The sky above Kyoden had turned a washed-out grey when Okuta and Tari walked on beside the curving river. Quiet blanketed the valley, thick with tension - almost like nature paused mid-breath. Water whispered past stones, rustling now and then through gaps in the rock. From nearby shrubs, a hint of wild ginger floated by from time to time.
They stayed quiet for quite some time, neither saying a word.
Okuta moved forward, his pace calm - like someone familiar with every inch of ground beneath him. Boots pressed gently into wet earth, leaving faint prints behind. The fabric of his cloak swayed now and then as he advanced. A hand hung close to the hilt strapped at his side, not tense, just ready. He looked laid-back, sure, yet everything around him registered instantly.
Tari stayed close, moving step by step with him - now and then hopping a little since his shorter strides lagged behind. That deal they'd made before still buzzed inside, lifting his chest like warm air. It had been days since anything even sorta felt calm. Not perfect… but better.
Yet the feeling of being safe didn't last long.
Okuta spoke up first. "We can hear them moving nearer now."
Tari stiffened immediately. "Those footsteps? The ones you sensed earlier?"
"Yes. Three of them now."
The boy's throat closed up. "Three troops?"
"No. One soldier. Two trackers."
Tari swallowed hard. "Trackers? What does that mean?"
"It means they know how to follow trails even if the ground is covered in iron plates."
The boy's face paled. "So… they won't get lost?"
"No."
"And they won't stop?"
"No."
Tari wiped his hand over his face. "Man, this ain't good."
Okuta stayed quiet. Instead, he shifted the blade on his hip then kept moving forward.
Half a mile later, they came to a shaky bridge - just ropes and split bamboo stretched across a deep gap. Below, the fall would smash anyone to bits.
Tari eyed it nervously. "Is this the only way?"
"It is the fastest," Okuta said.
"What about the safest?"
Okuta stared at him, unimpressed. "It's the most secure option."
Tari sighed loudly. "I'm beginning to think you and 'safe' don't belong in the same sentence."
Even so, he trailed after Okuta when she walked onto the bridge. Each time someone moved, the ropes groaned - swaying a little above the steep drop. Tari gripped the rails tightly, creeping ahead slowly while whispering quiet prayers.
Midway through, Okuta froze out of nowhere.
Tari froze. "Why are we stopping?! Please don't tell me the bridge is about to snap!"
"Nah," Okuta replied. "Glance behind."
Tari spun around, while a chill shot through him.
Three shadowy forms showed up at the valley's edge way back - racing forward, almost like hounds tracking prey.
Tari whispered, "They're already here…"
Okuta stayed silent while he looked. His expression stayed flat, yet something flickered deep in his gaze - just like it always did when trouble was near.
"They will try to cross too," Tari said, voice shaking. "What do we do?"
"We reach the other side first."
"And then?"
Okuta kept walking calmly, "And then I make sure they can no longer follow."
Tari stood there clueless till they got off the bridge. No hesitation from Okuta - he dropped down right away, slicing a main rope clean through with one sharp move.
The bridge broke suddenly.
The wood boards creaked, bent out of shape, yet gave way suddenly - tumbling down the cliff with a thunderous bang that rippled across the hills like shouting.
Tari cried out while leaping backward.
Okuta rose, sliding his sword into place without hurry. So they'll need a different path
"That will slow them down, right?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"Depends."
"Depends on what?!"
"On how fast they can climb cliffs."
Tari groaned into his palms. "Why is my life like this?"
"Just keep going," Okuta muttered, stepping forward without waiting.
They moved farther into the woods, putting distance between themselves and the ruined bridge. Birds took off overhead once more - spooked by whatever was coming up from behind. Okuta's eyes flicked to the edges of the trail, checking tracks, mashed foliage, shifts in the breeze.
The quiet got thicker.
Suddenly, Tari whispered, "Okuta… why do you think they want me?"
"I told you---we find answers at the Silent Shrine."
"But what if the shrine can't help?"
"Then we will search another place."
"And if that place doesn't help---?"
Okuta shot him a sideways look. "Do you intend to worry your enemies into giving up, or do you plan to keep walking?"
Tari's lips pressed together. "My bad."
"No need for sorry," Okuta added more gently. "Fear talks. But fear doesn't lead."
The kid moved slower from then on - his steps softer, almost careful like he didn't want to stir the air.
---
Hours passed.
They moved up rough terrain, slipped between thick bushes, waded across two narrow creeks while avoiding an old camp once used by charcoal makers. No matter where they stepped, one thing stayed clear: it felt way too still. A sense of Red Scorpion loomed just beyond sight, like a dark line on the edge of the world.
By noon, they got to a steep, rocky area that looked out over flat land stretching far ahead.
Okuta raised a hand. "Stop."
Tari halted instantly. "What is it again?"
"Smoke."
"Where?"
Okuta gestured ahead. Over yonder, wisps of smoke curled up where they'd left behind. Yet nothing moved but the wind tugging at dust.
"Are those from houses?" Tari asked.
"No. Signal fires."
The boy's breath caught. "Signal? Like… telling others our direction?"
"Yes. They found the broken bridge and realized it was deliberate. Now they're calling for the hunt."
Tari's legs almost buckled. "Heavens above..."
"Don't panic yet," Okuta said, not unkindly. "As long as they don't know where we're heading, we stay ahead."
"But if they send more men…?"
"They will."
Tari looked at him sharply. "You sound too calm for someone being chased by an army."
Okuta shrugged. "If you panic too early, you waste energy."
"Okuta, please, which proverb is that one again?"
"Mine."
Tari let out a quick breath. That guy!
Yet just as he started grumbling once more, Okuta ducked down near some rocks arranged in a loose ring.
"Those prints..." he said quietly.
Tari dropped down next to him. "Whose tracks are those?"
Okuta drew a line in the dirt - a triangle dipped into a loop hugging one side.
"This is not a soldier's footprint," Okuta said. "It belongs to a scout… from the Red Scorpion Clan."
"A scout? Like… spy?"
"Yes. They searched this area recently."
Tari's skin tingled. "Just how new is this?"
Okuta stood slowly. "Very. Less than an hour."
The kid glanced sideways, scared. "So maybe they're nearby?"
"Yes."
"And we're out in the open!"
"Yes."
Tari stared at him. "Can you, for once, say something comforting?"
Okuta looked thoughtful. "The wind is nice."
"OKUTA!"
The swordsman stayed quiet. Yet his focus changed - senses now sharp, alert as an animal's. A light breath through his nose took in the scent. Because they'd brought dogs along
Tari froze. "Dogs? As in tracking dogs?"
"Yes. Trained ones."
"Then we're finished!"
"Nah," Okuta replied, cool-like. "More like a hassle than anything."
Tari groaned. "Everything is inconvenience to you."
The swordsman motioned for him to follow. "Come. We head toward the cedar ridge. Dogs lose scent near high sap."
"Are we sure of that?"
"I am."
Tari nodded quickly. "Then lead the way."
They hurried ahead to the edge, stepping into high meadows up to Tari's hips. Stems scraped against fabric noisily; even so, he attempted silence despite heavy breaths. Yet air came fast, hard, breaking the hush. Grass swished under quick steps while shadows stretched thin across ground.
Around ten minutes into the climb, Okuta quietly held up a hand. He wanted everyone to stop making noise.
Tari froze.
A soft noise floated by on the breeze.
A low bark.
Then another.
Tari whispered, "They reached the plains already…"
Okuta spoke quiet yet steady. "Gotta pick up speed," he said
"Should we run?"
"Not yet. Running leaves footprints deeper."
They started moving faster.
The dog started yelling more. It got way noisier.
Then closer.
Okuta seized Tari's wrist, yanking him hard to the left. "Move."
Tari tripped while chasing. "Hey - what's the plan now?"
"A place where dogs hesitate."
"Where---"
He hadn't even finished talking when they reached the rim of a steep, rocky gorge. Down below, a thin strip of water wound through the base - on either side, rough stone walls hung thick with wet black moss.
Tari blinked. "How will this help?"
Okuta pointed. "Dogs stop near the smell of shadow moss. It confuses their senses."
"Shadow moss? That black thing?"
"Yes."
"But---Okuta wait---how do you know this?"
"I've been hunted before."
Tari took a breath, finally getting why his buddy acted that way.
The dogs started barking once more - right nearby this time.
Okuta muttered, "Hold onto me."
Just as the kid started to speak, the fighter yanked him sideways - plunging into the gorge without slowing. One swift move, no warning.
They touched down soft, Okuta steady on her feet while Tari flopped hard. She moved quiet, him loud - dust kicked up where he fell instead of gliding like she did. Each step after was hers alone at first, then he crawled into rhythm, clumsy but trying.
"Oww! Warn me next time!"
"No time," Okuta muttered, pulling him up by the arm instead.
They squeezed close to the rocky wall, cloaked in dark moss. Cold dampness hung heavy in the space around them.
Above, the barks just quit - silence dropped in fast.
Tari clung to Okuta's cloak, eyes wide.
A moment passed... then silence fell
Boots.
Several pairs.
Hanging right over where they were tucked away.
Tari stopped breathing.
A rough shout rang out. "This is where the smell stops."
Another muttered, "They must be close. Spread out!"
The dogs whined, wouldn't move ahead.
The guys bickered briefly while steps cracked overhead.
Okuta shut his eyes, tuning in - not to what they said, but how far off they were, which direction, also the heaviness in every footfall.
The boots started to wear out after a while.
A long pause came next.
Tari spoke quietly, voice trembling - had they gone?
"Yeah," Okuta replied. "At least for the moment."
"For now?!"
"We move."
They moved up the ravine fast, then pushed on toward the cedar ridge - until a group of towering trees came into view, standing like columns above them. The breeze was sharp, making their needles whisper now and again.
Tari panted heavily. "This place is big."
"Yes," Okuta said. "But we're still not safe."
Tari's shoulders slumped. "I'm not sure I like this adventure anymore."
"You like it more than dying."
"…true."
Okuta adjusted his pack. "We will rest briefly. Then continue toward the Silent Shrine."
Tari plopped onto a rocky ledge, worn out. "Does that temple actually do anything?"
"Maybe."
"Only maybe?"
"Yes."
The boy threw his hands up. "Okuta, please, what kind of customer service is this?"
The swordsman brushed him off, then eased his sword out a bit - pausing to listen once more.
"There's space between us these days," he finally remarked.
Tari exhaled slowly - what a relief. "Finally," she whispered under her breath
"But they won't stop," Okuta added.
Tari tensed again. "What do you mean?"
Okuta stared at the open fields. His words came out soft - way too soft.
"The Red Scorpion Clan has tasted our trail. They will hunt us without rest. From now on, Tari…"
He swung around to look at the kid, his gaze hard like metal.
"…shadow will follow behind us wherever we go."
Tari shivered.
Okuta slid the blade into its scabbard.
"Welcome to the journey."