Not How it's Supposed to Go
Part3
Duo left late at night and had been walking for almost an hour when he realized he'd didn't know where the castle was. There was only one small set of mountains for miles, and Duo was sure there were no castles on it.
He looked around at the dark horizon, and still saw only one mountain. He was sure the homeing pigeon would not have flown far enough away to reach any other mountains. Maybe it was a joke played on him by one of the other boys, but... How could he be sure. He may make a fool of himself but he would not let this chance slip by him. He would go check out the mountain even if there was no castle there.
But for now, he was tired.
Duo set down his stuff and curled up on the soft feild grass, under the shelter of a large rock. It was kind of exciteing, that he was finally getting to go on a real quest, and he'd been walking for quite a while by now. It was not long before the exhaustion got to him and he fell soundly asleep.
When he awoke he could feel the warm sun beating down on his body, ( especially since he was whereing all black) and the cool breeze ruffling his hair.
He opened his eyes and screamed.
He jumped away from the white monster who had been munching on his hair, grabbed his things and drew out his scythe only to stop, and stare.
It was only a sheep.
He looked around quickly to see if anyone had seen him screaming in fear at the sheep and blushed as he saw a boy waving at him as he came over the next hill.
He watched the sheep munch lazily on the grass where he'd been laying as the boy approached him. The boy was tall and lanky, and had odd shaped bangs that covered one of his eyes, the one Duo could see was a cool emereld green. Duo also noticed the boy had a heard of sheep following him.
The boy walked up to him and smiled softly.
"Thank you for finding my sheep. I would like to repay you if I can."
"N... No, it's ok." Duo grinned sheepishly.
"Are you out here all by yourself?"
"Uh...yeah. I'm heading for the mountains."
"Ah, My house is just outside the forest that surrounds the mountain. Walk with me, and when we get there I will feed you lunch... um..."
"My name is Duo, and there is really no need to..."
"I'm Trowa and I insist."
And so Duo was forced to eat a free lunch.
It wasn't a long walk to Trowa's house. Duo had made it fairly close to the mountain in his night of walking. When they got there, Duo met Trowa's sister Cathrine, who made soup for everyone. They all talked over lunch and Duo learned that Trowa and Cathrine had been orphans and were picked up by the circus, but that life was too hectic, so when they were both old enough they left to go live by themselves. Although through his time at the circus Trowa learned he loved animals, and had a special connection with them. That was why he had become a sheep hearder. It was easy, quiet and involved animals.
Duo also explained about the note he'd gotten and why he was heading towards the mountain.
"Well... I sure haven't seen any castle up on the mountain, but sometimes at night you can hear the loud echoing roar of some monster." Explained Cathrine.
"A monster?" asked Duo.
"It sounds lonely." Trowa stated.
Both Duo and Cathrine stared at Trowa...
"How can a horrible monster sound lonely?" asked Cathrine.
Trowa shrugged, "It just does."
"Have you been up there to see it?" Asked Duo.
"I've had no reason to go, although I'd like to."
Cathrine stood up and slammed her hands on the table, "You can't go, it's dangerous!"
Trowa stood up as well, "Animals are not dangerous when treated with respect." He stated simply.
Duo watched them argue. "Uh... Trowa? I'd pay you to guide me up the mountain."
"No you can't!" Cathrine shouted worriedly.
"You found my sheep, and I still owe you. I'd be more than willing to go for free."
Cathrine grumbled to herself. Her brother owed him and she was being ignored. Obviously she could not win this arguement.
"When would it be alright to leave?" Duo asked Trowa.
"As soon as possible. Let me pack a few things."
And so, Trowa joined Duo on his quest to save the fair princess Heero, from the magical castle they couldn't even see, which was protected by a horrible lonely monster.
~TBC~