Morning came quickly as the sun rose and blinded Sakura. Cole didn’t seem to notice as he continued to sleep. She looked up at him and giggled softly before she heard something squawk loudly. She gasped as a large bird flew over head and then landed just above them, it’s wings gusting wind down towards them. Cole quickly woke up and looked around to find Sakura looking up at the large creature. He grinned slightly as he looked at her awe struck face.

“Just be quiet,” he whispered into her ear when she nodded in response. The bird sat there for a little while before soon taking off. Sakura watching it in wonder when there was sound from below and then the tree soon fell over. Sakura screamed and grabbed Cole as he grabbed a hold of her and hugged her tight. They soon hit the ground as Sakura slowly opened her eyes to see Cole laying down on the ground silently. She looked down at him and placed a hand on his face while her thumb massaged his cheek.

“Please wake up, Cole,” she said as the voices began to come closer.

“Cole.. Please..” she said as tears began to form in her eyes when she could feel there presence behind her.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” one of the voices said as a large hand came down and grabbed Sakura by the arm and lifted her up to her feet.

“I’d say it’s a woman but look at the weird color of her hair,” a tall grungy looking mad said as he lifted up a piece of her hair. “She must be a forest spirit. I mean look at the way she’s dressed,” he said as he peeked down her shirt. She gasped and put her free hand over chest as she tried to get away from the two large and dirty looking men. They laughed as she struggled to get free when the shorter one let go of her arm and then grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder.

“The men will be happy tonight!” he said huskily before he coughed. The other man agreed as they began to walk away.

“Cole! No!” she cried as she tried to reach out for her dark haired friend as he still laid there unconscious. The two men laughed once again before they disappeared out of sight.

“Mmm… Sakura,” Cole said as he slowly opened his eyes and looked around to see that she was nowhere in sight. He slowly got up and looked around as he rubbed his head softly.

“Where did she go..?” he said as he continued to look around when he remembered hearing two voices just before the tree had fallen.

“Sakura!” he said before he quickly got up and began to look around. He quickly spread his wings and began to search for her and prayed that the worst hadn’t happened.

Meanwhile Sakura sat in a large tent and sighed as she looked down at the ground and wondered what was going to happen to her. The two men that carried her here had disappeared right after they put her in here and she hasn’t heard from them since. She wondered why they had told her not to go outside but she figured that it’d be best to listen to them for now, at least until she knew what she was in for. She continued to sit there patiently when suddenly a tall, tanned skinned man walked in. Over his shoulders he wears some kind of fur while on his legs he wears a pair of dark brown pants and last but not least big fur boots. She looked him over curiously and grinned at his attire when he smiled back and began to walk towards her. Her smiled faded slightly as he stood over top of her. She began to slide her but across the bed when the big beefy guy sat down at placed an arm around her. She froze and then looked up at him and smiled.

“Uh.. Hi,” she said as she tried to scoot away from him when his smile broadened and he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. She laughed nervously and hugged him back when he lifted her up and set her on his lap. “Someone help me,” she thought as he began to pet her head softly.

“Man.. Where could she.. be,” Cole had started to say before he saw the camp below. He quickly landed before they had a chance to see him as he slowly began to make his way towards the many fur and skin covered huts. He stealth fully made his way through the quiet camp, checking one tent at a time. He sighed, him going on his fourth tent when he found her. He growled at the sight of her being held in another mans arms when he wondered why he even cared. With a small sigh he began to think of a way that he could free her when he found himself to be surrounded by several men with large pointed spears. Cole sighed as he slowly got up and was drug by the men to the inside of the tent where Sakura and the large man were.

“Cole!” Sakura said as she jumped up off of the guy and kneeled down beside her friend.

“Hey,” he said with a grin before one of the men kicked his side. Sakura looked up at him angrily when the large man got to his feet.

“Thanks enough,” he said in a large voice as all the men backed away.

“Leave us be,” he continued when they bowed and all exited the tent, leaving the three of them there alone.

“Come here my dear,” the man said as he reached a hand down towards Sakura. She looked from it to Cole and then to him and slowly took it. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you,” he said as she placed some of her hair behind one of her ears. She nodded as Cole slowly got up.

“Who are you?” he asked, Sakura shocked by his angry tone when the giant grinned.

“I’m the warrior, Vice Roy and I’m here to find the princess,” he said when Cole smirked.

“The princess? The princess born in the Earth’s realm?” he asked when Vice nodded. Cole laughed and shook his head.

“You’re dreaming. Many people, including I have looked for that mysterious girl and noone has been able to find her, not even the high wizard, Merlock,” Cole said when Vice grinned.

“Ahh.. But are you sure she’s not real?” he asked before he turned to Sakura and smiled.

“Huh?” she said as she returned his gentle gaze. Cole looked from Sakura to Vice and gasped.

“You have to be kidding me,” he said when Vice shook his head.

“Nope. I’m pretty sure,” he said when Cole sighed.

“You’re so full of it,” he replied as Sakura watched them argue.

“What are you guys talking about?” she asked curiously when Vice looked down at her and grinned.

“You see my dear me, Cole and a couple of other men long ago were sent out to find this princess,” he said when Cole huffed.

“It was only a couple of years ago,” he said when Vice sighed.

“Ok, whatever. But anyways.. We searched and searched but could never find the princess and now that the land is in turmoil and the demons are beginning to arise once again she has now made herself known,” Vice said happily as he smiled down towards her.

“And the princess would be?” she asked curiously.

“You! You dim wit!” Cole yelled when she looked at him angrily.

“Ok! I’m sorry! Geez man..” she said when Vice grabbed her by the hand, Cole watching and gasping.

“Don’t mind him, he’s just sour about something’s,” Vice explained when Sakura blushed and nodded.

“Ok,” she said, nodding her head quickly before he chuckled softly and kissed her hand.

“My lady,” he said as he bowed and pushed back the fur door for her. She smiled softly and exited the hut as Vice gave Cole a smug look before he went out behind her.

“Stupid men,” he muttered as he angrily followed them out into the light.

“Good new my men!” Vice called out to all of his villagers as they al stopped what they were doing and watched there brave leader.

“We’ve found a candidate for the princess and are going to take her to see the high wizard, Merlock!” he announced as they all began to cheer.

“Lonny! get my horse! Geo! Get me some supplies!” he ordered as everyone got ready for there leaders departure, the horse and supplies coming rather fast as Sakura looked back at Cole who still seemed angry. She sighed softly and Vice noticed as he asked if there was anything wrong. She quickly smiled and shook her head, him smiling and nodding before he mounted his horse and grabbed onto Sakura, him pulling her on with him.

“Live well my people!” he called out as they all called out and waved good bye before they took off down across a large field. Cole sighed and spread his wings as he followed close behind.