Chapter 3

"Let's see," Kuzco muttered under his breath. He pulled out the map and looked around. "Where am I again?"

Jungle noises surrounded him: bird calls, rusting leaves, animals screaming, insects buzzing. The air even seemed to have a strange greenish tint to it, as the sun filtered through the leaves far above him. In the jungle, dark fell much faster, giving the surroundings a creepy feel. But Kuzco already knew all this, and he had spent long days trekking through it a few years before. He didn't have time to dwell on it.

"She couldn't have made a better map?" he growled under his br?" he growled under his breath as he scrutinized it. The paths were marked in blue ink, but there was no indicatives of where the paths began or ended as he could see.

"Let me see that," a hand reached around his shoulder and snatched it away.

Kuzco gasped and whipped around. "Pacha?"

Pacha looked at him with both eyebrows raised, then tossed a shoulder pack at him. "Food, water, and other supplies you might need." He adjusted his own bag and straightened the parchment in his hands before observing it.

Kuzco looked down at the bag his friend had given. "Pacha, what are you-"

"Sorry I'm late," said a familiar voice as another bulky figure appeared. "Birdwell and I, uh, had to say goodbye. And then I had to make a quick trip to my house on the hill and pack this bag. I made extra sure I brought everything I need." On his back was a towering bag that must have contained everything he owned.

"Uh, Kronk?" Kuzco frowned. "Why are you here?"

"Well, I heard about your family troubles and I thought, what better way to serve your country than helping the emperor himself?" Kronk said with his trademark smile. "I brought spinach puffs."

"Uh-huh," Kuzco uttered. "Listen, I'm doing just fine on my own. You two have your own things to deal with, and I've got mine, so-"

"We're your friends," Pacha butted in. "We stick together to the end."

The young emperor's eyes suddenly filled with emotion. Then he cleared his throat and adopted his regal posture, hands behind his back. "Well, are we going or not? No time to lose."

"This way," Pacha said, moving forward.

Yes, Pacha and Kronk, my wonderful friends, people. But let's not forget what this story is really about: me, and my family. Not Pacha and Kronk. Me, and my family. Not Pacha or Kronk. Me, Malina, and Iniabi. Got it? Okay.

The three men set out into the jungle, following the well-trodden path before them.

"We've got a long journey ahead of us," Pacha said.

"Exactly, so let's move," Kuzco said, taking a few longer strides to lead the group.

"After you, your highness," Kronk smirked.

After a long while of walking, Pacha pointed out the turn into the jungle they needed to take. The path was overgrown with wild ferns and flowers, but Kuzco marched over them with a purpose. Soon, however, the path altogether disappeared.

"Uh, weird," Kronk commented, looking around. "See, this path was clearly marked on the map and it shows that it goes on for a much longer way, but here it ends like this unlike on the map that was given to us. Maybe the map is a bit...outdated."

"Gee, you think, Kronk?" Kuzco indulged.

"Wait, hold on," Pacha held up a hand, staring intently at the map. "If we're here, then the path should continue on this way." He pointed to the left.

"Are you sure?" Kuzco frowned. He didn't see anything that might have once been a path.

"Uh, yes," he replied uncertainly.

"Well," Kronk said, "the only way we can really know now is by trial and error. So we should just follow the map to the best of our abilities now, and if we run into the path again, we'll know."

"And if we don't?" Kuzco folded his arms.

"Then we backtrack and try another way," said Kronk.

"Hm," Kuzco and Pacha exchanged a glance. Then they both shrugged and agreed with Kronk's plan and went with it. They trekked off the blind path, deeper into the dark and dangerous jungle.

Little did they know that just before the path they turned onto from the main road, a clump of leaves was obscuring the real path that led directly to the paracress plants. Many dangers lay ahead of them, but not quite yet. The real horrors would begin after they made camp at sunset, near a small stream. Pacha lit a small fire as Kronk pitched the tents, and Kuzco sat at the stream thinking hard. Soon enough, he was called over for dinner, but he could only pick at his meal. Afterwards, in the dying twilight, they went to sleep.

A/N: So sorry for the shortness! I wanted to update but I was working myself into a dead end so I just made them sleep so I can start chapter four with the real beginnings of their adventure. So sorry. But the next chapter, with the way I have it planned, should be a lot longer than average, so there's that. Thanks for bearing with me, and I'll try to get it up as soon as possible.

Thanks for reading! ^-^