"P...papa..." The brown haired girl muttered in her sleep. She shifted around in her sleep, finding it hard to keep herself asleep. She kept seeing it. The memories of what had happened to her. Her slumber finally came to an end as she felt the warm air blush along her skin, causing the girl to shiver, opening her eye slowly. Looking to the source of the girl's disturbance she saw a large scaly creatures standing right by the side of. The Girl immediately flinched, sitting as she saw the massive and almost unbelievable like creature. She knew exactly what this creature was...a Dragon. The dragon though was clearly not a full grown one, but it was still rather large and horrifying for the girl. The girl only shook, her body unable to move as the dragon moved it eyes over her, evaluation every aspect of the girl. The girl desired to scream out, but her body would not let her. In truth though she knew if she did that it would most likely just anger the creature.
"Tokarou!" a voice came from a distance from the girl immediately causing the dragon to pause and turn to the direction of the sound. "Mou, you shouldn't do that Tokarou, you could have really frightened her!" A dark haired girl stepped forward caring a bowl in her hands. lecturing the dragon, who moved away from the girl. The brown haired girl though still sat still, her mind still coming to term with what was happening. "Here." The dark haired girl handed the bowl to the girl. The brown haired girl looked down into the bowl "Don't worry, it's just stew." The dark haired girl informed her.
"Oh...th...thank you." The brown haired girl spoke, begging to eat the stew.
"Oh, right." The dark haired girl realised something. "I haven't introduced my self. My Name's Hibiki by the way."
The brown haired girl nodded, still cautious of the creature by Hibiki's side. "Ermm...is...is that..."
"A dragon?" The other girl immediately answered, before nodding her head. "Yep. Don't worry though, Tokarou won't hurt you." The dark haired girl reached over, stroking the dragon's head. "He's not even full grown anyway, he's still an adolescent. You know, you're lucky that we managed to find you when we did ya know. You were barely breathing an' you were out lying in the rain. Any longer you could have been killed."
The brown haired girl didn't respond, she just looked down, continuing to eat.
"Say, what's your name then?" Hibiki questioned.
"My...my name?" She looked up at Hibiki.
"Yeah, I told you mine, so what's yours then?" Hibiki asked
"Y...Yukiho." The brown haired girl finally admitted.
"Yukiho, huh? Nice to meet you Yukiho!" Hibiki gave a friendly smile to the girl, hoping that it would perhaps comfort her.
"N...nice to meet you Hibi-." Yukiho forced herself to speak out. Placing her hand over her chest, she immediately stopped, attempting to find something she frantically search around her neck.
"Huh? Is something the matter Yukiho?" Hibiki was confused by the girl's actions.
"Oh...It's...it's nothing really!" Yukiho explained.
"Queen Takane, you cannot go through with whole plan of yours." Ritsuko was attempting to change the mind of the white haired woman but only failing. "It's enough to lead a army into battle, but going to find this girl will surely get you killed!"
"Ritsuko. I have been given this request, and it is only fitting that I am the one who should fulfil it." Takane exclaimed.
"But...but...ugh." Ritsuko rubbed her eyes, knowing that there was no way of talking this woman out of her decision.
"Tell me Miss Minase, do you have any information on where Hibiki is?" Takane questioned the girl, looking over the map of the Country.
"I cannot say for certain, but I have been told that she has been spotted Much further north, Near the location of the great mountains. But I cannot pinpoint her exact location." Iori explained.
"Hmm..." Takane thought for a moment "Chihaya." The Woman turned to the girl, who stood straight in response to the woman. "Tell me, are there any reports of dragons in the north?"
"Well..." Chihaya began "Our scouts believe that there in an increase in the amount of attacks by dragons. There are reports that many of these scouting parties going missing and not returned from their missions in the north."
"Then this will be a key point for us to begin our search. Chihaya, tell me. Who is in charge of the troops in the north?" Takane asked.
"I Believe that Capitan Makoto Kikuchi is the one in charge of inspecting the north." Chihaya informed the queen.
"Very well then, Make sure to inform Capitan Kikuchi of my arrival." Takane instructed the girl.
"Of course your majesty." Chihaya nodded her head, saluting to the woman. "I will arrange a messenger to inform her of your impending arrival."
"If you wish, I..guess I could request my father to spare more troops for you." Iori attempted to assure the queen.
"That will not be needed." Takane shook her head. "This is a duty that I will carry out. I will not be requiring any more then What I already have available."
Looking over to Chihaya, Takane nodded, allowing the blue haired girl to leave, who took the request exiting the room. Leaving the room the woman heard a voice from behind her, causing her to stop in tracks.
"Kisaragi!" Chihaya saw Ritsuko who was following her close behind.
"Ritsuko? What is it?" Chihaya raised her eyebrow at the woman.
"Chihaya, I need to ask you. Are you really ok with all this?" The woman question her.
"W...what do you mean?" Chihaya asked
"Well. I mean, are you really ok with going on this expedition with Takane?" Ritsuko responded. "I'm sure that the queen will not complain if you choose to refuse."
"This is my duty Ritsuko." Chihaya informed the woman.
"I know, but...I was simply thinking for the well being of Miss Amami was all" The woman crossed her arms causing the blue haired girl to have her eyes widened as she spoke of Haruka's name. "She won't like you leaving her you know."
Chihaya looked at the ground. "I have made my promise to her, Ritsuko. She will understand." Turing away she left the woman, walking down the corridor.