Chapter Thirteen: Kabooki

Trey stumbled over a root and lurched forward. Lander turned around. “Watch your step,” he warned, a little too late. Trey sighed and picked himself up. The foursome had been walking for about a half an hour, but to Trey, who was unaccustomed to the rough forest trail, it felt like hours. He tried to turn his mind to things other than his fatigue.
Looking up at the trees, he began to wonder what kind of plants they were. He saw more of the same kinds he had seen around the entrance to the cave, and also some new ones. One of these strange new types was a tree with bright yellow bark and long branches that were completely bare, save the tips, which each had one bright green leaf dangling off it.
Several times, Trey thought he saw a shadow dart among the trees on the left side of the trail. Then he would see it again, this time on the right. Or was it the light playing tricks on him? He was quite dehydrated. Lander’s voice interrupted his thoughts of cool, refreshing water.
“So, stranger,” he began. Chasya interrupted.
“He has a name, Lander,” she chided him.
Though his back was to Trey, Trey could hear Lander audibly sigh.
“So Trey,” he began again, glancing back at Chasya, who had a smug smile. “That is your name, is it not?”
“Yeah,” Trey replied. Hearing a stifled laugh behind him, Trey turned around. Alagasia was smiling.
“Sorry,” she said. “But that’s just a weird name.”
Turning red, Trey retorted, “It’s not half as weird as Alagasha.”
Haughtily, the girl replied, “It’s Alagasia. And how dare you insult a lady’s name!”
“You’re not a lady. You’re a kid.”
“I am not!”
“Yeah! I bet I’m older than you.”
“I am fourteen.”
“Hah! Told you! I’m sixteen.”
“You don’t know whom you’re speaking to. I am Alagasia, warrior and swords maiden of Trenadonia.”
“Well, I’m Trey O’Dell, warrior and sword…master of Mission Viejo. Hah! Bet you don’t know where that is!”
“I will admit I don’t know where that is. However, it must not be a grand place, if they send their ‘warriors’ out looking like you! You are not a real warrior at all!”
“Oh, yes I am! I have three younger brothers, and, let me tell you, there is a war going on in my house everyday!”
“I don’t believe you. You would faint at the mere sight of a weapon.”
“Speaking of weapons, I haven’t seen you use yours. You probably don’t even know how.”
“I’ll show you how!”
Alagasia drew out a dagger, and, quick as a flash, had Trey’s arms behind his back and the dagger to his throat. Chasya and Lander had been off to the side, watching with amusement, but when they heard the ring of the dagger being drawn, the two quickly intervened.
“Alagasia, stay your weapon,” Lander commanded. She tried to break free of Chasya, who was holding her back.
“But he insulted me!” she yelled back. Alagasia broke free and rushed back towards Trey, who was being helped up by Lander. Suddenly, a strange noise filled the air.
“Awooooo!”
It sounded similar to a howl, and as the sound ended, Alagasia stopped and groaned, “Not now, Chasya!”
Trey was surprised. “Chasya did that?” he thought. Another sound filled the air, an answering howl, long and clear, from farther away. Seconds later, something bounded onto the path. But Trey, who was trying to defend himself from Alagasia, could not see who, or what, it was. Suddenly, the thing leapt upon Alagasia and knocked her down.
“Chasya!” she yelled, more of a complaint, than of a cry of help.
Chasya only laughed. “He won’t hurt you, ‘Gasia.”
Trey looked up and finally saw what the thing was that Chasya had called. A large, grey wolf had Alagasia pinned to the ground on her back. Its blue eyes calmly stared into hers, as if daring her to even try to get up. Alagasia had an annoyed look on her face.
“Chasya, make him get off,” she complained.
Lander laughed. “Will you sheath your dagger?” he questioned.
She rolled her eyes and sighed impatiently. “Yes.”
“Very well. Chasya?”
Chasya nodded and looked at the wolf. “Kabooki! Come, Kabooki!” the large dog bounded over to Chasya, panting happily, and jumping up to greet her. Trey watched with fascination as the fierce-looking canine acted like a little puppy.
Grinning, Chasya looked over to Trey. “This is Kabooki,” she informed him. “Though he is only a year old, I have him well trained.”
Trey looked at him. “He’s…big.”
Chasya laughed. “Indeed, and he is not done growing!”
“Wow.”
“So, Trey,” Lander spoke, after they continued walking. “Now that you have learned never to insult a lady, will you tell us your story?”
Trey proceeded to do so, while his companions listened with fascination. When he finished, Alagasia spoke.
“So…you come from another… world?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Trey looked confused. “I…don’t know.” Thinking maybe Lander would have an idea, Trey turned to him. “Do you know how I got here?”
Lander said nothing for a moment, and then he answered, “I don’t know. But I do know someone who might. That is one of the reasons we are going to Pethochos.”
Trey was puzzled. “What’s that?”
“You will find out when we get there. We will pass through Valeera. Alagasia, when we get to Valeera, you find Mason, I will search for Sapphire, and Chasya, you take Trey to get some food and water.”
The other two warriors nodded. “We will do as you have asked.”