Tsugi and Lugo woke everyone before sunrise and they continued traveling through the grassy hills. Ruzo was elated as he was allowed to run free across the wide open valley. He rolled in the grass and played his game of chicken again, dodging the horses this time. The horses snorted nervously whenever he would get too close.
"If you run into them, they will kick you, you crazy dog." Tsugi muttered.
"I love his energy." Lugo said. "So wild and carefree. You could use some of his energy."
"Ugh, again?" Tsugi rolled his eyes. He was getting tired of Lugo's constant hovering. Never has he ever had anyone nagging him this much, which just made him wish he never asked for any assistance. Though the safety of the clients was his main concern. Surely a few more days wouldn’t kill him.
"What? I'm just making suggestions. Your energy always feels so gloomy and dark, I'm just trying to help lighten it up, is all."
"How can I when you keep sucking all the good energy out of m... RUZO!" A blast of dirt flew out of the ground and sent Ruzo flying. A giant worm had emerged out of the ground: it was two meters wide; no eyes; small spikes spiraled down its body; and it bared five rows of sharp teeth.
"Kuana's!" Lugo screamed. "Tsugi, take the carriage and go! Cross the river!" He charged at the worm and the men followed.
Ruzo landed on the ground and rushed back toward the worm baring his teeth. Tsugi guided the horses and carriage across the field. Battle cries could be heard over the loud explosions and clattering from the worm. The earth began to rumble causing Tsugi to glance back, a second worm was chasing them under the earth as mounds of dirt and grass unearthed as it got closer and closer to the carriage.
Everyone was still fighting the other worm. Terrified screams came from within the carriage as it bounced and shook with the speed at which they took across the land. Tsugi swore under his breath and summoned his daggers, touching the hilts together to form a chain. Still galloping through the field, he wrapped the reins around the saddle and placed one hand on Sayi's shoulder, "I trust you." He said calmly.
He jumped up and landed on top of the carriage. He swung his daggers as the worm approached, emerging out of the ground with its mouth gaped open ready to swallow the carriage.
Tsugi swung his dagger and sliced the worm's mouth. It clattered and squealed going back underground. With the carriage still in motion, Tsugi made his way back onto Sayi's saddle and grabbed hold of her reins. "Atta girl." He patted her shoulder. They continued but there was no river in sight.
Soon the ground began to rumble again. "Damn it!" Tsugi yelled. Once again he jumped back onto the carriage and swung his daggers as he waited. There were several chasing them this time.
Had the others fallen? Why were there so many now? One after another Tsugi defended the carriage.
A worm leapt into the air and aimed for them. Tsugi sliced the worm in half making black ooze to come pouring out as it hit the ground with a loud squelch causing the ooze and guts to splatter all over the grass. As they advanced further away, the two halves of the worm started wriggling and the once bloody open end had healed. What was once one worm, now became two. They dove back into the earth and advanced toward the carriage again.
Tsugi muttered swear words again and again, trying to figure out what to do. If he continues to cut them, they will just continue to multiply, so instead he wounded the worms to slow them down. He jumped back on Sayi and focused on steering her and the other horses as fast as he could. In the far distance, he could see a light shimmer from the surface of the river. As he approached the riverbank, he hopped off Sayi and drew his chained daggers.
"Get out now!" He barked at the women and children. He swung his dagger down on the hitch for the horses and broke them free. The women and children quickly ran out of the carriage toward him. "Cross the river now!"
The worms were closing in as the ground began to rumble again. He quickly picked up each of the women and placed them on both the horses that pulled the carriage and handed them each a child. "GO!" The horse dashed into the rushing river and trudged through the water. The water washed them down stream, but they held tightly onto the horses mane as the horses kicked and swam as hard as they could.
Tsugi grabbed the three remaining children and put them on Sayi. He cut the strap for the luggage and quickly tied each of them to the horse's saddle as they cried.
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"Hey Nagi?" Tsugi tried to speak as calmly as he could. "You are the oldest so I need you to be brave okay?" She nodded her little head. The Worm launched out of the ground right toward them, its mouth open wide, the rows of jagged teeth spun in its mouth as it came hurling down.
In the blink of an eye, Tsugi's dagger slashed through the air and split the worm in half lengthwise. The worm landed on either side of them, one half landed on the carriage and crushed it, sending wood pieces and gear flying, scattering the surrounding area. He then quickly turned and smacked Sayi's butt causing her to jump into the raging river, and disappeared under the surface. Tsugi didn't have time to check for their resurface as three other worms had emerged and launched themselves at Tsugi.
He flung his daggers around him in a force field. As the worms approached they were ground up into mincemeat, chunks of flesh flew everywhere and black ooze rained down on him. He was able to deflect most of it with his force field, but a few droplets got through and landed on him here and there.
When no more worms approached, he yanked on the chain and his daggers came flying back toward him. He caught them in midair and turned back to the river, but he couldn't see anyone. The river was too fast and too wide for them to make it straight across and were probably down river somewhere.
A worm jumped out from behind him, and he rolled out of the way. Barely missing it, a spike from the worm sliced through his arm. The worm exploded as it touched the water sending chunks of meat and slime flying everywhere.
"I could've just thrown water at it!" He yelled in shock, staring at himself covered in guts and black ooze. He poured water over the two halves of the previous worm, causing another explosion. "Just to make sure you won't come back alive." He muttered.
With only being able to hope that the guys can handle their own, he dove into the raging river. He emerges but the rushing water submerges him again. He swam as hard as he could, dodging rocks and logs. A small drop off pushed him back under and he felt a sharp pain in his calf but he kept swimming, trying to cross the wide river. Another wave slammed him into a rock, effectively knocking the air out of him. The impact sent a memory of his father kicking him across the room in his mind, but he quickly shook the memory away.
The impact was nowhere near the pain he endured during his earlier years. He continued to swim tirelessly across the river. Finally, he reached the other side and crawled onto the rocky shores gasping for air, but he had no time to rest. He ran downstream in search of the women and children.
His lungs burned from inhaling water, but he ignored it. Soon the sound of horses huffing and puffing were heard a little ways further down. Picking up the pace, he heads over the little ridge, three horses could be seen grazing while dripping of water. The women and children were huddled together in the grass by the shore.
As he approached, he could see Maki leaning over a little body and as she was pressing hard on the child's chest. Fear rushed up Tsugi's spine, and he sprinted over to them.
"Move!" He demanded, but Maki didn't stop. As he got closer he could see little Nagi lying on the ground, her eyes closed and her lips blue. Tsugi dropped onto his knees beside her body, wrapping his mouth around hers and blew into it. Her chest slightly rising with the forced air.
Maki fell backwards onto her butt and braced herself with her hands, crying and mumbling. "Sh-she w-wouldn't le-let her go!" She cried. "Sh-she wouldn't let...go of...of the...horse!" She wailed and said it again and again, her voice more distorted every time. Tsugi placed his hands on her little chest and pressed down.
Again and again he blew air into her and continued the process. Maki's wails rang in his ear, while Aylin was sniffling as she pulled Maki into a tight hug along with the children who were also sobbing and crying.
"Please..." Tsugi begged. All the noise, including the intense crying had been drowned out. All he could hear was his plea. "...please."
Water splashed in Tsugi's face and he snapped out of it. Nagi coughed up water again and again. "Good girl." He said as he rolled her to her side and patted her back. Now with tears of joy, the women and children cheered and hugged Nagi. "Give her some space to breathe." Tsugi said and stepped back, letting Maki take over.
Tsugi tilted his head back and sighed in relief. He ran his fingers through his wet hair, flicking droplets of water to the ground.
"Tsugi! Your leg!" Aylin gasped. Tsugi saw her worried eyes and looked down. A stick had been lodged into his calf. She rushed over and proceeded to kneel down but Tsugi held her shoulders.
"I'm okay. It's just a scratch."
Her eyes widened with anger. "THAT is not a scratch!" She pointed to the stick protruding from his leg.
"I'll be alright. Just leave it."
"No, we should take it out." She said reaching for it.
"No, leave it!" He yelled and grabbed her hand, causing her to tense and flinch in response. His eyes filled with frustration and anger, before he proceeded to speak calmly. "We don't have any medical supplies right now and the healer isn't here. If you take it out now, I will probably bleed to death."
Her eyes softened and she exhaled in defeat.
"Seriously, I will be okay. It doesn't hurt." He lied. In fact, it hurt a lot and sent excruciating pain through his leg. "As soon as the healer gets here I will ask him to take a look." She nodded and went back to check on Nagi. Tsugi unburdened the horses and took off their gear, before walking around the shore to find whatever dry wood he could find, and came back to start a fire.
The sun was getting low in the sky and he didn't know if the guys would return or if they were even alive.
He pulled his knife out of his boot and stuck it into the fire. Aylin grabbed the water skin from Sayi's saddle and handed it to him. He ripped his trousers around the wound and clenched his teeth together. He placed a firm grasp onto the blood soaked wood, yanked it out, and threw it onto the ground splattering blood onto the grass. The skin and protruding yellow fat tissue waved as he poured water over the gaping wound sending pain up his leg and down to his foot.
He winced and grunted as he pressed the red hot blade over the gash. He didn't realize how hungry he was until the smell of his own burning flesh filled his nostrils. He could only imagine how hungry the others were. Ripping off a strip of cloth from his cloak, he wrapped it around his leg, cinching it a little too tight which caused him to wince.
"I need to go back."