7 Returning to Gu City

Gu Long ran and ran. He lost track of time and only focused on running. When he came to his senses, he was in clearing deep in the forest. It had started raining. Thunder rumbled overhead as flashes of lightning reflected on the ground. His head was spinning and his thoughts were all jumbled. He felt a piercing sadness in his heart. He knelt on the ground, clenched his fists and screamed towards the sky.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The scream had an aura of pain and desolation. It came from deep within his heart. The birds nearby were scared and rapidly flapped their wings to fly away. Gu Long stayed there for hours. He cried until no more tears came out.

*Crack*

A twig broke. Gu Long stayed still with his head bowed.

*Crack*

Another twig broke. The creature approached Gu Long. It was a small, young lizard. It was pitch black in color and had azure blue eyes. It was slender and its scales gleamed with a blackish-blue luster. It looked up at Gu Long with longing and sadness in its eyes. It nudged its head against Gu Long's right knee. It looked up once again. Seeing that Gu Long still didn't react, it climbed onto Gu Long's body and snuggled into his neck. Gu Long, feeling something against his neck, moved to stand up and pull it off. The little lizard got startled and jumped off Gu Long. Gu Long sat back down. The little lizard turned around and looked alertly at Gu Long. They sat there looking into each other's eyes for a long time.

"You lost your parents too, didn't you?" Gu Long smiled sadly as he extended his arm to allow the little lizard to climb back onto him.

The little lizard scurried up Gu Long's arm and once again cuddled against his neck. Only then did Gu Long notice that the little lizard was trembling.

[Papa, Mama… where are you now?] A child's voice full of yearning said.

"Hmm? Who's there?" Gu Long stood up in alarm jostling the little lizard sniggling into his neck.

[Owie! Stop moving around so much!] The voice appeared again.

"What the..." Gu Long thought about the little lizard. "Is that you little one?"

[Yes. You know that you don't have to talk out loud to communicate with me. Just visualize pushing your thoughts to me and I will receive them. Isn't that cool!] The lizard said.

Gu Long was confused but he did as the little lizard told him.

[Hello...did you get it?]

[Yep. I got it.] It replied.

Gu Long's sorrow was alleviated a little with this encounter. He would have stayed in this place but he remembered what his parents had told him before he left them.

-'Gu Long, you are not allowed to stay. You have to run. Don't stop until you reach Gu City. Understood?'-

He knew he had to leave. Who knew if the Dark Soul was dead or not.

[Little one I have to leave now. Do you want to come with me?] Gu Long asked it.

]Yes. I would love to!] The lizard replied.

Gu Long then looked around himself.

"Where am I?"

Gu Long was lost.

[Little one. Do you know if there is a human settlement called Gu City around here?]

[Yes! It is about a one and a half days walk from here. It is in the west.]

Looking at the setting sun, Gu long determined which direction was west and ran towards it. Soon it became too dark to see anything. Gu Long had to stop. He bent down and put his hands on his knees.

"Are… we… close?" Gu Long panted, too tired to send a mental message.

[No. We have only traveled 5 kilometers. We still have to travel another 15 kilometers.]

Gu Long groaned.

[I think we should stop here. You have to rest.] The little lizard suggested.

Gu Long nodded.

He found a tree to lean on and rested his legs from the long run. That night he looked up at the sky and wondered if his parents were safe. He wished that they were but he knew the truth. Nobody could survive from an attack from such a monster. He cried silently, teardrops falling endlessly from his chubby face onto the ground. He wasn't the only one crying.

[My parents… they passed away. A bird found them and grabbed both of them. They told me to run, find a home and live a good life, but I wonder, where are they now? I… I miss them!] The little lizard sobbed.

Crystal clear tears slid down the little lizards face and onto Gu Long's robe.

[Little one, your parents will always be with you in your heart. As long as you don't forget them they will always be there.] Gu Long reassured the little lizard but he felt that he was comforting himself at the same time.

They cried deep into the dark night. Somewhere in between they both fell asleep and began dreaming about their parents.

----

The next day Gu Long and the little lizard woke up and started their long journey again. They traveled for hours and hours through the dense underbrush. Around midday they found the main road leading to Gu City. Of in the distance Gu Long could already see the tall walls of Gu City with the taller houses above them. He ran even faster trying to reach Gu City before nightfall. Even though he could see it, it was still quite far away. Along the road Gu Long passed some caravans and carriages of wealthy merchants. When Gu Long finally arrived before the walls, it was already sunset. The sun's light directly hit the white walls of the houses which made them glow with a holy light as the walls reflected the light back. All of this added to the ancient and majestic aura that the city had. They were like lanterns in the setting darkness. As Gu Long passed underneath the towering double doors in the walls he felt a strange sense of safety and comfort.

Gu Long had returned to Gu City.