Chapter 3: A Premonition
Several hours later.
Chris had left the Ronins apartment before the others to get things ready at her house. She left just after making the announcement that she could find the dragon cave. Chris left them with directions. They were to gather their stuff for a 3-day trip. Kayura left to tell the Warlords.
When the Ronins finally arrived at Chris's house, they got out of the car and rang the doorbell. It was a 2-story house with a balcony on the second floor. A teenaged girl with long brown hair answered the door. "Hello."
"Um," Ryo replied dumbly.
"Yes, you're at the right house," the girl said. "No I can't read minds but she told me that you all would be coming. I'll be right out, she'll be out here in a minute or two. We can't take cars up to the cave. Just sit out here on the porch." With that she disappeared back in the house.
The Ronins all sat down on the chairs that were there. They heard strange clicking noises behind the house, but saw nothing unusual.
"I wonder who that was," Cye said.
"We'll probably find out when Chris comes," Ryo replied.
"Okay," the girl from the house said, "I've got everything." She was carrying two large sacks, a sword, a tan jacket, and a backpack.
"What's all that?" Kento asked.
"Provisions, protection, and clothes," she replied.
"Okay boys!" Chris said from behind the house, the clicking noise grew louder. "Gear up!" She came around the side of the house riding a horse. The house was Chestnut with a white spot on his forehead. "Whoa Puka," Chris said, she was holding the reins to six other horses. "These are Arabian horses, this one is Puka, and this one," Chris gestured to the one right next to her, he was brown with a white stripe on his forehead, "is Acron. Midnight," an all black one, "Tornado," a black one with a white tornado on her forehead and short white socks on her feet, "Kamikaze," a brown one with tall white socks, and a black mane and tail. "Snowflake," an all white mare, "and Lucky," a male paint. "We'll be riding these guys and gals up." Chris was wearing blue jeans, and a silver T-shirt. On the back of the saddle was a bag like the ones the girl from the house had dragged out there was one on each horse except for Acron and Snowflake, also strapped to the front of Puka's saddle was a sword. Draped in front of Chris on the saddle was the midnight blue trench coat folded up. She jumped down.
"Hey Chris, I got everything together," the girl from the house said.
"Good," Chris replied hefting one of the sacks and putting it on Acron's back. "Oh yeah," she said as she began securing the pack. "Everyone, this is Jessica, but you can call her Napoleon." She finished adjusting the sack. "Napoleon, this is Ryo, Sage, Kento, Rowen, and Cye." She gestured to each in turn. "I'm going to warn all of you that only I am allowed to ride Puka, and without permission only Napoleon is allowed to ride Acron. I'm going to assign each of you a horse and for the sake of time, stick with that horse." She grabbed Midnight's reins, "Here, Cye you ride Midnight, she's gentle enough. "Sage you'll ride Tornado, she's a good horse." She paused, "Rowen, you'll go with Snowflake, she has a good personality. Kento, Lucky, be nice, he can have quite a temper. And Ryo, you'll ride Kamikaze. He's got a thing for you." It was true, Kamikaze had come up to Ryo and nuzzled him. Everyone go on their respective horse.
"Let's go cowboys," Napoleon said. "There's a storm on it's way, so don't go off on your own. Let's go!" With that thy set off, the hillside was tree-covered and very steep. The Ronins quickly figured out why they couldn't drive up there in a car. There were ominous clouds overhead.
And the scout of evil was watching them. He left and appeared in a chamber his master had made. It had a candle, but that was all that could be seen. The whole room was dark, for the candle shed little light.
"Master," the scout said quietly kneeling before the candle.
"What do you want?" his master replied in a voice that had no sexual distinction. The candled burned more brightly.
"Master, as you have ordered me to, I've been watching the Ronin Warriors to see if they knew about your coming."
"And?" the voice was ominous and contemptuous.
"As far as I can tell, they have no clue about you. They're looking for some cave up in the mountains." The scout replied nervously bowing.
"What mountain? Come now, I know you're holding back."
"Mount Draco, they haven't reached the area that we can not go yet. Perhaps we could test their abilities. They don't have the ability to call upon their armor anymore. Not yet."
"What!? What are you saying? My old rival is still alive?" the scout cowered before the anger of his master.
"I believe the dragon may still be alive, Master."
"Take 100 soldiers and annihilate the Ronins, is there anyone with them?"
"Yes, Master, two human women. Are you sure you want the Ronins dead? They might be better on our side."
"Kill them! Kill all of them! Don't question me! I have my reasons. Go now, Mitaly, don't question me again or you'll suffer me wrath!" the flame scorched Mitaly a little.
"Of course Master, I'm sorry. I'll go now." With that Mitaly vanished. A large shadow with in the shadows shifted. The shape was indiscernible.
Back in the woods.
"Come on!" Chris ordered, they were almost to the clearing where they could rest for the night. The others were a ways behind her. "Let's hustle! Don't be slacking!" She had gotten off Puka and set her pack down and begun setting up a tent-like structure between some trees. It was just beginning to sprinkle. It wasn't much fun setting up a somewhat wet tent by her self.
"Hee, hee," a soft whisper in the trees said. Chris looked around but saw no one. "Beware vermin." Chris remounted Puka.
"Ryo!" Chris called out, no response. "Sage! Rowen! Kento! Cye! Napoleon!" She heard no reply and galloped through the trees. She heard commotion coming from the trees in front of her. "Guys!? What's going on?" She called. Then she found them, Kento had fallen off Lucky and was trying to remount. Everyone was laughing so hard they couldn't help him. She reigned back on Puka. "Are you guys alright?" She asked a little breathless.
""Yeah, why?" Ryo said. "Are you okay?"
"I thought I heard something," She looked around. "I guess it was just my imagination. Sorry to worry you all. But I thought you all were right behind me, and when I called out and got no response I got worried." Kento was still having problems. "Do you need a hand up Kento?"
"Um," Kento grunted trying unsuccessfully again, "A little, push," he tried again. "Could you all stop laughing and someone help me? Chris?" Chris rode up next to him.
"Here," she put her hand out, "you jump and grab my hand and I'll pull you into place." It worked. "Now come on everybody, camp's set up." They followed Chris back to the camp. Nothing else happened to the way back.
They arrived at camp and finished unpacking the horsed. Sleeping bags were set up and a fire had been started. The light rain had stopped and the sun had come out a bit. It would be about and hour till the sun would start to set. Everyone was tired so they began cooking dinner. Just after dinner Chris went and took a nap because she'd have the first watch tonight.
She was dreaming, "What's going on here? Who are you?" She asked. In her dream she was standing in the clearing where they had made camp. She was talking to Anubis.
"You know my name, Kayura told you. It's Anubis, remember?" Anubis said gently. He was wearing the clothes of the Ancient.
"I remember now," Chris said quietly., In the dream she was dressed as she had been before she fell asleep. "Anubis, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure what is it?"
"Why do you keep showing up in my dreams? And have you come to tell me something? I don't understand what's going on and why I can also see you when I'm awake."
"I show up to you in your dreams because it's easier for me to communicate with you. And yes, there is something that I need to tell you, and that is that there will be an attack made upon you and the Ronins. Those that attack you have no body and defeating them will free their souls. But what don't you understand exactly?"
"Why all of this is happening to me. I was just a normal teenager a while ago and now I'm doing all sorts of weird stuff for reasons I can't explain. I've been seeing a guy that's dead in my dreams and when I'm awake. Would this make any sense to you if you were me?"
"It's you destiny, everything happens for a reason. I must go now. You need to wake up. Bye for now. And remember that I'm with you all the time, and I'm here to help." With that the dream ended and Chris woke up. She'd only been asleep for 10 or 15 minutes. She sat up and looked around all seemed okay. The sun was almost set and the others were preparing for night.
"Oh good you're awake," Napoleon said, looking over her shoulder.
"Yeah," Chris shook her head and stood up. "I'm ready for the first watch. You guys go on to bed." Chris got up and went and sat by the fire. The horses hadn't been tied up since they never bolted, and didn't wander off for very long. Napoleon and Chris had trained and raised these horses since they had been born.
"Well, I guess it's just me and my thoughts for a couple of hours," Chris said quietly to herself. The sun set magnificently and everyone went to bed and was fast asleep. She fed another log into the fire, which blazed cheerfully. Chris sat there looking into the flames thoughtfully. "I wonder what Anubis had meant when he said that an attack would made upon me and the Ronins?" She poked at the fire with a stick. The others slept soundly and quietly, then Kento began to snore. "Kento, roll over." She said gently, and the snoring ceased.
Several hours later.
Chris had left the Ronins apartment before the others to get things ready at her house. She left just after making the announcement that she could find the dragon cave. Chris left them with directions. They were to gather their stuff for a 3-day trip. Kayura left to tell the Warlords.
When the Ronins finally arrived at Chris's house, they got out of the car and rang the doorbell. It was a 2-story house with a balcony on the second floor. A teenaged girl with long brown hair answered the door. "Hello."
"Um," Ryo replied dumbly.
"Yes, you're at the right house," the girl said. "No I can't read minds but she told me that you all would be coming. I'll be right out, she'll be out here in a minute or two. We can't take cars up to the cave. Just sit out here on the porch." With that she disappeared back in the house.
The Ronins all sat down on the chairs that were there. They heard strange clicking noises behind the house, but saw nothing unusual.
"I wonder who that was," Cye said.
"We'll probably find out when Chris comes," Ryo replied.
"Okay," the girl from the house said, "I've got everything." She was carrying two large sacks, a sword, a tan jacket, and a backpack.
"What's all that?" Kento asked.
"Provisions, protection, and clothes," she replied.
"Okay boys!" Chris said from behind the house, the clicking noise grew louder. "Gear up!" She came around the side of the house riding a horse. The house was Chestnut with a white spot on his forehead. "Whoa Puka," Chris said, she was holding the reins to six other horses. "These are Arabian horses, this one is Puka, and this one," Chris gestured to the one right next to her, he was brown with a white stripe on his forehead, "is Acron. Midnight," an all black one, "Tornado," a black one with a white tornado on her forehead and short white socks on her feet, "Kamikaze," a brown one with tall white socks, and a black mane and tail. "Snowflake," an all white mare, "and Lucky," a male paint. "We'll be riding these guys and gals up." Chris was wearing blue jeans, and a silver T-shirt. On the back of the saddle was a bag like the ones the girl from the house had dragged out there was one on each horse except for Acron and Snowflake, also strapped to the front of Puka's saddle was a sword. Draped in front of Chris on the saddle was the midnight blue trench coat folded up. She jumped down.
"Hey Chris, I got everything together," the girl from the house said.
"Good," Chris replied hefting one of the sacks and putting it on Acron's back. "Oh yeah," she said as she began securing the pack. "Everyone, this is Jessica, but you can call her Napoleon." She finished adjusting the sack. "Napoleon, this is Ryo, Sage, Kento, Rowen, and Cye." She gestured to each in turn. "I'm going to warn all of you that only I am allowed to ride Puka, and without permission only Napoleon is allowed to ride Acron. I'm going to assign each of you a horse and for the sake of time, stick with that horse." She grabbed Midnight's reins, "Here, Cye you ride Midnight, she's gentle enough. "Sage you'll ride Tornado, she's a good horse." She paused, "Rowen, you'll go with Snowflake, she has a good personality. Kento, Lucky, be nice, he can have quite a temper. And Ryo, you'll ride Kamikaze. He's got a thing for you." It was true, Kamikaze had come up to Ryo and nuzzled him. Everyone go on their respective horse.
"Let's go cowboys," Napoleon said. "There's a storm on it's way, so don't go off on your own. Let's go!" With that thy set off, the hillside was tree-covered and very steep. The Ronins quickly figured out why they couldn't drive up there in a car. There were ominous clouds overhead.
And the scout of evil was watching them. He left and appeared in a chamber his master had made. It had a candle, but that was all that could be seen. The whole room was dark, for the candle shed little light.
"Master," the scout said quietly kneeling before the candle.
"What do you want?" his master replied in a voice that had no sexual distinction. The candled burned more brightly.
"Master, as you have ordered me to, I've been watching the Ronin Warriors to see if they knew about your coming."
"And?" the voice was ominous and contemptuous.
"As far as I can tell, they have no clue about you. They're looking for some cave up in the mountains." The scout replied nervously bowing.
"What mountain? Come now, I know you're holding back."
"Mount Draco, they haven't reached the area that we can not go yet. Perhaps we could test their abilities. They don't have the ability to call upon their armor anymore. Not yet."
"What!? What are you saying? My old rival is still alive?" the scout cowered before the anger of his master.
"I believe the dragon may still be alive, Master."
"Take 100 soldiers and annihilate the Ronins, is there anyone with them?"
"Yes, Master, two human women. Are you sure you want the Ronins dead? They might be better on our side."
"Kill them! Kill all of them! Don't question me! I have my reasons. Go now, Mitaly, don't question me again or you'll suffer me wrath!" the flame scorched Mitaly a little.
"Of course Master, I'm sorry. I'll go now." With that Mitaly vanished. A large shadow with in the shadows shifted. The shape was indiscernible.
Back in the woods.
"Come on!" Chris ordered, they were almost to the clearing where they could rest for the night. The others were a ways behind her. "Let's hustle! Don't be slacking!" She had gotten off Puka and set her pack down and begun setting up a tent-like structure between some trees. It was just beginning to sprinkle. It wasn't much fun setting up a somewhat wet tent by her self.
"Hee, hee," a soft whisper in the trees said. Chris looked around but saw no one. "Beware vermin." Chris remounted Puka.
"Ryo!" Chris called out, no response. "Sage! Rowen! Kento! Cye! Napoleon!" She heard no reply and galloped through the trees. She heard commotion coming from the trees in front of her. "Guys!? What's going on?" She called. Then she found them, Kento had fallen off Lucky and was trying to remount. Everyone was laughing so hard they couldn't help him. She reigned back on Puka. "Are you guys alright?" She asked a little breathless.
""Yeah, why?" Ryo said. "Are you okay?"
"I thought I heard something," She looked around. "I guess it was just my imagination. Sorry to worry you all. But I thought you all were right behind me, and when I called out and got no response I got worried." Kento was still having problems. "Do you need a hand up Kento?"
"Um," Kento grunted trying unsuccessfully again, "A little, push," he tried again. "Could you all stop laughing and someone help me? Chris?" Chris rode up next to him.
"Here," she put her hand out, "you jump and grab my hand and I'll pull you into place." It worked. "Now come on everybody, camp's set up." They followed Chris back to the camp. Nothing else happened to the way back.
They arrived at camp and finished unpacking the horsed. Sleeping bags were set up and a fire had been started. The light rain had stopped and the sun had come out a bit. It would be about and hour till the sun would start to set. Everyone was tired so they began cooking dinner. Just after dinner Chris went and took a nap because she'd have the first watch tonight.
She was dreaming, "What's going on here? Who are you?" She asked. In her dream she was standing in the clearing where they had made camp. She was talking to Anubis.
"You know my name, Kayura told you. It's Anubis, remember?" Anubis said gently. He was wearing the clothes of the Ancient.
"I remember now," Chris said quietly., In the dream she was dressed as she had been before she fell asleep. "Anubis, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure what is it?"
"Why do you keep showing up in my dreams? And have you come to tell me something? I don't understand what's going on and why I can also see you when I'm awake."
"I show up to you in your dreams because it's easier for me to communicate with you. And yes, there is something that I need to tell you, and that is that there will be an attack made upon you and the Ronins. Those that attack you have no body and defeating them will free their souls. But what don't you understand exactly?"
"Why all of this is happening to me. I was just a normal teenager a while ago and now I'm doing all sorts of weird stuff for reasons I can't explain. I've been seeing a guy that's dead in my dreams and when I'm awake. Would this make any sense to you if you were me?"
"It's you destiny, everything happens for a reason. I must go now. You need to wake up. Bye for now. And remember that I'm with you all the time, and I'm here to help." With that the dream ended and Chris woke up. She'd only been asleep for 10 or 15 minutes. She sat up and looked around all seemed okay. The sun was almost set and the others were preparing for night.
"Oh good you're awake," Napoleon said, looking over her shoulder.
"Yeah," Chris shook her head and stood up. "I'm ready for the first watch. You guys go on to bed." Chris got up and went and sat by the fire. The horses hadn't been tied up since they never bolted, and didn't wander off for very long. Napoleon and Chris had trained and raised these horses since they had been born.
"Well, I guess it's just me and my thoughts for a couple of hours," Chris said quietly to herself. The sun set magnificently and everyone went to bed and was fast asleep. She fed another log into the fire, which blazed cheerfully. Chris sat there looking into the flames thoughtfully. "I wonder what Anubis had meant when he said that an attack would made upon me and the Ronins?" She poked at the fire with a stick. The others slept soundly and quietly, then Kento began to snore. "Kento, roll over." She said gently, and the snoring ceased.