AN: If you see any w or ds th at lo ok li ke thi s...The documents were messing up, I'm sorry.
LATE AGAIN :D
enjoy!
That waking up thing went somewhat better than expected. Naruto didn't have the guts to check on his wounds.
So, he opted for pushing on his bandages until he felt a bit better about it.
Naruto opened his eyes and saw that it was nighttime, around three o' clock, judging from the Big Dipper positioning.
An orange glow from the edge of his visit on drew his eyes to the left.
The fire had dimmed down to a mere ash and coals, the last embers occasionally lit up and smouldered, leaving a light glow. Rivulets of heat danced over the coals in a brilliant orange shimmer.
Yes, the flames are hypnotic.
Naruto gradually pulled himself upward. He trusted that they'd been given a couple days until Sasuke figured out where they were going, so he had a small amount of time to spare. Revide was laying close to the dying fire and Alden was still sitting. Naruto presumed the griffon had gotten some form of rest, so he brushed that worry off to the side.
Menma was curled on his side polar opposite of Revide. He was no doubt sleeping off the effects of his first flight.
It's simple knowledge among all life for ms. Antelope do not fly, Eagles do not swim. Human bodies were not built or meant to soar.
He'd heard rumors that if you went too high, it messed with your bones. Also if you stayed in the air too long, it messed over your equilibrium for weeks. Perhaps Menma would enjoy the ground a bit more.
Naruto sat up and stretched as far as his bandaging would allow and then placed his hands at his sides. His half-coat still unfurled and the strands of threading were still sitting off to th some where. He'd retrieve those here in a minute.
Gently, he pulled his left knee toward his chest, slowly. If he put too much strain, the bandages would snap open and give them much less time for traversing.
As expected, the bandages wouldn't let him bend his knees fully, he had to hunch in order to even get his toes off the ground. He wondered if the bandages tightened? The soap could've stiffened, or the bandages might've been made out of cotton, which tightens when dry.
Naruto gradually pushed himself off of the ground, he had to bend his back in order for the bandaging not to suffocate him, his hands dangling almost limply to his knees. Naruto scanned the area again, looking for the leather stringlets. He spied them, laying a few feet away from the fire. Naruto paced over to them, find that if he bent his knees slightly, he could move a b it faster. He bent down slightly and picked up the threading, arms closer to the ground. Naruto began X- Threading the strings again, chewing on one of the sides to better lever age until the knot was secured.
Revide was rousing from her rest, the sound of Naruto must've stirred her. Naruto watched and stifled his laughter when she began bending backwards, her spine making a complete 'C' shape. She opened her mouth and let out the shrillest yawn Naruto had ever heard. He rose an eyebrow when she curled back over into another 'C' shape. Revide pushed her self upwards, resting on her front paws, cracking open her eyes, then falling back down.
She then dragged her body upward then shook out, her wings extending as far as they could go and then floppily resting at her sides. She gave Naruto a SOUR look before drowsily scanning the clearing for Alden .
Alden, on the other hand, was curled up stiffly on the semi-edge of the clearing. His breathing was even and a serious glare made itself at home on his sleeping face. Revide sluggishly made her way to her companion, she glared at him before nudging his skull with her beak. Alden somberly roused and blinked at the feminine griffon before pushing himself upward.
Unlike Revide, he managed to walk a few meters without flopping back down to the dirt...
Until he rammed face-first into a nearby tree.
Naruto snickered at the groggy animal be fore checking around the clearing for Menma, wherever the paranoid guy may be.
Menma was sleeping on the opposite side of the dying flames, Naruto understood that he didn't see the counterpart when he first woke up, the fire was guarding his vision. Naruto hobbled over and prodded Menma with his toe until the counterpart was roused enough to wake up on his own. Menma stiffened, then pulled himself off of the ground.
"You're up?" Menma asked while rubbing his eyes. He stood up fully and blinked a way the fuzzy vision and refused the instinct to close his eyes back.
"Yup."
"Why're you," Menma said when his vision came back in the clear. "Hunching?"
Naruto waved Menma off and let his hands fall back down before explaining. "Bandages stiffened, don't worry about it." He could tell that Menma wanted to ask and adjust them but was restraining him self. "Maa maa, we won't waste the bandages on me, what if you get cut up at some point?"
Menma glowered at Naruto through the sleep, his brain slowly processing the information and evaluating why Naruto was right.
"Fff-ine." Menma muttered and stretched. He looked around the clearing, checking the area where he'd just been sleeping. Surely enough, there was the half-coat he'd been leaving to dry out next to the fire.
He crouched over and tested it, mildly damp, nothing, what wouldn't dry within next couple of hours, the wind would take care of. He looked back see Naruto picking up the abandoned pouch of supplies, he motioned for Revide to come over and began strapping on the supply bag. Checking to see if there was anything missing, besides the obvious dent in the medical supplies, all was well, even the fox statuette.
"I haven't slept like that for a long time." Menma muttered, the Uchiha castle w as far from his preferred sleeping conditions, leaving him more exhausted then he had realized. He threaded the stri ngs through and tied the knots before making his way to Alden.
The griffon watched Menma with a sour, sleepy expression while standing straighter. Menma began re-tightening the saddle and testing it, making sure it wouldn't slip clean off.
He then glanced back at the fire, it was smaller, but it needed to be put out all the same. He walked over to it, the heat repelling him with every step. Menma peered from overhead, lightly dodging an y cinders and ashes that permeated the span. Menma huffed at the fire and bravely stuck his hand in.
As expected, the flames didn't burn, like a barrier of air separated the heat from his skin and clothing from all heat .
Menma CAREFULLY touched one of the small logs, grasping the deteriorated material. He picked it up, charcoal smearin gl oves and crumbling in his grasp. He picked up another log, stood up, an his way to the water.
He placed the log in the water, it hissed and screamed at him, popping in protest. He picked up the small log and chucked it into the deeper portion of the river, watching as the lifeless log sunk far below the surface, he presumed a black smog trailed downriver from the charcoal .
He rinsed and repeated, throwing every log and stick from the pit into the rivers.
Sure, there was a blatant black spot in the clearing, but at least they wouldn't be spotted from overheard.
When Menma returned to the area, Naruto was already on Revide, ready to go. Menma sighed, not quite ready to face nausea all over again. Slowly, he walked to Alden and hoisted himself upward. He tied the straps to his legs, bounded and locked his fists into the rings.
"It gets better after the first few flights." Naruto said and ruffled Revides fur.
"I disagree." Menma muttered and fastened his pouch a tad tighter. After a few moments of thinking, Naruto clicked his tongue and his ride shot off the ground.
Menma followed after, the dizzy sensation capturing his brain and caused him to shift in his seat, as Alden ascended. He now understood, flying creatures cannot suspend themselves, rather slowly go downward via cushioning of the winds. is a thing he would tell his bandsmen.
It helped that it was at night, so he couldn't SEE the ground. Menma stiffened his hold on the loops when Alden reached floating point.
"Nights are usually calmer, the days crazy wind patterns normally die down." Naruto said and banked to the left. "A weather observer knows a bit more about that hot air cold air stuff. " He said an scratched the back of his head. Menma nodded.
"The Raisog..." He said out loud. He couldn't properly see the landscape, the clouds hovering low and sucking away most of the moonlight. Menma quickly thought about the time and realized it was probably about a quarter moon. "How will we know when we get there?"
"Like I said last night, it's rumored to be a pretty glittery landscape. Something about crystals and markets." Naruto said and kept his eyes planted ahead. " Wanna hear the history?"
"How do you know the history? I thought it was hermit-like? But yeah, tell all." Menma said and Alden bounced in the air, pitchy currents.
"I've read about it here and there." Nar uto said with a snicker. "But yes, the Raisog was actually a gem mine." Naruto cleared his throat. "A big dispute around Nocht and Bisk was about 'who gets the land?'. Eventually, a few groups of the two merged and claimed the mine as their own, markets shot up from near the mines and ever since then it's been a big shebang with trading."
"Ah, will there be anything familiar?"
"Not knowing. I've heard that Raisog is a pretty friendly place, maybe we can get some food or something there..." As if on cue, both stomachs rumbled, it didn't mean they were hungry, just that certain portions of the stomach were empty . " Eh..heh heh. Yeah, I just remembered ." Naruto scratched the back of his neck.
"We should carry the statuette with us at all times." Menma said and eyed Narutos pouch. "I would know."
"Rivaling groups?" Naruto said and patted the pouch.
"Something sort of like that, but not quite." Menma said and observed the mountain chains.
"I see." Naruto said and pointed ahead. "We'll keep flying in this route, the chain makes a hard loop for around twenty miles," Naruto said and pointed to the westerly north. "When we see it, we'll cross over to the other side and fly lower ." Naruto pulled his hand back and waited for Menmas approval.
"Sure, Mister Tourist Guide." He chuffed and continued to fly straight, Alden flapped his wings. Somewhere, the moon peaked out of the heavy clouds.
"Yeah, yeah." Naruto said and Menma could HEAR the blond rolling his eyes. "The only reason it's so cloudy is because of these trees, they make it so flipping moist and humid." Naruto went on about how it was a much more complex situation, scientifically, that is.
Menma was impressed.
Naruto did a lot of research and was very intelligent as far as how this climate worked, not just the climate, but all the surrounding areas as well. Definitely Prince and royalty material.
Menma listened as he went on to describe the way these trees worked, telling of how the sap came into play, how it was flammable, the effect it had on the tree, how it mattered to all of the carbonn dioxide and oxygen release, and made the air humid.
Such a brain, when given the opportunity .
Eventually, they would get out of the haze and let the moon guide them. Naruto finished with a small inhale. Menma hummed, mulling over the information. "When did you take the time to learn all of this?"
"When one wants to escape, he checks on every area around him." Naruto said with a flick of his hair. "The libraries are a bit shabby in the palace, nevertheless, I learned from the traders when I was 'taken out' to the streets." Naruot leaned on his ride, shifting his hips slightly to look at Menma. "You'd be amazed how a few drinks loosen some tongues, such a nice group of people." Naruto said with a tone that Menma knew was implying mischief.
"Sour folks, I presume?" Menma prodded slyly.
"Nah, just men away from their families, trying to make a living." Naruto said cheekily and turned around on his ride. Menma was taken aback. True, many traders were simply there for the money. But he hadn't really looked at it like that , it was their job... True, some just did it because it was a simple job...but wow. He didn't think about it like that.
Naruto took on a different perspective, making Menma feel...kind of bad.
As they continued to fly, Menma noticed his clothes were nearly dry, he smirked in triumph over moisture.
Alden seemed to be flying rather well in these conditions, his fur/feathers was a tad bit moist, but other than that, he seemed to be OK. Menma slouched, lettin g his hand grace Aldens neck. The griffon became tense, but Menma ran his hand over the neck and retracted slowly. He somewhat liked the grumpy bird, even it would take several more months to establish a connection with him, Menma valued the animal. They'd escaped together, wasn't that in itself powerful enough?
He sat straighter, and watched the horizon. Or...at least what he could see of the horizon.
The trees passed under him, like staring at the sharp end of a pencil and placing it back down on the paper. The ground seemed cavernous, dark and depthless. At this height, it was hard to make out if there even was a ground, the trees swayed and remained firmly anchored in place, tell-tale signs that there was indeed earth. He silently marveled at how a new perspective made all the difference.
Such an amazing sight.
Naruto was faithfully watching the edge of the clouds, glancing at the mountain chain not too far from where they were gliding. Soon, within the next fifteen minutes they'd be crossing over to the other side of the chain. After that, glide lower. He had no idea if there was any civilization along the next miles, so he' d have to keep an eye on the trees.
From this point, the moonlight was edging closer. Making it seem as if half the world was blanketed in black, the other a slivery turquoise.
"So tell me, Menma." Naruto said after a few minutes. Menma lazily replied with a 'hm'. "What did you learn first, when you became a thief?"
Menma fumbled with the edges of his memory, it felt long ago, though only around three years. He considered the first heist, first sale, and trade. There we re so many important parts and elements , he wasn't sure what Naruto wante know...
"I... Depends."
"You've already told me about how they set things up for a heist and how it's brought out. What are the core things?" Na ruto said with a very casual tone, he was being broad.
And it was confusing the tar out of Menma.
"Core things of what?" Menma asked, the way Naruto was asking the questions, slowly biting at his brain.
"Anything."
Menmas jaw jutted to the side, a contorted frown, if you would. "We have several overseers, a group of spies for gathering intel, I'm not really sure what you want to understand." He thought for a moment. "The overseers make sure that every one on a certain heist get an equal amount of pay, they make sure that we all stick together and no one gets too rowdy. The spies...I'm not in that faction..I wouldn't know..."
"I see." Naruto hummed. "I guess I'll have to learn more when we get to the base ."
"It's a complicated set up that would take longer to explain, it'd be better if you SAW it." Menma figured Naruto was asking him so broadly, to get under his skin. Why? "Stop asking such broad questions."
Naruto snickered. "I had a feeling it was complicated, couldn't resist." Menma rose an eyebrow. "Either way, we'll be hitting the curve here in around ten minutes."
"How high will we fly after that?" Menmas mind kicked into working gear on instinct.
"Low, gracing the treetops. I suspect if we need to go lower, we'll walk. At this pace, we should reach the Raisog by around five to six o' clock." Naruto said and immediately shifted into guiding and directing mode. He leaned to the right and Revide banked at the sudden rock of weight.
The smog gradually faded at the far off areas, the mountains shot upward in heig ht, curving into the distance under the moon.
"How is the air over there?" Menma asked and his eyes opened wider in alarm.
"Thin, the mountains are all like that, the air is harder to breath the higher u p you go. That's just how it is." Naruto shrugged. "If we can slip over the half circle in under a minute, we'll be good to go ." Naruto said.
"Why don't we just cross over now?" Menm a asked. "The mountains are low enough now..." Menma said with a 'are-you-even -s ure?' voice.
"Go up a little higher." Naruto said and waved him off. Menma frowned and pulled Aldens harness upward. The more they climbed the harder it was to breath, the air stung his lungs with the lack of oxygen. When he got high enough to actually go over, the air threatened to make him pass out. He leaned downward, clutchi ng his chest.
"Yeaaah." Naruto said apologetically. "There's a small dip at the curve, where we can get by a bit better than passing out."
"Alright, gotcha." Menma said when the water pulled at the edge of his eyes.
"Oh and," Naruto started, catching the wheezing boys eye. "You fly lower than me , since you have the least chance of not passing out."
"...Sure." Menma nodded. Naruto acted as if he was going to die or something. Naruto chuckled as Menma began to hack some more. "Altitude sickness, cute experience, no?"
"Yeah..." Menma growled into the sleeve of his arm. "Frickin' adorable." Naruto snickered.
The pair slowly made their way toward the dip. Just as Naruto said, there was a lower portion in the chain, like someone had taken a giant cannonball and made a huge half-circle.
"Get under me." Naruto said quickly, Menma chewed his cheek at the order, but ducked under Revide nonetheless.
Menma leaned down on Alden, crouching like you would in a horserace, but still guiding the large griffon with a swerve . He made sure to keep around ten feet between him and Revide.
Above, Naruto was aiming for that dip, they were approaching the curve at a faster rate now. Good.
A minute and seven seconds later, they were about to ascend the 9000 feet limit , Naruto made the next verbal command.
"Hold your breath, if we do this right, it should only take twelve seconds!" And Revide began her ascent, flapping her small wings as fast as she could. Menma inhaled as fast as he could, tugged hard on the leather and Alden pumped his wings.
According to earlier, the 300 feet they were about to ascend was highly dangerous and certain sickness was the cause of many flights.
At least, that's what Naruto explain last night.
Indeed, he was already wishing Alden would go faster. True, he could run for extended amounts of time, but this was miserable.
Gradually, he saw the rack formation change, and the half-circle become closer and closer.
Taking forever!
He considered exhaling, but immediately reconsidered after remembering those woozy hours sleeping, like he wanted to go through that again...
He glanced at Alden, who was already showing signs of exhaustion, the griffon wasn't doing anything for Menma. Alden w as doing this because he wanted to bre at h easy again. Menma clutched his hea d as t he vision became fuzzy and his h rai ned into unwelcomed warmth.
Menma glanced above, Naruto was nearly clear, he was ascending a few more feet to give Menma the much needed room to pass over. Menma urged Alden to go faster, the griffon flapped his wings even harder and slowly hovered over the edge. He didn't even need a command to know that Menma was getting short of air, too .
Menma exhaled as the griffon dipped down and let gravity do the work. He inhaled and didn't need to see behind him that Naruto was following.
He inhaled the sweet air, as the light headedness and fuzzy heat slowly faded in to clear.
It was then, that he realized how fast they were descending. In mild panic, he tugged on the leather.
Menma presumed that Alden was rolling his eyes and slowly began to glide over fast-approaching forests. Naruto made his way next to Menma, cheekily grinning . The previously-panicking-Menma sighed and groaned.
"If given the option, I'm never flying after all this is over." He sighed and massaged his left temple.
Naruto just smiled.
Menma returned his gaze back to the fore st, and watched in newfound awe as they passed under the clouds. The moon illuminated every bit of what he could see, washing every surface in an unfamiliar blue and black.
Sure he'd seen the colors before, but not like this. Every tree made blue and black, glowing with the lack of focus in the human eye.
The wind tousled his hair, bit hard on his exposed skin... but he didn't mind so much.
Menma smiled at the clash of color, happy that the clouds were gone.
They descended after that, treetops only about 300 feet below them.
They spent the next twenty minutes in silence, happy to be alive.
When the colors began to mold and mesh into each other, making Menma a tad bit sleepy, the edge of the sky began to get a bit brighter.
Menma shook his head in disbelief, the earlier things made him more tired than what he should've been, plus the whole thoroughly demolished sleeping pattern made him even more tired.
Shiny sun promises weren't helping.
Menma still scanned the edges along the horizon, looking for those lights that screamed "HEY SHOPS".
But, not many signs of the tents...or something like that, or those kind found in Asian areas.
Oooh, was that it!?
No.
Gosh, he was getting tired, needed to clear his head, or something like that.
Naruto was above him, again, a look that told Menma he was deep in thought. Maybe about his parents, maybe about Sasuke, who knows?
Menma inwardly grumbled.
Of course he was thinking about his pare nts. Menma sighed, either getting bored or tired.
Ugh, he hadn't been this bad since his very first time on the sea.
Blegh.
Naruto on the other hand, (Menma would never know it until two years later) was also actually very bored.
Sure he liked trees, but maybe he underestimated the length it would be from the dip chain to the Rasiog?
Ooh, was that a squirrel?
No.
Menma found himself idly dozing off, desperately needing some form of occupation before he slept completely.
That would be bad.
Having a large human body on your back and not knowing it was sleeping when that's what you wanted to do in the first place.
Yeah, he was getting tired.
"Naruto." Menma began, knowing exactly w hat he was going to say this time. "Are all flights this draggish after the first hour or so?"
"If you aren't impaled, running for life, engaging in dogfights, in a flight competition, dropping gas bombs, or dodging another griffon, then yes." Naruto responded, Menma rolled his eyes.(1) " Travel by air is pretty boring after the first few hours..." Naruto trailed off, looki ng to the side before grinning .
"But come on!" Naruto said and Revide bumped feathers with Alden, throwing the over-focused two off. "You aren't doing really much of anything with him!"
"Eh?" Menma said and Alden tilted in flight to get back some space.
"Oh gosh..." Naruto said and closed his eyes. "You are FLYING, did it not cross you mind that this is also for fun?" Menma gave Naruto a sour look. "Do you want to learn some of the maneuvers?"
"Maneuvers?" Menma said.
"Yeah! Don't tell me in all your days that you've never seen an airshow?" Naruto said loudly.
"You seem to often forget that we come from totally differing climates..." Menma said and scratches the back of his head Alden chuffed beneath him.
"Oh, right." A few moments of silence pass. Griffons would suffocate in the heat . "But still! Aren't there like, huge bats or something there?"
"Have fun taming them."
"Chech, do you wanna learn some flight techniques or not?" Naruto said and shook his hair.
"Aren't we supposed to be on a trip?"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Do you learn about that ship thingy called tacking while sailing?" (2)
"Yes but-"
"Then fly with me! I'll teach you so much about this!" Naruto interjected and waved his hands around. Menma sighed and thought 'why not'.
"Fine. But I ain't getting out of this seat-" Menma shook his head while pointing to the leather straps.
"That's only for skilled maniacs like me." Naruto stuck his thumb to chest, making sure that his point was to get across .
Menma sighed. "Alright, what's the first 'move'?" He said and pulled his hands a way from the leather.
"The first on is traditionally called 'the barrel roll', God help me if you actually call it that, I will hit you." Naruto said before closing his eyes and inhaling. "It's actually called an "Aileron", it's good for beginners, because it's rarely used."
"Wait, if we never use it, why learn it? " Menma said with a frown.
"Because it's simple and basic. Helps us get the gist of turning. ." Naruto said while moving his arms around. "It used to be a move to dodge arrows from other riders, if shot at from behind. We don't use many arrows, relying heavily on magic and such, that's why."
"They say the Bar- ahaha, Aileron was used to dodge shots from the front?"
"Uncultured idiots." Naruto said and shook his head. Menma nodded slowly. "I want Alden to perform the Aileron, act as if you were going to actually roll off of him."
"...Take that out of context."
"Shut up..." Naruto responded, he thought about it for a moment..."You make it sound like I'm gonna kill you, imagine it like you're opening a wine bottle...only horizontal..."
"Hmm. I think I understand."
"Pick a spot on the horizon, if you do a full 360, it should alternate from side ways, upside, sideways, normal." Naruto said and pulled back with Revide. "Let me act like I'mna hit you."
Menma watched as Naruto fell back, he swallowed, fully awake now. He wasn't quite ready, but who's ever ready?
Naruto rose up around 300 feet, Revide slowly flapping her wings, then dived to Menma.
Menma just sat there watching for one too many seconds until he realized he was going to be a sitting duck. Cursing, he tried to make Alden roll, forgetting everything about watching the horizon.
He didn't make the roll, Only performing a thing that made Alden tilt at 90 degrees. The saddle shifted under and Narut o shot next to them, going faster than w h at Menma liked to consider safe.
Revide shot upward with the leftover momentum.
Menma scowled when Naruto made another dive, he wasn't going to miss it this time! He ignored the rapidly approaching griffon and picked a point along the horizon, wrenching his weight to the left side.
This time, he did roll, yanking on the leather when the horizon flipped back to normal.
He snarled and pulled Alden a little higher than before, he'd get the hang of this. Revide was going to dive again, this time he could hear her chirping from a distance, and used this to judge t he proper roll.
He'd get this!
When she made her way back to him, Menma shifted his weight far to the left and Alden rolled. He felt that the correct roll was done this time, Alden actually moved to the side, like sliding.
When he came up, he saw Naruto smile at him, mischievously. Alden snorted, Menma made him ascend and descend in a confusing matter.
Hope they had fun getting close to them, this go around.
"Heh, I'd say I'm enjoying this."
They continued this pattern, Revide bulleting past them with speeds that would've knocked even Alden off regular, Alden barely dodging with clumsy rolling, Revide shooting upward and repeating the whole dizzying process.
He was insanely happy when Naruto and Revide finally pulled up to an easy glide next to them.
"Hey, rider." Naruto grinned cheekily. " How do you think you are?"
Menma sighed, still slightly off. "To a certain degree, good, on a beginner leve l."
"Ha! I figured you would learn with repetition! I would've clipped you the first two times, but I could tell!" Naruto took another breath. "You were beginning to judge my speeds, and anticipate the movements!" Naruto said with a big grin. " You do pretty well, even if it's not really your first time!"
"Thanks..." Menma said, stunned. He liked getting compliments from him.
Naturally because he was a complete opposite of Naruto.
Naruto never missed a beat with his own speech.
"We might do some more moves after we're finished at the shops." Naruto said and scratched his head, chuckling. "That is, if you want to...eheh.." His eyes slid to the side before closing.
"Oh, uh, I'll cross that bridge when we get there." Menma said when he realized he was supposed to reply, then harshly scolded himself on the inside at how stupid he sounded.
"Alright." Naruto said and immediately went back to scanning the horizon. Menma followed his gaze.
Even those couple of minutes spent seemed to make time go by a bit faster, he didn't even know how many extra miles they'd covered because of it.
When five o' clock finally rolled around , and the sky began turning gray, they could finally see some small lights at the horizon.
Naruto sighed in relief, he was beginning to think that he calculated wrong. He smiled at the success, truth be told, he was worried it wouldn't work.
He spent two months in the libraries learning about the landscapes, the cultures, he went to several volunteer classes, all to learn about this landscape (and how to escape it).
"You see those small lights over there?" Naruto said and pointed at the twinkling lights.
"Yeah..." Menma said and followed the line of sight. A thought of precaution crossed him. "We should land a quarte mile away from them, to avoid suspicion ." Menma said and brought a hand to his face .
"Something you would say, Menma." Naruto said. A moment passed before an idea crossed him.
"Oh another thing," Naruto said and Menm a tilted his head to Naruto. "Speaking of precaution," Naruto said with a smirk and patted his pocket. "I have the necklace ready in case we see anyone I know from the palace."
"..." Menma pulled his hand away and wondered if the mask was in Narutos pouch.
Naruto grinned. "In case we have to keep up our little act, Master." Naruto said sarcastically and snickered. He pulled out one of the jade pieces .
"Shut it, Slave." Menma said and turned his head away f rom Naruto, he really didn't want to sh o w that he was trying hard not to snicker.
"Heh." Naruto pushed the sliver back into the pocket. "But seriously, if we do see someone I know, what're you gonna tell them?" Naruto said with a sly tint and Menma looked back to the lights. Naruto smiled mischievously, the guy was seriously lacking in crude humor. Seriously too much fun to toy with.
"Hm." Menma huffed and resumed staring at the lights at the horizon. Naruto was bringing this topic up. Frickin' tease. "I'll be that rugged guy who rents out pretty people for a week then gives them back to the pimp."
"How typical of you." Naruto said and tilted his head to the side.
"One condition," Menma said and rose his index finger. "I want my mask back."
Naruto snickered. "Fair enough." Naruto leaned over and tapped the supply bag. Enough teasing. "I figure the moment we exit this territory, we'll be out of Uchiha altogether, back to daytime flight. If you wany."
"Unless we get some funny and horrible coincident that there will be issues with travelers..." Naruto contradicted him self lowly.
"Point proven." Menma said and eyed the pouch.
"While we're talking, I wanna ask you so mething." Naruto said and pointed behin d him. Menma glanced at Naruto with a ' I f -you-screw-with-me-one-more-time... ' " How do you know that Riku dude?"
Menma waved his hand in the air. "The guy's a nutjob, always talking about keyholes or something." Menma rolled his eyes . "I'll give him credit for being a good fighter, though. He has a crazy amount of strange creatures followin around all the time, that's gotta suck."
"Hm." Naruto huffed and folded his arms. "Do you have any idea how he got around to his, ah, position?"
"Something about his friend sleeping safely, that's all I know." Menma said and Alden flapped his wings.
The smog was getting thicker, something about the change in air temperature. The currents would eventually become a bit unstable as the sun got higher.
He wondered if the griffons needed a break every now and then, surely soon?
Slowly, the lights approached, Naruto gave him the verbal command to bank downward.
Menma swallowed and lean foreward, Alden dipped. He descended slowly, aware of the 'aces' stomach. Menma cringed as Alden began bobbing and the ground approached faster.
As Alden landed, Menma started shaking a nd a sudden heat wave came over him. Al t itude sickness.
He shakily unstrapped his legs and rolled off of Alden, the bird was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. Menma grabbed his head and crouched next to Alden, more spinning.
Wee.
"Now that I'm not injured, I can help you with that." Naruto said as Revide landed. He unstrapped himself and popped down, snatching something from the pouch .
He walked to Menma, tapping the black-ha ired boy on the shoulder. "It'll pass."
"The same way a hurricane is just a river." Menma snarled.
"Shake your head back and forth, not sur e if it'll help, but it did for me." Na r uto said and watched as Menma vigorously shook his head from side to side. After a few moments of thoroughly sloshing the fluids in his ears around, his vision refocused and he looked at Naruto .
"Better?"
"Yeah. Some." Menma huffed.
"Well here, you requested it." Naruto ha nded a mess of black fabric and red straps to Menma. Menma zeroed in on the object.
He carefully took the fabric up and cove red his lower face, feeling back at home with the mask on.
His feet felt extremely heavy, like all the fluid had been pushed down to the very skin...
It would pass..maybe.
"Thanks." He felt much better with this mask on, like some funny sense of security was made each time he put it on. Atleast Naruto would have to look harder if he ever decided to tease him again.
Speaking of which...
Naruto was clicking on the necklace, jade slivers falling into place on his neck . "You...ready?" Menma asked carefully.
"Yup, let's go." Naruto said and whistle d to Alden and Revide. Menma followed next to his ride. He noticed that Alden was following behind Revide, at first he thought the male was being an animal, but he remembered that it was to protect in case anything should come up from behind.
How quaint.
Revide was chirping a song that only birds knew, it came out sort of funny when she started purring.
Alden was paranoid, looking from left an d right every three seconds or so. Really, could he blame the male? She was obviously the only friend he would have.
Or did he think of her as something more?
Judging by the way he looked so glum, yes. Would she ever see him the same?
Time will tell, time will tell.
It wasn't like he could tell Alden to man up and ask her, he had NO experience in that field.
Naruto was casually walking while fingering the necklace, checking out the vegetation, seeing what he could find.
The blond was scanning the treetops now.
The guy was actually very smart in most circumstances.
He hadn't DARED think too hard about him recently, ever since the ahm...thing at the dinner.
They were in no way, a thing.
Ugh, his thought process was sounding gay.
Menma tapped the edge of his mask, thank ing his lucky stars that he brought it w ith him that very day in the stockyards.
Even if it made his identity a bit more. ..obvious. It was about time he upgraded to a full-face mask, maybe that one he was always eying in the underground shops. ..
Nah, he could do better.
He hopped over a log, along with the oth er three. "Wait." Menma said and caught all of their attention. "Do you see it? "
"Yeah." Naruto said and inspected the log, fringes of shredded wood curling on his fingers. "It was fallen and bashed re cently. What do you think did it?"
"No clue." Menma said and began walking again. "Keep moving and being alert is all we can do for now." And so they did.
The area gradually began to get more and more lit up, until everything was coated in gray, making the greens stand out so vividly.
The trees began to thin out more and more, until a path curved sharply into view , its starting point unknown. The two agreed it must've been some road to the shops, so they followed it.
The trees became less and less until they finally made their way to the first torch, along with a measly-looking flag standing out horribly against the gray smg.
As they continued to follow the path, the rough dirt/grass gave way to beaten a reas, dotted with hoof marks and footprints. The four came past the first tent, several neutral colors decked with a few poles. Probably some stayer that was where the keepers kept home.
Not exactly safe.
The four finally got to the next torch, a tiny dot from far away, but growing the closer they got. Noise filtered through and gradually got louder until the four couldn't distinguish the voices from one another.
Menma reached his arm out and tapped Alden, giving the animal a glance that could've meant many things. Alden drew closer to him, until feathers almost touched his waist.
"Psst, Menma, wanna split? You take the left side, I take the right?" Naruto whispered.
"Yeah, how many coins you got?"
"Enough. We'll try to get as much information as possible, best way to get through the other mountains and such." Naruto said and tapped his pouch.
"I'll find you, she's like a magnet to Alden." Naruto snickered at the comment and nodded, they split the road and went their spate ways.
"Oh, and get some food if you can! Don't feed Alden any poultry, though!" Menma watched as Naruto took the right and cruised that way, leaving Menma to ponder what he just said. Why would-
Oh. He went pale under the mask.
That's partially cannibalism.
Right.
Menma shook away the mental images and nodded to his ride. Alden shrugged and began walking. For once, he was thankful the animal couldn't understand human...
enma began strolling casually, admiring the rustic jewelry for sale, how some s hops had polished bull horns, others working metal right there.
He could understand a blacksmith working here to certain degree, the air was dam p and it was unlikely something would catch fire...
But polishing bull horns? Those weren't very popular in his region?
Oh right, since bulls were more bred in the southern areas, it was uncommon here in the north. Duh.
Someone gave him a funny look, mask and uncommon animal understood, it was still a funny look.
He thought nothing of it, better to be looked at than chased.
Alden gave angry and mean looks to anybody who so much glanced at him, but he always looked angry, so it didn't matter.
Menma began strolling a bit more casually, looking for a place that would have trinkets to pass through a territory, something with a map rather than Narutos dirt reimagining...
A man, came running up to Menma. He had a multicolor wrap around his head, several bags of coins jiggling about, and a mustache Menma would love to have.
"Please! Sell me your griffon, Sir!" He shoved the bags of coins at Menma. Menma leaned his head back and held his hands up.
"I'm sorry mister, he isn't for sale." Menma said and touched Aldens shoulder, w ho bristled at both humans. Menma did get a whiplash of relief when the bird leaned into his touch, not completely unaware of the situation.
"But please!" He said and waved the money around even more. "I can take good care of it!" It was Menmas turn to bristle. "Keep the creature fed, train it!"
"Firstly, Him, not 'it'. Secondly, he is my means of transportation. Thirdly, I' m sorry, he isn't for sale." Menma said and shook his head. Did this guy seriously need a ride? Look at all those bags! He could be a bank!
"But..." The man grumbled something. "Why wont you sell him! He's a valuable creature, very rare, could get lots of money for the griffon!" He said and lifted the bags.
"I just told you, he's my means of transportation, I cant just up and sell the guy. Plus, my partner would have my neck. .." Menma trailed off, considering the consequences.
"Please!" Menma grumbled in irritation, this guy was seriously persistent. Where'd he get all the money anyway?
"Ok..." He said and closed his eyes, bringing a hand up to his chin. "If you can touch this guy without nearly losing a finger or three, I'll sell him." Menma said and began stroking Aldens neck with the free hand.
The man smiled, transitioning several of the bags onto one arm. He reached his hand out, quickly.
This man must've never handled animals before... He managed to get within four inches of the bird beak before Alden snapped at him, screaming in that strange bird-lingo. He jumped back and fell o n his rear, Alden moving toward him a few steps, snarling.
Menma calmly put a hand on Alden, shaking his head at the animal.
"How did you tame him?" This man said and stood back up, picking at any pieces of money he might've dropped.
"I didn't." Menma said. If he tells the whole story of how Naruto got to the animals, even without mentioning names, they could be tailed. "You cant force something to trust you, sometimes money simply isn't enough." Menma said and began to walk away. "Good day."
Menma tried to ignore that gruff stare the man shot at him, but all too happy to forget it the moment he heard the man scamper off in some direction.
Now to go and find a shop with some information on the general area.
He paused to turn left and observe some rustic jewelry that was no doubt shipped over her from the Tropics. The woman selling them eyed Alden and rider curiously but chose not to say anything.
Menma would've felt bad for just walking away, like he'd been too hoity-toity for the merchandise. So he opted to strike up a conversation.
"I could almost tell you exactly which village the yellow ones are from." She jumped at him, probably not expecting him to say anything.
"R-really?" She said, clearing her throat. She tapped one of them, fingering the polished rock.
"Yeah, the shipping must add a few coins here and there, no?" Menma said and dangled one of the yellow pendants in front of his face. "I cant afford these." He said and put it back down.
"I understand she said sadly. Menma waved her goodbye and began walking around the landmarks yet again. His stomach rumbled, reminding him yet again, you need to eat.
His mouth was getting that familiar icky sensation when one decides to forgo food. He sighed and rubbed the back of his head, what was good in the northern regions again?
Menma was craving some spicy chicken, now that he let his mind wander.
But that was prohibited now, considering Alden wouldn't be too keen on the idea, it would be rude to ask another shop owner where the food was, and... he had better things to do. Menma began strolling the streets with a quicker pace now, if he saw something useful along the way, so be it.
For now, all he was thinking of was a chicken SLATHERED with peppers.
Every kind.
Even maybe that ginger-thing he hated... No he wasn't that hungry.
Alden seemed to have both fur and feathers ruffled from the previous encounter. Not that Menma could blame him, surely the guy didn't like shaky and altogether panicky characters?
He wondered if there was some major consequence going to take place because he didn't hand Alden over?
Neh, Alden might've killed the guy. So in the end, everyone was alive, that's better for everyone.
Menma chuffed and eyed the shops, one sold fluffy looking re-imaginings of animals.
One looked like a purple dragon, the other a kangaroo with boxing gloves.(3)
He did not understand these cultures... Menma tried to look nonchalant as he passed the oddball shop and began looking over some other items.
He wouldn't dare enter the shop that featured handcuffs.
Nor the one with a door and BIG knives brandishing themselves innocently.
Alden might see something bad if he went into the one with red royally LAYERED at the base of one...
Plus, that guy sitting along the edge of a fence...selling red fruits that certainly looked painted...a prank?
Nope, he didn't understand these cultures.
He walked for a few more minutes and something took his eye.
A tent that sold pendants, identical ones at that. The man and woman who were manning the sales looked quite wealthy... by the area standards..
He pulled Alden to the shops and began observing the pendants. Each one was a red egg shaped rock that had a design etched inside the stone. There were three coin-like objects that probably clinked at the slightest movement.
"What are these?" Menma asked and pointed to them.
"Passes." The woman said slyly. "Allowance of crossing the large rivers up ahead." Menma questioned her instantly. She just didn't seem trustworthy.
He narrowed his eyes. "How much?"
"Depends. Thirty in the standard currency, eighteen in gold, six in silver."
"Why do I need them to cross a river? Shouldn't that be a cinch with a swimmer or other devices?"
"Getting mauled is what you're asking for." She said and swept her hands over the pendants. "Bisk is quite rude."
What she said made sense to a certain degree...
better safe than sorry.
Menma snatched his pouch from Aldens side, tapping the fox statuette calmly and snagging out sixty coins.
He paced over with the coins in a smaller pouch, and tossed it on the table, the coins made a jumbled clinking before settling lopsidedly.
"Give me two of them, give back the bag when you're done counting."
She smiled and began counting the coins, Menma waited patiently for her to finish.
The woman handed him two pendants which he cautiously took, thanking her when she gave back the smaller pouch.
He motioned for Alden to follow and as they walked, he placed the two passes into the satchel.
Some certain amount of time later, he stumbled back to Naruto.
"Did you find anything?" Naruto said and greeted Alden with pets on the gruff birds head.
"Passes to the rivers." Menma said and motioned to the satchel.
"Aghk! I was looking for that shop... You wouldn't believe this! Some guy tried to BUY her from me!" He said and pointed at Revide who seemed to understand exactly what he was relaying and wrapped her gray wings around Naruto. She let out a few gurgled chirps and pulled Naruto in close. Comically, might Menma add.
"You saw that guy also?" Menma said and pointed at Alden, who bristled his feathers.
"You too? Blegh, what a hassle!" Naruto said and gently pushed her wings away. Naruto grinned cheekily and pulled something from behind him. "Anyway, I got these." Naruto said and shoved some meat on a stick to Menma.
Menma tilted his head and took the meat graciously. Naruto smiled and tossed a slab of meat for Alden.
"There were no food shops in my area..." Menma said as Alden tore into the meat, Revide calmly watching. Naruto must've fed her earlier. "What kind of food is that?"
"Cow." Naruto said. "I've kept with food at my waist the whole time, he'd have to be hungry after all this." Naruto said and began to chew into the meat on his own stick.
"Ah."
"Where are we headed?"
"Don't know. Have any idea where a map might've been?" Naruto said through his meal.
"Nope. I guess we'll know after we eat, how many sticks did you get?"
"Plenty." Naruto said and pulled out a handful more. Menma pulled down his mask and chewed thoughtfully.
"There was another river mentioned to me, I guess we'll see what information we pick up."
TBC
1. Dogfights: Airplane fighting
2. Tacking. When ships move in a zigzag motion headon in the wind
3. Spyro: Attack of Rynocs/Adevnture
This thing was such a monster.
I HAD plans to publish it earlier, but I'm losing my muse.
Till next time,
Mono