Forever Young
Episode 30: Rafting
©2003 Kitty Ocean
The morning dew filled the meadows. If it wasn't for the fact that they were on the run, it would have been a perfect picture. 6 people on 3 horses, riding over the grass. They seemed calm, but deep inside they kept being on their guard. What if the Hunter showed up? And succeeded in his mission?
Sushi kept on trying to make some magical spell that would slow down the Hunter, or would even make him loose them for once and for all. But trying to mix potions on the back of a horse doesn't go that well.
"Ao, stop bumping!" Sushi yelled when she missed her bowl once more and the powder fell on Pear.
"Say that to that damned horse!" Ao snapped back and suddenly Pear stopped. Ao leaned over and yelled: "What the hell is wrong with you?!" At that moment Pear slammed his head back. Ao quickly leaned back, but got hit after all. Sure, it wasn't a big impact, but Ao couldn't help but grabbing to his mouth in pain. He cursed.
All laughed. "Good one Pear." Naraku smiled. "Ao shouldn't be mean to Pear. Pear is a nice horse. Not a damned one."
"Like you know what 'damned' means anyway!" Ao yelled back.
Naraku grinned. "I do not know what 'damned' means, but it feels mean."
"You can say that again." Mayonaka complimented.
Matsuru stretched himself. "I'm happy we all can laugh again."
"You sound tired. " Blade noticed.
"I am." Matsuru admitted. "I'm worried about the Hunter. We don't see him, but each time when we think we lost him, he shows something that lets us know he is out there, and watching us!"
"Eerie." Sushi mumbled and added some herbs to her potion. "Well, I dunno what this potion is gonna do, but I'll try it when Hunter-face shows himself again."
"And what if it doesn't do a thing?" Mayonaka angry asked.
Sushi looked up. "Then I suggest running." She calmly stated.
"Look!"
All looked up and looked into the direction Naraku had pointed. In front of them the grass area seemed to end... and got replaced by one of the biggest lakes they had ever seen! And far, far away in the North-east were large brown hills.
"Pond!" She exclaimed. "But there is no waterfall!"
Matsuru gazed at the serenity of the lake. It looked wonderful in this morning air. "This is too big to be called a pond Naraku." He said. "We call this a lake!"
"Lake?" Naraku asked. "Lakes don't have waterfalls?"
"They do, sometimes." Blade added. "But big, big ponds are called lakes. And this is a lake."
Naraku let the word get into her system. Then she raised herself once more and pointed. "Look! Lake!" She yelled.
"She had to do it right, right?" Ao smiled.
Matsuru grinned back. "That's my little Nara."
"Who is Nara?" Naraku asked. "I am Naraku!"
"Of course you are." Matsuru smiled.
Near the lake they mounted off. At first they looked around them. No place where the Hunter could hide. If he wasn't here, he was way back.
Finally relaxing, they drank some water and let the horses rest. Naraku kneeled at the shore and looked into the water. "Look!" She said. "It looks just like ponds!"
"Really, it looks like the ponds?" Matsuru repeated, correcting her without letting her realise it.
"Yes, it looks like the ponds." Naraku had picked up the correction and had added 'the'.
Blade sat down on the ground and let the sword play between his hands. Mayonaka sat down next to him. "What are you thinking?" She asked.
Blade pointed at the lake. "Just some crazy thoughts." He smiled.
Then Naraku bumped in. "What is at other side of the lake?" She asked.
"Like reading my mind." Blade mumbled.
"What do you mean Naraku?" Mayonaka asked friendly.
Naraku pointed at the other side, that was far, far away. "Are there nice people on the other side?"
"Across the lake?" Ao asked. "Not sure. Why?"
"She suggests going there, right Naraku?" Blade verified.
Naraku nodded. "Well, we have to go around the lake anyway... guess we'll eventually find out." Matsuru shrugged.
"Awe man, that takes months!" Sushi complained.
"Oh, just shut up." Mayonaka snapped.
"You shut up!" Sushi threw back for once.
"Stupid Elf!"
"You're just jealous!"
"Of what?! You're oversized ears?"
"That was very low of you!"
"I had too!" Mayonaka yelled back. "Otherwise you wouldn't understand my high language!"
"You take that back! I'm not dumb!"
"Oh yes you are!"
"What if we go over water?" Mayonaka and Sushi stopped fighting and all gazed at Naraku who pointed at the water. "Is that faster?"
Matsuru nodded. "Yes... that would be faster... but humans can't walk over water."
Naraku pointed at a twig that floated in the water. "Wood is light. It floats. Maybe we can float on wood?"
It was silent....
"Did she just suggest building a boat?!" Ao was stunned.
"I think she did..." Blade answered.
"Nice idea." Mayonaka folded her arms. "But we'd have to chop wood first, and then making ropes. We have to tie them together and..."
Sushi tapped on her shoulder. "Are you done rattling? Ao already started on it."
Mayonaka was shocked when she saw the Elf using his Earth magic to create a raft. "Hey wait a minute!" All looked up. "What about the horses?!"
Ao stopped. "She's right. The raft will never be able to hold the horses... even if we finally convinced them to stay days on that thing."
All didn't know what to do. Naraku walked at Apple. "Apple... do you want to go on raft?" She asked.
The answer came hard, but expected. >No.<
"So..." Sushi sighed. "That means long, long days around the lake."
Matsuru sighed as well. "Well, it was a nice idea. If we would cross it, it would gain us so much more time."
"Yeah, and then we'll stop and think we are safe and guess who comes to pay a visit!" Blade sneered.
But, all the time, Naraku disagreed. She did something that surprised everyone... she used her telepathy. >Apple... can you go around the lake? That we see you there?<
"I... I can hear what she's saying..." Matsuru gasped.
Apple put her nose against Naraku. >Yes... but it wouldn't change a thing.< Apple mentally said back. The horses rarely 'spoke' to them, and all felt deep emotions inside this one message. >Hunter follows us and finds Naraku...<
"No." Matsuru interrupted. "Naraku has a great idea!" He smiled. "We'll take along the luggage which makes you a lot lighter!"
Blade bumped in. "Indeed! And then you can go way faster! The Hunter would never keep up with you!"
"And while we cross the lake, we save time!" Mayonaka made an estimation. "Who knows, maybe you'll even reach the other side before us!"
Ao stopped them. "Eh... what exactly IS the other side?"
Naraku pointed at a brown mountain. "There." She decided. "At the bottom of mountain. There we see you again."
Sushi raised her hand. "Elf girl agrees." She stated. "Sounds like a plan to me."
All nodded and Ao turned around. "So, let me start on our luxury boat once more." He ironically mumbled.
It was night when the raft was finished. The Hunter hadn't shown his face at all. He knew that they would spot him in no time, even in this darkness. And... Naraku kept on sensing his arrival more and more.
The luggage was placed on the raft and the horses were nothing more than what they were: horses.
Blade patted Dusk. "You take care, okay?" He asked, trying not to show his worry. Dusk put his face against his face to say good bye. "See you on the other side." Blade said with a smile... and a tear when he hugged Dusk.
Matsuru said good bye to Pear and Apple as well. "Who would have thought we would split up..." He whispered. "Be careful. I want to see you there."
>We will.< Pear greeted.
>We made a promise.< Apple played with his hair. >We keep promise.<
Naraku greeted all as well. But she was the only one smiling. "I will see you." She said with big confidence. "You are big horses. And fast. We see each other at bottom mountain." And then she whispered. "I know that."
The horses stepped back, released a last neigh, and disappeared in the darkness. Their gallops died out and soon it was awfully silent once more.
"Well..." Ao started. "I guess it's best if we leave as well."
All nodded and stepped on the raft. Sushi took a peddle. "No." She said to Ao. "You are too tired from creating the raft. I don't want you to fall asleep and fall into the water." Ao looked surprised at her. "Then I would have to go in and save your butt... again."
Ao grinned and gave the peddle. "And I love you too."
From the darkness a shadow moved. It softly grinned. It saw the raft leaving into the night, with only a small torch to light the way. "Smart move, little one." It grinned. "It will sure put some distance between us... but I'll find you back. I always do."
Suddenly the Hunter snapped back and looked into the darkness. He did hear something... but it was gone again. He walked into the direction the horses had left... not noticing the 4th trail...
The moon kissed the ground once more and went to sleep, giving room to the awakening sun. Slowly it enlightened the path of the young travellers. Blade was slowly pushing the raft forward, yawning loudly.
"Mm, time someone else took the shift." He yawned. He kicked Matsuru. "Yo, you're turn!"
Matsuru growled and moved aside. "Get lost." He muttered.
Blade looked annoyed at Matsuru who refused to stand up. He mumbled some bad words and then looked at the water. A leaf was floating by. Blade took his compass. A smile appeared on his face. "North-east." He smiled. "Always North-east." Blade put out the peddle and lay it down. Then he lay down next to it and took a nice nap.
Hours later Matsuru woke up. He looked around, until he saw Blade sleeping. He jumped up and woke Blade up. "Hey, you are supposed to be on duty!!!" Matsuru yelled.
Blade rolled over. "No, you are! And check the compass, stream drifts us right way." Blade yawned more and closed his eyes for a sleep once more.
Matsuru took the compass and checked it. Indeed. North-east. From the corner of his eyes he spotted something else. "Hey Naraku, up already?" He asked.
Naraku didn't reply. All she did was staring into the water. "Fishes!" She pointed.
Slowly the others woke up as well. "Man..." Ao growled. "What a terrible dream. Stupid monsters..." He looked aside and suddenly screamed like hell!
"What?" Sushi asked. Her hair was standing into all possible directions... except the right ones.
Matsuru took Naraku's arm. "Naraku, I don't want you to get that close to the water. You might fall in and you can't swim... I think."
Sushi corrected her hair. "Hey, don't be so overprotective! You remind me of my father! Always whining, horrible guy, and I..."
"SHUT UP SUSHI!" Mayonaka yelled angry. Sushi was surprised, she had never heard Mayonaka this angry before! "Just for once, shut the hell up!"
"What's wrong with you?" Sushi asked.
"JUST SHUT UP!"
"All right..." Sushi turned away annoyed. "Jeez."
Blade kneeled next to Mayonaka. "Mayonaka?" He asked.
"Just leave me alone." She whispered.
Ao decided to drag some attention to himself, giving Mayonaka some time to cool off. "Well Matsuru, if you are so worried about Naraku drowning, why don't we teach her how to swim?"
To be continued...
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