Chapter Three: Late Night Visitors
The tranquil hum of the ocean's constant movement as the tide broke was all the sound that one could experience upon this particular night. It had been about an hour after sunset that the small village's residents, young and old alike, had retired to their bamboo and reed houses.
Not much was occurring in the sea-side village of Rogue on this night, not a single person stirred, save one. A gargantuan man stood on Rogue's martial arts platform as he overlooked the sea in the dull darkness of night. Twice the size of a normal man and twice as wide, the solitary figure looked like he was made for battle. He seemed absolutely out of place in achieving such a quiet moment.
A bright swell of light suddenly blinked to life from an armor buckle on the giant's chest. The man did not seem alarmed, but confused as he reached to his chest buckle and removed the resonating burnt orange stone. The flickering light of the stone revealed another figure, just behind him, an old and ancient looking man leaning heavily on a rattan cane. The wrinkles in the man's face cast a shadow of darkness around the rest of the man's features, but the large man appeared to know who it was that approached him.
"Why are you here again, this late, Kongol? I know something is bothering you," an old but steady voice said aloud, breaking the silence at last.
The man named Kongol turned to face the old man. "Ah, Haschel is a good friend, coming to check on Kongol. Kongol feels now is time to tell Haschel everything on Kongol's mind."
Haschel leaned heavily on his walking stick. "Go ahead Kongol, I'm listening," he assured.
The Giganto inhaled deeply before he began. "Kongol has had strange dream for many nights now . . .it is about boy with two different color eyes. Kongol knows, Kongol was taught about many features of Gigantos. Boy display nearly all of them . . . ." Kongol paused.
"So, you're saying that you believe this boy to be a Giganto?" Haschel asked mildly.
Kongol shook his massive head."Boy too small to be Giganto, but Kongol senses Giganto blood in him. Blood of strong line. If boy was Giganto, Kongol would have duty to teach him the old ways. Kongol also sense that boy in some sort of danger. Something hunt him. Kongol knows this more than just dream. Kongol's golden dragoon spirit has started to shine. The golden dragoon pleads with Kongol to find boy."
Haschel's old face exhibited a perplexed expression. "Hmm. . .odd. My dragoon spirit has not been active," he said slowly as he retrieved a purple stone from his red master's belt. The stone glowed with a bright, violet light in response to Kongol's stone, however the glow was steady, not fading in or out of light.
Kongol sighed as he replaced the stone back into its original place and the blinking glow ceased. Haschel too, pocketed his dragoon spirit.
"Kongol would like to ask good friend Haschel question," the Giganto said at last.
"Certainly," the old man replied.
"Kongol asks Haschel what Haschel think Kongol should do?"
The old man considered to himself quietly for a moment under the starry night sky. Replying at last, he answered slowly and with much thought. "You say your dragoon spirit asks you to find this boy?"
Kongol nodded.
"Then I would suggest you do as it asks. The dragoon spirits have never led us astray before and they only inspire visions when our actions are required to preserve life. Thirty years it has been now, since we defeated Melbu Frahma . . .it is strange that this boy should invoke a dragoon's concern. Kongol, I believe that something may yet still be very wrong. I advise you to use caution, but to follow your dragon."
Kongol gazed at his friend through huge brown eyes. "Kongol agrees. . .Kongol thanks Haschel, but assures Haschel he shall return as soon as able." In a flash of orange light, Kongol stood before the old warrior as a new being, enveloped in gleaming, gold-orange plate-mail and sporting a pair of large, sturdy orange wings.
"You should at least wait until morning," Haschel suggested.
Kongol shook his head."Time, Kongol feels, is of essence." Spreading his burnt orange dragon's wings, Kongol lifted himself into the sky. With a final nod from Haschel, the Giganto flew towards the east until he became nothing more than an orange star on the night sky.
Haschel peered after Kongol for a while, thinking to himself, before he heard light footsteps--so light he, being a master, had barely noticed them. However he had noticed-- they were coming from behind him.
"You still walk too hard, Wendel. It's late. You should have been inside hours ago," he said without turning around.
"I'm sorry Master, I just wanted to practice my Flurry of Styx technique. You know the whole house shakes when I practice inside, Master," a young male voice said apologetically. "Master, is something wrong?" he asked upon seeing Haschel's removed expression when he turned around.
"Nothing," Haschel answered, looking upon his young disciple. The eighteen year-old Wendel was a respectable height of 5'8", and had a lean, muscular build, created from years of perfecting the rogue art. Wendel was young, and hitherto, his skin was smooth and he shared the same tan skin tone that people of Rogue's heritage usually had. The teenager wore a purple disciple's gi, tied with a red sash, identical to Haschel's that complimented his jet black hair in its flat-top cut. Wendel had adorned his head with his red soul headband, and in the dull night light, it cast a shadow over his normally narrow face with its equally narrow but rounded features.
The old master locked his old brown eyes on his apprentice's chocolate ones. "Did you know that it is three o'clock in the morning, Wendel?" he asked in a fatherly tone.
"No sir, I didn't know. I'm not even the least bit tired though," the teenager answered.
Haschel smiled, but quickly covered it up with a sigh. "Ah, passion . . .it drives the young, especially. The young, with their boundless energy. I was just like you when I was your age."
Wendel grinned, making Haschel realize he was being too lenient. The old warrior coughed into his fist."Never you mind that, it's late and I want you to go back to the house. You shouldn't be out here," Haschel recovered quickly.
Wendel, being well-disciplined, did not argue, but only gave a respectful bow and left without another word. As Wendel walked away, a bright violet light beamed out heavily from Haschel's chest. Glancing down, the old master realized with no other dragoon besides himself around, that the spirit reacting to Wendel. Besides being the only other person around, the light seemed to chase after him before suddenly dying in Haschel's hands.
Haschel's old eyes widened, as he discovered he could no longer feel the Thunder Dragon's energy inside him or off of the glassy, now dormant, purple globe he held in his old, wrinkled hand. Haschel gasped. "My God . . .what's going on? This has never happened before. First Kongol and now this. I'm truly missing something."
However, secretly, and somewhere in the deep recesses of Haschel's subconscious mind, he was also giving a sigh of relief. The burden of the violet dragon would no longer be his to bear, and he could finally rest assured that someone more capable of harnessing the power would be chosen to take over for him. Especially Wendel. . . Haschel knew he should have expected nothing less. Indeed, in his old age, Haschel knew that he was no longer even able to undergo the transformation into the Knight of the Dragon, the Dragoon. In contemplation, he began walking the path back to Rogue's bamboo houses, a paradox of relief and worry playing at his mind.
Tohan awoke the next morning inside what appeared to be an old shack, with Kamuy laying next to him. His entire body ached as he picked himself up off the ground. Where was he? What had happened? Why did was he in so much pain? He looked down, taking note of the multiple, bloodied scratches and cuts all over his body. As the stinging resurfaced, so did his memory.
"SOA!" Tohan cried out in alarm, abruptly waking Kamuy, whom had been sleeping beside him on the discolored old wooden floor.
Kamuy picked his head up swiftly, opening his wild, golden eyes. Tohan jumped hastily to his feet, ignoring the surge of pain and dizziness, in attempt to get to the old, wooden doorframe. He fell, tripping over an uprooted board, inches shy of his goal. Tohan cried out in pain as he landed, bringing Kamuy immediately to his side,
Groaning in intense pain and aided by Kamuy, Tohan managed to make his way to the doorframe. With one arm still around his white wolf for support, he gazed out the open doorway onto the land around him. The earth there was heavily wooded, yet the groves of trees were scattered and isolated from each other, unlike the Evergreen Forest. He noticed an old, rickety fence astride the cabin, and an overgrown, ill-used pathway that obviously hadn't been traveled in quite some time. The rest of Tohan's view was impeded by the cabin's interior walls.
Tohan groaned in despair. "God, with that portal, we could have been flung anywhere in existence! I don't recognize these types of trees, let alone this place! And mother and father? What happened to them? I know they must be alive! Oh Soa, what has befallen Furni? Of all the times---"
He made to kick the old doorframe, but Kamuy pulled him backwards. Tohan sighed deeply as his confusion and rage subsided. He ruffled the thick fur on the back of Kamuy's neck with the hand he held onto him with. After Kamuy had helped Tohan over to a wooden box (there seemed to be plenty of them around), Tohan began rubbing his aching head. Naturally, the teenager was surprised enough to fall off the box when he heard a sudden voice behind him.
"Mister! Mister! You're finally awake You must have been very sleepy!" a childish voice chided.
Tohan grimaced from where he fell. He picked himself up and was about to reprimand the little girl for sneaking up on him when she ran over to him from behind, and flung her small arms around his midsection.
"Oh mister you were right! We made it! I'm so glad you're okay, too!" she cried as she pressed her small face into his stomach.
Tohan's irritation melted away. How could he be angry with someone so small when they were hugging him? Besides, it wasn't her fault for what had happened back in Furni. He sighed and wrapped one arm around her. A thought occurred to him; he didn't even know this child's name. As the little girl pulled away from him, Tohan took her little hand in his larger one. She looked at him curiously, with big blue eyes.
"Say what's your name, anyway, little one?" he asked gently.
"My name is Martel Lynn. Mom says I'm named after my grandmother, who collected all the stardust in the world and made my mom better when she was sick."
Tohan looked at Martel strangely. "Stardust? What's Stardust?" he asked her curiously.
The blonde-haired girl shrugged."You don't know about Stardust? Mom says everyone has heard the story!" she said with a playful smile.
Tohan shook his head."I'm afraid I haven't," he replied truthfully.
The little girl shook her head in a mimicking gesture."You silly, I guess I'll have to tell you then. It's one of my favorite bedtime stories!" she giggled in the delight of having someone to tell. "Once upon a time, there was a very sad angel. She was sad because she was lonely. The one she loved was on Earth. So one day, she began to wish upon a star, her favorite one in the whole sky, that she and her love could be together. She wished every day until one day, Soa took pity on her, and made the man an angel too. The angel was so happy that she cried, and when she did, her tears fell to earth and became pretty silver stones called stardust. Now, since the stones contain an angel's happiness, if someone gathers enough of them, that person's wish is said to come true. My grandmother collected all the Stardust in the world and wished for my mom to get better. And she did! Mom says that when grandma gave her all the stones, she put them together in a necklace and wished for my every wish to come true. She says that my necklace is made of Stardust, but it's just a bedtime story," Martel said, pulling down the collar of her shirt to show Tohan her silvery, pearl-like necklace.
Tohan laughed ironically."Martel, your necklace created a portal when we were being chased by that tree-thing. You wished we were far, far away and we ended up here. I think it is more than a bedtime story," Tohan said in amazement.
"Hey, you're right mister! Maybe since those tree-thingies are gone, I can wish us back and find my mom!" Martel exclaimed. Before Tohan could say anything Martel had already begun chanting, "I wish we were home, I wish we were home!"
Tohan braced himself to be flung through another portal, but nothing happened. Martel's necklace only sparkled and then died. "Is it broken?" Tohan asked, dreading the answer.
Martel looked down at her necklace and shook her head. "I don't think so. It still feels kinda funny, like it still has some magic in it. I guess it just needs to rest, too," she said, shrugging.
"Oh, great," Tohan sighed, "I guess we're going to be stuck here for a while," he stated. "If I only knew where here is," he mumbled to himself.
"I guess we'll have to wait. I hope my mom doesn't worry," Martel remarked in concern.
"Mine too," Tohan murmured in agreement.
"Cheer up mister! We'll be home before you know it! What's your name, Mister? I already told you mine."
Tohan smiled weakly. He had forgotten to introduce himself as well, but given the circumstances, there hadn't been time."How, rude of me, I'm sorry. My name is Tohan Flanders."
Little Martel put her hands over her mouth and was giggling feverishly.
"What's so funny, did I say something wrong?" he inquired in bewilderment.
The giggling girl managed to speak at last through fits of subdued laughter."Your name is funny, mister."
Tohan was confused."Why, what's wrong with it?"
"It just sounds funny,' the little girl persisted.
"Okay then . . . I have an idea," Tohan said, feeling slightly insulted, but not taking it to heart. "Why don't we go outside and take a look around?" he suggested.
Martel nodded and her giggling slowly faded.
"Kamuy, come here, boy," Tohan said gently. Until then, Kamuy had been sitting patiently on the floor nearby.
As Tohan went to get on Kamuy's back, Martel asked him a question."Doesn't your doggie mind when y ou do that?"
Tohan laughed."Oh no, he's really strong, he could easily carry three people and not feel a thing. Even so, I usually walk, but I'm still kind of sore from yesterday. Give me your hand and I'll help you up."
"Me too? I get a ride?"
Tohan smiled warmly."Of course. Did you think I was going to ride and just make you walk?" he said teasingly, as he took Martel's outstretched hand and pulled her up onto Kamuy's back.
"You're really nice Mr. Tohan," she said with a smile on her face.
"You know, you could just call me Tohan. The 'mister' makes me feel old," Tohan replied.
"Okay mister Tohan," she said, again, though by pure accident. "Sorry, mom always said it was polite to say that to people I don't know," she said in earnest.
"Well, that's okay, Mister Tohan is fine, I guess," he answered with an apologetic smile. After making sure to remind Martel to bend forward as they passed out of the doorframe, Tohan took his first real gaze at his surroundings. He could hear the sounds of a gushing waterfall somewhere behind him, and the view in front of him was peaceful. They were indeed in a forest of trees, which gradually gave way to a grassland only a short distance further. The setting of the landscape seemed very peaceful, with birds singing sweetly and the tall, golden grass rippling in the gentle wind. There was still no sign of human life though . . . . Tohan gave Kamuy a pat on the shoulder, assuring him that it was okay to move forward.
The trio followed the old, worn path until they came to a fork in the road marked with an old, faded wooden cross sign. Even though he was close to the sign, Tohan still couldn't read it, for it was covered in a thick layer of dust. They boy slowly slid off of Kamuy's back, walked over, and wiped away the thick covering for the sign pointing left. The letters were still legible, but just barely. The black paint that had lined the engraved letters had long since been weathered away, so only the initial etchings of the letters remained.
"Li-me-sto-ne-cav-e. Limestone Cave," Tohan read aloud, "I have absolutely no idea where in Endiness that is, do you Martel?"
The little girl shook her head, so Tohan proceeded to uncover the next sign. It read:
H-E-L-L-E-N-A
Tohan immediately stopped reading as was overcome with realization. He had heard of Hellena. It was the most infamous prison in all of Endiness where the cruelest of tortures and executions took place. He shivered. He did not even want to think about how close they might be to such a place. However, this provided him with the world locale he had been searching for.
"What does it say Mr. Tohan?" Martel asked curiously.
Tohan sighed inwardly. He had better sense than to tell a six year old about a place full of danger and death. It would undoubtedly scare her, so he lied.
"Hmm. It says that way is a dead end. But I have an idea of where we are now. I was right in saying that we were flung to the other side of Endiness. We are on the continent of Serdio! However, I don't know exactly just where in Serdio we are," Tohan explained, although he was not entirely sure any of what he had just said would register to a six year-old.
Martel however, seemed to have much more simple concerns than a deadly prison, being two continents away from home and not knowing exactly where she was.
"Hey Mr. Tohan, I'm getting hungry. What about you?" she asked innocently.
Tohan' stomach growled before he could reply. His thoughts had been entirely consumed by his troubles up until now. This current situation added one more. What were they going to eat? There certainly weren't any obvious cities around and so far Tohan hadn't seen any animals big enough to hunt . . .and if they didn't eat, it was only natural that the three of them would die.
"I am too," he answered as he rubbed his stomach, "Why don't we go back to the shack and I'll leave Kamuy with you while I go look for food," he answered as he labored to climb back onto the white wolf's back.
The three of them soon returned to the shack that they had first found themselves in, and after making sure Martel and Kamuy were situated, Tohan grabbed the axe that he had been wielding the night before and left the shack again. He prayed that he would at least be able to find something edible, so that they wouldn't starve until they could figure out where they were and how to get help. It seemed that Soa favored him, because as Tohan walked into the land behind the shack, he saw a cliff, a waterfall, and lots of bushes with bright pink berries.
Tohan checked the berries for an indicator of whether or not the bushes where of the Bramble Berry variety, like the ones that grew throughout Mille Seseau. Sure enough, the leaves of the bush donned a yellow triangle in the middle of the leaf's palm, which resembled a thorn. Tohan sighed in relief as he pulled out the bottom of his shirt and began to gather berries. At least for now they had fresh water and food.
When Tohan returned to their dwelling he found Kamuy and Martel waiting for him eagerly.
"Did you find anything?" Martel said excitedly as Kamuy gave a short bark.
Tohan grabbed a large fistful of the juicy bubblegum-colored berries and handed them to her. Then he took the same amount and placed the fruits on the floor at Kamuy's feet. The enormous wolf immediately started gobbling them up, leaving fresh, foamy drool in their place. Martel wrinkled her nose at the sight.
"Eww . . . . Mr. Tohan, what are these?" she asked as she turned away from Kamuy to face him.
"They're Bramble Berries," he said as he plopped one into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed it. "See? It's okay. They actually taste a lot like candy. Me and Kamuy used to eat them all the time back home. They grow right along the forest line," he assured.
Martel took a berry out of her pile and nibbled at it slowly. She then smiled and placed the whole thing in her mouth. When she had finished swallowed she chimed,"They do taste like candy! They're really good!"
And so contented, the girl began to eat without complaint. Tohan placed another berry in his mouth, savoring the sugary sweetness. However, his happiness was short-lived as thunder echoed from above and rain could be heard tapping the ceiling . . .and the floor. Tohan's hair became saturated with water as he surveyed the many leaks and holes he had failed to notice earlier that resided in the ceiling.
"Okay . . .tomorrow I build my own house. This one's beyond repair," he murmured to himself.
His companions were in a similar mood. Kamuy groaned, before walking over behind a crate to lay down, giving off a typical wet-dog odor.
Martel shivered."I'm cold and tired," she whined quietly.
Tohan moved closer to her and pulled her to him."There. Is that any better?" he asked, as he in turn moved closer and snuggled into Kamuy's soft side.
"Yes. You're warm, Mr. Tohan," she murmured in reply and fell asleep not long after.
Tohan was tired too, exhausted was a better word. So even as difficult as it was with the noise and the rain, Tohan eventually managed to fall asleep.
The trio of Furnian refugees awoke early the next morning groggy and sore, but at least they were dry. The rain had stopped somewhere close to what Tohan guessed was midnight and they had been able to sleep under a breezy wind. Tohan groaned as he realized that if he was going to go cut wood he needed to start early. He rose to his knees and looked over to Kamuy and Martel.
"Good morning, Mr. Tohan," Martel yawned as she wiped the dust from her eyes.
Kamuy yawned as well and licked his lips as his stomach growled.
"Are you hungry too, doggie?" Martel asked him as she patted Kamuy on the top of the head with a flat hand.
Kamuy whined and licked her hand.
"Well, why don't you and Kamuy go out to the cliff behind the shack and pick berries. After that, you guys can go play until sunset. Kamuy will stay with you, so you'll be safe. I shouldn't be gone too long." Tohan replied to Martel.
Kamuy turned his large, white head towards Tohan and gave him a questioning look.
"Where are you gonna go, Mr. Tohan?" Martel inquired in curiosity.
"I'm going out to chop wood and start building another place to stay. I wasn't kidding when I said that this place is beyond repair," the teenager said while gesturing to the many holes in the ceiling and floor and to the numerous missing boards in the foundations around them. Martel then posed a very important question.
"Well, where are we going to build a house, Mr. Tohan? Have you already found a spot?"
Tohan shook his head. "
"Well, that's a good question Martel. I don't really know. However, I was planning on trying to build something a little roomier than this, seeing as we might be here a while. Say Martel, can you feel any more power in your necklace yet?"
She nodded. "A little bit. I think maybe they get stronger every day. One by one," she answered.
"Great! How many stones are there?" he asked with enthusiasm.
"Fifty, I think. At least that's what my mom said."
Tohan hung his head. "Fifty?! Geez! At this rate we'll be here for little over a month and a half! I guess I'd better pick a good spot!" he exclaimed in slight despair before turning to leave. "Watch her Kamuy, don't leave her and keep her safe."
The horse-sized wolf gave a pant of acknowledgement.
"Mr. Tohan, wait! I have an idea! Why don't we build a tree house? I've always wanted to live in a tree! I used to pretend I was a bird and could fly . . . ." she trailed off, but Tohan wasn't listening.
"A tree house? That would definitely pose a challenge for me to build, but then again, we'd probably be safer the higher up we are," he quietly thought aloud.
Martel tugged at the hem of his t-shirt to get his attention. "Are you listening to me, Mr. Tohan?"
Tohan looked down and nodded. "Yes, and I think a tree house is a great idea Martel. I'm going to look around and see if I can't find a suitable tree. You two be good and I'll be back later," Tohan said and walked outside.
He then spent ample amounts of time looking around the strange new land he had suddenly found himself in. However, after searching for hours, he still hadn't found a tree large enough or strong enough to support a house. So, naturally, Tohan retired back to the cabin slightly disappointed. When he returned, Kamuy and Martel seemed to still be out playing, so he sat down on an old nearby crate to rest. A strong draft of afternoon air flowed down from the ceiling and Tohan noted with irritation that the very ceiling itself was just barely suspended by a thread. Suspended. That word suddenly sprung an idea into Tohan's head. Instead of just using one tree, Tohan could suspend the tree house between several! There were some thick ones right beside the Bramble Berry bushes next to the waterfall. Individually they were not strong enough to support the foundations of a tree house, but together they would be. He could build the tree house there and they could use this shack for storage. Contented with this new plan, Tohan went to survey the site and found it to his liking. Memorizing a close account of the length of wood that was needed, he shouldered his axe and went about gathering forest lumber.
Over the course of the next two weeks, the tree house had begun to take shape quite nicely, due mainly to Tohan's intense day-long labor. The suspension idea had been flawless, he had already laid the foundation between the grove of sturdy trees in the shape of an octagon. Tohan had also successfully begun constructing walls to separate the interior into five different parts and even constructed a balcony on the outside. He had even impressed himself, remembering to leave smalls spaces in the wall structures for windows and the doors he had already made. By midweek on the fourth week, all that remained was for Tohan to create thatching for the roof and to complete the thatching itself. He was eager for this last objective to be accomplished, for everyone was tired of sleeping in that old, creaky shack.
However, for the most part, Tohan's companions seemed to be fairing well adapting to everything that had happened. To Tohan's surprise, Martel really didn't seem to mind her new style of living. She seemed more or less content to play all day and occasionally help Tohan braid grass into rope, although she did sometimes whine about how she missed her mother. Tohan didn't blame her. He missed and worried about his family too.
The next morning came just like any other would have, Tohan went out to the field to cut fibrous wild grasses, and after he had a crate full, he began to weave them into more rope. Martel was running through the same field, enjoying herself chasing a multi-colored butterfly, while Kamuy walked calmly beside her. The day progressed rather slowly, but Tohan managed to make much of the needed thatching by the time the sun began to set. The three of them returned to the shack, and while Martel and Kamuy went out to pick berries, Tohan went down to the stream for a much needed bath.
Tossing his tattered clothes onto the riverbank, he jumped into the water, allowing the cold sensation to sooth his aching muscles. He closed his eyes, trying to revel in the feeling, trying to relax. He let himself float in the water, almost drifting off to sleep.
AHHHHH! Martel's sudden, shrill scream immediately brought Tohan out of his meditation. He distinctively heard the sound of Kamuy growling, before he turned around to see the white wolf back what looked to be a dark elf into the side of the old shack fangs bared.
Tohan's heart gave a frantic leap, as he recognized that what he was seeing was indeed a dark elf, and that another one had just broken down the back wall of the old shack. Martel, who had apparently been inside, came rushing out of the doorway screaming again, trying to evade the hands of her pursuer.
"HELP! KAMUY! MR. TOHAN! HELP!" she screamed in panic.
. "I'm coming Martel!" he yelled out to her loudly. Without really thinking, Tohan raced to the river bank and grabbed his axe. He was suddenly aware of a harsh, cold hand that grabbed him from behind. He did a back kick into his unseen attacker's stomach and then continued his charge towards the elf attempting to grab hold of Martel. To his dismay, he wasn't fast enough. The elf grabbed Martel up by the collar of her dress and turned around abruptly in his tracks, shooting a beam of energy that stunned Tohan.
The elf that had just stunned him looked him over and began laughing hysterically. "My, some hero you are human! What wonderful armor, captain underwear," the elf cried in laughter.
Looking down as best as he was able, Tohan realized that the elf was right. He had run out in his underwear, and was now frozen-stiff that way. He could not move any part of his body, save his eyes. He had never been more embarrassed and horrified at the same time. In front of him, he saw Kamuy spring on an elf that had been trying to attack him, but he too was hit with a similar stunning beam before he could make contact. Tohan could hear rustling behind him, indicating that the elf he had kicked was also back on his/her feet. Just how many of them were there? How had they found them, and surprised them so easily?
The elf that had stunned Kamuy sauntered over to his other two comrades."Hey boys, I guess we caught them at a bad time," he said mockingly, eyeing Tohan's underwear, "How fortunate," he added sinisterly.
He then held up Kamuy's collar, which he has removed, in one hand, dangling it out for the others to see. "So, we have the key and the twerps . . .the only thing we are still missing is . . . .THIS!" he snarled and then punched Tohan hard across the face and then kicked him in the stomach. The teenager spat out blood, but still be stunned, he could do little else.
Martel began crying when she saw this, and he elf-captor swiftly slapped her across the mouth.
Seeing this brutality, Tohan found the muscles of his mouth."You limp Sandworm! She's only a girl!" he snarled. Another kick to the abdomen silenced his next remark. Tohan felt a warm sensation against his skin and tasted something metallic, as blood trickled down the side of his mouth.
"That was a gift from us," the elf grinned. He then took Tohan's axe out of his stiff hand and readied it to swing. "And this gruesome end is a gift from General Ziran. He sends his regards!" he added in glee and swung.
Tohan closed his eyes and heard Martel scream, but no blow touched him. He opened one eye to discover with surprise that his would-be-executioner was dangling in the air, still holding his axe. Looking higher up, he saw that the axe had been seized at the base of the blade by a huge hand.
The elfish menace's only reaction was to gape awkwardly at something or someone Tohan couldn't see.
He then heard a gruff voice from behind him. "Kongol thinks you in need of attitude adjustment."
A second large fist the size of Tohan's head landed into the elf's midriff and sent him flying into a tree in front of Tohan. The other two elves rushed the mysterious newcomer, one releasing his hold on Martel, and were promptly seized around the head and slammed together. They fell to the ground, out cold.
Tohan saw fear in Martel's eyes before she ran into the destroyed cabin and hid. Tohan could tell that the thing behind him was huge, due to the strong, sudden air waves the creature behind him created as it moved. Sure enough a being wearing a lion-skin loincloth twice the height of a normal man and three times as wide stepped in front of him. The being had deep brown eyes, almost black, and a raven-haired mohawk on his otherwise bald head. The gargantuan man knelt down and forced a lime green fluid from a flask down his throat. Tohan felt warmth begin to enter his limbs again and slowly they became less and less stiff.
When Tohan looked to his rescuer again and looked him over more thoroughly, he could not believe his eyes. The height, the rippling muscles . . . His rescuer could only be---
" You, you're a Giganto!" he exclaimed in surprised.
The man nodded."Yes. Name is Kongol. Kongol travel across sea to meet you. You and Kongol last of the Giganto blood-line," Kongol said simply.
Tohan gazed at Kongol dumbfounded by his sudden appearance, and then started shaking his head slightly in utter disbelief."I'm sorry. You must have the wrong person. I am definitely no Giganto."
Kongol shook his head. "Kongol is sure he find the right person. He simply does not believe Kongol. So Kongol asks you, have you ever done something humans not do? Like lift impossibly heavy object, like Birch Tree maybe? Kongol saw boy save old man," the Giganto persisted.
"How in Endiness do you know about that? No one was there!" the teenager gasped.
"Kongol see in dreams. You no believe Kongol? You even dress like Giganto," Kongol said while eyeing Tohan's underwear.
"Hey, that's just a fluke!" Tohan insisted.
Kongol chuckled strongly.
Tohan's attention then turned back to Kamuy."Kamuy!" Tohan cried in concern as he ran to his immobile friend.
"He just stunned.. Give him this," Kongol said as he handed Tohan another flask of lime-green body purifier. Within moments Kamuy was as good as new. Kamuy licked Tohan's hand and rubbed up against his legs in thanks.
"Kamuy . . .?" Kongol said questioningly.
"Yes," Tohan replied, "he was once my father, Teo's pet, more than thirty years ago. To make a long story short, Kamuy got sick and a wandering warrior saved him."
Kongol nodded."Hmm. I see. And Kongol guess your mother Fa? And you live in old major house in Furni?" he asked.
"I--Yes! Who are you and how do you know all these things about me when we've never met before!" Tohan asked in bewilderment.
"Kongol one of seven heroes. Kongol there when Shana heal wolf."
"Kongol . . .yes! I've heard your name before in mom and dad's story! But then . . .that would also make you a dragoon!"
Kongol nodded."How else you think Kongol cross sea so quick? Kongol too heavy to swim," he answered with a grin.
"Then dragoons are not just legend!?!" Tohan said in now utter amazement.
Kongol removed a glowing stone and showed it to Tohan."Kongol earth dragoon."
"Then why come after me, not that I'm not grateful that you showed up when you did," Tohan added.
"You have hard head. Good for battle, bad for listening. That Giganto trait too."
Tohan sighed."You don't give up easily do you?" the teenager asked with a grin.
"Kongol learned that there hope in even smallest things. Kongol don't give up."
"I see. Then are you going to insist on telling me that I am of Giganto blood until I believe you?" Tohan said skeptically.
Kongol merely nodded and Tohan sighed again."Well, seeing as I owe you my life, I guess you are welcome to stay as long as you like. Although, I'm afraid I still haven't quite finished the roofing yet," Tohan offered apologetically as he gestured to the tree house.
Kongol's black eyes surveyed the manmade building in amazement."You build that by hand?"
"Yes, it took quite a while too," Tohan said in earnest.
Kongol nodded in approval."Kongol is impressed. What the name of the crafter?" he asked, looking Tohan in the eye.
"Oh, right. My name is Tohan. This is Kamuy," the boy said as he gestured to his wolf, "and the girl is Martel," he said as he turned to look at the box the small child was shivering behind.
Martel peered curiously over the top of the box with her big blue eyes.
"It's okay Martel! This is Kongol and he won't hurt you," Tohan called to her.
Martel eyed Kongol and disappeared behind the box again.
"I don't understand why she's scared," Tohan sighed.
Kongol however, was not offended at all."Girl small, Kongol large. Kongol appears to child like scary monster," he explained.
"Oh . . ." Tohan said in realization. Tohan shuddered from a sudden breeze, and realized he was still in his underwear. "Umm, if you will please excuse me Kongol, Kamuy, and Martel I am going to run back to the riverbank and grab my clothes," he said embarrassedly.
As Tohan hurried back to the river bank to get dressed Martel shied slowly out into view."Mr. Kongol," she asked with a slight tremble, "What are you going to do with those elf bullies?"
Kongol looked at her and gave her a reassuring smile. "Kongol going to take them far away and tie them somewhere they no bother you again."
"Are they dead?" she asked.
"No, just knocked out," Tohan answered for him as he resurfaced from the stream's edge, re-clothed.
Kongol nodded as he walked over and picked up the individual elves. Walking into the forest, he looked back to them.
"Kongol be back in the morning. Tohan should be on guard until then," he said as he disappeared into the forest becoming another one of the many shadows.
As Tohan stared after him Martel ran up to him and laughed. "Oh Mr. Tohan you looked so funny in your underwear!"
Kamuy too panted hard, which sounded a lot like laughter.
"Okay, it was not like I had a choice!" Tohan protested, which only made them laugh harder. Tohan sighed and managed a smile before throwing his arms up in surrender. He walked over and picked up Kamuy's collar that the elf had dropped.
"What the heck was this even about?" he mumbled and fastened the band back around his white wolf's neck. "Go straight to sleep you two. I'll keep watch," he assured and stared in the direction Kongol had gone.