A strong storm was brewing with the dark clouds that rolled across the skies like dolphins in the all consuming sea.

The wind could blow his little body across the field if he wasn't tied down. He was drenched as the rain poured down relentlessly, feeling as though they were daggers piercing into his skin.

Lightening stretched across the night sky as though the gods were in a war amongst themselves. With every flash his vision came into view and immediately after every flash his memory went dark. Lightning struck again, a sharp radiating pain from his neck down his back and arms, jolting him awake.

"Ow!" A voice retreated behind him.

Tsugi pushed himself up, he had been sleeping on his stomach.

He gazed over his shoulder and saw Lugo rubbing his eye. "Why'd you elbow me?"

"Why was your elbow in my back?" Tsugi stretched the stiff pain in his neck.

"You were having a nightmare. I was just trying to wake you."

"That's how you wake up people from a nightmare? By digging your elbow into their back?" Tsugi raised an eyebrow.

"No. I was calling for you, but you didn't hear me. Then I heard you saying something, and I thought you were talking to me so I leaned in."

"Well, maybe next time don't lean in."

"That's the thanks I get for trying to help? I get elbowed and scolded?"

"Sorry." Tsugi sighed and rubbed his face.

"Eh," Lugo ran his fingers through his hair frustratingly. "It's alright, I'd do it again if it could save you from a nightmare." He threw on an innocent smile.

"You're an idiot." Tsugi tossed the pillow at him. "Hurry up and get ready."

"Me hurry? You would've still been sleeping if it wasn't for me."

"Yes I would have been. So thank you for the elbow in my back." Tsugi said sarcastically and rolled his eyes..

"You are very welcome. See, saying thank you wasn't that hard now was it?"

"Just shut up and get ready will you?" Tsugi barked and got out of bed.

"Ooooh! Not a morning person I see."

"I don't think anyone who wakes up next to you, are morning people."

"Ouch." Lugo clasped his chest and pretended to be in pain, laughing as Tsugi rolled his eyes so hard that he could've had a seizure.

Tsugi washed his face and grabbed his bag. He knocked on the bedroom door for the women and children. "It's Tsugi, my lady."

"Come in." A voice called from inside. Upon entering, he saw that the children were still asleep but Maki and Aylin were already awake and neatly folded their clothes.

After being able to have a proper meal, bath and rest, they both looked vibrant. Although their eyes still had terror in them, they still looked elegant in their beautiful dress and long alluring hair.

"I'll take those." Tsugi opened his bag and neatly placed the clothes inside. "I hope you all had a well rested night. We still have a long journey ahead of us. There will be no towns the rest of the way there so we will be camping outdoors. Please bear with us for just a few more days. I'll be sure to get you all home safe and sound."

"It's alright." Aylin's lips curled into a smile. "I don't mind camping out. It's actually an interesting experience. How many people can say they've experienced it?"

"I'm glad you find it enjoyable, my lady. I will have food brought up for you all, please eat. I will be preparing the horses and carriage. I will come back when we are ready to go. In the meantime, I will be taking Ruzo with me so he can stretch his legs. I've already instructed the servants to fetch me if anything happens. Should you need me, please let them know."

"Thank you." She smiled.

"Ruzo." Ruzo hopped up and ran out the door.

Tsugi and Ruzo walked toward the mountainside away from everyone. "Potty." Ruzo ran over to the nearest rock and did his business.

Entering the stables, he could see Lugo preparing the horses.

"Nice of you to join me." Lugo haltered the horses.

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"Nothing nice about it."

"Are you always this cold? It's not going to kill you to try to have a decent conversation without always telling me off."

Tsugi shut his eyes and took a deep sigh, "I will work on it."

"Thank you. That is all I ask." Lugo bowed politely and led the horses out. Tsugi prepared the rest of the horses and followed him.

The rest of the men had started to hook the horses to the carriage as Lugo and Tsugi strapped the saddles on the others. The healer came back from the merchant stuffing herbs and ointment into his bag.

Tsugi set down a bowl of food and water for Ruzo. Ruzo delightfully munched away, while Tsugi made a round to check and make sure everything was ready before retrieving the others. "Lugo."

"Yes my lord." Unsure if Lugo was being sarcastic or genuine, Tsugi eyed him suspiciously.

"I'm going to go get the others. Please buy enough food to last the rest of the journey."

"Right away." Lugo bowed and left.

After Tsugi assisted the women and children into the carriage, Ruzo hopped in and sat next to the children. They smiled and pet him on his head. Ruzo seemed to enjoy the attention as he panted with his tongue sticking out, eyes closed and his tail wagged.

"Let's move!" Lugo said and they continued through the mountain.

Only stopping to let the horses rest, drink and eat they kept moving throughout the day and ate jerky and bread while on horseback.

"Let's stop here and give the horses a quick break." Lugo called out. They slowed and everyone unsaddled their horses.

"We are letting the horses rest. If you would like to, you may step out and stretch your legs as well."

"Yes, that would be nice." Aylin said. They all stretched and walked around.

"Please have some." The healer went to everyone and passed around some Rhodiola rosea plants. "It will provide you with some energy, at least until we make camp."

Tsugi grabbed a little and chewed on it. It had a sweet rose taste to it with a slight hint of bitterness. Aylin leaned against a rock and stretched her leg attempting to massage them with her one good arm as the other one was tied up in a sling.

"Are you hurt, my lady?" Tsugi approached with a concerned look on his face.

Her face turned bright red. "Uh...no! I...I'm okay! They were just a little stiff from sitting for so long. You're all the one's on horses, I'm sure you have it worse than I do." She laughed awkwardly.

Tsugi looked around and he could see Ruzo flipped onto his back, his face as happy as can be with the children rubbing his belly with huge smiles on their faces.

Tsugi's heart felt a little lighter just seeing that the children were still able to smile.

"We should get going." Tsugi walked back to the horses. "Saddle up!" He saddled Sayi and helped hook the horses back up to the carriage before assisting the women and children back in.

***

When night arrived, they were lucky enough to find an empty cave so they didn't need to set up any tents. Instead Tsugi laid down blankets to pad the hard floor and pulled wood from the carriage to start a fire. Lugo roasted some potatoes and meat on the fire before passing them around to everyone.

"Be careful it's hot, my lady." Lugo said as he handed the food to the women. Although they were still unsure, they seemed to be a little more relaxed with everyone now. The children seemed to smile more, although, mainly just around Ruzo.

After dinner, the women and children went to bed for the night.

"Ruzo." Tsugi whispered as not to wake the others. He took Ruzo right outside the cave and released him to do his business. The dog was still full of energy since he was just stuck in the carriage all day long. Tsugi allowed Ruzo to have a quick zooming session just to get out some energy before retiring for the night.

"Tsugi?" Aylin had approached behind him.

"Is something the matter, my lady? Did I wake you?"

"Oh, no you didn't wake me." She lightly rubbed her hands together.

"Are you cold?"

"Uh, no."

"What is it, my lady? Did something happen?"

"Uh, no..."

"Are you not feeling well?"

"No...I will tell you if you just listen." She raised her voice in frustration.

He opened his mouth to say something, but pressed his lips together and waited.

Her face turned bright red and she bit her lip. "Uh...it's nothing." She smiled awkwardly.

"I'm sorry, my lady. I didn't mean to be rude."

"No, it's okay. It's just...I need to...relemassmn." Her voice trails off into a muttering whisper.

"I'm sorry, My Lady." Tsugi furrowed his brow. "I couldn't understand what you said."

"I...I need to...to...rel...relieve myself." She hung her head and clenched her eyes shut in embarrassment. "Maki is already asleep and you said that we can't go anywhere alone."

"It's alright my lady, would you like for me to send Ruzo with you?"

"Uh...uh...could...you?" Tsugi just gave her a confused look. "Are you going to make me say it?" She shouted in frustration, still refusing to open her eyes.

His eyebrows rose after finally understanding what she wanted. "Oh! Would you like for me to go with you, my lady?" Now her neck was as red as her face, to include her ears. She nodded shamefully. "Right this way my lady." He gestured around the mountain side between two big boulders. "Ruzo will stay on one side, I will stay on the other side."

"Could...could you please...cover your ears?"

"Of course my lady, but if something were to happen, I may not hear it. What if I leave Ruzo with you, but I stay just a little further away?" She nodded in agreement. "Just call for Ruzo when you are done and I will be right over there."

Tsugi stood around the corner and looked up into the sky. As he waited, he patiently counted the stars and connected them into intricate patterns in his head.

"We can go back now." Aylin walked up to him with Ruzo trailing behind. He nodded and led them back to the cave.

"Have a good night my lady." He said, but she was too embarrassed to look at him and just nodded her head as she quickly returned to lie down next to the children.

Tsugi returned and sat next to the open fire. Lugo poked into the fire with a stick. "And what did you two go do?" He grinned.

"Oh, will you knock it off?"

Lugo laughed. "You are just too fun to mess with." Tsugi glared at him. "Okay, I'm sorry. I'll stop." He pressed his lips together, stifling a laugh, but a snicker came out anyways.

"Ugh, this is going to be a long journey." Tsugi mumbled, rubbing his forehead in irritation.

The sound of loud flapping wings echoed the walls as big gusts of wind entered the cave, causing embers to fly out of the fire. Lugo quickly grabbed his waterskin, poured it onto the fire, and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.