[Pinkie]

Mizuki ran through the trees. He almost felt free as his braid bounced on his chest with each step he took. By the time he had stopped running his breathing was heavy and the trees began to part ways. Looking aorund he turned his direction and this time walked in a fast motion. Jumping over a log he continued on his way.

The day was growing dim and he needed to stop for the night. But doing so out in the open was not the smartest thing. Walking late into the night he finaly found a cave and gave a tired smile. Walking in he went right to the back the crystal around his neck the only soft light. Purching up on a wall he held his staff to his chest so it rested on the wall behind him. Closing his eyes Mizuki meditated for the first time in a while.

Mizuki awoke with a start. There was no slow waking it was just a jump from one to the other. Standing with his staff Mizuki headed for the mouth of the cave. There he stood looking at the sun just starting to poke over the horizion painting the sky with oranges and soft purples. Mizuki smiled it was a great day to travel.

Taking pace he began the long walk to the eastern caves. Cutting through the trees Mizukis step faulted a little but he kept walking. Training his sences he heard the leaves in the trees behind him move a little the leaves falling to the forest floor below. Mizuki thought it strange for no wind was about him.

Walking ferther the leaves fell from each tree to the next and Mizuki had enough. Some one or something was fallowing him and has been now for the past four or five hours. He knew that what ever it was ment him no harm for if it did they would already of had a confrontation.

So Mizuki did the next best thing. Walking with his staff slightly raised he began a whisper of a chant in his native tongue. Then without warning he turned and shot something towards the trees above smiling when he heard a gasp. "Got you!" He said with a smile then gasped as the viens in the tree revealed what or should he say who was fallowing him.

Looking infront of him Mizuki growled and crossed his arms in anger "What the hell do you think you are doing all the way out here!?" He asked looking to Neimi who was tied up and struggeling. She stopped and looked at him "I ...fallowed you" She said with a sheepish grin.

"No really..." He said before waving his hands and giving a smile as the vines dropped her the two or so feet to the ground. Mizuki gave a snort of laughter as she groaned rubbing her back side. "What was going through your head?" He asked her. Neimi looked up "I heard you and Thalion talking" She said "I want to help!" She all but yelled and Mizuki sighed.

"You are just going to be in the way" He said so matter of factly and tilted his head a little as she stood and began yelling at him. "You and Thalion treat me the same! Always telling me what I can and cant do! I am not useless! I can help and do just as much as you to do!" He stopped and looked to her "I am not the usless member of the family...I can help to" She said lowering her head.

Mizuki almost felt bad for her...though he sighed "Did you at least bring something to protect yourself?" He asked and Neimi nodded motioning to the sword on her hip and the small sheild on her arm "You were in the armory again" He said with a frown "Thalion wont be happy when he finds out your gone" He said turning and starting to walk again. Neimi just shrugged and fallowed with a smile.

The rest of the day was eventful. They had almost reached the caves. He was shocked that Neimi did not protest how long or how far they walked. He was greatfull for that. Though now he was woundering if they should continue through the night. Reach the caves and start back to the first cave they reached to cut time in half.

"We are almost there...want to continue all the way' He asked the female behind him "I am getting tired...but we can continue I wont protest" She said almost happily. With that Mizuki stopped and looked to her. He himself could go a week without real substance just from the herbs that he had. So opening the pouch on his legs he took out a small bundle. It was the size of a berry and he passed it to her.

"Take this...its a combination of herbs that will keep you awake and aware until we can rest" He said taking one himself. Mizuki then turned and continued on his way.

A little while later Mizuki smiled as he noticed something. The ground was no longer a steady climbing slope but a steep cliff. Looking over he noticed the cave off to his left. "Even after all this time..." He said to himself as he headed for the cave. Taking the crystal off of his neck he placed it to dangle from the curl of his staff.

The crystal soon began to glow a soft lavender and he entered with Neimi behind him. They walked quite far into the darkness before Mizuki stopped. "Neimi...I must ask that what you see beyond this point is kept to only yourself" He said "You can not even tell Thalion" He said looking to her. When he got a nod he smiled and placed his hand on the wall to his right speaking softly.

Soon the wall fated and a brighter light then that of Mizukis crystal greeting them making them blink. Mizuki then smiled and stepped forward. Before him was a stream that flowed freely right through the mountain seeminly to come and go nowhere. That was not what cought Neimi's eye though. It was the scene before her.

Mizuki stepped forward and purred as he reached a hand out to the creature before him "There there little one" He said cooing softly "Its just me...its been awhile" He said rubbing the head of a griffen with a smile. Neimi stuttered "I-i-is tha-that a g-g-g" "Yes its a griffen" Mizuki said with a little but of laugher.

The creature was tall with the head of an eagle along with wings but the base of a lion paws included. "But...myth" She said and Mizuki laughed 'Oh my no. Never. They do excist...or should I say did" Mizuki said turning to the beast with a smile "Raiya here is the last of her kind" He said sadly touching the beak of the beast. "I keep her safe hidden here and in turn she guards these" He said motioning a hand to the pond.

There in the water was different crystals of shapes, sizes and colors. Walking over to the side Mizuki took everything off besides his pants and walked over to the pool. With a smile to Neimi he turned and dived into the seeminly shallow water. Though the water was deeper then she thought as she yelled out his name and took a step forward.

Mizukis head pooped up out of the water and he swam to the edge with a smile "Sorry couldnt help my self" He said with a smile. He then placed what he was holding in his hand on the shore line. A small red crystal the size of his laid among three that were light blue, one that was dark blue, another was yellow and the last was pitch black. "That should do" He said with a smile.

With the protection they had they stayed for the night. It was decided when Neimi fell asleep curled up and into Raiya with the beast rapped around her as well. Mizuki smiled and joined them for the night with out a worry.

The next morning Mizuki awoke at the same time as usual and smiled as he got the same reply as usual while trying to wake the other beside him. Neimi was just like Thalion. When she was finaly awake Mizuki was already dressed and waiting. "Take care dear" He said to Raiya as he kissed her beak and left the cave once more ignoring the whine the beast gave.

The trip back was peaceful. Stopping for the night at the back of the first cave Mizuki stretched. They had made good time and no trouble he was glad. His muscles were sore but non the less he needed to move. He had to get home to Thalion. With that thought his meditation began.

Mizuki awake in the morning when the suns raise began to light the cave. He stretched and looked about. Neimi was already awake stretching before him with a yawn "Come on we have a days travel till home" He said with a smile and she nodded.

Leaving the cave they began walking through the trees neither saying anything just enjoying the slight breeze that brushed past them. Mizuki didnt notice how long they had walked until he looked up and noticed the begining of the sunset the sky a dark red.

The color gave Mizuki a shiver. It was said that red skies been blood has been shed or would be that night. He was glad that they were almost back. Soon the trees parted and the all to well mountain side became visable. But then Mizuki stopped dead in his tracks. Taking a hold of Neimi he covered her mouth and drug her into the under brush as she began to speak. "Shhhhh..." Mizuki said into her ear as he peered out through the leaves of the bush.

Before him three men on horses walked slowly down the path before the mountain face one of them speaking "Man I cant believe Luna has us on patrol" The male said and Mizuki stopped dead. Patrol that ment that the camp was very close. "I know....she still has hopes on finding the general" He heard last before they departed into the trees once more.

Mizuki staid where he was but he removed his hand from Neimis mouth. After a moment or two they slowly crept to the gate and silently he gave a low whistle and slipped in unoticed with the gate closing behind them. That was a little to close. He needed to tell Thalion. Looking to Neimi he smiled "I would go home before Thalion finds you" He said before walking away heading home himself with a smile as Neimi ran past him sword clinking at her hip.

Mizuki walked into all to well knowen house. Looking around he noticed that he was alone. Placing everything off to the side he flopped back onto the bed with a sigh before letting his hair down. With the smell of Thalion around him he soon dozed off. It had been 5 days since he left and 5 days since he slept.