growled.

"Has there been any Veil activity increase?" i asked him. He reponded negatively.

"Well . . .any power surges?"

"NO," he said impatiently. "Will you leave me alone?"

"Fine, jerk," i muttered. Heru caught my words.

"What?" "Nothing, i was just talking to Someran." Sage walked over.

"It's your turn," he whispered. Then, "haven't you slept at all?"

"No . . . i can't, babe, sorry . . . i feel something hanging over my head. Is it really my turn already?"

"Yeah, it's been a long time."

"i think there's been a time hiccup," i said calmly. Sage shook my by the shoulder.

"I think you're delirious, you need to sleep!"

"No," I replied. "I think someone has opened something Heru and I have been trying to unravel for a long time. There is a way that dragons can travel through time, it is a powerful spell that takes two mages and at least three dragons. Someone is trying to change and make a paradox."

"Then . . . what do we do?"

"I have no idea. Wait until Nat wakes up . . . we'll have to have a council. Soon."