"Look high, solider." barked the first soldier. "You are a survivor of the Unicorn Brigade. Be proud."

Jowy slowly looked up, between the soldiers. In the distance, he saw a lone figure come their way. He appeared to be of Jowy's age, clad in a red tunic, weilding a staff as well. His soft, dark brown hair was covered in green bandannas.

Young Master McDohl had finally made it to Kyaro town. It took him days to find a way out of that jail cell. It turned out that they never really searched him and the potch he had bribed the guards nicely. For an extra 5000 potch, they agreed to keep Vincent for another few days. After travelling, he was the walled gate of Kyaro and sighed in relief. He was finally going to get home soon. Everyone must be worried sick.

As McDohl was about to enter, he noticed a couple of Highland guards carrying a young boy about his . . . apparent age down the road. He was a prisoner, but some of the clothes he wore indicated that he was part of the Highland Youth Brigade, if he wasn't mistaken.

"Uhm....excuse me," McDohl started. "But what's going on here?"

"We are on Highland Imperial business, boy." stated the second guard. "This does not concern you. Run home to your family."

Jowy gazed into McDohl's eyes. He sensed the same gentle aura his friend had, yet a certain sadness and guilt which could not be spoken. He forced a smile to show the other boy everything was all right before following the soldiers.

"How long will it take to get to Muse?" the first soldier asked the second.

"A day two, depending that young Atreides decides to get a move-on."

"Atreides?" McDohl asked, surprised. He remembered someone with that name at the Highland Castle when he was on business. He remembered the man having two children, but what was one doing being carried along like a prisoner? The family was incredibly loyal to the Highland Kingdom and this kid was far too young to anything that would require an armed escort. "Excuse me, but if you're going to Muse, I'd appreciate it if I could travel with you. I'm going there myself."

The blond-haired boy nodded. Was he smiling for real just a little...? "That would be..."

"Silence!" the first guard interrupted, reaching for his sword. "We don't need the likes of a street urchin such as yourself to accompany us!"

"Forgive my forwardness, sir, but travelling to Muse is a dangerous journey to set on foot." Joey said calmly. He turned to McDohl, holding out his hand. "Pleased to meet you. I am Jowy Atreides. You are?"

Young Master McDohl reached out his hand to shake Jowy's despite the guard's objections..

"My name is McDohl. Pleased to meet you."

"I'm glad you can come along." said Jowy.

"M-M-McDohl?!" both soldiers exclaimed in unison. They dropped to their knees, groveling profusely. "Please forgive us! We are but humble Highland knights! We did not mean any disrespect, to the president of the Toran Republic!"

Jowy inwardly sighed. To him, McDohl was only a boy his age who can easily be treated as such, not a high and mighty god-figure. "I'm sorry. Shall we get going?"

Young Master McDohl just shook his head. This was precisely the kind of reaction he had hoped to avoid. He hadn't been president for two years now.

"I'm sorry about all the comotion," he said to Jowy. He smiled inwardly. This guy reminded him a lot of Ted. "What is going on around here?"

Jowy bowed his head. "We don't have a lot of time. I'll explain on the way."

The four went on their journey to Muse, first crossing the mountains. The two soldiers followed behind McDohl nervously as they were frightened to say or do any wrong in his presence. Jowy sighed.

"You see, I was once a member of the Unicorn Brigade; a branch of Highland's army which trains new recruits. Just last night, three days before a training exercise ended, I was sent home. When I returned home, my father received news that the Unicorn Brigade had been massacered. The new recruits, including my friends, were brutally murdered and any remains were scorched to the ground." Jowy's eyes glistened with tears. "My childhood friend was among them. The reports showed there were only two survivors, I hope he is one....

"Anyway, we are on our way to Muse to secure sort of business concerning the burning of the brigade. It was said that the City-States of Jouston is responsible. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ramble."

"That's....that's awful!" McDohl was clearly shocked at what he had heard. He knew the City-States and Highland were at war, and even had a tentative peace treaty, but massacring children........

"Don't worry, I'm sure your friend is alright. I should consult my friends at Toran about this."

"It's all right. He's not one to die easily." said Jowy. Suddenly, the guards pushed foward.

"L-l-l-look! An enemy!"

A pack of three, hungry blue wolves approached the foursome, thinking they were a delicious meal. The guards drew their weapons, hoping to protect the great McDohl.

"W-We'll p-protect you!" they trembled. It was obvious in their state they could not hold a sword let alone fight.

The wolves pounced, fangs beared, about to strike. Quickly, Jowy drew his Star Staff, twirling the twin-dragon weapon one-handed. He lept into the air and slammed the end of his staff onto the leader. The wolf howled in pain and fell to the ground, unconscious.

McDohl took his Heaven Fang Staff and joined Jowy in pummelling the wolves. Before the soldiers could do much more than move, the two staff fighters were making short work of the canine menace.

Jowy and McDohl joined for a unite attack. In perfect synch they jumped high in the air, spinning their staffs over their heads, and striking a deathly blow at a wolf. The unlucky target fell to the ground and ceased to move any more. The other wolves sensed their danger and took off.

"Good fight." Jowy smiled.

"Yeah. They're no DoReMi Elves, but wolves can be deadly if underestimated."

Young Master McDohl nodded at Jowy and walked over to the soldiers. They were shaking a little, having watched the display without participating.

"We should hurry. This is North Sparrow Pass, after all. I heard there was a mist monster lurking around somewhere."

"Yeah." Jowy agreed.

The two teenagers ran ahead with the soldiers trying to keep ahead with them. So far they had nearly arrived to the end of the pass and there was no sign of the mist monster.

"I think we're in the clear..." Jowy said.

Too late...

The mist started to intensify in the little mountain pass. It seemed almost alive as if flowed from the valley bellow. Of course, the mist WAS alive. That was easy to spot as it coalesced into a monsterous demon.

".........." McDohl looked at the monster and motioned everyone to step back. He could take this thing, but he didn't want anyone to get hurt.

McDohl raised his right hand and there was a strange noise, followed by a glowing of dark energy. The symbol of the Soul Eater appeared in the air and the creature suddenly found itself being blasted by a dome of black energy that kept growing, ripping it to shreds.

The monster had no choice but to retrat from the force of the Soul Eater's Level 2 spell; Black Shadow. It split back into harmless mist and flowed back into the valley.

McDohl lowered both his hand and his eyes, slowly turning to face his compainions.

The two guards hugged each other, shaking like leaves. They cowered even more as McDohl came closer.

"Don't hurt us! Please don't hurt us!"

Jowy smiled. "Thanks. That mist monster has been giving travelers problems." He noticed McDohl's melancholy expression.

"What's wrong?"

"You're........not scared?" McDohl smiled broadly. "Thank God. I just don't like using the cursed rune that much."

"That's all right. I'm just grateful that mist monster is gone." said Jowy. "The closest village from here is Ryube. Shall we get going?" He turned to look at the soldiers, then looked back at McDohl. "On second thought, perhaps we should get a pull-wagon to take those two along."

"Nah.....if they can walk, fine. If not, leave them."

"I think we should take them." said Jowy. "After all, Highland is probably expecting them at Muse."

"Hey, you two. Are you coming along or not?" McDohl looked curiously at the guards, hands on his hips and tapping his foot.

"P-p-please don't hurt us!!!" they cried.

Jowy crept behind them and tapped them on the back. The two guards fell forward and ran as fast as they could in the direction of Ryube Village. Jowy shrugged.

"That's one way to do it." McDohl smiled again. He felt good. It's been awhile since he's travelled in a large group. Kind of like back during the war with the Scarlet Moon Empire. He wandered off after the soldiers, turning to see if Jowy was coming.