Chapter 7

The hot sandy streets of Crimson City greet Khan's face as he's thrown out of a moving carriage. Laying there, the spinning dizziness keeping him from finding balance, Khan keeps his eyes closed. Fully aware now that he is here, in the city, finally reaching the end of his journey. He rises to his feet as his knees and the bones in his neck bend and crack. Finally opening his eyes, Khan laughs to himself. "The great and magical Crimson City." Khan's laughs quickly die down to a heavy frown. The dust filled streets only end to rusted iron, crackling walls, and shacks that house the sick and elderly. Men and woman, crowd the corners and back alleys hustling quickly from one place to another. The few people dressed in fine clothes walk yards away from there fellow man, as they cover there mouths and noses with the cloth they cover themselves with. The powerful kingdom known to the world as Crimson City, is nothing more than the common city, accented only by the golden gleaming castle blocking the sun, shadowing over the city.

But from far off in the distance, a gentle rumble of thunder, shakes his memory, easing the young man's discomfort. He remembers there are worse places, and he has in fact lived in those places. Smiling to the heavy wind now breezing through the walls of the city, he closes his eyes and speaks to more than just himself, he speaks to his memory. "We...have made it." The thunder grows louder, but through it he hears a yelling, standing out in the busy chaos. He opens his eyes and look around as the shouts grow near. From behind him Khan sees the giant from outside Gimora Gates, walking right over toward him. A smile so wide, it stretches clear across his face. When he greets Khan, towering over him, he immediately wraps his large arms around him, lifting him off the ground with his embrace. "My god man, thank you, thank you." He set's Khan down, "Had i not been fortunate enough to have you save me from outside the city today, i'd have some poor b*****d carrying me into a hole as we speak. Thank god i run into you here, now. Alive!"

Khan catches his breath after having it squeezed from him, "Please please, no thanks are nessecary. I wish i'd have stepped in earlier," noticing the scar across the giant's neck, "How do you feel?...you look fantastic"

The giant claps Khan's back, "Ahh, better than ever, i commonly go by Bear by the way. No name given to me at birth." Both men pause to laugh, "What do you call yourself?"

"Cub." He smacks Bear's arm as they both continue to laugh, "I am Khan."

"Well Khan, i cannot thank you enough."

"You're welcome of course, i would like to ask though," Khan leans in closer to Bear, "What is it you had done?"

Bear nods his head, watching at Khan from under his brow, smiling. "I will explain everything, but first i invite you back to my village, there are a few people i wish for you to meet. It's a long journey to the northern part of the city, i can tell you on the way."

Khan nods his head, happy to have found Bear, "Sounds harmless enough."