Chapter 2

It was warm and Humid. Oki woke up recalling what had happened last night. He had transported Issun, the Dragonians, and himself to the forest. They all camped around a fire deep in the forest. They had slept without tents and only blankets.

He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Oki saw that others had just been waking up as well. The Dragonian commander was sitting on a dead log. Oki got up to his feet and walked to the Dragonian commander.

"Sir?"

The commander looked at Oki. He seemed calm.

"We should get some more wood for the fire. Go get some more wood while we make a cabin."

Oki was confused. One cabin?

"Don't you mean cabins? We couldn't live in just one cabin."

The commander gave Oki a strange look.

"Well, we are all men here, there shouldn't be any problems. Now go get some wood."

Oki left and gave a deep sigh to himself. Clearly, he would not be able to change the commander's mind. The young warrior went over to a large tree with a small hole in it. Issun used it as a place to sleep.

"Hey Issun, wake up! We need to get some wood."

Issun woke up and slowly got up. He yawned a long yawn.

"Just five more minutes. okay?"

Oki rolled his eyes and grabbed Issun.

"We have to, the commander told us to."

Oki and Issun went to the western side of the forest. Issun kept on whining about not being able to sleep in. after a long while of gathering a big pile of wood, Oki was thirsty and needed a much deserved drink of water.

"Hey Issun, I am going to get a drink of water, you want to come with me?"

"Nah, I'm not thirsty at all. You go on ahead, I will stay right here." Replied Issun.

Oki shrugged and headed to the nearby pond that they discovered awhile ago. He looked at the trees and listened to the birds, he looked up at the sky during his walk. Behind his mask, his eyes were golden in the gaze of the sun. When he got to the pool of water, he put moved his mask up, but only a little bit. He cupped his hands together and put them underneath the water, he brought his hands up to his mouth and took a refreshing drink. He then put his mask back down. Something from across the pond caught his eye. A snow-white creature with crimson marks. Was that Amaterasu?

"A-Ammy? Is that you?" A crackle from a stick sounded from behind him. He looked away and behind him was Issun.

"Issun Look!"

Oki looked back across the pond. The majestic creature he saw was gone now.

"Look at what, Oki?" Issun was confused.

Oki swore to himself that he did see Amaterasu, or, maybe he was just hallucinating.

"Come on Oki, we should get back. It's gonna get dark soon"

During the walk back to the camp, Oki could not stop thinking about the encounter. Maybe this was an omen. Maybe Amaterasu couldn't get to the heavens.

As Oki and Issun entered the camp, they were amazed to see that the cabin was already built up.

"Wow, that was fast!" exclaimed Issun.

The Dragonians had been known for their good building abilities. But they didn't expect it to be this fast. The camp was booming with activity. Oki could see that the Dragonians have gone hunting, there was a dead deer by the cabin.

"Oh good, you brought the wood!" The commander startled Oki which caused Oki to drop all the wood. Oki, Issun, and the commander looked at the fallen wood with an awkward silence.

"Sorry sir! Let me pick it up." Oki broke the awkward silence.

The commander gave a nod and went else where.

"I wish he would tell us his name, I dislike strangers." Said Oki

Suddenly Issun gave a nasty look on his face.

"Ugh! What is that smell?"

Oki could smell it too. His face became twisted behind his mask.

"Issun, that is the smell of sweaty, unwashed men."

Both Oki and Issun where unhappy that they would have to hang around such smelly people.

"I think I'm going to sleep outside from now on…"

Issun agreed with Oki. Oki went to start a fire and make a stew with the dear that the Dragonians had killed. Hopefully making a good stew would make his night better. He started up a good fire and the Dragonians lent him some of the meat from the dear along with some of the vegetables that they had dug up. Most of the men had complained about how long it was taking. But the stew was worth it. It tasted completely delicious! All of the men had complemented his cooking skills, except for the commander. The commander didn't eat at all, actually, he was drunk with the sake that the Dragonians had brought with them on their travels. After the stew had gone, everybody went to sleep. Oki made a hammock near the hole that Issun was staying in. After a few hours while everyone was settled and asleep, Oki stayed up all night. He was thinking about the encounter at the pond. He made up his mind, he was going back to the pond. It was the only way to know if he actually saw Amaterasu. Oki silently went away from the camp, hoping that he would not wake up anyone. His walk was only a little ways far. After awhile, he had reached the pond. It was a beautiful sight. The pond was shone with the moon's reflection. There, he sat and awaited for something to happen. For a couple of hours, he sat still, and finally dozed off to sleep.

"Oki… Oki… wake up." A voice had appeared.

Oki opened his eyes. There she was, Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun. He was smiling greatly behind his mask. What he saw before, was real. It was only moments after he realized that Amaterasu has never spoken before.

"You can talk?!" Oki was not hesitant to speak.

The crimson marked creature nodded.

"Yes, I have many new abilities. For example, the wolf you see, is not the real me. I am trapped within this forest. I need you to help me."

Oki was amazed, what other new abilities had she learned?

"Trapped within the forest? Why do you need the help of a mortal?"

The wolf looked down into the pond. Oki could see sadness within her eyes. What exactly had happened when she had reached the heavens?

"I will explain later, but please follow me."

The wolf left into the thicker trees. Oki changed to his wolf form and followed . Amaterasu came within his sight. Amaterasu paused, making sure that he was keeping up. Then she sprinted again. They came to a cave. There was no stopping, the both ran into the cave. The cave was lit up with glowing crystals. They where white. Up ahead, he could see many vines and within the vines, there was a woman. Amaterasu leaped and disappeared into the woman. Oki changed back into his human form. The woman was asleep. Only her head was uncovered by the vines. It was then when he had realized that the woman he was looking at had crimson markings and her hair was long and as white as snow. This woman was Amaterasu.

"Amaterasu… what on earth has happened to you?"

Oki grabbed his sword and cut all of the vines. She dropped from the vines but Oki caught her. She was still asleep and unmoving. She was naked but her long hair was like a cover. Oki picked her up and walked out of the cave. He watched her face. He felt strange. Her eyelids began to move, she was waking up. He gently put her onto the ground. Her eyes finally opened up. She looked at Oki with wide yellow colored eyes.

"Oki, it was horrible. I still remember all of it." She sounded hesitant.

Oki was confused.

"What happened to you? Why are you a human?"

Amaterasu stare at him with tears rolling from eyes.

"Oki… Oki? Wake up!"

Oki awoke from his vivid dream. It was Issun who had awoke him. And it was late in the morning.

"Sheesh, and you complain about me sleeping in!"

Oki was silent. He wanted to tell Issun about his dream, but something was holding him back.