13 Chapter 13 The journey back home

Finally morning came. I didn't get much sleep because I was worried about my uncle. "Cough Cough" I got up and got ready and everyone was looking at me worried. "You ok Lucia?" Said Grandpa. "Yeah. I couldn't sleep. How is uncle Zonan." "See for yourself." Uncle Zonan walked out of his room looking a lot better than he did and not dying. "How you feeling uncle?" I said worriedly. "Well kid. I'm not dying anymore. So that's good. Sorry I didn't tell you guys. I didn't want you to worry." He said scratching his head in embarrassment. "Hey its fine. If something happens like that again let us know Man. We are childhood friends dammit. You should tell us. We can help you through these things." Said Hunter. "Wow Hunter when did you get so wise?" Zonan said jokingly. Everyone started laughing.

"OK. Lucia your turn." said grandpa. "What do you mean my turn. I'm fine grandpa. I'm just tired. I didn't get much sleep." "Let me see your arms Lucia." "Oh. Yeah sure." He took off my gloves, and saw the scars I had on my arms from when I was kidnapped. "Wow kid. You have been through something huh?" "You should see my back and chest. They are worse for wear." "I see some new scars too." "Yeah I was using my powers to much. We went to Gypsy. She put ointment on my arms to help it. You should have seen it before. Any longer and I wouldn't have been able to keep my arms." "I see she gave you these gloves that's good." "Yeah. She is an interesting person." "Hahaha. Yeah she is. Hahah." Grandpa put his hands on my arms and healed the rest of the wound from being frozen. "Thanks grandpa" "OK you guys be careful out there. "We will thanks a lot grandpa." "Zonan! I would suggest you go see the village doctor to make sure it worked." "I was already planning on it. Thanks old man." "Yeah yeah." So we were off.

Then Zeno talked to Lucia's great grandpa and said, "Now that my mission is done, can I join them to make sure they get home? I'm kind of fond of that kid." "Now that your mission is done, you can do whatever you want." "Thank you sir." Zeno rushed off to the others.

Finally Zeno caught up to them. "Hey guys." Said Zeno. "Oh hey Zeno. What's up?" I said curiously. "Do you mind if I join you? The old man said I can do whatever I want now that my mission is done." "I don't have a problem with it." I said. Everyone agreed it would be ok so he joined us.

Walking down the mountain wasn't as bad as walking up. It was finally a relief. "Hey uncle? Are we going to train again on the way back home once we are off the mountain on flat land?" "Of course we are. We want to keep that mind sharp. Now that we have Zeno with us, you will have to learn not to attack him now." "Yeah probably a good Idea." I said scratching my head. I explained to Zeno what was going on because I saw his confused look. "Sorry. I know your confused. I recently found out I am a Nue. I found out after I was on my way home from being kidnapped all these years. Then I stayed with nice people. Smoker was the last one I stayed with. That was before I became one though." Smoker said, "Howdy. Nice to meet you Zeno." "You as well." So we walked on and enjoyed visiting with each other.

Back to the last monsters we went to before we got to he cave. We fought them off pretty easy with Zeno around. Then we fought monsters after monsters until we got to the first ones we fought. Which were Zeno's kind. "Hey Zeno? Are you going to be ok fighting them off?" "Yeah. They may be my kin but I can fight them off ok." "Alright thanks." So we fought them all and they retreated. So we thought. We were almost there when someone yelled my name. "Lucia! Look out!" said Zeno. It was too late I had been stabbed in the stomach. Zeno went off to defeat the one that stabbed me and the others ran to my side. "Hey kid! Hang in there! Your going to be ok!" said Smoker. The last thing I saw was everyone's worried faces including Zeno's.

Zonan was carrying Lucia until they were able to find a place on the mountain that was a little flatter. "Ah here we are." "Gypsy was right. We did need the medical supplies." Zonan and Zeno knew some first aid so they helped Lucia out. "Zeno. Hold this down so I can wrap him up." "Yes of course." Finally they did what the could and Archer said, "I can carry him in my Nue form like last time. I can get him to a village faster in my form." "I think that's best." Said Zonan. "Be careful. Hunter go with him just to be safe." "Yes sir. We will see you there." So he turned Nue and they rushed to the village.

Finally Archer and Hunter got to a village. The others weren't far behind either. They were already in their human form as to not frighten anyone. Aries was shouting for a healer, then someone came over to help. "Hello. I am a healer. What seems to be the problem?" said a woman. "My friend here has been stabbed in the stomach!" "Calm down. That's the best thing. I will take him and take care of him. If he doesn't get help soon, he will die." The healer took Lucia and brought him to the hospital. The others followed.

Once inside, everyone was told to wait outside in the other room, so they could help him. While they were waiting Zonan was getting anxious. "I need to go outside. I can't take this waiting. If I have to wait anymore I will burst into that room." "Just be careful Zonan." Said Smoker. "Remember. I know how you feel." "Yeah you do. Want to join me?" "Yeah I should." When Zeno was there no one was surprised because they knew him and there were others like him in the village as well.

Finally they were done working on Lucia and one of the healers came out. Archer shot up and said, "How is he? Is he going to be ok?" "Relax. He will be fine. Just needs to rest for a few hours. He will just have to be careful on his way back home not to reopen his wound." "Thank you so much healer." Said Hunter. "I will relay the message to the others. Can we go see him?" "Yes you can. Only 2 at a time for now." "Thanks again." Said Archer.

Zonan and Smoker came in and saw everyone relieved. "Is Lucia going to be ok?" Said Zonan. "Yes. He will be fine. He needs to rest for a few hours then we can head out. She said he has to be careful not to reopen his wound on the way back." Said Archer. "That's easier said than done." Said smoker. "I agree smoker" Said Zonan. "We will just have to find a way. I'm sure we can figure something out." Said Archer. "Can we go see the kid?" said Smoker. "Yeah only 2 at a time" Said Hunter. "We thought you two would be the best ones." "Thanks guys." Said Zonan. So they went to Lucia's room.

Lucia was already awake and waiting for Zonan and Smoker. "Hey Zonan and Smoker." I said Weakly. "Hey kid. How you feeling?" "Like Hell. Like I've been stabbed by a sword." I tried to sit up "Ow. That hurts!" "Here let me help you kid." Said Smoker. "Thanks." "Much better. Thanks." "How is everyone? Are they ok?" "Yeah they are out there wondering how you are." "You should have seen how worried Zeno was. He looked like someone who had a hurt brother." " Ha. I figured as much. He has grown fond of me I see. Hey Zonan? If I do stay at the village will it be ok if he wanted to if Zeno stayed?" "Yeah that would be fine. Everyone there knows him as well." "That's good." Lucia went back to sleep. "Poor kid. I just hope we have an ok way back." "Its probably a mixture of relief like Neve had after her Quest and his wound that made him tired." said Zonan. A few hours later, Lucia was able to get going back home.