Whoop it is like 10:12 here in Vegas lol. Enjoy, I need sleep, good night!

~~~~~

Destiny Calls

Chapter 5

"Inhale the future, exhale the past."

-Day IX-

It was early morning. Max's dreams were empty but his sleep was not bad, but not enjoyable either. Not only did it seem that he never had dreams, considering everything he saw when he was asleep were memories, he wondered if he even could dream. It was puzzling to say the least, however his only concern right now...was if they would shut up.

"Oh comes ons Reds. Wes can help!" Barney protested as Red packed a bag.

"No, it would be better if you and Ross stay here so that there is less suspicions and problems. Max will stay here with you guys and when I come back we'll leave this port and head straight to Keuta."

"Reds!!"

Ross held Barney back as he struggled to reach Red, "Calm down, let's just listen to Red. You remember how people were looking at us. No one might help us if we're there."

Barney gritted his teeth and clenched his stubborn fists before sighing and loosening up. Ross relaxed and let go of Barney.

"Fines." Max was still lying in bed listening to the entire argument pretending he was asleep. But his eyes were downcast. Once again he was reminded that he made their life difficult, but though he was sad, his heart sang a different tune. He felt anger toward himself and the woman who did this to him. If he didn't have this awful curse his new friends would still be fine!

Max heard the door close and figured Red had left. Now he sat up, pretended to rub his eyes and yawn.

"Ohs Max, you ares awake, dids we wakes you?"

"No, where'd Red go?" He lazily answered as if he had not heard their argument.

"He just left," answered Ross, "He's getting horses so that we can get to Duhita faster. If we walk the trip to the capital of Keuta, which is our next stop would take four days, but with horses he cut that time in half."

"I see," Max nodded, though he already knew Red went to get horses, the actual math behind it was new information. Max tossed the blankets off of him. He still noticed the odd sight of his gloves on his hands, and the even more terrifying sight of the inky, black marks slowly clawing their way up his arms, but he ignored them. He swung his legs over the side of the bed before letting his feet touch the rough, hardwood floor.

His sweater was hanging over the side of the bed and he grabbed it before pulling it on over him, "So, what should we do while we wait for Red?"

Barney grinned, "Isn't its obvious?"

"Oh no. Barney, no, le-let's not. We should stay here...definitely stay here like Red--" Barney pulled Ross and Max into an uncomfortable group hug.

"Nonsense! Wes are talkings about the Kings of dirts here! We just has to sneak outs and follow Reds!"

"No! Barney lease, your plans never work--"

"But I has champion's blood! It wills work!"

"Huh?" Max said, but his questions were left unanswered. Barney let go of their weird group hug before packing his bag.

"Oks! We ares going now!"

"W-wait!" Ross satched up his barely open bag and ran out after Barney. Max simply sighed and grabbed his bag to follow them. He had little choice.

~~~~~

"I-I still don't think this is a good idea..." Ross muttered.

"I'm sure we'll be fine," Max encouraged.

"Maybe if we were still human, yeah! But not now..."

"..." Max turned to look to see what Barney was doing, but he was not there. "Where's Barney!?"

"Gah! I told you so!" Ross looked around the streets for their purple dino friend and he spotted him just a little ways down the street. Ross made a dash to Barney and Max followed swiftly behind.

"Guys! Guys!" Barney waved them over, "I sees Reds!" Barney peeked out around the corner and pointed to Red who was speaking to a man. It seemed to be a horse stable.

"How much for 4 horses?"

"Four? Hmm, I don't know if I can offer four..."

"I'll pay whatever price you name, I really just need four horses." Red said to the man.

"May I ask why you need them?" he said.

"Me and my companions need to get to Duhita--"

"Duhita? That might not be such a good idea..."

"Why?

"Well you see, kid, Duhita is in some hot water right now. Or more of, there's a possibility of war between Emedo and Duhita--"

"But aren't the princes of both friends?! Why would there ever be a war? Duhita almost has an alliance with Emedo."

The man shook his head at Red, "You don't know do you, where do you come from?"

"Eflido, sir."

"Ah," He nodded like everything makes sense now, "Eflido has small connections to Emedo, but probably not enough to get all the details. Well, let me tell you."

The man got really close to Red and began to whisper. Barney, Ross, and Max could no longer hear. But Red listened to the man as he told him the story, "The King of Emedo has now lost all his sons. His first son to assassination, and his second son to betrayal. You see his second son sided with a sorcerer from Keuta, and not just any sorcerer. Apparently he sorcerer was actually a prince of Keuta, or would've been had Keuta kept its power."

"A sorcerer and a prince, but that's like impossible. No royal would marry a sorcerer, at least not in Keuta."

"That's true, but my guess the two were married and had a son before Emedo's sorcerer policy was issued."

"So what happened to them and what does Duhita have to do with this?"

"The prince of Duhita was with the second prince and sided with him. And as for the sorcerer, it's unknown. The rumor is he was killed in Eflido in that huge fire not to long ago--"

"That fire!" Red exclaimed.

"Shhh! Keep your voice down, this subject is taboo!"

"Sorry," Red whispered, "Continue..."

"The other rumor is he's still alive. Possibly living a quiet life, or sparking a rebellion. And the last is what the soldiers tell you to keep you scared, but the last is the sorcerer is plotting the destruction of the realm. But that's a little less believable."

"I see... thank you for all that, but the situation is still the same. We really need to get to Duhita and fast."

"Hmmm, I suppose I have no choice, 90 nuggs per horse if you really want them."

Red nodded and grasped the man's hands, "Thank you so much sir, I'll make it 150 for all your kind help."

"Wh-what, no, no it's fine--"

"I insist, thank you," Red had already pulled out the bag that held all the money and was counting the price, "Here you are." Red paid the shocked man.

"But--"

"If you don't mind, could you hold the horses, I need to go bring my friends." Red waved and ran off in the direction Max and the others were "hidden". They were really just out in the open peeking around a corner. Anyone could see them.

"Uh ohs! Reds is coming!" Barney looked left then right but found no place to hide.

"Forget it Barney," Max said.

"This is your fault!" exclaimed Ross.

Red rounded the corner and saw them immediately, "G-guys!"

~~~~~

"I can't believe you followed me!" Red sighed after Ross told him what had happened, "Well, this does make it easier to head back. Might as well get going now. The stables are just around the corner, come on."

"What about what that man was secretly telling you?" asked Max.

"I'll tell you guys on the road, but for now hurry up and follow me."

Red walked away and Ross and Barney followed swiftly behind. Max lagged behind a little, only to have a moment of quiet.

Max waited by the fence of the stables with Ross and Barney as Red went up to the same man further in.

Max leaned back against the fence and smelled the fresh air. He now had the time to look around to the scenery. The small port of Norton was small, a very small port. They weren't close to the harbor when the entered, so it was likely still a bit away, but he could see the ocean now that he thought about it. But he wasn't interested.

Max heard the loud neighing of a horse, the crash of large objects and then a shout, "Hey you! Come back with my horse!"

"Hey, we just bought that horse you a*s!" That was Red's voice.

"See you losers!" Max didn't have time to turn to look. The stolen horse had leapt above him. Barney and Ross ducked, but Max stood in shocked awe as the horse's body soared over him, as the sun's rays were blocked by its massive body. He watched the horse's two riders gallop away, but not before hearing the passenger speak.

"Tyler! Slow down!"

That man looked back momentarily. For a split second their eyes met. His grey eyes to the other man's purple. Max didn't understand the feeling, but, it was only fleeting. Like a connection, a spark, one moment of understanding. Max just knew his name, or felt like he heard it. Perhaps he had a memory, perhaps they knew each other, but he didn't know.

He only knew that the man's name was Seto.

Almost done with next chapter, maybe I can post it when I get home tomorrow. Anyways, stay tuned!

~WrittenDarkness