Chapter 21: Forest Beyond the Gate

We were finally on our way back home from our successful mission. Hopefully it will be easier than getting there which I doubt. I went over to Nani to tell her something important.

"Hey Nani? When we have our first break I have something important to tell you." "Are you ok Raven?" "Oh yeah I'm fine for now." "Ok then sure." So hours past and it was time to finally rest.

"Hey Nani are the kids taking a nap?" "Yeah they are so what's up?" "Ok so if those guys show up and I turn into my dragon form I want you to run with the kids. If I loose myself I don't want any of you injured can you promise me that?" "Raven if it comes to that we will. I promise. Just don't let it happen ok?" "I'll try not to. Plus its not like I can control it on my own anyway." "Yes you can Raven. Isn't that why Rayden is helping you?" "Well actually he is helping me with my powers. He said if I needed help with anything else he would do his best." "Well then let this be an experience if it happened. Then tell Rayden. Just don't get yourself killed ok?" "Hehe I'll try not to." After awhile the kids were waking up and we headed out again.

The first night went without a hitch which made me feel good. It was already noon and time to rest for the first time that day. "Whew ok lets have our late lunch." I said. So we all ate our lunch in piece when I heard a sound. "Nani. Come here for a minute. Do you hear that?" "Yeah I hear it." "Remember my conditions?" "Yeah we will leave for sure." "Ok good lets go find out that sound." "Kids follow us." Said Nani. The kids followed Nani and stayed close. "I knew it was them. Come on out already." The men jumped from there positions and just started fighting. Everyone fought including the kids this time.

Raven didn't see anyone with an arrow behind her and the others were too far away to stop her. Nani yelled "Raven watch out!" I turned around but it was too late. "Ahh! Damn that hurts. Don't worry guys. If it gets bad I want you to leave. I will be fine trust me." Luckily I wasn't bleeding too bad and ripped the arrow out. Then I continued fighting. Then more arrows started raining down and it was hard to dodge because my wound was started to hurt. "Guys get out of here! Its going to get worse! Trust me! Nani get the kids out of here!" "Come back alive ok?!" "I will do my best now go!" Nani ran with the kids and the kids looked back worried for Raven.

"You poisoned the arrow didn't you? What the hell do you guys want from me? Hmm." She collapsed on the ground barely able to move. "Damn! I really need help for once." I could barely keep my eyes open let alone move. I guess I will be taken after all. "Nani get home safely with the kids." Were her last words before she was taken.

She barely opened her eyes when she was being helped with the poison. "Hmm. Where….am I? Argh…." Then she fell back to sleep.

A few hours later she woke up. "Huh? I thought I was kidnapped. Ow damn!" "Hey Raven." "Tsunaka? Where am I?" "You are back in the castle. We almost lost you. You were poisoned pretty bad." "Yeah I know. I had an arrow and I pulled it out. I didn't realize it was poison till I dodged the other arrows. Did Nani and the kids get here safely?" "Yes they are all fine." "How did I get here anyway? I couldn't move or stay awake." "About that…" Before Tsunaka could say anything, Rayden walked in. "I saved you with the help of your boyfriend Koa. We had a feeling you were in trouble." "Did you guys beat the guys or did they head tail and run away?" "Haha of course they were cowards and ran home. Talking all tough then run like chickens. Are those the ones that tried to kidnap you a few years back?" "Yeah I recognized the Zeke guy. I have no clue why they want me though." "I might." Then Koa walking in. "They want you because of the type of dragon you are and the powers you possess." "Hey Koa. How do you know all this?" "Well after the first time you got kidnapped, I was told to look up this guy Zeke since we heard his name. The king has his file somewhere. They mentioned they were looking into rare things. Apparently your dragon form is rare indeed." "Oh is that so? Then why couldn't they tell me what they wanted? Wouldn't it have been easier to tell me what they wanted me to do instead of try to kill me?" "I was thinking the same thing you are but when I looked up the man he was working for, I see why they can't. They would have been killed if they told you what he wanted with you." "Damn its that serious? When can I get out of here? Ow." "Easy Raven. Your still injured. You have to wait until at least the pain goes away." Said Koa. "Damn! How long to they think." "Well they think about a week." "Ha a week. I think it will be sooner. Did you forget? I have fast healing." "Yeah yeah gloat all you want." "hehe." "I'll stay here with Raven. Rayden you get some sleep I shouldn't need to do anything the next couple of days." "All right thanks Koa." Rayden went to his room and went to rest. "Now rest Raven. I will be here when you wake up. I promise." I closed my eyes and fell asleep in no time.

I woke up the next morning feeling fresh. Now its almost been a month. It will be a few days before Zoro and Nikita came over. I was on my way to see my dad about something when I was stopped by Rayden. "Raven? Good I found you." "What's up Rayden? I'm on my way to see dad." "Oh ok I'll wait to tell you after then. Its not that important." "Are you sure? OK then see you." "Oh I'll be by the gate to leave the palace to wait for you." "Ok then." So I walked to see my dad.

"Hey dad. I'm here." "Oh hello Raven. You said you had something to tell me?" "yeah. In a few days Zoro and Nikita are coming by to visit. I don't know what to say to them. Last time they saw me was at the ball for my birthday. I don't know if I can even look them in the eye." "Oh Raven my girl. It will all be fine. I'm sure they were more worried than upset. If anything they thought maybe you were kidnapped. You need to look up at them. They would want to know you are ok." "Yeah I know dad. I'm just nervous." "I have an idea Raven. What is your favorite thing to do? What do you do to calm yourself?" "Um….I train." "How about this. An hour before they get here and a day before why don't you have your training instructor sparr a little to calm your nerves." "Thanks dad. I'll try." I hugged my dad and thanked him. "Ok Dad. I have to meet Rayden. I'll see you later." "Ok dad Love you." "I love you too Raven." g

"Hey Rayden sorry it took me awhile. So what's up?" "You see that forest aways from the gate?" "Yeah what about it?" "Mind if we go there?" "Yeah sure I don't see why not. But Why?" "Oh you will see." "Ok then. Lets go." We turned to our dragon forms and headed towards the forest.

We finally made it to the forest and I started feeling weak. "What is this? I feel weak." "Raven are you ok?" "No I feel weak. I don't know what's wrong." I started falling and turned to my human form. "No Raven!" I saw Rayden rushing to catch me. That is when she lost consciousness.

Rayden caught her and flew back towards the castle. He got far enough away from the castle she should be fine. "Raven! Raven! Speak to me! Open your eyes!" "Hmm…." "Raven are you ok? Can you hear me?! Can you see me?!" "Ow. Quiet your voice. I can still hear out of this ear." "Can you see me ok?" "It's a little foggy but yeah I can see you. Yes I know who you are so don't worry. What the hell happened?" "I don't know. When we got closer to the forest you got weaker. You turned human as you were falling in your dragon form. I barely caught you in time. Can you get up?" "I think so." I tried to get up but was having difficulty. "Here let me help you up." I took Rayden's hand and I stood up. "Can you walk ok?" "Enough with the questions I'm fine." I took a few steps and stumbled but Rayden caught me. "I'm fine. You can let me go." "No Your not. I will walk close until we get back. In fact I should fly you back. It will be quicker." "Yeah I would feel safer that way." Rayden turned dragon and I hopped on his back. I laid down as he was flying. It felt so nice.

We made finally made it back and Rayden took me to my room to rest. "Ok Raven. Get some rest ok? Your vision will hopefully clear after that. I need to talk to your father about this." I nodded then fell asleep instantly.

(Knock Knock) "Your majesty? Are you there? Its an emergency." "Yes come in Rayden. What can I do for you?" "I took Raven to the forest beyond the gate. As we got closer she felt weaker. She got so weak that she turned human and I barely caught her in time. She is in her room sleeping. I would feel safe if a doctor looked at her just in case." "Thank you Rayden. I will get a doctor. I need to talk to the scientists and Faye. See if they know anything." Rayden bowed then left.

A doctor went to Raven's room to make sure she was ok. "Well it looks like she is fine. She may have gotten a little poison in her system from something. It could have been when she got closer to that forest." "Is that forest poisoned?" said the King. "I'm not sure. But I am assuming that is what made her weak. Luckily the poison left her as she was leaving the forest. Any more and she could have died. A Days rest she should be fine." "Thank you doctor."

Just as the king was walking down the hall, he spotted Koa. "Oh Koa good timing. Would you mind staying with Raven? She is not well right now. I already had a doctor look at her with a day or two rest she should be fine." "Yes your majesty. Rayden told me what happened." "OK I'm off to see Faye."

"Faye are you here?" "I'm here your majesty. Is everything ok?" "Do you know much about the forest beyond the castle gate?" "Yes I do. Oh no did someone go there?" "Raven did. She got weak and the doctor said she was poisoned. Luckily it went out of her as she was getting away." "Oh thank god she's ok. Yes that forest has been poisoned for a year. Me and others have been going into the forest to see what it is that can be causing the poison." "Have you got any leads?" "No we haven't. We are waiting for a few more people who will be here in a couple of days to help. I put spells on them to protect them from the poison." "You know Raven is going to want to help. Do you have enough magic for her to help?" "Lets just hope my magic will work on her." "Why did it make her weak and not Rayden?" "Rayden didn't get weak? Huh. I will have to talk to him. Thank you your majesty. I will get Rayden and talk to him right now." The King left and went back to his office.

Faye found Rayden and said, "Rayden! Good I found you. I need you to come with me to my den." "Yes maam."

"What do you need Faye?" "Did you really not get weak in the forest beyond the castle?" "Well I did get a little. Not as bad as Raven though." "Mind if I get some of your blood to help?" "Sure go ahead." Faye cut Rayden and he flinched a little. She put the blood in a vile and poured a little on a special paper. "Ok if this spell works, then you have special blood." She said a random spell, and the blood turned the color she was expecting which was green. "What is that? Does that mean I have special blood?" "Yes. Yes it does. That forest has been poisoned for at least a year. The others and I have been going to the forest to find out what could be poisoning the forest. When Raven wakes up I hope my magic works on her. Since you have special blood, my magic will work on you for longer than anyone else. If you mind helping us that would be great." "Yeah I could help. Especially if Raven is." "OK according to the king she should be ok in a day or 2." "Oh good." "Ok that's all you can do whatever now. I'm going to see what your blood is immune too." "Yes maam." So Rayden left her to her weird stuff.

Rayden made it back to Raven's room and Knocked on the door. "Its me Rayden." "Come in Rayden." I said. I had just woken up from my nap. "Hey feeling any better?" "Yeah a little bit. How long was I asleep for?" "Oh only like 4 hours. The doc said you need to rest for a day or two. He will check on you tomorrow to see how you are." "Yay me." I said Sarcastically.

I was able to get up 2 days later. Now it's the day Zoro and Nikita are supposed to come. It was an hour before they are supposed to be here, so I ended up training with my master Zenosuke We call him master Zeno for short. I thought he was pretty hot until I met Koa.

"OK Raven. Ready for this? Lets see what you remember." Said Zeno. So we started sword practice. We spread it out and did a half an hour sword training, and the other half ninja sparing. Finally it was time to see Zoro and Nikita again. When I went outside I was shocked by what I saw. "Zoro? Nikita?"