By the time they had reached the ocean shore, Kento was beginning to feel better. Cye had convinced him the death of the baby gorilla had not been his fault, but the fault of who had used the animal for a sickening deed. Now as they neared the shore, they wondered what other monsters lay in store for them. The way Kento figured it, there should be at least one more monster that Star would have to deal with. But what type of monster would that be, and when would it appear?

There was no answer to that question except to wait and watch. Now they would need to get across the ocean, and everyone looked toward Firestorm.

Firestorm sighed as she really did not want to turn into a dragon again. But she knew there was no other way. “We should have brought a boat or something,” she muttered.

“We had no boat,” Ryo replied as he shook his head. “We could probably swim with our subarmor on, but it would drain us too much. Except maybe Cye, but it‘s best he remain with us.”

“I understand,” Firestorm cut him off. She stepped backward and concentrated. An aura of violet color surrounded her and then, when it vanished completely, she was in her black dragon form. She laid down her long neck, enabling Ryo, Kento, Cye, and Star to clamor onto her back. When everyone was seated and hanging onto her spike plated back she spread her wings and took to the sky.

Star stared at the sky above. She could see birds flying overhead. They seemed to be so happy and carefree that she longed to join them. What a wonderful feeling it would be to just fly amongst the eagles, to spread wings and fly away.

Cye stared at the ocean waters below. Given the opportunity he would have been swimming instead of flying. He preferred to be in the water rather than above it. But he would not say anything, nor dive off Firestorm’s back. So he was contended to remain silent during the flight.

Kento was more unperturbed as he just stared straight ahead. Though he wasn’t particularly looking at Ryo’s back. His thoughts turned to Rowen and he wondered how he was holding up. He knew it had to have been difficult and could almost imagine how the bearer of Strata felt at the moment. For when he was Talpa’s captive it brought terrible pain and memories of greater agony to heart. It was something he wanted to forget but never could.

Ryo was deep in thought about Sage. He was a bit miffed that someone had assailed Sage directly, making it impossible for him to be with them to help them with the Tiger’s Eye and to help save Rowen. Now they were battling monsters who had come after them, and he had to keep a tight grip on the flower just so they could get it back to Kayura to help save Sage’s life.

A wave of anger passed through him and he tightened his grip on the plated spike on Firestorm’s back. He could feel himself trembling as he wanted to shout out in rage. He needed to calm down before he did something he would regret.

The flight over the long ocean seemed to take forever and by the time they reached shore, everyone was tired and hungry, but no one was more tired and hungry than Firestorm. After she had landed on the ground and everyone got down off her back, she roared once and took to the skies again. Kento frowned as he watched her go. “Hey, why is she leaving?”
Star, the only one who had understood her, answered, “To look for food. You see when Firestorm’s in that dragon form she eats fresh meat and needs it occasionally. She’ll be back in a while.”

“Fresh meat?” Ryo wrinkled his nose in disgust. He was certainly glad White Blaze never ate his captured meals in front of him. He shook his head with exasperation. “Let’s keep moving in the meantime. The more ground we cover, the better chances we’ll get getting back to the cabin with Kayura, Mia, and Sage.”

It was agreed and they headed further up the hill which would lead them into some woods that would lead them back to Kayura’s cabin.

Exhausted and hungry as they were, they didn’t stop to think of food. They had their mission and would not falter. They didn’t know what creature may come at them next, but time does tell all when one is patient enough to listen to it.

Going through the woods proved to be eventless. A rabbit scampered past and dove into a hole, a young buck wheeled away the moment his sensitive ears heard the sound of crunching leaves and twigs. It could have been a peaceful venture into the woods, but alas, it was more of a strenuous ordeal.

They continued on, brushing past through thick foliage. Ryo cut away the thick thorny bushes that blocked their path and could just see the road that led to Kayura’s cabin. It was a few feet away from them and was a welcome sight indeed. Feeling their hearts lightening the group hurried onward, eager to get back.

Suddenly, a huge shadow cast over them, turning the entire area cold and foreboding. They looked up and could see something they were expecting, but were clearly not ready for. For a gigantic eagle with claws on the edges of its wings, and a sharp curved beak and pure red eyes with gold irises was flying directly above them. Its talons were black and curved with silver claws. There was a black spot directly on top of its head and from this spot poured out hundreds of small biting insects.

Kento swore heavily and immediately all of them were fighting frantically to get the insects off them. The insects bites were painful and would numb one portion of their body. And yet when the Ronins killed them, they emanated an odorous green substance that would give the Ronins hives on their skins.

Cye turned loose his surekill and blasted away the insects from him. They screeched loudly, making them sound almost human. That thought was horrifying to Cye and he paled. But he knew this wasn’t over yet. More insects came forth from the giant eagle above them, covering them in darkness and placing painful bites on their exposed skins through their armors.

Kento waved his nanginta around wildly, cursing angrily and trying to hit several of them at once. They seemed to be mocking him as they flew about him wildly. He wanted to call his surekill as Cye did, but that would do more harm than good. So the only thing he could was swat at them and hope for the best.

Ryo concentrated through his armor on making his swords red hot and waved them around in a flurry of motions. When the swords connected with the insects their tiny bodies burned automatically and they fell to the ground, where they shriveled up and decayed on the spot. Still it wasn’t over. More came and raged around him. One landed on his face and he immediately swatted it away. His armored hand connected with the body, smashing it. The green odorous substance exploded and some got on his face. His face began to itch and a hive developed right on his right cheek just under his eye. Wincing at the itching and pain he felt, he continued to wave those hot swords around, hoping to kill the rest who continued to attack him.

Star was frantically throwing her weapon around frantically, trying to get the annoying insects away from her. She didn’t know her attack yet, but for some reason in her heart she knew she must fight the eagle above them. If only she could get to where it was. But alas she had no clue on how to do that. She was trying to think, but it was rather difficult when she had no idea on what to do. Nothing was coming to her mind and she was growing more frantic. She desperately wanted to fly above and defeat the eagle. More insects swirled around her, trying to land on the exposed areas of her face and neck. One actually bit her on the neck and she slapped it away, only to receive a hive just above the bite. Irritated, she tried to flee, but they followed her just as quickly. What could be done to get rid of them? ‘If only I knew my surekill,’ she thought bitterly. She wished she and Firestorm would have had more time to learn about their armors and their surekills. But there had been no time at all. They had been thrown into an epic battle and had no choice about it.

There seemed to be no chance of the insects giving up their blood lust. Attacking ferociously, they had bitten each of the Ronins at least twice, and those that had been killed had given hives to them. They were itching and feeling numbed, and irritated, and had no way of stopping these annoying pests.

Then something came to Star. She could feel herself feeling lighter than she ever felt before and with a startled look she saw that she was hovering above the ground. Her eyes widen in amazement. What was going on here? Could it be that her armor had heard her inner cry to battle and gave her the power to float?

Ryo turned his head toward her in shock. Mouth hanging open, he could only stare in wonder. Realizing that had to been her armor’s doing, he called to her, “Try to battle against the bird, Star!”

“I’ll try, Ryo! But I don’t know my surekill!” Star called back as she floated upward even more.

“Listen to your armor!” Cye advised her. “It will tell you!”

Star grimaced as she gripped her bo in her hands. “I certainly hope so,” she said, more to herself than anyone else.

Kento dodged a few insects, but was attacked by dozens more who got him from behind. Waving his hands around desperately, he tried to get them off to no avail. Cye seeing the situation turned his Yari upon them and let loose a blast of water that soared above Kento and struck against them.

Now free of the insects, he dared to raise his head and his eyes widen in wonderment.

Star was now face to face with the giant eagle, her bo held out crossway. Her eyes were narrowed and determined and sweat dripped down her face. This was her moment.

Kayura opened the door to the cabin and ushered White Blaze gently in. Blood poured from wounds the tiger had and he moaned pathetically. Wanting nothing more to collapse on the floor, the tiger walked forward into the living area a few feet and did just that.

Mia frowned with concern as Kayura pulled out some herbs amongst the folds of her kimono and began to tend to the animal. “Is he going to be all right, Kayura?” she asked, biting her knuckles with apprehension.

Kayura cleaned White Blaze’s wounds with the herbs, not speaking while doing so. She gave another dose of herbal potion for the tiger to drink and after doing so, gazed at Mia. “His wounds were deep, but within time the herbal medicine I’ve given him will cause the skin to piece itself together again.”

A sigh escaped from Mia’s lips as she sat down on the floor. Knowing the tiger was going to be just fine gave comfort to her heart. She felt bad for White Blaze’s wounds, but it seemed natural that the tiger would protect her. Fear gripped her heart as she remembered the demons. They looked almost humanoid but their skin was pitch black and leathery like a crocodile’s. Their faces almost resembled that of a gorilla’s, but wasn’t as long as one’s. And their stench was the worst she had ever smelt. It made her want to vomit just remembering it. But at least now she was safely back at the cabin.

Kayura turned over to Sage and lifted off the protection cocoon from him. The Ronin of Halo slept peacefully for once, but he was still extremely ill. His face had never been so pale, and his skin never so cold. If not for the rising and falling of his chest one would assume him to be dead.

Kayura sighed and sat down, drawing her knees up to her chin and looking emotively around the room. “It’s almost afternoon,” she said, spasmodically. “I know Ryo has the Tiger’s Eye, but will he get back here in time?”

Mia looked at her friend with broken dismay in her eyes. She could not believe hearing this from Kayura. She shook her head. “Kayura, you of all people, I am surprised at. Ryo and the others will make it back here in time,” she said with conviction. Kayura raised her eyes to meet Mia’s green eyes and waited to hear the other woman out. “And when they do get back here, you can make Sage well again, and all of them can go battle this Leokoni to free Rowen. It will happen. We just have to believe.”

Kayura smiled at Mia and nodded her head. Yes, the Ronins would get back and after a battle against the forces of evil, everything would be okay again.