Okay, fine…so I haven't updated in a year. …or two…

I've uh…been busy.

Yeah. –looks around nervously- Busy for uh…two years… .z.

…

Sorry .z.

And this isn't even a complete chapter…. .z.

Still, enjoy!

Recap of Chapter Six: Waka, Amaterasu, and Issun are in Taka Pass at the withered Guardian Sapling. Amaterasu revives it and, to thank them for their efforts, there was a welcoming committee! Two angry tigers ready to try and rip their heads off! :D Wonderful thank you gift, I know. They all escaped by jumping off a cliff.

LAST TIME:::

As the tigers inched closer, their chances of escape lessened. "Hmm…" Waka said loudly, making sure Issun could hear him. "We could always feed Issun to these tigers so they would leave us alone…Oh! Did I say that out loud?" His voice was taunting. Then, he said thoughtfully, "Never mind. Issun is much too small." Waka smiled mentally as he heard Issun's muffled shouts at him from inside the wolf's mouth.

Just then, Waka had an idea. He ignored the pain in his knee as he ran past the tigers and jumped off the cliff. He landed not-so-gracefully, but he was still alive.

Amaterasu got the idea and limped past the tigers. They pounced, but she dodged them and the tigers ended up ramming into each other. Ammy jumped, Issun still in her mouth. They had escaped!

Chapter Seven: An Ancient Forest in Modern Times

Waka and Amaterasu, on the bottom of the cliff, panted for breath. Amaterasu spit Issun out.

What was their problem? the white wolf asked angrily.

"Who knows?" Issun fumed, furiously brushing the drool off of him. "All I know is that it is quite unpleasant to be covered in wolf slobber!" Ammy seemed to grin.

"Where are we headed next?" Waka asked, mainly to himself. He got no replies. However, now that the cursed area was gone, they were free to cross Taka Pass. And go where? he asked himself. He tried to bring up the map he had in his head. After Taka Pass there is… He couldn't see it. His mind was all jumbled up and couldn't recall the locations around him.

For the first time in his life, Waka needed a map.

He tried to think. Was it Ryoshima Coast? Or was it called Ryoshoma Coast? Or something different? Shinshu Field? No…we passed that a long time ago. Why can't I remember?

While Waka was frying his brains silently (men never want to admit they are lost and/or ask for directions—the reason why is beyond me), Amaterasu was noticing a rather large man trying to move a mountain.

Yes, he was literally trying to move a mountain. Leaving Waka alone with his thoughts and Issun to his ramblings, she walked closer.

Directing her thoughts to the man's head, she asked, What are you doing?

The man looked around, startled. He scanned the area with wide, frightened brown eyes until he looked down and saw the wolf. He calmed down, but only slightly, and continued pushing with all his might on the side of the mountain, as if he wished to move it.

Well, Ammy thought to herself with a wolfy grin, considering how much he probably weighs, he might just do it! She laughed mentally.

What are you doing? Amaterasu asked again. The man spun around as if he had been waiting for the voice in his head to come back.

"Who said that?" he exclaimed.

I did. Now what are you doing?

The man was freaked out, but he answered anyway. "I'm trying to move this wall so that I can get to Sasa Sanctuary!"

Go figure.

I do not believe that you will succeed in your quest to move the wall. And with that, Amaterasu went back to Waka and Issun.

According to that man, she told them both, Sasa Sanctuary is beyond that wall. I can get in if I wanted to. Should we?

"Good idea, Ammy! Let's go!" Issun exclaimed.

The three of them were able to walk through the mountain as if the rock had never even been there.

Oddly, the only acknowledgment this received was a tiny comment from Issun: "That was weird."

They walked down a path and entered a beautiful, large building. Giant sparrows were running around doing chores. One of the giant sparrows came out from behind a desk to greet them.

Wait…sparrows? What the crap?

"Welcome to Sasa Sanctuary!" greeted the sparrow. Ammy backed up a little in surprise.

Sparrows…talk? she asked Issun skeptically, and a little weirded out. Well, if a giant talking sparrow came up to you, wouldn't you be a little weirded out? Just a little?

To be continued…

Uh…sorry for the random cut off. I don't know when I'll be updating this again… -hides-

Still, review! I love reviews! They make updates faster. =]