***Warning***

This chapter is a bit more graphic than usual. If you're squemish about blood and gore or violence you might want to skip this chapter. 

According to Akira, the old man lived in the mountains behind the temple –that is, if he was still among the living. Either way, they had to get out. And chasing after this alleged expert was a good enough reason for now. The priests followed the party off the temple grounds. Much to Suzume’s dismay they did not exit out the main gates with the red arches but out a small back gate like a group of lurking thieves. This is humiliating. We saved their temple from complete destruction, it was only partially destroyed. No one has any gratitude these days. The rear gate, despite Suzume’s fear, was not a crack in a wall. There was a small red arch with charms dangling from it and twirling in a slight breeze. Suzume titled her head back trying to read the black markings on the white paper but she could not get a clear look at them. What are they trying to keep out?

Akira was the first to step through the arches and when nothing cataclysmic happened, the others followed through. There was a short stone pathway that ended at the forest. Beyond that, was a twisting narrow forest path. It divided at random and ended without warning. It appeared it had been created by some forest animal. A wider path switched back and forth up the hill and disappeared into the forest.  

Suzume looked up at the hillside. It loomed green and massive before her.

“How far exactly do we need to go to confirm this former priest is dead?” Suzume asked the group at large.

Kaito was a few feet behind Akira, and he was alive with excitement. I bet he would not mind if we never found this priest, it’s all about the journey for him.  He always seemed to enjoy the prospect of an adventure. Rin was between Suzume and Kaito. She turned from Suzume to look at Akira for an answer. Akira was the leader for this hapless venture.  

Akira lifted a shoulder. “Until we find him,” she said and proceeded to pick her way through the trail. She walked with confidence through the maze of animal trails, even though she had been trapped inside the temple for a very long time.  

Suzume huffed. Maybe if I lingered behind, I could find a reason to make the priests keep me. I am Kazue’s reincarnation and this is her temple. She looked longingly back at the temple to the line of priests who were blocking any attempt at return. Though she could not see it, she could sense a barrier being erected around the temple. There was a tingling on the air, and the wind didn’t blow through the trees on the grounds of the temples the way they were through the trees outside of it.  The four or so priests standing by the gate were chanting together. No going back there, I suppose. She heaved a sigh and continued after her companions.

The climbing was long, hard, and endless. Her companions all were possessed of superior strength and stamina and Suzume found herself falling behind more and more. Rin hung back waiting for Suzume to catch up more than once and at last Suzume snapped at her.

“Hurry up, or the others are going to get away without us,” She said picking up her pace though her limbs screamed in protest.

“You’re not strong enough to keep up with them,” Rin said matter-of-factly.

It was true. But it pricked at Suzume’s pride and when her pride was pricked she struck back. “I don’t need help from you. I know you’re only doing this because you feel guilty about Kaito knowing I am Kazue. Or you’re jealous and your feel guilty for that because you love him.”

A complicated mix of emotions crossed Rin’s expression. Suzume hadn’t really meant to hurt the fox. She had just lashed out without thinking, like she usually did. She did not really think Rin loved Kaito, not romantically, but Rin had taken the words to heart it seemed.

“You know what? You’re probably better off on your own.” Rin turned, flicked her tail, and bounded up the trail leaving Suzume in her dust.

Suzume swore and kicked a nearby rock. It slid down the hill and rattled the undergrowth as it rolled away. Suzume plopped down on the side of the road. Forget them. Forget the probably dead guy, and forget Kazue and her task. I’m not going another step.

She folded her hands over her chest and exhaled. Then she waited. It was shady under the tree and light filtered through the leaves creating a mosaic of shadow on the ground. The wind whistled by rustling the branches. Suzume looked around. From her vantage point on the hill she could see the temple. It was not as far as way as she would have hoped for how much effort she put into climbing this hill.

The temple buildings were spread out across the compound in neat rows. Well, they had been. She could see the full picture of the destruction Hisato had wrought. The splinters of wood were scattered about contrasting against the remains of the formerly orderly gardens. Beams and support frame work stood out against the blue sky like sentinels over the destruction. Priests were moving around carrying away rubble and sifting through debris. There were scars in the earth from where Rin and Hisato had battled The main shrine was nothing but broken wood from when Kaito had removed the roof. We really did a number on that shrine. No wonder they chased us out.

Suzume turned away and surveyed the forest instead. She did not like the feeling of guilt that she associated with looking the shrine. The forest was dense and massive. It stretched out in each direction further than she could see. It was like being in the center of a sea of trees. Off in the distance, she saw a flock of birds take flight just as the trees themselves began to convulse and bend aside.

The trees parted, divided in half by something big. Whatever was bending over trees was headed up the hill in her direction. She stood up and reached for her staff, which she had strapped across her back. According to Tsuki having it strapped to her back would make it easier to draw when necessary. It also kept the staff from encumbering her walking.

She held onto the handle without withdrawing it. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s the wind in the trees? Whatever it was, it was getting closer and Suzume could hear the crack and snap of trees breaking followed by a deep guttural roar. The ground beneath her feet was trembling beneath the force of its footsteps. Now is a good time to run. Which way did she go? It would be faster and easier to go downhill but that’s where whatever it was coming from. There was no guarantee it wasn’t after her and it would make its job that much easier if she ran in its direction. Her other option was uphill which would be slower but might put some distance between her and whatever was breaking the trees.

She pondered for another moment until a group of deer burst through the underbrush leaping and attempting to flee whatever was drawing closer. Suzume left her staff strapped to her back and ran up hill away from the creature that was tearing through the forest in her direction. Her limbs were tight and angry, her breathing was labored. She forced herself to stick with the stream of deer and followed the paths they did, swinging around trees and stumbling through the undergrowth. They were much more agile and less prone to catching their clothes on low hanging branches and they quickly out raced her. Suzume started to flag and slow down.

The creature was almost upon her. She could feel the vibrations of its stomping footsteps reverberating through her entire body. She was going to have to stop and fight or hope it did not blow her over. She considered climbing a tree, but hearing the sickening crunch of trees being destroyed behind her, Suzume decided against that idea. She ran ahead as fast as she could. Up the slope was a fallen gingko tree. The tree had fallen length-wise on the slope and gotten wedged on a boulder. Dirt had slid down the hill and gathered behind the log making a natural platform. It was her best chance at gaining an upper hand –literally—against whatever was coming her way. There at least she would see her attacker and make an assessment as to her danger –with her luck it was almost absolute. She whipped her staff out from the strap on her back and put herself into the defense position, feet spread apart and staff crossed in front of her.   

The monster burst through the trees just as Suzume prepared herself to stand and fight. It was massive, over twelve feet tall with bright blue skin. He had gray horns that jutted out from a protruding brow and large fangs that stuck out from beneath his big lips. He smiled when he saw Suzume standing there and revealed several more sharp teeth.

“Priestess,” he bellowed. “You should not have come to my forest. I smelled you the moment you left the temple. Now I will devour you!” he laughed and as he slapped his enormous blue gut which was hanging over the edge of his ragged loin cloth.

He had muscled legs that were squat and big around as tree trunks. In his other hand he held a giant club. It was battered and filthy covered in what appeared to be dried blood.

Now would be a good time for Kaito or someone to come and intervene.

“I have no intention of being your meal. I would never let someone so ugly and stupid eat me.” Suzume taunted. It wasn’t her best idea but she didn’t have a lot of options at this point.

His beady eyes glowed red as he rushed towards Suzume. She twirled her staff and sang the incantation Akira had taught her to make a barrier. A shimmering barrier flew up to deflect the blow of the monster’s club just as he swung it in an arch towards Suzume’s head. The club struck the barrier and red sparks flew where they collided. The monster took a lurching step back.  He had not been expecting a barrier, it seemed.  

Suzume used his momentary confusion to her advantage and lunged forward with the staff. She jabbed at his gut with the end of the staff and focused her energy channeling it through the staff as Akira had taught her. A red streak of light erupted from the tip of the staff and monster fell backwards onto his back and rolled down the hill a few feet.

Suzume panted. She was so unused to using her powers that even the small burst of energy was draining. She wanted to run away but the monster was back on its feet in a moment and it roared with anger. It charged again towards Suzume when she felt the barrier flicker and die. She turned and ran up the hill. She weaved in and out of trees but it did nothing to dissuade the monster. It plowed through everything without stopping.

 I have to do something.

She noticed a low hanging branch. She grabbed onto it and with some difficulty climbed up into the tree. The monster was coming her way. She held onto her staff with sweaty hands debating her plan even as the monster was just beneath her. With a blind leap of faith, she jumped down and onto the monster’s shoulders. She clung to his thick neck by swinging the staff across his neck. She pressed her face against his rough back. It was like cuddling with a giant rock.  Her powers were so depleted she felt nothing but a faint tickle as her natural defenses tried to protect her from close contact with the monster.

The monster swung his club and shook back and forth trying to get her off his back. Suzume could think of nothing else to do other than to hold on and pray she came up with a better plan before he tried to squish her against a tree.  Her legs scrambled up his back looking for purchasing. But she couldn’t find a toe hold. Her fingers were going numb from holding on. This is not how I imagined I would die.

Then the monster swung hard right with his club, seemingly having forgotten about Suzume who was riding piggyback.

“Suzume, let go!” Tsuki shouted up to her. He was running back in forth in front of the monster trying to draw his attention.

“Are you crazy? He’ll smash me to bits,” She called back to him.

“Throw the staff to me; I can defeat him with it.”

She hesitated. Not only was the staff only thing keeping her on the monster’s back, she hated the idea of giving up the staff to anybody, even Tsuki. He is the staff’s guardian though.  Then again, if it was down to her and the staff, she supposed she chose herself. Suzume used her flagging energy to climb up higher on the higher on the monsters back and grabbed ahold of a fat fold of in the monster’s neck. She let go of one side of the staff and tossed it at as hard as she could. It fell to the ground a few feet from the monster, between it and Tsuki. Tsuki scuttled forward to retrieve the staff. He nearly had his head taken off by the monster’s swinging club.

Suzume let go and slid down the back of the monster like some grotesque slide. Her skin was raw and chaffed from where the monster’s rough skin had brushed against her and her powers had feebly tried to protect her. She ran away from the thundering monster who was twisting back and forth intent on choosing a target for his rage.

Tsuki jumped and hit the monster in the head drawing its attention at last to him. Tsuki held the staff horizontally in front of him. The monster swung his club and brought it down hard on the staff. Tsuki deflected the monsters attack with a forward thrust and pushed the monster back. They started trading blows, Tsuki landing quite a few on the belly of the monster which had little effect.

The monster caught Tsuki unaware as he tried to lung for the monster’s shoulder and knocked Tsuki onto his back. Tsuki jumped back up and narrowly avoided having his skull crushed by the monster’s club. The monster was slowing down. His breathing was loud enough to shake the trees around him.  Tsuki took his opportunity to attack at the monster’s head as he leaned down in an ineffectual attempt to swipe at Tsuki. Tsuki struck the monster in the eye with the end of the staff. The staff sunk in deep and gore spilled out soaking Tsuki in gray blood.

Suzume fought back the bile that was rising in her mouth as the monster stumbled backwards and collapsed on the ground, unmoving. Tsuki stood over the dead monster with a grin plastered across his face. He was covered in gore and there was a bit of something that looked suspiciously like brain matter clinging to his long black hair.

“Why are you always such a slob?” Akira asked, using Tsuki’s form. Hearing her voice coming from Tsuki’s mouth was disarming in itself but seeing him covered as he was, Suzume had to turn away to hide  her disgust. They make killing look so easy.

Just then Rin and Kaito arrived on the scene. They both surveyed the dead body and Tsuki’s bloody person with relative cool.

“What happened here?” Kaito asked. His tone was difficult to read, Suzume was not sure if he was upset, excited, or indifferent.  

“This thing was trying to eat me, you know, the usual.” She pointed to the dead body with a shrug of her shoulders. She hoped no one noticed she was shaking. This was probably her closest brush with death yet.

 “That’s what happens when you fall behind,” Kaito said in dismissal and he turned to head back up the hill.

“Thanks for the concern!” Suzume shouted after his retreating back.

“Anytime!” he replied.

He always has to have the last word, doesn’t he?

A/N: Look consistency!  How'd ya'll like the action scene? I never wrote action until I started working on P&D. I quite enjoy it now. In other news. I'm starting up a new feature on my Facebook Page. I'm calling it Teaser Tuesday or Teaser Thursday. Twice a week I'm going to give sneak peeks at upcoming chapters of The Priestess and the Dragon and also some other works in progress. If you are impatient like me and want to get a little taste of what's next then like me on facebook. ;) 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicolette-Andrews/466873950016197