Jigoku: The Unknown World

Chapter Eleven - The Town of Dokutsu

We ran through the woods as fast as we could. The trees were a blur as we ran, and the shouted only got louder and louder.

"What do you think that is?!" Bono shouted over his shoulder at the rest of us.

"It's human for sure." Kilik quietly responded. It felt like we would never reach the sound. The woods we were in were much bigger than it looked from that small dock. But as we ran we came to a clearing. Ducking below some bushes I set Azala down so she could sit.

"Ok, let's see what the screaming is." Kilik and Bono nodded at me. "One, two three!" The three of us peeked over. What we saw was actually a town. There was a giant well, and some shops were around it. There wasn't too many people, but there were a few in strange brown robes on their knees. They seemed to be praying, very loudly. There were three of them, their faces in the dirt and their voices almost seeming to be shouting at the ground as they prayed.

"There's monsters next to them!"

"What? Bono you're right! It's a small wolf and some bird thing."

"We have to help em kid, let's go!" With that the three of us were leaping over the bushes and drawing our weapons at the same time. The monsters were small for sure, the wolf looking like a baby. But, it was a monster no less. "Get back! Those monsters are gonna attack you!" Bono slammed his shield into the ground to try and scare the monsters away, but they didn't budge. The three robed men looked up, but not with concern or worry, but rather with anger.

"Hush, how dare you interrupt the daily prayer! Have you no faith?!" The middle figure got next to Bono like he was about to hit him.

"Well, no I- what?"

"Stop!" A booming voice shouted from a shop that was a ways from us. All of us including the three figures turned to see a very large man. He was huge, with muscles that were bigger than my whole body, as well as he was shirtless, and had thick red lines tattooed onto him that went down from under his eyes to his collar bone. The three figures got down on one knee as they looked up at the bear of a man and spoke in unison.

"Chief it is you! Forgive us, we were merely scolding these outsiders for interrupting the daily prayer!" The man walked up, a smile on his face the entire time, and pat one of the men on the head.

"Mark, hold your tongue. These are outsiders as you have said, but they are welcome here."

"But chief-" one of the other figures stuttered.

"No, Scott. I have seen these men in my visions."

"W- you did, chief?!"

"Yes my children. Now on your feet, and please show some respect to these sacred guests!" With his orders the men leaped to their feet, the one named Mark grabbing Bono's hand.

"Forgive me oh holy guest! If we had known who you were we would have welcomed you with open arms!"

"Please forgive our rudeness!" Bono took his hand back and stared at the one called Mark.

"Uh, no it's ok." The large man looked at me, his smile still there.

"Welcome, to Dokutsu! Please, gather your things and come with me to my house over this way." Taking an awkward glance at Bono and Kilik I sighed and went to help Azala back to her feet. As we followed the chief I saw no sign of the two little monsters.

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"Please, take a seat, you're guests after all! Here i'll get you something to drink!" The chief walked away out of sight, as the four of us sat down on small stools that were placed around a large wooden table in the center of a big room. The house was similar to the ones in Albion, though these ones were completely wood. In fact, I don't think I saw any stone, even the well was of wood. The chief came back with wooden cups filled with water, he handed one to each of us. "I see your friend is injured. If you would let me I could have her see our villages healer. She's very skilled."