What has gone before:
An object, a Ter'Angreal, sent Ranma and Company into RandLand(Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Universe). They are currently in the company of the Wolfbrother Elyas, a pair of Aes'Sedi, their Warders, and a Gleeman. They just stopped to make camp after finding a lone, barely surviving Aiel.
Nabiki left doctor Tofu to his work and joined the rest of the group at the fire. Even with her sunglasses she could see everyone in the diminishing sunlight. Therefore she knew who was around the fire and where they were. Her sister Kasumi was beside the fire boiling some water in a kettle for tea, while Satsuke was tending the fire. The two Aes'Sedai sat away from the fire. Their faces close together, whispering. Nabiki could not make out what they said but one of the Warders stood beside them protectively. Happosai was behaving himself for once smoking his pipe and talking with Cologne as they looked to the west of the camp. Taro sat with a smirk on his face. His eyes shifting from the water Kasumi was using to cook, to Happosai, then to the ridge just west of the camp. Also gazing to the west, away from the rest, huddled in his multicolored patchwork cloak, sat Coledare.
Looking west to see what all the gazing was about Nabiki saw them. Ranma, Ryouga, Kuno, Mousse, Shampoo, Ukyou, and Akane were lined up on the ridge doing a simple kata. It had turned into another contest among them. Every time the kata was completed Ranma would up the pace. The rest would then match him and continue on. Everyone was doing a similar kata, only slightly modified for the practitioners preferred weapon.
Returning to her current prey, Nabiki approached Coledare from behind. 'What the hell am I doing' Nabiki thought as she stopped her stalking and shook her head to clear it of a sudden desire for raw meat.
Coledare still had not seen her. She was about to clear her throat to get his attention when, He reached inside his cloak and pulled something out. Coledare held the object in his hand between two fingers. Then with a laugh tossed it into the air.
Reflexively Nabiki Reached out and grabbed it.
"Give it back." Coledare said in a low demanding voice.
Looking at what she held Nabiki smiled. "Sorry. Here you go." Nabiki said as she handed back the glass bead she had grabbed. "Can we talk. I have some questions." She sat down beside Coledare and began to idly draw in the dirt at her feet.
"I'm not in the mood right now."
"Even if I can answer some questions of yours."
"I don't see how you could answer any of ..." Coledare stopped gasped when he saw what Nabiki drew on the ground. It was a symbol he could never forget. It was embedded in the bead he had since childhood.
"How do you know that symbol?"
"The symbol is CHI, and it represents wisdom."
"Wisdom, eh. And how do you know this?"
"Not so fast. Nothing is ever free. I have some questions for you. Nothing personal, just some history and current events. In order to speak with people when we reach civilization I need to know what is going on and what has happened in the past. Oh and one more thing that first night we arrived you listed some of your stories before going on to tell the one about the wise counselor. Would you tell the one of the giants fighting?"
"That is a rather dark tale are you sure you want to hear it?"
"Yes, I think it we need to hear that story."
"Very well." Coledare then told Nabiki a little about what was going on it the world as well as giving a slight geography lesson. In turn Nabiki told him of how the bead was part of a set of eight. The set was once owned by eight brothers in her homeland. And that each bead had a piece of a code of conduct written on it. The code was:
Jin - Sympathy
Gi - Duty
Rei - Proper Form
Chi - Wisdom
Chuu - Loyalty
Shin - Faith
Kou - Filial devotion
Tie - Brotherly Affection
"So these brothers were separated at a young age and when they finally got back together they served a lord and brought peace to the land. Interesting but somehow I think your leaving some thing out. What is it"
"Well for one the peace didn't last when the lord passed away his sons destroyed his territory after his death."
"What else?"
"Well let me see... Ah yes they all had birthmarks in the shape of a peony, or a pinwheel"
Coledare blushed a bit and sat back and watched the sun setting. Nabiki decided to follow his example and watched the sun. Still there was one thing he probably should know but how do you tell someone that their father was a dog. Nabiki directed her attention from the sunset to the martial artists who were still doing their kata.
Ranma had increased the speed and complexity of the kata. All the other participants had stopped when they become to winded or just couldn't keep up with Ranma's speed. The only exception was Ryouga who was keeping up though endurance and sheer stubbornness. Hmmm... I wonder were Akane is she usually gets jealous when Ranma shows off. Ah there she is. She is Mad and she has..
S#&$
...if she uses that. <>p> "RANMA NO BAKA!"
To late. Nabiki thought as the water went flying to Ranma. Then in defiance to the laws of probability Ranma actually dodged the water with a fifteen meter high hop. Now the laws of probability don't like to be defied. And one of the laws states that when water is flying and a jusenkio victim is near said victim has a 199.99% chance of getting hit if the water will trigger their curse. Suddenly a gust of wind altered the flight path of the water. The law never stated which curse barer was to be hit.
SPLASH!
"Oh Ryouga I'm sorry. Ryouga????"
A collective facefalt occurred around the camp.
BLINK. BLINK. Two blinks were heard from Ryouga.
One of Dapple's pack howled in the distance.
A thump was heard a Ranma landed on his but.
There on the ridge, instead of a wet Ryouga as many expected to see or a little black piglet as a few expected to see. There was a large wet Wolf.
Ryouga let out a long despairing howl and fled. A slight green aura was barely visible to a few of the spectators.
Dimly Nabiki could make out Dapple's pack giving chase.
"Oh my, I guess Ryouga will need some hot water when he gets back."
"Better put more kettles on the fire sis. We'll need to give our friends some demonstrations before he gets back."
Meanwhile in the Black hills several Days travel north of our heros flame was being placed to wood. The flames quickly spread and black smoke clouded the area. Every so often the wind would blow enough of it clear to reveal a row of fresh graves. As the sun set two young men could be seen leaving with swords across their backs. Pausing briefly one figure stopped and looked back at the only home he had ever known. Reaching into a pocket he pulled out a small object. It glowed briefly in the fading light before he clenched his fist around it and returned it to his pocket. Turning he continued with his companion to the south the blaze behind him climbing higher.
End Part 2
Author's notes:
I want to go into a little bit more with Nabiki and the wolves as well as a few chapters from some of the other characters perspectives such as Taro and Kasumi. I'm still a little unsure how the others are adapting.
WOT note:
The giants fighting are 'Mosk' and 'Merc' who fought with lances of fire.
Also I'm looking for wolf names for Ryouga and Nabiki Suggestions for these or story Ideas will be appreciated.
A full wolf name is rather drawn out. Dapples real name is something like 'How the light and shadows play in a glad on a warm summer day.' there is more to it in the books but it is shortened to be Dapple. For Nabiki I personally keep thinking of a lake. 'A cold Lake. Calm on the surface, with many hidden currents underneath.' Though I can't seem to think of a short form of this. As for Ryouga most of the obvious ones seem overdone.