"Monsters." Xun stated plainly. Da Qiao scoffed at the idea but Xun pressed his argument. "Giant grey beast. Ning and me saw them. With huge teeth jutting straight out in front of their faces."

"Oh, Xun. You let your imagination get the better of you." Da said, her smile causing Xun to blush as red as his robe. "At the moment all I want to worry about is this poor lad," she said gesturing to the slumbering Ping, "and not fear that I'll be eaten by an enormous grey monster."

"But…" Xun began.

"No Xun, I'm just don't believe in monsters, why don't you talk to my sister? She might believe you."

Xun scowled but decided to drop the subject. Xun watched Da apply a wet towel to Ping's forehead. As she did this she bent over his head and Xun caught the faintest glimmer of cleavage before she sat upright. She turned to Xun her expression suddenly serious and her perfect red lips opened and asked the thing Xun had been dreading hearing.

"Any news of Shang Xiang?"

Xun sighed and looked down to the ground. Da looked expectantly at him but Xun couldn't find the words.

"Not as such." He finally answered.

"Oh, ok. Well I'm sure you will." Da replied uncertainly, the disappointment clear upon her face.

"So what's up with…"Xun began to change the subject but Da cut across him, "Do you think she's dead?" Xun sighed slightly taken aback. The whole camp had been thinking about it but no one had put the worry into words before.

"No. Of course not." Xun answered, sounding more sure than he really was.

"Oh Xun," Da cried, throwing her arms around him, "you're such a good friend."

"Thanks Da, you to."

"Oh come on Ce!" Ning tried again.

"No, Ning. I can't stand to lose anymore generals."

"What happened to you man?" Ning questioned, "you used to be cool, always up for a fight."

"What happened to me?" Ce yelled, "What happened to me! Well I guess I'm not feeling so great since my dad died two weeks ago, or maybe it's because my brother was killed by savages, or perhaps it's because my sisters been taken away from me. I just don't know Ning, which one could it be?" Ce finished sarcastically, water welling up in his eyes.

"Ce, I'm sorry. But if you want your sister back, we have to fight."

"No, I'm the leader of Wu now. The generals take priority and I can't risk losing anymore of them." At this Ning shook his head and grabbed his sword from his waist.

"Ok, Leader of Wu, if you want to stay here and wait for those savages to come kill you! Fine by me! I'll be out there," He gestured to the forest, "trying to save someone who's important to me. And anyone," He raised his voice so all the Wu generals could hear him, "anyone who wants to come with me and save our friend. They're welcome to it." Once Ning had finished the rest of Wu had fallen silent. Xun and Da stared intently at Guan Ping, Zhou Yu and Xiao Qiao seemed entranced by the sky all of a sudden, Huang Gai suddenly had a problem with the shield on his arm and fiddled with it fixedly. Only Zhou Tai rose to his feet. Gan Ning cheered with approval and Ce looked hurt.

"With your permission Lord Sun Ce, I would aid Master Ning." Tai rasped in his unnatural voice.

Ce thought for a moment, he knew Tai was a brilliant bodyguard and had protected Quan on numerous occasions. He would be an asset to have around the camp to protect them if these savages did come again. However with Tai's liege dead Ce knew he must feel as though he had failed and that he needed a new task. Eventually Ce half-heartedly said, "You can go with him Tai, if you want. Just don't get yourselves killed."

"Thank you" Tai growled.

Ning grinned appreciatively to Tai and then with a wave to the rest of the Wu generals the two of them marched off into the forest. Xun sighed from the tent and him and Da exchanged a worried look.

"Please excuse me a sec." Da whispered to Xun pulling his arm from around her neck. She got to her feet and walked nimbly over to Sun Ce. Ce turned to her and attempted a smile but his eyes were filled with pain. Da led him by the hand to the end of the beach were they sat side by side hand in hand watching the sea. From Ping's side Xun could see the two of them talking. He let out a sad sigh, behind him he heard the chink of armour and Gai settled himself beside Xun.

"Wanna talk about it?" Gai began. Xun rolled his eyes and turned his back to Gai.

Ning swung his sword through the leaves cutting the vines from their path. Tai followed behind though his sword was sheathed he kept his hand upon the hilt, his eyes scanning their surroundings for danger. They walked in silence; Ning's attempt at conversation hadn't worked too well with Tai so he had given up. All Ning could think about was Shang Xiang. How they were treating her, what they were doing to her. Ning refused to think for a second that she could be dead.

Tai, on the other hand, could of nothing but the thought that Shang Xiang might be dead, the third member of the Sun family he was supposed to protect could already be dead. Suddenly a roaring erupted from a little way off. Ning gasped and, remembering the grey monster from before, began to sprint off in the opposite direction calling for Tai to follow him. But Tai, too proud to turn on an unknown enemy and flee, drew his sword and prepared to fight.

Ning dashed through the jungle, not daring to look back. He could hear the sounds of swords clinking and then someone groaning and a thud. Ning grimaced; not wanting to imagine the state Tai could be in. "He's a strong guy, he'll be fine." Ning told himself reassuringly.

Suddenly Ning's world was turned upside down. Literally. Ning felt a sudden grab at his ankle and he was hoisted into the air in a flurry of leaves. Hanging precariously from a tree suspended by a rope, Ning couldn't help thinking, Ce had been right.

Zhang Fei cheered and raised his spear in the air victoriously. The fight had been a short but exhilarating one. After catching sight of them Fei had roared and charged through the trees, one of them had ran for it, tail between legs. With raised morale Fei darted in with his spear and managed to knock the villain unconscious. Looking down, Fei noticed his opponent was oddly familiar. He groaned as he realised what he had done.

Ning awoke with a headache the size of a wild boar. He found himself lying on hard stone. As he pushed himself up onto his hands and knees blood dripped from his forehead into a pool on the floor. He reached for his sword, but found it was gone. Gulping nervously he surveyed the room he was in. Rough stone walls, rough stone floor, rough stone ceiling. Basically a cube of stone encasing Ning. The only thing in the room was a door, Ning tried it but found it stuck. With a cry of despair Ning dropped once more to the floor, his hand upon his throbbing forehead.

A tear dripped from his eye and mingled with the blood pooling on the ground. He had lost Shang Xiang. He had lost Tai. He had lost Ling Tong and he had abandoned the rest of Wu. And now he was stuck completely alone and at the mercy of whoever had captured him. Life could hardly get any worse.

"Hello there." An old kind voice echoed around the room.

Ning looked up to see three figures enter. The first was an old man dressed in floor length grey robes, he had a toothless grin and a purple blotch surrounded his left eye.

"Good to see you're up." He cooed happily.

The girl behind him looked apologetically to Ning and then stared down at the floor. The third person was the same bearded man they had fought before. He sneered angrily at Ning.

"Now then," the old man said, "I understand you're here for Shang Xiang."

At the mention of her name Ning rose to his feet seething.

"Where is she!" He barked.

"Now, now Master Ning, no need to get all angry." The old man replied condescendingly.

"How do you know my name?" Ning yelled angrily, the bearded man stepped in front of the old man protectively.

"Your name? I know more than that. You are Lord Gan Ning, you were born in the year 175 in Linijang in the Ba prefecture and your style name is Xingba. Please do correct me if I'm wrong." The old man finished smiling politely.

Ning's heart jumped and his darted fearfully among the three figures before him.

"How… how do you know…" Ning began but the old man cut across him,

"How do I know all about you? Well I know all about everyone. And I know that you are here for Shang Xiang."

The old man gestured to the bearded man who left the room returning moments later with another person who was blindfolded. Ning recognised her immediately. The man holding her removed her blindfold and threw her to the floor. Shang Xiang quivered and her eyes shot straight to Ning filled with questioning hope. Ning went to help her up but the bearded man pushed him back. Ning bared his teeth and growled, "What do you want with her you bastards?"

"You're in no position to be asking me questions Master Ning. Chan, take the girl away."

The woman by his side leant down and helped Shang Xiang to her feet. The woman, apparently called Chan, pulled the blindfold once more over Shang Xiang's eyes and led her like a blind lamb from the room. Ning stared at the floor unable to look up at the old man. "Now let me offer you a trade," the old man began, "you want Shang Xiang, and you can have her," Ning's face lit up at this, "if," Ning sighed, "you bring me what I want."

"Anything. I'll do it."

"Of course you will. I will allow you to go and gather these "things" and when you're done you may return. However if you attempt to bring other friends and fight, then I will kill the girl."

Ning nodded uncertainly. The old man smiled and handed Ning a piece of folded paper. Ning unfolded slowly unsure of what to expect, instructions? A map? It turned out to just be a list. Four things Ning would have to bring back with him.

Da Qiao

Zhou Tai

Zhao Yun

Huang Zhong

HOPE U ENJOYED!!!

This chapter was hard to write but I'm glad I did. I bet you can't guess who the three figures were, (Well actually it's pretty obvious) OK as I always say please READ + REVIEW!