Before Kamodichi realized it, the boy got a hold of the gun and it went off. The bullet hit the white mare in the buttocks. The horse whined and collapsed in pain knocking the kidnapper off. The boy was shaking and realized what he done. The kidnapper was struggling to get from under the weight of his horse.
Kamodichi took advantage of the man's struggle and pointed his sword at the him. Ataku just held her arm in pain trying to accept what happened to her. She was shook and all she could do was stand and stare at the madness. Was she scared? She didn't know how she felt. The man stared at the pointed end of Kamodichi's sword. "Why don't you kill me then" he said darkly. This caught Kamodichi off guard and the kidnapper magically appeared from under the horse and grinned. Out of panic Kamodichi had plunged his sword into the area between the kidnapper's neck and chest. The kidnapper hadn't realized that until it was too late. Blood from the area trickled down Kamodichi's sword. The kidnapper dropped to the ground, the weight of him nearly made Kamodichi drop the sword. He pulled out his weapon and hurried to Ataku. He removed her hand from her wound and looked at it. To him it looked like she was really shot. The wound was big and blood was flowing down, of course it ripped her outfit sleeve. "I'm sorry sir she's hurt because of me!" The boy wailed and started crying.
"Its OK, come on we just need to make her feel better" Kamodichi said. Ataku didn't say a word and he was worried about her. They had to get her wound checked before it would be infected or worse, she'd bleed to death. He put the boy on the horse first. He ripped a piece of clothing from the dead kidnapper and wrapped it around Ataku's arm. She winced when he tightened it. The cloth was totally drenched in her blood. He put Ataku on the horse and he galloped faster than before over the gray baron lands.
The gypsy woman saw them coming. She still held the sub she was given and her eyes widened with happiness to see her son. Kamodichi put the boy down, "I'm sorry ma'am I have to go. My friend is injured" he told her. "Wait!" She said as he was about to leave. Kamodichi stared at her. "For saving my son I will heal your friend" she said. Ataku looked at the woman with surprise. Ataku was helped off the horse and into the woman's care. "The irony is that you were hurt and not the young man who went to save my son" the woman said, her eyes were soft. "She helped save me mama, if she hadn't come and distracted the bad man then we would have been in trouble. I am so sorry you were hurt though" the boy said. The woman had wrapped cloth around her arm then smeared ointment and leaves then wrapped a new thin cloth around her arm. "That should make sure your blood clots and new skin develops" the woman nodded. "Thank you" Ataku said. "She should rest and take it easy so the wound can be healed" she told Kamodichi. Kamodichi nodded and took Ataku by the hand. Ataku looked at the woman and the boy. They looked abandoned out here in the market place. They sat down in the dirt and looked depressed. Ataku looked at Kamodichi with sympathy. Kamodichi noticed her sad gaze. "Do you two live alone" Kamodichi asked. "We don't live anywhere. We're kind of avoided, no one will take us and everywhere we go there is danger. The market is the only place we can get food" the woman looked at the ground in shame.
"How would you like to come live with us. We could use your healing services and of course cure Ataku's arm" Kamodichi offered. "I don't want to tread on your kindness. We won't be a burden for you" the woman said. The boy nodded, "We are forever in our debt to you" they said. Kamodichi put Ataku on the horse and pulled the horse by his reins. "Oh and here" they gave him his sub. Kamodichi totally forgot about it. He broke a piece off and handed it back to them. "Go ahead eat" Kamodichi said.
They were very surprised and took the food gratefully. Ataku still stayed quiet he looked at her, and couldn't help but worry.
