Kaylem lead Zen's group to a large pool, with the pounding waterfall.

"This is the place...?" Zen asked Kaylem.

The boy nodded, silently.

Zen jumped down from his horse and darted towards the water.

"Wait Zen!" Mitsuhide tried to stop him, but it was futile.

Zen dove into to the pool, without hesitation. He could not believe Miko would drown, so easily. Moments passed and Zen surfaced, pulling out the giant snake's carcass. Everyone was stunned by his discovery. It was massive.

It scared Kaylem, to bits. He had been swimming here, since he was really young.

Zen opened the snake's mouth, uncovering the puncture point. The left side and right side of it's head, completely separated. Miko was alive. But still, that would have been really traumatic. Miko might still be hurt.

As promised, He released the boy. And they continued on.

I woke up. I was really sore, more than yesterday. I had bruises all the way up my ribs. I asked the chief, if they had a doctor or herbalist, here in the village. He directed me to an older woman.

"Oh dear, you poor thing. What happened?" She sympathized.

"A snake tried to drown me." I explained.

"A snake did this. It would have to be a huge snake, to cause this much bruising." She looked me over, before starting to rub ointment and bandage me.

"It was massive."

"I am surprised to see your still alive, after that encounter."

"I'm not." The chief walked in. "It would take a whole lot more than a snake, to take her down."

"Such praise, for such a young girl. You seem rather confident in her abilities, Chief." The woman accused.

"That's 'cause I have seen it first hand. I also heard about it too." He clarified.

"Well, I think that takes care of it." The woman finished bandaging me up.

"Thank you." I threw my dress over my wrappings. And no, the chief had not peeked on me.

"So what happens now?" He asked me, genuinely curious.

"You could tell me your name." It was only fair, he knew mine.

"That reminds me, why two names? Doesn't the hair, defeat the whole purpose?"

"I asked you first."

"Kenshi." He looked at me, his orange eyes, burning into mine.

"It just keeps things less complicated." I explained vaguely, as always.

"This is the first time, that you make absolutely no sense. Forget it, I don't even want to know. So what is our heading? And if you don't mind, what are we going to do anyway?"

"I promised myself, I would find my friend and his mother." We made our way to the door.

"Okay. Any leads?"

"Yes, do these words sound familiar?" I repeated some of the things, I overheard back on the ship, when they were selling my friends.

The boy came with Zen and the others anyway. They trotted up to a small villa.

"Hey! That's Mary!"

The children were scared and ran inside, when they noticed a group of riders, heading in their direction. Their mother came out. "Can I help you?"

"That lamb belongs to me, where did you get it?" Kaylem insisted on an explanation.

She became distressed. "I need to ask you to leave!"

"A young girl left her here, didn't she." Zen pressed.

"I will not tell you anything, I will not let you hurt that sweet girl!" The woman defended.

"I am not here to harm her. She is my daughter. And I would appreciate it if you would help us in any way, that you can."

She calmed down. "Oh, I am so sorry. I will help you."

"I do, however, appreciate your desire to protect her, that does not go unnoticed. What can you tell me about your encounter with her?" Zen wanted to know as much as possible, any bit helps.

"She was hungry and looked like she was in a lot of pain. Both emotional and physical. She gave my kids a little lamb, because she wasn't equipped to take care of it herself. Then she paid me back for my hospitality, with this necklace. Then she asked for directions to the nearest town."

It pained Zen, to hear about Miko's suffering. He examined the necklace for a moment. "That necklace is not hers. In fact, I have never seen it before."

"I am sorry, but that is all I know. Well, except that she asked for a hood."

"Thank you, you have been most helpful."

Kaylem got Zen's attention, when he ran over to the children, to see little Mary. "I bet you will take good care of her."

The children smiled. "We promise."

"Kaylem?" Zen was hinting at their departure.

"I think I am going to stay here for a bit."

"Alright."

The woman did not even need to be asked. She pointed them in the direction of the next town.

Mitsuhide came back from the town, meeting up with Zen and the others. "No one seems to know anything about her. It doesn't seem like she ever made it here."

"What are you saying? We didn't pass her on the way here." Zen spoke wryly.

"I am not implying anything."

"It does seem kind of odd for her to ask for directions to a place, she never went to. I have to agree with Mitsuhide on this one. Something's up." Kiki was deeply concerned.

"Do you know what that commotion was back there?" Zen inquired.

"Yes, something about a large diamond going missing from the Duke's establishment. It's irrelevant."

"Well, if she didn't come this way, let's backtrack. Maybe we'll find something we missed." Zen deducted.

"I am beginning to think maybe you trained her too well, Kiki. She doesn't stay put for very long. If she had, we would have found her by now." Mitsuhide joked.

"That's very true." Kiki admitted.

Zen addressed his guards. "Alright, I will send you on ahead to the border crossings, that way if she crosses them we'll know. If you beat her there, she will recognize you."

The guards fanned out once again.

"This has got to work, we are so close now." They continued the trail they came.

"I see hoof tracks that lead that way. Shall we follow them, to see where they lead?" Mitsuhide suggested.

"They are covering the only bypass, she must of not been able to get around them."

"Bandits?!"

"What else? They must have taken her prisoner. Let's go!"

"Alright, this is the place." Kenshi lead me to a city.

"We are looking for some kind of manor. The boy's name is Desti. He is my age, with black hair and blue eyes. You can't miss him."

"There miss. That regal building over there, to the left." Kenshi pointed out.

"Yes, I agree. Let's scope it out."

"It looks like a village. Kind of like the Lion's of the mountain village." Mitsuhide pointed out.

"Let's see if anyone knows anything!" Zen didn't waste any time, before heading straight in.

Leaving the horses behind, they looked for someone to talk to. They found an older woman, who sought them out. "Are you looking for something or someone perhaps?" She was offering her help.

"Yes, actually, we are. Have you seen a girl named Ru Ru?" Zen asked.

Her expression turned foul. "I can't help you." She walked away.

No, she knew something and Zen wasn't going to let her get away. He followed her into a building and by the looks of it, it was a herb shop. "I know, that you know more than you let on. And I am not leaving here, till you tell me what you know!"

She recognized his determination, but not yet knowing his intentions.

"Is she here? Right now?"

"No."

Zen tried another approach, He calmed down and asked her again. "Where can I find her?"

"There is no Ru Ru here."

"Alright, how about Miko then?"

Her eyes widened. "What do you want with her?"

"I want to take her back home."

"So, she ran away?"

"No. She was kidnapped."

"You seem to care, I can see it in your eyes."

"She is my daughter."

Her attitude flipped around. "Why didn't you say so! She is out with the chief. They will be back later."

"Finally! Thank you!" He wasn't sure if he should relax just yet. This whole trip has pushed him back and forth, emotionally. "Where have they gone?"

"I have no idea. From what I understand, she is the one calling the shots."

"Of course she is. I shouldn't be that surprised. How was she? Was she hurt?"

"Yes, she has been bruised quite badly. She said that it was a..."

"Giant snake."

"Yes, that's right. She seems to be doing much better."

"That's good to hear."

"Allow me to give you a tour of our village, while you wait."

"Thank you for the offer, maybe some other time." Zen couldn't just wait around.

He left the shop.

"Zen, come quick." The blue bird was perched on Mitsuhide's shoulder. Which drew the attention of everyone around, driven by curiosity.

Zen took the report, read it quickly and tossed it aside. "Let's go, she has already crossed the western border crossing."

"It is almost as if she is trying to stay out of arm's reach." Mitsuhide teased.

"No. She is trying to get home on her own. She probably doesn't even suspect that we are here, let alone, this close to her."

"Not close anymore." Kiki pointed out.

"What could she be up to?" Mitsuhide asked no one in particular.