Chapter thirty: A night to remember

Back at the shrine, Romelle was doing a little cheer. "WHOOOO! Watch out for these two! Oh, you did a good day."

Shiro didn't respond cheerfully as he said emotionlessly, "Thanks, but... I'm gonna go to bed."

"Same for me!" Keith said, emotionlessly.

Shiro sat at the bed, looking out at the horizon with a somber expression. He sighed, "why do I feel like I wasn't strong enough!"

"Hey, Shiro!" Keith said, coming into his room.

"Hey, Keith!" Shiro said.

"What got you all sad like!" Keith said.

"Nothing it's just that I feel so frustrated right now!" Shiro said. "Adam, he almost made us look like fools!"

"I don't blame you, I won't lie. Today was kinda hard. And you don't always feel like I'm supposed to be here. But when things got tough, our friends help me out. they help us out!" Keith said.

"Yeah, you're right!" Shiro said. "thanks, Keith!"

"no problem, why don't you get some rest, we going back on the road again!" Keith said.

"Alright!" Shiro said.

After that, Shiro took off his clothes and dressed in his nightclothes, and soon fell asleep.

Elsewhere, It was a wet, cold, and windy night in the forest. Animals such as squirrels, deer, and monkeys quickly took shelter from the torrential rain...or maybe it was because of something else. Something much more fierce than a rainstorm.

As lightning flashed, something came padding along through the mud and grass, a pair of eyes glowing in the darkness of night. It was a wet, cold, and windy night in the forest. Animals such as squirrels, deer, and monkeys quickly took shelter from the torrential rain...or maybe it was because of something else. Something much more fierce than a rainstorm.

it's growing dark-blue fur was drenched through straight to the bone...and yet, whatever it was that stalked through the forest did not seem to pay any mind to the chilling winds and the pouring rain. No...it seemed that whatever it was, it was rather determined to get to wherever it was going.

At that moment, a thunderous growl rumbled from somewhere behind, prompting the owner of the eyes to look back...but then it gaped as it saw four large claws heading straight for it. With another flash of lightning, the claws struck, sending a splash of blood into the air, followed by a pained yowl as everything went dark.

The next morning in Aurs, everyone was cleaning up from the prom with Keith and the others joined them in the cleanup, while Coran was calming the group outside the shrine.

"The Galra are getting closer! Oh! Oh, we're doomed! doomed!" one of the people said.

"Calm down, we are not Doom!" Coran said.

"This is an act of war, Coran!" a male Altean said.

"Citizens, please, listen to me!" Coran said, "LISTEN TO ME!"

Everyone quiet down by Coran's response.

"I will not lie to you any longer, there is danger approaching and this was the example, after Allura's death we have been neutral in this war, and but now... I know you must think we should act and you want to fight back but we have to think first, we don't know Sendak is planning but I do know this, the Galra will not stop with these attacks but we must not go to war especially with Sendak all right!"

"So what you're saying is, you want to stay put both Sendak does whatever he wants!" A female Altea said.

"He destroyed our homes!" Another male said as indistinct shouting continue, forcing Coranto to leave the mob and towards the dining Hall.

Coran signed as Romelle, Keith, and Shiro walked into the dining hall, seeing Coran mentally exhausted and his hands pressed against his forehead as he thought about the people who want to war.

They wanted to talk to him but didn't know what to say to him, they didn't know if there was anything they could say that would ease his worries.

"Coran". Romelle said.

"I should never have let a party in this shrine. And now, I'm faced with an impossible position. As the leader of the Alteans, how can I surrender myself to our enemy? And yet, as the keeper of the shrine how could I..." Coran sighs.

"Coran, I," Romelle said.

"Save it, I know where you're going to say!" Coran said.

"But I didn't say anything!" Romelle said.

"Yes I do, you're going to tell me, we should fight the galra but how samurai and Allura should be able to protect us, but they're gone!" Coran said.

Shiro sighed "There has to be another way. We can't just give up. I know Adam, I know what he's capable of!"

Coran turned back to him with his sorrow filled eyes, "Are you sure how is that going to stop him!"

"I... I don't know yet. But I'll think of something, I promise." Shiro said.

Shiro, Romelle, and Keith left the room, As they walked through, Shiro felt like he messed up, he should've never let Adam out of his sight. He should've been stronger than that and protected his friends better.

"Hey, don't worry!" Romelle said.

"Man, we got to do something!" Shiro said.

"But, how, we couldn't find any information on the samurai!" Keith said.

"But I think I do, Keith!" Romelle said as she realized that Shiro and Keith wouldn't give up until an answer is found.

She led them over to the library, where she led the two to a bulletin board where she had multiple different maps, along with many different sticky notes dotting it everywhere, along with numerous photos of what seemed to be drawings of people carrying swords.

"What have you been working on?" Shiro said.

"I can't explain it, really, but after your trips to Alderaan and Kitsune Valley, the information that you gave me got thinking and I also figured out where Takashi was and where he came from".

"Well, you're going to have a hard time figuring that out, Takashi never told me!" Keith said.

"Well, maybe he must have had his reasons, or else he wouldn't let behind his information to you, Keith!" Romelle said.

"What, were you talking about!" Keith said.

"I mean Queen Astrid and Samson, they obviously knew that Keith will get the answer!" Romelle said.

"The answer, what answer!" Keith said. "you're saying that somehow Takashi planned all of this, how is that possible!".

"I can't really say but I do know this, whatever Takashi was planning he was pointing you in a direction!" Romelle said.

"For what?" Shiro said.

"I didn't really know at the time... until I stumbled across this. It's an outcropping of giant boulders with caves covered in these ancient markings. Each tells a slightly different story about a samurai living in the mountains, but they all share clues leading to some event, some arrival happening these very nights. Then Shiro showed up, months ago." Romelle explained.

Shiro then said, "And you really think this is all connected!"

"it's possible! but you're the only search is right here!" Romelle said, pointing a location on the map. "people say is called the cursed Kekkaru, so when to find your samurai, is this way!"

"I hope so for everyone's sake!" Shiro said.

After that, the group of five, seven if you count the animals rested for a few hours before going to the mountain the next morning, with Shiro and Keith led the way, telling the others to watch their step.

Soon enough, they were standing in front of the entrance of the boards of Aurs. However, Keith felt like he was confused about Takashi and his 'Plan', he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"What were you planning, Takashi?!" Keith Thought.

"Hey, you okay?" Shiro asked, his eyes full of concern.

Keith shook his head "Yeah, I'm good. Let's keep going."

Shiro didn't look convinced but let it slide anyway. The group bid farewell to Coran and Romelle.

"I hope you find what you're looking for!" Coran said.

"Well, I hope so too!" Shiro said. "And I'm sorry!"

"don't be sorry I shouldn't listen to you!" Coran said, "you were right about Adam! I was trying to keep the peace!"

"I understand!" Shiro said, then turned Keith and the others, "we better be going!"

Everybody nodded, and soon they left for their journey to the cursed Kekkaru.