Children of the Earth and Moon

Chapter 1

"I'm soooo hungry!"

"Shut up, Goku."

"But Sanzo, if I don't eat soon, my stomach's gonna collapse."

"Shut up, ya chibi monkey!"

"Hakkai, why didn't you buy enough food at the last town?"

"Um, Goku, I'd stop complaining if I were you."

"But I'm starvin' to death!"

"Here, let me help you along!" Sanzo snapped, turning around in his seat and pointing his gun in Goku's face. "One more word and you'll be eating lead!"

Goku tried to hide behind Gojyo in the face of the monk's wrath, but the red- haired man shoved him back across the back seat of the jeep.

"Don't get me involved! You're the crybaby!" Goku opened his mouth to yell back at Gojyo, but the metallic click of the gun cocking made him snap it shut again. Gojyo laughed. "Finally! Some peace and quiet! At least it wasn't me at the business end of that gun this time!"

"Don't tempt me," Sanzo warned and turned back to watch the road.

"At least we're not in the desert anymore," Hakkai said with optimism. "I'm sure we'll be able to find something to hunt in these woods."

"Aw, come on! We've been camping out for over a week!" Gojyo complained, leaning over Hakkai's seat. "I want a real meal, beer, smokes, gambling, a soft bed...and someone soft to share it with."

Gojyo jerked back as Sanzo reached into his robe, thinking he was going for his fan, but instead, the monk sighed and took out his pack of cigarettes. "I'm almost out. Hakkai, isn't there anywhere on the map we can stop for supplies?"

"There is a town, but it's too far away to be reached before nightfall. And with the way we've been driving Hakuryuu lately...I don't think it would be wise to push him. It would be better if we made camp for the night."

"How about houses?" Gojyo asked. "There's got to be a woodcutter or hunter or something living in here. Preferably one with cute daughters?"

"Can't you think from above your belt at all?" Sanzo groaned.

"Only as far as my stomach."

"Look!" Hakkai said, pointing down the road in front of them. They all leaned forward in their seats.

"Is that a...horse?" Gojyo asked.

"No rider, but I see a saddle," Sanzo said. Hakkai slowed the jeep down. "It must have gotten loose."

As they neared the large, white animal, Sanzo motioned for Hakkai to stop. He got out of the jeep and slowly walked toward the horse. The whites of its eyes flashed and it struck the ground with its hooves, tossing its head in agitation.

"Be still," Sanzo told it in a low voice. "I won't hurt you." The horse immediately calmed down and lowered its head, allowing Sanzo to pick up the reins dragging in the dirt between its legs.

"He's so big!" Goku exclaimed leaping from the backseat. "I've never been this close to a horse before."

"You certainly have a way with dumb animals," Gojyo commented, lighting up a cigarette. "Must be all the practice."

"Shut up, ya cockroach!" Goku snapped.

"I'm just sayin' that big boy there can't be as much trouble as you usually are."

"It's female," Sanzo corrected him. As he brought the animal closer to the curious group, he felt her start to shake with fear. Her ears lay back flat against her head and she bared her teeth, pulling at the reins to back away.

"Guess that's why you became a monk,"Gojyo laughed. "The ladies don't seem to like you."

"Shut up! I think it's the jeep."

A sad beep issued from the vehicle. "I'm sorry, my friend," Hakkai said, patting the steering wheel, "but it seems you're making our guest nervous. Go ahead and transform, and we'll see if that helps."

The vehicle disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving a small dragon in its place. Hakuryuu let out a small cry and flew to Hakkai's shoulder. Stretching out his long neck, he sniffed at the newcomer. The horse sniffed back, giving a satisfied snort when she realized the dragon was harmless.

"This horse must belong to someone," Hakkai said reaching out to tentatively stroke the horse's soft muzzle. "There must be a farm or village nearby."

"This isn't just any horse," Sanzo said, inspecting the saddle. "This is an expensive saddle. Very expensive."

"Expensive, hunh?" Gojyo perked up from where he leaned against a tree beside the road. "You mean we could sell it for food, alcohol, and smokes?"

"Don't be stupid," Goku said. "We should return it to its owner, get a huge reward, a comfy place to sleep...and food, alcohol, and smokes."

"A warm bed does sound heavenly," Hakkai agreed. "I'm sure wherever this horse came from would be big enough to have an extra room or two for the ones returning his property. For all we know, this is his favorite horse."

"Whatever," Sanzo grumbled. The horse started nuzzling the monk, trying to get his attention. When that didn't work, she sniffed around his hair, attempting to grab it with her lips as if it were hay. He swatted the horse's nose. "Let's just get going. Without Hakuryuu, this place better be close."

"Can I ride it?" Goku asked, jumping up and down. "Hunh? Can I? Can I?"

"Here we go again," Gojyo sighed. "He's such a spoiled little brat."

"Shut up. You're scaring the horse you stupid monkey!" A sharp rap on the head with Sanzo's fan stopped the jumping, but not the pleading.

"Aw come on! I've never ridden a horse before! You're so mean. I'll probably never get another chance. Please?"

Sanzo ignored his annoying ward and led the horse down the road, the other three following behind. Just around the next bend, they came to a wide path leading off the main road into the forest. Although the ground was flat and hardened by use, the branches overhead were wild and intertwining, making a dimly lit tunnel between the trees.

"What do you make of this?" Sanzo asked Hakkai, moving his head again so the horse couldn't reach his hair.

"It wasn't on the map and doesn't look like a normal town road," Hakkai answered. "But anything this well-traveled has to lead somewhere. A wealthy farmer, perhaps?"

"And possibly a wealthy farmer's daughter?" Gojyo added, a twinkle in his eye. "At least it's a damn sight closer than that town you talked about."

Goku's stomach grumbled. "As long as it has food. I'm about to die over here!"

Sanzo ignored the complaint and gave the horse's reins a tug. They walked down the dark path, alert for any signs of an ambush or trap. As the entrance to the main road diminished behind them, the horse became more and more skittish.

"Damn it!" Sanzo cursed when the beast bumped him for the fifth time. "Keep this up and I'll let Goku eat you!"

"Really?" Goku trotted up next to Sanzo and looked the horse over from top to bottom. "I'll bet it'd make a great stew!"

The horse's eyes widened as she detected the hungry look on the boy's face. With a nervous whinny, she settled down and walked meekly beside the priest, her head drooped in defeat.

"I think it's going to get dark before we reach the end of this," Hakkai pointed out.

"How can you tell?" Gojyo asked. "It's looked like dusk since we entered this cozy little trail."

Goku stopped walking and put his nose in the air. "I think…" He sniffed. "I think...I smell food!" In his excitement, he ran ahead of the others and was soon lost to the deepening shadows.

"Where are you going, you damn monkey?" Gojyo called out after him. "Sanzo, why don't you keep your pet on a leash? He could end up biting someone one day."

"Shut up or die."

"Well, I'm not going to run after him. If he gets lost, that's his own damn fault."

"I don't think you have to worry about that," Hakkai said. "I'm beginning to smell a cooking fire as well. We must be getting close."

"About damn time," Gojyo muttered.

"What's wrong, Hakuryuu?" Hakkai asked the shaking dragon around his neck. The dragon slid from his perch around Hakkai's neck and down under the sash draped over his shoulder, huddling close with only his tail sticking out. "That's odd. I don't remember Hakuryuu ever being so afraid he wouldn't fly away. I wonder what could possibly be at the end of this path that would make him so nervous."

"Be on your guard," Sanzo warned, slipping his hand beneath his robe to clutch his gun. "We're about to find out."