THE MISSING EMPEROR ~ The Elemental Seven Book I

CHAPTER IX: BACK TO LASCAUX

Myoku and Soujiro halted when they saw a hanging bridge they need to cross. Soujiro looked at Myoku and thought to himself, She's been very quiet since we left the river. I wonder why. Myoku stared at the hanging bridge. "I have a bad feeling about this." she said. She closed her eyes and concentrated to activate the Ryuugan. Myoku's eyes turned from blue green to light brown sclera, dark brown iris with scarlet pupil and stared hard on the bridge. Suddenly, she fell on her knees, panting.

"What's wrong?" Soujiro asked. "This isn't right." Myoku said, her head down. "Uhm... yeah. That's why it's wrong. Come on, Myoku, this is no time for sloppy jokes." Soujiro said a little irritated. "Right. Right." Myoku said panting heavily. "It won't be good if we cross that bridge." she said. "Al~right. Do we have an alternate route, then?" Soujiro asked. "We have to up our speed." Myoku told Soujiro who's totally worried. Never had he seen Myoku this serious. "Right. Right!" she looked to her right. "Right. So which way do we go?" Soujiro asked. Myoku looked at Soujiro, then said, "TO. THE. RIGHT." she pointed to her right. "Oh. Right. That's what you said, right?" Soujiro said, confused. "Right! So, shall we go?" Myoku said as she stood. "RIGHT!" Soujiro said. They vanished as their trails show they sprinted to the right, a longer route to Lascaux.

It took Myoku & Soujiro a couple of hours to reach Lascaux beach which will take ordinary folks three days on foot. Myoku went inside River's ice tent but he was no longer there. Soujiro stayed outside while Myoku went inside Cray's tent. Fortunately, Cray was there. "Cray!" Myoku hugged her friend, thankful that she's unharmed. "YOU'RE BACK!" Cray exclaimed. "Thank goodness you're alright! Where are the others?" Myoku asked. "Oh, River left us a note saying that he's going to LaMahaya and will be back in a few days." Cray said. "I see. You're alone?" Myoku asked. "Hope is here. Hope has Kimbro. Not alone, sillies." Hope suddenly appeared behind Myoku holding a very cuddly puppy. Cray turned around and smiled at Hope. "Well, I guess not!" she said. "Hello, Hope and... Did you say the name is Kimbro?" Myoku said. "Isn't he cute?" Cray asked. "Yeah." Myoku said as she hugged Hope. "It's good to know you're here, too, Hope!" Kimbro barked at Myoku as if telling her that he's there. "Woof! I mean, whoa! Nice doggie. So, uhm. Who's dog is that?" Myoku asked. "Hope's new puppy. HE'S SO ADORABLE!" Cray replied then started mumbling random gibberish while petting the puppy. Myoku talked to the dog doing a handshake with its front paw. "I have a friend outside. I'd like you both to meet him." she told Cray. 

They all went outside to meet Soujiro and found him waiting under the palm tree beside River's ice hut. "Is everyone okay?" Soujiro asked Myoku. "So far." Myoku replied. "Cray, Hope. This is Soujiro. Soujiro, Cray and Hope. And Kimbro." Cray poked Soujiro in his shoulder. "Hi there." she said sweetly. "Pleased to meet you." Soujiro replied. "Where's River?" he asked Cray. Cray waved her hand dismissively. "River is probably out having an affair with a squirrel or something." she said. Myoku suddenly stared at the clouds. "Could that be the reason why the jade stone says he's in danger?" she said with a little worried. Soujiro snapped at Myoku. "MYOKU!! Dismiss that thought this instant, will you?" he said. "Kay, kay!" Myoku said with a grin. Soujiro sighed and said, "Really now, Miss Cray. Where did he go?" Cray sighs and sits under the tree. "Oh well, Hope says he's going somewhere and has something to do in LaMahaya before he left, but I didn't really peer much into it." 

Myoku told Cray about what happened during her mission with Soujiro and how Soujiro and River met, almost killing each other. Cray, in turn, told Myoku their travel after they left the forest, how they got to Lascaux and where they bought their supplies. While they were all talking with each other, an ice wolf slowly formed in the ocean holding a piece of paper in its mouth. The paper is very much dry that makes Soujiro wonder how it could possibly be. Myoku and Cray just stared calmly as they have already seen this technique before. River's power, Myoku told herself. Hope, holding Kimbro, approached the wolf without fear nor hesitation. It would seem as though seeing an ice wolf is just an everyday sight for her. "HI WOLFIE!" she said then took the paper. "THANKS WOLFIE!" she pats the ice wolf's head then it shattered the moment Hope took the paper. "EH? BYE BYE WOLFIE!" Hope said. She turned to Myoku, Soujiro and Cray, looked at them innocently. She opened the letter and read it aloud. "Royal Letter addressed to Misses Hope, Myoku, Cray, and Sir Soujiro." Hope read aloud. "HOPE IS NOT YET MARRIED, YA KNOW!" she yelled. "I think the letter meant misses, like not just one miss." Myoku explained. But Hope just ignored Myoku.

"SALUTATIOOOOONS!" Hope performs a hand salute and started reading the letter using a German-like accent.

"My condo-la-can't-pronounce-it vor invormeeing you of zees news. Lord Skye, wait, like the bright, blue sky? Anyway, Lord Skye Wolfert has disappooped. Vith vis, zhe leaders of Ainsworth and Leatherwood 'ave held long debates with Wolfert's Council, and decided blah blah blahhhhhh, action must be taken. Like, boom-boom gun!? You are invited to eettend a Ball in Honor of hees new highneeess River, oooh, mein friend! So... He being crowned Emperor. Also your asseestence in finding hees majesty's father would be most appre-can't pronounce it as zee crowning vill take place on July 8th of hees highness' birthday. You are to arrive promptly on June 8 IN TWO DAYS. WHOA. Better get ready. Your attendance is much appre-can't say zhe word. Sincereleleleley, Lord Leg-grr-wut? Ainsworth"

"I guess this explains his thoughts." Cray said as she gets up. "I knew it! Something's definitely not right!" Myoku said. "Left?" Soujiro said trying to lighten the mood. Myoku glared at Soujiro. "Let's go everyone! We have to find Master River!" 

"A ball? Like, a bouncy ball? YAY! Fun fun fun with bouncy ball, Kimbro!" Hope said jumping excitedly. Kimbro barked.