Nathan and I had a pleasant walk through town. He couldn't help but discuss with me all of the new plans he wanted to implement leaving me a little at a loss. Although I had had some training back when we were children I was completely out of my comfort zone.
It led to me nodding and admiring his enthusiasm. Even though I couldn't really add anything to the discussion Nathan seemed pretty happy using me as a soundboard.
Undine and Kibbles, on the other hand, had been arguing the entire time. They were at each other's throats as per usual. So much so that Nathan and I had managed to zone most of the noise they were causing out.
When it was time to leave we all said goodbye and both Kibbles and Undine both seemed relieved.
[ I guess cats really do hate water! ]
" Only the smelly Undine kind!" Kibbles said under his breath as we walked away.
" You two really need to get along better. What would happen if Nathan and I were in trouble and you both had to save us?" I said rhetorically.
" Then I would through that bowl of seawater at the enemies and use the distraction to let you both escape," Kibbles said as his cheeks bludged.
" We really aren't going to get anywhere with this conversation are we?" I said as I shook my head.
" I guess not," Kibbles responded before he smiled.
Just ahead of us was the training grounds and the sounds of fighting were becoming louder and louder.
" Sounds like he is inside!" Kibbles said as we heard clashing of weapons.
The closer we had gotten the louder it had become until we heard the sounds of excited yelling and grunting.
Boom!
Crash!
Whoosh!!
" You are getting slower Yulu!" Said Sora as he sliced down with his sword towards an attractive young lady.
" Not a chance!" The girl called Yulu replied.
Yulu was one of the hunting party. Since men where rare here most of the dangerous jobs were taken by women, hunting included.
" Sora! Yulu!" Kibbles said as he rushed forward excitedly.
" Ohh Kibbles, Yuki! What's up?!" Sora said as he dodged a sword swipe.
Sora was currently bare-chested. The number of scars that he had on his body were uncountable. He had gotten a few more since his time here including a set of teeth marks on his shoulder.
I watched as he nimbly moved from side to side dodging Yulu with a massive grin on his face. Since he came here he had become a lot more relaxed. His green hair had been braided to one side with mental loops holding the style together.
It was a symbol of a warrior for the Tulk something that Sora had adapted to and worn proudly. You could only get a hairstyle like this for massive contributions as a warrior. In a way, it was a badge of honour.
The fight had finished after a cup of teas time and we were finally able to approach. The whole area was fraught with various pot holes after their battle which Heyu would have to fix. It seemed Heyu was always cleaning up after Sora's messes.
" Did you see that he was like whoosh and then she was like yahhh!" Kibbles said as his fists clenched.
" I am glad you had fun watching," Yulu said as she walked up to Kibbles.
Sora approached me and nodded before he brushed some hair out of my face and pulled out a piece of dirt.
" Sorry, we should be a bit more careful," Sora said with a sigh.
"You are okay," I said shortly.
Sora and I's relationship had been a little strained the last few months. It was getting closer to the day when we would all have to decide what we wanted to do when it came to Tama and Vance.
We had been arguing on and off and sometimes even used our fists. It had almost been four years since I had recounted everything to my friends. They had all decided to stay by my side but as for following my plans for Vance and Tama. No one besides Loki had given me an answer.
I smiled at Sora wondering if we would once again become enemies in future and an uneasiness had piled up inside my chest.
" Kibbles and I are going to play for a while. You two have fun!" Yulu said as if reading the tense atmosphere.
[ Don't beat her up too badly! ]
" I won't !" Kibbles said telepathically.
" So what are you here for Yu?" Sora said as he scratched the back of his head. I couldn't help but look down at his figure for a moment before I stopped myself. His sweat covered pose reminded me of a modelling shoot.
Sora coughed as he started to walk towards a resting area.
" You coming?" Sora said with an embarrassed look on his face.
" It's your fault for not wearing a shirt, I wonder how Yulu feels being stuck around you when you hunt." I retorted.
" I wear my shirt when we hunt," Sora said a step away from me.
" I am sure you do, hunting party leader," I said sarcastically.
" Yu…" Sora said as he let out some air.
As we sat down at the resting area Sora took a sip of some fluids from his drinking skin before offering me some. I took a sip and let the fruit juice slide down my throat.
" Dragon nettle? Not bad!" I said with a smile.
" Mm Loki and your mother made it for us so we can get.. Uh.." Sora said as he thought out loud.
"Electrolytes?" I said finishing his sentence.
" Mm! That's the one! You and Loki are full of weird words," Sora said as he shook his head and took the skin back.
" So.." Sora said as he stretched out and relaxed.
" I am here because I have a favour to ask" I replied.
" Oh.. I see and this favour is?" Sora said with his eyes slightly widening in surprise.
" Kibbles and I are trying to work on a combo ability.. But we need a special type of wood that had an interesting reaction to fire. We thought you may have an idea since you have explored this place the most" I said as I stretched my shoulders.
" So you want to burn the wood or you want something cool to happen?" Sora replied in a questioning tone.
" Something that would be useful for battle either is fine," I said after a moment.
" Battle huh?" Sora said as he bit his lip.
" Can we just.. Have one conversation that doesn't end in Tama and Vance." I responded flatly.
" But your adulthood ceremony is next month and so is the end of your punishment," Sora said slightly annoyed.
" So you would rather all of us go back to being enemies?" I responded.
" No.. Yuki I..just want all of us to be safe and happy. Can't you at least.. Think about just going back and not doing whatever plan you have?" Sora said as he grabbed my hand.
His clear eyes and intentions had struck a chord with me but his approach of just closing his eyes and just hoping that it all goes away had always bothered me.
" What if we go back and we are at war?" I replied in a frustrated tone.
" Then.. we come back here!" Sora said nodding his head.
" My father and grandfather… they need me" I responded.
" Then we get them and then come back here. It's not like anyone else wants to leave this place. Even Nathan is happy here and it's his father on the throne" Sora replied as he gripped my hand tighter.
" Can we just talk about a wood or plant that I can use for the combo ability please?" I said stopping the conversation.
Sora looked at me and sighed.
I didn't want yet another argument with Sora. We may have disagreements but I really do care about him. I guess if we didn't fight and he just left it would have been much worse for me.
Sora and I ended up finally deciding on a plan for finding a good material. Next hunt he would take Kibbles along with him test different materials. I was grateful that Sora wouldn't abandon me and happy that we left each other on a good note.
Kibbles and Yulu came back at this time and I patted Sora on his head before saying goodbye to the pair and leaving with Kibbles.
" How did it go?" Kibbles said nervously as we left.
" Better today than last time" I replied.
" We are going to visit Heyu next and finally my mother," I said changing the conversation.
Kibbles beamed as he once again wrapped his arm around me.
I was grateful to Kibbles.
Since we had been together for so long he was able to give me some space when I needed it. Our next stop was the forge a place where Heyu had learned to build swords and farming supplies!