A strange and frightening encounter. (P.)

The sand village was deep in slumber, the sun had left for the night and all the people were asleep. All except for Toshiro Hitsugaya, the Kazekage, and Karen Kazuki, his young apprentice. He landed on the other side of the wall with hardly a sound. He looked both ways and made a signal to the red haired chuunin. She landed next to him with the same amount of quietness. They both got up and treked away from their home. They didn't talk for at least an hour while they continued through the desert. Karen broke the silence. "You do know, eventually we're going to get caught." "Yeah, I know, but we might as well have as much fun while we don't get caught." He laughed out loud. "Don't you agree Karen?" She chuckled a little to. "How you got to be Kazekage, I'll never know. The usual place?" "Nah, I think we should head east this time, see what's out that way." Karen's face paled. "What? Something the matter? "Haven't you heard the rumors? They say there is a beast living out there. Many people have gone that way trying to find out what happened. Only one guy came back, and he's gone crazy. Mumbling all the time about a dark creature or something about eyes. "Oh, pshaw. I'm sure that it's nothing, besides, I'm Kazekage. I think I can handle it." He turned east and headed off. Karen followed behind him, but she was shaking a little as the landscape became drearier.