Gajo and Cloudsnatcher

by Raikunu

Cloudsnatcher, a yellow Shoyru Princess, had snuck out of the castle grounds. She was sitting on a grassy hill watching the swordsman students train. But she had singled out one single Shoyru. He was silver. She had learned his name from the rumors flying through the Castle. His name was Gajo, and he was the most skilled Shoyru there. He wore baggy navy breeches, a navy blue tunic, a navy blue headband around his head, and boots. It was traditional Swordsman wear; and Navy was the castle color. He was fighting her best friend Star_Net with a wooden practice sword, and beating her.

"He's so skilled," she sighed. "But sooner or later, Star_Net's disguise will be seen through. The boy disguise is a pretty bad one."

She got up and brushed herself off as Gajo gave Star_Net a final whack. He bowed to her and she guessed he was telling her the courteous way to say she lost. He climbed up the hill halfway...the hill she was standing on! She dropped down and watched dreamily as he took out his Heron-marked blade to sharpen. To have a sword marked with a heron means you are a very skilled swordsmen. She scooted forward to see better. Then she scooted some more. A little more and...she tumbled down the hill and right into him.

He was on his feet with his blade at the ready as she lay in a heap at his feet.

"Uh, hi?" she blushed.

"Princess? You should be back at the castle. I'll take you back," he demanded.

"No, I don't want to. It's too nice," she responded haughtily.

She marched up the hill, losing her balance a little, but regaining it yet again and marching straight forward when it became level land.

"But Princess, you aren't permitted to be out of the castle grounds! Princess, are you listening? Princess---CLOUDSNATCHER!" Gajo yelled.

"I'm listening. And----AAAAAAAA!!!!!"

She fell off the cliff she was marching to. Gajo leaped forward to grab her, and grabbed empty air.

"PRINCESS!" he growled.

He leapt into the air and flew down to save her. He picked her up before she hit rock bottom. He flew to the top, grabbed her wrist and announced, "We're. Going. Back."

"Thank you for saving me," she stumbled. "I mean, what a brave thing to do. How am I ever going to repay you..."

His rock hard expression softened. He stopped her for a second.

"Cloudsnatcher, I know you feel as if you owe me something, but you really don't. Your pretty smile suffices."

Her breath caught and she stumbled behind him, speechless.

LATER....AT THE CASTLE...

"Go up to your room, Cloudsnatcher," her owner announced.

"But---"

"Go to your room! I don't want to yell at you, but outside the castle is no place for a young Shoyru."

"Yes, Raikunu."

She trudged up the stairs to her room and stared out the window watching Gajo fight with some other Shoyru. Then she noticed a green and a red Shoyru off to the left. The were fighting with real swords and attempting to kill each other! Then she recognised them.

"Gajo!" she cried. "Toulin and Karlos_ are fighting with SWORDS!"

He jumped and nudged his partner. The raced to where the two fought and countered their attacks with their own swords. Gajo took Toulin to the forest, battling all the way. To make sure nothing happened to Gajo, Cloudsnatcher launched into flight and flew behind a tree over looking their battle. Toulin was winning. The green Shoyru grinned as he pinned Gajo to a tree. He flicked his blade up and sliced Gajo's nose.

That was it. Cloudsnatcher angrily released her dagger she kept in her sleeve and leapt in. She sliced his side and sent him staggering back. Grinning wildly he took a rag out and wiped his blade. Then he launched himself at Cloudsnatcher. She sidestepped and he only nicked her forehead.

"Yeeow!" she yelped.

Then she wielded her dagger and threw it at his heart. Right on the mark.

"You'll never live," he wheezed insanely. "You'll never live!!!!" He laughed crazily which trailed off as his life left him.

"Why did you do that? It was a lure for you!" Gajo growled.

"I just saved your life," she breathed. "Is something wrong? Cloudsnatcher?" Black spots clouded the edge of her vision. "Cloudsnatcher?"

"I'm...fine..." she mumbled.

"Speak up, louder!" The black spots moved in closer. "Cloudsnatcher! Wake up!"

Her body fell forward into his open arms. "Wha? It was only a nick!"

He thought for a moment then remembered Toulin wiping his blade on the rag. It must have had poison wiped on it.

"Oh no. I've got to get her back!" He scooped her up and sprinted back to the castle, leaving his once-comrad where he lay. When he reached the castle, he jostled the guards aside yelling, "Emergency!"

He finally sprinted into the room where his owner sat. "Raikunu, Cloudsnatcher was hurt in a battle with Toulin with a poisoned sword. But she saved my life, however, I would give mine for hers." Those words echoed through her mind. Somewhere she recognised that voice...

"Healing Potion."

Raikunu picked up a small bottle and wiped a little of its contents into the cut and made her drink the rest. Slowly consciousness was regained.

Years later, the two Shoyrus fell in love and Gajo became Prince Gajo. This story ended, as all stories end, happily ever after.

The End