I apologize for taking a while with this chapter. I had possibly the worst case of writer's block I'd ever experienced so far followed by the single biggest setback I've ever sustained as a writer. So forgive me if I'm a little off.

But excuses aside

Really hope you like this chapter!

Making the Cut
Chapter 7
The Journey Begins

The rising of the morning sun seemed a sign to the rest of the Valley that today was any normal day. Obviously it was a different for me. With the sun came a new day. I knew what this new day meant.

"Am I really doing this?"
Yes, I/We had this same conversation last night
It's happening

I pulled my backpack on before grabbing the dagger. Two days ago I never would have thought I'd have to use it so soon. Hopefully I wouldn't have to. I clipped its leather sheath to the inside waistline of my pants to keep it concealed.

Before I left I said a prayer. A prayer for luck, that I'd find the Masters, none of them would be hurt, that I wouldn't be hurt, and above all else for strength.

I'm not as stupid as alot of people seem to think I must be to take on a task like this. I understood the situation as much as anyone could with the knowledge I had. I knew this was possibly a life or death situation and not just for the masters, but like I said before; I don't have a choice.

I couldn't just pray for a miracle to happen.
I had to save them myself
I smiled with a thought. There's not a difference between the two, is there?

Once I was down in the village I decided I needed to catch my ride. The night of my Birthday, Mr. Ping had rambled on and on about how every month he would make trips to other food-capitals outside the Valley to get new ideas for soups. "It's astounding how culinarily advanced other places are with their soup!" he'd exclaimed. I had listened at the time to not appear rude, but now I was sure glad I had. He explained he had made these trips thanks to a large coach that frequently carried a great number of travelers throughout cities. He explained that one of it's stopping points was just outside the Valley. It was this way that I would make it to the city of Pearljing.

I walked through the still-waking village. Only a few people were out this early. Most of the shops weren't open yet. I did see Mr. Ping sweeping up the sidewalk outside his restaurant. He waved at me "Good morning, Jo!"

As I walked by I waved back. "Thanks, Mr. Ping."

He gave a curious look while I was walking away. He might know what I meant by it later, but for now I needed to keep this mission under wraps. After another 20 minutes of walking I had finally come to the edge of the Village. I started to worry as I wasn't exactly sure where this coach's stop was supposed to be. But before I'd even completed the thought I saw it at the end of the street.

It was as large as Mr. Ping had said it was. It was really just an over-sized uncovered cart towed behind the driver, a red-haired dhole. I climbed into the coach and found myself a place to sit for the ride. It was already half filled with travelers, maybe 10 other people. I was happy to see none of them were from the Valley. I was free from answering any awkward questions about where I was going from some one who recognized me.

The coach slowly began to move and for the first time I felt this that trek had actually started.

The fellow riders were a mix of middle aged men and women, so there was no one else in there my age. I was left with nothing to do on this ride. I considered writing a poem (I had brought paper) but I had nothing on which to write about. At least nothing that compelled me to write. I took out the map again to recheck the route. I looked at the distance. I was no expert on maps but I guessed it was about 60 miles. I was suddenly grateful about having the coach. It would have been tiring to walk that whole distance. Besides, the coach was faster. The faster I got to the Masters the better. I had no idea could be happening to them right this moment.

The coach driver shouted out upcoming cities and stops every so often.

"Shinghue"

"Rem Hai"

"Macbei Delta City"

Checking the map I saw each city he mentioned in direct route to the Pearljing. It was steady sailing now. Around noon the road turned to a trail that lead through a forested area. I meant to hold out on the food supply I had packed till it was needed but soon my full stomach from breakfast had dissipated. I took out a piece of dried beef and a biscuit I had packed in my backpack. I saved what I had left for later. After what must have been 5 hours of riding the coach had abruptly stopped.

It caught me slightly off guard. The dhole hadn't shouted out a stop or city name, and we clearly weren't near any cities as we

Then why were we stopping?
I looked up toward the front of the coach. Maybe there's a roadblock.

Standing firmly in front of the cart was a tiger and leopard both dressed in ragged clothes. The leopard held dual tantos. The tiger had a large sack sticking out of his pants pocket

"Brigands." I muttered.
The worst kind of roadblock.

"Keep the cart where it is!" the leopard snarled to the driver. "Unless you want any of your passenger offed."

The dhole was petrified as was the rest of the coach's occupants.

While the leopard stayed in front to block the carts movement, the tiger pulled the bag out and made his way to the back of the coach. Opening up the sack he said to the passengers "Whatever you got, money, jewels, put it in!"

Normally I might have just let them have whatever possessions I had to stay safe, but I actually had possessions worth keeping for once. I couldn't let them get the money I had. It was for survival. And if they thought for one second that I would just give up my obsidian dagger they were sorely mistaken. While the leopard was dealing with the riders near the back of the coach I moved toward the front near the coach driver.

I whispered "I'm gonna distract them. The second they're gone, get the coach and the rest of the people away from here."

Trying not to turn his head and set off the suspicion of the tiger he whispered back "Kid, are you crazy?"

It's quite possible

"Just do it."

Without waiting for a response of agreement I drew my dagger. In an act of purposefully conspicuous "sneaking" I slipped over the edge of the coach onto the ground.

As I had hoped, the leopard noticed.
"Where are you going!" he shouted.

Distracted, the tiger left his position at the front and charged at me with his tantos flailing. Without any other idea, I held up my dagger ready to block. As he struck at me I swung clenching the knife with both hands. There was a clang as metal hit obsidian and I saw a minuscule chip of metal fly from the impact. He had seen it too. While he watched the chip fall spellbound at his own weapons seeming fragility, I kicked his other hand knocking the other tanto out of it.

The leopard had dropped his bag, still empty of any loot, and ran to join his partner. Danger seemed to become real then I realized I'd have to face them both. Before he reached us, I took off into the brush and trees. They followed. I ran trying to weave in between the trees with better success than them. I could hear them run into a few low tree branches, but I didn't dare turn around and look to see. Once I was a good distance away, I dove into a nearby bush and curled into the smallest ball I could. I never thought I'd be happy to be small.

Maybe hiding wasn't the most manliest thing to do, but I was admittedly far from the most manliest person.

A second later I heard them run by. I held my breath not moving a muscle.

"Where'd the runt get to?"

"He can't be too far ahead. Come on."

I heard them keep running on. I stayed in the bush for another 5 minutes till I decided it was safe to go find the trail again. As I anticipated the coach was gone. The driver took the opportunity like I had told him and ran.

I looked down the trail. They weren't any where in sight.
I took out the map and looked it over
What had been the last city he called out?
Macbei Delta City?
I searched for the city. It was the closest city to Pearljing but still a good 20 miles.
more like a bad 20 miles

I exhaled. "Looks like I'm walking."

Crazy

I set off down the trail. I began to miss the coach more and more with every growing hour.

I just had to play the hero, didn't I?
Had to spare the the passengers from giving up their precious material possessions.
Come on you know it was the right thing to do.
'The right thing to do?' It sounds so cliche.

I thought about running but considered it better to conserve my energy. After a while I took out the dagger and gave it a look over. There wasn't a single nick in it. The edges were as perfectly straight, unscuffed, and reflective as they had been when I first unwrapped it.

Reflections

I replayed the image of it chipping off a piece of metal from the tiger's sword in slow motion in mind several times.
Saxon wasn't lying when he said it was tougher than steel.

I took rests every so often. I was tired of walking. I was tired of feeling tired.
Above all, I was tired of seeing nothing forest. I wanted to get out this wall of green.

Hours later I finally found the forest thinning into country side. The rolling hills and empty spaces I had longed so hard to see finally went on as far as the eye could see.
Which also held a problem.
The city still wasn't in sight.

Where the heck is it?

A wooden road sign stuck out of the ground. Its painted words, though peeling, were still legible.

"Pearljing,5 miles"

So close

But the sun was quickly setting I doubted I'd make it there before I was left in the dark

In the distance I saw what looked like a gigantic bush. When I got closer I realized it was an enormous oak tree thats branches had grown so long they were now reaching the ground. As I walked under the tree, the branches created a covering like a canopy.

This looks like home for the night

I took out a flint & a steel from my backpack and built a small fire.
Nothing says "set up camp" like lighting a fire.
After gathering enough fire wood for the night I laid out my bedroll, and lied down

It wasn't that great of a bed, but it would have to do. If that was the worst complaint I had, that was probably a good thing.

No one said this journey was going to be easy.
In fact it was pretty much assumed that it wasn't going to be easy

Thanks for reading

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