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This path is long.

It is scary.

But as I go along this road,

With you by my side,

I know that we will be okay.

So stay with me.

Stay with me and show me,

The ways to be strong.

Chapter Six:

Setting out that day was nerve wracking.

They had sorted out a plan whenever they came across merchants or travelers on the road. Shura would be covered in a sack, posing as whatever was needed, while Yona would pull up her hood and cover her face. With Yona's hair having to have been cut quite short and Yun finding a dye for her hair, she could easily stay hidden amongst the crowd. Shura, on the other hand, could not. Her scars were still prominent and her hair was so thick, long, and unruly that she could neither hide it nor dye it, thus the sack.

Thankfully most of the time Shura most likely wouldn't have to be in the sack. Ik-su had told them that the four dragons had split apart and scattered across the kingdom after the Crimson Dragon King had passed. He said they all lived in very remote locations and moved around alot, so it was difficult to tell where they were. However, he was at least able to give them information regarding the white dragon and his clan, telling them of how they lived in the mountains in a village surrounded by a thick fog.

Currently she was marching up the hill. Embarrassed and slightly angry. "Princess c'mon. Are you still mad at me?" She scowled as Hak yelled for her from behind. Of course she was! "I had to handle you roughly to make it believable. So maybe I took a liberty and touched your butt, no big deal!" A shocked gasp from behind had Shura turning around to see Yona chase Hak up a tree, yelling at him. Seeing the ridiculous scene, she chuckled softly as her anger melted away at it. She wished there was something she could use to tie her hair back, that way she would be better at hiding and hopefully wouldn't have to go back in the sack.

As Yona continued to berate Hak and Yun just stared at them in irritation, Shura wandered over to a few strange trees. They had long, thin, leafy green ropes wrapped around them. I wonder… she thought and grabbed the green rope, breaking some of it off the tree. She apologized before gathering her hair behind her head and using the green rope to tie it.

A few experimental shakes proved it would hold and she smiled triumphantly. I did this myself! Happy, she practically skipped back over to the others. Hak had been able to finally climb down the tree without the risk of Yona beating on him and Yun and Yona had calmed down enough to where they could resume their trek. If she was honest with herself, Shura was a little upset that Yona or Hak hadn't noticed what she had done. Why…why would I care what Hak would think…? Shura wondered silently.

She was jerked from her thoughts as Yun shouted. She saw a wooden….thing…and a large, long haired animal prancing towards them. Testing out her new attempt at camouflage, she quickly tucked her hair into her cloak and pulled her hood up. She walked past the man and his contraption without issue and internally, Shura was jumping around.

"Princess…" Hak muttered after the thing had disappeared. Shura turned around, interrupting him with a small smile on her face.

"I have found a way to hide myself, so I will be fine. No need for me to be slung over your shoulder and be a burden. Besides," she eyed him with a cynical stare, "your wounds have not yet fully healed. I do not want you carrying me around." Hak scowled at her for a moment before grunting and letting out a sigh.

Hak felt frustrated.

He couldn't understand why Shura wanted to jeopardize herself instead of hiding in the sack. She was fragile, whether she acknowledged it or not, and if they were attacked he didn't know how well he could defend them all with his injuries the way they were. Giving a soft groan he nodded. "Alright, but we'll have to be careful. We're in fire clan territory-"

"Wow Yun! What is that!?" Yona shouted. He jerked to see the three of them grouped in front of a large field. Yun turned and he smiled.

"Wow, that's a huge water wheel! I've never seen one so big before!" He said, excitement evident in his voice. He saw Yona's eyes light up before he turned and looked at Shura. Her expression was full of wonder as she stared at the contraption before scanning the fields.

"And this…what is this?" Gesturing to the green before them.

"It's a wheat field, but it looks like they're growing some rice too." He said, looking down at her.

"Rice and wheat…?" He heard her mutter softly, puzzled. He guessed she didn't know what those were and he sighed, wondering how much of the world she really didn't know. "They start out as this…? Nothing but green grass in the land?"

Yun turned an incredulous look on her. "Yeah. They're close to the capital so I'd bet some, if not all, of the food you ate in the palace came from here." As he explained, they heard a little boy laughing happily with his parents. Hak watched the small family with a small smile on his face before turning his attention to the two princesses. They both had their heads bowed and hands folded in thanks.

He was slightly shocked, but he was happy Yona was learning to appreciate what she had once taken for granted. She had seemed just as shocked as Shura to find out that all of their food had come from these plants. They, at least Yona, were being humbled and beginning to understand the lives of those they had lived above for so long.

After they began walking again, Hak decided to fall instep with Shura as the other two pulled ahead of them, chattering. The two of them walked in comfortable silence before Shura threw back her hood and looked at him. "Hak…those things back there. The uhm…wheat and rice? Those really became what was served in the palace?"

He was slightly taken aback at her question. "Were you taught nothing about crops or food?"

Shura flinched and distanced herself from him as if she had been struck, her eyes going back to the void they had been when he had found her in those cells. Hak hadn't meant to come off as bothered or to make her seem stupid and the guilt that began to weigh on his chest felt as though he were going to suffocate. "Wait-" He started but she cut him off.

"I was taught nothing while I was locked in my cell…" The hollowed tone in her voice had his heart twisting painfully. "Mun-deok only taught me of a few herbs and plant life that could be used for food or weaved correctly for me to survive long enough to find shelter if I ever escaped. So no, Son Hak," the title pinched a nerve and made him feel like an even worse human being, "I do not know anything about the world. But I…I want to learn. I want to learn about this kingdom and all that was kept hidden from me in my confinement."

She pushed ahead, leaving him in the dust in favor of the other two and alone wallowing in his self-pity.

Shura had never been in a place like this, not that she remembered anyway. Yun had explained to her that where they now sat was called a tea house. It was supposedly a place where people gathered to share news and enjoy tea and other snacks. She was slightly surprised by it and honestly enjoyed the chattery atmosphere that permeated the small place.

Casting a glance at Hak, she felt hurt all over again. The way he had reacted to her question earlier had made her feel completely ashamed for her lack of knowledge. Ashamed and for some odd reason, hurt. Shura wondered if it would have hurt as much coming from Yona or Yun, but in the back of her mind she didn't think so.

"We have pretty much everything we need. I'm not sure how it will last since we don't know when we'll be able to stop and resupply but we'll have to make do." Yun chirped.

Hak seemed distant as he stared out at the streets and muttered in agreement. "What's the matter Hak?" Yona asked. "Did you forget something we needed?"

"Sort of."

"You can go if you want to. We won't talk to anyone, right Shura?" She nodded and Yona turned to give Hak a smile.

"It'll be fine. This village is quiet with some nice people. Besides, there's no troops to worry about."

"Fine, I'll be right back but if any of you think there's any danger at all or spot any troops, run." He said, his expression full of apprehension.

"Yep. And we'll randevu at the big tree just outside the village." With that he up and left and Shura sat beside Yona silently. She eavesdropped on the conversations going on in the small shop, picking up on one in particular. She listened as they spoke of the newly appointed king and how he looked and what he had spoken during the ceremony. So Mun-deok did it then….he approved Su-won's ascension. She glanced at Yona, watching her. Her eyes had gone wide and even though she looked slightly relieved, the dominant expression on her face was a mixture between terror and anger.

"Yona…" She whispered, reaching out as she picked up her tea cup, her hands shaking almost violently.

"Hey are you alright?" Yun asked her.

She set the cup down and gave him a false smile. "Yes."

She reached into her cloak and grasped something. Shura vaguely wondered what it was but was surprised when a man leaned over Yuns shoulder and offered Yona some more tea. She yanked her hood over her face and got up, muttering and running out.

"Yona wait!" Shura yelped, running out after her with Yun. She caught up with her quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her to a stop in an alley. "Please, what is wrong?"

"Yona you can't run off like that. It looks strange and we can't stick out or raise any suspicion in the village!" Yun reprimanded her. He looked like he was about to say something else but he suddenly looked up and gasped, yanking the two of them into a darker side alley to crouch behind some crates. "Guess I was wrong about the troops…" Yun muttered.

"You mean there are some here?!"

He looked back at Shura and nodded, holding a finger up to his lips to be quiet. As they waited, listening to a soldier and villager talk about the capital, Shura felt a hand wrap around her mouth and pull her back. She gasped in surprise and panic, glancing up as her heart pounded in her chest. It was just Hak, looking down at her with his finger against his lips. Silently he waved for them to follow him and they crept out of the village and to a large tree just on a hill overlooking the small area.

"I'm sorry. I should have been more careful. I should've guessed the troops were only away for a little bit and would return soon from the capitol. I hadn't even thought about it." Hak berated himself. Shura listened silently, wondering how he could have known. It was not like he was the oracle. He couldn't predict movements or see anything like that.

"I suppose we'll have to stay off the beaten path for now, at least until we're further away from any areas that could have troops. It will be hard but it will be safer." Yun muttered, sighing.

"I am sorry…" Shura told them, somehow feeling guilty for their predicament. If she were not with them, they wouldn't necessarily have to hide from the troops, but with her there and her crimson hair, it was unmistakable as to who she was. A soft hand landed on her head and another grasped her hand. She looked up in surprise at Hak. Him comforting her did strange things to her and her belly felt as though it were jittery.

"Its okay…" Yona spoke up to her left, gently cradling her hand in her own. "We'll be alright." Her positivity forced a smile onto Shura's face and she nodded.

As they continued their travels over the next few nights, Shura felt increasingly helpless. She felt as if she were doing nothing and being a burden, especially when they would have to cower behind bushes and hide in caves when soldiers were near.

On a clear day was when she made her decision. Yun had sighed, speaking about how although it was hard huffing it-whatever that meant-uphill it was much safer from the troops.

"We can't let our guards down. They could come out of nowhere." Hak said, his body rigid and alert.

Shura scowled, pulling her hood down. "I'm helpless. I can do nothing. I want to fight." She turned and looked up at him, determination swimming in her violets. "Please teach me."

Hak stared down at her, his electric blues hard as stone. "Princess…" She was surprised when he used her birthright, "You say you want to fight but do you understand what that means? You can't do this half-heartedly. The attackers on the battlefields will come after you again and again. You'll have to learn to take a life for a life."

She sighed softly. "That day…on the mountains that was the first time I had been ready to fight for someone other than that night in the castle. I didn't know what to do with the sword, it had been long since I had even trained with one, but I was prepared to use it to save you. I may cringe and not like the idea of killing, but I want to be able to at least give us time to get away or at least get Yona out of harm's way."

The two of them stared the other down for what seemed like minutes but had only been a few seconds before Hak caved. "Fine, I guess it wouldn't hurt. I'll make you a deal." He pulled the bow off his shoulder and set it in her hands. The wood was cool and smooth against her skin but if felt heavy, almost like a burden had been left in her hands. "You pick off our enemies from the back while I'm on the front lines. For now, that's what we'll do."

"Fine, but I would like a sword too." She said, pouting a little.

"We're only doing the bow for now. I want you to remember this, Shura." Her gaze swung from the bow to his face. "Your father, King Il, hated weapons and the pain they caused. He forbade me from ever letting Princess Yona from using them and by extension, you. Right now I'm disobeying his orders, so I want you to consider why he hated weapons and violence as you shoot this bow."

Her heart felt heavy as she swung the bow and its arrows over her shoulder. She nodded solemnly and they began their trek again. "I'm curious though," Yun spoke up, "how do you plan on teaching her to shoot while traveling?"

"Hmm, I dunno. If we weren't on the move I'd make her shoot at least two hundred arrows a day."

Shura gasped. "Two hundred!?"

"Right now I guess I'll have her start shooting at wild rabbits and birds for practice."

"Good! We won't have to worry about food and you can start pulling your weight, Princess!" Shura glared at him, feeling the urge to hit him.

~1 hour later~

Shura's scowl deepened as another arrow wobbled slightly and flew past a flying animal. "Hak…I missed again. I do not understand what I am doing wrong." Her anger was spiking and she felt her palms begin to heat. This is so frustrating! She heard a soft chuckle and her violet eyes swung to glare at the behemoth of a man whom confused her to no end.

Hak took the bow from her hands and pulled it back, doing exactly what she had been, but instead of the arrow missing it hit its mark and the animal came flopping down in a small spatter of blood and feathers. She stared at first it and then Hak. "Just do that."

"I do not see what you did differently from me."

"I aimed."

Shura's head tilted and she stared at him with a confused expression. "Aimed? I do not…understand."

He looked dumbfounded. "How don't you understand?"

She stared at him for a moment longer before rolling her eyes and scowling. "You are quite the terrible teacher, Hak."

He returned her scowl. "Well you're a terrible student!" He sighed and grabbed her arms, hovering over her as he helped her draw back the bow. She flushed slightly, flicking her gaze over to Yun and Yona who seemed to be conversing in their own little world. She hoped they hadn't noticed how flustered Hak made her. His hard, warm body crowding over her smaller frame sent a strange fluttering through her belly. It made her confusion worsen. Perhaps she should ask Yona about this?

"Pay attention!" Hak snapped, glaring down at her. She jumped and nodded, listening. "Now, draw the bow back and focus on your target. Once it's in your muscles it'll come naturally to you. Right now you aren't strong enough so you'll need to practice so you can draw the bow back without shaking. Everything is sensed within the body. Experts can shoot without even looking and you mustn't make the mistake of letting your vision fool you. For now just focus on pulling the bow back and shooting straight." He pulled her fingers off to let the arrow fly and she cringed slightly at the sound the poor creature made as it was hit and fell to the ground.

Shura sighed softly and stared down at it, feeling guilty. She bowed her head slightly, apologizing to mother earth for killing one of her own before she turned and offered an awkward smile. "I know this is probably quite the awful question to be asking now, but would this," she pointed at the feathered animal, "be one of those birds you spoke about earlier?"

All three of them looked at her like she had grown three heads before groaning and bowing their heads. Have I said something odd again?

After that they had begun their traveling again. Shura would attempt to practice every now and then but most of her training came at night while the others rested. She had to learn how to do this, to get better. Even when her hands cracked and bled, she continued to shoot those arrows over and over again. She would master this. She would be able to protect Hak and Yona.

One morning as Yun and the princesses had gathered around his small cooking fire, he glanced down at Shura's hands and offered her a small smile. "I've seen you practice and you're getting a lot better at drawing your bow."

Shura was surprised to say the least considering how frail he looked. His build was almost similar to Yona's, showing no muscle at all. "You know how to shoot? That is quite surprising I must say."

"I know my way around a bow and arrow and I could teach you a few things if you wanted. But I don't like carrying around weapons, it's not something you should do half-heartedly." His tone had taken on a solemn, serious note and she met his baby blue gaze. "People like you and me can't afford to offer any mercy on the battle-field. It's either kill or be killed and if we don't take the kill shot, we don't have any options of survival unlike the Lightning Beast. Out there for you and I, we either use our wits or we take a life to save our own."

Yun's words rang through her mind as they packed and began their traveling again. She replayed them over and over again until she stopped along their path when she spotted a young boar. At least, that's what she thought it was. Yun had been slowly teaching her and describing different animals after her question the other day.

Shura slowly pulled her bow and drew back an arrow, staring at the babe with an ache in her heart. Its so cute, she thought. To draw back my bow means I must be willing to take the life of either an animal or human and I don't even want to hurt this young boar. If I am to survive, I must learn to kill or else have my life taken from me. She let the arrow loose and cringed when it only grazed the young boar, causing it to squeal out in pain and run away. I do not care for the pain violence causes, she thought as she grabbed her arrow, unknowing tears swimming in her eyes. I hate the violence I was exposed to everyday, and it seems my father hated this violence as well. I feel pain in my chest when I harm the creatures of this earth and cause pain to mother earth, but I am sorry. I must learn to do this…

"You almost had it." Hak's voice brought her from her thoughts and she sighed, not even bothering to look at him.

"I only injured the poor creature. That is even more cruel." She said solemnly, her hands clenching around her bow.

Hak stared down at Shura before glancing over his shoulder at Yona and Yun. "You two go on ahead. We'll follow along in a minute. Make sure you keep the princess safe."

Yun nodded and yelled back to catch up quickly. Hak watched him grab Yona's hand and pull her away and he beckoned Shura to follow him deeper into the forest. He stopped in front of a tree and set his glaive down, watching her. "Alright. Time for your master to judge your improvement."

An amused smile graced Shura's pale face and her eyes seemed to light up for just a moment. "My master, hmm?" Hak rolled his eyes, feeling himself flush slightly at the way his body responded to her calling him that. Those were thoughts he refused to entertain at the moment.

"I want you to aim right here." He slammed his hand against the rather wide trunk of the tree next to him. Shura drew back her bow and he noted the way her body shook less than what it first did. The arrow flew and embedded itself in the trunk and he smirked, clapping his hands. "Good job princess! You can hit a motionless tree!"

She scowled at him. "Oh thank you. I feel so much better."

But it was a compliment! He thought as he debated on what to have her do next. He was loath to try this yet but he supposed it would technically be the next step in her training. "Alright, I want you to aim at me."

Shura blinked in surprise. "But why? What if I hit you?"

He grabbed his glaive and smirked. "That's the idea. This will teach you to hit moving objects," he thought about it before pinning her with a serious stare, "no, this will teach you how to hit people."

The amusement he had seen in her pretty face fell away into determination and she nodded. She drew back her bow and he began hopping around and dodging like a maniac. He had to admit, even though he saw her frustration he was having quite the time doing this. It got his blood pumping. He whirled around and caught an arrow in midair, breaking it in two and seeing her expression his eyes shone with a dangerous sparkle. "You aren't bloodthirsty enough."

"Bloodthirsty? Why would I be? I'm shooting at you!" Shura seemed bewildered with the concept and he sighed, standing still.

"Fine, imagine I'm someone different. Imagine I'm those soldiers on the mountain that day and shoot." She drew her bow and he saw something akin to fear flash through her gaze.

"I do not think it will work, Hak. I don't want to kill if I do not have to." She said. He sighed and knew that this was going to be low, even for him. But he had to say it. He had to see if she had the will to carry around that bow.

"Fine. Then imagine I'm Su-won barking those orders that night and shoot." It was in an instant but it was unmistakable. Pure, unadulterated bloodlust clouded her gaze and he assumed without thought she let the arrow loose. He barely flinched when it whizzed past his head and into the tree. It had come close enough to slice his cheek deep enough to feel blood trailing down his face.

Her head bowed slightly and her hair clouded her face from him. It looked like her shoulders shook as she began to speak. "I am beginning to not like this side of you, Hak. That was a cruel thing to do but despite that," her gaze met his and he felt his heart squeeze in his chest as she began to cry, "I am still willing to take a life for you! I will learn to kill if it means I can protect those I care for from harm and that includes you!"

Without thought he walked over to her and held her close. He closed his eyes and leaned over her, the scent of the forest and embers filling his senses. "Don't….don't say that." He whispered as he pulled away from her. "I'll want more, Princess." He saw her bewilderment and he sighed, grabbing her hand and leading her after Yun and Yona. "I told Yona to think of me as her tool, and that goes for you too. You don't have to worry about protecting tools, do you?"

On their journey after them, Hak half expected Yona to say something to him about what happened but instead she was quiet. And for once her silence unnerved him. He didn't understand what was going on with him or what he felt towards her. No matter what began to bloom in his being for her, he knew that he was not worthy of Shura. He was only a guard, nothing more. One day she or Yona would take the throne and he would still be just that, a guard. Nothing more nothing less.

"The fog is getting quite thick now." Shura's sudden voice jerked him from his thoughts and he looked around, noting that she was right.

"Yeah. The oracle said that the dragon's village would be deep in the mountain surrounded by fog. That definitely describes here." He glanced around and then nearly growled when he couldn't see Shura anymore. "Princess! Where are you!?"

"Hak over here!" He looked around, twirling in a circle.

"I can't see you!"

"I'm over here, Hak. Please hurry!" He followed the sound of her voice and found her crouching down on the ground. "Hak, these are Yun's things are they not? Do you think he's been taken?" He hated how panicked Shura looked. As she grabbed up his bag, voices sounded around them telling them to leave or face punishment.

He scowled, pulling Shura close to him. "What kind of gods can't punish their enemies face to face!?" With quick, strong swings of his glaive he cleared the mist. He pushed Shura behind him as villagers where white and blue robes were revealed all around them, all of them aiming arrows directed at the two of them.

"Who are these people? I've never seen anyone clear the fog." A young villager spoke up.

"First tell us, are you all from the dragon village?" Hak asked, glaring at all of them.

"Who are you? How do you know about our clan!? Who sent you here?"

An elderly man scowled down at them and sneered. "Your knowledge alone gives us enough reason to kill you. There was a boy and young girl here earlier, were you all traveling together?"

Before he could grab her and pull her back, Shura stomped around him. Her voice sounded almost like a growl as he saw her body shake in anger. "We will not answer until you have told us where he is! What have you done with them!?" She shouted. Hak was surprised by the amount of force behind her words, still used to her being quiet and soft spoken.

"Like you they trespassed-" The old man stopped and his eyes went wide as he and others began to gasp in wonder. "No…it can't be!"

"She has crimson hair.." A villager said as he lowered his bow.

"Just like the legend…." The elder spoke softly.

"Is she the one?"

"But she's just a young girl…"

The old man leapt off the small rock ledge and knelt down in front of Shura, bowing his head. "Please tell us truthfully, Miss. Where are you from and why are you here?"

"From Fuga," Shura told the old man, shaking off Hak's hand on her arm, "the oracle told us that we would find you here. We are searching to reunite the four dragons. Please tell me, are you the one who carries the white dragon's blood?"

His eyes went wide and he shook his head. "No, miss. I do not carry the blood, but I am one of those tasked with his protection." He stood and placed a hand over his heart. "Allow us to guide you to him. We will take you to the White Dragon's village."

Another chapter completed! I hope you guys enjoy it and sorry it took a minute! Ya know…life :'(. Anyway, please comment and let me know how I did! Stay beautiful!

~LonelyAnimeLily