They walked through the forest together, following the river.

The chieftain had decided that this was an occasion for him to take his sword with him. He didn’t have any practical method for holding it, he held the scabbard just in his off hand. Walking with his staff. Shoji had offered, but the chief declined. Shoji thought the chief just wanted to hold the scabbard to look cool, but he didn’t say it.

He was the chieftain now, there was no need for him to carry his things. That was the job of his bodyguards and servants. Well, body “guards” was an exaggeration but still.

Shoji should’ve been holding the blade.

“You just want to hold the sword.” The chieftain said, pretty much reading his mind.

Blast.

“I don’t.” Shoji tried to lie but the chieftain just smirked, his powers of insight amusing himself. He could’ve sworn the chief could see inside his head. Did being the chief give him that ability? If it did, the chief wouldn't've told anybody.

Shoji knows he wouldn’t.

Who wanted to follow a man who knew their exact thoughts and movement? The subtle control he already had freaked out Shoji enough. With mind reading?

…He may just join a lesser town. He chuckled.

if Shoji hadn’t seen him use that thing, he probably would’ve asked him to keep it at home. While the chief’s evolution wasn’t a physical one, he had taken to the blade like a duck to water. He was almost better than the previous chief. Though he’d also never say that out loud.

The sound of water slowly became more pronounced as they made it deeper into the wood. The paved gravel pathway they walked on gently crushed beneath their feet. “Excellent idea by the way.”

“Hm?”

“The path. It was smart.” Shoji said, clarifying.

“Just a way to keep other monsters out of our way,” The Chief said, “The more wild monsters like to stay away from things built by us sapients. We definitely scare them now.” The chieftain's smile was almost unnoticeable at times, but the bounce of his words told Shoji all that he needed to hear.

Pride.

An oni would know it when he heard it.

“Yes we do,” He joined in proudly. “Though, we shouldn’t slow down.”

“Yes.” The chieftain agreed.

“There are many dangers in the forest.”

Almost on cue they heard the drumming. The loud percussion from deep within the woods. Thump. Thump. Thump. It was always so pronounced that it almost shook their organs with its bass. It was so far away that it only made them stand slightly alert but from the pulse, they knew.

It had just eaten.

“Terrible thing,” Shoji’s voice dripped with disgust. The chieftain silently agreed. They had lost so many new recruits to the beast. Its loud, heart-like body beat like the organ it resembled. With each terrible contraction, it produced excruciating sound which vibrated any nearby creatures' organs to the point of liquefaction. Its dripping tentacles slicked with saliva as soon as it heard prey approach. And it’s maw…

Shoji remembered it like yesterday.

“You’re still here,” The chief reminded him. “That’s all that matters.”

Shoji couldn’t agree. He had finally felt good in this body and that thing had completely ruined his mojo. He was supposed to strut around town. Moving around like he was the best thing. But that jelly ruined it…

It made him weaker.

They approached the waterfall. A huge wall that separated the forest from a place higher in elevation. Not only did it help keep foreigners out from the west, but it also did something else. Rushing water came down from the top of the mountain and crested down onto the ground. By the curtain of water, giant rocks sat by. Glowing from the water and the afternoon light. Though the water didn’t bother their friend. They both found their usual big rocks around the perimeter of the small pond, and watched.

Long black hair currently tied up. Long black robes just like him and the chieftain. She’d added her own little spin of small white petal designs stitched along the trim and bottom. Her robes specifically were designed with long thick sleeves. Tough and made from heavy black boars hide. Shoji thought that would hurt, because of her evolution, but apparently they didn’t bother her. If anything the sleeves made her seem more sure when she fought.

She stood on the rocks and kicked in the air with a violence. Striking her invisible opponent with force that made Shoji feel bad for the shadow she was boxing.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Her shadow was hit from powerful kick wide kicks that had each had the weight of the world.

She flipped from stance to stance, going from only using her one foot to support herself, to going to a stomping style, to even using a style that she had coined herself.

She got on her hands upside downand started spinning rapidly. Her hands moved like a well oiled machine, moving so fast that you wouldn’t even remember the rock was slippery.

She spun faster, and faster, and faster, until she had practically become a blur. Spinning. Like a violent top, she spread her legs midair and suddenly had two powerful weapons that spun so fast, you wouldn’t be foolish for assuming she wasn’t just a creature objurgated of wind.

Suddenly, she let go.

like a violent top, her powerful legs making powerful whooshing sounds as she spun.

She floated in the air, letting the wind carry and keep her momentum as she moved.

Shoji was confident in beating her if he was given the first move but…

Watching her move, his face slightly paled.

She’d gotten so strong.

She spun into a back handspring, back flipping into a standing stance on the rock. Feet together and arms at her side. Her hair, in her tornado of fury, had accidentally come undone. It came down long past her butt and almost touched the ground. Not the best choice for a warrior. She pushed it back, revealing a pale white face.

As white as the moon.

And eyes that were bright pink with gold flakes that floated around them. Shoji looked over to the chief and saw the man chewing on his wods.

Heh.

Well, they were friends.

He pushed The Chieftain forward, causing him to stumble. He looked back at Shoji with reluctance. Shoji just looked at him and mouthed, “Go.” Giving him a thumbs up.

This was all him.

Shoji sat down watching them as Todo leap’d down in a puff of wind.

—-----------

The chieftain's words were caught in the back of his throat as he approached her.

Damn.

Why was this so hard? He coughed to himself, trying to get out this terrible frog.

Why was he holding this stupid sword?

Did she even like swords?

Was his hair alright?

Oh right, he didn’t have any.

He just sighed, and just started toward Meki. She was wiping off her tired face with a towel she had borrowed. She was facing away from him and he just stood there waiting for her to be finished.

She continued to wipe away at her face, as if trying to get all of the sweat into that towel. He stood there and then felt awkward as he just had to stand there. Goofy sword and staff in hand. Should he put the sword and staff down?

No that would just mean he would mean he’d have to bend over and…

GAh!

After ten seconds had passed, he figured he might as well just say something.

“Hey.”

She immediately jumped, quickly spinning to look at him.

Hey?!

"Hey," Chief?!

What was wrong with him?

He’d scared the living daylights out of her. He looked down and saw her hand tensed up in that demon way. The kind when you were about to cast a spell.

“Oh… Hi!” She tried to recover, unclenching her hand. “I, uhh didn’t know you were coming over…”

“Yeah y’know… Thought it was the time…” He said.

“...Yeah…” She said, slightly embarrassed.

'AAAAAAH!' His face remained unchanged but on the inside the entire operation was on fire. His brain was fried and every little person in his body ran in circles in a panic.

“What spell were you gonna shoooot. Haha… Pew, pew.”

They knocked over file cabinets.

Called 911.

Started taking out kattana’s and committing seppuku.

Why did she have to evolve??? She giggled softly. Thank the gods she thought it was a joke. Thank every lord above. “I uhh, um… I uh… we–” She just watched him with patience which made him feel worse.

A deer stumbled less learning how to walk, then the chieftain did this day.

Then, like a gift from the gods, Shoji appeared behind him.

He grabbed the chieftain by his shoulders and dragged him away. Smoke appeared behind them as he karted the stunned chieftain away. “Sir, you’re dying out there~” His words were concerned, but the amusement in his voice made the chief want to punch his companion.

“Shut up.” The chief said, trying to catch his breath.

“Let me go get her,” Shoji strode up to Todo and started talking to her out of ear shot. He watched as she giggled at his guard's words. With Shoji emoting with his hands and talking much more animated than he did with the chieftain.

Traitor!!!

He sighed and looked down as they walked back together, laughing.

“I swear the beast had me swung upside down. It swung me around like a dead horned rabbit.”

Todo elbowed him playfully, cheeks hurting from the amount she was smiling. She caught the chieftain looking down at the ground, depressed. She chuckled, lifting his head up. Cupping his face with her hands.

If anyone else were to touch the chief like this he’d probably have them locked in the brig. But she and the chief were closer than most of the camp. The only other people who were allowed to get this much leeway were Mama, and begrudgingly, Shoji.

“Stop being weird. Use your words.” She said, with a smile.

Gods.

He was lucky his skin was this dark a grey.

“...We need you to read the potential of the children. The trial is approaching.”

She gave a deep bow befitting of one with the robes. She came back up, and slid her arms against each other. Her arms rested together, creating a giant sleeve. “It would be an honor.”

He wanted to say more, do more, spend more time alone. But unfortunately they had business.

He sighed. The chieftain took his two companions and began their walk back.

Shoji’s hands behind his back.

Todo’s hands in her sleeves.

And the chieftains hands on his sword, and his bone staff.