Heart and Soul
Chapter 1
Just as a forewarning, I do not write fanfics very often, so do be nice. The other warning is that this whole story was thought up by me after I had put in eight hours at my job working in 100 percent humidity, then came home and consumed about 10 pixie sticks. Oh... and I dreamed it up at midnight. I really should stop eating hot dogs right before I go to bed...
Discalimer- I forgot. I own nothing. Nothing at all. Some things in life just suck. This fact is one of them.
Lightning split the sky, the thunder that followed closely in the lightning's wake drowning out the sound of the pouring rain. Rivers ran where not an hour before had been dry ground, making traveling a treacherous business. The great red elk slipped, snorting as he slid down the wet stone on his haunches. The load on his back tilted forward until it rested against the red furred neck, and several groans issued from underneath the covering. As soon as his feet hit solid ground the elk paused, looking back at his rider. When nothing else came from the hunched figured he cleared the rain from his nose with a violent snort, then began to pick his way carefully to a distant tree line.
As soon as his hoof the ground by the first tree a tingle ran up his leg, and he snorted. A second later s soft rattle issued from somewhere above his head, and he jumped sideways, spooked. The quick motion woke his rider, and a pale face emerged from the edge of the cloak. "Kodama..." she mumbled, her voice full of dazed surprise, before falling back against the sturdy neck.
The kodama leaned closer, as though studying the pair, then looked at one another, rattling and shaking. Making it's way slowly forward, one of the kodama tiptoed down a slender branch until it was level with the great elks nose. It cocked it's head oddly, then bounded away, glancing back over it's shoulder. Once the elk took a step to follow the creature continued, joined by many of it's comrades as they led the way deeper into the forest.
Massive trees closed in around the elk and his rider, their sheer girth bespeaking the acientness of the forest through which they passed. The thick canopy shielded those underneath from the fury of the outside storm, channeling the water so that the only evidence of the rains ferocity could be found in the random waterfalls that spilled down through the leaves. How much time passed the beast could not tell, nor did he care. When they reached a small clearing dominated by a large pool he dropped his head, sating his thirst quickly.
The bundle on his back stirred, and a pale hand slipped out.
"Water..."
The elk bent his forelegs, lowering his body until the hand brushed the water. Slender fingers clasped together to form a shallow cup which rose slowly to the shadow of the hood. A weak slurping sound revealed more effort than success. In defeat the hand dropped to rest weakly on the elks neck as he climbed carefully back to his feet. A now familiar rattle next to his ear drew the elks attention, and he obediently turned in that direction, once more trusting following the path dictated by the tiny kodama as they bounded and rattled along.
Kind of a short first chapter, but I think where I am taking this is at least going to be a little bit original. So please R&R.