Land on the horizon! Minami territory
1502 Words
"How long before we get there?" Perros asked boredly.
"Argh... Can you stop asking that over and over again?" Marco was frustrated.
"It's annoying..." He added.
"You just have to...." Bruno was interrupted by Perros.
"FINALLY..." Perros exclaimed happily.
"LAND!" He added and ran to the bow, where he leaned closer to the land.
Everyone else looked out to the horizon and there was a large green island over the open sea. It looked nothing like Dorai territory.
"It looks very..." Bruno said.
"Greener." He added uncertainly.
"It's true. Minami territory is kind of a huge jungle..." Nazo explained.
"So, it's different than Dorai territory?" Perros asked.
"Yeah, even the temperature is different..." Cyra said.
"Now that you mention it, it's getting pretty hot..." Perros said, unbuttoning his shirt.
"And it's even harder to breathe." He added, putting his shirt away somewhere in the supplies.
"But you can't..." Perros interrupted Cyra.
"Let him be, he'll regret it later..." Nazo said and laughed subtly.
"Now, it's perfect." Perros said giving a thumbs up and a smile.
It didn't take long before they reached a small harbour at the edge of the territory. It wasn't even attached to a town. It was just the harbour.
"This is where you lived?" Perros asked mockingly.
"No, it's further away." Nazo said and looked at the jungle.
"All right! Then let's go visit your home village." Perros said and headed into the jungle.
"But you don't know where to go. I'll go first..." Nazo said.
"HEY!" Marco shouted.
Everyone turned to him. He looked scared.
"What is it, Marco?" Nazo asked.
"What about me?!" Marco asked gruffly.
"You can go back or..." Perros mused.
"Do whatever you want." He added and walked off into the jungle with everyone.
"I-I'll stay here... It is safer." Marco said quietly.
"Alright then!" Bruno called from the jungle.
Perros, Nazo, Cyra and Bruno then went into the dark jungle, while Marco and the animal companions stayed behind. They were walking along an overgrown path. It was blocked by lianas, bushes and other plants. After a while they came to a clearing in the jungle, and there was a massive tree in the middle of it.
"What a huge tree!" Perros said excitedly.
"How old is it?" Bruno asked.
"No one knows exactly how old it is, but it's been here a long time." Nazo explained, looking up at the tree's crown that stretched to the sky.
Perros approached the tree and touched it. He walked around it to get a closer look. Everyone else was looking around the clearing, not noticing that Perros was no longer there, gone. There was only a scream before he disappeared.
"Did you hear that?" Cyra asked.
"Perros?" Bruno shouted across the clearing.
"Where is he?" Nazo looked around.
Meanwhile, Perros was drawn in a hole that was right next to a giant tree. He was pulled through a tunnel under the tree that led deep into the ground.
"Ah!" Perros screamed as he was dragged deeper into the ground.
After a while, he was dropped off in front of some underground door. He didn't hesitate and opened them. Behind the door was a small underground town.
"WHAT?!" Perros exclaimed, his voice echoed through the whole complex.
"What are you doing here?" A voice said.
Perros looked around, but saw no one.
"I must be dreaming..." Perros mused.
"Hey! Down here..." A small animal-like creature called out. Perros hadn't noticed it because the creature was as tall as his knees.
"IT TALKS!" Perros was surprised.
"Of course I can speak. So again, what are you doing here and who are you?" The animal creature asked again.
Perros stepped closer to him and knelt down. He looked at him for a moment.
"Can you stop? It's making me uncomfortable." The creature looked back at Perros.
"Do you have a name?" Perros asked.
"I asked first!" The animal creature was angry.
"Sigh... Esco. Now answer me!" Esco got angry.
"Nice to meet you, Esco." Perros smiled.
"I am Perros, the man who will become Bandazai." He added and stood up.
"Answer me already!" Esco had no patience.
"Sorry.... I don't know." Perros said plainly.
"Eh?" Esco was surprised.
"What do you mean you don't know?" He added.
"I was walking around that huge tree above the ground, and then suddenly I was here." Perros explained.
Are you alone?" Esco asked.
"Here? Yes, but I have..." Perrose interrupted Esco.
"Don't tell me he's the chosen one..." Esco mused to himself.
"All right, come with me. You'll meet our leader." Esco said, taking Perros by the hand and heading into town.
When Perros arrived in the town, he noticed many different things. For example, the buildings were smaller, the streets were smaller as well, but the food in the stalls looked as good as elsewhere. And the townspeople looked at him with incomprehension.
"So, Esco... Are you a.... racoon?" Perros asked questioningly.
"For you... humans... Sigh." Esco said in annoyance.
"Yes, and many of the other townsfolk are animals as well." He added.
It wasn't long before they reached the main building where the leader resides.
"You may have to crouch to get inside." Esco suggested.
"Yeah..." Perros replied and crouched.
They passed through many rooms and halls until they reached the office of the leader.
"Sir!" Esco bowed.
Perros instinctively bowed as well. To avoid embarrassment.
The leader motioned with his hand for them to stand up. Perros looked at him. It was an owl with glasses. But its wings were broken. It looked old and tired.
"I've been waiting for you, Perros..." The leader said quietly.
"How do you know me?" Perros asked.
The owl smiled.
"Our leader knows everything!" Esco said proudly.
"You... are the one..." Owl said and slowly pointed at Perros.
"Me? Why?" Perros asked uncomprehendingly.
"It is said in the Old Book...." Owl said and walked over to the bookcase in the room.
"Esco... would you mind?" He added.
"The Old Book?" Perros asked.
"I have so many questions..." He thought to himself.
Back on the surface, Nazo, Bruno and Cyra were searching for Perros in the clearing.
"Nazo, Cyra, you lived here, have you any idea where he went?" Bruno asked as he searched the bushes.
"Belive it or not, but I can't think of any place..." Nazo said while trying to climb a tree.
"Me neither." Cyra responded.
"He must be here somewhere..." Bruno said and continued his search.
They were still looking around, but no place came to their mind.
"It is said that a man will come here... a human who will set us free." The owl explained while looking into the book.
"And that person is you..." He added, pointing at Perros.
"What exactly am I supposed to free you from?" Perros asked in disbelief.
"Esco, if you may..." The Owl said and sat down.
"Yes, sir!" Esco said and continued.
"The local gang has been oppressing us for many years now. We used to live on the surface like other creatures, but they drove us underground because we are weaker than them. At first they just wanted some tributes, but they started to pressure us..." He added.
"So you want me to take care of some bad guys?" Perros said it plainly.
"In short... yes." Esco replied.
"Now that you know why you're here. Are you capable of it?" Owl asked.
"Of course!" Perros smiled.
"Now... could you take me to the surface?" He added.
"Of course... Esco will accompany you on your return journey and beyond." The owl said and closed her eyes.
"If you say so, sir." Esco said and together he and Perros made their way back.
It didn't take them long before they reached the main door to the town.
"What is your job here anyway?" Perros asked as he walked through town.
"A new doctor, but we're short on guards, so I'm doing guard duty now." Esco said proudly.
"You know, we could use a doctor in our group." Perros smiled.
"Not now..." Esco dismissed Perros and they continued on.
Esco helped Perros get back to the surface.
"Perros!" Everyone was still trying to find him.
Bruno noticed something moving on the ground next to the tree. Esco climbed out of the hole.
"Oh, a raccoon." Bruno said it calmly.
But right after Esco, Perros popped up.
"Hey, guys!" Perros smiled.
"WHAT?!" Everyone was surprised.
"These are your friends?" Esco asked.
"Sorry for taking it without saying anything." He added.
"IT TALKS!" Everyone was surprised.
"Don't worry guys, he's our friend." Perros laughed.
He explained the situation and told them what he was entrusted with.
"I've heard stories about your kind." Nazo said calmly.
"Glad to hear that." Esco smiled.
"We need to take Cyra back and then get rid of those idiots..." Bruno said and looked her.
"Alright let's hurry then." Perros said and went on.
"But where to?" He added and laughed nervously.
"Sigh..." Everyone sounded and Nazo took the lead.
- Writer
