The following days were all the same to Chiaki. Wake up, eat whatever was caught in the fish trap (neither Lu Yue or Bai Kun had made another), if there wasn't anything in the trap forage for whatever was nearby in the woods, travel as far upstream as she could before she needed to make camp. This left a lot of time for talking and getting to know the two males from the past.

While Bai Kun had already told her what he felt was important from his past, she did learn that Lu Yue was the brother of his village's leader, Deer Spirit. Chiaki knew his sister was one of the women transmigrated from Earth to this time. She wasn't sure if he knew. He did know that his sister held a part of the Beast God's power and he really hadn't wanted to leave her side. He had been her protector for several years now.

"I was already an adult when I gained my ability to heal." Lu Yue said. "My sister and I fought and hurt each others hearts, but in time our relationship mended. She... she has her mates, a brother continuing to follow her around like he is still a cub isn't needed."

"Oh? How old were you?" Chiaki asked in actual curiosity. He had two stripes and a Beast Spirit already.

"Nineteen when I awakened my powers. That was, perhaps nine or so years ago?"

Eventually though the river became deep and the water fast moving, so she had to ditch the fish trap all together and admit she needed at least a little hunting help. She didn't want to explain her item box, even if she now trusted the two men a bit. So she had pretended to take the trap off to dispose of it, then tucked it away into storage. Then the area became less wooded and the ground began to rise.

Chiaki used the spear as a walking stick more and more. As the ground rose and became rocky she wondered how far they had walked... and how much further she had to go. It was the bottom of the mountain and she was no rock climber, so she'd have to find a path leading all the way up if she could. It was home to one of the Beast God's Temples, there had to have been a path up the side of the mountain at some point.

That night she realized how much she had began to miss her mates.

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

Meals became exclusively small animals, mostly rabbit or squirrel, hunted by Bai Kun. If they were lucky, she or Lu Yue found berries or roots to add with the food as they walked. Chiaki's eyes scanned the surroundings, the dark shapes in the sky rotated overhead. Circling birds... well bird men. The shape was distinctly different from a bird, the human shaped legs easy to spot, even at this great a distance. Flashes of red and yellow wings, blue and silver, green and yellow, along with many others.

They had become visible as she and her companions began to reach slightly higher points of the mountain, though they were still in the rocky lower parts. It didn't seem like they had been noticed, or if they had been seen, the beast men flying high above didn't care to bother with them.

Her eyes moved to the trail they had found, carved stone steps dotting their way up the mountain. This was probably the path that would lead to the ruin of the temple. From the looks of it, it would also lead them right through the area the beast men above seemed to be settled. The flicker of red and yellow draws closer, then climbs higher again. Chiaki forced her shoulders to relax.

Having the flock of the unknown above her is unsettling. She'd met several bird type beast men, first in Highcliff City and then again at Rock Mountain. None had paid Chiaki much attention, though Huanhuan couldn't say the same. Most of them were standoffish at best. Knowing so many beast men were right above her kept her glancing up to the sky at the slightest hint of movement.

"Are you alright?"

Chiaki's eyes darted to the man who had spoken, Lu Yue. "I'm just worried about them being up there." He had seen her glancing up often enough to know who 'them' was referring to.

His own eyes drifted up to the peak of the mountain. The large wings and long tail feathers made it easy for him to distinguish each individual above. He could see the path up the mountain crisscross along the side, sometimes hidden by large rocks or a few trees, stone steps at some points. He didn't think the presence of a group of beast men would bother the female so much. Had she been kidnapped? She'd still never said much about herself. "It will still take a few days to reach that point."

Chiaki just wanted one of them to drop down to this level. To stop circling above her head like a bunch of vultures... even if they turned out to be actual vultures! She could barging a trip up to the temple ruin. Her feet did hurt. Sharp rocks poked the boiled leather soles of her foot wraps, rubbing them thinner than simple ground ever could. She pushed herself upwards, determined to reach the summit and find whatever it had to be that she was brought here to find. At least that's what she told herself with each step.

Tobi had to know what she was here for, the scroll must have the information written on it, she just needed to tackle this climb and she'd see it for herself. Then she could go home. Chiaki closed her eyes, the feeling of her mate marks almost hot on her skin. She felt it move through her, a little bit of that scorching power.

Suddenly a hand was on her shoulder. She jerked away, eyes wide, breaths ragged, steps unsteady. The hand grasped her shoulder again, then the other. "Easy." Worried gold eyes came into focus, then a face. Lu Yue was holding her by the shoulders. She felt on the verge of a panic attack.

Chiaki pushed him away, stumbling back until she hit a large stone. She slid down it, sitting hard on the dry rocky ground. The two males shared a look and a small nod.

"Let's camp here for the night." Lu Yue suggested.

They normally wouldn't have stopped for another hand span of the sun, perhaps even nearing sun down. However, he didn't care how long it took to get to the top of the mountain, everything would be waiting there just the same.

"You should rest... you were- you shouldn't call on your mate marks like that. A female body isn't use to such power."

"Body's not made for it." Chiaki mumbled. "I just..." She shook her head. There was no getting the strong arms of Qianhuang, the cool scales of Curtis. No cuddling between Jiu Ruan and Skye in the cool long grass. No quiet time just laying on Winston's wide chest, stroking his face scar gently. No Bai Di here or listening to Shuu's outlandishly cheer on males trying to court her. The time and distance were taking their toll on her mentally. She should be past drawing on their power in a panic.

Lu Yue didn't know what to do. He'd never really been in the position that a female needed help... at least his alone. Sure the fox was here, but Bai Kun seemed almost immune to her plight. So he rested on his feet, sitting on his heels, just hovering out of reach. Just be here his mind told him, don't crowd her.

Bai Kun returned, water from the river in a makeshift cup. They had been following the path now and it had separated from the river itself. He was quick though and had made it there and back with cool drink. "Here, sip slowly?" He offered, holding out the hastily carved out cup.

Chiaki took the offered drink and ignored the bits of pine splinters that still floated on top. She took a gulp first, forcing her breathing to slow. As she came down from the panic attack, she felt the energy drain out of her. "Sorry." She said, only looking into the water. "We don't have to camp yet, just let me finish calming down."

"If may ask?"

"I'd rather you not." She said with a shake of her head. "Look, I'll talk in a bit, okay?"