Chapter 4
The Announcement
Sirrus's point of view
I flew above Soaring Flame, searching for Azure and Terra, even though I know they won't be there. I flew back down toward Ayrm's cave, for some reason feeling defeated. A search party met up with me to explain what happened. We found no evidence of Azure and Terra at all by the Ma'ectza (may-act-z-uh) mountain. We don't know where else they could be. reported a green and brown dragon. "Where should we search next?" asked a human man with riding gear. Don't go anywhere else until Ayrm comes back. He knows possible places they could be. I replied. "Understood." said the human as the search party went off somewhere.
Just as they left out of my sight, Ayrm came bounding toward me, apparently excited and bursting with news. Azure just replied to me a few minutes ago! He said to me as he came to where I was. Great, where is she? Is Terra there too? I asked Ayrm. I don't know any of those questions Sirrus. She didn't know where she was and if Terra was there. He said. Oh. I replied with some disappointment. At least she replied back. I said, trying to lighten up Ayrm's mood a bit. Yes, I suppose so. She said there were rice fields, a valley-cliff thing, and a small village where she was. Ayrm explained. I thought for a moment before my eyes widen. I know where she is! I've heard of this place before! It's a peasant town called Kanna Village! I said with excitement. Follow me! I said as I flew off into the night sky with Ayrm trailing me in my wake.
Terra's point of view
"Why do I have to do training?! I said I could fight so I don't see the point of this!" I complained to Kambei. He gave me a cold stare and continued walking to a hill. "Sometimes the mouth does not speak the truth. We can only truly understand one's mind through their actions." What. The. Heck. What did he say?! "I did not follow any of that. You make no sense." I said as I felt my head pounding. Kambei sighed and spoke again. "One who does not understand obviously does not train well enough." That put me in a bad mood the rest of the day, and I thought I saw the faintest of smirks on mister-wise-guy's face.
We reached the top of the hill and I saw a few small drops of blood as it turned into a dazzling gold, then turned black and back to it's normal color. I thought that was extremely weird, but extremely terrifying. Something inside me kept telling me that whosever blood that is was in serious danger... "Terra, we begin training here." Kambei's voice snapped me back into reality. "Huh wa..." I mumbled. Kambei turned around and slapped me in the face. "What the heck was that for?!" I yelled at him. "Another reason you need training." he said. "I said I could fight though!" I told him, really wanting to hit him back. He looked at me for a while before speaking. "Your temper is going to get you into trouble one day." "Hmph." I pouted.
"Anyway, I put wooden poles down the hill to the hut and back in a U shaped formation. The object is to run between the poles as fast as you can. If it matches our speed, you pass." Kambei said. This sounds really easy, because I run all the time. It's part of my nature abilities. "Alright, I'm ready." I said as I prepared myself. "You may go." Kambei said as I ran. As I started running down the hill as fast I could, and I realized that doing that and maneuvering through the poles was extremely difficult. I almost made it to the point where you go back to the hill, but I was going to fast and I slammed into one of the walls of the hut. Right where Azure was. It was lucky that I didn't bring down the wall.
Kambei's point of view
This girl needs serious work on her attitude. It won't take long for her training, she did speak the truth. I'm just concerned about her temper. I don't know how Azure can live with this.
She stumbled to her feet after crashing into the wall. Next thing I know, Yukino, Azure, Kikuchuyo, and Komachi were running outside to see what happened. If Azure was out here, I guess she's starting to feel better, when I noticed she had the thickest blanket we had around her, and she was extremely pale.
"Great Kambei! We heard something crash into the wall! Is everything alright?!" Yukino asked me with a concerned expression on her face. "Everything is fine. Terra is just doing some training." I replied. Azure looked over at Terra and back at me. "What kind of training was she doing?" She asked me in the same croaky voice. I looked at her, then the wooden poles. "Something that you'll be doing once you're feeling better-" "Which won't be anytime soon Kambei. Her fever is almost gone, but look at her cut!" Yukino said as she removed Azure's blanket, then the bandage as I saw black blood trickling down her arm and black veins spreading like spider webs. I grabbed her arm and examined it. What is this? I've never seen anything like this. "I must admit, I don't know this. I've never seen something like this..."
Terra came over here, and I noticed she fully recovered from the crash. She was fine until she saw Azure's arm. That's when she screamed. "Azure! Raknor got you!" She said. Azure was even more pale as she nodded her head. "He did! As I fell from a tree, something slashed me. I was extremely weak. I know fevers made you weak, but it couldn't be causing this. Now I understand. Raknor's venom will make me weaker and weaker until I-" "Kambei!" someone yelled behind us.
I turned around to find Shichiroji walking over too us. I guess he was at the cliff, but for what reason? He strode over to our group as I turned to face him. "What's with this mob? It seems awfully suspicious." He said as he smiled at me. I looked at him and shook my head. "It's not a mob. We are examining an injury." I told him, for some reason a little irritated, even though I should be used to what Shichiroji says by now. "Huh. It is really that bad?" He said as he gave me a puzzled look. "I don't think so, but whatever it is, it is foreign to us." I said as I moved to the front of Azure to show Shichiroji her cut. Azure must be really weak, because she didn't even noticed that I grabbed her right arm. She just kept chatting with Terra.
I showed Shichiroji Azure's cut, and he made a face that looked like he wanted to throw up. "What happened to her?" He inquired. "We do not know. Only Terra." I said as I pointed to her. At me saying her name, she stopped talking with Azure as they both turned around to face us. "Do you need something?" asked Terra, surprisingly calm. "No. I was only letting Shichiroji here know that only you knew what happened to Azure. Oh I forgot. Shichiroji, this is Terra-" I pointed to Terra who brushed some dirt off her shirt. "And this is Azure." I said as I pointed to Azure. She gave a faint smile as she nodded. "These two might be able to help us fight the Nobuseri." I explained. "Well, let me introduce myself then." Shichiroji said as he made a small bow to the girls. "I'm am Shichiroji, samurai, Kambei-dono's best friend and mate, and boyfriend of Yukino, if you've met her-" "I have. She's been taking care of me since I've been here. I thank her for that." Azure said to Shichiroji as she gave a grateful smile. Shichiroji looked at Azure with a smile. "Not from here are you?" He asked. "Nope. We got here by a portal that teleported us here, and I think I know the one who made it take me and Azure here..." Terra said. Everyone looked at her with suspicious glances. "Do you think it was...?" Azure said to Terra. "Yes I think it is. We better tell everybody." Terra replied back. "This 'someone'. Is it really that serious?" I asked Terra. She nodded her head with a hard look on her face. "Yes. In fact, this 'someone' isn't even a person. Is there anybody else helping fighting the Nobuseri?" Terra replied. "Yes. We have three other samurai and a few rice farmers that are helping." I exclaimed. "We need to gather all the people fighting the Nobuseri to explain to them what else we might have to fight. Something much, much more deadly." Terra said in a commanding voice. "Ok. Shichiroji and I will look for the others. Terra can come along. Azure, because of your state, we need you to help Yukino set up the table where we usually have our meals." I said as Shichiroji, Terra and I ran off to the forest to search for the rest of the gang.
Azure's point of view
I followed Yukino into the hut as we began to clear off the table. As I was doing that, I heard hissing from outside. I didn't see anything, or see any suspicious activity, but I knew something was out there. Yukino didn't seem to notice, only dusting the wooden table. I heard more hissing, except a little louder, as I got into a defensive stance, anticipating an attack. "Why are you like that? We're not going to be attacked." Yukino said with confidence. I glanced back at her through narrowed eyes, then continued staring out the window that showed the eerie forest. Yukino obviously didn't hear the hissing, which wasn't surprising. Although it was too faint for her too hear it, I was able to hear it because the hissing was that of a dragon's. Dragon riders can hear and sense things some others can't.
Nothing seemed to be attacking anytime soon, so I stood up normally and turned away. Still, something didn't seem right. I felt like I was being watched, every one of my movements. I didn't like it.
Finally, the table was cleared. I didn't think samurai were so messy however. Yukino thanked me for helping her with a cheery smile on her face, even though she was the one who did most of the work. I returned the smile back went to Kirara's room, awaiting the other's return. Kyuzo was already in there, silently gazing out the window, not moving a muscle, not batting an eye. I slowly walked up beside him. He barely noticed, only except for his crimson eyes to glance at me, then back outside. "You sense it too?" I ask him weakly. I looked up at him in time to see him briefly nod his head in silence. "Something is definitely out there and watching our every move. I don't like it, I can't shrug off the feeling that it's the thing I'm going to announce to everyone." He looked down at me, his face blank yet pondering. "What is this thing?" he asked, his deep voice sounding unconcerned. I looked back up at him then back down at the ground as I sighed. "It's not human. It's not even machine. It's a dragon that's gone rogue. Back where I live, we don't even consider him 'dragon' anymore. He's a demon, the strongest one there is. I'll explain more once everyone is here." I finished. Kyuzo looked back outside. I could understand why he keeps doing this.
Terra's point of view
"Is this everybody?" I asked with impatience. I swear I was going to go insane because I was so bored. Kambei looked at the group. The machine and Kyuzo was back at the hut along with Yukino and Azure, and Kambei and Shichiroji went to find the others. Why did they make me come though?! I didn't find anybody; they did, and all I did was whine the whole time in the forest.
Kambei looked around. We had two new samurai with us: one was quite young to be a samurai, the other had darker skin and looked a little too...cheery. "We're missing Heihachi-dono and Rikichi. We'll search for them now." He said. I groaned and purposely hit my head against a tree. "My feet hurt! I want to go back!" I screamed. Kambei still had the same facial expression as before, but Shichiroji rubbed his head and sighed with an annoyed look on his face. "You're too stubborn and grouchy. Lighten up a bit, for the sake of humanity." He said. My face burned up with anger as I punched the tree. "What was that?! Say it again and I will seriously throw you off a cliff!" The dark skinned samurai spoke up. "He's not trying to insult you. What Shichiroji is trying to say is your too grumpy. You should lighten your mood a bit, that way, people will want to be friends with you, and want to hang out with you." I pouted and turned away from them. "I already have a person who wants to hang out with me and doesn't care about my mood. In fact she's in the hut right now." I growled. The young samurai turned to Kambei. "Is this true sensei? Is there a person like that that's in the hut right now?" He inquired. The dark skinned samurai turned to look at Kambei, his eyebrows raised. Kambei nodded his head. "Yes, besides Terra, there is another person helping us to defeat the Nobuseri. Her name is Azure. Only problem is that she's seriously ill, she's in no condition to fight right now. Terra and Azure came from the same place, correct?" He asked me. My anger diminished as I answered his question. "Yes, Azure and I live in Soaring Flame, a place where dragons and dragon riders, such as myself and Azure, are plentiful." "Dragon riders? What are those sensei?" the young samurai asked. "Dragon riders are people who devote their life to riding dragons, defending their home and others' homes." Said a mysterious voice. I recognized it right away. We all turned around to see a cloaked figure walking toward us. We could only see it's silhouette, the moonlight shining down on her. Azure appeared before us, looking very pale, yet still had a smile on her face. She pulled the hood off to reveal her flaming orange hair. The two new samurai looked very stunned, I'm assuming because of her state.
"Azure? What are you doing here? Do you feel any better?" Shichiroji asked. Azure shook her head. "I have not been feeling better, but I have not been feeling worse. And I came here to fetch you guys, because of Terra's screaming, I had a feeling you guys were done searching." She explained. "We still need to search for two more people. Oh, I forgot to introduce the two other samurai, forgive my rudeness." He pointed to the young samurai. "That is Katsushiro." He nodded respectfully to Azure, and only glanced at me through slightly narrow eyes. "And that is Gorobei-dono." Kambei finished as he pointed to the dark samurai as he gave a cheery wave to Azure and I.
"Kambei-sama, you said you still need to find two more people? I'll go find them." Azure said, her voice surprisingly not as croaky as normal. Shichiroji looked at Azure doubtfully. "Are you sure? You don't look that fit for wandering through the forest." Kambei said, even his voice sounding concerned. "I'll be fine." Azure replied. "Besides, you guys have been searching all afternoon, I bet you guys are tired. I've been resting all day." Gorobei smiled and slung an arm across Azure's shoulders. "Your very considerate. Thank you. I believe I last saw Heihachi-dono and Rikichi somewhere to the northwest part of the forest." Azure nodded her head as Kambei, Shichiroji, Katsushiro, Gorobei and I made our way back to the hut.
Azure's point of view
I was walking down the forest path, tree roots branching out like snakes underneath the undergrowth. I couldn't here or see any sign of human life, but I had a feeling I was close.
I stopped and rested by a tree to take a short break, as I grabbed my canteen of water and drank thirstily. After listening to the forest's sweet sound for a few minutes, I pulled the hood over my head and continued walking. The forest was teeming with life, the sound of birds chirping, the wind whistling against the leaves, and... the sound of wood chopping? Could it be the others? I walked toward the direction of the wood chopping and came upon a sunlit clearing. Standing in the clearing, were two men: a redhead that was chopping wood, and another sitting idly, staring at the dirt.
I stayed there silently for a few minutes, observing them while hidden between the trees. As I finally made a movement toward them, I stepped on a twig as it snapped beneath my foot. The redhead instantly stopped and held his sword defensively, while the other one looked up, scared. "W-what is out there?! Ahhhhh!" screamed the one that was sitting. "Who are you?! Show yourself! You don't want to make things difficult!" The redhead shouted at me. I stepped out of the shadows, but I didn't realize until they saw me that my cloak was too big. They couldn't see any part of me, not even my face. The redhead brought his sword up to my throat. "You don't have to be afraid of me." I said. The redhead didn't seem convinced. "How should I know to trust you?!" He said with venom. "I am a friend of Kambei-sama's." I told them as I lifted my hood to reveal my pale face. The redhead dropped his sword. "Oh ok..." he replied and gave a guilty smile. "Sorry about that, but why are you so pale?" He asked. "I'm ill, that's all." He instantly took a step back. "Don't worry, it's not contagious, you would only get in this state if you got cut by it..." I revealed my arm, and unwrapped the bandages, revealing the black blood and the black veins. He looked at it and immediately recoiled. "What happened?!" He asked with concern. "I'll explain when we get back too the hut. Kambei called a meeting with all the samurai and a few of the peasants so that my friend Terra and I could explain what me might face beside the Nobuseri. Something far more deadlier. So I went into the forest to find you guys and bring you back, even in this condition. Kambei, Shichiroji, and Terra were looking for you guys including Gorobei-sama and Katsushiro-sama, but they couldn't find you." I explained. I looked at him, then glanced at the other man, who was standing a bit shyly behind the samurai. "You're Rikichi, right?" I asked him. "Y-yes..." He stuttered. "And you're Heihachi-sama, correct?" I asked the redheaded samurai. He smiled and nodded. "That's me! You don't have to call me Heihachi-sama though." "Are you sure?" I asked with a hint of doubt in my voice. "Yeah! Actually, it kind of annoys me a bit, but I would understand coming from you. You don't look you're from anywhere near here right...what's your name?" Heihachi replied. I smiled weakly. "Azure." "Nice too meet you then Azure! And thank you for coming to search for us even though you were sick." He smiled and started to walk back toward the hut. "We'd better hurry, I expect we're making the others late. C'mon Rikichi!" He said as a hesitant Rikichi slowly trailed after him. I smiled as I started to follow them. Heihachi was really nice, I could tell we'll get along pretty well.
End of chapter 4. (Sorry it took so long _ I'll try to finish the other chapter ASAP. Also, I changed the title! It will now be called "Flight of the Dragon Rider." Idk, just "Dragon Rider" sounded kinda plain. So don't get it confused k?)