Duality (A Rivalry)

Chapter 3

As the exam started Rin and Ankou had strings tied to each other. The strings were said to be from Zaano himself and would help them locate each other. Holly and Loxo were behind as Holly was there in case someone got injured and Loxo was their trapper. They all would be riding in a two-by-two formation with Rin and Ankou in the front and Loxo and Holly in the back. The first part of the exam was to survive a month in the mountainous forest.

" We should find a stream or river of some sort near some shelter. Or we could make our own." Rin would comment while brushing a tree branch out of his face. " Seems like a decent enough idea.. From one that came from you." Ankou would reply to Rin's comment. To this Holly would grumble knowing where this would most likely go. " Will you two behave for once?" She'd hiss at the two of them. Both just simply looked back then looked at each other glaring. Both would mutter in sync, " If he does."

The group would pull up on a dense part of the range with a river rushing through. As they all followed it upstream they'd run into a large enough tree they could use as a shelter. As they were settling down the sun was already down, and the moon was watching them. Rin and Ankou's mounts (Specks and Luna) would be combined in an oversized fluff ball at the base of the tree. Meanwhile, Rin and Ankou were sleeping on separate branches. Ankou on a mini blanket he packed with him, and Rin made a cloud like bed out of his ability controlling water vapor.

Loxo was currently setting traps all around them some in trees, some on the ground, others in the water. While he was doing this Holly was busy making sure she had everything she needed for the fifth time today. Loxo's and Holly's mounts (Nichi and Tiki) would either be perched to sleep or were hiding themselves in the underbrush. Although sooner or later everyone would go to sleep with one person awake at all times.

By the time it was the next day Rin who stayed up almost half the night was asleep while riding Specks. Ankou would be leading Specks as Rin was snoring along. In the back Holly and Loxo were chatting about their favorite bird and the characteristics of it. " I really like those really big ones with those thin wings." Loxo said. "Oh wait is it the ones that look like their fathers dipped out during their childhood?" Holly would question. "YA those ones I forgot their names." Loxo would laugh. "Don't worry so did I." Holly would start laughing aswell. The sound woke up Rin although he stayed laying down. But Ankou picked up on the fact Rin was awake and kept on giving him glares, till Rin picked himself up and took control of Specks.

"Morning potato sack." Ankou would be facing Rin. "Mornin'. " Rin would yawn at Ankou who grumbly looked at him before looking back at the path. Rin was still quite sleepy and would be just staring at the sky for a while as they traveled to their next location. Ankou would be looking around and look at every little noise that happened. He always seemed to expect a person to come out of nowhere. Rin would notice this and bonk Ankou who stopped, and he and Rin entered a battle of silence and glares. Holly and Loxo would be chatting still in the back on the bird topic.

" Ya and then it has like a 14-foot wingspan!" Holly and Loxo would continue with their conversation. "That's big." The two would be passively talking but kept their voices hushed so as to not give any hints to where they were. "They're a loud duo aren't they?" Rin would say to no one in particular, but Ankou would reply, "I'm surprised no one is following us yet with how they are." The forest wasn't exactly quiet either. The birds never seemed to notice the difference in the people coming through and the sounds of wildlife never seemed to stop.