Moss Mountain. The mountains stands tall on the western frontier of Asteria. It is home to both gods and spirits. The territory of the Kimunkle.

[Page 169+170 of 5th Book, Chapter 6]

The Moss Mountain is a dangerous place and the Kimunkle is a force to fear, but unfortunately, it’s the only way to reach Sailand from Asteria. I want to go to Sairando, which just so happens to be in Sailand. Sairando is my birthplace, and the White Mountains are in Asteria, meaning I did pass through here about 3 years ago. It was easy back then. I luckily hadn’t incountered any Kimunkle back then. My body was smaller back then and I have always had keen eyes, so I found another way to pass through the mountain than just the road. However, I would take that secret path I took again, if only I could find it again. The other reason why this time was going to be so much harder, would be the unexpected intruders.

“I am Igneous Heathleague from the Asterian Military! I request an audience as reprehensive of Asteria!*” I heard the voice shout. I looked down from the spot on top of a few hidden boulders, right to the path.  There was a man with the Asterian Military cloak on, but had an Asterian star on his neck, so he must be of a higher rank than the other two soldiers. His hair was white, while the other two men behind him had helmets on and plane cloaks. The white haired man, dubbed Igneous, and the man right behind him were both on horses. The other man was on foot. Six arrows suddenly landed in front of them, each two arrows formed in a “X” manner. This alarmed the men, and scared the horses. The three X’s probably meant no entry. Igneous’s head snapped up towards to the mountain top above me, but I was luckily still hidden. But if the three Kimunkle figures were to look straight down, they were sure to spot me.

“Captain…!” The soldier on the horse gasped.

“Damn…” Igneous cursed silently, but my keen ears picked it up. My senses were all heightened from birth, it is one of my strange abilities. I transferred my eyes from the Kimunkles to Igneous. He had sweat rolling down his face. Igneous and the soldiers decided to retreat for now, probably to figure a new plan out. My head suddenly snapped up to the Kimunkles, feeling their stares on me as the Asterian Soldiers left. I gulped under their stares. I had forgotten that the Kimunkles were all +Anima, and they could probably smell me from a kilometre** away.

The Kimunkles… they are the inhabitants here at Moss Mountain. They all are +Anima. Some researchers in Asteria have come to the conclusion that anyone who is a +Anima, must be from the Kimunkle blood line. That was proved false though, seeing as there are +Anima with no blood ties to the Kimunkles at all. However it was proved true that all +Anima that can transform their body completely into an animals’, are only the Kimunkles.

“Who are you, girl?” The middle figure, probably the leader, asked me. I stood up from my hiding spot.

“I am Cassie. I wish to go to Sailand.” After hesitation, he nodded.

“Come.” He answered, pointing to the road path where the three X’s were. I nodded and carefully made myself down the rocks before I landed on the dirt road. I started on the path but stopped temporarily to pick up the arrows and carry them with me. I carried on with the path that got narrower and narrower until I finally reached a dirt clearing which was surrounded by the forest. The three figures stood there in the middle. They turned around and started walking away. I followed them but didn’t try to catch up with them. Got to be careful with these Kimunkles. We later reached another dirt clearing, but this time there were huts all around. Kimunkles stopped talking to their selves to look at me, the strange girl wearing winter’s clothes. One of the three figures suddenly turned to me.

“I am Mukara. I am the leader of the tribe. You wish to go to Sailand?” I nodded. He frowned. “Why?”

“Because it’s my birth place. I passed through your mountain 3 years ago.” His eyes slightly widened.

“That was you?” I was shocked. I made sure no one saw me, but of course, these are the Kimunkles I’m dealing with here. I simply nodded.

“Ok then. We will help you get to Sailand. But only after we sort things out with the Asterian Military.” I nodded. I understood his reasoning. They could be ambushed by the Military that are waiting at the Mountain’s doorsteps, so they won’t get their selves distracted by a stranger.

I then examined the Kimunkles when I noticed something strange. There weren’t any women or children. Why is that? Another thing I noticed is that everybody had red beads in their hair, except for one. He had blue.

“His name is Upas.” Mukara told me when he saw me staring. “He came from another tribe on the West side of the peak. They were the Tooa tribe. They were destroyed by the Sairando… We rescued him.” Mukara told me, emotionlessly.

“And the rest of the tribe?” I asked with a frown.

“Everyone else was either killed off or forced into slavery…” I winced. Poor Upas. He must be the only one left.

“Mister Mukara, what is your tribe’s name?” I asked, the sudden though came to me.

“We are the Shurosu tribe.” He said before walking away. I think I way have asked a little too much. My ears suddenly perked up at the sound of footsteps, but they were more of an echo. I walked to the peak of the mountain and looked down, seeing the military once more. But this time, they had four new people with them. From the top I could only see their hair. The one had spikey black hair, another smooth silver hair, the third was blonde with curls but had a pink hat on and the forth had silver hair with blue beads. My eyes widened slightly in surprise. Upas must not be the last one after all. The kid with black hair suddenly looked up and I quickly hid behind a boulder.

“Did I just see something…?” I heard him asking.

“Probably Kimunkle. They won’t show themselves when they see us on the move.” I heard Igneous answer. After hesitation, he yelled out.

“I wish to talk to you! Show yourselves! We have a Kimunkle with us!” He yelled and I face palmed at his stupidity. I heard snickers behind me and turned to see most of the Kimunkles trying to contain their laughter. I looked back down to see that they all stopped and held their guard, especially the Kimunkle with them. When I followed their gaze and I understood why they were uneasy. On top of a few boulders, there stood a brown bear with glowing white eyes.

“It’s a bear!”

“It’s huge…” The soldiers gasped. The bear suddenly started walking towards them.

“It’s coming closer!”

“Captain!”

“Calm down and stay still!” Igneous instructed his men.

“Why don’t we avoid his gaze and back away slowly.” The boy with black spikey hair suggested. I must say, I actually he thought he’d be the one to run up to the bear and hug it. His appearance told me that he was childish and reckless, apparently I misjudged. He has a brain.

“Slowly now. Slowly.” Igneous said as they took steps back. The bear suddenly stood on its hind legs and growled at them.

“Yikes…! You kids stay back!” Igneous said, unsheathing his sword. The bear, however, wasn’t fazed by the sword at all.

“Captain!”

“That did nothing…!? What the hell is this bear?!” Igneous stuttered out. The bear started glowing white. It looked like his soul was leaking out, but I knew that was far from the case.

“Wh…what? Is it a ghost?” The only girl with blonde curls asked.

“That’s…an Anima.” The black haired kid said, with a slightly dazed face. He seems incredibly smart now, seeing as he’s the first to realize it. The blonde girl gasped in surprise, and I smiled. I knew it! Animas do exist!

“Huh?” The Kimunkle suddenly stood behind the black haired kid and let his arm pass in front of the kid, showing off his claws and bear arm. I wanted to squeal in delight. I started repeating it over in my head. +Anima, +Anima, +Anima! I looked back down when I heard the Kimunkle gasp in surprise. He looked to be in pain, setting the silver head and the girl off. The Kimunkle started to glow as well as he gasped in pain. The bear looked curious as he watched the Kimunkle fall down to the ground. The black haired kid ran over to his side.

“Senri!” Slowly the Anima left the Kimunkle, now dubbed Senri. A fog started to appear around the bear and shadows appeared in the fog. The fog cleared, revealing Mukara, the two Kimunkles which were with him before and Upas.

“Come.” Mukara said emotionlessly. The Military looked sceptical but started to help the three kids carry Senri. I looked at Upas to see him staring at Senri with slight annoyance. I wonder why… I stood out from my hiding place when they started walking down the dirt path. I turned to the village and examined the huts. There was one where Kimunkles went in and came out with supplies. I smiled and made myself there. When I entered I saw all kinds of things you’d expect. Feathers, beads, clothes, foods, weapons. There was only one Kimunkle in here now, probably the shop owner.

“Excuse me.” I said nicely and he turned to me with s mile. He smiled.

“Ah, the traveller. Need anything?” I nodded.

“Yes, I’d like to refresh my ‘Traveling Storage’.” He nodded.

“Anything specific?” I nodded and took off my backpack and opened it.

“Well I’ll need food, and maybe some new knives. Mine aren’t sharp anymore.” He nodded.

“And clothes?” He asked and I looked confused. He chuckled. “You’re wearing clothes meant for the winter, it won’t be winter for a long time in Sailand. I can give you some of our clothes but you’d look like a Kimunkle then…” I chuckled.

“But as long as I didn’t wear beads in my hair I’d be ok.” I told him and he nodded with a smile.

“Of course, and you’ll probably only wear them until you get new ones in Sailand. But you can’t travel to Sailand in that. It’s too hot there, the sun is scourging.” I nodded, agreeing. I felt the heat when I was climbing up here and took off my cloak, but I still had thick long sleeves on. So we did business and I managed to get a lot of fruit and vegetables to take along, as well as a little bit of meat. I got new knives as well as scissors, a bonus. I like the clothes that I got. I now wore a long sleeved grey shirt that reached a little lower than my waist but it was incredibly loose, so it was only more cooler when wearing. Up the arms were red and yellow triangles. The chest of the shirt had two arrows crossing, making a X. The V-neck collar of the shirt had short cloth straps running down. Under it I wore black shorts that reached my mid-thigh. I had grey boots on that reached my knees and had more cloth strips running down. The shop keeper also decided to put two long feathers in my weaved orange hair. The one feather was a beautiful blue/green peacock feather, and the second one was magnificent white*** peafowl feather. The food and objects I could pay with the money I had received from Mister Walters, but the clothes I clothes I had to pay for by trading my old clothes. The only thing I kept was my cloak.

“Thank you so much! I’m sure no one would even think that I was from the White Mountains!” He frowned a little.

“You’re from the White Mountains?” I nodded.

“I’m surprised you’ve heard of it. After all it’s in a completely isolated are in Asteria.” He frowned again and looked at me in surprise and shook his head.

“No it’s not. Everyone knows about the White Mountains. It’s the place that found a way to fly through inventions.”

“Inventions?” I asked sceptically. He nodded.

“Yeah, they call them human kites. Every night a massive kite goes up with food and other resources.” This surprised me to know that I was right. Mister Walter does have ties to the outside world.

“Wow…I didn’t know that. They always told us that we’re completely isolated. Well that and they all believe +Animas are only rumours from a mad man.” He laughed.

“Wow, ok, that must be scary. Not knowing a single thing from this world. What if one of the villagers falls off the mountain and becomes a +Anima? What then?” I shook head.

“I actually never thought about that. What would happen? Maybe some of the villagers were +Anima in disguise.” I said as the idea came to me.

“That must be sad. Being a +Anima but you have to keep it a secret otherwise you’ll be kicked out of your home.” I nodded.

“Anyway, I’m Cassie.” I said, holding my hand out for him to shake, which he did.

“I’m Taki. I hope you come back to Moss Mountain some time again. I would love to talk again.” I nodded.

“If course. I’m only 15, I still have a lot of years ahead of me.” He seemed surprise.

“You’re 15?!” I laughed and nodded.

“Yeah…Anyway, bye!” I said, turning around with my backpack and throwing my hand up in a goodbye. When I was outside I started walking again, feeling a few stares on me from Asterian Military outside. I mean I look like a Kimunkle and I’m the only female here, of course they’ll stare at me. But I guess they noticed that I had no beads and looked away, uninterested with me now. I stopped walking when I heard voices from a hut..

“We don’t intend to change our relationship with Asteria.” I heard Mukara say.

“He’s Senri.” A familiar chirpy voice said, probably the black haired kid.

“Hmm?”

“His name is Senri. His name is Senri. The guy that fainted.” He said again.

“Ah, right.” Mukara said.

“Mukara…no matter what you stance is, you must understand… the reality is that if Sairando is given entrance by Moss Mountain, the Kimunkle will be made slaves…!” Igneous said with distress. I was now leaning against the hut. “If you join forces with Asteria, Sairando will have to…” Igneous was cut off by Makura.

“Asteria would be fine defending its own borders. We will do the same.”

“Butt Moss Mountain won’t protect itself! The Asterian army will enter Moss Mountain and we won’t let Sairano do whatever they want!!”

“…I see your point Heesuriig*. We’ll allow you the use of one of our tents.”   

“Oh! So that means that you’ll join us…” There was hesitation.

“That’s enough for today.” Mukara said and there was rustling inside, meaning they all got up. I stepped away from the hut to make it look as if I was waiting for someone. First it was the Igneous, then the three kids and then Mukara. I could now see the three kids clearly. The black haired boy had goggles and two feathers in his hair, something I missed earlier. His eyes were the same as mine, a gentle brown. Only his eyes held that ingle that told everyone he was a happy child, his smile told that as well. But his eyes also gave off the effect that he knew something things others did not. He had light blue pants that hung down to his knees, proceeded with orange/brown boots. He had a no-sleeve red shirt on and over that a sort of yellow/orange pullover with a dark brown belt. On his shoulders was a curl with 5 feather like spikes coming out of it. He also had the same mark on the opposite shoulder. I was surprised to see the mark. I read it in my book, that each +Anima has a mark. So it means this boy was a +Anima.

Next was the silver haired boy. His hair was smooth and bobbed style with his hair in front of his face a fringe in a ‘M’ shape. He wore long black pants with closed black shoes and a silver cloak on that reached his waist and had a high collar to hide his neck.. His eyes a soft blue colour that held maturity in them. He also had a silver and purple staff in his back. The only thing odd about him really was that his face looked soft and like a girl’s.

The last one here was the girl. Her blonde hair wasn’t as curly as I thought I had seen . Her eyes were a light playful green colour that held amusement in them. She was wearing quite a strange outfit. She had a pink hat with yellow flowers on them. She wore a checker skirt, with black and instead of white they were yellow flowers. She wore a pink shirt with yellow flowers around the rims. Over that she had a small cloak which was light brown. She also had light brown boots that reach her mid-calf.

“Even though that igneous person hates Kimunkle people…do you think he’s serious about joining forces?” The girl asked. It seems none of them have noticed me yet.

“He’ll do it if it’s to protect his country. He’s as loyal a soldier as they come.” Silver head said.

“But doesn’t ‘serious’ mean that the feeling comes ‘directly from your heart’?” The girl asked him.

“Um…it’s impossible for him to feel that way!” I was totally confused at their conversation.

“Ah um…what-wasit…Mukara-san.” It seems Mukara gave the black haired boy quite the fright when he suddenly appeared behind him.

“You children…you have Anima don’t you.” Silver head and the girl looked surprised, while the black-haired just smile.

“Yup! That’s right! You’re a +Anima too aren’t you sir?”

“Huh? I have the Anima of the wolf. To the Kimunkle, ones who have Anima are most revered. There’s one of us in each family.”

“Revered? Are +Anima so great?”

“The Kimunkle revered the power that is in all that is natural and alive. The power that keep Anima and the land alike. And those who hold aspects of that natural power are the +Anima. Isn’t that just wondrous?” After he said that, Mukara walked away.

“I’ve never been revered as a bat. If I were a swan or something like that…I’d be thought of as an angel.” They stayed quiet in response. That girl must have a bat Anima. Mukara did say they were all +Anima.

“Hey, Hey. I just thought of something. This village doesn’t have any women or children does it?” The black haired kid said.

“You’re right.” The girl answered in realization

“This isn’t a village it’s a military camp isn’t it?” The silver head wondered.

“Huh? What’s this? That man…” The kid said, looking at Upas.

“I see, that man is the only one with blue beads.” The girl realized.

“Huh?” The silver head asked, confused.

“He’s got beads in his head. Everyone else’s hair has red beads. Mukara-san too!” The girl said with a smile.

“I see…you’re right. They’re the same colour as Senri’s.” The silver head said. I chuckled at them, they sounded so clueless. They suddenly turned their attention to me. Finally! I’ve been standing behind them during the entire conversation and they haven’t even realized.

“Ah! A Kimunkle that’s a girl!” The girl said brightly and I shook my head.

“Nope. I’m just passing through, like you guys. I bought this clothes here because my other clothes wouldn’t do. See.” I pointed to my hair. “No beads.” Her dace drooped a little. I think she wanted to see a female Kimunkle.

“Ah, I see. So you’re just passing through?” I nodded.

“Yup! I’m Cassie!” I said with a smile.

“I’m Cooro!” The black haired kid exclaimed with a bright smile.

“I’m Nana!” The girl said with a smile.

“Husky.” The silver haired said, emotionless. I chuckled.

“So where are you guys headed?” Cooro thought for a second.

“Anywhere we can survive really!” He said with a small chuckle.

“So you’re just going with the flow?” The nodded.

“And you? Where are you headed?” Nana asked me.

“I’m headed to Sairando.” Nana looked confused and Husky looked suspicious. I wasn’t sure with Cooro.

“But Sairando is planning on attacking Asteria!” Nana said with wide eyes. I nodded.

“Yeah I heard, but I have some important business to do there before I come back here to Asteria.” They nodded. “So about your friend Senri, is he ok? I heard he fainted.” Nana nodded.

“I wonder what could be wrong with him…”

“Oh! Senri!” Cooro suddenly gasped. We all turned to see Senri standing in front of a hut. Cooro, Nana, and Husky ran up to Senri. I hesitated once I saw how scary Senri actually looked and retreated back into the forest. When I was deep in the forest I realized I was completely stupid. The chances that I’ll ever get out of this forest is almost 0… No one is going to come and look for me… I sighed and stepped on a bolder which was next to a tree. I pulled myself up into the tree and carefully climbed up a few branches until I found a thick and steady branch to lay on top of. I placed the straps of my backpack over another branch so it would stay there. I was now about three metres in the air, a scary high actually, and I just had to fall asleep.

 *His name is Igneous Giesrieg, not Igneous Heathleague 

**I’m not from America, so it’ll all be following the Metric System.

***There is no such thing as an Albino Peacock. They have a genetic mutation that is known as Leucism, which causes the lack of pigments in the plumage. Albino animals have a complete the lack of colour and pink/red eyes while a white peafowl has blue eyes.

*Book 6 Chapter 1 Page 28. It said Heesurrig. What is that?

All diologue other than Cassie's and diologue influenced by Cassie is the exact words from teh manga.