Let the day be golden

 

Had they reached the other side? There was the sound of water falling. First, it sounded like distant rain, but the sound grew louder and the sun peaked through. ChaCha couldn't believe it to be true. They were standing beneath the waterfall. It was like a new world.

Still, a chill ran through her. She wasn't sure if they should be here. Obviously, she was so far from home now. What if it were only a trap?

"Come on, let's find some food," Milo made it sound as if they'd find a street vendor, perhaps. But they were soon in the valley in a sea of grass and summer flowers. It was untouched by the pugilist world. She must have been dreaming.

The sunshine warmed her and the breeze from the south made it feel like a late summer day. They looked around but there was nothing really. No trees with berries or blossoms. 

"I'll find us something," Milo promised as he brought her back to the boulders near the waterfall. "You wait here."

But ChaCha shook her head, no. She wouldn't take her chances. She didn't want to be snatched. Besides she knew how those martial artists were, mere soldiers who took the easy way out. They would trap her with acupuncture to the shoulder and neck and leave her paralyzed. 

"Oh, what an imagination you have," Milo smirked. "They aren't that bright. You, think any of them found a book to study those techniques? You'd have to look through plenty of caves and treasures to find such knowledge."

They pressed on to forage. She practically held him from the backside. Of course, he resisted at first, telling her she was acting like a little girl. Here, he'd thought how brave she'd been. But she said nothing and kept quiet.

Finally, he came upon a bunny where the grass was waist-high. He found a smooth river rock from his hidden pocket and took aim. ChaCha squeezed her eyes shut. Really, she hated to see the bunny's life end.

But they heard a cheerful sound and Milo put the rock away.