A Hidden Oasis, One With Valuable Information [Plot. Ai, Amara, Invite. NK.]

A long night, and a longer day; they could handle the long ride, as could their horses. Breakfast in the saddle, lunch as well; it was getting into late evening before they stopped finally. It was a simple oasis, nothing special. Rarely used, as it was very close to the edge of the sands, well within the range of much better water sources in the grasslands; hell, if you climbed a tall enough tree you could almost see the major river of the region on the far northern horizon. No one stopped here because they didn't need to, and most of the year there was no water in the depression that passed for a pond. Only in the spring and early summer, when the rains fell in the plains nearby that the water table rose high enough to fill it; and give this little oasis true life. It was during that time that this oasis was most valuable; the water acted as a... portal, of sorts, allowing for access to something no one knew about. Another outpost, similar to the one back in their former home. It was similar, yes; but not the same. It was mostly empty, nothing but the scribbles on the walls and a few rotting scrolls; the rest was lost to time long before he'd ever found it.

Too bad. This place had once been as fertile as the one they'd emptied. It would do for a place to rest, and he needed to be sure his mental map was right. On a wall inside was an ancient map, it was useless for most of the world, but the deep forests they needed to go into was still correct. It would be good to be sure; he hadn't been back in a very long time, and he didn't want to risk getting lost.

They'd stop and rest for the night, maybe a day or two.

"Dismount. I have something special to show you."

Ai was perfectly fine with the long travel; it wasn't unusual for her to go long periods of time without sleep when she had been on duty, and this goal they were working towards was far more important then that. So long as Amara was comfortable, and well rested, she could care less about herself. She also hadn't minded eating while on the go: they could only move so fast on the horses after all, and it allowed them to cover more ground without constantly stopping and starting.

However, as Raijin said to dismount she looked at him curiously before doing just that. With her feet on the ground she patted the horse gently: she loved animals, horses and otherwise. She turned, pausing to help down Amara and Aya. She was sure they were going to enjoy having a chance to run around; they had been so good about the journey and the constant traveling so far.

“Oh? Now you definitely have me curious.”, she said softly, turning her attention back to Raijin and wondering what exactly they had stopped here to see.

Amara and Aya had been both kind of in pilot mode while they traveled; just quietly looking around and taking everything in but otherwise not making too much of a fuss. Amara and Aya had both caught on that this journey was important, and that was enough to keep them both well behaved and relatively still. But, now that there was a chance to get down? They were both excited!

Amara got down first, and then Aya. Aya instantly took Amara's hand once they were both standing and the duo walked over to Rajin; or rather, skipped over to him. They were bouncing in place, excitedly as they waited to see whatever it was they wanted to show them.

He moved to Ai and took the reins for her horse, moving to tie them up on one of the large date palms that would give them shade and access to a bit of grazing; there was grass growing at the edge of the water, and it was a good change for them to eat. He'd get them some grains later that night, once it was cool enough for them to want to eat properly. Once they where secure, he moved to the edge of the water and to a small rock that to the untrained eye was just there and totally worthless. However, he knew better. He'd found it on accident the first time; the map that had shown him how to get here hadn't had any mention of the key or how to active the door, but his eye for detail told him that the only visible rock in the area was likely something important.

He brushed his right hand against the top of the rock, allowing the sharp edge to bite into his flesh and a few drops of blood to drip free; the 'key' was an offering of life, a rare and valuable thing in the desert wastelands. The blood seemed to shimmer and glow for a moment, then spread across the face of the rock in an obvious seal pattern, the lock was opening and the water started to churn and bubble. After a moment, it was like a hand reached down from the heavens and split the center of the pond; where once had been bubbling water was now the entrance to an underground tunnel, made of carved sandstone rock and dry as a bone.

"Hurry, the gate is only open for a few minutes at a time. The horses will be fine up here. Stay close to be at all times, don't wander off." He made for the entrance, the remaining water in the way was only a few inches deep, barely enough to cover Amara's ankles at the deepest point, so they could move quickly and easily.

Just beyond the entrance stairs was a small square room, where he waited for them to reach before moving on. The tunnels beyond where a maze, and one wrong turn would leave you lost forever.

Ai watched Raijin tie up the horses with a slight smile. She reached over and lightly ruffled Amara's hair and poked her lightly on the side. Then her attention shifted back to Raijin as he went to work opening the 'gate' to this hidden location. An eyebrow rose but she didn't waste time speaking, and instead followed in after him, ensuring that Amara and the monkey were with them as well.

She ensured they stayed close to him; his warning was obviously for a reason, and she could only imagine how large this hidden place actually was. Things tended to look smaller from above ground after all; and this place had been so well hidden that she had had no idea it was here – so there really was no telling. The last thing any of them needed to do was to end up getting separated or worse.

“How many of these places have you found, dear?”, she asked curiously as she looked around.

[I really apologize for that wait; I thought it was Rai's turn. My bad.]

Amara giggled when she was tickled, squirming out of arms reach so that she couldn't be tickled again.

Aya hopped up and down in place several times as this secret location was revealed; it amused the monkey greatly, excited her. Amara too was excited; her face had a large and surprised smile spread across it, and she even went so far as to clap her hands together excitedly. At her father's warning to hurry Aya climbed on Amara's back – thankfully the monkey was still rather light, meaning that the child didn't fall over. With Aya on her back Amara stepped through the water carefully but quickly, ensuring that she didn't slip or anything as she followed them inside.

Giggling she looked around, quite curious and amazed at the same time that something like this even existed. ”This is awesome!”

Aya nodded her head, thankfully refraining from letting out the usual excited screeches she was quickly becoming famous for. Amara stayed close to her mother and father; heeding the warning well that Raijin had given. Besides, after the initial excitement it was a bit scary; though Amara was becoming braver by the minute. Aya remained on Amara's back; the monkey's arms loosely around her neck and her legs being held by Amara's hands for the moment, around her waist.

[I should have said something sooner than I did, no worries dear.]

He merely smiled and waited a moment, once they where inside they where safe, but he was going to wait for the 'gate' to close', at the top of the stairs, the first step slid forward and became a slab of rock that formed a 'ceiling' to the room; once it had settled there was not even so much as a line to tell where the entrance had been; it was just a solid wall of rock that for all the wold looked like it had always been there. From the pack on his back he produced a torch and lit it, providing a dim, but usable, source of light for them.

"At least a dozen, but I've only actually explored 5 or 6 in depth. Many of the rest where like the other one, collapsed or destroyed or blocked off in some manner. If the maps and scrolls I've found are accurate, there where once closer to 20 of these places all across the continent, but of that, maybe 10 or so are left in any sort of functional state. Come, let's get out of this hallway. It's not far to the main room, so long as you know the way. One wrong turn and you'll never get out; this place is a living maze; the walls themselves move when you're not paying attention."

He knew exactly where to go, though; the trick was in the darkness itself. The dim light caused marking in the wall to glow, showing them the path they needed to take. A stronger light, such as that of a flashlight or jutsu, would obscure the glow and leave them lost forever. "Once we're there, we can relax for the night. If need be, I can bring the horses down, if we want to stay longer for whatever reason."

Ai's eyebrows raised as she watched the entrance close: after it was closed it resembled nothing more then another wall. Definitely handy, but also a bit tricky if you didn't know your way around. She was definitely able to understand Raijin's need for them to stay close: it made her place her hand on Amara's back gently, ensuring that the child stayed with them when they began to move.

“Wow. I wonder why there were so many...Do you know why they were built in the first place?”, she asked curiously. Surely someone had had a unique purpose for building so many hidden locations scattered throughout. Their old 'home' had surely had its fare share of secrets, and she wondered if the same could be said for this one, or even for the others. It would definitely be interesting to see.

Amara's mouth formed a little 'o' shape, though her smile was also there. Eyes were wide open, staring in complete and total wonder at the tunnel around them. She watched the gate shut, becoming nothing more than a solid wall. Despite how scary such a situation could be Amara didn't feel that way: she was here with her parents, and that meant there was nothing to be scared of.

Given she was a child and easily distracted she quickly noticed what was on the walls, revealed in the dim light. “Pretty...”, she said, pointing it out.

She kept close to her parents, knowing not to stray off. She also ensured that Aya kept on her back. The monkey was looking around in total and complete wonder as well: this place was magical to them. Just seeing something like this was a great gift. ”Daddy this place is magical!”, she said suddenly, excitedly.

”Magical!”, Aya copied her, the monkey nodding her head in agreement as she kept hanging onto Amara's back.

"Not magical, not really. It's chakra, all of it. Or... sort of. It's what we call chakra now... but that's a different story, for another time. It'll make more sense once I've been able to explain some things. I can start on that when we get inside properly." Around corners, down halls, they moved for what would seem like forever in that oppressive darkness. Often, the walls weren't even visible, save for the trail they provided. Even that vanished, eventually; but this wasn't a bad thing, they'd reached the room they needed to be in, and the walls had just spread out father than the circle of the torch light.

"Stay right here. We're in the right spot, trust me. I just need to turn off the security. This darkness isn't natural, and you'll see what I mean in a few moments." He moved off quickly, the light of the torch all but vanishing after he was only a few feet away. The moments he was away where long, this darkness had a way of making time see slow, like molasses in the winter. However, it was very obvious when Rai had done what was needed, as the room was suddenly flooded with a pleasant glow from the walls and ceiling. The room was massive, large enough to hold dozens of people comfortable. It was style much like the village of Yokuchi was, few 'tables' and no chairs to speak of, merely the occasional platform built up from the ground, with brazers on the wall that still held a hint of incense and wood smoke. The mind could easily imaging massive pillows and cushions scattered for comfort across the area; and the sudden sound and smell of water from a fountain in the fall wall helped to dispel the strange weight one always felt underground. The walls themselves where covered in pictographs and odd glyph that would be at home in an ancient king's tomb.

"Alright, let's unpack for the night. The water from the fountain is clean, it's fed by an underground spring so we won't have to touch our stores, and can top off what we have used already. I've got fire wood stored here already from when I was last here, so I'll get the oven heating up so we can have a good meal." He pointed toward a spot on the wall that was different from the rest; it was like it was made of bricks instead of solid rock. It was a wood fired oven used for making bricks and cooking the way the desert peoples did in their base camps; the migrating caravans would use regular fires, but this was better suited for making the strange breads and such they lived on. It would work fine for them, and if anything, he'd be able to make some extra hardtack and iron bread for them, just to be safe.

Ai couldn't help but smile at Amara's way of thinking: just by her use of magical it allowed Ai to know that while Amara had been through hell it hadn't broken the spirit of a child within her. It was, even though her choice of wording was wrong in this situation, comforting. It gave Ai hope that one day Amara would be like any normal child – or as normal a child as she could get considering what her and Raijin planned on doing for the world. Ai kept close to Raijin until told to stay put, in which case she then placed both hands on Amara and Aya.

Her grip became more reassuring as Raijin walked off and the light all but disappeared after a few feet; plunging them straight into darkness. She wasn't quite sure how Amara or Aya would take this kind of darkness, but she kept her hand on both to ensure that they felt safe and secure regardless. When there was finally light was when she removed her hands. She lightly touched Amara's head before walking off a few steps, examining in the set up of the room curiously.

While the details of the place made her curious, what she more cared about at the moment was the fact that the place was safe: it would take an absolute miracle and a lot of knowledge for anyone to figure out how to get in here, and even then, given the way the place was an absolute maze it would be damn near impossible for them to be found. All in all, it meant they were safe and didn't have to worry. Though, she did find herself wondering if the kage of Amagakure was even going to bother sending anyone after them or not.. surely, even if no one had seen them leave, their absence had to be noticed by now.

Amara nodded patiently; she could wait to hear this story her father spoke of until later. For now she had enough curiosity burning inside of her to keep her well occupied.

When told to stay where they were Amara kept close to her mother, and made sure that Aya stayed with them as well. Her mother's reassuring grip kept her calm as her father walked some distance away and the blackness all but swallowed them up. Thankfully, it wasn't to last though, and soon enough the whole room was lit up. Ai released her hold on Amara, and Amara allowed Aya back down. ”Don't wander too far from me, Aya.”, she warned the monkey. Aya gave a nod and only moved away about ten feet, exploring and looking without risking going too far.

Amara too had a good look around in wonder; she had never seen a place like this after all, so to her it was all new and very much amazing. Eventually though she found herself a place to sit that was out of the way and Aya joined her. Amara pulled off her sashel that she had been carrying on her and removed from it her bracelet making kit. She got started on making one, while her stomach grumbled up a storm.

”There's a monster in your belly...”, Aya commented with a poke to Amara's stomach that had her giggling and squirming in place.

He reached into his hip pack and retrieved a specific storage scroll, for each of these outpost stops he'd packed a different scroll that was tailored to what they'd need to be comfortable for their stay. This particular scroll was full of cushions and pillows, spices and incense to burn in the brazers because why the hell not, and some games and such so they'd have something to do to pass the time. He moved a few feet away from them and opened the scroll, turning the seal and allowing it the contents to 'spill' out onto the floor. He grabbed the blankets and such, and offered them to Ai, Amara, and Aya, "Take these, spread them around. Put the cushions on them. Trust me, it's nicer than the stone floor."

He returned to the contents of the scroll, containers of fresh fruit and breads for them to snack on while he worked on getting the oven heating up. He set the containers down on a small table that was in the scroll, then grabbed a secondary scroll from his pocket and moved toward the oven. The wood was removed and arranged in a certain way inside the oven; the wood was burned on one side, and the food cooked on the other. The wood was lit easily, and he lifted a small cap for the opening off the ground and capped it, so that the air inside could heat up.

Moving back toward them, he grabbed a large cushion and shifted it so that he could flop down on it to wait. "So, what all has Amara been told, dear?"

Ai took some blankets and cushions and laid them out around what was going to be home for at least the night. The place did have a certain cozy charm to it, especially as the smell of the cooking food began to fill the air. Once finished she removed her cloak and then promptly sprawled herself out on one of the large pillows. Once comfortable and cozy she looked over to Raijin with a thoughtful look.

“Hm. Well, she knows about what happened with the hospital; and why we weren't around. About how we were tricked and made to believe she had died. Other then that we really didn't discuss anything – she filled me in on the details though of what happened that night when the people she thought were her family were attacked and killed. We were right in our assumptions; they were tortured in front of her, and she was made to watch. They threatened that if she ever told they'd come find her, no matter where she was, and do the same to her.”

Ai glanced over to Amara; the fact that their daughter was as mentally put together as she was was a miracle. Most people wouldn't have have survived that sort of situation intact, especially not a child. The fact that Amara had come out of it mostly unscathed was a miracle – and she was damn sure going to make sure no one ever harmed her again.

Amara and Aya both got up, the beads and string all but forgotten for the moment as the pair made quick work in helping to spread out the blankets and the cushions while Raijin went about pulling out food and starting the fire – plus the actual meal. When they too were finished with helping Amara returned to her beads and began to separate her favorites for the bracelet she planned on making.

As her parents talked she listened; hearing her mother describe exactly what she had told her. It was funny, in a sense, because what had bothered her to even think off only twenty four hours ago barely phased her now. It was as if she were a different, far stronger person, living a completely different life. She no longer felt afraid, she no longer feared that those who had harmed her would show up again: her mother had told her that Raijin and her would keep Amara safe, and Amara believed her. She knew her parents were strong, and she knew her parents would protect her with their lives.

She pulled out a piece of string, measured the size of it, and then began to add the beads as she glanced over to her parents and blinked: curious as to exactly what she was about to be told – she knew it was something, considering her father's question to her mother. While she looked between her parents she used her peripheral vision to continue to string beads in their proper order on the piece of string - great practice really for other skills she might one day need, even if all she was doing was making a bracelet while barely looking.

He shifted on the cushion so that he was closer to Amara so that he could watch her work, "Well, that's one major issue covered. The rest is a bit... complex; and I won't try to sugar coat it. Your mother and I, well... call us defectors if you must, but we couldn't handle the state of the country anymore. After everything we've seen, everything we done, had done to us; we have to do something to change it. There is a sickness eating at the hearts and souls of our people, and at the rest of the world, and if no one else will take a stand to stop it, then we will. I've seen enough good people killed for no reason other than the color of their skin and eyes; children taken and sold into slavery; horrible things that no one should ever have to see. The people that fancy themselves the leaders of the world live in gilded mansions far away from the people they are supposed to protect, turn a blind eye to the evils all around. We had to leave so that we could work to make things better. In the coming months and years, we will like end up doing things that will have us branded criminals and monsters... but we do it in order to save the people of the world. Does that make sense, my little one?"

Ai watched Amara curiously while listening to Raijin began to explain about what it is they were up to. It was the truth, which was the best. She knew that both Raijin and her felt the same with the idea that the truth was what Amara deserved. She needed to know how they would be considered by everyone else, even if their goals and intentions were true and honest: for the best of everyone else.

.oO(Sorry for the short post, I just wanted to keep this moving so I wasn't holding things up.)

Amara kept working on her bracelet that she was making; stringing the beads through the thin string. She paid attention to her work, though she did look up often to her father as he spoke. She thought about what he had explained to her; and was glad that he was telling her the truth. Most adults felt the need to lie to children, or give them half truths, but that's not what her parents were doing with her. Despite her age she wanted to know the truth: and that was what they had handed her.

”I think so, daddy. People will see you and mommy as bad people because you left the village” She paused, ignoring the fact that she would likely be seen as the same given she was with them. ”But really you're good people: and you want to stop things like what happened to me from happening to anyone else? And you want to stop the other bad stuff that keeps going on, too.”

At that point she put her beads and bracelet down, looking at her father to see if she understood this all correctly. Her child like innocent and honesty allowed her to see things differently then those taught to be blind: it kept her eyes open to accept the truth and knowledge without discrimination.

"That's right, dear. The people of the village, they don't like it when the ninja leave, for any reasons. It's been a long time since ninja were free to come and go as they want or needed; anyone that leaves, even the ones the leave for missions or on orders, are instantly suspect by the people. Defection is the ultimate betrayal, or so they feel. It doesn't matter why you left, only that you did." He knew plenty of high ranking officials that in any other country would have been kicked out for the things they did, but they kept their jobs and their cushy lives because they were 'loyal' to the village and it's leader. Stretching out so that his muscles would start to relax, being in the saddle for so long was something they didn't do often, given the floating nature of their former home, "Our cause is just, and so long as we don't lose our way, we'll always have that to keep us going. Well, that, and each other. I started on this path to give your mother and her family a better life... and now that we have you back, I do this for you too."

Ai couldn't help but smile slightly: the fact that Amara understood this all was going to make this so much easier. Amara's grasp on the situation was rather good, and it caused Ai to relax more – she had been worried of their daughter's reaction, but she was handling things so well.

She leaned back into one of the cushions and got comfortable, staring up at the ceiling for a second before looking back over towards Raijin and Amara. She watched her daughter work on the bracelet while curious as to what her reaction was going to be to Raijin's words – Ai kept silent as to not interrupt, and to give Amara time to think.

A deep frown appeared on the child's face and once more she stopped in her bracelet making and looked up to her father. She tilted her head a bit, thinking of the words she wanted to say, the questions she wanted to ask, before doing so. ”But... daddy. How does that make sense? If you force someone to stay some place they don't want to, then how do they really expect that person to want to stay loyal to their village? I think people should be given a choice: and if they want to stay then they'll do so, but otherwise they should be allowed to leave... Forcing people to stay some place that they're not happy in, or do something they don't want to do... It isn't right.”

She looked back down at her nearly finished bracelet, thinking and frowning as she did so. But, she became silent for now. Her views were untainted by the world, despite the fact that she had gone through a great deal of hell. She didn't like the fact that her parents were considered 'criminals' just because they had left a place they didn't want to be. She especially didn't like the fact that they were considered evil or bad simply because they wanted to help change the world for the better.

”This world is broken...”, she said softly.

Oh, to hear her say that; so know that she understood the concepts at such an age, it made him both happy, and a little sad. A part of him hated that she was so wise so young, but it also made him happy to know that she was that well prepared for the road ahead. "Yes, in many ways, it is. If we're successful, we'll be able to bring about the changes needed to fix what's wrong.

He was about to speak again when he noticed the smell of the fire; it was hot now, and ready for cooking. "Just a moment, let me get the food cooking." He rolled to his feet; using his contortionist like agility to basically tie himself into a knot to do it. Ah, the glory of being a gypsy. He moved off quickly, producing a scroll from his pocket and cracking it open. He reached into the seal and removed a large iron pot and a plethora of supplies; he'd basically packed everything he needed to make a fresh camp stew without having to actually do any work for it. It took him a good five minutes to get the pot filled with ingredients; a mix of vegetables, meats, and spiced broth; and set properly in the over. He could leave it now, let it warm up, thicken, and settle.

Moving back to them, "That won't take very long. I had an idea I wanted to run by you both. Since we're here, and we're really not in much of a rush; how about we take a side trip into the city? It's easy enough to hide effectively in a merchant village, and I sort of have family in the region. I can pass for native, at least. Opinions?"

Ai felt her heart break a little to hear Amara's comment about the world being broken. While the observation was true in a lot of ways it was also sad to hear it come from such a young child. Amara was a very wise child, and clearly saw the truth where others saw lies, and it was a situation that would make this all the easier. Still though, Ai couldn't help but think that this wisdom had come with the price tag of all of the horrible things that had happened to Amara, and in that way it made her wish that she could take it all back – even if it meant that explaining this situation would have been a tad bit harder. She would rather deal with that then knowing that the reason why Amara could understand things the way she did was because the evils of the world had already left their impression upon her.

Ai reached over as Raijin got up to start the food and pulled Amara over and onto her lap. She reached forward and carefully dragged over her bracelet and the kit to make it so that her daughter could continue to work on it if she chose. With her daughter on her lap she simply laid her head against Amara's and sighed. She wrapped her arms around her daughter and squeezed gently; hugging her. As she held her child she renewed her mental promise to protect her against any further harm: she would die before someone else had a chance to harm her daughter.

Her attention then shifted to Raijin at his question and she pondered it for a moment: it would be nice to give Amara the chance to explore a village she had yet to see – especially before things ended up getting to hectic to do so. It would also be a great learning experience. “I think that sounds like an excellent idea, dear.”

She watched her father get up and tilted her head to the side a bit as she giggled: she didn't quite understand how he could move in such a way. ”How'd you do that?”, she asked in a voice clearly laced with amazement and awe. To her her parents were amazing, and each hour that passed with them her amazement with them, and her love towards them, grew. They were like her own personal heroes: it was just how she saw them.

Her mother then was pulling her into her lap, and pulling over her bracelet making kit: clearly she could keep working if she wanted. When her mother hugged her and sighed she easily picked up on the emotion: her mother sounded and 'felt' sad. Abandoning her nearly finished bracelet she shifted slightly on her mother's lap so that she could return the hug while resting her head against her mother. ”You seem sad. Don't be sad, mommy...”

At her father's question she nodded. She couldn't help but feel excited about the idea of seeing another village besides the one that she had grown up in. A smile spread across her face and an excited twinkle filled her eyes. ”Haha! Yes! Yes!”

"It's in my blood, dear. I'm a gypsy, after all; we're a people that value movement, flexibility, and freedom. One way my people tell stories is via dance; our entire history is recorded in song and dance, and the dances get rather complex. We've adapted to be extraordinarily flexible people because of it. Well, that, and I'm a trained swordsman. It helps to have strong, but loose, joints, when you're a sword user."

Just to amuse her, he shifted his weight around so that he was tumbling forward into a sort of somersault; however instead of rolling entirely over himself, he stopped half way; straightening his back and using his hands to brace as he rotated his body around so that he was able to literally sit on the top of his own skull. The way he was sitting had his skull seated so that his chin was flat against the ground, so that he was able to balance comfortably for long periods. He did this fairly often; in private anyway; it tended to... scare, normal people. Not that he much cared; but given how iffy many of the people of the country had been over the things his people could do... yeah. Better to keep it private.

"I can teach you, too. You have all the same potential as me; and likely all the talent for it. There are many things I need to teach you; but those can wait for after we've had some food and sleep. We can use this trip into the village to show you some of the things I'll teach you.~"