Taken drew his blades as the lions came close and spun to one side just in time to avoid a yari driving toward his stomach, and to see Katsu dragging himself from the battle, limping weakly as a lion spearman rushed up behind him.

With no time for words, or even to direct his blade properly, he smashed the hilt of his wakizashi into the lion's unprotected face, shattering the man's nose in a blast of blood and sending him to the ground as Taken charged past him. He ignored the other men as he ran past, spinning, ducking, rolling, and jumping to avoid spears.

His blades flashed once, taking a lion's hand, forcing him to drop his yari as blood sprayed freely from the wound, but that is when Taken saw the spear drive into Katsu's back. He staggered on a bit further and then fell to his knees in an instant that felt like an hour to the dragon samurai who had been rushing to his aid, as he saw the lion infantrymen attack the fleeing Katsu.

Taken's speed doubled as he rushed past a few other soldiers, paying them no mind. None bothered to stop his charge, however, as that he was a single samurai, and many had just seen him take a man's hand with little effort. His target, however, noticed Taken coming just as he had raised his yari to finish Katsu off. The spear spun in the man's hand as he repositioned himself for the coming charge, and, as Taken arrived, he thrust it outward.

The ex-ronin, darted to the side while continuing the charge, although it was too slow to fully avoid the blade, and the spear shredded the armor on his torso, ripping a deep gash into his ribs which bit against bone. Taken winced and gritted his teeth at the pain, but he pushed it back as he took another step and sliced his wakizashi up through the man's left elbow, and then continued onward through the area his arm once took up, as he swung his katana down onto the right elbow, severing that as well, but Taken wasn't through yet and took three more steps and smashed into the man's chest with his shoulder, knocking his armless torso onto the wet ground.

The lion's blood intermingled with that running from Taken's wound and ran away in the water, even as the ex-ronin stood over the wounded Katsu, breathing heavily and facing down any who would dare make an attempt on the wounded man's life.

"Fall back!"

The command echoed through the storm, and the lions began to retreat, leaving the corpses of their comrades all around. One came close enough to drag away the man Taken had pushed away from Katsu, but then they had flown away from him, and he sheathed his blades and fell to one knee, as a hand clasped over his wound, the blood flowing out around it. It wasn't too serious, but he was tired as well. However, none of that mattered, as he released his own wound, and placed his hands over the wound in Katsu's back, trying to stem the blood flow.

"Get a medic over here! Now!"

Mizuki heard the cry for a medic. It jarred her from her state of shock, and she sloshed through the mud and rain towards Taken and Katsu. She dropped to her knees beside the wounded man, looking up at Taken.

"I need bandages..."

She looked down at Katsu and gently placed her hands on his back, closing her eyes.

'Oh great water gods, please help heal the spirit of this wounded man, let your healing waters help him find the Path to Inner Peace.'

(OOC: Cast Path to Inner Peace.)

ooc: tn 15 9+8+6=23 Katsu is healed 3 wound ranks.

Sakuma found himself in a dark grey void completely empty of everything except himself.
Where am I? What is this place?

"Sakuma! Sakuma! Over here all ready!"

What who is it?

"It's I again you dolt! Are you blind as well as stupid?" Sakuma is greeted by a ghost of one of his former ancestors. Though greeted isn't quite the word.

Oh hello ancestor. What is this place am I dead?

"The world could only be so lucky to have an end to you lug head. No you were knocked out for the moment. They should have hit you much harder. Maybe then you'd get some sense in you boy."

Oh please ancestor must I endure more of this.

"Yes you shall endure this. You shall endure what I tell you to endure. After all I have all of eternity to do this. What have I told you about these foolish battles you get into and wars? Your actions in battle aren't pleasing they are disgraceful."

It is for my people. It is my duty. My calling for these battles. I am a great warrior. I know it ancestor. Isn't that good enough?

"If you're such a great warrior, why are you lying face down in the dirt unconscious. Think boy! Think! Your true calling? Your true calling was to be a merchant sailor like me. And work for a living! Instead of just leeching of others and what your father left you. But no you had to go gallivanting off and fighting with the little brain power you possess. What have I done to deserve such a pitiful descendant as you? I am so ashamed."

Ancestor please.

"Please is exactly what you don't do at all. You need to learn to show some respect."

Sakuma shook his head in annoyance as his ancestor continued his rant.

Raiden looked over the few samurai still standing. To many had been lost to continue holding the pass.

"I want all the remaining arrows pooled and the wounded tended to." Raiden said.

He looked at the hills and cliffs surrounding the top.

He pulled Kenren aside. "We can't risk a direct assualt again."

OOC: yes... back at last...

BIC:

Kenren stepped down from the ridge as the Lions fell back, turning to the cry for help that had issued from further behind.

No!

His chest pounded again as he turned to see the fallen form of Katsu being knelt over by Mizuki and Taken. He felt himself growing sick to his stomach as he realized that Katsu could very well be dead, because he had chosen to strike a fleeing enemy rather than tend to the wounded on his side.

One more foolish decision... I pray this one is not irreversible...

Kenren reached into his obi for the scroll containing the Path to Inner Peace, then stopped as he saw Mizuki casting that same spell on Katsu. Much to his relief, the ise zumi stirred.

Thank you, Fortunes...

Kenren turned to scour the battlefield for the other wounded, then Raiden grabbed him by the shoulder.

"You are right, Raiden-san. We will lose too many of our men that way. But what do you suggest?"

"We're going to have to conceal ourselves and use the natural higher ground the mountains provide. But we have very few arrows to attack at range. I have a plan."

"I need every tree available. and rocks of every size." He ordered the surviving troops.

Mizuki turned up to Taken now that Katsu had been healed a bit.

"Let me see that wound..."

She took off Kenren's haori, hoping he wouldn't mind, and pressed it to Taken's injury. She closed her eyes and repeated her prayer to the water gods for the Path to Inner Peace.

Her eyes slid open again. Her face was red and her eyes were bright and glassy from the cold and moisture. Her hair had all but fallen loose from her tie, and was plastered to her face. She shivered and considered vomiting again. Wearily, she rose to her feet and groaned, exhausted, sick, and cold.

"...Is there a hot spring around here?"

(OOC: Once more, Path to Inner Peace.)

Kenren turned to the disheveled priestess.

"You look terrible, Mizuki-san."

Then he glanced to the others, the dead and dying around them.

"Although, I suppose that is somewhat of an understatement... In any case, we will need as many rocks and trees as possible... I believe Raiden-san has a plan."

"A mile to the west on that path." Raiden said. "You'll need two escorts."