Rescue in the Rainy Night

The group moved quickly through the pitch-black mountain forest beneath the raging storm, following a narrow goat path that had been washed muddy, slick, and nearly impossible to make out by the rain.

Koyama Futa was being carried on the back of a sturdily built Hoshinin. Ignoring the discomfort of the jolting ride, he widened his eyes and desperately identified the blurred, distorted outlines of the surrounding mountains through the beams of the team's searchlights and the occasional lightning that tore across the night sky, guiding the squad along the fastest route.

"Left! Cut through that cedar grove on the left—there's a shortcut worn out by old hunters!"

"Watch your footing! This cliff face has landslides all the time!"

"Go around that hollow up ahead, and we should be able to see the river bend where the village is!"

Under Koyama Futa's guidance and the Hoshinin's superb mountain-travel skills, the squad advanced rapidly through the rugged, perilous ridges, avoiding several obvious traces of mudslides and landslides.

About ten minutes later, they finally climbed onto a commanding peak among the mountains.

The fierce wind carried icy raindrops that lashed against everyone, but at that moment, no one had the attention to spare for it.

Koyama Futa slid down from the Hoshinin's back, staggered to the edge of the cliff, narrowed his eyes, and strained to look down into the depths of the valley shrouded by darkness and rain.

Another bolt of lightning ripped across the sky, instantly illuminating the muddy torrent roaring below, along with the valley terrain being savagely scoured by the flood.

"There!" Koyama Futa's heart pounded wildly as he pointed with a trembling finger toward a direction lit by the flash of lightning, his voice shaking with agitation.

"That way! The village—the village should be in that direction!"