Walk A Mile In Your Shoes
Chapter 8: A Seer's Warning
Neteru and the others slept on the hard floor of Soshi's home but at least they had a better night sleep than they did in the forest. That morning, Soshi got out of bed with the fur on her head standing up a bit. She walked town stairs to see her guests all sleeping on the floor repeating "ZuZuZu" as they slept. Soshi mischievously picked up a pot and a large spoon and began to bang the spoon hard against the pot creating a huge racket.
"Rise and shine, ham-hams." said Soshi. Everyone jumped out of their sleep shouting out in surprise.
"Who, what, where's the fire?" said Oxnard in panic.
"Sorry I startled you guys but it is time to get up." explained Soshi.
"Good one, sis." complimented Jingle. Laura began to laugh when she noticed the fur that was sticking up on Soshi's head.
"What's so funny." asked Soshi.
"Your fur is sticking up on your head." said Laura. Soshi felt the fur on her head and realized that Laura was right.
"Well check out the fur on your head." said Soshi. Laura felt her head and realized that it was indeed sticking up. Laura laughed at the fact that hamsters could get bed head.
Soshi walked over to a pantry and began pulling out carrots and seeds.
"Anyone hungry for some breakfast?" asked Soshi.
"Oh, I am." said Oxnard as he ran into the kitchen repeating "Badda-Badda" as he ran. He grabbed the carrot Soshi was holding and began nibbling on it saying "Packa-Packa" as he did. The others got up and walked into the kitchen which wasn't that hard since the kitchen was just the other half of a single room with the living room on the other half and no wall between them. Soshi began to empty out all the food from the pantry which included virtually everything ham-hams eat including carrots, lettuce, acorns, peanuts, sun flower seeds, etc. They all ate their food saying "Krmp-Krmp" as they ate.
"So when do we get to meet your daimyo?" asked Neteru nibbling on a sun flower seed.
"As soon as we get ready." said Soshi. "I have to first get my armor on and my swords. Since I'm meeting my daimyo, I have to dress formally for the occasion."
After eating, Soshi combed down the fur that was sticking up and changed into her red colored samurai armor. She then put on her belt that held her katana and wakizashi. The others also tried their best to look nice. When they were just about ready to leave, someone knocked on the door. Soshi opened the door and there was Nin-Ham dressed in the all back ninja outfit that he wore when Hamtaro first met him.
"Nin-Ham, you made it." said Soshi.
"So are you guys ready to go to see Tamori?" asked Nin-Ham.
"I'm ready." said Soshi.
"So am I." said Jingle strapping on his guitar. "How about the rest of you." One by one, they all gave their reassurance that they were ready.
"Okay, then lets go." said Nin-Ham. They all stepped out of the door and walked through the streets of Rokugon repeating "Chick-ah Chick-ah" as they walked.
It was a long walk through the Rokugon which led them out of the rural areas and into the city until they found a stone castle that was twice the size of a doll house and located a bit distant from the rest of the buildings but not by much. It looked like a typical European style castle with a hint of Chinese culture.
"Here it is, the home of Tamori, daimyo of the Sun Flower Clan." said Soshi. "He should still be home and unless he is busy with something else, we should be able to speak with him immediately." They came to the front door of the castle and noticed two ninjas guarding the door. One of the ninjas said, "What business do you have with Tamori?"
"I wish to speak with him." said Soshi. The two ninjas said no more as they stepped aside to allow Soshi and the others into the castle. The interior was certainly impressive with its decorations in the Sun Flower Clan's symbolic color (red) and with its decoration of swords and shields. As they entered the large living room, a ham-ham walked down the stairs. He was completely dark brown and had large oval shaped ears.
"Ah, Soshi, so good of you to drop by." said the ham-ham. "And Nin-Ham, I didn't expect to see you so soon." Both Nin-Ham and Soshi bowed to the ham-ham.
"Lord Tamori, it is good to see you." said Soshi to the brown ham-ham.
"It is good to see you as well." said Tamori. "I apologize that I'm not formally dressed but you came here so early that I haven't even had time to change into my armor."
"Sorry we came so soon but these weary travelers have come for your information." said Soshi.
"Is it by any chance this one that you're speaking of?" asked Tamori pointing at Jingle. "You're Jingle, aren't you?"
"Yes I am." said Jingle.
"I remember you, you are Soshi's big brother." said Tamori. "What are you doing here?"
"I merely came along with the travelers." answered Jingle. Tamori observed the travelers and noticed Neteru and Mara and judging by the staffs they were carrying, Tamori knew that they must be sorcerers.
"Sorcerers." said Tamori. "What brings them here into Rokugon?"
"These five ham-hams here are humans who have been turned into ham-hams through some unknown magic." explained Neteru as he pointed towards the former humans with his staff. "I'm searching for a way to revert them back to humans."
"Well you came to the wrong place." said Tamori. "Here in Rokugon, we seldom dabble in divine or arcane magic."
"Well you see, I believe that the only way to change them back is we must find an ancient artifact in the ruins of Ankorbak." said Neteru. Tamori jumped in surprise.
"You're looking for Ankorbak?" said Tamori is shock. "How do you expect to find it?"
"I had a vision that told me that there is a seer here in Rokugon who may have some clue on how to find the city of Ankorbak." explained Neteru. "Do you know where I can find such a seer?" Tamori thought to himself about that concept.
"Yes actually." said Tamori. "There is a seer not too far from here. You may want to start with her."
"Can you take me too her?" asked Neteru.
"Just let me get my armor on." said Tamori.
"Why do you want to put on your armor?" asked Neteru.
"I wear my armor whenever I go outside," explained Tamori, "it represents my position as a daimyo."
"Oh." said Neteru.
After Tamori got dressed in his red armor and put on his katana and wakizashi, he led Neteru through the streets of Rokugon while leaving the others back at his castle. Tamori led Neteru through the busy streets of Rokugon repeating "Ticky-Ticky" as they walked until they reached a small building along the side of the street. It was a simple looking cube shaped building with a sign on it that said, "Terra's Fortune Telling" written in blue letters on a purple background.
"This is the place." said Tamori. "I'll wait outside for you." Neteru stepped into the small shop and was immediately overwhelmed by a strong odor which seemed to fill the air. Looking for the source of the smell, Neteru noticed the burning incense which were the cause of the smell. Ignoring the smell, Neteru observed his surroundings and noticed all the psychic artifacts all over the place that were put up for sale. The items for sale included rune stones, tarot cards, crystal balls, and even some obviously psionically charged artifacts. Some of it was even glowing with its own power. The small shop was decorated in many sheets like any ordinary stereotype gypsy shop. From behind a doorway blocked from view by a purple sheet, a small figure stepped into the room. To Neteru's surprise, it was the same brown and white hedgehog he had seen in his dream.
"Yes, how may I help you?" asked the hedgehog.
"Are you Terra?" asked Neteru.
"Yes I am." said the hedgehog.
"How is it that you can speak and understand the ham-ham language?" asked Neteru.
"Humans are not the only creatures on this planet who can be born with the gift to understand ham-ham." explained Terra. "In addition to this gift, I was also blessed with psychic powers that enable me to gain information through my abilities. Using my gift, I became a psion and a seer." Neteru just stood there listening to Terra explain her life story. Neteru was a bit anxious since he had never spoken to a hedgehog before. Terra was also staring at Neteru as if she was trying to remember where she had seen Neteru before.
"You're Neteru, aren't you?" said Terra. Neteru was surprised.
"How did you know my name?" asked Neteru.
"I had a vision that told me that I would be meeting a ham-ham sorcerer named Neteru and that he would have an important question for me." explained Terra. "I get so many visions that I often have to write them down a lot. Anyway, come into the back and I will reveal to you what you need to know." Neteru followed Terra into the next room being extra careful not to allow himself to be pierced by Terra's quills.
The next room was a simple dark room which had a small table in the middle. On the table was some lit candles and a crystal ball. Terra sat down in a chair and ushered Neteru to do the same. The two of them sat in two seats facing each other across the table. Terra placed her paw on the glass ball and she began to manifest a psionic power. The glass ball began to glow an orange color and the image of the Ankorbak Pylons appeared within the light.
"You seek the Ankorbak Pylons to help friends in need." said Terra observing into the glass ball. "Is this true?"
"Yes, how do I reach it?" asked Neteru. Terra stepped away from her crystal ball and picked up a chest from off a nearby shelf. She placed the chest on the table and opened it. Neteru leaned over so he could see what was inside the chest. Inside, he saw a rolled up scroll and a paw size blood red stone.
"When I was a young hedgehog, I came across a ham-ham family who were direct descendants of the ham-hams who used to live in Ankorbak." said Terra. "Fearing that there was someone after the chest, they left it in my possession and I haven't seen them since. Inside this chest is a map to the city of Ankorbak. The stone is a key to access the city. Use these items and you will reach your goal." Neteru took the scroll and stone out of the chest and examined them. The map appeared to be made out of some kind of primitive papyrus but it looked new, none the less. The stone was oval shaped and slightly transparent. Neteru actually felt excitement knowing that these two artifacts could lead him to the city.
"But you must be careful." warned Terra. "For there is a powerful psion out to find the city for his own twisted ends."
"A psion?" said Neteru remembering the psion who attacked him and his friends.
"Yes, you must be cautious around the psion." said Terra. "He is after the city of Ankorbak and all of its artifacts. Beware the psion, Neteru."
"So the psion is after Ankorbak." thought Neteru. "I must not let him get to the city."
"Thank you for the warning." said Neteru as he put the map and stone back into the chest. "I best be off and tell the others."
"Remember what I have told you because the psion is watching you." said Terra. Neteru didn't know how to respond to that comment so, without another word to Terra, he left the shop where Tamori waited for him.
"So, how'd it go?" asked Tamori as Neteru stepped out of the shop holding the small chest under his arm.
"I got a lot out of that psion." said Neteru. "The chest that I'm holding holds the key to finding the city of Ankorbak. I must tell the others."
"Then I shall take you to them myself." said Tamori. The two ham-hams walked back to Tamori's castle repeating "Wasa-Wasa" as they walked.
Meanwhile, back at the castle, the ham-hams who had been left at the castle were sitting on the floor swapping stories between each other.
"You should have seen Nin-Ham when he started." said Soshi. "He was so bad at throwing shurikens that the teacher said that he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn." They all giggled, even Nin-Ham laughed at the memory.
"Say Nin-Ham, when we met you, you were a pretty bad ninja." said Hamtaro. "Have you improved since I last saw you?"
"Well, after you guys convinced me to come back, I started practicing harder than ever and I'm finally beginning to show some improvement." said Nin-Ham. "I'm actually capable of at least hitting a target with a shuriken." Just then, Neteru and Tamori stepped into the room and immediately, Neteru was bombarded with questions about his visit with Terra.
"Did you find out how to find Ankorbak?"
"Is it far?"
"Will we be able to get there soon?" Neteru was so overwhelmed by all the questions that he had to call out to quiet them down.
"One at a time, one at a time." said Neteru. "Yes, the seer did provide me with clues on how to find the city of Ankorbak." There was some whispers of excitement. "In this chest holds a map to the city, however, we are going to need some supplies."
"Don't worry, I will provide all you need for the journey." said Tamori. "Infact, since you are going to Ankorbak, you're going to need some help getting through all the traps and security systems of Ankorbak. Jingle, do you intend on traveling to Ankorbak with Neteru?"
"Yes I do." said Jingle.
"Then I must insist that Soshi and Nin-Ham come along." said Tamori. Soshi looked thrilled but Nin-Ham looked like he was about to faint.
"But why us?" asked Nin-Ham.
"Because according to our traditions here in Rokugon, loyalty to family is important." said Tamori. "Since you are Jingle's cousin, it only makes sense that you should come along. Besides, you need to get some training outside of Rokugon."
"Do you think I'm ready?" asked Nin-Ham.
"You've certainly improved after you came back to Rokugon." said Tamori. "I trust you're ready."
"Then I will be brave." said Nin-Ham even though it didn't sound like he believed it himself.
"And what about you, Soshi?" asked Tamori. "Will you be able to accompany your older brother and his friends to Ankorbak?"
"For the honor of our family, I will." said Soshi.
"Excellent, I will arrange every supply you will need and you may ship off when ever you are ready." said Tamori.
"Wow, thanks for all your help." said Hamtaro.
"Why are you helping us like this?" asked Boss.
"I just like to help a ham in need, not to mention that the discovery of Ankorbak would be a beneficial discovery in the world of ham-hams." explained Tamori. The former humans were so excited that they were hoping up and down.
"Alright, I'll get to be more than a foot tall again." said Laura.
"I finally would be able to see my family again." said Kana.
Tamori left, saying that he needed to get something. Once he was gone, Neteru tried to get their attention again.
"Could you all quiet down for a minute." said Neteru. "The seer has also told me something important. She also told me a little something about that psion who has been following us."
"Heke?" said Soshi. "What psion?" Neteru explained to Soshi and Nin-Ham about the psion who has been following them this whole time and about how he tried to murder them.
"And the seer told me that the psion is after the artifacts within Ankorbak." said Neteru. There were some gasps.
"That must be why he is after us." said Mara. "With the artifacts within Ankorbak, even a psion would have unlimited power."
"Exactly, so we must be extra careful about allowing him to Ankorbak." said Neteru. Neteru stopped talking when he heard Tamori come into the room.
"Nin-Ham, I want you to have something." said Tamori. He opened his paw and revealed a very small blue stone that was so small that it would have looked like a grain of sand to a human. "This stone is a good luck charm that I've had with me since I was still a trainee. It helped me out when I was younger and it may help you as well." Tamori gave Nin-Ham the stone.
"Thank you, sir." said Nin-Ham a bit surprised by the sudden gift. Although Nin-Ham never believed in good luck charms, but at this point, he wanted all the luck he could get.
"Now, we should make a list of supplies and get packing for the trip immediately." said Tamori.