Disclaimer: I do not own Ronin Warriors or Into the Land of the Unicorns. I also forgot to credit Kajite Grey with the idea of Hell Devil (Sai's spoon from the first chapter.) Please don't sue me, I am poor. Thanks to reviewers, you made my millennium.
Rowen winced as a delver jabbed him in the side with its spear. For the past forty-five minutes they had been screeching at him in their language and when he didn't answer they would slap him, or punch him, or inflict some sort of pain. He didn't know what they were after or why they needed him to get it. He also wanted to know how they had blocked his armor. Needless to say this was all very irritating.
He didn't know how they were keeping him captive, but he couldn't move within a foot of where he stood, and he was starting to feel very claustrophobic. It especially annoyed him that he couldn't do anything to hurt these things or defend himself.
Suddenly the crowd of little pests cleared and one that was a little more dressed up than the others walked forward. It motioned to one of its cohorts and Rowen was suddenly jerked down to his knees. The important looking creature marched regally over and grabbed his chin. It yelled something in its native tongue in his face. By this time Rowen was fed up at being screamed at. Against his better judgment he wrenched his chin out of its clammy hand and spit into its ugly little face. The thing wiped its face off, and then said something else while grinning wickedly at Rowen. He looked over his shoulder and nodded. Before Rowen could even think about doing anything, sparks exploded behind his eyes as one of them slugged him in the back of the head with a spiked club. His eyes rolled back into his skull as he fell to the ground.
Meanwhile, Ryo and the other were running at a breakneck speed towards the river, in hopes of finding their missing comrade. Sage sighed and took in surroundings. This was definitely not normal. The trees were silvery in color, and gave off a cinnamon scent. The grass was mossy looking and far greener than it usually was. But aside from all of that, the air seemed different. It was a lot cleaner and sweet. If he weren't so worried about Rowen he would have stopped and just enjoyed it. But as it was, he and the others just kept running to the river to rescue the Warrior of Life.
The river was in sight when all of a sudden Ryo, who in the lead, jarred to a sudden stop. Kento pulled up just as suddenly to avoid running into him. Sage looked up to see what the problem was.
"Hey Ryo," Sai said, "What's up? Why did you stop?" Ryo pointed wordlessly to a small clearing in the trees. The rest looked. Kento rubbed his eyes; not at all sure he believed what he saw. Sage raised his eyebrows. "So," he thought, "This is what the old guy meant by the delver's 'like.'"
In front of them, not fifty feet away, was a unicorn. And it seemed to be communicating with a giant…bear man. Kento turned around.
"Okay. That's it. I'm starting to see things. Someone hit me and send me back to reality." He said. Sai absently slapped the back of Kento's head. That earned him a dirty look. At the sound of Kento's voice, the unicorn started and jerked its head up abruptly. The man-bear said something in a strange language to the unicorn, who nodded its head slightly. It stepped forward, if a bit edgy at first. It walked warily towards Ryo then stopped abruptly. Before Ryo could say or do anything, the unicorn gently placed its horn on his chest plate. Ryo looked at the beast in a confused manner. He suddenly gasped in shock and pain as the unicorn plunged its silver horn through his armor and his flesh, aiming straight for his heart…
Rowen slid slowly and painfully into consciousness. His head throbbed. Come to think of it, his whole body throbbed. He opened his eyes and was welcomed by darkness. He was glad for that. He was sure it was going to be glaring white light. Y'know, just to make things REALLY fun. He groaned and looked around as his eyes adjusted to the dark. He leaned his aching head against the stone wall behind his and sent a silent thank you for the fact that the little goblins weren't pestering him. That and also the fact that he was able to move without hindrance.
He waited for a little while and let his head ease its pounding enough for him to get up and look for an exit. He searched his pocket for his armor crystal but found nothing. He was going to have to do something about that. He moved his hand across the rough slimy wall and finally came across a deep crevice in the stone. He followed it finding it was roughly in the shape of a door. He set his back against a wall and shoved. Inch by inch the crack opened a little wider until he was able to squeeze through. He looked around in the dark, and when he felt that the coast was clear he started running, all the while thinking "That was waaaaay to easy..."
Kento and the other Ronins yelled in alarm when the unicorn stabbed Ryo with its horn. Ryo gaped at the creature in confusion, not really sure what to do about being impaled on a unicorn horn. Then just as suddenly as it had stabbed him, it removed its silver horn and stepped back. Ryo placed a hand on his chest and also stepped back, not sure what to think. Sai came up and put an arm around his waist to steady him, in case he fell. Kento was all for beating the unicorn into a pulp. The unicorn took another step back. It looked at the bear creature and then placed its horn on Ryo's shoulder.
I'm am truly sorry about that, however, I could not communicate with you unless I created a link. My name is Lightfoot. This is the Dimblethum. We were just discussing your friend. Ryo raised his eyebrows as he absently rubbed a hand across his breastplate.
Sage stepped forward. "Excuse me Ryo, but if I may ask why did a unicorn just stab you, why are you still standing, and why aren't we doing anything about it??" He asked hotly.
Sage's snapping didn't seem to bother the unicorn any. You'll have to tell your friends that I cannot understand them without a link created and if you wish to reply you will have to send a telepathic wave, or think your words to me. Now that a link is created you should be able to understand both me and the Dimblethum. Ryo swallowed. "Ok… guys the unicorn is talking to me telepathically. Let's see if I can talk back." He closed his eyes for a minute. Can you understand me? He 'thought' to Lightfoot.
Yes Lightfoot responded. What I was saying is my companion and I overheard a delver and one of his little cohorts talking about a strange blue-haired man and his armored friends. They said they kidnapped the blue-haired one and had taken him to their chieftain. I assume you and your companions are the armored friends they were referring to? Ryo looking back at Sage and the others. "He says some weird people had kidnapped a blue-haired guy with armor and had taken him to their leader."
Sai nodded. "That's Rowen alright. Ask him if he knows where they took him."
Ryo looked back at Lightfoot. Do you know where they took Rowen?
I take it Rowen is the man we are talking about? Lightfoot responded. We don't know where they took him but we can take you to someone who does. We don't like getting involved in such matters, but we also don't care for strangers in our land. And if the delvers are interested in your friend then there is reason enough to help you rescue him. The sooner, the better. Lightfoot took his glowing horn from Ryo's shoulder and started walking away with the Dimblethum following him.
Kento leaned over to Sai. "Cheerful guy ne?" He whispered. He looked up to Ryo. "Hey Ryo! What'd he say?" Ryo looked over to Kento.
"He said that they don't know where Rowen is but they can take us to someone who probably does. They said they don't like involving themselves in matters like this but they also don't like strangers so they're going to help us. Aren't we lucky?" He said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Well whatever the case may be I think they may be leaving us behind." Sage said calmly and began walking after the unicorn and man like creature.
Meanwhile, Rowen was groping his way along a dark slimy corridor. And not only was it dark and slimy, but it was cold and his body ached like the devil. His head throbbed and every time he took a step and put some weight on his ankle it shot lightening bolts of pain up his leg. So there he was limping down this dark corridor with one hand holding his bruised and bleeding head and the other staying firm on the muck on the tunnel wall.
Back in the forest, Kento stumbled for the second time.
"Man, there must be something trying to trip me up in this place because normally I can stay on my own two feet."
Lightfoot turned around and placed his horn on Ryo's shoulder.
You and your friends seem to have trouble walking. You should know that there are creeper vines all along this path. Hopefully we will run into Thomas the Tinker and he can lend us his cart. Ryo raised his eyebrow. Thomas the Tinker? That's an interesting name.
He is an interesting fellow replied Lightfoot. He is one of the few humans here in Luster that are actually tolerated.
Luster? Is that what this land is called?" asked Ryo.
Most call it Luster. The unicorns call it that and it was just picked up by other races that are here. Lightfoot said. It really has no name.
Ryo snorted. That's what everyone is saying. But I'm going to go with "Luster" instead of "This laaaand haaas no naaamme..." That's way to weird. Then Ryo thought to himself "This coming from the guy telepathically talking to a unicorn while wearing mystical samurai armor."
"Ryo," Sage said from behind them. "An update please?"
"Oh right. He says to watch your step because there are creeper vines all along the path and that we are looking for some guy named Thomas the Tinker." This earned him some raised eyebrows and a few snickers. "He also said that this place is called Luster by the unicorns and that there are very few humans who are allowed here."
"Uh huh." Sage said. "So who is this Thomas the Tinker, and how is going to help us?" Ryo shrugged.
"I know that this Thomas guy has some sort of cart that will be handy somehow."
"Ok, why are humans not tolerated in...Luster?" Sai asked.
"Uuuuhhhhh.... Hang on." Ryo turned his concentration back on Lightfoot. So why aren't humans tolerated in Luster? Lightfoot snorted.
There are many reasons, none of which I care to go into at the moment. The Dimblethum grumbled something about nuisances and Lightfoot snorted again.
All of a sudden Kento started yelling and cursing accompanied by furious chattering. They all spun around and were greeted by the sight of Kento trying to catch the mutant squirrel/monkey thing that was climbing all over his body. Lightfoot made an irritated noise. OoOoooh great. We get to deal with this nuisance again. Ryo, this is the Squijum. The most annoying pest in the entire land of Luster. Ryo snickered as Kento continued to wrestle with it. Finally it gave up on Kento and leaped over to Lightfoot.
"Stoopid naughty Horn-head! Not bring good Squijum on trip!" he chattered as he hung off of Lightfoot's horn into his face. Lightfoot snorted and then flung him off. The Squijum flew through the air and landed in Sai's arms, where he continued to chatter.
Lightfoot shook his head. Let us go before we get any other unwelcome surprises.
Who are we going to see again? Ryo asked.
We are going through the realm of Lady Firethroat to Grimwold's Cavern.
A/N: Well there is another chapter done. Go me. To Isabel Night: They probably used something akin to pegging him in the face with Cheerios (thanks again Ebonhawk! All should read her series "Ducttape" Absolutely fantastic). And we'll have to wait and see what happens to Rowen... ^_^