Shada held the reins driving the carts while Kaiba and Mana watched the children sitting in the back. Kaiba stared at Alpha, Gamma, and Beta, the newest additions to the collection of children. He watched them toss a ball to each other in a circle. Their movements were calculated, they were entirely focused on the game they were playing. Meanwhile, Mana was resting in the back of the cart. Joseph was playing by himself in a corner of the cart.
Kaiba looked at the three boys. "Alpha!" The boy immediately whipped around. Meanwhile, Gamma threw the ball at him knocking him down. The ball rolled around the cart and landed near Joseph.
The three boys turned to him watching him carefully as he held the ball in his hands. "Here." Joseph tossed the ball back to them. Gamma caught it in his hands.
"Maybe you three should let Joseph play with you." Kaiba said looking at them. The boys immediately rearranged themselves allowing room for Joseph to join them.
"Thanks." Joseph sat in their circle starting to pass the ball with them.
No one could see it, but Alpha, Beta, and Gamma were communicating through their minds. Joseph seems nice. Gamma said passing the ball to Alpha.
It would be nice to actually see his powers. Alpha passed the ball to Joseph.
I'm sure we can arrange something. Gamma caught the ball Joseph hurled at him.
"You guys okay?" Joseph asked looking at them. "You're being so quiet." The boys all gave him a nod of assurance.
As the sun started to set, Shada slowed the carts to a stop. He, Kaiba, and Mana got out and started to set up camp for the night. Soon enough, they had tents set up and a fire going. Everyone sat around the fire eating their rations for the night.
"We should be arriving at the next village by tomorrow night." Kaiba said looking at the sky.
"We will have to keep the children safe. The village trades slaves. If the children are mistaken or left alone, they may get taken. It's dangerous for them." Shada said motioning to them.
"You're right. How are we going to do this?" Mana looked at all of the kids.
"We'll park the carts outside of the village. You and Shada will stay behind to watch the children." Kaiba told her.
"Why do we have to stay behind!?" Mana stared at him with her arms crossed.
"I found the children last time, I can do it again." Kaiba responded.
"How about you stay behind and watch the kids and Shada and I will go find new children?" Mana suggested.
"You should provide us the opportunity." Shada added.
"Very well." Kaiba crossed his arms. "I hope you fare better this time."
"We will." Mana smirked at him.
Beta could tell that they were distracted with their plans. He looked at his brothers who all nodded to him before they walked off. Beta walked over to Joseph.
"Hey, Beta, what's going on?"
"Please, come with me."
"You talked!" Joseph shouted.
Beta looked around frantically hoping that no one heard him. He looked at Kaiba and the others who were still talking and let out a sigh of relief. "Please, come with me." He repeated himself grabbing Joseph's arm this time.
"Okay, okay." Joseph grabbed his arm back deciding to follow Beta. They walked into a large ditch where Alpha and Gamma were already waiting.
Beta stood by his brothers; their shadow creatures emerged. They all turned to Joseph surrounding him. "Show us your power." They started chanting as they stood around him.
Joseph's original curiosity turned to panic as he faced three powerful creatures all ready to attack him. "Why are you guys doing this? Stop!" Joseph was on the ground fearing what would happen next; he closed his eyes waiting for it to be over. Alpha's shadow creature prepared to attack and then the three boys went silent. Joseph opened his eyes to see a black dragon hovering above him.
Alpha, Beta, and Gamma were stunned by what they saw. "Attack!" They all shouted together. Their shadow creatures leapt into action charging the dragon.
The black dragon with red eyes showed its power blasting the Alpha's creature into the ground. It then picked up Gamma's magnetic creature and hurled it into Beta's creature.
Alpha and his brothers still stood. Their creatures returned to their sides ready to continue. "I don't want to hurt you guys." Joseph looked tired having little experience with controlling his shadow creature. He was not even sure how he made it appear or attack them the way it did.
Alpha and the others could see his tiredness. Their shadow creatures charged the dragon continuing their assault. Joseph's dragon did its best to protect its host, but it fell at the might of the three powerful, experienced creatures.
Joseph fell down, exhausted from the battle. He remained conscious only with his will to continue. He saw Beta preparing to attack him again.
Then, a bright light hit him. "That's enough!" Kaiba shouted. A white dragon hovered over Joseph ready to protect him. Kaiba ran into the ditch and picked Joseph up. "You three, end this now." The boys' shadow creatures vanished as did Kaiba's dragon. "Your actions are irresponsible, selfish, and unacceptable. Get back to camp, now." Kaiba started walking back to camp with the boys. He held Joseph closely. "Are you alright?"
"I'm tired." Joseph mumbled closing his eyes.
"You'll have plenty of time to rest." Kaiba said checking him over for injuries.
They got back to camp where Mana and Shada looked over Beta, Gamma, and Alpha for any injuries. Meanwhile, Kaiba put Joseph in one of the tents to rest.
"Is he okay?" Mana asked seeing Kaiba emerge from the tent.
"He's fine." Kaiba said crossing his arms. "I don't know what Beta, Gamma, and Alpha were thinking. Their actions were unprecedented. Joseph did nothing to instigate that battle."
"I believe they were merely testing their boundaries." Shada said walking over. "They have gone to sleep for the night, but I managed to talk with Alpha before. He says that they wanted to see Joseph's power. The best way for them to do that was to initiate a battle."
"I'll have to keep a closer eye on them when we get to the village." Kaiba said looking at the others who all nodded their heads.