Chapter 11 - Mysterious Quest Finally, a owl?

The boys continued their search for the Hana flower. As they traversed the rocky terrain, Ayumu marveled at the unexpected sight of natural springs dotting the area.

"Wow, I didn't expect to find water up here," Ayumu remarked, his voice tinged with awe.

"Although I knew some water was gonna be up here, I didn't expect all of this."

"Yeah, it's pretty surprising," Taro agreed, crouching to touch the water. "The flower we're looking for must be around here somewhere," he exclaimed.

Kenji nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Let's keep moving. If there's water, there might be more flowers nearby."

So far, the boys have been observing the many flowers and plants in the field but haven't had any luck finding the one they were looking for. Most of the flowers they observed showed signs of being dead already due to the weather change.

"You said it was supposed to be pink right" asked Ayumu, not finding anything of the nature causing him to question Kenji, thinking maybe he got the appearance wrong.

"Yeah, I'm sure of it," he responded confidently. He reached into one of his pockets and brought out a piece of paper. Then, walking near Ayumu, he tried to hand him the paper, which Ayumu reached out grabbing it from his hand.

Looking at the drawing, Kenji compared it to some flowers he had seen before. "This looks almost like a pink version of a sunflower, but it's probably a lot smaller to fit in Hana's hair," he thought. The picture reminded him of one of the popular flowers you might gift a special lady. He then handed the picture back to Kenji.

As they continued their search, the boys noticed small, desperate animal-like sounds, as if pleading for help. Ayumu convinced them to follow the sounds, which grew louder and louder.

"Hey, look at that," Ayumu said, pointing to the owl. "It looks like it's hurt."

Kenji and Taro looked in the direction of the owl.

Ayumu nodded but couldn't ignore the distressed creature. "You guys keep looking," he said, approaching the owl slowly. "I'll see what's wrong."

Ayumu stepped forward, getting closer to the owl. The owl's eyes were wide with fear, and it flapped its wings weakly as Ayumu neared. He extended his hand gently, trying to calm the small creature. "It's okay, little guy," he whispered. "I'm here to help."

His attempts didn't do much to calm the owl as it continued flapping its wings, moving irregularly on the ground. Ayumu kept trying to win the creature over.

At first, the owl was scared, its tiny body trembling, but Ayumu's calm demeanor and soothing voice began to have an effect. The owl gradually started to settle down, its frantic movements easing.

'He's really small, must still be growing. Usually, they are a lot bigger. It looks like it was bitten near its right leg and injured over its shoulder, maybe due to crashing,' Ayumu thought.

Ayumu carefully examined the owl and noticed that one of its wings appeared to be injured.

"It's hurt pretty bad," Ayumu said softly, looking back at his friends, who were looking around. 

Kenji and Taro nodded absentmindedly, their focus still on finding the flower. Ayumu knew he had to be careful and compassionate, hoping to bring some relief to the small, wounded creature.

Seeing the owl looking at him friendly, Ayumu decided to take it home. He gently scooped up the small owl, cradling it in his arms. The owl flinched slightly but didn't resist much, seemingly sensing that Ayumu meant no harm.

"We can't just leave it here," Ayumu said, looking at his friends who had paused to watch. "It won't survive on its own."

Kenji and Taro exchanged glances but nodded in agreement. "Alright, but we still need to find that flower," Kenji reminded them.

"I know," Ayumu replied, carefully adjusting his hold on the owl. "Let's just be quick about it, it's getting late."

The boys resumed their search, moving through the rocky terrain with another creature in tow. Ayumu kept the owl close to his chest, careful not to jostle it, feeling a sense of connection with the small creature.

As they walked, Ayumu occasionally glanced down at the owl, which had started to relax in his arms. Its eyes, once wide with fear, now seemed calmer, and its breathing had steadied. "Hang in there, little guy," Ayumu whispered.

Suddenly, Taro froze, his eyes widening in alarm. "Guys, look out!" he shouted, pointing to a slithering figure emerging from the field, coming out of a crevice in the ground. Taro's shouts made Ayumu and Kenji alert, snapping their heads in the direction he pointed.

A large snake, its scales glinting menacingly in the sunlight, slithered toward them. The snake appeared to be around 4 meters long, with a head much wider than its body.

"Run!" shouted Ayumu, his voice more urgent than usual, clutching the object in his hands tighter.

The boys began to run, their footsteps pounding against the ground, but the snake was still catching up. Out of the corner of his eye, Ayumu saw that Taro was falling behind, his exhaustion evident in his slowing pace.

'If things keep going like this, Taro might get caught,' he thought. Shifting the owl into his left hand, Ayumu reached into his small ninja bag. His heart raced as he fumbled for his kunai, his hands shaking with nervousness. "Watch out, Taro!" he yelled, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.

With a surge of adrenaline, Ayumu took a deep breath, turned around, and focused on the snake. Summoning all his courage, he threw one of his practice kunai with all his might. The weapon flew through the air, narrowly missing the snake by a few inches. The snake hissed angrily, shifting its attention to Ayumu.

Determined not to give up, Ayumu quickly grabbed another kunai from his side. His hands were shaking, but he steadied his grip and aimed carefully. He threw it again with all the strength he could muster, but once more, the kunai missed its mark, landing harmlessly on the ground.

Desperation began to creep in as he realized the gravity of the situation. He couldn't let the snake get any closer. Trying to gather his wits, he acted quickly.

He grabbed and threw his last kunai, hoping this time it would find its mark. His aim was true, and the kunai struck the snake, causing it to recoil in pain. The sharp blade embedded itself just below the snake's head on the right side. The creature let out an angry hiss, writhing in agony. Ayumu's heart pounded as he watched the snake's movements, ready to react if it decided to strike again.

For a moment, the snake seemed to consider its next move, its eyes locked onto Ayumu with a mix of fury and wariness. The boys held their breath, waiting to see if it would attack or retreat. Finally, the snake slithered away, disappearing into the sand, its body moving in a serpentine motion as it fled the scene.

The boys stood in stunned silence, their breaths coming in short, rapid bursts. Ayumu's hands were still shaking, but a wave of relief washed over him as he realized they were safe, at least for now.

Taro, still catching his breath, looked at Ayumu with wide eyes. "Thanks, Ayumu. That was close."

Kenji nodded, his expression mixed with relief. "That was really insane."

Ayumu managed a shaky smile, his heart still pounding. "Let's just find this flower and get out of here," he said, his voice steadying.

'Who knows what would happen if one of us got bitten by that snake? It's most likely poisonous,' thought Ayumu.

The boys resumed their search, knowing they had to be cautious after the encounter with the snake. The tension from their earlier scare still lingered in the air, making every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs seem more ominous than before.

It was getting late, and Taro grew increasingly frustrated, knowing that in around two hours it would be dark due to it being winter. The cold was starting to seep through their layers of clothing, adding to the urgency of their task. "Let me see that picture again," he said, his impatience evident, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on him.

Kenji took the picture out and laid it on the ground. The boys all gathered around to look at it, their breaths visible in the chilled air as they huddled close. The drawing was detailed, showing a rare flower they were desperately trying to find. While they were examining the drawing, the owl in Ayumu's hands began to make sounds, its distress catching their attention and breaking their concentration.

They tried to figure out what the owl was reacting to. "Maybe it's seen the flower before," said Ayumu, thinking that might be the case. The owl's behavior was unusual, and its agitation seemed to signal something important.

Causing Ayumu to attempt pointing the owl in different directions, with the owl making noise when he pointed it north.

"I mean, this might be our best chance unless you guys want to come looking another day," said Ayumu, trying to convince them.

Kenji reluctantly agreed, saying, "I guess." Taro also nodded in agreement.

Intrigued by the owl's reaction, the boys decided to follow its guidance and headed north. The terrain became increasingly rugged as they moved forward, with the rocky landscape giving way to a dense thicket of trees and shrubs.

After a while, they came across the entrance to a cave, partially hidden by overgrown vines and foliage. The owl's distress seemed to lessen as they approached the cave, giving Ayumu a sense of reassurance. "It looks like this might be the place," he said, looking back at his friends.

Kenji and Taro nodded, their faces a mix of curiosity and determination. "Let's check it out," Kenji urged, stepping forward with newfound confidence. The boys carefully made their way into the cave, the dim light casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Inside, the air was cool and damp, with the sound of dripping water echoing through the cavern. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they noticed a faint, distinct shape deeper within the cave. Ayumu, still cradling the owl, led the way, his heart pounding with anticipation.

They navigated through the narrow passage, the faint glow growing brighter with each step. Finally, they entered a larger chamber, and there, in the center, was the elusive Hana flower. The flower wasn't glowing, but its distinct pink petals stood out vividly against the dark cave walls, casting a magical ambiance throughout the cave.

The boys stared in awe at the beautiful flower, their earlier hardships momentarily forgotten. "We found it," Taro whispered, his voice filled with wonder. "We actually found it."

Kenji grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "This is perfect. Hana will love it."

Ayumu looked down at the owl, grateful for its guidance. "Thank you, little guy," he said softly, watching as the owl blinked up at him, seemingly accepting Ayumu's gratitude.

With the Hana flower in their possession, the boys knew they had accomplished their mission. They carefully picked the flower, ensuring not to damage its delicate petals, and began their journey back to the village. As they emerged from the cave, the setting sun cast a warm glow over the landscape, signaling the end of their adventurous day.

"We did it," Kenji said, pride swelling in his chest. "We actually did it."

Ayumu and Taro nodded in agreement, their faces beaming with satisfaction. The boys made their way back home, with Kenji carrying the flower and Ayumu holding the owl he found.