They headed up to the mountains as soon as the sun rose, consuming only a light breakfast prior to moving out. Acting on Hunter's orders, two of his men, Damos and Tizo stayed behind to watch over the camp.
As they navigated through the dense mountain forest, Hunter noticed that Saki had a walking stick with her. However, instead of simply using the stick to lean on for support like other hikers would do, Saki would use her stick to tap on things on the ground and even on tree trunks. It reminded him of how blind people walk.
Hunter, as was his habit when meeting people, closely observed not just Saki but the rest of her team. While he was impressed by their teamwork on the simulation, he is unsure whether they would be competent enough when faced with real-life dangers.
Saki's team should be strong enough to protect her in times when he isn't there.
He paused on that thought and shrugged. He is already preparing to be Saki's protector and it seemed easier than he originally thought.
"She is essential to our plan, after all…" he assured himself as if convincing his own heart that THAT is the only reason for the direction his thoughts are going.
He looked at Saki who was walking ahead of him, nimbly clambering on a large tree root.
She stood on the root and looked back at him.
"Will you please stop looking at my ass?" she said with an arched eyebrow.
"I was looking at… I was... It was in my line of sight!" he stammered.
Her eyebrows remained raised.
He averted his gaze and looked at Saki's men while climbing to where she was.
Their movements were fast and steady. With the exception of Jiro and Jake who are visibly panting and are lagging behind, the four moved as if choreographed. Milo and Earl are moving almost shoulder to shoulder and are always ready to hoist Frank and Kazuki up those hard to reach areas.
Hunter noted that the large trees of the forest are standing on top of broken stone structures as if the mountain was once a colossal old building. Traces of masonry work are present on the stones and it made their journey a little easier. The ground is slowly but steadily rising as they go. Moss-covered tree branches cover the ground but upon closer inspection, he noticed that some 'branches' have fingers on them.
He decided not to tell Saki his observation.
"Wait up!" Jiro shouted as soon as he and Saki caught up to the four on top of a flat stone surface big enough to host a small party.
Frank was tossing a big water bottle to Saki as Hunter hoisted himself up. He noticed that no one offered him a hand. The gaze they exchanged with Saki also did not go unnoticed. He did not see her face but he instinctively knew she was grinning.
He offered his hand to Jake as the other extended his hand to them. Jiro was behind him and was waving them to go ahead as he was still catching his breath.
Milo laughed and jumped down to help him.
Saki, as Hunter was surveilling her team, surreptitiously glanced at Hunter's men. She knew that the black-garbed, unsmiling men are silently going through the forest with them albeit at a distance from the main group.
One, the lithe and agile guy, was ahead of the main group and she occasionally caught a glimpse of him several hundreds of meters in front of them.
Two are on each side of the group and the oldest, Hamarr, is bringing up the rear. She thought about bringing up her concern to Hunter about the oldest guy being behind but Hamarr's stony countenance showed just a few meters behind Jiro and she decided to keep silent.
This unsmiling man frightens her a little. Hunter's men seem to all have this barrier around them that is totally opposite their boss.
Hunter is a little warmer and on the rare occasion that he smiled, even looked handsome.
Just a little.
The 'road', if one can call it a road, came to a bend overlooking a big lake.
The lake was so big that the sky seemed to connect to the edges of the lake though its mirror-like surface. Saki and Hunter looked at each other and were on the verge of saying something but they instead looked away and pretended to gaze at the scenery.
"What a lovely view," a voice Saki did not recognize exclaimed.
She was surprised to find one of Hunter's men shyly grinning at her.
"Tam." The tall, black man offered his hand.
"Saki," she answered just as briefly but secretly warmed to this plain-looking but regal-bearing man.
If there was one thing in common about these intimidating men is that they all carry themselves like men accustomed to command. There was a certain air about them that very slightly radiates pride.
Saki didn't know whether to like that quality about them or not. She decided it didn't matter.
Tam nodded at her politely and went to Hunter.
They conferred for a while and from their agitated stance and gestures, Saki could see that Tam was telling Hunter something he didn't want to hear.
The other three from Hunter's team approached casually and Saki blinked to erase the sudden image she saw: figures of bright but indefinable shape swaying in the wind.
"Oi," Milo called the bright lights and Saki saw that they were just men.
Imposing figures, yes, but men all the same.
They turned to Milo and the old man named Hamarr winked at him like they're old friends.
They bumped fists and for the life of her, Saki couldn't shake the feeling that something big happened right then and there.
She looked if anybody noticed but everybody was busy looking at the spectacle in front of them.
A loon squawked somewhere and Saki was shaken out of her deep thoughts.
"We have to decide something…" Hunter began as he approached her.
She sat near the edge of a big rock overlooking the lake.
Hunter followed her and for a moment, they bathed in the glory of the scenery.
Their teams stopped and looked at the two figures sitting in front of them.
Nobody exchanged words but their gazes spoke volumes.
Hamarr and Milo looked at each other seriously before they turned their eyes to Hunter and Saki.
The two were sitting so close but not quite touching; the white clouds seemed so close to touch and framed them as if in a glorious God-made painting.
For everyone there, one thought crossed their minds: PEACE.
Everybody felt serene.
As if they were all immortals and this moment is going to stay forever.