"Hey Kagami, Tsukasa, wake up" said a voice from Kagamis door.
"She's really a brat..." Kagami muttered as she got out of bed and woke Tsukasa up
"Five more minutes... I'm serious" Tsukasa mumbled
"Come on, get up." Kagami said as she went to get dressed
----------------
"Where are they?" Konata wondered as she took a bite out of her toast
"Hello Miyuki" Kagami said politely as she came down to eat.
"Yup, just ignore my exisistence" Konata muttered
"What's that?" Tsukasa asked as she came to their table
"Oh nothing" Konata replied "Anyways, good morning Tsukasa"
"Same to you too Konata" Tsukasa replied as she got toast herself
"So were going to try to get to Sumor today but we're going to have to go at a quick pace to reach it." Miyuki informed
"We should start as soon as we finish breakfast" Kagami suggested
"That's what I'm planning on" Miyuki replied
"We'll be going through the plains?or the forest?"" Konata asked
"The plains will definetely be easier on the feet so I think we'll go through that way" Miyuki replied
"Alright, let's get going as soon as we're done eating" Kagami said
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"Konata..." Kagami said as she walked faster to catch up with her
"May I help you?"
"Ya, can you walk slower? Tsukasa isn't in shape so she tires out easily"
"Oh really?" Konata asked
"Yes really"
There were almost sparks flying off of each of them.
"They don't seem to get along very well" Tsukasa remarked
"Their both still suspicious of each other and don't like each other" Miyuki observed
"Fine, I'll slow down for Tsukasa" she said while stressing Tsukasas name.
"Brat..." Kagami said under her breathe as she slowed down to let Tsukasa catch up to her.
---------------------------------
"This place seems nice to take a rest." Miyuki said as she put her bow down.
"We've been walking for a few hours now right?" Tsukasa asked
"Has it been that long?" Konata asked
Kagami simply took her swords off and laid them down in the grass
"I'll go get some water" Tsukasa offered
"Thanks" Miyuki said as Tsukasa walked off to look for water with everyones canteens
"So where are we going to try to go, like the final destination?" Kagami asked
"Well I was thinking about it while we were walking but how about Flatine?" Miyuki replied
"You mean the 'capital' of the rebels?"
"Yes, towards the southwest of Laciena. I though that if anything, the rebels would have spies and such which would let them be more informed then others"
"Smart..."
"But how will we get there? All routes are blocked by the Vlacinian bog and the Slageti mountain pass, except for that narrow area which is heavily guarded" Konata suddenly asked
"Who said we had to go by land?"
"What? You mean were going to take a boat there?"
"Isn't that the only way?" Miyuki asked
"Probably..." Konata replied
"Anyways, I'll go get some food" Miyuki said as she got up with her bow
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"Can we make it to Slagon tonight?" Konata asked as she looked at the sky "We only have another 3 or 4 hours of light but were only half way there"
"We may have to camp out" Miyuki replied as she too looked at the sun
"Then we should probably find a forest so there's things to build a shelter with" Tsukasa said
"Should be a forest several miles to the east, let's head over there now so we don't have to worry about finding it when it gets too dark" Miyuki said as she took a look at her map
"Sounds good" Konata and Kagami said at the same time. The two looked at each other with narrowed eyes.
"Konata, would you mind going up ahead and scouting out the area?" Miyuki suddenly interupted
"Ya... Sure..." Konata said as she ran up ahead
"Onee-chan?" Tsukasa asked when she saw Kagami still looking at the running Konata
"Oh, forget it" Kagami mumbled as she took her eyes off of Konata
-----------
"Damn Kagami" Konata muttered as she ran ahead to "Scout" the area ahead.
Konata was about a mile ahead of the group now and was in the forests.
"She didn't even tell me what to scout for" Konata mumbled as she sat down on a rock.
"Nothing to do..." Konata mumbled as she looked up at the sky "Another hour or two left before sundown..."
-------------
"How are we going to find Konata?" Tsukasa asked
"I whistle, she replies, repeat" Miyuki replied as she whistled loudly
The 3 girls had just entered the forest and were now walking along a path.
"Hmm I guess she's a bit further out" Miyuki remarked when a replying whistle did not come.
"You sure she didn't just trip and knock herself out?" Kagami asked
"She's one of the nimblest people I've ever met, she won't trip that badly" Miyuki replied
"I hope she's OK" Tsukasa said
The girls continued walking for another 15 minutes before Miyuki whistled loudly again. This time a replying whistle came a bit west of where the girls were standing.
"Come on let's go" Miyuki said as she turned to where the whistling had come from.
Miyuki repeated the whistles several times until pinpointing Konatas location. As the girls walked towards it, they saw a figure with blue hair sitting on a rock.
"Took you long enough" Konata said as she stood up
"Anyways let's camp out around here tonight" Miyuki said
"I found a stream a bit further west of here but I thought it would be easier for you guys to find me here so I came back here." Konata said as she pointed west
"Thanks" Tsukasa and Miyuki replied
"Oh mind if I just called you kona-chan?" Tsukasa asked, "It's easier"
"Ya sure" Konata replied
--------------
"A stream?" Kagami asked as all 4 girls stood in front of the "Stream"
"Well... Maybe a bit bigger" Konata replied while scratching her head
"This is a decent sized river" Miyuki said as she looked at the "Stream"
The so called stream was over 20 feet in width and god knew how deep it was at the center.
"Hey the waters clear though" Tsukasa observed
"Anyways we'll camp out here tonight, make the shelter at least 100 feet away from the river, I don't want any accidents in the middle of the night" Miyuki stated "Konata and Kagami, you guys have the sharp stuff, could you build the shelter?"
"Ya sure..." Konata replied
"Fine..." Kagami mumbled
"Still don't seem to get along..." Tsukasa whispered to Miyuki
Kagami took out her two-hander to cut at the small saplings
"I'll get the branches and leaves..." Konata said as she went looking for material
--------------
"What kind of shelter are we building anyways?" Konata asked Kagami in hopes of starting a conversation
"Well we have to fit four people in so a tent like structure would probably work best" Kagami replied
"Then we'll need a lot more branches for the crossbeams and large leaves for the outer layer... Oak leaves should be good if we put ferns on top of it" Konata remarked as she went out to look for more
"I think making them work together is making them less hostile to each other..." Miyuki remarked
"Maybe..." Tsukasa replied
----------------
"Well?" Konata asked Miyuki
"Well definetely fits all of us..." Miyuki observed
The "Tent" Konata and Kagami had made was almost 6' x 8'. It looked almost like a tent house that one would see at fairs.
"Well the suns already setting so let's eat" Miyuki suggested
"What would we eat?" Kagami asked
"Oh I went hunting for a bit while you two were vigorously making that tent" Miyuki laughed as she held up several thrushes
"Hey where's Tsukasa?" Konata asked
"She went to gather firewood, she should be back within a few minutes" Miyuki informed
"I'll take the feathers off" Konata offered
------------
"You know, Tsukasa's sense of taste is really good" Miyuki
remarked as she ate the last bits of her meal.
"She's the one who cooks between us so she's alot better then me" Kagami replied
"Oh are you the type to make pots explode in a kitchen?" Konata asked
"Why don't you shut up?" Kagami growled
"Well I see SOMEONE can't take jokes" Konata replied with a glare
"Stupid brat..." Kagami muttered
"I heard that" Konata growled
"Well I'm only saying the truth" Kagami retorted
"Can you two stop arguing?" Miyuki asked, "That was Konatas fault for instigating but you shouldn't have risen up to it Kagami"
"Whatever I'm going to sleep" Kagami said as she went to the tent and laid down on the very left
"Konata, you shouldn't make stupid jokes with her, she still doesn't like or trust you" Miyuki said
"Not my fault she can't even take a joke..." Konata mumbled.
"I think I'll go sleep too" Tsukasa said with a yawn "It's getting late anyways and were going to have to walk more tomorrow"
"good night" Konata and Miyuki said at the same time
"And about Flatine..." Konata said
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"Yawn, wow it must be really late now" Miyuki remarked, "I guess I'll retire for the night too"
"Ok, I'll be up for a little longer" Konata replied
"Make sure you can wake up tomorrow" Miyuki said as she went Into the tent
"Sigh, I'll stay up for a bit longer..."
Konata sat on a rock by the tent, admiring the beauty of the night sky. She sat there for quite a few minutes when she heard rustling sounds over on the other side of the tent.
"Ya they're the girls we want..." said a voice
"All four should be asleep so this'll be a piece of cake" laughed another voice
Konata froze to make sure she didn't make even the smallest of noises. Her hands gripped her shortsword as she heard more voices. She could make out... 5 voices in all but there could have been more. She heard the sounds of footsteps and took this chance to move to the edge of the tent with her sword drawn. As she heard the steps get closer, he heard a suprised shout
"Who's that behind the tent?!" exclaimed a voice
"How did they see me?" Konata mumbled but stepped out I'm front of them with her sword drawn.
"Heh, it's the puny one" said one of the men.
Konata counted a total of 8 men. They were obviously Lacinian soldiers, destinctively different from the Placinian soldiers as these men wore steel armor.
"Puny?!" Konata spat
But the men only charged Konata. Knowing she couldn't fight all of them at once, she rolled out of the way and tripped a man while trying to slice another mans stomach with her right hand but her sword harmlessly clanged off the armor.
"Ha! You think that little sword will do anything?"
"Crap..."
-----------------
"Shut up..." Kagami mumbled as she heard loud noises outside.
There were more shouts and metallic clangs.
"What is Konata doing?" Kagami wondered as she woke up from her sleep.
"Ha! You think that little sword will do anything?" said a voice Kagami didn't recognize
it took Kagami to comprehend what was going on right now.
"Oh crap..." Kagami muttered as she grabbed her swords and ran outside.
There were 8 men in a semi-circle around Konata, all facing away from Kagami. Konata then saw Kagami and made a pleading face.
"DIE!!!" Kagami suddenly yelled as she lifted and swung her two-hander onto the closest mans head. The sword went right through the steel helmet the man wore.
"What the hell?!" 3 men exclaimed at the same time.
Konata took this momentary confusion to get her dagger and run across to Kagami while stabbing 2 men in the chest. Both men crumpled with gurgles
"Nice save" Konata remarked as she and Kagami stood facing the 5 remaining men.
"Tough eh?" a man asked, apparently the leader of the squad
"Still want to take us?" Kagami sneered
"Why not?" the man replied as the men fanned out.
A man to Kagami's left rushed in with his sword raised, Kagami moved out of the way and tried to impale him with her sword but the man dodged her attack too. Konata ran in at that point and tried to stab that man with her dagger but missed and rolled out. Distracted by this, Kagami did not notice the man coming up from behind her as he swung his sword at her head. Kagami, noticing just in time, ducked and swung at the mans legs, chopping them cleanly off.
"OH MY GOD!!!" the man screamed on and on, blood gushing from the stumps that used to be his feet (tell me if you think I should remove this part)
"Konata, shut him up" Kagami yelled as she blocked a swing from her right
Konata ended the screaming mans misery and used her shortsword to stab the man to Kagami's right in his neck, which was the only apparent, unprotected area.
"Damn it their as bunch of girls!" the leader of the squad roared, "You letting a bunch of sissys kick our asses?!"
"Sissys huh?" Konata remarked
The remaining two men were... Gone? Konata thought they had fled and focused on the leader who was enraged.
"Stupid girl" the man said as the two men who had seemingly disapeared, apeared behind Konata and hit her head, knocking her to the ground.
"Konata, no!" Kagami exclaimed as she threw her shortsword at one of the men, the sword going through his chest.
"Wahahaha! You still think you can kill me and my soldier by yourself?" the leader exclaimed as he swung his sword, knocking Kagami's two-hander out of her hand.
Kagami pulled her longsword out and stood her ground.
"You gonna try to kill me? I'll take you down with me if you do..." Kagami snarled
Kagami suddenly pulled a dagger out and threw it at the soldier still behind her, the dagger going through the mans neck.
"Was it 2 on 1? I do believe its 1 on 1 now..." Kagami growled again
"I see." the last man said as he came in and swung his sword from below, Kagami smoothly blocked the swing and reached for her shortsword... Which wasn't there. Seeing this, the man pulled back and knocked Kagami's longsword out of her hand too.
"You still think you can win without a weapon?" the man snarled
The man began to close in on Kagami
---------------
"Aw crap that hurt..." Konata mumbled as she sat up.
She then remembered where she was and saw the leader of the squad closing in on Kagami with his back turned to Konata.
Kagami picked up asword on the ground but the man quickly came in and hit the sword away while knocking Kagami to the ground.
"Now... Any words before you die a pitiful death?"
Konata quickly took her poisoned dagger out and crept towards the man
"No? Then die!!" the man yelled as he brought up his sword
Konata knew it was now or never. She leapt forward and grabbed the mans neck, putting him into a chockhold and stabbed the man in the chest before he could shake Konata off.
"Ugh..." the man gurgled as he fell down onto his face.
"You need help?" Konata asked as she held out her hand to Kagami
"Tha- thank you" Kagami said with tears
"What happened?!" Miyuki exclaimed as she jumped out of the tent.
"You mean you just woke up?" Konata asked in disbelief
"Uhh yes..." she answered, then saw the bodies, "Oh my..."
"We had a slightly rough time" Konata remarked as Kagami sobbed
"What happened?" Miyuki repeated
"I guess I'll explain then" Konata sighed
----------------
"All this happened in the last 5-10 minutes?" Miyuki asked
"Well it went pretty fast..." Konata said
"Konata actually saved my life..." Kagami muttered, she had regained her composure as Konata had explained to Miyuki what had happened
"Wait, is Tsukasa still asleep?" Konata suddenly asked
"I think she is" Miyuki replied with a laugh, "For now, let's move these bodies away from camp, it's going to smell really bad if we leave them here"
"Ok" Kagami and Konata replied as they got started on the dirty work
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-*in an unknown location*-
"You think these girls are the destined Ones, My lord?" said a voice
"I believe so... The evidence is mounting..." replied another voice "let us wait until they arrive at Flatine, we can talk with them there directly in person"
"I hope it is them, we've been waiting for so long"
------------------
"KYA!!!!!!!"
"What was that?" Konata mumbled as she was woken up by the scream
"That sounded like Tsukasa" Kagami said as she too was woken by the scream
The two went outside to see what was wrong to see Tsukasa shying away from the blood on the ground.
"Oh ya we didn't clean the blood, more like we couldn't..." Konata laughed
"O- onee-chan!" Tsukasa yelled when she saw Kagami step out of the tent "There's so much blood on the ground!"
"Should we tell her?" Konata asked
"Might as well" Kagami replied as she began explaining the events that happened last night.
Tsukasa listened with wide, disbelieving eyes. After finishing, Tsukasa asked
"Are any of you hurt?"
"Well I got hit in the head and got dazed for a minute..." Konata said
"let me take a look" Tsukasa offered
"Oh my, you have a nice clean cut down the back of your head..." Tsukasa informed
"Oh is that what's been stinging me the whole time?"
Tsukasa got her medical bag and got started on disinfecting and bandaging Konatas head.
"Oh by the way, where did you put the bodies?" Tsukasa asked
"Oh we threw them into the river." Konata replied
----------------------
Author: you girls cool now?
Kagami: well she saved me, I don't see how I couldn't be glad and grateful
Konata: see? I'm more then just an annoying brat *grin*
Kagami: whatever... *smile*
Tsukasa: I knew something was different even before they told me what happned, I couldn't feel a single ounce of hostility from either of them when they came out this morning
Miyuki: I'm glad you two got along
Author: next stop, Sumor!