#my one thought is that Izuku technically hasn't saved with a smile like he wanted to so I'm still praying for something more but

[emo-floof-child-writes]

The Sword of the Solstice.

Chapter Nine: The Warrior Village of Leeno.

We return to our other adventurers, Izuku, Katsuki, Ochaco, Eijiro, and Momo; who are about 4 days into their trek. The 5 of them have been going nearly nonstop for those 4 days. Katsuki claimed his home village was close, but the other adventurers were starting to doubt him. He said that it was hard to find, seeing as how Leeno is surrounded by the Lerow Forest and the Leanna Kingdom of Elves to the East, and the Pland mountains to the West.

Izuku sighs, deciding to voice the thought everyone was asking themselves. “Kacchan?” Katsuki stops, and turns to him. “Yeah, Deku?” He says and Izuku bites his lip. “Do you actually know where you’re going?” Izuku asks, and Katsuki sighs. “Look, I know you guys think I am stupid, but I swear I do know where I’m going. And even if the Pass of Honor isn’t quite where I remembered it, we still cut off a lot of the time to get to Loyaci. We’ll get Light Bringer back.”

Izuku shrugs. “I can’t deny the logic in that, but do you think we’re close to your village?” Katsuki nods. “If all goes well, we should be there by nightfall.” Eijiro exhales, with a little smoke from his firebreath coming out of his nostrils. “Phew, it’d be nice to get a full night of sleep.” Eijiro says, as he waves the smoke away. Ochaco nods. “We should have a significant lead on them, so we should be fine.”

They reach a clearing that seems entirely blocked off except the way they got in. Katsuki gets down off his horse, and walks into the center of clearing. He sighs. “Okay, is it that one?”  Katsuki asks, in a mutter, looking off to the left side of the clearing. Ochaco frowns, and dismounts Momo’s horse, and jogs over to him. “You alright there, Dunderhead?” He rolls his eyes. “Tch, I just need to remember the exact way into Leeno...”

Ochaco nods. “What does this entrance look like?” She asks. “Look for a triangle with a circle in the middle, it should be carved into a tree.” She smiles, and looks around at the trees surrounding the clearing. She squints, and off to Katsuki’s right she sees a tree with a large triangle with a circle that looks like it's blackened, perhaps burned, that's carved into the trunk. Surrounding it are dense trees that you couldn’t hope to get past. With a smile, she nudges Katsuki. “Is that it?” She asks, subtly pointing to it.

He follows her finger, and sighs. “Yup, that’d be it. I’m blind.” He says, in a whisper. She giggles, and he walks over to the tree, and places his hand on the symbol. The others on the horses ride closer. The ground shakes, and two of the trees beside the marked one magically disappear. Ochaco gasps. “A magical barrier?” She asks, with shock. Katsuki smirks, looking proud. “I did say we are sophisticated in our own way. Now, come on. It’ll only stay open until I walk in.”

Ochaco climbs onto Momo’s horse, as Izuku cautiously guides his horse through trees. Katsuki notices his skeptic attitude and sighs. “Trust me, Deku, it’s not a trap.” Izuku swallows. “Okay, if you say so, Kacchan.” Momo and Ochaco follow behind him, and Katsuki gets back on behind Eijiro. The barrier reforms behind Katsuki and Eijiro. “Alright, Deku, if you keep along this path, you’ll soon see the village.” Katsuki says, and Izuku gives him a thumbs up.

Momo looks down, and notes that the path they are walking on isn’t just a dirt road with random branches and stones lying on it, but she instead finds that it is smooth cobblestone. Maybe they are more than just brawlers. She thinks, in appreciation. They walk further into the forest, they see off to their left, a clearing that looks like it has corn fields. On their right are various buildings, and a large animal pen. Cows are mooing and a couple pigs snort. Eijiro points to the two buildings, and looks back at Katsuki.

“What are those for?” Katsuki laughs. “That’d be the tavern and the storeroom for said tavern.” He smiles, and Eijiro gasps. “Ooh, you have a tavern?” Katsuki nods. “Yeah, there’s the horse stables on the right, and the dueling grounds on the left.” He adds, and Ochaco sighs. “Ah. There’s the ‘warrior village’ norms. HA! YOU HAVE A DUELING GROUND!” She teases. He grunts. “Shut up, Cheeks.” He says, as they arrive at some tents.

An older man, maybe 30 to 40 years old walks over. He has shoulder length black hair, with black eyes and a scar under his right eye. He is wearing a black tunic and grey scarf. He walks up to Izuku, and groans. “Who are you, and how did you get into our village?” He asks, and Izuku turns to Katsuki. “K-kacchan?” He says, looking back. Katsuki jumps off the horse. “Relax, Deku. He means well.”

He walks over to the older fellow. “Aizawa, it’s okay. They’re with me.” Aizawa gasps. “Oh, I see. Well, your mother is leading a hunting party, but I could notify your father about your return.” Katsuki cracks his knuckles. “No need for that. I’ll notify him myself.” Aizawa sighs. “You’re gonna give that man a panic attack.” Katsuki laughs. “I know! I find his childish panic hilarious.”

They others get off their horses, and frown. Aizawa motions to the horses. “Well, can I at least bring your horses to the stables?” Katsuki looks at the party. “Is that fine?” They nod, and Katsuki smiles at Aizawa. “Go ahead, old man.” Aizawa rolls his eyes. He guides the three horses away, mumbling about needing more sleep. Izuku frowns. “Who is that man?” He asks, and Katsuki wraps his arm around him.

“That lazy old man? Aizawa Shota. His family has served the chieftain’s family for generations.” He says, with a grin. Eijiro scoffs. “So what, he’s like a servant?” Katsuki shakes his head. “Nah, they kinda just chose to serve. I honestly think it’s a family tradition?” He shrugs. Ochaco grunts. “Can we just rest? Because my body is falling into my trance.” She asks, and Momo nods. “Same with me.”

Katsuki nods. “Follow me, I’ll talk to Father about getting you some accommodations.” They follow him past the tents, to a large tent with a fur pathway leading into it. “You guys can stay out here, or you can come in with me. I honestly couldn’t care less.” Izuku sits down, and so does Momo and Eijiro, but Ochaco decides to follow him inside. He pulls the flap of the tent, to reveal a brown haired man with a green robe and fur on the end standing with his back turned.

His attire was pretty similar to Katsuki’s, but instead of the orange and red, it is blue and green. The room was spacious, with animal skins as the floor. Three mats in one corner, with silk dividers to give each one their privacy. In another corner, there is a campfire. Large stones surround it, and there are large metal shafts that make a hole in the tent’s roof, which Ochaco assumes is for ventilation.

Katsuki puts a finger to his lips, indicating for Ochaco to be quiet. He tiptoes up towards the man, who is humming to himself while he stitches a torn garment. Katsuki winds up, and swings his fist at the man's arm. The man yelps, and drops the garment and the needle onto the ground. He takes a deep breath. “There is only one person who would do something like that to me.” Ochaco frowns, not liking his tone.

The man turns around, a wide smile on his face. “Katsuki! You've returned to us!” Katsuki laughs. “Yeah, I'm back.” He pats his father's shoulder, which makes him stumble a little. “It's been awhile since I've been able to scare you this badly!” His father kneels down to pick up the garment and needle, and chuckles. “It has been a long time since I have seen you, son.” Katsuki scoffs. “You exaggerate. It hasn't been that long!”

His father, who is shorter than him, looks up at him. “But son, it's been a year.” Ochaco gasps, but immediately regrets making any sounds, for she doesn't want the attention to be focused on her. Katsuki whimpers. “Mother is going to kill me...” He says, a hint of fear in his voice. “Have I really been gone a year?” His father nods. “Yes, and I was wondering when you'd—” He pauses as he turns to see Ochaco. “Come back...” He finishes.

Ochaco bites her lip, regretting her decision to follow him in here. While Katsuki's father doesn't seem threatening, she cannot help but feel awkward, if not a little nervous. Katsuki motions for her to come closer, which she does. “Father, this is Ochaco, she is a travelling companion of mine.” He says, and she waves. Katsuki's father bows his head. “Ah, and I am Masaru Bakugo, Chieftain of the Leenoan Tribe.” Katsuki rolls his eyes. “You and I both know that Mother is the true leader here. You are Chieftain in name only. In every other affair, she is the Chieftain.”

He sighs. “Can you not do this today? I understand that you feel like I don't deserve this title, and I do know that I probably wouldn't have it if it weren't for technicalities, but please not today.” Katsuki nods. “Okay, um, to get to the point of why I'm here, my party and I are trying to save a friend that was taken hostage, but we need accommodations for at the very least tonight.” Katsuki says, and Masaru laughs.

“Ah, as always, it's straight to business with you! Could you not for once come to just to see your old man every now and then?” He asks, and Ochaco fiddles with her hat. Katsuki scratches his head, and frowns. “I— I'll be back soon! I just need to stop some evildoers who took my friend!” Masaru shakes his head. “Then what, Katsuki? You'll come back in another year?” Katsuki bows his head. “I— I promise I won't be gone that long again!” Masaru sighs.

 

“I suppose there's nothing I could do to stop you from leaving anyways, so I'll see to it that your companions have a tent to stay in. How many are in your company?” Katsuki tugs on one of his necklaces, and sighs. “Including this pink-cheeked Mage, four.” She kicks his shin. “Can't you call me by my name? You slow witted oaf!” Katsuki grabs her hat, and holds it up out of reach. “Oh, what's that? Can't hear you, you're so short.” She reaches up towards the hat, but he lifts it higher, taunting her.

Masaru groans. “And here I had hoped that your immaturity had left when you embarked on Honor's Highway. It turns out I have not received a pleasure such as that. Give the young lady her hat.”

Katsuki sighs, and passes Ochaco her hat back. Masaru smiles at Ochaco, and walks towards the door flap. “Well, they can stay in the war tent, at least for the night.” Katsuki nods. “Thank you, Father.” He says, as he and Masaru leave the tent. Ochaco follows. When they exit the tent, the other three stand.

Katsuki directs them to where they'll be spending the night. Once they were settled in, Ochaco tries to go into her trance. Despite her body telling her that she needed rest, and how tired she had been earlier, she couldn't drift into unconsciousness. She looks around at the others, Izuku has passed out, face planted against the ground. Momo is in a corner, knelt in her trance-state, and Eijiro is curled up in a ball not unlike a cat.

Masaru had insisted that Katsuki stay in his old room in his tent, so she was sitting in the dark of this tent trying to force herself into a trance. The more she tried, the more awake she felt. Is this Dendar doing? She asks herself. She shakes her head. No. Dendar's control isn't like this... You can always feel her presence, this feels like an absence of her control... She sighs, and decides that if she wasn't going to get any sleep, she'd prefer to not wake the others with her tossing and turning.

She leaves the tent, and all she hears are the hoots of owls, the chirps of crickets, and the fluttering of bat wings. She walks over to a tree, and reclines against it. She sits there in silence, drumming her fingers against her leg. She hears a twig snap, and she lifts her hand, uttering the first word in the incantation of Eldritch Blast. But before she could get any further, she realizes that the twig snapper was just Katsuki. She lowers her hand, and he smiles.

He walks over to her, and crouches beside her. “Can't sleep either?” He whispers, and she nods. “Is it because you're worried about Light Bringer?” He asks, and she shrugs. “Honestly, I don't know what is keeping me from sleeping. That's just how it is.” She responds in a hushed tone. He pats her shoulder. “Is it because of her?” He asks, referring to Dendar. Ochaco shakes her head. “I feel odd here, like her presence isn't as strong? I usually can hear her voice in my head, or maybe a hiss, but my brain is pretty much silent here.”

Katsuki nods. “We do have magical barriers, inscribed with holy symbols, perhaps she is trying, and evidently, failing to break through them?” She smirks. “That's one of the only smart things you've ever said.” He hits her shoulder and groans. “Shut up, you pathetic weakling.” She gasps. “Take that back.” He shakes his head. “Not unless you take back your comment.” She folds her arms, making it clear that she wasn't going to apologize. He yawns. “Well, I'm not going to take it back then. You pretentious Elf.”

She grins, as he sits down next to her. She lays her head on his shoulder, and he chuckles. “Hm, maybe it isn't Dendar and/or lack of Dendar that's keeping you awake...” He mutters, and she frowns. “Whatever do you mean by that?” She asks, as he wraps his arm around her. “As of late, you haven't been that far away from me at all times. You tend to stand close by me, or when we set up camp, you put your bedroll next to mine. Whatever it is, you're always nearby to me.”

She looks down towards her boots, in thought. Have I really been doing that? I mean, I do feel less scared and more safe around him, but I haven't been purposefully staying as close as possible, right? She shakes her head, hoping to clear her head. No, there's nothing wrong with that...right? Nothing weird about it? I mean, when I stop to think about it, I do have a harder time sleeping when I'm not vaguely near him...but why?

Ochaco can't seem to come with any concrete reasons as to why that was, but when she glances at Katsuki again, he's fast asleep. That drowsiness that her body was feeling earlier starts to kick in again. Her eyes close, and she lays her head in his lap, too tired to go back to bed in the tent.