Chapter 13

I woke up in bed, near a campsite. I see a fire blazing in front of me. I stand up, and when I do, I look at my arm to see myself in a cast well-wrapped.

"You're awake, that's good. I was afraid that if you didn't wake up we'd have to go back to the city." A boy of Krios's age replied.

"Thank you," I bowed as a simple gesture.

"No need to be formal, uh sorry your name?" The boy asked nervously.

"Tatsuya," I replied.

"What a pretty name," The boy exclaims with a toothy grin. Cute and silly. A banging sound filled the area.

"Well I am Ruki, and if you don't mind I have an issue to resolve, but feel free to wander around." Ruki chuckled, then he ran off to the wooded area, leaving the clear campgrounds. I started walking around, it was spotless, for guys at least. Can't say much for Ryoko. I chuckled at my statement. I wonder what happened to him and the others. Especially Kaida, I wonder if she is okay.

"Hey, you're awake!" another boy called out, running towards me.

"Akiko, slow down! You'll scare the poor girl!" Another boy yelled, running towards me as well. They both stopped in front of me. Initially, the boy who was running toward me first stopped right beside me. He had purple hair, blue eyes, and Vitiligo. The other boy that was trying to catch Akiko had green hair, red eyes, and a serious look on his face trying to catch his breath.

"Hi, I'm Akiko and this is Gurto," the boy claimed, pointing to the other boy still catching his breath.

"Hello, I'm Tatsuya.'' I greeted. They both smiled.

"How's your arm?" Gurto asked.

"It's getting better, thank you," I answered.

"Good to hear!" Gurto replied. Ruki walked out of the bushes holding Dalinda by the collar.

"Dalinda!" I sang out. Ruki set her down carefully; she ran towards me in the blink of an eye.

"You know this hatchling?" Gurto asked.

"She's my sister's," I replied, kneeling to pet Dalinda's head.

"Well, if she's yours, she just blew up our bounty-hunting gear," Ruki explained.

"I am so sorry," I apologized.

"No worries, we can get more back in town." He replied.

"By the way, I forgot to ask, where am I?" I questioned.

"Sky City, you're not from here right?" Akiko stated.

"No, carried by a hurricane," I responded.

"That's strange, but we need to head back now. Why don't you come with us, you can't stay here injured." He cautioned

"Thank you." I grinned.

......

I heard hooting noises and air being flung onto my face; my eyes opened to Fukuro flying over me. He landed next to me on the stack of hay I fell onto in an alleyway. Not a single scratch, just as it's supposed to be.

"Young man, get outta my hay!" An old man yelled. I jumped out and brushed the hay off my clothes. Fukuro landed on my shoulder; walking out of the alleyway I stopped in front of a fruit market stall.

"Excuse me, Madam, do you know where I am?" I asked.

"Well you're right here," she giggled.

"Sorry?" I stuttered

"I'm just playing with ya. You're in sky city, young fellow." She laughed

"Thank you. By the way, is there an inn near here?" I smiled.

"Yes, in fact, if you walk down that road and take a right, there's a great inn there." She explained.

"Thanks again," I replied.

"You're welcome and why do you take a few oranges? You seem a bit hungry." she offered.

"Thank you, but I need to look for my friends," I insisted.

"Alright, maybe another time. See you again young lad." The old woman replied and waved me goodbye. I was walking down the road, and the lady pointed toward me when I saw Ayla stumbling and clutching her backpack. I ran up to her side.

"Hey Krios, I finally found you," Alya weakly giggled. I promptly went to give her a little shoulder support.

"I found you, and it doesn't seem that your powers are working enough to heal you," I replied.

"Either way we need to find the others and the dragons." She stated.

"Not until your healed," I consoled

"But—," she only managed to say.

"No," I cut her off.

"Fine, where's the nearest inn?" She huffed.

"Down here," I pointed down the road.

"Good," she sighed

...

Once we reached the inn, I booked us a room. I set Ayla down on one of the beds and opened one of the small cabinets to get a first aid kit.

"We need to think of a plan to find everyone." She exclaimed

"Yes, but we need to pay for this inn," I chimed in as I disinfected her wounds.

"Then, how did you book us a room," She probed.

"I told the innkeeper, we would pay by the end of the week and a little extra, knowing that we would have to bring the rest of our group here," I stated while wrapping her leg

"Nice idea, one problem, we don't have a job to do, we have limited time for the portal to close," she ranted.

"Portal? What portal?" I asked.

"I am not from here and used a portal to get here. I am the new guardian. The Amulet is a fake, so we must find its shattered pieces. I got to stop the war and beat a god. While trying to get home in time." She quickly explained.

'All I have to do is stay with them until the end and it makes my job so much easier.'

"Wow, how are you not stressed," I asked in surprise.

"I haven't thought about that," she mumbled.

"Well, good luck to you, now we need to go out and find the rest of the team. However, I think I understand where you're headed." I said, patting her leg.

"Really!" She exclaimed.

"Yes, West element temple. I've been there before with my dad. I can help you get there," I suggested.

"That's sweet, but you don't have to. We have the map, remember?" She dismissed.

"True, but it would be nice to help and repay the favor." I insisted.

"How about this if the map has its unfortunate cause then you can help." She offered.

"That would be delightful." I complied

"Now onto the plan Y—" She started to say, standing up.

"Why plan Y and not A?" I blurted out, cutting her off.

"Plan A is too overused," she retorted.

"Plan Y, You spend the day searching for jobs, and I'll look for the rest of the group." She continued.

"Backup plan Z?" I chuckled.

"Very funny, we just follow the book till we find them. I guess; the book is magic, so why not." She addressed me.

"Alright then, I'll see you later," she announced, walking out the door.

"Don't get lost," I yelled to her out the window.

"As if," she scoffed and walked toward the busy city.