"Wow." The group of kids looked around. They were in a thick forest, with bushes and tress packed so close together, no adult would have been able to get through it. "This place is so pretty." Amanda whispered. "And it looks like a perfect place to start my first adventure!" Gina grinned, picking a small purple blossom and setting it in her hair, "Gina Gabriev, sorcery genius!" she crowed happily. "Um, but Gina?" Gregory put in, "You don't any magic yet.." Gina blinked, "Oh yeah….But I will! Just you wait! my momma is the best and I will be too! For now I'll just have to be a sword genius." She pulled out her kendo stick and waved it around. "Is there such thing as a sword genius?" Amanda asked. "I believe that would have to be a sword that's really smart." Val said dryly. "You're such a stick in the mud." Gina poked him with her wooden sword, "Just 'cause you're the oldest doesn't mean you have to so boring." "Gomen." he shrugged, "I just thought we would have found her by now." "Oh." The other kids said. "I'm sorry, I guess your worried Val." Gina said. He didn't say anything, just nodded, "We'll find her any minute now though." He said confidently.
He had said that an hour ago, and now they were hot, sweaty, and had been bitten by bugs a couple times now. The pretty forest was slowly turning into a marsh. They hadn't seen another person since they set off, and though they didn't know it, they were traveling in the exact opposite direction Xelia had went. "Ok let's stop for lunch." Val said, wiping sweat off his forehead. Gina was of course only glad to agree. They sat on rock and opened their various packs. They feasted on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and continued on their way, until night fell. "So where are we sleeping?" Amanda asked, looking around, "Everything is squishy ground." Val looked around, "I guess we're just sleeping up a tree." "But what happens if we fall?" Gregory asked. Val pulled up a couple vines and climbed up the tree. After a couple minutes of work he had a crude walled area. "There." He smiled in satisfaction, 'and this will keep us warmer too." "Val, You're so smart." Amanda smiled at him in adoration. Gina rolled her eyes, and made her way up the tree followed by Gregory, helping his sister up. And after a couple minutes of arranging leaves to sleep on, they fell asleep.
***
Xelia yawned and hopped down from her tree. It had been a fun couple of days. Her only problem was all the food she had stashed in her pockets from the reception had run out this morning and she was starting to get hungry. "Lessee something to eat…" She hunted through the bushes. A rustle caught her attention and she stopped. The rustle grew louder and then the cracks of branches came. She looked quizzically in the direction it was coming from, just as a troll came charging through the bushes at her. She didn't scream, just backed away slowly. Luckily it didn't seem to notice her, and as soon as she was out of its sight she ran.
After a couple minutes of running she stopped to catch her breath, "That was 'afully close." She whispered. She started off again, a quicker pace though because it might still be nearby. She pulled back another bush. Another 3 trolls stared back at her. They opened their mouths to shred her alive.
This time she did scream, and let go of the branch. It snapped back and hit the trolls in the nose. They all whimpered, and then glared at her. But she was already off and running. The trolls gave chase.
Xelia ran as fast as her little legs could take her, but they were catching up quick. Finally she grabbed a nearby branch and pulled herself up the tree in record time. Panting she looked down at the trolls. They were grinning up at her, as the shredded the bottom of the tree. Both her and they knew it was only a matter of time before the tree fell, and their snack along with it.
***
"I can't take this anymore!" Filia jumped up, "It's been 3 days and the guards haven't seen even a hair of either of my kids! I am going to find them myself!" "If you're going, I'm coming with you!" Lina jumped up too. Amelia stood up also, and Her husband looked at her, "Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean you have your responsibilities." Amelia said a dirty word. "I don't care. Daddy is here, he and you can take care of everything since you don't seem to care that our kids are missing!" Gaene went to reply, but at his wife's look, thought better of it. "Don't worry, we'll be fine." Gourry said walking up to the group. "Gourry? You're coming too?" Lina looked up at him. "Of course, you couldn't even try to leave without me. I'm your protector remember?" he said with a slight grin. Lina smiled and squeezed his hand, "Of course."
So the Slayers embarked on their first adventure since the defeat of Darkstar.
They were walking in silence until Lina spoke up, "You know? This could almost be like old times…" "If Zelgadiss were here." Amelia said sadly. "I wish he would come to visit!" Lina sighed, yanking a strand of her hair. "I wish I just knew where he was." Amelia said, "Life feels so different without him.." Gourry changed the subject, "So I wonder what our kids are up to right now?" "Gina?" Lina laughed, "Probably having the time of her life." "I hope they're ok." Filia said. "Oh I'm sure they are." Amelia said quickly. They exchanged a look between them and continued walking. The pace was faster now though.
***
Val-Tachi were at the moment hiking through the marsh. It was wet and squishy, and they weren't enjoying it much. "Oh what I wouldn't give for something else to look at beside mush." Gina said, as for the fourth time her boot got stuck. They broke through the bushes, and on the other side lay a river, and beyond that, rocky, hard terrain. They other kids looked at Gina, who shrugged.
"Ok we're going to cross here." Val said looking at the calmest spot he could find. He sat down on a rock and started pulling his pant legs up. Gregory followed suit. "You might want to help Amanda, she looks sacred." Gina said to Gregory. " I 'm not." Amanda glared at her. But Gregory went back and walked beside his sister anyway. He knew what a klutz she could be.
They made it across safely, and now it was Gina's turn. She strode out with confidence, took a couple steps, and slipped on a slimy rock. Val and Gregory went out to help her, but she had slipped into the mainstream, and was trying very hard to keep her head above water as she was swept down the river, picking up speed. "Gina!" Amanda and Gregory called running alongside the river bank after her. Valgarv being the best swimmer there was trying to get to her without being swept up himself. Suddenly he saw someone up ahead. It was a man, and by Val's guess, a fisherman. The man scooped up Gina as she floated by and walked out of the water. Val followed him. "You should be more careful." Was all he said as he walked down the path, still holding Gina, who seemed to be unconscious. The other kids hurried after him, and they arrived at a small hut.
The man offered them all blankets, as he took care of Gina. They accepted them with thanks. "She's going to be fine." He said after Val looked at him. Val nodded, "Thank you."
***
Xelia screamed as the tree shuddered again. The trolls slobbered, realizing their meal was almost at hand. The she remembered something. Pulling off her pack, she rummaged through it till she pulled out her book. Opening it up she turned to a certain page and looked at the picture. It was of a man in armor, fighting a monster, while the beautiful maiden waited upon his horse. "My night in shining armor!" she cried happily, "He'll rescue me!" Feeling much better now, she leaned back. All she had to do was wait for him.
After a couple minutes of waiting she grew a bit nervous. "Maybe he doesn't know I'm in trouble." She fretted. "Well I just yell for help then, that's what the maidens do, don't they?" she leaned out as far as she could and shouted, "Help! Night in shining armor!" A man appeared behind her. "My night?" she asked. He shrugged, "Sure." He waved a hand, and a bolt of power hit the trolls, who screamed and ran off. "Oh thank you!" she gushed, in what she hoped to be in a maidenly fashion. "My pleasure." He smiled. Xelia beamed, and then her stomach growled. She then sweatdropped. "That wasn't maidenly" she muttered to herself. Her night didn't seem to mind, Just threw her a pack, full of food and water. She hugged him, "Oh thank you again! You're the best Night in shining armor I could ask for!" "Well thanks." The Trickster priest smiled, eyes glinting….