Chapter 4: The First Fight
The next morning just after sunrise...
"Wake up!" Chris nudged Kento again, hard. "Kento! Wake up!"
"I already told you that won't work," Cye said. "Here let me try." He got up and walked over to Kento, knelt down and whispered, "Kento, if you don't get up you don't get breakfast." Everyone stifled a laugh.
"Food!" Kento jumped up knocking Cye back. "Where? What?" He looked around. "Oh, I get it. I'm up!"
"Ha, ha," Chris laughed. "Kento, get ready to leave. Napoleon's cooking breakfast. Hurry!" With that Kento wandered out into the woods to change. "How'd the watch go?" Chris asked Sage who'd had the last watch.
"Fine. Nothing unusual, except Kento's loud snoring." Sage replied.
"That's funny," Chris was putting the saddles back on the horses, Napoleon was helping. "Hey Sage, would you put food onto start warming up?"
"Sure," Sage said as he placed a cook pot on the fire.
"Thanks," Chris said, she and Napoleon had just finished saddling the horses. "Ryo! Bring me the pack will ya?" She was securing the pack she'd used to the pack of Puka's saddle.
"Sure!" Ryo replied picking it up. "Which horse?"
"Over here," Napoleon said, she was by Kamikaze. "That's gonna be a big help. Thanks," she said as Ryo helped put the pack on Kamikaze's back.
"Not a problem," Ryo said.
"There!" Kento said. He'd come back and packed all of his stuff away. "Where do you want my pack?"
"On Lucky, Kento. Just behind the saddle. I'll be right over to help you secure it." Chris said with a last tug on Snowflake's pack. A short while later they had all eaten and were mounting the horses.
"This way," Chris said. She started up the mountain slowly.
"How long are we going to ride today?" Kento whined.
"Kento! This is a trip best made on horseback. Would you rather be walking?" Chris said exasperated.
"No," Kento said and fell silent.
"Okay, let's pick up the pace today." Chris said, the horses cantered up the mountain. For several hours no one spoke. They stopped for a quick lunch. "That cave is only about a half a day's travel from here, or at least it should be," Chris said.
CRUNCH! SNAP! Sudden noises erupted from the forest.
"What was that?" Rowen asked.
"Shh." Chris commanded. "Hello?" No response from the forest.
"Perhaps it was just some forest animal," Cye sail.
"Maybe," Chris admitted. " But all the same, let's pack up and go." They mounted and left. A short while later they came upon a clearing. The sun went behind a cloud.
"Stop!" A voice commanded, the voice came fro the forest.
"Whoa!" Chris said reining back on Puka. "Who's there?" She shouted at the empty looking forest.
"I'll be the one asking questions! My master wishes to know if you will admit to being the Ronin Warriors?" the voice demanded haughtily.
"Yes!" Ryo called out. "Now identify yourself!"
"Very well," a figure robed in black came into view. "I am Mitaly, scout of evil, destruction, and loyal to my master. Prepare to die!"
"Just you?" Chris laughed. "You expect to be able to take on all of us alone? You couldn't take on me alone."
"No, of course not," Mitaly replied. A huge crunching noise surrounded them. "Come out my army!" 100 evil soldiers came out of the woods.
"Everyone, dismount! You can't fight on the horses!" Chris ordered. Out of her pack she pulled out three long sticks. "Here," she handed theme to the guys.
"What are those?" Kento asked. Napoleon pulled two more out of her pack and gave one to Kento and one to Sage.
"Fighting sticks," Chris said simply. She drew her sword. "Defend yourself! If they want a fight they're going to get one!" Napoleon also drew her sword.
"Ha!" Mitaly laughed. "You think you stand a chance with those?"
"Yes," Chris said taking on a fighting stance. She strapped her sword sheath on her back.
"Ha aha! You are funny! Did you know that? Prepare to die! Soldiers! Attack! Kill the Ronins and their companions! But save the horses, my master might like them!" Mitaly continued to laugh. The dynasty soldiers attacked.
"Everyone, protect yourselves! These soldiers will have their souls released if you kill them! Don't hold back!" Chris said rushing out to meet the first soldier near her. The other saw her block a swing and then savagely slash one soldier down. As she struck down the solder smoke escaped from the armor.
"Come on!" Ryo ordered. "Kento, Rowen come with me! Sage, Cye, go with Napoleon! Hurry! Chris'll be overwhelmed if we don't help!" Ryo took off at a run with Kento and Rowen on his heels. Sage, Cye, and Napoleon ran off in another direction.
"Come on!" Chris yelled, she was lost from view due to the fact that the soldiers had surrounded her. Ryo had already taken down 2 soldiers, Kento had taken 3, and Rowen had taken 2. Sage and Cye had both taken two soldiers apiece and Napoleon had taken 3 and was working on number four.
"You can never win! Give up! I'll make sure your deaths are quick!" Mitaly taunted, and began laughing maniacally.
"I'll never give up!" Chris shouted defiantly as she hacked down another soldier. The Ronin caught a glimpse of her, she had an open cut above her right eye which was flowing freely. They saw at least 8 fallen soldiers in addition to the one she had just taken out.
Sage, Cye, and Napoleon were stuck where they had met the beginning of the army. At least 10 more empty, lifeless suits of armor lay ate their feet.
Ryo's group had taken down 20 more of the soldiers. The battle was wearing everyone out. "Don't give up guys! The spirit of the armor still resided in us! We can win!" Mitaly gasped, half of his army was gone. "Ah!" The Ronins heard Chris cry out in pain. She had been stabbed in her left arm with she couldn't use hardly at all now.
"Chris! Are you okay?" Sage called out.
"I'll be doing handstands in a minute!" She called out.
"Funny! Nice to see your sense of sarcasm wasn't hit!" Sage called back sarcastically.
"Ouch!" Rowen got a shallow cut on his arm. It was obvious they were wearing out fast.
"Ha! Ha!" Mitaly laughed gleefully. "You will fall!"
"Never!" Chris cried out defiantly. Three soldiers fell in one great arch from her sword. "Ah!" She was stabbed in the side and fell to the ground unconscious. Suddenly Anubis appeared beside her, he somehow managed to pick her up and carry her to the somewhat safety of the horses' circle. There were several empty suits around them. When ever one of the soldiers got too close the horses would kick them hard enough to destroy them. Anubis set Chris down gently in the center of the circle. After he accomplished this he disappeared again.
"Attack harder! We can win! We have the greater numbers!" Mitaly said frantically. His army was down to 20-40 soldiers.
"Come on you guys! We can do it!" Ryo shouted and cut town another soldier.
"Ryo's tight!" Rowen yelled. "Press on!" With this he took down another soldier.
After another 10-20 minutes the fight was over. The Ronins had won, but just barely. They all had bruises and were totally exhausted. Anubis reappeared somewhat and gestured to the Ronins to come to the horse circle. They came.
"You may have won this fight but in the end, we will win!" Mitaly yelled. "We will win!" He vanished into the forest.
"Everyone okay?" Napoleon asked. They had nearly reached the horses.
"I think so," Cye replied.
"Where's Chris?" Sage asked. He realized that he couldn't see her.
"I don't know," Cye said.
"Chris? Where are you?" Ryo called out. No response.
"By the horses. They are protecting her," came the soft whisper of Anubis's disembodied voice. "Who said that?" Ryo demanded but there came no reply.
"Who ever it was is right. Look! She's right there!" Sage said. He rushed forward. The horses moved out of the way.
"Oh my dear god," Sage whispered. The others came up and saw Chris. "She looks dead," Chris lay on her back on the ground, unmoving and pale as death. She had a slash above her right eye, one long deep one, and one her left arm and one wound on her right side.
She lay in a puddle of her own blood. Her blood soaked the ground around her like a ghastly halo. Sage bent next to her and carefully took her pulse.
"She's still has a pulse, but it's really weak. Do we have a First Aid Kit?"
"Yeah," Napoleon said, she dug around in a saddlebag. "Here."
"Thank you. I need something to proper her head up with," Sage said opening the First Aid Kit. He began washing the facial cut.
"Here, use my spare sweater," Rowen said, he handed Sage a red sweater.
"Thank you," Sage said putting the sweater under her head as a pillow. He put a bit of antibiotic cream on the facial cut, and put a bandage on the wound. He then pulled her shirt up enough to see the wound there clearly. He then began rinsing the wound, and Chris's face became distorted by pain. Sage added some antibiotic cream to this one as well and then put a large bandage on it. He then took care of the arm wound. "There, we ought to get her in the shade." The sun had some out and it was very bright. The carefully carried her into the shade.
"We should just set up camp for now. A minor and temporary camp, this way we can be a little more comfortable," Napoleon said. Chris still had her sword strapped to her back. "Sage, why don't you give her some water? I'll scout the perimeter." Sage complied, and the others kind of relaxed.
"Is she gonna make it?" Kento asked concerned.
"Most likely," Sage said with a small smile. "She's a real fighter. I think she'll be okay." The others decided to set up the rest of camp. Chris was still unconscious.
That night.
While everyone was sleeping Chris woke up at last. Cye was taking the watch when she woke up. She was very weak after the huge loss of blood. He had his back to her so he didn't see her wake up.
"Cye?" she whispered. "Cye? Is that you?" He didn't hear her. "Cye! Hey!" She managed to say a little louder. He finally heard her and turned around.
"Chris?" he asked as he turned around. "You're awake!" He said quietly, he got up and came and sat next to her until the next shift.
The next morning just after sunrise...
"Wake up!" Chris nudged Kento again, hard. "Kento! Wake up!"
"I already told you that won't work," Cye said. "Here let me try." He got up and walked over to Kento, knelt down and whispered, "Kento, if you don't get up you don't get breakfast." Everyone stifled a laugh.
"Food!" Kento jumped up knocking Cye back. "Where? What?" He looked around. "Oh, I get it. I'm up!"
"Ha, ha," Chris laughed. "Kento, get ready to leave. Napoleon's cooking breakfast. Hurry!" With that Kento wandered out into the woods to change. "How'd the watch go?" Chris asked Sage who'd had the last watch.
"Fine. Nothing unusual, except Kento's loud snoring." Sage replied.
"That's funny," Chris was putting the saddles back on the horses, Napoleon was helping. "Hey Sage, would you put food onto start warming up?"
"Sure," Sage said as he placed a cook pot on the fire.
"Thanks," Chris said, she and Napoleon had just finished saddling the horses. "Ryo! Bring me the pack will ya?" She was securing the pack she'd used to the pack of Puka's saddle.
"Sure!" Ryo replied picking it up. "Which horse?"
"Over here," Napoleon said, she was by Kamikaze. "That's gonna be a big help. Thanks," she said as Ryo helped put the pack on Kamikaze's back.
"Not a problem," Ryo said.
"There!" Kento said. He'd come back and packed all of his stuff away. "Where do you want my pack?"
"On Lucky, Kento. Just behind the saddle. I'll be right over to help you secure it." Chris said with a last tug on Snowflake's pack. A short while later they had all eaten and were mounting the horses.
"This way," Chris said. She started up the mountain slowly.
"How long are we going to ride today?" Kento whined.
"Kento! This is a trip best made on horseback. Would you rather be walking?" Chris said exasperated.
"No," Kento said and fell silent.
"Okay, let's pick up the pace today." Chris said, the horses cantered up the mountain. For several hours no one spoke. They stopped for a quick lunch. "That cave is only about a half a day's travel from here, or at least it should be," Chris said.
CRUNCH! SNAP! Sudden noises erupted from the forest.
"What was that?" Rowen asked.
"Shh." Chris commanded. "Hello?" No response from the forest.
"Perhaps it was just some forest animal," Cye sail.
"Maybe," Chris admitted. " But all the same, let's pack up and go." They mounted and left. A short while later they came upon a clearing. The sun went behind a cloud.
"Stop!" A voice commanded, the voice came fro the forest.
"Whoa!" Chris said reining back on Puka. "Who's there?" She shouted at the empty looking forest.
"I'll be the one asking questions! My master wishes to know if you will admit to being the Ronin Warriors?" the voice demanded haughtily.
"Yes!" Ryo called out. "Now identify yourself!"
"Very well," a figure robed in black came into view. "I am Mitaly, scout of evil, destruction, and loyal to my master. Prepare to die!"
"Just you?" Chris laughed. "You expect to be able to take on all of us alone? You couldn't take on me alone."
"No, of course not," Mitaly replied. A huge crunching noise surrounded them. "Come out my army!" 100 evil soldiers came out of the woods.
"Everyone, dismount! You can't fight on the horses!" Chris ordered. Out of her pack she pulled out three long sticks. "Here," she handed theme to the guys.
"What are those?" Kento asked. Napoleon pulled two more out of her pack and gave one to Kento and one to Sage.
"Fighting sticks," Chris said simply. She drew her sword. "Defend yourself! If they want a fight they're going to get one!" Napoleon also drew her sword.
"Ha!" Mitaly laughed. "You think you stand a chance with those?"
"Yes," Chris said taking on a fighting stance. She strapped her sword sheath on her back.
"Ha aha! You are funny! Did you know that? Prepare to die! Soldiers! Attack! Kill the Ronins and their companions! But save the horses, my master might like them!" Mitaly continued to laugh. The dynasty soldiers attacked.
"Everyone, protect yourselves! These soldiers will have their souls released if you kill them! Don't hold back!" Chris said rushing out to meet the first soldier near her. The other saw her block a swing and then savagely slash one soldier down. As she struck down the solder smoke escaped from the armor.
"Come on!" Ryo ordered. "Kento, Rowen come with me! Sage, Cye, go with Napoleon! Hurry! Chris'll be overwhelmed if we don't help!" Ryo took off at a run with Kento and Rowen on his heels. Sage, Cye, and Napoleon ran off in another direction.
"Come on!" Chris yelled, she was lost from view due to the fact that the soldiers had surrounded her. Ryo had already taken down 2 soldiers, Kento had taken 3, and Rowen had taken 2. Sage and Cye had both taken two soldiers apiece and Napoleon had taken 3 and was working on number four.
"You can never win! Give up! I'll make sure your deaths are quick!" Mitaly taunted, and began laughing maniacally.
"I'll never give up!" Chris shouted defiantly as she hacked down another soldier. The Ronin caught a glimpse of her, she had an open cut above her right eye which was flowing freely. They saw at least 8 fallen soldiers in addition to the one she had just taken out.
Sage, Cye, and Napoleon were stuck where they had met the beginning of the army. At least 10 more empty, lifeless suits of armor lay ate their feet.
Ryo's group had taken down 20 more of the soldiers. The battle was wearing everyone out. "Don't give up guys! The spirit of the armor still resided in us! We can win!" Mitaly gasped, half of his army was gone. "Ah!" The Ronins heard Chris cry out in pain. She had been stabbed in her left arm with she couldn't use hardly at all now.
"Chris! Are you okay?" Sage called out.
"I'll be doing handstands in a minute!" She called out.
"Funny! Nice to see your sense of sarcasm wasn't hit!" Sage called back sarcastically.
"Ouch!" Rowen got a shallow cut on his arm. It was obvious they were wearing out fast.
"Ha! Ha!" Mitaly laughed gleefully. "You will fall!"
"Never!" Chris cried out defiantly. Three soldiers fell in one great arch from her sword. "Ah!" She was stabbed in the side and fell to the ground unconscious. Suddenly Anubis appeared beside her, he somehow managed to pick her up and carry her to the somewhat safety of the horses' circle. There were several empty suits around them. When ever one of the soldiers got too close the horses would kick them hard enough to destroy them. Anubis set Chris down gently in the center of the circle. After he accomplished this he disappeared again.
"Attack harder! We can win! We have the greater numbers!" Mitaly said frantically. His army was down to 20-40 soldiers.
"Come on you guys! We can do it!" Ryo shouted and cut town another soldier.
"Ryo's tight!" Rowen yelled. "Press on!" With this he took down another soldier.
After another 10-20 minutes the fight was over. The Ronins had won, but just barely. They all had bruises and were totally exhausted. Anubis reappeared somewhat and gestured to the Ronins to come to the horse circle. They came.
"You may have won this fight but in the end, we will win!" Mitaly yelled. "We will win!" He vanished into the forest.
"Everyone okay?" Napoleon asked. They had nearly reached the horses.
"I think so," Cye replied.
"Where's Chris?" Sage asked. He realized that he couldn't see her.
"I don't know," Cye said.
"Chris? Where are you?" Ryo called out. No response.
"By the horses. They are protecting her," came the soft whisper of Anubis's disembodied voice. "Who said that?" Ryo demanded but there came no reply.
"Who ever it was is right. Look! She's right there!" Sage said. He rushed forward. The horses moved out of the way.
"Oh my dear god," Sage whispered. The others came up and saw Chris. "She looks dead," Chris lay on her back on the ground, unmoving and pale as death. She had a slash above her right eye, one long deep one, and one her left arm and one wound on her right side.
She lay in a puddle of her own blood. Her blood soaked the ground around her like a ghastly halo. Sage bent next to her and carefully took her pulse.
"She's still has a pulse, but it's really weak. Do we have a First Aid Kit?"
"Yeah," Napoleon said, she dug around in a saddlebag. "Here."
"Thank you. I need something to proper her head up with," Sage said opening the First Aid Kit. He began washing the facial cut.
"Here, use my spare sweater," Rowen said, he handed Sage a red sweater.
"Thank you," Sage said putting the sweater under her head as a pillow. He put a bit of antibiotic cream on the facial cut, and put a bandage on the wound. He then pulled her shirt up enough to see the wound there clearly. He then began rinsing the wound, and Chris's face became distorted by pain. Sage added some antibiotic cream to this one as well and then put a large bandage on it. He then took care of the arm wound. "There, we ought to get her in the shade." The sun had some out and it was very bright. The carefully carried her into the shade.
"We should just set up camp for now. A minor and temporary camp, this way we can be a little more comfortable," Napoleon said. Chris still had her sword strapped to her back. "Sage, why don't you give her some water? I'll scout the perimeter." Sage complied, and the others kind of relaxed.
"Is she gonna make it?" Kento asked concerned.
"Most likely," Sage said with a small smile. "She's a real fighter. I think she'll be okay." The others decided to set up the rest of camp. Chris was still unconscious.
That night.
While everyone was sleeping Chris woke up at last. Cye was taking the watch when she woke up. She was very weak after the huge loss of blood. He had his back to her so he didn't see her wake up.
"Cye?" she whispered. "Cye? Is that you?" He didn't hear her. "Cye! Hey!" She managed to say a little louder. He finally heard her and turned around.
"Chris?" he asked as he turned around. "You're awake!" He said quietly, he got up and came and sat next to her until the next shift.