The boys travelled for a week, resting in the crevices in the cliffs along the roadside. They were passed by a few caravans and travellers on horseback, but most of the journey went without much occurrence. The excitement was in the journey itself. The boys spent the time getting to know each other better, quizzing each other on the difference between forest village life, and simple farm life. It turned out that despite their differences, simply living in the same region meant they had a lot in common, and they had in fact probably met each other during festivals, market fairs and other events before without realising it.

“That thing that you were doing in the sand,” Enkerai stated as the slopes of the mountains began to give way to marshland, “what was it? I’ve never seen anyone from our region do it before, is it from somewhere else in Oorunell?”

“Oh, that?” Oré laughed, “It’s a therapeutic process called Samon. It originates from the Isles to the South East of Oorunell,”

“Ah, we learnt a bit about those places at school. The Rango States?

“Kango States,” Oré corrected.

“The people there sound interesting,” Enkerai said, “I’ve never taken a ship of any sort before, though. Never even left West Oorunell.”

“Well, you’re not alone there. I haven’t left this region, but I really would like to see the Kango States, I’ve heard so much about the islands, I’m sure I’d feel right at home there.” Oré smiled and knelt down. He then paused suddenly, the smile leaving his face. He motioned to Enkerai to come closer. “You see that?”

“Pawprints,” Enkerai noted, looking at the spikey shapes embedded in the soft soil.

“Yep.”

“Well I can tell they’re not, sheep, so I’m stumped,” Enkerai stated, “You’re the farmer. What type of animal do they belong to?”

“Not any type of farm animal - that’s for sure,” Oré said, “The fact that it’s a paw and not a hoof is the obvious giveaway, but what I find really weird is this.” Enkerai motioned to a thick groove in the soft mud between the paw prints, “I don’t know what makes a mark in the ground like that.”

“Well by the looks of those prints, it’s got some claws on it,” Oré said, “Let’s hope we don’t encounter it.”

“I agree. So do we just continue on the same path?” Enkerai asked.

“I think so. Burmaan village should be just up ahead,” Oré responded.

“That’s where we’re going?” Enkerai turned to Oré, “I saw that on the map… why are we taking this route and not the one through the forest?”

“Shortcut. Trust me, when you travel with me ther-“

At that moment a small orange shape shot out of the trees and into Oré’s face.

“Get it off! Get it off!” Oré screamed as Enkerai tried frantically to grab at what appeared to be a small ginger rodent with a silver lightning shaped pattern zigzagging down its side.

“It’s too wriggly I can’t!” Enkerai yelled back trying and failing to get a good grip on the ball of fur.

“Rai! I think it’s going to claw out my eyes,” Oré whimpered loudly,

“Wait, I have an idea.” Enkerai took a step back and reached for his staff, “Stand really still, Oré.” Oré stopped writhing around and Enkerai gripped the end of his staff with both hands and wound his arms back.

“Whatever you’re planning to do, hurry up!” Oré cried.

“Hold even more still,” Enkerai said, and then swung his staff directly at Oré’s head. The rodent saw the staff approaching and swiftly leapt off to defend itself. And then Oré saw it coming.

“Hey!” Oré screamed, ducking just as the staff whistled over his head, “Are you trying to kill me?!”

“I almost had it!” Enkerai said thwacking the floor around him as the rodent ran around him in circles, its beady eyes and whiskered nose twitching as it moved.

“At what expense?!” You could have knocked my head clean off!

“I think you overestimate my power,” Enkerai smiled, pausing from his chase to grin at Oré.

“I’d be tempted to push you off the cliff if you weren’t the one holding the map,” Oré laughed, shaking his head, “Now leave that thing alone, we need to get to Burmaan.”