The Soul of a Warrior

By: Tellemicus Sundance

Chapter 7--Just In Time

A quiet sound woke him. Drowsily, he opened his eyes and sat up. Stifling a yawn, Ulrich wiped his eyes and climbed to his knees. Rubbing his neck irritably, he dried to ease the pain of his parched throat without success. He was thirsty, very thirsty.

As he was pulling his arms behind his head, stretching his tense muscles, he heard the sound again. It was that of quiet feet walking on the grass. Looking up toward the sky, he saw only a few faint lines of color appearing overhead. Whoever was awake was up much earlier than many of the villagers usually were.

Then a dark figure appeared overhead. Despite the billowing cloak that was wrapped around her body, Ulrich instantly recognized Taki. He couldn't help but to smile up at her as she knelt down toward him. Seeing his smiling face, Taki grinned mischievously as she held a single finger to her lips.

Nodding, Ulrich watched as she reached into her cloak. For a wild moment, he thought she was going to throw him down a rope. She's going to help me! A new appreciation for her awakened in him as he realized that she could get into a lot of trouble if she got caught.

What she pulled from her cloak was a small pouch. Lightly dropping it to him, her smile blossomed even more. It felt so nice to be helping people when they were in trouble.

Catching the pouch easily, Ulrich instantly noticed it was carrying something. Opening it quickly, he poured the contents into his hand. A small slab of cheese, meat, and a small vile of water fell into his hand. Looking up at Taki, his face was stoic but his eyes were large with surprise.

Drinking the water quickly, he felt a relieved sensation inside of his throat. The dry skin was momentarily content with the small amount of liquid. Now he truly understood the importance of water to a human being.

A gently whistle from above caused him to look up. Beckoning with her hand, Taki pointed toward the pouch and vile. Understanding her intent, Ulrich replaced the container back into the pouch and threw it up to her. She had to lean over to catch it before it fell back inside.

As Ulrich devoured the cheese and meat greedily, Taki stood and started to walk away. Before she lost sight of him, Taki placed two of her fingers to her lips and blew a silent kiss toward him. Whether it was a good thing or bad, Ulrich didn't see her action or her walking away.

A quiet smile rested on her face as she hurried back to her house before Tadashi awoke.

In all his life, nothing ever came close to how bored he had been feeling for the past two days. Ulrich had had no company, no motivation, and especially no meals. His hunger, thirst, and boredom put him into a horrible mood.

With the never-ending reminder of an empty and complaining stomach, Ulrich sat in the little shade that the pit had to offer. For the thousandth time, he wondered if Taki had been caught after she'd given him that tiny meal. She hadn't come back since that early morning for the past two days.

Finding it hard to concentrate on anything other than his body's demands, Ulrich slumped against the sandy wall. Glancing up at the pit's rim for the umpteenth time, he saw what he'd expected, no one.

Nodding his head in frustration, he had to blink his hair out of his eyes again. Halfheartedly brushing it aside, he realized that if he ever got out of here he'd need to cut his hair or get a bandana.

"Boy!" barked a voice from above. Looking up, Ulrich climbed to his feet and glared at Master Maki. "You have two choices: fight or die. The council has agreed that this shall be your last chance. What is your choice?"

Ulrich's answer instantaneous. "I will fight but I will not kill!"

Maki almost grinned. "That was the wrong answer. What a shame. You could've been great one day." With his piece stated, Maki turned and walked away.

He was near death. With a body screaming for water, he was sprawled out on the ground. Feebly he tried to find the strength to climb to his feet. He had to escape and find water. But with his failing strength, he could barely manage to climb to his elbows.

Is this what it's like to die, he wondered. Collapsing from his latest attempt, he somehow rolled on to his back and looked up at the morning sky that was filling with colors.

I wonder what Yumi's doing right now? Probably starting school by now. She'd be in what? Eighth grade? Ninth? ARGH! I can't remember anymore!

Looking up to the sky, he wasn't too surprised to see his vision wavering out of focus. What did I do to piss you off so badly, God? Last I checked I had been fighting a computer virus from destroying humanity, your creations! Why are you doing this to me?

Is it because I didn't ask Yumi to that dance? Because if that's the reason, I understand completely now. If I'd have just hit that damn speed dial and asked, this wouldn't have happened. So what if she'd said no, at least I'd still be there, with her. There and not here in this Godforsaken pit.

Somehow finding the strength, Ulrich screamed out up at the sky. "If you can forgive my stupidity—THEN HELP ME OUT OF HERE!"

In response, everything stopped. It became quiet, eerily quiet. It was something that made Ulrich stop his ranting and look up toward the rim of the pit. In the sky he saw a bird frozen in the air, and then a… blinding white light.