Authors Note: To avoid later confusion, I would like to state that the Ronin warriors are not my creation and never will be. I wish they were, but unlucky for me they were already invented before I got the guts to let others read my writings. Malaca and any other characters you have not heard of before are most likely my characters(with a few exceptions). Also, when I use ~, when a character is using telepathic, or mental speaking. When a word is in italics, the character is thinking. Also, I'm sick of using the terms in English and in Japanese, so for the remainder of the stories I write I will use # for English and regular " for Japanese.

Chapter 5

The campfire wheezed and coughed throwing light in haphazard directions. Ryo's glazed eyes sparked in the fires' wake. He was silent, waiting for the time. He glanced over at his friends, Sage and Sai, who were resting on the other side of the fire. Talking quietly so to not disturb Ryo, they discussed the new warlords and Talpa himself. Ryo heard their conversation, yet did not join in. Talpa could wait until they were all recharged, including himself. Ryo's eyes darted over to Malaca's still form. She still lay there resting from her last battle.

"She spent a lot of energy fighting Salee. Friendship, her new virtue. How strange, I guess she's one of us," Ryo sighed.

Sai, hearing Ryo's sigh, looked in his direction. Sage followed Sai's glance.

"What's wrong with him?" Sage questioned Sai.

Sai shrugged in reply. Ryo didn't notice his friends looks continued to stare in to the distance. A groan startled all three of the Ronin's. Malaca, rubbing her head, sat up slowly.

#Did anyone get the license plate of that semi?# Malaca asked.

Opening her eyes, Malaca saw all three Ronin's staring at her in confusion.

"Oh, I'm in Japan right? Life! Why can't there be a universal language? It would be so much easier to live our lives if we could freaken understand what others are saying," Malaca muttered to herself as she switched to Japanese.

"Malaca?" Ryo questioned from a few feet away.

"Huh?" Malaca answered.

"Man, I have a headache. I'm sorry, Ryo, I don't mean to be rude," Malaca said in apology. "How are you feeling?" she questioned.

"Weak, tired, and helpless," Ryo answered cynically.

"Apparently, it hasn't bothered your sense of humor," she groaned back as she slowly got to her feet.

"Are you okay?" questioned Sai from across the fire.

"Yeah, I think so," Malaca answered.

"Why don't you lie down for a while. You've been out for a couple of hours," Sage said uncertain about her walking around.

"I'll be fine. Nothing is stopping me from washing Salee's smell from my clothes. I can still smell him on me!" Malaca shuttered.

"You are too much!" Sage said while rolling his eyes.

Malaca just smiled mischievly and limped off to the stream not to far away. Ryo watched her leave and wished that he too had the strength to walk around as well. Malaca walked slowly over to the stream. It's cool surface reflected the leaves of the forest above. She hurriedly slipped her boots off while unstrapping her sword from her side. Her hidden daggers fell of quickly as she threw them down. Malaca then jumped into the deep end of a grotto that lie jutting off the side of the stream.

Cool water greeted flushed cheeks. Bubbles streamed from her face as she rocketed to the surface of the water. Breathing deeply, she treaded water, washing her hair of the stench the Dynasty had left. Rustling from behind a nearby bush startled her. She jumped out of the water and grasped her sword, unsheathing it in one quick movement.

"Hey! It's just me," a startled Sai said walking out from behind the movement.

Malaca glanced at him, searching up and down before she resheathed her sword.

"Where did you get that sword from?" Sai questioned, becoming more bold after she had put her sword away.

"The dragon gave it to me," Malaca answered. Sai looked at her with confusion. "Don't ask!" Malaca exclaimed.

Sai shrugged, "Sage needs you back at camp. Ryo's asking for you. He's still weakling for some reason."

Malaca went back to business immediately, "All right lead me to him."

Both walked quickly, pacing to reach Ryo as quick as possible. Sai continued to glance at Malaca in wonder.

"She adjusted so quickly to this business of fighting. It's a wonder to me that she actually understands what is going on. Well, at least I know why I trusted her so. The virtue of Friendship and a Ronin armor. It explains everything, almost."

Sai glanced forward, instead of staring at Malaca, who now was almost running she was walking so fast. He continued to look forward, anticipating the light of the camp. Although Sai didn't mind the darkness, it still reminded him of Kale and the original Dark warlords. The campsite came into focus quickly, banishing all fear and doubt from Sai's mind. He now focused on Ryo.

"What's wrong Sage?" she questioned interrupting Sai's thoughts.

"I don't know. He should be better by now with the healing power of my armor, but he just seems to get worse. I don't know what to do!" Sage exclaimed in one breath.

As he paused to take in another breath, Malaca jumped in stopping him from continuing, "Ryo, what did Salee hit you with?"

Ryo groaned between his teeth before answering, "First he hit me with something called an opposite flare and then with a Tundra Ice Blizzard?"

Malaca nodded, "So he weakened your armor, then sucked out your life-force. That explains why you are so weak and slow to recover."

Sage nodded understanding where see was coming from. He looked at her with his blue eyes glinting from underneath his blonde bangs. Filled with respect he waited for what see what would be said next.

"When was the last time you rested?" Malaca asked.

Ryo remained silent. Sai glanced at Sage for approval and then answered for him. "Not since he awoke and found that you were unconscious."

Malaca eyes narrowed as she chewed on the situation, "How long was I out?"

"Two days," was the answer.

Malaca glared from beneath her shoulder length blonde hair. Her hazel eyes sparked as the fiery spirit showed from within.

"You let him stay up that long?" she questioned his friends.

"Well,-" Sai started.

"I wouldn't rest," Ryo interrupted, "without knowing that all of my friends were going to be all right.

"Well," Malaca said pondering his words, "I guess you will rest now."

Ryo nodded as he felt fatigue roll in. He fought the closing of his eyes. Malaca seeing this, placed her hand upon his forehead and closed her eyes. Blue fire reached down from her hand into his head.

"Rest now, Ryo, sleep," she chanted slowly making him fall into a deep slumber.

Malaca fell backwards from her effort and was caught by Sage.

"Thanks," she muttered fighting the power drain.

Malaca yawned as she slowly stood up. "We have to get him out of here as soon as possible. Infection is setting in and the chilly weather doesn't help it either. He'll die if we stay here to long," Malaca said as she began to gather her failing strength.

"What are we going to do?" questioned Sai as they walked away from Ryo leaving him to his rest.

"I'll have to teleport."

Sai and Sage both noticing the lines of fatigue and stress showing in her face, shook their heads. "Do you have the strength?" questioned Sage.

"Not really," Malaca answered back honestly.

"Then we can't," Sai stated.

"Did you hear what I said, Sai?" Malaca glared at Ryo's friend causing him to shrink back, "Deader than a door nail if we don't get him to safety soon."

"I'm sorry," Sai mumbled seeing her anger.

Malaca's tone softened as she realized how she had let her anger overcome her. "We'll have to find a way to transport him to the edge of the forest. By then I should have the strength to teleport us to your friends house."

"What's the catch?" Sage asked quietly.

Malaca sighed as she realized that they wouldn't leave her alone until she told them the truth.

"Well," she started, "I'm really not sure. I do know that I will be drained of my powers for a while. How much more than that, I'm really not sure."

Sai and Sage exchanged looks, "Are you sure you won't to risk it?"

Malaca's eyes narrowed as she thought hard, "Yeah," she answered.

Sai nodded, "She's really Ryo's friend."

Sage was still talking to Malaca, "How do you propose we get Ryo to the edge of the forest?"

"I was thinking maybe a sled of some sort. I'm sure one of the wild animals would pull it for us."

"Where would we get the wood needed?"

"Hmmm-, I'll have to think about that one. By the way, how do you guys stand talking in Japanese all the time? It begins to hurt by tongue."

Sai catching the last of her comment laughed, "It's easy, we adjusted."

#Would you prefer, this?# Sage asked her in English.

Malaca's eyes widened, #You can speak English?#

#Of course,# Sai answered also in English.

#Wow, that's a conincedence!# Malaca exclaimed in her native tongue

#What kind of animal do you think you could get to pull this 'sled'?# Sage questioned, getting back to the problem at hand.

# I was thinking along the lines of one of the wild mustangs. I hear a herd nearby,# Malaca commented

#Huh? There are no horses around these areas.#

Malaca shrugged, #I don't know why their here, but there are some wild horses nearby.#

#Hmmm-,# thought Sage out loud.

#I think we should wait until morning to decide what to do. We are tired and all of us need our rest,# Sai said quietly.

#Great idea, Sai!# Sage answered enthusiastically.

Malaca just nodded as a disturbing revelation came to mind, #What have you all eaten since I went under?#

#Umm,# answered Sai.

#What we mean to say is-,# started Sage.

Malaca's eyes widened, #YOU MEAN TO SAY THAT YOU DIDN'T CHECK MY PACK FOR SUPPLIES OR FOOD!#

Sai and Sage nodded meekly.

"OF ALL THE STUPID LOW DOW, INSENSIBLE THINGS TO DO!" Malaca began to cuss in a language that neither boys understood. Calming down, she looked straight into Sage's eyes as if she was reading his thoughts. She smiled grimly. "It's true isn't it?" she asked not expecting an answer as she switched back to Japanese.

She sighed before saying, "Well I guess I better make something for you boys to eat!"

Sage nodded his head ravenously. Malaca laughed; it was good to know such people. They kept her humble. She walked off in the direction of some packs she had mentioned earlier. They were untouched my a human hand and looked in decent condition. She flipped the covering flap and removed some of the provisions held there.

"What should I make? Jerky stew or fish filets? I think I should stick to the Jerky, for Sai may kill me if he knew I hurt some of his precious fish." Malaca giggled to herself as she caught the two boys hungry looks in her direction, "Although, I think that both would eat the hide off an elephant! They're so hungry their drooling over their chins."

Malaca giggled again as her stomach growled loudly, announcing that it was there too. "I guess I'm a little hungry myself!"

Malaca pulled a small pot from the same pack and improvised a standing structure over the fire to hold the pot up to be cooked. From there she added water(so graciously drawn from the stream from Sai) and some wild carrots(so carefully 'found' by Sage). She added all of the ingredients one by one until the small pot was filled with tasty treats Sai and Sage couldn't wait to get their drooling mouths on. Malaca grinned and settled down next to the fire. A small pad of paper was before her as she slowly drew the sight before her. Details came quickly, and soon Malaca was lost in a worlds of lines and circles.

"Nice drawling you have there," a voice commented from behind.

Malaca jumped in surprise. She had not noticed that while she drew that she had captured an audience. Malaca blushed as Sai looked over the drawling with a practiced eye. Malaca continued to blush as Sage looked over Sai's shoulder at her drawling.

"Nice," was all Sage said.

"Thank you," Malaca answered in Japanese.

Sage eyed her from beneath his golden locks. Malaca looked to the ground, not wanting all of the extra attention. She snatched the drawling from Sai and quickly flopped the pads cover over it. She then held it close to her chest as if she was protecting it from harm, her eyes wide in conviction.

"Please don't mention this to anyone," she pleaded.

"But, why?" questioned Sai throughly confused.

"Yeah, they are really good," Sage put in his two cents.

Malaca's eyes were wide with fear, "Please, they can trace me to my family through these drawings. I can't have my family in danger. I've got to protect them!"

"WHAT!" the boys both said together.

"The dynasty," Malaca explained, "they can trace me through my drawings. If anyone else finds out they'll try to publish them again. Then, my family will be left wide open to attack. I can't do that to them!"

"How can they trace you?"

"Why would they trace you?"

Malaca shrugged, "The dragon knows best, my drawings are the key to my heart he says. The lock is my power and behind the door is my family. He knows this. This is the way he'll try to attack me, through my family."

"Dragon?" questioned Sai, "That's the second time you've mentioned that. What do you mean?"

Malaca sighed as she realized that the story had to be told. The pain was over whelming. "I can't, I won't bring them into this! They'll die and I'll be all alone!"

~Talk to them, they'll understand.~

~Who's there?~

~Who do you think?~ the voice answered.

Malaca could have sworn the voice answered with a smile.

~Ryo?~

~Yep!~

"RYO!" Malaca shouted as she jumped up and looked over Sage.

"What's with her?" Sage questioned.

Sage and Sai turned around to see Ryo propped up against a couple of packs against a tree. Ryo grinned weakly.

"Ryo, buddy how are you doing?" questioned Sage with a grin.

"Fine," answered Ryo.

His voice was weak and sounded nothing like the usual energized fireball. Sage frowned as Malaca walked over to Ryo's beaten body.

"Hey, how do you feel?" she asked softly.

"Tired. What do I smell?" Ryo answered.

Malaca smiled, "Dinner."

"Good, I'm hungry."

Malaca smiled again and walked over to the pot allowing Ryo's friends to over take him. She scooped up four bowls of the stew. Balancing them carefully she walked over to the three Ronin's.

"Okay who's hungry?" she asked and was soon tackled by two ravenous teenage boys.

Ryo demanded his food from his bed and Malaca struggled to get to him over the crazy teenagers.

"I swear you two are getting more like Kento every day," Ryo said loud enough for the two boys to hear.

That stopped their death charge long enough to give Ryo's his meal. Ryo smiled gratefully. Malaca nodded before turning around to face the two dogs.

"Here you go," she said as she gave them their meals.

Sai's and Sage's heads were lost in the bowls within a matter of seconds. Contented slurping and chugging of the stew was all that could be heard for the next couple of minutes. Malaca sighed and looked up to the sky.

"What I'd do for a nice peaceful night."

Malaca felt eyes upon her. Looking up she caught Ryo's tiger blue eyes staring at her from above his bowl. Malaca blushed for the third time that night. Ryo's eyes sparkled as he continued on with his dinner.

"I got to save him, no matter what!"

There they finished their dinner in one last night of silence. Pure silence of the heart. Evil approached, the prophesy had to be fulfilled.

The wolf came to her that night as she rested peacefully among the trees. He was a gray wolf, with a jagged crescent moon scar surrounding his right eye. He was large for his kind and smelled of the pine forest. The wolf sniffed her face and she giggled.

~You are the one, little dragon.~

~Who are you?~ Malaca questioned.

~I am known as Revenge. The Eternal Dragon has asked me to come here and become your guardian. I'd rather be your friend it you don't mind.~

~No, not at all.~

~You are a smart one. I know now why the dragon has chosen you to bear his armor.~

~Can you help me with our problem?~

~Of moving your friend?~

~Yes~

~Hummm-, I don't believe you've had much training with your powers of yours. Mostly self taught, I suppose. Well, I guess I'm going to have to do this the hard way. Follow me little one.~

~I would prefer you didn't call me little one. It's Malaca.~

The wolf smiled, at least as close to a smile as a wolf could probably get to a smile ~Very well, Malaca follow me.

Malaca returned the smile before following Revenge. The wolf led her deep into the forest. The light was little on account that the moon couldn't shine through the trees' canopy. Revenge stopped quickly and sniffed the air.

~We are here little one, I'm sorry Malaca.~

~Where is here?~

~See that tree over there?~

~Yeah.~

~Consentrate your power on it. Imagine it breaking lose from it's trunk. See it fly towards you, transforming till all of it's branches are removed and the truck has been flattened completly.~

~I'll try.~

Malaca squinted as she tried to follow Revenge's commands. Her concentration wavered and broke completely as an owl hooted and flew close to her face.

~Uhh- this is so hard. Why can't I don this? I can easily call upon power when I need it in a battle. Why can't I do it now!"

~Because you don't have the will to. You don't want it bad enough. In battle it's easy for your friends are in danger and you want to help them. This is different, you've got to find a way to want it bad enough.~

~Okay, I'm going to do it this time.~

Pictures of Ryo dying because she couldn't do this simple task, rolled through her mind blinding her temporarily.

"I've got to do this!"

The tree suddenly shot out of the ground, surprising Malaca from her mental battle. The trunk formed into a flat board before her eyes. A makeshift harness appeared in front of the slab, connecting tightly to the board.

~Now what?~

~Now you call a friend to draw the weight~

Malaca nodded, she knew how to call animals to her. She closed her eyes and listened. The forest was full of life. In their endless chattering, Malaca lost focus quickly. She hardened her mind and hush the animals into listening to her.

~Please my friends aide me with your strength~

~Why should we help you, you are human and an outsider~

~I wish only to help my friend and take him out of the forest. I need one of your brethren to help~

~Why should we help your friend? Human's have only caused pain for us, the true rulers of Earth~

~How dare you! My friend is one of the Ronin warriors. He gave his life to fight for all living things in this world and this is how you repay him? I destroy Salee so you, the creatures of forest, can live a peaceful life and this is how you repay us?~

To this there was only silence and to that a singular voice was added. ~I will help you, dragon child~

A large black stallion appeared from the woods. He reared up showing his strength to all.

~Does anyone wish to challenge my decision to help the dragon child? Speak now or hold your peace~ the stallions warm voice echoed in the minds of all who bear witness to the awesome sight.

Silence.

~Good~

~We thank you~ Revenge spoke to the stallion.

Malaca walked over to the great stallion.

~What do they call you, honorable one?~ she asked bowing low to the stallion.

~No need to bow to me. We are one and the same. The fire burns within us all. I am known as Quickstrike~

Malaca rose from her bow. ~Thank you~

The stallion nodded in reply.

~Is that my load?~

~Yes, that and my friend.~

~What's wrong with your friend now. Your thoughts are distint.~

~He's injured and will die if he stays here. I have to move him to the edge of the forest before I can teleport him.~

~Well now I will transport him to the edge of the forest.~

Malaca nodded and walked off, leaving the stallion to his harness. Revenge trotted after the stallion, who had an easy time of pulling the load.

Malaca entered the campsite quietly and was immediately bombarded with questions.

"Were did you go!" Sage yelled.

"Don't you trust me?" Malaca yelled back, her anger flared.

Ryo watched from his position across the fire.

"We're not saying we don't trust you, we were just worried about you that's all," Sai answered trying to smooth out the argument before it got worse.

Sage glared at Malaca as her anger slowly diminished.

"Where were you?" Sage questioned.

~Ignore Sage, Malaca. This is his way of telling you he was worried~

Malaca hearing Ryo let all of her anger slip away. "I was getting Ryo a ride," she answered Sage.

"How?"

By then Quickstrike and Revenge had entered the scene and stood patiently for Malaca's command.

"Them?" Sai asked.

"Yep."

"What's with the wolf?" questioned Sage.

~Excuse me I'm not just a wolf. I am Revenge, Malaca's new guardian.~

Sage stood awestruck, "It talked!"

"Don't ask me, the dragon sent him to help me," Malaca shrugged.

~Are we going to go or is blondey going to stand there all day?~ questioned Quickstrike.

Malaca laughed.

Sage glared at her, "What's so funny?"

"Trust me, it's better you don't know!"

"Let's go then, I can't wait to see the rest of the guys again," Sai commented.

And with that the three friends moved their friend Ryo onto the flat piece of wood along with their packs. Ryo lay weak on the board supported by many packs. Malaca looked at him with concern.

"Don't worry Ryo we'll get you out of here and back to Mia's house in no time," she said quietly.

"I've promised not to let anything happen to you."

The four Ronin's, one stallion and a wolf then walked slowly off into the direction of the rising sun. The ball of pure fire lit their faces with a brilliant red glow. And Malaca knew that everything would be all right.

Okay guys, that the end of my series the Dragon Wars. Don't worry, I'm not leaving you all hanging in the middle of the story. I've got other series I'm thinking of writing. I'm not sure what to call it yet. Send me ideas on my next series title. (To let you all know, yes there will be more characters that I add for my own purposes) E-mail me flames, constructive criticism, anything. I love to get mail on my writings. (Don't be too harsh, after all this is my first fanfic.) I've already started writing a short story called Out of Character. I won't be writing on the computer for a while since my marching band is going to Mobile, Alabama for the Inaugural College Football Bowl. Wish us luck! See ya'll later. (Man is it just me or did that sound too hickish?)