WOW. It has been some time. Ok, its been a lot more than that. This chapter has been super tough to write. I've honestly been working on this since my last update in March. I really wanted to get this out and I'm working hard to finish up the next chapter, because when classes start I have no idea when I'll get the opportunity to work on this. But I want to thank everyone who has favorited/followed/reviewed and continues to enjoy my story here.

And with that, please enjoy the newest chapter here.

xoxo

MorningWhispers

Several hours had passed since Shiori had set out on her journey, by this time the sun was high in the sky. Only having past a handful of individuals along her path, not that any of them would have noticed her. While she did keep close to the trail, enough that it remained in her sight through the brush, she made her journey adjacent to the path in the thickness of the trees.

Being of short stature and a woman made her a target.

That being said, navigating through the thicket was exhausting. Though better that than encountering bandits.

While minding sparse bushes and avoiding thick roots, Shiori kept a fast pace. Even with the ever-growing distance from the village, she maintained her pace. One reason being that of the bandits, the sooner she arrived in Ootori the better.

The next reason, while doubtful, were those pesky bodyguards she had left behind.

There was no way they would venture outside the village for one troublesome girl…especially one who was refusing their aide.

Right?

Whatever her concerns, she had to press on. There were at least three days that separated Konoha from Ootori. While she was grateful to get away from the village, she could not leave her shop unattended for very long.

A lite growl interrupted her thoughts, and reminded her of her companion.

Despite his recent injuries, he'd been rather energetic so far on their journey. Shiori worried how he'd fare out in the wilds, however he was doing much better herself. But, now with the sudden change in his attitude, was a cause for alarm for the blonde.

Then she heard it. The reason for his distress.

In the near distance, a commotion. A series of shrieks and crashes, followed by the onset of yelling. Maybe half a mile—all that separated Shiori and whatever bedlam lay in her path.

With a shrug, she slid her satchel off her shoulder. Hastily she shimmied it down her waist. The moment it hit the forest floor, her hand scurried inside in search of a map. Once her fingertips felt the parchment, she ripped it from its cloth confines and unfolded it. Her eyes scanned the markings and layout of the region, searching for a new route.

Circumstances as they were, there was no way she could risk going past them.

It took just a minute for her to find her location, the shade from the treetops hindering her sight. Once she found it, she widened her scope to see the next best route. For once luck was on her side—there was a bridge. And close to that stood a village. This would put her a day behind schedule, but at least she'd make it to Ootori in one piece.

There was one hindering factor in her new plan. A number of dry brush covered her immediate path. If she tried to cross it, those up ahead would surely be alerted to her presence. Shiori would have to advance towards the commotion, diverting at the last moment towards the bridge.

It was risky, but there was no other option.

Shiori folded her map back up and placed it beneath the cloth. However, before she readjusted her satchel—her hand found its way around her knife. Try as she might to avoid conflict, she couldn't move forward without being armed. Not that she'd stand much chance in a fight, but it might help her avoid one.

Now there was no more time to delay. She had a plan and a blade. Now she just needed the courage to take the first step.

Lucky for her, Beru led the way. His body hopped between clear patches in the brush. While he did this easily, Shiori struggled following after him. The difference in their size differentiating the difficulty of the task. Shiori managed to avoid the low hanging branches and twigs in her path, though they wouldn't leave her unscathed. They harshly grazed against her ankles, several managing to break the skin.

Shiori grit her teeth through the pain. While she did not make a sound, she felt as though every movement would lead to her discovery. Every step she took, each shallow breath that escaped her lips, and every time she bat her lash. For every second she wasn't found out, she counted her blessings.

One more step forward, then another, as she slowly progressed through the brush. However, soon she was faced with another hurdle. While trying to avoid the dry brush, her path led straight to a rock formation. Glancing to the sides, not only was the formation wide, the brush was thick and trapped her. Shiori could have doubled back and searched for another route, but a cry in the distance quickly dismissed that thought.

The formation wasn't very large, perhaps about eight feet tall. There were several indents and leverages she could use to climb. Now normally she wouldn't have any problem climbing it, but there were certain factors that would inhibit the process. The first being that her immobile arm, the other her companion.

That didn't make it impossible, just exceptionally difficult.

She tugged her collar, loosening her shirt. Then she scooped up Beru in her arm and slid him into her shirt. She had him lay over her shoulder, before tightening her shirt. Then she slid her satchel to secure him. Beru panted heavily against her ear, his breath tickling her neck.

She placed her foot on a ledge, then reached for a nook. It barely raised from the rest of the surface, however just gave the blonde enough leverage to continue on. Her grip tightened while her right leg search for a foothold to support her. After finding one, she rested some of her weight onto it as to test its strength. Once she was sure that it'd support her, she pushed herself up. Focusing her weight forward and pushing her body into the rock. Her face roughly pinned against the surface, contorted in a mix of desperation and pain.

With her new height, she spun her hand around from its nook. Fingers switching with her palm to provide better leverage. Her opposite leg floated over the formation to find another holding. Several times tripping, but with her unyielding resolve managed to find one. At a tedious pace, and with several footfalls threatening to end it all, she managed to make it.

Her torso fell on top of the formation, and with one finally push Shiori rolled the rest of her body to the surface. She tried to muffle the heavy breathing, however her lungs were desperate for air. Her heart thundered against her ribcage. Exhaustion was taking hold of her body, all she wanted was to lay in that spot. Despite the sharp rocks digging into her back, she could have stayed there forever.

But a crash interrupted her thoughts. Louder than anything previous, closer than previous. Turning her head to see the source, only to come to a gut wrenching truth. While progressing through the brush had brought her close to the very thing she was trying to avoid.

The brush had thinned out before the rock formation, so much that Shiori could see the road. In a brief glance she could see a wagon blocking the majority of the road, however surrounded by several individuals. With little deduction, she assumed them to be the bandits she had been warned of. Immediately she shimmied further away, concealing her body.

Shiori was so close, she could hear the very words they were speaking.

Men demanding and yelling.

Another pleading.

And a woman crying.

Shiori couldn't turn around to see anymore, she looked forward to the path she had to take. Beru growled against her ear, she stroked his fur trying to calm him. Trying to keep him quiet. Looking a head, the rock formation had leveled at the top with the ground. Trees and bushes had thinned out, making it easy to transverse through the forest.

Beru crawled out from her shirt and trotted a bit in front of her. She tightened her shirt and realigned her sash. Her body felt drained, she had no energy to continue. But, she had to. And that's all there was to it.

Another cry interrupted her thoughts. Different from the ones previous. A screech that echoed throughout the forest, cutting through the blonde. Instinctively, Shiori glanced back to see despite her better judgment.

One of the burly men fought against the woman, tearing something away from her arms. The cries continued to grow with the struggle. Irritated, the man slammed his knee into the woman's gut. She gasped before falling to her knees. With her down though, Shiori could finally make out what she was holding. It was so obvious why the woman had been defiant.

In his arms, held captive, was her child. A toddler who had witnessed her mother being attacked. Scared and confused the child cried louder that before, an almost impossible feat. The bandit winced at her cries, and with each passing second grew more irritated by the sound.

Shiori looked to the path ahead. It was so feasible to slip away, ignored by the commotion down below. No one would ever know she was there.

Except herself.

Could she really live with herself knowing she had just past them by. Though its not like she could do much to help them.

Another shriek cut right through her.

Shiori couldn't do it. Rather she had to.

Taking her knife, she slid the blade across the cloth over her thigh. Effectively slicing the fabric, leaving her leg bare. Down one hand, she tucked her knife between her teeth while she worked. She slid the cloth down her leg and over her sandal. With that she took the ends and brought them together in her palm, creating a sling. Then her hand searched shakily for ammunition for her weapon, finding three sharp rocks. She could barely fit them in her hand, regardless she fumbled them into her opposite hand. Her free arm would hold the sling, while her injured one held the rocks.

Shiori turned around, laying on her belly to observe the scene below. While she wanted to aim for the one holding the child, she couldn't risk injuring her. Besides the one who appeared to be calling the shots stood much closer, even with the sling there was only so far she throw.

The man she sought stood of to the side. Not directly harming the travellers, but watching their turmoil with empty eyes. While smaller than his companions, a dangerous atmosphere seeped from his presence. It was difficult to explain, yet Shiori knew in her gut that she need to take him out. Or rather…at least make the attempt.

She set the stone in her sling, carefully so it wouldn't fall. With a few short swings she started to build a momentum to carry the stone. Once she got it to the right speed, she loosened her grip on the cloth. The stone flew from its confines landing straight towards its destination…a tree trunk. It landed with a distinct thud.

Shiori's heart sunk, fearing they must have heard her. However, the people down below were too occupied to realize. She still had a chance. Another stone went into the sling, and again she started with a small swing. Getting it up to full speed, this pacing herself and aiming carefully for her target.

With a quick exhalation, she released the cloth. Sending the stone flying.

This time hitting her target. Smack dead in the temple. At the impact his head whipped to the side. Shiori immediately reloaded her weapon. With a few short, powerful swings she build the momentum back up. But as quickly as she worked up the speed, it came to a dead stop.

Because when the time came for her to chose another target, she realized she had been discovered. Frigid, black eyes glared into her own. Shiori felt numb, and everything around her blurred. The commotion down below, the sound of her stone falling to the ground disappeared. All she could hear was the thundering of her heart.

"Boys" He shouted, gaining the attention of his men. The very sound snapping the blonde from her daze.

"Looks like someone else want to play" At his words, his subordinates turned their head to meet the source of his gaze. As dozens of eyes turned on Shiori, she spun on her heel and dashed into the forest. Her sling fell to the floor, quickly replaced by the blade she kept between her lips. She could hear their shouts and grunts as they scaled the rock formation.

Beru sprinted in front of her, leading the way throw the forest. While the brush had certainly cleared up from before, it was still difficult for most people to traverse. Thanks to her short stature, it proved easy. Unfortunately for her pursers, they would have trouble getting through.

Regardless, Shiori didn't let up on her haste. The forest could only help her so much. Her knees rose to her chest and slammed back down on the dirt, propelling her forward. She kept her free arm close to her chest, tightly gripping her knife. Her lungs ached, her breathing wild.

The sound of branches breaking and annoyed grunts seemed to grow louder and louder with each passing second. Compelling Shiori to run faster, faster than she ever had. She watched Beru's body dash through a bush, vanishing from her sight. She couldn't stop, and barreled straight through the bush.

Her heel snagged on the branches, dragging her body down. Panicked, she clawed her way through the bush. Tugging on braches in an attempt to pull her body out. She fell face first onto the ground. Before giving her body a chance to rest, she rolled to her side and stood right up. She couldn't lose her momentum; it would almost guarantee death.

Frantically she turned her head, searching for her dog. Only now realizing that she had broken through the forest. The tree line stood just a few feet behind her, in front of her now was a steep chasm. Beru let out a bark, allowing Shiori to find not only her companion but the path to her escape as well.

The bridge.

Not very sturdy in appearance, in that it was only suspended by rope. However, given the area was desolate as it was, it was fortunate there was even a bridge at all. Even so, this rope bridge would make the best escape.

Her muscles ached and her breathe was shallow. Regardless Shiori sprinted towards the bridge. She could hear her pursuer gaining on her, they would soon break the tree line. While some might have been hesitant crossing, Shiori bolted across. The bridge swayed at the impact of its passenger. Her pace was forced to slow as her body was thrown to the side of the bridge. Frustrated, she walked with haste trying to make her escape.

More than half way across, she felt a shift in the bridge. With dread she glanced over her shoulder. There on the other side, two men took the first few steps. They glared sinisterly at the blonde, but Shiori quickly turned her attention away from them. Past them, their companions were gradually breaking through the tree line.

The bridge rocked, forcing Shiori to tear her attention away from the men. The two already on the bridge, they had begun to rush after her. With long strides they were quickly making their way across. She might've been able to run to the other side, with the men's weight it would've fought the swaying. But she was too tired, her adrenaline gone. Her legs wanted so desperately to give, but regardless she kept making her way.

She was just in reach of the other side, just as her pursuers were in reach of her. Without looking, she knew they were just a few feet behind herself. Even if she reached the other side, they'd surely have her.

But an idea popped into her head. Something that could save her life, or end it. Though one scenario gave her a chance, the other just guaranteed death. Well if she had to go, she might as well not make it easy for them.

Her knife sliced through the handle of the bridge, before throwing herself onto the ground at the edge. Quickly she flipped her body over to look back. Of her two immediate pursuers, only one remained dangling from the side of the bridge. He stared back, a hateful expression consuming his face. To her horror, she watched as he picked his hand up and moved it along the rope. He was continuing to make his way towards her.

Her hand still clutched the blade and when she saw his hand move closer to her, she swiped right through the rope he held. One moment there was a hand, the next it was gone. Along with the man it belonged to. As they were both consumed by the chasm below.

Before a relieved sigh could escape her lips, Shiori continued to cut all the remaining ropes. She made quick work of the bottom one, and drove her knife into the last. The blade pierced into the post it had been secured by.

Now she was safe, her body slumped against the post in exhaustion. Her chest heaved with ragged breath. With each blink, her eyes struggled to stay open.

Her tired ears peaked at the commotion across the former bridge. With her vision growing hazy, she could make out the rest of the bandits gathering on the other side. Some had made it onto the bridge after her, however they were lucky enough to keep hold of the severed rope. Now they were slowly working their way back up.

However, one specifically caught her attention. The man she had identified as their leader. He was too far to make out any sort of expression, but she wasn't far enough to escape his malicious aura.

She wanted to keep running. To get as far away from them as she could.

To press on to Ootori.

But there was nothing left in her to go on.

There was only her overwhelming need to sleep, and her body surrendered.