Chapter 2!!!!
"Where are we going exactly?"Yugi asked,cheerily.They had left the neighborhood."Just to the corner store,right?"Yugi recognized this path as the way they used to go to the Texaco around the corner.Seto grunted."I didnt even want YOU to come because I'm mad at you."Yugi got sad."But why?I said I was sorry."He watched as they passed the corner store.Many people were waving at them as they passed,but Yugi and Mai were the only ones that waved back."Because I didn't accept your apology."Seto sneered.
"Yeah."Said Keith,hoisting the duffle bag onto Fluffy's back.Fluffy was so young and inexperianced at riding,it almost caused him to fall."I need a stronger horse."Keith whined."Stop whining."Mai said."Maybe if we meet a farmer along the way we can trade it in." "But what about the lady these really belong to?"Keith asked."Seto's grandparents?When we get home and if we have a different horse,she might get mad."Seto stopped Mocha in his tracks."I told you before we aren't GOING home."He said,coldly.Yugi whimpered. "Let's play Eye-Spy."He said."Who wants to go first?" "I will."Mai said."Okay."Yugi said.And they played Eye-Spy. Keith became aware of a man outside mowing.He didnt recognize the man.He thought that was pretty weird because he knew everyone around there.Then he noticed the houses were unfamilier."Seto,We should go back."He said."My parents dont want me."Was Seto's reply."They'd just get rid of me."Keith was about to tell him that it was all a lie,but then he remembered that he had told Mai the same thing,and they would both be mad if he fessed up.So he left it at that.Yugi and Mai were laughing."Oh shut up!!"Keith screeched.They had been playing Eye-Spy.They stopped."Im cold."Complained Yugi."Lets go into a coat store." "I dont have any money."Seto said.And neither does anyone else."It was silent for a while.But then,they heard something. "Keith!!"Two voices shouted.They were running up behind him.Keith turned Fuzzy around to face 2 of his bully friends,Zigor and Sid. "Sup?"Sid asked.But then he looked around."Hey Mai."He said.She didnt wave,but stuck her nose in the air.They saw Yugi and Seto with them."Why are you hanging out with those nerds?"Zigor asked.He was scary looking with spiky black hair.Keith scratched the back of his head and tightened the bandana nervously."Well,you know...." "Seto's his best friend."Mai cut in."And so are we.So get outta here."Keith pretended to cough. "Is this true,Keith?"Sid asked.He had a mad look in his eyes."Uhhhh...well.....uhhhh..." "If your really my friend,tell em."Seto said.Keith cleared his throat."Yes.So get lost,losers."Zigor and Sid were mad.Keith noticed how big they were.Zigor picked up a rock and hurled it at Keith and his horse.Keith turned Fuzzy around really fast.He skidded off,without even noticing or caring what way he was going.Mai and Seto followed.They ran for about 5 minutes,and when they looked back--Zigor and Sid were gone.But they were in a town none of them knew."Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........Why were we running from them?"Yugi asked."I never seen them before." "Thats because your not in our grade."Mai said."They're really mean and really strong and they can really hurt us." "Not me."Seto said."Especially when Im on this big animal.""I think they showed they're not scared of horses."Mai said.Keith was still breathing hard."Dam* that was freaky."He said.They all stared."Did you just say the 'd' word?!"Yugi asked with alarm."That words not aloud!!Its bad!!No no!!"He clapped his hands over his mouth.Keith rolled his eyes.Seto sighhed and looked over his back.What he saw scared him really bad.They had Pegasus with them,that big 17 year old.He was one of their best friends.Plus,they had Zigor and Sid's dog,a really mean one.It was running after them.Keith started shouting names at them. "Your momma's so fat she has to sleep on the floor!!"He said.It wsnt really a good joke,but it made them mad."And also,she's so fat they had to have perfessional help to make you!!"Sid's mom was really fat.So this made him mad."No one insults my momma!!"He said,and ran after them faster.Pegasus was still with them.They decided he didnt mean well at all. So they started running again.After several rocks had pelted Yugi in the back of the head,along with damaging Mocha's knee,they managed to escape Zigor,Sid,and Pegasus's assaults by running through mazes of trees.But then Seto noticed something."Trees?"He said."I dont remember trees anywhere around the neighborhood."Yugi spoke up."Maybe they all just....grew here?You know?Like overnight?" "Trees can't grow overnight."Keith said."Duh."Yugi hung his head."I didn't mean to run THIS far away from town."Seto sighed."I only meant to be a bum under the crossway bride.You know,the one at city limits?"Mai looked at a pocketwatch."We passed it about......an hour ago."Seto punched a tree."That's just great...I dont have any idea WHERE I am or HOW to get out." "Looks like a swamp to me."Said Keith."How theres all the stinky water."He steered his horse out of it.Seto jumped off Mocha,only to have his feet sink in horrible smelling mud."Yuck."He said,shaking his foot.But he kneeled down and examined Mocha's knee."The horse it injured."He said.Then he cursed."Stupid Zigor,Sid and Pegasus.They injured my steed...and it might slow us down a bit." "Not to mention my head."Said Yugi,rubbing his head."That hurts.""We dont have any ice to help."Mai said."So how are we going to make the horses' injury better?" "But he can still run."Said Keith."I saw him.Why do we worry about it??"Seto rolled his eyes."Because if we don't,it could get so bad,that the leg might ROT off."Keith screwed his face up."Well....I have a bandana somewhere....other than my head if it might work."He dug something out of his sweatshirt's cubby pocket.It was a bandana,and it big black wobbly letters,it said, Keith's "You idiot,we know its your's."Seto said,and he grabbed it.He wrapped it around Mocha's leg.But Mocha layed down.Bugi rolled off his horse and hit the ground with a sickeninig thud."Ow."He said.He got up and brushed off himself.Keith and Mai got off too. "Where the He*l are we?"Keith said."Its all your fault."He threw a stick at Seto.Seto ducked. "Im hungry!"Mai whined."I want some food!!"She rubbed her stomach."Not me."Bugi said,"Granpa made me 4 little sandwaiches shaped like triangles before I left." "Why do you live with your Grandpa?"Asked Seto,Laying down."Oh."Bugi said.He looked up,trying to remember."Well,I remember my daddy and mommy used to hit me alot.Hit me and make it hurt for a long time.So some strange people came and got me,and took me to my grandpa's house.Thats all I remember." No one said anything for a long time.But then they heard something."He'll pay for breaking the silence."Said Keith.But they all just listened.It was someone,saying something in a language that was beyond understanding.He was saying it over and over again,as if he were chanting.His voice had sort of an asian accent to it."What is that?"Yugi asked."It scares me." "I dont know."Seto said."It could be anything in this forest I guess." "It could be anywhere!"Mai squealed."But what is it saying?"The chanting continued.Then they noticed something.He was kind of sobbing like he was scared."Okay."Keith said."this is getting really freaky and if we dont find out whats doing it,I might wet myself." He shivered."I will!!"Said Yugi,cheerfully.And he grabbed a skinny tree with one hand and swung around it into a nearby clearing.Mai,Seto and Keith grabbed the horse's ropes and slowly followed,way behind.Yugi tried to follow the sound,as it got closer.But the winding trees and alike bushes made it hard.When the noise got loud,like it was right behind the bush,it stopped as Yugi stepped on a twig.They could hear heavy breathing,and sobs."Who ARE you?"Keith said into the bush.He could tell whoever it was was right behind it.The heavy breathing started again.The person was trying to remain silent."Why are you scared?"Seto asked.Seto's voice was sort of raspy,and scary.So the person remained silent.Yugi thought he could faintly hear a chant beneath his breath."Please come out."Mai said."We arent going to hurt you." Mai's voice wasn't scary like Seto's.So slowly,the person drew out of the bushes.He was small,about Yugi's age,and shivering.Mai gave him a blanket."Hello!!"Yugi said."My name is Yugi Motou!!And these are my freinds,Mai,Keith,and Seto!How do you do???" The person remained silent,but sobbed.He walked over to the horses,and touched them."What are these amazing things?"He asked."Never before have a seen something like this."He had a strong asian accent,and didn't use slang terms. "Its called a horse."Said Seto."Duh."The person didnt react to the duh comment,he just said,'In Egypt,we ride dromedaries.Much different." "Droma dairy?"Yugi asked."COOL!!Whats a drama dairy??"Seto rolled his eyes."You idiot,Dromedaries are camels.The things with two humps on their back?" "Oh."Yugi said."Whats your name?"Keith asked the person."And where do you come from??"The person was silent for a while."I come from a merchanery in Egypt."He said.That was all.Keith was puzzled."Then what are you doing here in Japan?Egypt is like.....way far West."The person was hesitant in answering again.He was still scared,they could tell.Keith picked up a large stick and swung it,just playing around.The person became frightened and fled into a bush,chanting over and over again. "Huh?"Mai said."Why do you say things over and over again?"The person peered out."I-its a protection chant.Its supposed to keep me from being afraid." "What kind of mumbo-jumbo does your teacher have you reading?"Keith pondered.The person shivered."Whats your name?"Asked Mai.The child shivered and hesitated on answering."If I answer you,you may be able to take advantage of me later."He said,in a scared voice."You're awfully careful."Mai said."Are you running from something?"Yugi offered the boy a cupcake."No thanks."He said."And I'm not hiding.Matter of fact,I'm lost." "Where'd you come from?"Asked Seto.He looked at the white turban wrapped around The boy's head."Im from....a Merchanary in Egypt."He said."My father was taking me here,searching for some kind of....Melinnium item.Any way,I was trying to find somewhere to meditate.And I saw this forest.I went inside,but the winding trees proved to be a challenging maze." "In Other words,you got lost in this forest?"Keith asked.The Boy nodded. "Just tell us your name and MAYBE we could help you."Seto said,smartly.The boy shook his head yet again."Maybe when I get to know you better."He began looking around,searching for something."What are you looking for?"Yugi asked."Could we help?" The boy looked at the ground."I hate to have to ask,but do you have any food?I'll pay you back."Keith looked iffy. "Ummmm....Should we share,guys?"He asked."I dont know."Seto said."We don't know anything about this character."He glared at the boy,who turned away."Well I think we should."Mai said."i know how it feels to be hungry."She took a cookie out of her pocket and gave it to the boy."Thank you."He said,gretfully.But Mai wasn't done yet.She reached into her duffel bag and pulled out a cantene. "Dont give him the whole thing!!"Keith snapped."Then their wont be enough for US!!"Mai shrugged."He looks like he hasn't eaten in a while.We have."The boy was eating it.Yugi noticed him shivering."I have a blankie."He said,and took it off the horses' back.He handed it to the boy."Thanks again."He said,in that asian accent.He wrapped him around himself.There was a long silence,but finaloly,the boy spoke."I think your worthy of knowing my name."He said.They all turned,at full attention. "My name is Shadi."He said."Cool name."Keith said."I don't know where my parents thought of my name.My mom said she thought I was going to be a gurl an my name would have been Katrina." Everyone liked Keith's story."My name is Egyptian."Shadi said."Thats why you havent heard it." Silence for a while."My name is aYugi."Said Yugi,after a few minutes."Yes,you've already told me that."Shadi said."And thats Seto,and thats Keith,and Thats Mai."Silence again. "Ummmm...I have a question."Shadi said."What do you use those creatures for?"He pointed at the horses,that were pawing the ground."To ride on." "Ride?"Shadi asked.He touched the horse's leg."Its leg is alot skinnier than A dromedairies." "Here,we call them camels."Seto said."Here,you can do the same.So....how old are you?" "9."Shadi said."Me too!!"Said Mai."Me three!!"Said Seto."Im 10."Keith said,sadly."And Yugi's 8." Yugi felt small."Im a big baby."He said,and covered up his large eyes.He made a pitiful face."aw."Said Seto."You look cute when you cry."Yugi brightened up. "How would you RIDE one of these?"Shadi asked,still on the subject of the horses."I mean,they look so small compared to camels and they don't look very fast."He just didnt get it."And plus,I think we eat something called a horse in egypt." Everyone made a face."EAT a horse?But they're our friends!!Never would we eat a horse here." "An animal?Your friend?"Shadi asked.Then he laughed."BUt animals are only there for mounts and eating." Silence.They decided not to tread his culture all up to heck."Thanks for the cookie."Said Shadi to Mai."It was really nice of you guys to share your food and water with an extra person." He stood up and wiped himself off."So....why are you guys out here?" Seto looked sad."My mom and dad are having another baby,and they dont want me,so we ran.But then Zigor,Sid and Pegasus chased us out here,and we're lost." Shadi looked up."Oh."He said."Now,I think I wanna go to Egypt."Seto said."Let's all go to Egypt!!And help Shadi find his way home!! Nobody knew that Egypt was across seas.They only agreed."How long did it take you to get here?"Seto asked.
"Ohh...only about 3 hours."Said Shadi.What he had forgotten to say was that he had taken a PLANE."Cool!!"Mai said."Then it wont take that long--but first we hafta get outta this place."She looked around.It was beginning to grow darker."We cant be in a forest wheile its dark!!"Yugi cryed."That'd be scary!!We gotta get outta here!!" Seto climbed on Mocha."Whoa."Said Shadi."That thing doesnt LOOK like it could carry any weight--yet it does."He was amazed.Keith hoisted up on Fuzzy,and he almost fell because he was so young,but remained standing."This horse is young."Shadi said."Yet he can STILL carry the weight of a 10-yr. old."He was even more amazed.But when he saw that Scribbles could carry the weight of Mai AND Yugi,he was three times surprised."Cool."He said."BUt let's just see how fast they can go." Seto made Mocha run in a circle."Like this."He said.The horse moved really fast,of course,and Shadi couldent beleive it. "I wish I had my camel."He said."But we had to leave it at home." "Do you wanna ride on Mocha with me?"Seto asked."He's really strong and can carry two people."Shadi saw that Mocha's muscles bulged from under the fur,and relized he wasnt lying.BUt he decided not to ride."No thank you.As long as you walk,I can keep up.Riding a 'horse' may knock my turban off."Seto nodded.Yugi and Mai were talking about something. "He sure is weird looking."Yugi whispered."Look at that white cape and turban.Plus he talks funny and his skin is a little darker that ours."Mai nodded."He's from a different country.BUt I like his voice.It has a nice ring to it."She followed Seto and Keith's horse.Shadi walked beside Yugi and Mai's horse,trailing sort of behind because he was checking out the scnenery.He was watching how funny the horses walked.
Soon,It was so dark in the forest,the horses could not see to go on.Wolves and Coyotes could be heard moving everywhere."If we arent careful,a pack of wolves can overcome our horses."Said Keith."We should stop here and eat dinner and everything."Everyone except Mai and Yugi agreed."I am NOT sleeping on the ground."Said Mai."Im a lady,and thats not what lady's do." "Yeah!!"Yugi said."And sleeping here might be scary."Everyone laughed."No."Shadi said."You must'nt think of it that way.Think of the noises and sounds around you as a sighn of mother nature.Not as a fear.And Mai--think of getting dirty as mother nature taking its course."Mai and Yugi were puzzled."Oh,alright."Yugi agreed."I am sorta hungry."Keith,Seto,Mai and Yugi hoisted off the horses. "I bet Grandpa misses me."Yugi said."I miss granpa."A big fat tear hit the ground."Uh oh."Said Seto.Rivers of tears started coming down Yugi's face.He wailed loudly."Shut UP!!"Keith said.
"Granpa used to say that to meeee!!"Yugi yelled between sobs.Nobody knew what to do to stop Yugi's sobbing."Stop."Said Mai.Yugi stopped."But why??"He said."WHY?!I miss my best buddy,too!!I bet Joey misses me too!!" (Meanwhile,at Joey's place,he's thinking how great it is that that little kid Yugi cant be annoying him with talks of childish things) "I dont think so.'Keith said."Who'd miss your CRYING???!!"Yugi sobbed again. They were all trying to stop it."Let nature take its course."Said Shadi siddenly."If Yugi wants to cry,let him.If he wants to be a baby,let him."Yugi sniffed."Im not a baby."He said."And Im cold." It was getting pretty cold."Gimme something to eat."Seto said.Keith grabbed the duffel bag."Chips and coke?"He said.But Seto reached in and pulled out some mushrooms."Why the heck did you bring these?"Asked Seto."Yuck." "Because I like them."Said Keith."And I think that they are good."He ate some.Yugi wrapped up in a blanket."Its freezy."He said. "Freezy?"Said Mai."There is not such a word as 'Freezy."Yugi shrugged."Aw well."He said.He ate some chips.He liked them so much he was happy.Shadi was not eating anything.He was just looking around at everyone.Then he reached into his pocket and pulled something out.It was some money."COOL!!"Keith screeched."Money!!"He tried to grab it,But Shadi blocked him. "My dad gave me this money to buy food for ME."He said."And I don't know if I can share it or not because I dont know how to count money." "I dont either."Said Yugi."All the coins are different sizes.It would be alot easier if they were all the same."Seto grabbed the money."I can count it.Plus,if they were all the same,then it would be impossible to reach certain amouts of money.Like,if they were all the size of a nickel and worth 5 cents like it is because of its size,you couldent reach 62 cents." Yugi was puzzled."Okay."He said,playing along."By the way,Shadi,you have $1.55 here.Not enough to buy much of anything." Shadi hung his head."In Egypt,we are a poor country.$1.55 is alot more over there than it is here.Its because your country is rich and if you ask me quite spoiled.I have observed that very few of YOU have any manners." Silence. Yugi cryed."Im cold!"He said."WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"And he cryed even louder."Heres a blanket."Said Mai.She put it on Yugi.Yugi was happy and warm now.Yay for him. 'I wanna play with grandpa."He said."I miss Granpa.And I miss Joey,too."Yugi was about to cry again.
"For heavens sake,why the heck did we bring him?"Keith and Seto said at the same time.They both stared at eachother,but then they heard something.Over Yugi's sobs,of course.Some people were coming through the woods.It sounded like 4 of them. 'Oh no!!"Keith said.Then the people talked.It was Zigor,Sid,and Pegasus.They estimated the 4th was large and very ugly mean dog."WE gafta get outta here!!"Yugi said,and He stood up,letting the blanket fall down. "Why must we leave?"Shadi asked."I find the residence that we are presently quite appealing."Yugi wailed."I wanna leave before Zigor Sid and Pegasus and Mr.Big Mean DOGGY come!!"Shadi didn't understand."Who are these-- people?"He asked. "Oh."Keith said."Their just the people who DROVE US INTO THE WOODS AND LEFT US TO DIE!!"He screeched. "Oh."Said Shadi."I suppose you should....get on the horse thingy's....and..." At that moment,Pegasus burst into the bush.He smirked when he saw them."Hey little people!!I found them!!"He said.Then he turned back."Oh no!!"Keith yelped,and he got on Fuzzy.Yugi and Mai got on Scribbles,and Seto got on Mocha.Shadi was going to try to run,but Seto pulled him up on Mocha."You can't outrun a freakin dog."He said."Are you out of your mind?"Shadi was scared to be on the horsey.Pegasus picked up a rock and hurled it at Mocha,forcing him to the right.Then he got a larger one,and that pulled Scribbles and Fuzzy to the left.Then Zigor and Sid jumped in.The dog went after Shadi and Seto,who were on Mocha,and drove them into the woods."Dont go too far!!"Mai screamed.But a big ol rock smacked her right in the forehead."Ow."She said.And Scribbles and Fuzzy took off in the oppisite direction that Mocha had gone.The 2 horses ran for a long time,no stopping them.When they finally stopped,Keith,Mai and Yugi didn't know WHERE they were. "Ummmm..."Said Keith.He looked at the ground."BONES!!"He screeched.There was some bones on the ground. Keith huddled up under a big oak tree."No way do I come out."He said."A big ol monster might come an get me!!!!"He was totally freaked out.Mai hopped off Scribbles,and left Yugi on him,which was not wise because Yugi didn't know how to control horses that well."No monster is here."She said."Those are probley some old rabbit that got eaten by a wolf or something." "There are WOLVES in this woods?!"Keith shreaked."Thats even worse!!"He shivered.Bugi became scared as the horse pranced around.He hopped off and tied it to a tree."I'm scared."He said."I don't know anything about the forest,and it's dark time." "What's DARK TIME?"Asked Keith."You mean Night Time?"Yugi nodded."I'm tired."He said.Mai threw him the blanket again and Yugi layed down and put it on himself.Mai and Keith tryed to keep eachother warm.But they couldent sleep.There was noises everywhere.Yugi heard a wolf howling."Oh no!!"He said."Wolves like to eat little boys like me for breakfast!"He screamed. Mai rolled over."Be quiet and go to sleep."She said."Nothing will bother you if you don't give it a reason to." "I wish that weird-talking nature boy was here."Keith said."He knows alot about wildlife.Except for horses." "His name is Shadi."Mai said."And it's not his fault he ain't here."Then she thought of something else."There's another reason why we can't go home."Mai said."We can't return without Seto.His parents will get mad,and worse,think WE did it." "Puh-leeze."Keith said."Yugi's only 8,your only 9,and Im only 10.Do you think they think children that young will do something like that?"Mai was silent."We still can't without Seto." Yugi was heard saying something over and over."What are you doing?"Keith asked,curiouis."Im doing that chanting thing Nature-guy does."Yugi said."Shadi."Mai corrected. "He says it protects him."Yugi said,and continued.Keith thought Yugi was weirding out.
"What that??"Seto asked,pointing at something on the ground in descust."Its a..."Shadi came over."A turtle."He said,then poked it with a stick."Make that a dead turtle."There was sadness in his voice as he bent over the turtle and said a chant.But Seto had different plans.He kicked the turtle as hard as he could,and it flew into a stream.Shadi had a really funny look on his face."Respect the dead or they will not respect you."He said."Again with your sayings?"Seto asked."I don't care.I just want outta here."He watched as the turtle got carried down the stream and around the corner.He laughed. Shadi was sad."I prayed for you,turtle."He said."Let's hope the....rushing currents...steep waterfalls...and sharp rocks help you along your quest to a...better place."Seto cracked up."Sharp rocks and steep falls can't be an improvement--even for a life in which your parents don't love you." Shadi thougt of something."Exactly WHO told you this?"He asked."Your parents themselves?" "No."Seto said."But practicly.Keith heard them say it.They were gonna get rid o me for my new baby brother,Mokuba." "Maybe your friend was smiply lying?"Shadi offered.Seto wagged his head from side to side."No way.Keith is my best friend in the whole wide world.He'd never lie to me."Seto looked down and saw 2 sea shells.A smile went across his homely mug.(Excuse me if you like Seto.This will be the only Seto-bashing part ever,okay?Thats a promise.)Seto bent over and picked up the 2 shells.He examined them closely before saying this."Hey,Shadi.Lookit this!!"He put one shell in each hand and began dancing.He clicked the shells together."Shell dancing?"Shadi said."Well,shells are nature..." Seto loved this Shel dancing.But he wasn't paying much attention to ANYTHING around him,and stubbed his toe on a rock.Then,he fell over,dropping the shells first.The shells dug into his chest and stomach.(Okay...Im sorry.Seto got hurt.Ill make Keith and Shadi get hurt too to make it even,a little later)"OW!!"Seto screeched,jumping up.He started to cry because he was little.There was blood coming out of him."You're bleeding."Shadi said,pointing to the wounds.Seto ripped his shsirt off."NO DUH!!"He said,and blew on where the shells had embedded small peices of themselves in his skin.He took out the small peices and put his shirt back on."That hurted."He said."My days of shell dancing are over."And he stomped on the shells.They broke into 50,000 peices.Well,about 1/4 of that many,but who cares?"I need to do some math problems."Seto whined."I need to program a computer."The nerd was going crazy.(Er...Nerd?I take that back.Sorry,Ill make up for it)He ripped at his hair.Then Shadi,thinking fast,grabbed a stick.He scribbled in the dirt this problem.1 2/3 X 6 7/8=.SEto saw it.He grabbed a stick and scribbled out his work.Then he produced the answer.(Dont ask me)."Wow."Shadi said."I can only make answers from questions about nature and Egypt."He adjusted the turban on his head.The turban made his head look rather big. "Why don't you take that off?"Seto asked.He approached Shadi,who backed away."Its tradition that I wear it."He said."My religion." But Seto sprang up and ripped it off.Shadi had black bohemian hair that was short.He grabbed the turban and wrapped it around his head(If the thought of Shadi without his turban scares you,not to worry.He will not take it off ever again). "That was mean!"He said.Then he looked toward the dark forest."Im really tired."Said he."But the thought of sleeping here--to be honest,it scares me to death." "You SURE?"Seto asked."Among the NATURE?"Shadi shot the dagger look at Seto.Then he wrapped his cape around him and layed down with his head on the sleeping horse."G'night."He said,and rolled over.Seto decided to make a fire,so he did.But before he went to bed,he grabbed 2 shells and shell danced a little more.Little did he know,Shadi was still awake and he was lauhging at Seto.(HA HA HA.Like that).
"Lemony Yellow!!Grapity Grape!"Yugi said.He was pointing to the flavors on a TRIX cereal box he found."STOP!!"Keith said.The sun had just rose."Mai's still asleep.You'll wake her up an' she'll be so grouchy."Yugi frowned and ste some TRIX.He likes the TRIX."Gimme some TRIX."Said Keith.He ate some TRIX.(Do you think I am saying TRIX too much?) Mai woke up.Too late."What are you DOING?"Mai yelled."Its barely 7:00!!!There's sugar in the TRIX and it's too early to eat TRIX.(Me:Note to self:Stop saying TRIX)Yugi was sad."But I really want some of--(Stop right there,Yugi)--those things." He tried to grab the box from Mai."No way!"Keith yelled."Gimme the-- (::Holds a gun to Keith's head::Don't even think about it)--Cereal."Mai gave it to Keith."Why does KEITH get some but YUGI doesnt?"Yugi asked."Its not fair,I tell you."He pouted."Because YOU need sleep because YOUR only 8."Before Yugi could react,Mai wrapped a blanket around Yugi like a tamale and layed him down just so he cant get out.Then she put a pillow under that Yugi's head. "No fair!"Yugi whined."I dont want to sleep!"And he started to cry.But Mai just left him right there until that Bugi went right to sleep.(Good night,Yugi) Keith finished his...um....cereal and went over to Scribbles and Fuzzy."Hi Scribbles and Fuzzy."He said,and gave Them some grass.They seemed to eat his grass,which he couldent understand why because there was perfectly good grass right under them,plus they had been eating all day yesterday and so far all the time they had been awake without stopping.It blew his mind. "Why do horses eat so much?"He asked."Its bogus." Mai was reading a TV guide she found on the ground.It was so rained-on it was hardly ledgible,but she took what she could get."I dont know."She said."But dont ask Yugi,he's asleep."Keith decided not to listen."Yo,Yugi-- (Keith,mai told you not to now don't)-....Um,nevermind."Keith said,and he slumped into the sitting postition."Im hungry."He said. "You sure do COMPLAIN alot."she said.Keith would have slugged her if she wasn't a girl.She was mean.But Keith got some cookies out of the bag,but as he was in there,he noticed."This is the last thing in the duffel bag."He said."Besides toilet paper,tooth paste...and other stuff."Mai looked in."Oh darn!!Seto and Shadi must have the duffel bag with the food in it!" (Meanwhile,in the place in the woods where they were chased off,a blue duffel bag full of food sits there rotting as the animals find out how to open it) "Well,at least one of our groups won't be killed."Keith said.But then he thought of something."No fair.Shadi also has money." Mai's face got weird.She stared at Keith."Im TRYING to READ."She said in a P*ssy voice,and continued."No fair."Keith said,and he shuffled.Then he watched Yugi's chest rise and fall."Yugi's asleep."Keith said,loudly.Yugi rolled over. "Yes and I'd LIKE him to STAY that way."Mai said.Her cell phone rang.(Dont ask meh why she has one.Her parents are protective).She answered it."HElllllooo.."She said into it."Where ARE you guys?"Said a familier voice.I thought you werent really gonna leave." Mai thought of the only child that had been around when they made the plan."Oh,Hi Joey."She said."We're...In the middle of nowehre,with NO food,no water,and 2 horses to boot." "Ohhhh..."Joey said.He wasn't expecting a resopnse like that."I gotta get Kaiba's mom!!"He said."You could die!!Lemme talk to Seto." "Ummm...He's lost with Shadi." "Shadi?"Joey asked."What's a Shadi."Mai remembered he didn't know Shadi."Oh,him."Mai said."He's a freaky asian dude we met out here in the forest." "You mean you dont KNOW where Seto is?"Joey said,alarmed."God I wish you'd have let me come.And what about Yugi?He hasn't been home either."Mai swallowed."He's with us."Joey almost had a heart attack."Are you out of your MIND?Taking my best buddy out somehwere?What if he dies?Thats it,I'm telling." Mai was scared."Please don't Joey."She said."PLEASE."Joey really liked Mai,and would do anything 4 her,so being the stupid being that he was he agreed not to tell."Take care of Yugi."He said."Dont feed him carrots or make him be around mice." "Okay."Mai said."Bai." "Bai."Joey said,and he hung up.He was thinking of how stupid his friends were.
Seto woke up early in the morning,earlier than Shadi.Shadi was still asleep and snoring loud.Seto sneered.He saw that the fire was still burning,and that Mocha was going dangerously close to it.Seto pictured the horse running into the fire.(The following,in ~ sighns is Seto thinking about stuff) ~The horse went into the fire,and its leg went up in flames,quickly spreading to the rest of it's body.It franticly threw itself into the mud and dirt trying to rid itself of the terrible stuff.But to no prevail.Its tail,mane,head and abdomen were totally ingulfed in flames.Seto laughed as he watched it,knowing that roast horse was in store tonight~ Seto snapped out of it,but started laughing.He was disappoited when he saw that it had walked away from the fire.So Seto sat against a tree and grabbed a stick.He saw a sweet little rabbit in the bushes.He decided he wanted to hurt that rabbit really bad. So he drew back his arm,and--(Seto,Stop!!NOOO!Dont hurt the rabbit!!)-- stopped.He decided to let it live.But no sooner had he thought that,then someone behind his threw a sharp rock and killed the rabbit clean.He whipped his head around,angrily.He saw that Shadi had killed it."Oh dear."He said."I thought you loved nature." Shadi clasped his hands."Allah(Egyptian lord)Does not care that you kill wildlife as long as it is for your own well being.In this case,food." Seto was mad."we have a whole Duffel bag of food!"He snapped."And you go and kill the rabbit,huh?"Shadi nodded."I refuse to eat junk food for breakfast."Mocha was sniffing of the dead rabbit."Get your...your...BEAST away from the rabbit!" "Beast?"Seto said."Your the BEAST who kills innocent little bunny rabbits."Shadi did the clever thing and ignored Seto,and picked up the rabbit."The fire is going out."He said."Redo it."Seto refused."No way!!Matter of fact,I'll sit on it so not even a little SPARK remains!"And he plopped down on the fire without thinking.Of course,his @$$ was now on fire.He tried to put it out,but couldent."Help me."He said to Shadi."No way."Shadi resolved.Seto was sad.
"Where are we going exactly?"Yugi asked,cheerily.They had left the neighborhood."Just to the corner store,right?"Yugi recognized this path as the way they used to go to the Texaco around the corner.Seto grunted."I didnt even want YOU to come because I'm mad at you."Yugi got sad."But why?I said I was sorry."He watched as they passed the corner store.Many people were waving at them as they passed,but Yugi and Mai were the only ones that waved back."Because I didn't accept your apology."Seto sneered.
"Yeah."Said Keith,hoisting the duffle bag onto Fluffy's back.Fluffy was so young and inexperianced at riding,it almost caused him to fall."I need a stronger horse."Keith whined."Stop whining."Mai said."Maybe if we meet a farmer along the way we can trade it in." "But what about the lady these really belong to?"Keith asked."Seto's grandparents?When we get home and if we have a different horse,she might get mad."Seto stopped Mocha in his tracks."I told you before we aren't GOING home."He said,coldly.Yugi whimpered. "Let's play Eye-Spy."He said."Who wants to go first?" "I will."Mai said."Okay."Yugi said.And they played Eye-Spy. Keith became aware of a man outside mowing.He didnt recognize the man.He thought that was pretty weird because he knew everyone around there.Then he noticed the houses were unfamilier."Seto,We should go back."He said."My parents dont want me."Was Seto's reply."They'd just get rid of me."Keith was about to tell him that it was all a lie,but then he remembered that he had told Mai the same thing,and they would both be mad if he fessed up.So he left it at that.Yugi and Mai were laughing."Oh shut up!!"Keith screeched.They had been playing Eye-Spy.They stopped."Im cold."Complained Yugi."Lets go into a coat store." "I dont have any money."Seto said.And neither does anyone else."It was silent for a while.But then,they heard something. "Keith!!"Two voices shouted.They were running up behind him.Keith turned Fuzzy around to face 2 of his bully friends,Zigor and Sid. "Sup?"Sid asked.But then he looked around."Hey Mai."He said.She didnt wave,but stuck her nose in the air.They saw Yugi and Seto with them."Why are you hanging out with those nerds?"Zigor asked.He was scary looking with spiky black hair.Keith scratched the back of his head and tightened the bandana nervously."Well,you know...." "Seto's his best friend."Mai cut in."And so are we.So get outta here."Keith pretended to cough. "Is this true,Keith?"Sid asked.He had a mad look in his eyes."Uhhhh...well.....uhhhh..." "If your really my friend,tell em."Seto said.Keith cleared his throat."Yes.So get lost,losers."Zigor and Sid were mad.Keith noticed how big they were.Zigor picked up a rock and hurled it at Keith and his horse.Keith turned Fuzzy around really fast.He skidded off,without even noticing or caring what way he was going.Mai and Seto followed.They ran for about 5 minutes,and when they looked back--Zigor and Sid were gone.But they were in a town none of them knew."Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........Why were we running from them?"Yugi asked."I never seen them before." "Thats because your not in our grade."Mai said."They're really mean and really strong and they can really hurt us." "Not me."Seto said."Especially when Im on this big animal.""I think they showed they're not scared of horses."Mai said.Keith was still breathing hard."Dam* that was freaky."He said.They all stared."Did you just say the 'd' word?!"Yugi asked with alarm."That words not aloud!!Its bad!!No no!!"He clapped his hands over his mouth.Keith rolled his eyes.Seto sighhed and looked over his back.What he saw scared him really bad.They had Pegasus with them,that big 17 year old.He was one of their best friends.Plus,they had Zigor and Sid's dog,a really mean one.It was running after them.Keith started shouting names at them. "Your momma's so fat she has to sleep on the floor!!"He said.It wsnt really a good joke,but it made them mad."And also,she's so fat they had to have perfessional help to make you!!"Sid's mom was really fat.So this made him mad."No one insults my momma!!"He said,and ran after them faster.Pegasus was still with them.They decided he didnt mean well at all. So they started running again.After several rocks had pelted Yugi in the back of the head,along with damaging Mocha's knee,they managed to escape Zigor,Sid,and Pegasus's assaults by running through mazes of trees.But then Seto noticed something."Trees?"He said."I dont remember trees anywhere around the neighborhood."Yugi spoke up."Maybe they all just....grew here?You know?Like overnight?" "Trees can't grow overnight."Keith said."Duh."Yugi hung his head."I didn't mean to run THIS far away from town."Seto sighed."I only meant to be a bum under the crossway bride.You know,the one at city limits?"Mai looked at a pocketwatch."We passed it about......an hour ago."Seto punched a tree."That's just great...I dont have any idea WHERE I am or HOW to get out." "Looks like a swamp to me."Said Keith."How theres all the stinky water."He steered his horse out of it.Seto jumped off Mocha,only to have his feet sink in horrible smelling mud."Yuck."He said,shaking his foot.But he kneeled down and examined Mocha's knee."The horse it injured."He said.Then he cursed."Stupid Zigor,Sid and Pegasus.They injured my steed...and it might slow us down a bit." "Not to mention my head."Said Yugi,rubbing his head."That hurts.""We dont have any ice to help."Mai said."So how are we going to make the horses' injury better?" "But he can still run."Said Keith."I saw him.Why do we worry about it??"Seto rolled his eyes."Because if we don't,it could get so bad,that the leg might ROT off."Keith screwed his face up."Well....I have a bandana somewhere....other than my head if it might work."He dug something out of his sweatshirt's cubby pocket.It was a bandana,and it big black wobbly letters,it said, Keith's "You idiot,we know its your's."Seto said,and he grabbed it.He wrapped it around Mocha's leg.But Mocha layed down.Bugi rolled off his horse and hit the ground with a sickeninig thud."Ow."He said.He got up and brushed off himself.Keith and Mai got off too. "Where the He*l are we?"Keith said."Its all your fault."He threw a stick at Seto.Seto ducked. "Im hungry!"Mai whined."I want some food!!"She rubbed her stomach."Not me."Bugi said,"Granpa made me 4 little sandwaiches shaped like triangles before I left." "Why do you live with your Grandpa?"Asked Seto,Laying down."Oh."Bugi said.He looked up,trying to remember."Well,I remember my daddy and mommy used to hit me alot.Hit me and make it hurt for a long time.So some strange people came and got me,and took me to my grandpa's house.Thats all I remember." No one said anything for a long time.But then they heard something."He'll pay for breaking the silence."Said Keith.But they all just listened.It was someone,saying something in a language that was beyond understanding.He was saying it over and over again,as if he were chanting.His voice had sort of an asian accent to it."What is that?"Yugi asked."It scares me." "I dont know."Seto said."It could be anything in this forest I guess." "It could be anywhere!"Mai squealed."But what is it saying?"The chanting continued.Then they noticed something.He was kind of sobbing like he was scared."Okay."Keith said."this is getting really freaky and if we dont find out whats doing it,I might wet myself." He shivered."I will!!"Said Yugi,cheerfully.And he grabbed a skinny tree with one hand and swung around it into a nearby clearing.Mai,Seto and Keith grabbed the horse's ropes and slowly followed,way behind.Yugi tried to follow the sound,as it got closer.But the winding trees and alike bushes made it hard.When the noise got loud,like it was right behind the bush,it stopped as Yugi stepped on a twig.They could hear heavy breathing,and sobs."Who ARE you?"Keith said into the bush.He could tell whoever it was was right behind it.The heavy breathing started again.The person was trying to remain silent."Why are you scared?"Seto asked.Seto's voice was sort of raspy,and scary.So the person remained silent.Yugi thought he could faintly hear a chant beneath his breath."Please come out."Mai said."We arent going to hurt you." Mai's voice wasn't scary like Seto's.So slowly,the person drew out of the bushes.He was small,about Yugi's age,and shivering.Mai gave him a blanket."Hello!!"Yugi said."My name is Yugi Motou!!And these are my freinds,Mai,Keith,and Seto!How do you do???" The person remained silent,but sobbed.He walked over to the horses,and touched them."What are these amazing things?"He asked."Never before have a seen something like this."He had a strong asian accent,and didn't use slang terms. "Its called a horse."Said Seto."Duh."The person didnt react to the duh comment,he just said,'In Egypt,we ride dromedaries.Much different." "Droma dairy?"Yugi asked."COOL!!Whats a drama dairy??"Seto rolled his eyes."You idiot,Dromedaries are camels.The things with two humps on their back?" "Oh."Yugi said."Whats your name?"Keith asked the person."And where do you come from??"The person was silent for a while."I come from a merchanery in Egypt."He said.That was all.Keith was puzzled."Then what are you doing here in Japan?Egypt is like.....way far West."The person was hesitant in answering again.He was still scared,they could tell.Keith picked up a large stick and swung it,just playing around.The person became frightened and fled into a bush,chanting over and over again. "Huh?"Mai said."Why do you say things over and over again?"The person peered out."I-its a protection chant.Its supposed to keep me from being afraid." "What kind of mumbo-jumbo does your teacher have you reading?"Keith pondered.The person shivered."Whats your name?"Asked Mai.The child shivered and hesitated on answering."If I answer you,you may be able to take advantage of me later."He said,in a scared voice."You're awfully careful."Mai said."Are you running from something?"Yugi offered the boy a cupcake."No thanks."He said."And I'm not hiding.Matter of fact,I'm lost." "Where'd you come from?"Asked Seto.He looked at the white turban wrapped around The boy's head."Im from....a Merchanary in Egypt."He said."My father was taking me here,searching for some kind of....Melinnium item.Any way,I was trying to find somewhere to meditate.And I saw this forest.I went inside,but the winding trees proved to be a challenging maze." "In Other words,you got lost in this forest?"Keith asked.The Boy nodded. "Just tell us your name and MAYBE we could help you."Seto said,smartly.The boy shook his head yet again."Maybe when I get to know you better."He began looking around,searching for something."What are you looking for?"Yugi asked."Could we help?" The boy looked at the ground."I hate to have to ask,but do you have any food?I'll pay you back."Keith looked iffy. "Ummmm....Should we share,guys?"He asked."I dont know."Seto said."We don't know anything about this character."He glared at the boy,who turned away."Well I think we should."Mai said."i know how it feels to be hungry."She took a cookie out of her pocket and gave it to the boy."Thank you."He said,gretfully.But Mai wasn't done yet.She reached into her duffel bag and pulled out a cantene. "Dont give him the whole thing!!"Keith snapped."Then their wont be enough for US!!"Mai shrugged."He looks like he hasn't eaten in a while.We have."The boy was eating it.Yugi noticed him shivering."I have a blankie."He said,and took it off the horses' back.He handed it to the boy."Thanks again."He said,in that asian accent.He wrapped him around himself.There was a long silence,but finaloly,the boy spoke."I think your worthy of knowing my name."He said.They all turned,at full attention. "My name is Shadi."He said."Cool name."Keith said."I don't know where my parents thought of my name.My mom said she thought I was going to be a gurl an my name would have been Katrina." Everyone liked Keith's story."My name is Egyptian."Shadi said."Thats why you havent heard it." Silence for a while."My name is aYugi."Said Yugi,after a few minutes."Yes,you've already told me that."Shadi said."And thats Seto,and thats Keith,and Thats Mai."Silence again. "Ummmm...I have a question."Shadi said."What do you use those creatures for?"He pointed at the horses,that were pawing the ground."To ride on." "Ride?"Shadi asked.He touched the horse's leg."Its leg is alot skinnier than A dromedairies." "Here,we call them camels."Seto said."Here,you can do the same.So....how old are you?" "9."Shadi said."Me too!!"Said Mai."Me three!!"Said Seto."Im 10."Keith said,sadly."And Yugi's 8." Yugi felt small."Im a big baby."He said,and covered up his large eyes.He made a pitiful face."aw."Said Seto."You look cute when you cry."Yugi brightened up. "How would you RIDE one of these?"Shadi asked,still on the subject of the horses."I mean,they look so small compared to camels and they don't look very fast."He just didnt get it."And plus,I think we eat something called a horse in egypt." Everyone made a face."EAT a horse?But they're our friends!!Never would we eat a horse here." "An animal?Your friend?"Shadi asked.Then he laughed."BUt animals are only there for mounts and eating." Silence.They decided not to tread his culture all up to heck."Thanks for the cookie."Said Shadi to Mai."It was really nice of you guys to share your food and water with an extra person." He stood up and wiped himself off."So....why are you guys out here?" Seto looked sad."My mom and dad are having another baby,and they dont want me,so we ran.But then Zigor,Sid and Pegasus chased us out here,and we're lost." Shadi looked up."Oh."He said."Now,I think I wanna go to Egypt."Seto said."Let's all go to Egypt!!And help Shadi find his way home!! Nobody knew that Egypt was across seas.They only agreed."How long did it take you to get here?"Seto asked.
"Ohh...only about 3 hours."Said Shadi.What he had forgotten to say was that he had taken a PLANE."Cool!!"Mai said."Then it wont take that long--but first we hafta get outta this place."She looked around.It was beginning to grow darker."We cant be in a forest wheile its dark!!"Yugi cryed."That'd be scary!!We gotta get outta here!!" Seto climbed on Mocha."Whoa."Said Shadi."That thing doesnt LOOK like it could carry any weight--yet it does."He was amazed.Keith hoisted up on Fuzzy,and he almost fell because he was so young,but remained standing."This horse is young."Shadi said."Yet he can STILL carry the weight of a 10-yr. old."He was even more amazed.But when he saw that Scribbles could carry the weight of Mai AND Yugi,he was three times surprised."Cool."He said."BUt let's just see how fast they can go." Seto made Mocha run in a circle."Like this."He said.The horse moved really fast,of course,and Shadi couldent beleive it. "I wish I had my camel."He said."But we had to leave it at home." "Do you wanna ride on Mocha with me?"Seto asked."He's really strong and can carry two people."Shadi saw that Mocha's muscles bulged from under the fur,and relized he wasnt lying.BUt he decided not to ride."No thank you.As long as you walk,I can keep up.Riding a 'horse' may knock my turban off."Seto nodded.Yugi and Mai were talking about something. "He sure is weird looking."Yugi whispered."Look at that white cape and turban.Plus he talks funny and his skin is a little darker that ours."Mai nodded."He's from a different country.BUt I like his voice.It has a nice ring to it."She followed Seto and Keith's horse.Shadi walked beside Yugi and Mai's horse,trailing sort of behind because he was checking out the scnenery.He was watching how funny the horses walked.
Soon,It was so dark in the forest,the horses could not see to go on.Wolves and Coyotes could be heard moving everywhere."If we arent careful,a pack of wolves can overcome our horses."Said Keith."We should stop here and eat dinner and everything."Everyone except Mai and Yugi agreed."I am NOT sleeping on the ground."Said Mai."Im a lady,and thats not what lady's do." "Yeah!!"Yugi said."And sleeping here might be scary."Everyone laughed."No."Shadi said."You must'nt think of it that way.Think of the noises and sounds around you as a sighn of mother nature.Not as a fear.And Mai--think of getting dirty as mother nature taking its course."Mai and Yugi were puzzled."Oh,alright."Yugi agreed."I am sorta hungry."Keith,Seto,Mai and Yugi hoisted off the horses. "I bet Grandpa misses me."Yugi said."I miss granpa."A big fat tear hit the ground."Uh oh."Said Seto.Rivers of tears started coming down Yugi's face.He wailed loudly."Shut UP!!"Keith said.
"Granpa used to say that to meeee!!"Yugi yelled between sobs.Nobody knew what to do to stop Yugi's sobbing."Stop."Said Mai.Yugi stopped."But why??"He said."WHY?!I miss my best buddy,too!!I bet Joey misses me too!!" (Meanwhile,at Joey's place,he's thinking how great it is that that little kid Yugi cant be annoying him with talks of childish things) "I dont think so.'Keith said."Who'd miss your CRYING???!!"Yugi sobbed again. They were all trying to stop it."Let nature take its course."Said Shadi siddenly."If Yugi wants to cry,let him.If he wants to be a baby,let him."Yugi sniffed."Im not a baby."He said."And Im cold." It was getting pretty cold."Gimme something to eat."Seto said.Keith grabbed the duffel bag."Chips and coke?"He said.But Seto reached in and pulled out some mushrooms."Why the heck did you bring these?"Asked Seto."Yuck." "Because I like them."Said Keith."And I think that they are good."He ate some.Yugi wrapped up in a blanket."Its freezy."He said. "Freezy?"Said Mai."There is not such a word as 'Freezy."Yugi shrugged."Aw well."He said.He ate some chips.He liked them so much he was happy.Shadi was not eating anything.He was just looking around at everyone.Then he reached into his pocket and pulled something out.It was some money."COOL!!"Keith screeched."Money!!"He tried to grab it,But Shadi blocked him. "My dad gave me this money to buy food for ME."He said."And I don't know if I can share it or not because I dont know how to count money." "I dont either."Said Yugi."All the coins are different sizes.It would be alot easier if they were all the same."Seto grabbed the money."I can count it.Plus,if they were all the same,then it would be impossible to reach certain amouts of money.Like,if they were all the size of a nickel and worth 5 cents like it is because of its size,you couldent reach 62 cents." Yugi was puzzled."Okay."He said,playing along."By the way,Shadi,you have $1.55 here.Not enough to buy much of anything." Shadi hung his head."In Egypt,we are a poor country.$1.55 is alot more over there than it is here.Its because your country is rich and if you ask me quite spoiled.I have observed that very few of YOU have any manners." Silence. Yugi cryed."Im cold!"He said."WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"And he cryed even louder."Heres a blanket."Said Mai.She put it on Yugi.Yugi was happy and warm now.Yay for him. 'I wanna play with grandpa."He said."I miss Granpa.And I miss Joey,too."Yugi was about to cry again.
"For heavens sake,why the heck did we bring him?"Keith and Seto said at the same time.They both stared at eachother,but then they heard something.Over Yugi's sobs,of course.Some people were coming through the woods.It sounded like 4 of them. 'Oh no!!"Keith said.Then the people talked.It was Zigor,Sid,and Pegasus.They estimated the 4th was large and very ugly mean dog."WE gafta get outta here!!"Yugi said,and He stood up,letting the blanket fall down. "Why must we leave?"Shadi asked."I find the residence that we are presently quite appealing."Yugi wailed."I wanna leave before Zigor Sid and Pegasus and Mr.Big Mean DOGGY come!!"Shadi didn't understand."Who are these-- people?"He asked. "Oh."Keith said."Their just the people who DROVE US INTO THE WOODS AND LEFT US TO DIE!!"He screeched. "Oh."Said Shadi."I suppose you should....get on the horse thingy's....and..." At that moment,Pegasus burst into the bush.He smirked when he saw them."Hey little people!!I found them!!"He said.Then he turned back."Oh no!!"Keith yelped,and he got on Fuzzy.Yugi and Mai got on Scribbles,and Seto got on Mocha.Shadi was going to try to run,but Seto pulled him up on Mocha."You can't outrun a freakin dog."He said."Are you out of your mind?"Shadi was scared to be on the horsey.Pegasus picked up a rock and hurled it at Mocha,forcing him to the right.Then he got a larger one,and that pulled Scribbles and Fuzzy to the left.Then Zigor and Sid jumped in.The dog went after Shadi and Seto,who were on Mocha,and drove them into the woods."Dont go too far!!"Mai screamed.But a big ol rock smacked her right in the forehead."Ow."She said.And Scribbles and Fuzzy took off in the oppisite direction that Mocha had gone.The 2 horses ran for a long time,no stopping them.When they finally stopped,Keith,Mai and Yugi didn't know WHERE they were. "Ummmm..."Said Keith.He looked at the ground."BONES!!"He screeched.There was some bones on the ground. Keith huddled up under a big oak tree."No way do I come out."He said."A big ol monster might come an get me!!!!"He was totally freaked out.Mai hopped off Scribbles,and left Yugi on him,which was not wise because Yugi didn't know how to control horses that well."No monster is here."She said."Those are probley some old rabbit that got eaten by a wolf or something." "There are WOLVES in this woods?!"Keith shreaked."Thats even worse!!"He shivered.Bugi became scared as the horse pranced around.He hopped off and tied it to a tree."I'm scared."He said."I don't know anything about the forest,and it's dark time." "What's DARK TIME?"Asked Keith."You mean Night Time?"Yugi nodded."I'm tired."He said.Mai threw him the blanket again and Yugi layed down and put it on himself.Mai and Keith tryed to keep eachother warm.But they couldent sleep.There was noises everywhere.Yugi heard a wolf howling."Oh no!!"He said."Wolves like to eat little boys like me for breakfast!"He screamed. Mai rolled over."Be quiet and go to sleep."She said."Nothing will bother you if you don't give it a reason to." "I wish that weird-talking nature boy was here."Keith said."He knows alot about wildlife.Except for horses." "His name is Shadi."Mai said."And it's not his fault he ain't here."Then she thought of something else."There's another reason why we can't go home."Mai said."We can't return without Seto.His parents will get mad,and worse,think WE did it." "Puh-leeze."Keith said."Yugi's only 8,your only 9,and Im only 10.Do you think they think children that young will do something like that?"Mai was silent."We still can't without Seto." Yugi was heard saying something over and over."What are you doing?"Keith asked,curiouis."Im doing that chanting thing Nature-guy does."Yugi said."Shadi."Mai corrected. "He says it protects him."Yugi said,and continued.Keith thought Yugi was weirding out.
"What that??"Seto asked,pointing at something on the ground in descust."Its a..."Shadi came over."A turtle."He said,then poked it with a stick."Make that a dead turtle."There was sadness in his voice as he bent over the turtle and said a chant.But Seto had different plans.He kicked the turtle as hard as he could,and it flew into a stream.Shadi had a really funny look on his face."Respect the dead or they will not respect you."He said."Again with your sayings?"Seto asked."I don't care.I just want outta here."He watched as the turtle got carried down the stream and around the corner.He laughed. Shadi was sad."I prayed for you,turtle."He said."Let's hope the....rushing currents...steep waterfalls...and sharp rocks help you along your quest to a...better place."Seto cracked up."Sharp rocks and steep falls can't be an improvement--even for a life in which your parents don't love you." Shadi thougt of something."Exactly WHO told you this?"He asked."Your parents themselves?" "No."Seto said."But practicly.Keith heard them say it.They were gonna get rid o me for my new baby brother,Mokuba." "Maybe your friend was smiply lying?"Shadi offered.Seto wagged his head from side to side."No way.Keith is my best friend in the whole wide world.He'd never lie to me."Seto looked down and saw 2 sea shells.A smile went across his homely mug.(Excuse me if you like Seto.This will be the only Seto-bashing part ever,okay?Thats a promise.)Seto bent over and picked up the 2 shells.He examined them closely before saying this."Hey,Shadi.Lookit this!!"He put one shell in each hand and began dancing.He clicked the shells together."Shell dancing?"Shadi said."Well,shells are nature..." Seto loved this Shel dancing.But he wasn't paying much attention to ANYTHING around him,and stubbed his toe on a rock.Then,he fell over,dropping the shells first.The shells dug into his chest and stomach.(Okay...Im sorry.Seto got hurt.Ill make Keith and Shadi get hurt too to make it even,a little later)"OW!!"Seto screeched,jumping up.He started to cry because he was little.There was blood coming out of him."You're bleeding."Shadi said,pointing to the wounds.Seto ripped his shsirt off."NO DUH!!"He said,and blew on where the shells had embedded small peices of themselves in his skin.He took out the small peices and put his shirt back on."That hurted."He said."My days of shell dancing are over."And he stomped on the shells.They broke into 50,000 peices.Well,about 1/4 of that many,but who cares?"I need to do some math problems."Seto whined."I need to program a computer."The nerd was going crazy.(Er...Nerd?I take that back.Sorry,Ill make up for it)He ripped at his hair.Then Shadi,thinking fast,grabbed a stick.He scribbled in the dirt this problem.1 2/3 X 6 7/8=.SEto saw it.He grabbed a stick and scribbled out his work.Then he produced the answer.(Dont ask me)."Wow."Shadi said."I can only make answers from questions about nature and Egypt."He adjusted the turban on his head.The turban made his head look rather big. "Why don't you take that off?"Seto asked.He approached Shadi,who backed away."Its tradition that I wear it."He said."My religion." But Seto sprang up and ripped it off.Shadi had black bohemian hair that was short.He grabbed the turban and wrapped it around his head(If the thought of Shadi without his turban scares you,not to worry.He will not take it off ever again). "That was mean!"He said.Then he looked toward the dark forest."Im really tired."Said he."But the thought of sleeping here--to be honest,it scares me to death." "You SURE?"Seto asked."Among the NATURE?"Shadi shot the dagger look at Seto.Then he wrapped his cape around him and layed down with his head on the sleeping horse."G'night."He said,and rolled over.Seto decided to make a fire,so he did.But before he went to bed,he grabbed 2 shells and shell danced a little more.Little did he know,Shadi was still awake and he was lauhging at Seto.(HA HA HA.Like that).
"Lemony Yellow!!Grapity Grape!"Yugi said.He was pointing to the flavors on a TRIX cereal box he found."STOP!!"Keith said.The sun had just rose."Mai's still asleep.You'll wake her up an' she'll be so grouchy."Yugi frowned and ste some TRIX.He likes the TRIX."Gimme some TRIX."Said Keith.He ate some TRIX.(Do you think I am saying TRIX too much?) Mai woke up.Too late."What are you DOING?"Mai yelled."Its barely 7:00!!!There's sugar in the TRIX and it's too early to eat TRIX.(Me:Note to self:Stop saying TRIX)Yugi was sad."But I really want some of--(Stop right there,Yugi)--those things." He tried to grab the box from Mai."No way!"Keith yelled."Gimme the-- (::Holds a gun to Keith's head::Don't even think about it)--Cereal."Mai gave it to Keith."Why does KEITH get some but YUGI doesnt?"Yugi asked."Its not fair,I tell you."He pouted."Because YOU need sleep because YOUR only 8."Before Yugi could react,Mai wrapped a blanket around Yugi like a tamale and layed him down just so he cant get out.Then she put a pillow under that Yugi's head. "No fair!"Yugi whined."I dont want to sleep!"And he started to cry.But Mai just left him right there until that Bugi went right to sleep.(Good night,Yugi) Keith finished his...um....cereal and went over to Scribbles and Fuzzy."Hi Scribbles and Fuzzy."He said,and gave Them some grass.They seemed to eat his grass,which he couldent understand why because there was perfectly good grass right under them,plus they had been eating all day yesterday and so far all the time they had been awake without stopping.It blew his mind. "Why do horses eat so much?"He asked."Its bogus." Mai was reading a TV guide she found on the ground.It was so rained-on it was hardly ledgible,but she took what she could get."I dont know."She said."But dont ask Yugi,he's asleep."Keith decided not to listen."Yo,Yugi-- (Keith,mai told you not to now don't)-....Um,nevermind."Keith said,and he slumped into the sitting postition."Im hungry."He said. "You sure do COMPLAIN alot."she said.Keith would have slugged her if she wasn't a girl.She was mean.But Keith got some cookies out of the bag,but as he was in there,he noticed."This is the last thing in the duffel bag."He said."Besides toilet paper,tooth paste...and other stuff."Mai looked in."Oh darn!!Seto and Shadi must have the duffel bag with the food in it!" (Meanwhile,in the place in the woods where they were chased off,a blue duffel bag full of food sits there rotting as the animals find out how to open it) "Well,at least one of our groups won't be killed."Keith said.But then he thought of something."No fair.Shadi also has money." Mai's face got weird.She stared at Keith."Im TRYING to READ."She said in a P*ssy voice,and continued."No fair."Keith said,and he shuffled.Then he watched Yugi's chest rise and fall."Yugi's asleep."Keith said,loudly.Yugi rolled over. "Yes and I'd LIKE him to STAY that way."Mai said.Her cell phone rang.(Dont ask meh why she has one.Her parents are protective).She answered it."HElllllooo.."She said into it."Where ARE you guys?"Said a familier voice.I thought you werent really gonna leave." Mai thought of the only child that had been around when they made the plan."Oh,Hi Joey."She said."We're...In the middle of nowehre,with NO food,no water,and 2 horses to boot." "Ohhhh..."Joey said.He wasn't expecting a resopnse like that."I gotta get Kaiba's mom!!"He said."You could die!!Lemme talk to Seto." "Ummm...He's lost with Shadi." "Shadi?"Joey asked."What's a Shadi."Mai remembered he didn't know Shadi."Oh,him."Mai said."He's a freaky asian dude we met out here in the forest." "You mean you dont KNOW where Seto is?"Joey said,alarmed."God I wish you'd have let me come.And what about Yugi?He hasn't been home either."Mai swallowed."He's with us."Joey almost had a heart attack."Are you out of your MIND?Taking my best buddy out somehwere?What if he dies?Thats it,I'm telling." Mai was scared."Please don't Joey."She said."PLEASE."Joey really liked Mai,and would do anything 4 her,so being the stupid being that he was he agreed not to tell."Take care of Yugi."He said."Dont feed him carrots or make him be around mice." "Okay."Mai said."Bai." "Bai."Joey said,and he hung up.He was thinking of how stupid his friends were.
Seto woke up early in the morning,earlier than Shadi.Shadi was still asleep and snoring loud.Seto sneered.He saw that the fire was still burning,and that Mocha was going dangerously close to it.Seto pictured the horse running into the fire.(The following,in ~ sighns is Seto thinking about stuff) ~The horse went into the fire,and its leg went up in flames,quickly spreading to the rest of it's body.It franticly threw itself into the mud and dirt trying to rid itself of the terrible stuff.But to no prevail.Its tail,mane,head and abdomen were totally ingulfed in flames.Seto laughed as he watched it,knowing that roast horse was in store tonight~ Seto snapped out of it,but started laughing.He was disappoited when he saw that it had walked away from the fire.So Seto sat against a tree and grabbed a stick.He saw a sweet little rabbit in the bushes.He decided he wanted to hurt that rabbit really bad. So he drew back his arm,and--(Seto,Stop!!NOOO!Dont hurt the rabbit!!)-- stopped.He decided to let it live.But no sooner had he thought that,then someone behind his threw a sharp rock and killed the rabbit clean.He whipped his head around,angrily.He saw that Shadi had killed it."Oh dear."He said."I thought you loved nature." Shadi clasped his hands."Allah(Egyptian lord)Does not care that you kill wildlife as long as it is for your own well being.In this case,food." Seto was mad."we have a whole Duffel bag of food!"He snapped."And you go and kill the rabbit,huh?"Shadi nodded."I refuse to eat junk food for breakfast."Mocha was sniffing of the dead rabbit."Get your...your...BEAST away from the rabbit!" "Beast?"Seto said."Your the BEAST who kills innocent little bunny rabbits."Shadi did the clever thing and ignored Seto,and picked up the rabbit."The fire is going out."He said."Redo it."Seto refused."No way!!Matter of fact,I'll sit on it so not even a little SPARK remains!"And he plopped down on the fire without thinking.Of course,his @$$ was now on fire.He tried to put it out,but couldent."Help me."He said to Shadi."No way."Shadi resolved.Seto was sad.