Sunny Days

Broiling it was and humid, but no whisper of air cuased the plump, laden spears of golden grain to nod their burdened heads as they waited for the yearly rape of their golden treasure. Overhead the brightly burning sun had not even reached the summet of it great journey across the expansive sea of sky. It was already unbearable hot, and it was only to get worse as the day wore on. Sensible creatures had already sought shelter from the blistering heat, and now those who were quite as sensible had their turn. Unfortunately for some, there was no relief from the sweltering heat.

Among those unlucky individuals who found themselves without shade nor water was Maha the wanderer. Not that it was his fault being trapped in a broad field that went on into the distance. No. Maha was an expert traveler, and he would have continued on through the night before if he had known the next day would leave him sweltering with no shade. Even worse then sweltering. For Maha had fur. Thus Maha was not just suffering like those who were naked and trapped in the sun, his pelt of soft fluffed hairs made him much more then just a mere sweltering.

Maha trudged wearily on through the grain field, not even bothering to admire the surrounding landscape in his usual manner. It was much to hot for that. The furred demon had no use for pretty thoughts at the moment, though he did daydream about a torrential downpour once or twice.

Maha had been lost in one of the waking dreams and had almost missed it. Snapping to attention, he felt it along every nerve in his body. Whiskers quivering with anticipation, he weary trod became a gangly trot. Through the heat wave rising off the land Maha could see the meager beginnings of a forest. And if his senses were right, beyond that lay a stream. It did not take long for Maha to reach the edge of the trees, and waiting there just as his senses had told him was the stream.

Skipping down the slope, Maha whooped with glee and threw down his sack carelessly. He waded about quarter ways into the stream, splashing gleefully. After drink his fill, he turned to head back to the bank. His eyes widened as his caught sight of the land behind him.

A small group of humans were camping beneath the shade of a large cherry tree, and were gazing with an incredulous look on their faces. It seemed that Maha, in his excitement to cool down, had completely missed their presence. Blinking stupidly, he suddenly waved at them and called out," Scorching isn't it?" One of the human slapped her forehead with exasperation, while Maha grinned.

Much later, after the sun had set and the land lay recovering from the abuse of the day; Maha perched lightly on the branch of a cherry tree listening to the conversation below him. Following Maha's stupid display earlier, the group had introduced themselves and had settled down for the day and night.

The young tomboyish woman had introduced herself Chihiro, bobbing head down, the midnight waves of hair bouncing lightly. She was a stubborn woman with a violent temper who easily took things the wrong way. A younger boy of the age of no more then fourteen was introduced next. The mouse colored boy was named Yakiho, his dark eyes showed that he was a brave lad, with the pride to match. The third member of the group was presented sullenly, as if the other two had not wanted to be within a three-mile range. He was a large man; rippling muscles that flexed with every breath he took, straining the odd leather outfit he wore. His shiny white teeth gleaming in the light, he loudly introduced himself as Hansomous.

The woman explained that she and her younger brother were traveling sword masters. They planned on setting up a dojo in town a few days away. And Hansonous, they explained, had run into them on the road. He now followed them around bragging loudly of his great heroic deeds and he said was there to 'protect' them from bandits. Although Chihiro thought he was here for their food.

Now that night had fallen Hansomous had fallen into a comatose state, which Maha assumed was his usual way of sleep. Chihiro and Yakiho began to settle down for the might as well. Chihiro paused in her preparations to glance up at Maha.

"Aren't you going to make a bed?"

Maha had grinned down at her, his tail whisking playfully above her head. "No, unfortunately my sheets and blankets were lost to me awhile ago. Oh, how I long for a soft bed to sleep in!" he recited, an amused glint in his eyes. "Say, would do me the favor of sharing your bed with me? I won't bite.... unless you want me to!" Maha laughed, dodging the rock thrown at his head, while the woman's brother snorted with amusement.

"Baka." Maha grinned at Chihiro as she after muttering to herself for a while fell into a light sleep, followed closely by Yakiho. Stretching and shifting on his branch, Maha assumed a comfortable position. Running his finger along the rim of his hat, he gently tugs it down over his eyes and drifted off.

A bone-chilling scream split the night in two, the first half being before the scream when it had been fairly balmy, clam and pleasant to those who hadn't heard the scream. But it was not calm or balmy nor very nice for those souls who had heard the scream. Discounting the little period of time during the actual scream, where your ears might have been hearing but your mind wasn't reacting yet to let you know.

Anyway, Maha woke violently almost falling off his perch if it not for his cat blood. Looking around wildly for the source of the chilling noise, he saw the hunkering shape of orcs carrying off the lady, Chihiro. Yakiho also spotted them and attempted to make a rescue. While the heroic Hansomous had his face in the dirt, whimpering like a lost puppy. Leaping down Maha raced after Yakiho, a wailing Hansomous trailing behind afraid of being left alone.

Being a human, Yakiho quickly lost sight of the beasts and was wandering aimlessly in the dark. Maha grabbed on to him, pulling him and Hansomous into the light of the full moon so they could see.

"My sister! My sister! We have to help her!"

"Calm down, Yakiho. We will regain her. Orcs are quite stupid, and easy to beat of you know where to strike."

"Ohhhh, they're going to kill me!"

Maha calmed the humans enough to tell them where to strike their soon to be opponents. Eyes, groin and neck were your average weaknesses. Maha also added the back thigh to the list of targets, a favorite disabling technique that immobilizes the individual's leg and sometimes left them crippled for life if you were cutting with that intent. Hansonous seemed to regain his composer and they soon set off. Maha having to drag the idiot muscle man back, after he had taken himself as a guide and wondered

They found the lovely Chihiro mercilessly roped to a large post, where the beasts were now stacking wood beneath her nubile feet, trying to cook her as they could see. The leader lifted his wooden staff ready to signal his followers to light the fire.

Maha was about to spring forward in a surprise assult to prevent the toasting of Chihiro, when the poetic and heroic Hansomous in a strong clear voice roared," Flick thy stick, and crisp that chick, you'll feel my steel through your last meal!" Maha almost tripped upon hearing that and Yakiho made the entire journey to the ground. Fortunately, the beasts were also surprised and the quick Maha regained his footing and lashed out the nearest enemy.

Yakiho followed into the fray doing quite well for one so young, while Hansomous had lost his nerve and once again had his face planted in the dirt. Yakiho followed instructions well and struck out at the targets Maha had pointed out earlier. Maha had quickly dispatched many enemies with claws and katana. Leaving the rest to Yakiho, he focused on their leader.

The leader was ready for the onslaught and easily deflected Maha's first attack. Striking down with a vertical cut, Maha targeted the chief's head for his assault. The other blocked with his staff, as Maha expected. Using the force to carry him and the katana as a lever Maha did and easy flip behind the beast. Wrenching his blade free as he went, Maha reversed him hold, and stabbed backward at an upward angle, his sword being held like a long dagger.

Their leader fallen, the rest were either dispatched or chased off. Untying Chihiro, and taking innovatory showed that they had not lost anyone in the fray. Which disappointed Maha, he was hoping the orcs would have finish off the brave Hansomous before leaving.

"You fight very well, Maha."

Maha turned to regard Chihiro, bowing low to her. He replied," I must fight a lot. For some reason, every time I keep the company of a woman they always end up in some sort of trouble...." Crack! "Meep!"

Maha turned looked up at the glaring Chihiro, cringing. "You think that I'm like one of those prissy, fragile whores!" Chihiro raged, taking another swing at Maha.

"No! No! You're not prissy and fragile. Nor do I think your whore! In fact you're quite aggressive and masculine!" Maha yelp, seeing that he had said the wrong thing.

"So now I look like a boy!"

Knowing he could never hope to win against her, Maha decided on the best course of action. He ran away, with the woman chasing him. It continued for a bit before she tired and they all returned to camp.

Several days later, Maha waved to the pair of siblings as they entered the town they planned to set up in. Turning west, Maha shouldered in pack and continued on his way alone. (Seeing as they had push Hansomous in a stream and while he was panicking, ran away.)