CHAPTER TWENTY: TOO SOON

"Kimiko?" Chase's voice boomed through his home, causing her to jump slightly.

"Coming!" She called back, climbing down from her bed and putting down the scroll she had been reading previously. With a small sigh, she left her room and followed the sound of his voice.

When she reached Chase, he was perched on the edge of his throne, looking rather bored, resting his head on one hand.

"Kimiko, I grow restless and I will not delay our plans any longer, I wish for you to invade the neighbouring villages within a one-hundred mile radius of here." Kimiko tried not to let her discomfort at the thought of this task show.

"That's quite a big area; I don't think I could do that all in one day." Kimiko said, scratching her head.

"Take as long as you need, just get it done. Kill those who refuse and burn their homes. Take as many of my warriors as you need." Chase told her sternly and stood up from his seat abruptly. "Do not keep me waiting." Without a second glance at her, he left the room, almost slamming the door behind him. She stared at the door as it closed, surprised.

What's got you so anxious all of a sudden?

Raimundo sighed. He was growing impatient. He couldn't understand why they couldn't act on their plan immediately. For all they knew, more people had been taken by Kimiko to serve Chase. He leant against the inside wall of the cave with his arms folded. Jimmy was sat silently in the corner, staring at his feet. Clay was sitting around the fire, which was boiling a pot of water, and he was whittling a small piece of wood using a knife. They had instructed Dojo to circle the area, to see if he could spot Kimiko again. Dojo turned into his full size and stretched, groaning lightly.

"I'm just about to head off to see if I can spot Kim." He told Raimundo, who stood upright.

"Wait." Raimundo called, running towards Dojo, who stared at him. Jimmy and Clay also lifted their heads.

"Rai, partner, where are you going?"

"I can't sit around here any longer. I can't do nothing while they could be out there killing innocent people. Let's go, Dojo." Raimundo climbed up on Dojo's giant, scaly back with ease, sitting comfortably on him.

"Now don't you be goin' an' doin' anything stupid, Rai." Clay warned, shooting a nervous glance at Jimmy. Clay knew how reckless Raimundo could be when he was impatient.

"I'm fine, I just need some air." Raimundo said. He was slightly agitated by the lack of progress. Clay and Jimmy seemed to be waiting for something to happen. They weren't even planning when their assault would take place. The thought of doing nothing made Raimundo feel sick. He needed to do something.

With that, Dojo pushed off from the floor and began soaring upwards. Raimundo sighed as the reached a respectable height.

"So what's the real reason you wanted to get out of there?" Dojo asked, looking below him at the villages below him, watching for any figures in black.

"I'm sick of the guys doing nothing." Raimundo answered quietly.

Dojo nodded, making his body wobble and Raimundo bounce up and down. "I guessed as much." Raimundo was silent for a moment, enjoying the feeling of the wind through his hair. He felt lost, as though he didn't have anyone to talk to. Raimundo began speaking again as they passed the village that Kimiko had burned. He felt his stomach sink as he realised just how bad Kimiko had gone.

"I just... I know Kim, if she was in the right state of mind would want us to try and do something to stop her. Kim's not herself anymore; I know that I have to try and sto-"

"Oh no..." Dojo muttered.

"What?" Raimundo looked over the side of Dojo, who started to fly lower. They were slowly getting closer to another village. The habitants were all gathered in a huddle in the middle of the village. Surrounding them was a few of Chase's jungle cats, and they were all facing one thing in particular; a black figure.

Raimundo's throat went dry instantly and he could suddenly hear his heartbeat in his ears.

Kim...