Echoes of the Past

[JxSlaughter]

Zhijiru could tell she was in a lot of pain. So he tried not to make it sound any worse. He thought to himself, rather than saying it out loud, "This place smells like cooked flesh! Disgusting!" She questioned why he was here and he clenched his teeth. "I just happened to be following the same path as yours." He turned and looked around, removing his rice hat and held it to his chest.

"I knew some people here." He gave a moment of slience and continued, "My village would supply this area very often." His right eye looked sad and empty but he didn't cry, he felt more angry than sorrowful.

"We need to get out of here. It isn't safe here." He thought for a moment, "Wait, what did you mean 'again'...?" He turned towards her, "Are you trying to stop this madness on your own?" He realised that his hat was off when he faced her and quickly placed it back again.

[laraine]

"Not that I see its any of your business, but yes. I plan to stop this before those....demons destroy anymore families." She turned to him, a determined look in her eyes. "The people who did this is a gang of bandits that goes from village to village, destroying all life and plundering." She looked out at the village. "This..is the aftermath. I have to find them." She stood up, her legs nearly buckling underneath her.

"They need to die for everything that they've done! Someone has to stop them!"

I'm so weak..good thing the sun is almost down. My powers should return in a couple hours...

Suddenly her strength left her and she passed out.

[JxSlaughter]

Zhijiru saw her knees shaking, in a moment she started falling- the girl was caught before she hurt herself falling on the debris. "Crap, the magician girl passed out." He looked around to see if anyone was looking, for some reason he felt slightly embarrassed. He picked her up and looked down on her face for a moment. He sighed, "We need to make camp..." Zhijiru whistled three times and motioned his head and his dog darted off into the distance. He followed it.

The dog found the ox, it was still tied to the wagon and had found a river outside of the town. Zhijiru started to weaken from carrying her for as long as he did, but he was relieved that the wagon and steer was okay. He set her down and took logs out of the wagon for use. He dripped a flammable substance on the logs and used a match to set it on fire. He placed nearby rocks around it to keep the fire from spreading.

He untied the ox and it relaxed some ways away from camp. "Probably mad at me for not finding water." The Akita stayed close to the girl. "Taken a liking to her huh?" He eyed at the dog, but the dog just panted. Zhijiru did have some blankets packed in case he would have company, he always tried to be prepared. He set it over her and he set some fish over the fire. It was packed in a cooler in his wagon, it was freshly caught the day he came to Tamasha. He also had some fruit in the wagon, but he wouldn't take it out until she awakened, because it would attract ants.

Zhijiru left her with the Akita for a while and brought some bits of charred wood from the village. They were fragile. He was able to hold them with the use of gloves and a wool blanket. He set a bunch of them where he would lay, and mixed it with his hands quickly to break them into smaller pieces. He then laid a layer of sand over it. He made sure it wasn't going to be too hot. Before he laid in it he did the same for the girl with the rest of the material he had. He laid her upon it with her blanket and didn't let the dog lay with her, because the warmth would be used up so fast. He ate reminiscing on the day he had, though he left some grill for the girl when she would awake. The fish was still on the sticks but it was turned away from the fire so it wouldn't burn with the fire still going.

He set his rice hat to the side, and before going to sleep he removed his bandage, trying to keep his left eye tightly shut while washing his face with the icy cold water. He dried his face and re-wrapped his left eye tightly shut for the night. The bed felt so warm, and though it would only last for around 2 hours, it was a good way to start a good night's sleep. He was happy that he was able to do this luxury, because it was impossible to do with soil.

He had brought out fire wood nearby in case the campfire was to go out. It was now dark out, and Zhijiru fell asleep half exhausted.

[laraine]

A few hours from daybreak, Echo awoke, her strength almost returned. She sat up and looked around. Apparently the man had made a camp and when she passed out he took care of her. She looked down, blushing a bit. She was embarrassed to have fainted in front of this stranger.

almost all of the elements have returned...hopefully I can..

Her stomach growled and she realized how she was. She saw the food on the grill and quickly ate it. She needed the energy to fuel her powerful magic.

She looked over at the dog, ox and man sleeping. A small smile formed. "Guess I owe them a lot.."

She then realized that she didn't see her horse anywhere.

Standing up she whistled into the night, soon trotting could be heard as the horse slowly appeared into view. She walked over and met up with it near the camp. She pat the horse gently.

"Poor girl, I rode you hard yesterday didn't I? I'm sorry."

Echo thought about leaving them so she wouldn't cause them unnecessary danger, but knew she should at least thank them.

So she sat down and pat the dog who was now awake and looking at her with his questioning eyes. She smiled at the dog and awaited his master to awaken.

[JxSlaughter]

He murmured in his sleep. "Heh heh, hahaha..." He coughed a bit and sniffed his nose. He woke up a noticed everyone was awake before he was. His straw hat and sandals were to the side of him, and his hair was messy from his sleep. He noticed the horse, "You leaving?" He rubbed his nose.

[laraine]

Echo slightly nodded. "But you did help me, so I owe you something in return. If there is something I can do to return the favor, let me know. You are very kind to help a person you don't know. Especially someone as scary as me hehehhe" She grasped the reigns tighter. "So tell me, if there is anything I can do for you let me know."

[JxSlaughter]

Zhijiru got up and took his straw hat. "You can save my village." He gave her a serious look. The dog was now at his side and the ox got up when he saw his master stand. "You said that they destory everything, and everyone-- I won't allow them, one day my village will be next. We can use it as bait and catch them!" He empty hand turned into a fist. His soul was roaring for adventure. The dog barked in agreement. Zhijiru hastly started to pack up his cart.

[laraine]

Echo blinked, looking up at him with a slight smile. "It might not be easy and its dangerous. These people are cold hearted killers. If we can't stop them you might die. Are you ready for that?" She asked him seriously. "I've already staked my life on this. I know the risk I face. But I swore I would destroy them. Understand what you are getting into." She walked up with a unsteady smile. "I don't want you to do this with any doubts. Doubts themselves will destroy you. I will do everything in my power, I swear it, that they will not harm your town...but if I die...run." she whispered before pulling away.

[JxSlaughter]

Zhijiru was in his cart and he brought out a katana from its sheath. "Hey, being a merchant all my life-- I do know some ways to fight." He moved it left to right to the slightest bit making shine in the reflection of the sun. "After all, I have to deal with thieves and pickpockets. He put it back in the sheath. The sheath had small designs of paper cranes near the top of it. "I just never though I would use it to actually kill people one day. I have light weight armor back home, though it could use some dusting." He sat down, and the Akita sat along side with him. Zhijiru smiled, he was trying to hold his excitement. The dog sensed it and wagged its tail.

"I'll run if truly necessary."

[laraine]

Echo nodded. "All right then, were a team now."

"Oh by the way, my name is Echo. What is your name?" She asked, packing up everything and jumping onto her horse. She smiled.

"Of course the names of your animals too. They are both so very kind." She grasped the reigns of her horse tightly and then turned to him, her black hair slightly lifting with the breeze that passed.

[JxSlaughter]

"My name is Jiru, the dog is Ginta," Jiru patted the ox on its behind. "And this handsome fellow is delicious." It was a silly joke. "We We don't usually name our ox..." He laughed. "Anyways, my village is far south in a valley hidden within thin forestry. Are you ready to go-- Echo?" He whipped at his ox and it started to pull the covered wagon along. "When we get there, we will have to prepare all the men for a battle, these barbarians do not seem normal."

[laraine]

Echo nodded. "These people...destroy everything, like demons themselves. They take away life, happiness and leave only negative emotions if there are any survivors. But mostly there aren't any survivors." Echo's voice was hollow. It seemed her cold nature had returned.

"They all need to be destroyed. I will never show them mercy for all that they have done. All that they have taken away.." Echo became silent. They rode like that for a while.

After a couple hours however, Echo put a hand to her head in pain.

But I haven't even used any magic today.. why? Why does it hurt so much? Stay conscious!...wait...I probably need more food...

She dug into her pack for more food. She chewed away at some dry fruit and jerky.

[JxSlaughter]

"Hm?" Zhijiru noticed Echo eating away at the food she has been carrying. "If you need more just let me know." His tone was nearly beckoning her to have some, he wouldn't want the food he has brought to go to waste. He put the ropes down in front of him and rummaged through some food conveniently placed behind him. The ox continued to pull the wagon on its own. Time was money, so leaving the crates of food there saved him the effort of laying out a picnic on the ground when he didn't have to. Jiru had a apple of his own that he munched on, occasionally biting a piece off for the dog. The terrain started to change into flatter lands and fields. The sky was blue, filled with white soft clouds- a sunny beautiful day to travel.

[laraine]

Echo looked up from her meal, blinking at his offering and wondered if she should take it.

The more food I have, the more energy I will have to beat up those demons with my powers...

She nodded and held out a hand waiting for him to give her the food.

"So..." She looked at the cart. "Are you some sort of merchant?"

[JxSlaughter]

"So..."

"Are you some sort of merchant?[/b][/color]"


Jiru smiled. "Of course I am a merchant! You're not too quick to judge are you?" He thought about the bandage covering his left eye the whole time and laughed. It had been the longest time someone didn't stare his face. "I don't think a normal traveler would walk around with such a load..." He reached back and handed her a pouch full of dried fruit, noodles, rice and some easy finger food. "You would have to cook the noodles and rice during camp, but there is a lot of food in there you can eat right now. If you run out, I still have more-- and if we run out we can always eat this guy!" Jiru pointed at the ox.

"But in all seriousness... we should have enough food for four days." Jiru tossed her a water gourd. "And we have water for two days, the ox takes up most of it." There was another use for the water but he didn't mention it. "We should get to Sen Sei in about a week at this pace, but we should be able to make it. I have money."