Enter The Ninjaverse

CHAPTER 31

"Nnyygghhh...."

Mage gently lifted his head up from the ground. As he did, he blinked his way into focus. He was inside a tent, one that had a small fire burning near him that was providing light to the room. Mage looked around the room, trying to discern his surroundings. As he sat up, he felt a blanket on top of him slide away.

"Where, am I...?" Mage slowly stood up, stretching his body out. In doing so, his foot kicked a small metal bucket with water in it, sloshing some out. The noise caused a man dressed in the slick purple and gray robes of the Mind Tribe to open up the flaps and step inside.

"Dragon Lord!" The man bowed quickly, "You're awake! That's wonderful."

"Heh, yep, I am!" Mage smiled to him, "Are, we in the Mind Tribe?"

"Yes sir!" The man lifted up from his bow, "You have been asleep for almost two days. The operation has been moved here, for the time being, after the destruction of the Summit."

"It... was destroyed?" Mage stepped towards him, testing his footing, "Where's everyone now?"

"In the War Tent, sir!" The man turned, "Come, I will lead you to them!"

"Thanks..." Mage trailed off as he groaned into a stretch, letting the man lead on. The two exited the tent, revealing it to be one in a long line of them. The tents looked relatively new, or at the very least polished. People, notably the guards from the Summit, were running about the dirt of the camp, getting various tasks done. Down the way, Mage could see a massive set of weapons being prepared, while the opposite direction yielded what looked to be a cooking area. The man led him straight through the tents towards the center of the camp.

As they passed more and more guards, Mage got a look around. Off in the distance, he could see the skull of an ancient beast the Mind Tribe called its home, said to have been slain by his grandfather and left there for the Mind Tribe to eternally ponder what beast was bold enough to stand against him. The camp was set up on the outskirts of their territory. From the sun, he guessed the main road they had been protecting was on the other side of the towers.

Finally, the two reached a massive green tent. As soon as they opened it, Mage recognized it instantly as a recreation of the planning room Lloyd and Harumi had constructed in the Summit. Around a makeshift table from barrels was Monty, standing with Lloyd, Harumi, and Lulloyd. As Mage entered, the four looked ready to leave.

"Hey!" Mage called out, "You guys are okay! Thank goodness!"

"Mage!" Lulloyd smiled to him, "You're okay!"

"You slept for almost two days," Monty stated with a groan, "You were starting to worry them."

"You were worried too, Monty," Harumi frowned at him.

"How are you feeling, Mage?" Lloyd asked, "You must have really pushed yourself back there."

"Mhm, I'm fine!" Mage stretched his legs out, "Feeling pretty rested! Wait!" He raised one hand, forming lightning in his open palm, "Hrm... yep, I'm good now!"

"Good," Monty turned from him, "They apparently caught a Vermillion warrior wandering around the main road. We're going to interrogate him."

"Can I help?" Mage asked, "I can use the power of mind to make sure they're telling the truth!"

Harumi shook her head, "Neuro told us not to try that. He's still recovering in the Smoke Tribe right now. His group got ambushed pretty badly, but we're having them stay there for now. Karlof took his group to his tribe too."

"What about Skylar's group?" Mage asked curiously.

"That's what we're going to find out," Monty turned, "Let's go."