Disclaimer: Hmm… Just in case, I'm stating that I do not own the Trooper/ Ronin Universe®, though any characters/ villainous beings that don't exist in the show or OVA's are MINE!!! Use only with permission, SVP.
This was her favorite detour, the long cut back to her house. The branches overhead kept a good portion of the sunlight from reaching the forest floor where she walked, and the patches of shadow soothed her sore eyes and uneasy soul.
A bird high in the trees squawked down at her.
"Oh, shush, bird," she muttered, pausing. "Haven't you ever heard a twig break before?"
Sensing something, Amber twisted sharply. "I know you're there. No need to track me like a stealthy predator. I assume you don't want to eat me, or you'd have tried already."
A big cat's growl reached her ears as a white tiger slunk out of the bushes ten yards back.
"Hello."
He gave her a dirty look.
"Are you following me on your master's orders, Whiteblaze?"
His brown eyes stared at her unblinkingly, rebuking her for her iniquity, for play-acting with Ryo.
"I see." She sighed. "Don't look at me that way, Whiteblaze. Since you know who I really am, then you should know I must succeed at any cost. Leave me be," she waved him away and turned back to her path.
An angry snarl stopped her as Whiteblaze sprang to block her way. He stood bristling, teeth barred in warning.
Her voice gained an edge of exasperation. "Cat. I am not here to harm your master. By all means, protect him as best you can. I wish him well. He's a decent human being, even if he does fall for a pretty face too easily. The danger to him will only last as long as I am here, and I plan to be gone from this place soon enough. Be at peace, tiger, however mush you've disturbed me."
Whiteblaze's resolve seemed to soften, so Amber slipped around him and continued on her way, confident that he wouldn't follow her all the way home.
As she plodded through the underbrush, Ryo's voice rang through her head. "Hey, Amber? You feeling okay? You look different… You feelin' okay?"
"I'm fine," she declared forcefully. I'm fine… "Confound Ryo, and curse Whiteblaze! I'm fine! Everyone's fine, curse them!" she shouted at the nearest tree.
A branch snapped behind her.
Amber took a deep breath and groaned. So much for clearing my mind…
* * *
It was still a stand off.
The… whatever they were maintained their safe distance around the huddled group of warriors, and said warriors weren't quite sure how to escape.
"Do you think we should make a break for it?"
Sage and Kale shot each other weary looks, then looked back to Kayura.
"I agree with those two," she told Dais.
"Well, if they're counting correctly, there're only three, Kayura. I don't see what we're gaining standing around here. The longer we wait, the more the others worry," Sekhmet pointed out.
"And the longer we wait, the more of them could show up." Rowen added quietly.
Everyone was silent again.
"What is the group's consensus?" Kayura sighed, looking around at the bunch while still keeping a watchful eye on the darkness.
"I think we need a plan of escape."
"We should get the girls out first, everyone around them, make a break for the exits."
"I don't run that fast," Katie reminded them. "We won't be getting very far from them."
"And we don't want them following us back to the portals. What if they get there ahead of us?"
Kayura froze. "What if they're already there?"
* * *
Ryo could hear Kento's nervous pacing pounding on the floors in the livingroom. He sighed and rolled over, burying his face in his pillow. We winced.
He'd never admit it openly, but Kento had done some damage. His whole torso ached with every breath.
Still not comfortable, he flopped back over onto his back, ignoring the pain, and stared at the ceiling.
Kento's agitated curses came through his closed door, and Ryo had to agree, he too was beginning to wonder what was going on. It had been over an hour and a half since they'd left.
He hoped Amber didn't come back, thinking he hadn't bothered to tell Katie of her visit. Not only was he… disturbed by her last visit, he didn't want her to see him so…
He wasn't sure. Not weak, really. Just sore. But the thought of seeing her right now stirred up a tremendous, inexplicable fear.
Putting it out of his mind as best he could, he rolled over and let his eyes flutter closed.
* * *
"We need to go. Now."
"Agreed," Sekhmet nodded. "Let's start moving, and see what happens."
As a group, they shuffled back in the direction they'd come from about a yard, before a liquid shadow slithered into their path, letting out a low, frosty growl.
"Hmm… Bad thing."
"Now what'll we do?" Rachel asked, trying not to sound too scared.
"Keep going," Kale said darkly, realizing they had no other choice. He moved to the front and took a decisive step forward, holding his no-datchi ready.
The shadowy figure did not move.
Another step.
No movement.
He lowered the point of his blade towards the monster's head. Its eyes narrowed at him, and it flashed its fangs at him.
"Well, are we going or not?" Dais asked.
"Let's go," Kayura motioned with a nod of her head, and they collectively walked forward several more yards, the creature before them slinking backwards loathingly, begrudging them every inch. The others trudged close behind, their heavy breaths seeming to echo down the dark hallways.
"This is taking too long…" Rowen warned. "At this rate, we won't get out of here in less than a few hours."
"Agreed," Anubis piped up. "We need to move much faster."
"Maybe some sort of distraction would help?" Rachel offered.
"But what do we have?"
"Hey, um, Kayura?"
"Yes?"
"These things are most likely very… evil, right?"
"Yes."
"So, they wouldn't like the Ancient's Staff much, right?"
Everyone paused a moment, then turned to Kayura.
"Well, that might work…"
As if on cue, the rings on the staff began to chime, faster and faster, as the top of the staff glowed suddenly with bright white light.
The shadowy creatures let out screeching hisses, and seemed to be temporarily blinded. The group didn't need to be told what to do. They took off running.
Rants: Schwa. Finally, this section is done! Took me longer than I'd have hoped, but oh well.
Speaking of taking forever, sorry if this whole "Nether Realm section" has been a bit
tedious… I've been trying, really. And by the end of next chapter, I promise they'll be nice and
cozy back in their crowded little home.
Also, I'm going to give credit where credit is due, for the beginning section was not
entirely (if at all) of my own wit. A certain friend of mine (who's always helping out with advice
and such anyway) actually wrote that, so be sure to thank her if you review!
And PLEASE DO REVIEW!!!
