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Character death. ", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Warning!! Character death. ", "writing": "It usually happens that when someone hears gunshots in the distance, they tend to go off in the other direction. Not for Traximus. Six shots were fired not far from the path he was on so he altered his course to investigate. \n\nThe coper scent of blood and the soft sounds of someone moaning guided his way. His horse was spooked by the scent so Trax continued on foot after tying the horse to a tree. He came upon the scene to find a human and a turtle lying on the ground. The human was dead, shot three times in the torso. Butterflies fluttered over him, occasionally dropping down to drink. The turtle was the one who was moaning, still alive, saved by his hard plastron. The three bullet holes in his plastron oozed dark blood and stained his shirt. \n\nLooking around, Trax made sure that the assailants were gone before he rushed over to the turtle. The young native was in shock and for good reason. He had to have been in immense pain. \n\nCareful not to jostle him too much, Trax lifted the turtle and carried him away from the scene. He didn’t want to risk being there when the assailants returned. Placing the turtle in to his wagon, Trax guided his horse through the scattering of trees until they reached a small river. \n\nThe river wasn’t deep and the horse had no problems crossing through the gentle currents. They made it across just as a large box made its way past. Whatever was inside was not for him, fate would take it elsewhere. When they reached the other side, Trax found a spot to make camp. \n\nIt took some time, but Trax was able to remove the three bullets that were lodged in the turtle’s shell. He then used whisky to clean the wounds and bandaged them. All that was left to do was wait and see if the turtle would survive. \n\nEven though they were away from where the turtle was shot, it was still risky to stay where they were. So Trax lifted the turtle and placed him back in the wagon. They were soon back on the road, putting as much distance between them and the assailants as possible. \n\nThey traveled for hours before Trax stopped to set up camp for the night. By that time the young turtle had developed a fever and was mumbling something in his native language. \n\nAs night fell, the turtle started to shiver so Trax built a fire and covered him up with his coat. “If you make it through the night, I believe you will be okay. I will stay with you. I do not believe that fate has led me to you just so you can die.”\n\nThe long night dragged on and Trax feared for the worse, questioning why they were brought together if not to save him. But by morning the fever broke and the turtle was resting peacefully. Not in any hurry to be anywhere, Trax decided to stay where they were until the turtle woke up. \n\nIt was a few hours past noon when the turtle woke up. He looked around and Trax moved to sit next to him. “Don’t try to move. You are hurt but you are now safe.”\n\n“Where?” The turtle asked with a thick accent as he looked around. \n\nTrax thought for a moment. What ‘where’ was he inquiring about? Trax decided to answer two possibilities at once. “You were shot twice in the chest, on your left side and once in your right abdomen. I don’t know what county we are in but we are a few days ride to the nearest town. I don’t know the name of it though.”\n\n“Where… Casey,” the turtle asked as he continued looking around. \n\n“I’m sorry,” Trax answered. His heart sank into his stomach as he spoke. “Your human friend didn’t make it.” Trax just hoped that the turtle understood the common language enough to grasp what he was saying. “He’s dead,” Trax added, hoping that a strait forward answer would be understood. \n\nIt was. The mournful cry from the young turtle was enough to bring tears to Trax’s eyes. No matter how many times he had done it, it will never be an easy task to tell someone that a loved one was dead. “Why?” the turtle choked out. “Why?”\n\n“He was shot,” Trax answered. “He most likely died from the first shot and did not suffer.”\n\n“Why?” the turtle asked again. \n\n“I don’t know,” Trax tried to soothe. \n\n“We… did… task… right,” the turtle said through gritted teeth. “We did… what was asked. Why shoot? We did job.” The turtle’s fists hit the ground as he shifted through anger and sorrow, trying to understand what had happened. “We gave him what he… uh… ask. We do no problems.”\n\n“Sounds like you were used,” Trax said. \n\n“Used?” the turtle repeated, rolling the word over his tongue. \n\nTrax struggled with what to say to explain. “They got you to do this job and lied to you. They probably planned on killing you from the start so there would be no witnesses. And so you would have nothing on them in the future for leverage.”\n\nThe turtle turned his head away and softly repeated the word again. “Used.”\n\nTrax gave him a moment to process before asking, “What is your name?”\n\nThe turtle looked up at him. “Raphael.”\n\n“My name is Traximus, but you can call me Trax.”\n\n“Trax,” Raphael tested the word on his tongue. “Thank you. You call me Raph.”\n\n“Very well,” Trax nodded. “I will call you Raph. Do you have somewhere I can take you? Any family or friends?”\n\n“No,” Raph shook his head. “Only Casey. All I had… gone.”\n\n“You can travel with me, if you like,” Trax offered. “Or you can go your own way once you are able. Whatever you decide.”\n\n“I know not,” Raph sighed. \n\n“You don’t have to decide on anything now,” Trax said. “For now rest, gather your thoughts, and mourn. You can make your decision in a few days.” Moving over to the fire, Trax collected a bowl of stew then took it over to Raph. “Try to eat so you can regain your strength.”\n\nRaphael nodded and Trax helped him sit up, moving slow so not to aggravate his wounds too much. Trax propped Raph up using some bags of spare clothes then handed him the bowl. “Eat slow,” Trax cautioned. \n\n“Yeah,” Raph grunted before taking a bite. \n\nTrax could see the pain that was etched on Raph’s face, both physical and mental. He wished there was something that he could do to help ease Raph’s mind. “Do you want to talk about what had happened?” Trax offered. \n\nRaph simply shook his head. \n\n“Do you know the name of the man who shot you?” Trax asked. \n\n“Hun,” Raph answered. “Hun… obeys… Oroku Saki.”\n\n“I know of these men,” Trax nodded. “I do not need more of the story.”\n\nRaphael ate the rest of his stew in silence then Trax insisted that he get more sleep. The young turtle was hesitant but still allowed Trax to guide him back so that he was lying down. \n\n…\n\nRaph lay on the hard ground and closed his eyes. The images of Hun shooting Casey filled his mind, causing him to open his eyes again. It was a vivid memory, filled with the scent of Casey’s blood and the soft grunt of surprise as the first bullet pierced his chest. \n\nThe fear and disbelief that Raph had felt in that moment kept him from reacting. When the gun turned on him, he froze. \n\nRaph lifted his hand to cover the spot over his heart where he was shot. The wounds throbbed and he wondered if they would ever stop hurting. He thought of Casey and he wondered if his heart would ever stop hurting. \n\nThey had only been together for a year but he made Raph happy. Raph couldn’t help but remember the day he had met Casey. He had just escaped the snapper village and had made it to the road just as Casey was passing on his horse. Casey was also running away but from something completely different. \n\nClosing his eyes again, Raph tried to stay focused on the happy moments but the images of Casey being shot would not leave him alone. Sleep was not going to be possible. \n\nRaph could hear Trax moving around the camp. Could he trust him? Would he have spent the time to save Raph if he ultimately wanted to hurt him?\n\nTrax walked past Raph and looked down at him. “You should be sleeping,” Trax said as he walked up to his wagon and started to rummage through it. \n\n“Can’t,” Raph replied. \n\n“I think I have something for pain,” Trax said. “I assisted an old medicine woman once and she gave me some herbs. I believe I still have them. I don’t think I traded them for anything.”\n\nRaph sighed and looked away. He doubted that Trax had anything that would help with the kind of pain that was keeping him awake. \n\n“Here it is,” Trax said, pulling a small box out of the wagon. “I knew a time would come where I would need these. Otherwise the lord would not have put me in the position to receive them.”\n\nConfused, Raph turned to look at Trax. “The what?”\n\n“The medicine,” Trax answered, indicating the box. \n\n“No.” Raph shook his head. “What put you in place to get medicine?”\n\n“Ah,” Trax smiled. “The lord. The master of our fate. The creator of all.”\n\nRaph nodded his understanding. The settlers believed in one god over all creation as opposed to the several gods that the natives worshiped. Raph had little faith in whatever it was that watched over them. It seemed that Raph was of no concern to the god or gods. \n\nTrax walked back over to the fire and placed a kettle of water on to boil. “Everything happens for a reason. I was meant to find you, Raphael.”\n\nRaph scoffed, “What was reason for Casey is shot?”\n\nTrax sighed, “It is hard to understand why things happen. Cruel men do cruel things and innocent people suffer for it. The lord decided that it was time for him to go but also decided that you were to live.”\n\n“The lord… all my life… is cruel,” Raph choked out. \n\nTrax shook his head. “People are cruel, especially when they have turned away from the path that the lord had set for them. Sometimes we must face hardships so that we will be strong enough to fulfill our destiny.” Trax smiled then poured some water into a small bowl and added some of the herbs. “You are destined for greatness and I will be but a footnote in the story of your life.”\n\nShaking his head, Raph let out a slight chuckle as Trax sat next to him. “I am no great. I am… nothing.”\n\n“Drink,” Trax said and lifted Raph up enough so that he could drink from the small bowl. The liquid inside was bitter but he managed to drink it all. Almost immediately the drugs started to take effect. Raph’s head began to swim and it was nearly impossible to keep his eyes open. \n\nWhen he did open his eyes it was dark and Trax was sleeping soundly next to him. He didn’t even realize that he had fallen asleep. Raph’s body felt heavy and his mind was still in a fog so he decided to go back to sleep. \n\nRaph was woken up by the sound and smells of Trax making breakfast. With a great deal of effort, Raph managed to sit up. The wounds on his chest and abdomen throbbed and he grunted in pain but he was determined to stand. Trax was by his side, helping him stay upright. \n\n“Don’t push yourself too hard.”\n\nRaph rested his head in his hand. “I… want… to…uh… walk.”\n\nTrax helped him to stand. “I have noticed that you are… not very good with the common language.”\n\nRaph pursed his lips together as he got his feet under him. “I only know for short time. Casey was making me understand.”\n\n“Are you up for a ride?” Trax asked. \n\n“Where you go?” Raph asked. \n\nShrugging Trax helped Raph over to the fire. “I wander the lands and help those I come across. I am going nowhere in particular.”\n\nRaph sat with his back against a rock, next to the fire and resisted the urge to scratch at his wounds. “Why?”\n\n“Penance,” Trax answered, making his way around the fire to his cooking. “I have done some bad things in the past. And I have lost a few loved ones. I found myself on a boat to this new land and saw it as a second chance. Maybe I will be able to atone for my sins before I meet my end.”\n\n“What sin?” Raph asked. He couldn’t imagine the man before him sinning. True, he was big but his voice was soft and he had a gentle way about him. What was his sin, loving too much?\n\nTrax handed Raph a bowl of porridge with some dried fruit added to it and then got himself a bowl before sitting down to answer. “I was a soldier back in my home land. I killed a lot of people in the name of god and country, brushing off the blame believing that I was just following orders. Until one day when a mother glared up at me while cradling her dead son in her arms. She didn’t blame god or our king, but she blamed me for her son’s death.\n\n“Even though I had a weapon ready to strike, she showed me no fear. She told me that I chose to follow orders, that no one controlled me but me and that I would have to face all those I had killed in the afterlife, right before I was sent to eternal damnation. Her words stuck with me and I was unable to end her life.\n\n“After that, I defied our king and was sentenced to death for treason. The night before my execution I prayed that I would be given a chance to repent for my sins. As I waited for the executioner the people started a rebellion. In the chaos I was set free. I fought against men I once called friend. \n\n“Instead of storming the castle to get at the king, the people stole his boats and set sail for this new land so that they could be free. I was allowed to join them. I have been wandering this land ever since.”\n\nRaph listened to Trax’s story and occasionally nodded his understanding. The guilt he was living with must be hard to face if he was spending his life atoning for them. Raph wondered if Trax ever had nightmares. \n\n“I not sin,” Raph said, taking a bite of his porridge. \n\n“The job you did for Oroku Saki,” Trax said. “Isn’t that a sin? I doubt he had you do a job that would help anyone.”\n\nRaph scoffed the corrected himself, “Then I only sin once. But I been hurt by others more.”\n\n“Being hurt may seem like a justifiable reason but it is just an excuse. You chose to do it, no one made you. It is your sin.”\n\n“I never say it not,” Raph smiled. “Just that I am owed more than I owe.”\n\nTrax shook his head, “It doesn’t work that way.”\n\n“My people don’t have eternal damnation,” Raph said, wanting to change the subject. “Our choices will… uh….” He snapped his fingers as he searched for the word but he couldn’t think of the right one. “Where we get born, again. We die, we born again. Keep going.”\n\n“Forever?” Trax asked. “Is there no heaven waiting for you in the afterlife?”\n\nRaph shrugged, “Once soul see all it want to see and learn all it need to learn, then we stop. Too much to learn in just one life. We keep coming back, to learn more. Or to be punished. I must been bad in last life to be in this one.”\n\n“Or,” Trax smiled. “Your soul wanted to see if it could overcome adversity and still be good in the end as a final test before it decided to stop the cycle.”\n\nRaph laughed, “Never thought of that.” He sighed and placed his bowl on the ground. “What I did is hard to fix. Oroku Saki would kill me if I try. I did what he want and he still try to kill me.”\n\n“I can teach you to fight,” Trax offered. “I used to be a soldier so I know how. Then you can use your skills to right your wrongs as best as you can. Once you are ready, I will go with you. It has to be why fate has brought us together. I would also love to hear more about the beliefs of your people.”\n\n“Okay,” Raph nodded. “I will go with you.”\n\nTrax smiled, “Then once we are done eating, I will clean up the camp and we will be on our way.” \n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "It usually happens that when someone hears gunshots in the distance, they tend to go off in the other direction. Not for Traximus. Six shots were fired not far from the path he was on so he altered his course to investigate.

The coper scent of blood and the soft sounds of someone moaning guided his way. His horse was spooked by the scent so Trax continued on foot after tying the horse to a tree. He came upon the scene to find a human and a turtle lying on the ground. The human was dead, shot three times in the torso. Butterflies fluttered over him, occasionally dropping down to drink. The turtle was the one who was moaning, still alive, saved by his hard plastron. The three bullet holes in his plastron oozed dark blood and stained his shirt.

Looking around, Trax made sure that the assailants were gone before he rushed over to the turtle. The young native was in shock and for good reason. He had to have been in immense pain.

Careful not to jostle him too much, Trax lifted the turtle and carried him away from the scene. He didn’t want to risk being there when the assailants returned. Placing the turtle in to his wagon, Trax guided his horse through the scattering of trees until they reached a small river.

The river wasn’t deep and the horse had no problems crossing through the gentle currents. They made it across just as a large box made its way past. Whatever was inside was not for him, fate would take it elsewhere. When they reached the other side, Trax found a spot to make camp.

It took some time, but Trax was able to remove the three bullets that were lodged in the turtle’s shell. He then used whisky to clean the wounds and bandaged them. All that was left to do was wait and see if the turtle would survive.

Even though they were away from where the turtle was shot, it was still risky to stay where they were. So Trax lifted the turtle and placed him back in the wagon. They were soon back on the road, putting as much distance between them and the assailants as possible.

They traveled for hours before Trax stopped to set up camp for the night. By that time the young turtle had developed a fever and was mumbling something in his native language.

As night fell, the turtle started to shiver so Trax built a fire and covered him up with his coat. “If you make it through the night, I believe you will be okay. I will stay with you. I do not believe that fate has led me to you just so you can die.”

The long night dragged on and Trax feared for the worse, questioning why they were brought together if not to save him. But by morning the fever broke and the turtle was resting peacefully. Not in any hurry to be anywhere, Trax decided to stay where they were until the turtle woke up.

It was a few hours past noon when the turtle woke up. He looked around and Trax moved to sit next to him. “Don’t try to move. You are hurt but you are now safe.”

“Where?” The turtle asked with a thick accent as he looked around.

Trax thought for a moment. What ‘where’ was he inquiring about? Trax decided to answer two possibilities at once. “You were shot twice in the chest, on your left side and once in your right abdomen. I don’t know what county we are in but we are a few days ride to the nearest town. I don’t know the name of it though.”

“Where… Casey,” the turtle asked as he continued looking around.

“I’m sorry,” Trax answered. His heart sank into his stomach as he spoke. “Your human friend didn’t make it.” Trax just hoped that the turtle understood the common language enough to grasp what he was saying. “He’s dead,” Trax added, hoping that a strait forward answer would be understood.

It was. The mournful cry from the young turtle was enough to bring tears to Trax’s eyes. No matter how many times he had done it, it will never be an easy task to tell someone that a loved one was dead. “Why?” the turtle choked out. “Why?”

“He was shot,” Trax answered. “He most likely died from the first shot and did not suffer.”

“Why?” the turtle asked again.

“I don’t know,” Trax tried to soothe.

“We… did… task… right,” the turtle said through gritted teeth. “We did… what was asked. Why shoot? We did job.” The turtle’s fists hit the ground as he shifted through anger and sorrow, trying to understand what had happened. “We gave him what he… uh… ask. We do no problems.”

“Sounds like you were used,” Trax said.

“Used?” the turtle repeated, rolling the word over his tongue.

Trax struggled with what to say to explain. “They got you to do this job and lied to you. They probably planned on killing you from the start so there would be no witnesses. And so you would have nothing on them in the future for leverage.”

The turtle turned his head away and softly repeated the word again. “Used.”

Trax gave him a moment to process before asking, “What is your name?”

The turtle looked up at him. “Raphael.”

“My name is Traximus, but you can call me Trax.”

“Trax,” Raphael tested the word on his tongue. “Thank you. You call me Raph.”

“Very well,” Trax nodded. “I will call you Raph. Do you have somewhere I can take you? Any family or friends?”

“No,” Raph shook his head. “Only Casey. All I had… gone.”

“You can travel with me, if you like,” Trax offered. “Or you can go your own way once you are able. Whatever you decide.”

“I know not,” Raph sighed.

“You don’t have to decide on anything now,” Trax said. “For now rest, gather your thoughts, and mourn. You can make your decision in a few days.” Moving over to the fire, Trax collected a bowl of stew then took it over to Raph. “Try to eat so you can regain your strength.”

Raphael nodded and Trax helped him sit up, moving slow so not to aggravate his wounds too much. Trax propped Raph up using some bags of spare clothes then handed him the bowl. “Eat slow,” Trax cautioned.

“Yeah,” Raph grunted before taking a bite.

Trax could see the pain that was etched on Raph’s face, both physical and mental. He wished there was something that he could do to help ease Raph’s mind. “Do you want to talk about what had happened?” Trax offered.

Raph simply shook his head.

“Do you know the name of the man who shot you?” Trax asked.

“Hun,” Raph answered. “Hun… obeys… Oroku Saki.”

“I know of these men,” Trax nodded. “I do not need more of the story.”

Raphael ate the rest of his stew in silence then Trax insisted that he get more sleep. The young turtle was hesitant but still allowed Trax to guide him back so that he was lying down.

…

Raph lay on the hard ground and closed his eyes. The images of Hun shooting Casey filled his mind, causing him to open his eyes again. It was a vivid memory, filled with the scent of Casey’s blood and the soft grunt of surprise as the first bullet pierced his chest.

The fear and disbelief that Raph had felt in that moment kept him from reacting. When the gun turned on him, he froze.

Raph lifted his hand to cover the spot over his heart where he was shot. The wounds throbbed and he wondered if they would ever stop hurting. He thought of Casey and he wondered if his heart would ever stop hurting.

They had only been together for a year but he made Raph happy. Raph couldn’t help but remember the day he had met Casey. He had just escaped the snapper village and had made it to the road just as Casey was passing on his horse. Casey was also running away but from something completely different.

Closing his eyes again, Raph tried to stay focused on the happy moments but the images of Casey being shot would not leave him alone. Sleep was not going to be possible.

Raph could hear Trax moving around the camp. Could he trust him? Would he have spent the time to save Raph if he ultimately wanted to hurt him?

Trax walked past Raph and looked down at him. “You should be sleeping,” Trax said as he walked up to his wagon and started to rummage through it.

“Can’t,” Raph replied.

“I think I have something for pain,” Trax said. “I assisted an old medicine woman once and she gave me some herbs. I believe I still have them. I don’t think I traded them for anything.”

Raph sighed and looked away. He doubted that Trax had anything that would help with the kind of pain that was keeping him awake.

“Here it is,” Trax said, pulling a small box out of the wagon. “I knew a time would come where I would need these. Otherwise the lord would not have put me in the position to receive them.”

Confused, Raph turned to look at Trax. “The what?”

“The medicine,” Trax answered, indicating the box.

“No.” Raph shook his head. “What put you in place to get medicine?”

“Ah,” Trax smiled. “The lord. The master of our fate. The creator of all.”

Raph nodded his understanding. The settlers believed in one god over all creation as opposed to the several gods that the natives worshiped. Raph had little faith in whatever it was that watched over them. It seemed that Raph was of no concern to the god or gods.

Trax walked back over to the fire and placed a kettle of water on to boil. “Everything happens for a reason. I was meant to find you, Raphael.”

Raph scoffed, “What was reason for Casey is shot?”

Trax sighed, “It is hard to understand why things happen. Cruel men do cruel things and innocent people suffer for it. The lord decided that it was time for him to go but also decided that you were to live.”

“The lord… all my life… is cruel,” Raph choked out.

Trax shook his head. “People are cruel, especially when they have turned away from the path that the lord had set for them. Sometimes we must face hardships so that we will be strong enough to fulfill our destiny.” Trax smiled then poured some water into a small bowl and added some of the herbs. “You are destined for greatness and I will be but a footnote in the story of your life.”

Shaking his head, Raph let out a slight chuckle as Trax sat next to him. “I am no great. I am… nothing.”

“Drink,” Trax said and lifted Raph up enough so that he could drink from the small bowl. The liquid inside was bitter but he managed to drink it all. Almost immediately the drugs started to take effect. Raph’s head began to swim and it was nearly impossible to keep his eyes open.

When he did open his eyes it was dark and Trax was sleeping soundly next to him. He didn’t even realize that he had fallen asleep. Raph’s body felt heavy and his mind was still in a fog so he decided to go back to sleep.

Raph was woken up by the sound and smells of Trax making breakfast. With a great deal of effort, Raph managed to sit up. The wounds on his chest and abdomen throbbed and he grunted in pain but he was determined to stand. Trax was by his side, helping him stay upright.

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Raph rested his head in his hand. “I… want… to…uh… walk.”

Trax helped him to stand. “I have noticed that you are… not very good with the common language.”

Raph pursed his lips together as he got his feet under him. “I only know for short time. Casey was making me understand.”

“Are you up for a ride?” Trax asked.

“Where you go?” Raph asked.

Shrugging Trax helped Raph over to the fire. “I wander the lands and help those I come across. I am going nowhere in particular.”

Raph sat with his back against a rock, next to the fire and resisted the urge to scratch at his wounds. “Why?”

“Penance,” Trax answered, making his way around the fire to his cooking. “I have done some bad things in the past. And I have lost a few loved ones. I found myself on a boat to this new land and saw it as a second chance. Maybe I will be able to atone for my sins before I meet my end.”

“What sin?” Raph asked. He couldn’t imagine the man before him sinning. True, he was big but his voice was soft and he had a gentle way about him. What was his sin, loving too much?

Trax handed Raph a bowl of porridge with some dried fruit added to it and then got himself a bowl before sitting down to answer. “I was a soldier back in my home land. I killed a lot of people in the name of god and country, brushing off the blame believing that I was just following orders. Until one day when a mother glared up at me while cradling her dead son in her arms. She didn’t blame god or our king, but she blamed me for her son’s death.

“Even though I had a weapon ready to strike, she showed me no fear. She told me that I chose to follow orders, that no one controlled me but me and that I would have to face all those I had killed in the afterlife, right before I was sent to eternal damnation. Her words stuck with me and I was unable to end her life.

“After that, I defied our king and was sentenced to death for treason. The night before my execution I prayed that I would be given a chance to repent for my sins. As I waited for the executioner the people started a rebellion. In the chaos I was set free. I fought against men I once called friend.

“Instead of storming the castle to get at the king, the people stole his boats and set sail for this new land so that they could be free. I was allowed to join them. I have been wandering this land ever since.”

Raph listened to Trax’s story and occasionally nodded his understanding. The guilt he was living with must be hard to face if he was spending his life atoning for them. Raph wondered if Trax ever had nightmares.

“I not sin,” Raph said, taking a bite of his porridge.

“The job you did for Oroku Saki,” Trax said. “Isn’t that a sin? I doubt he had you do a job that would help anyone.”

Raph scoffed the corrected himself, “Then I only sin once. But I been hurt by others more.”

“Being hurt may seem like a justifiable reason but it is just an excuse. You chose to do it, no one made you. It is your sin.”

“I never say it not,” Raph smiled. “Just that I am owed more than I owe.”

Trax shook his head, “It doesn’t work that way.”

“My people don’t have eternal damnation,” Raph said, wanting to change the subject. “Our choices will… uh….” He snapped his fingers as he searched for the word but he couldn’t think of the right one. “Where we get born, again. We die, we born again. Keep going.”

“Forever?” Trax asked. “Is there no heaven waiting for you in the afterlife?”

Raph shrugged, “Once soul see all it want to see and learn all it need to learn, then we stop. Too much to learn in just one life. We keep coming back, to learn more. Or to be punished. I must been bad in last life to be in this one.”

“Or,” Trax smiled. “Your soul wanted to see if it could overcome adversity and still be good in the end as a final test before it decided to stop the cycle.”

Raph laughed, “Never thought of that.” He sighed and placed his bowl on the ground. “What I did is hard to fix. Oroku Saki would kill me if I try. I did what he want and he still try to kill me.”

“I can teach you to fight,” Trax offered. “I used to be a soldier so I know how. Then you can use your skills to right your wrongs as best as you can. Once you are ready, I will go with you. It has to be why fate has brought us together. I would also love to hear more about the beliefs of your people.”

“Okay,” Raph nodded. “I will go with you.”

Trax smiled, “Then once we are done eating, I will clean up the camp and we will be on our way.”
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