The Muse Search

Chapter 5
“Wake up.” Sakura said shaking me gently. It was early in the morning, just after sunrise. “I’m up.” I said rubbing my eyes. “Let’s get started we still have a long way to go.” I said. “Are you alright Joshua, you don’t look like you slept well?” Sakura asked. “I was just talking to my father via my dreams.” I said, not really thinking. “Wait, you talked to you dad?” she asked surprised. “Oops, oh well, you would’ve figured out sooner or later,” I said “but first wake up McKenzie.” Sakura woke her up and then I explained everything about my dream last night, excluding the gods wanting to kill and Chaos, because I didn’t want them to worry about that. “Hold on a second, your father is Tartarus?” McKenzie asked in astonishment. “For the eightieth time, yes.” I said. “Sorry, but that’s just threw me for a loop.” she said. “Well anyways, we have a new lead, so let’s head south west.” I said.

On our few day hike through the Appalachian Mountains, McKenzie asked me and Sakura a question. “How did the two of you become friends?” she asked. “Well that’s a long and sad story, but seeing as we have the time, we might as well.” I said. “It all started back before my mom died. She used to ‘entertain’ guys for money.” “My gods.” McKenzie said. “Yah, but it was the only way she could make money.” I said. “One of her regular customers was Sakura’s dad.” I said. “Yah, he was really sad when my mom had to leave.” Sakura added. “The first time he came, I looked out of the window of the room my mom put me in, she did that for her business, and saw Sakura sitting in the back seat of his car. I decided to sneak out and try to talk to her. When I opened the door she was afraid I was a kidnapper or something. I told her I just wanted to play because I never really met another kid before.” I said. “Why?” McKenzie asked. “Because my mom homeschooled me and I was never aloud out of the house normally.” I answered. “But back to the story, when she decided to play with me we ran around and played tag.” I said. “No, it was hide-and-go-seek.” Sakura corrected. “I’m pretty sure it was tag.” I said. “No. you’re wrong, it was hide-and-go-seek.” she said. “Whatever, it was a kid’s game and we played for about an hour until I heard them about to come out. Sakura ran into her dad’s car while I snuck back into my room through the window. Before they drove off, we waved bye to each other. We did that every time her dad came to see my mom, until one day.” I said with a little pain in my voice. I cleared my throat. “Sorry, but one day it started like usual, her dad would come in and I’d sneak out. Then, I heard a roar from down the street. At the time I didn’t know what it was, but later I found out it was a minotaur. It came after me, I guess the gods were trying to kill me early, so I try to hide behind a dumpster, but it just threw it away. I ran for my life, while it was on a rampage after me. Sakura was cowering in the corner while all this was going down. My mom and her dad came out because she heard all the ruckus. They saw the minotaur and were scared out of their wits. Before they could do anything else, the minotaur threw Sakura’s dad’s car at them and they were crushed between it and the building, they died instantly.” I said choking up at the end. Sakura was patting me on the back with tears in her eyes. “How did you two survive?” McKenzie asked. “After that, the minotaur vaporized in a purple light, just out of nowhere. Now that I think about it, it was my dad protecting me.” I said. “I guess even Tartarus has to protect his kids.” McKenzie said.

I’m glad at what happened next. After I finished my sad story, a lion comes out of nowhere and attacks us. I spawned Omnia to my hand and swung at it. My sword just bounced back off of its fur. “What the.” I said. Then, I saw McKenzie shoot some arrows at it; they were reflected like they were nothing. “Why can’t my sword or your arrows hurt this thing, and why is OP Scar here anyway?” I asked. “I think it’s the Nemean lion; its fur is supposed to be able to stop any mortal weapon.” Sakura said. “Well that’s just great.” I said. So I decided to smack it with the flat of my blade across the face. That only seemed to make it angrier.

After dodging a few swipes of its claws, “I have a plan,” I shouted to them, “I’ll hold it still while Sakura spawns vines around its feet to trap it.” “How do you plan to keep it still?” McKenzie asked. Then, I jumped up onto its back. “What are you doing!?” Sakura shouted at me. “Just start growing vines.” I said. The lion wasn’t pleased with me taking it for a ride, but I got it under control long enough for Sakura to set her trap.

When its paws were tangled the vines, I was sent flying off its back. “Ow.” I said as I hit the ground head first. “What do we do with it now?” McKenzie asked. “I don’t think we can kill it;” I said, “one, its skin is to tuff to kill it quickly and two, look at it, it looks too sad to kill.” We can’t just leave it here.” Sakura said. Then, I did something that surprised everyone, even me. I put my forehead on the lion’s. “What are you doing?” Sakura asked. “Shhh. I’m talking to him.” I said. “What?” she remarked. “Shhh.” I repeated. Why did you attack us? I asked him through my mind. Because you looked delicious. the lion replied. If we give you some food, would you leave us alone? I asked him. I would be your best friend if you fed me. he replied. Alright. I said. “He’s only hungry; he never meant harm.” I told them. “How did you figure that out?” Sakura asked. “I kind of just had a mental conversation with him.” I said. “Sense when, can you do that?” she asked. “I don’t know, I guess forever, because, I think that I can talk to anything from my dad.” I said thinking that that was the reason. “That’s kind of weird.” McKenzie said. Then, the lion roared angrily. “Sorry,” I said back, “here.” I said throwing a bag of beef jerky at him. He ate it in one bite, packaging and all. It roared happily, almost like a purr. “You’re welcome.” I said scratching under its chin. Then, I cut the vines off of its feet. It rubbed up against me like a big cat. “Do you want to go with us?” I asked him. (I know this kind of sounds like Pokémon, shut up.)He shook his head yes. “Cool, do you have a name?” I asked him. It shook its head no. “Do you mind if I come up with one for you?” I asked. I put my head on its forehead again and he replied, Go ahead. “Cool, then your name will be… Raion.” I said. “Why that?” Sakura asked. “It’s Japanese for lion.” I said. “A bit uncreative, don’t you think.” McKenzie said. “Whatever, he seems to like it.” I said while Raion was nodding his head in agreeance. “Well, if he’s okay with it, then I guess I can’t complain.” she said.

Notes

So now we have a new member added to the group, who just tried to eat us. but still, a new member none the less.

P.S. Again thanks for reading and please tell me what i can do to make it better. Sorry if all the thanks id annoying to you, but i really do apriciate it.