From Sand to Stone ( ask author to join)

Kam shook his head. " No, unlike humans birds have an internal compass. They use the magnetic field to direct themselves. Since Aza is 5 times the size of her own kind, it is more accurate than most." Kam took his heavily gloved hand and pulled the ice pieces that had accumulated in there. Kam yawned. " Plus, if we go further down it'll be harder for azami to fly." Kam frowned trying to remember the last time he groomed azami with the ointment.

" You can take a nap if you want, just strap yourself." Kam pulled out a thick rope made of dried mandrake, tossing it at Isamu. Kam then scanned the area, looking at the bright stars. They would arrive at the border in two hours time. The North Star was almost completely on their left and the moon was dead center. Kam looked at aza whom was covered in ice. " You okay aza?" She shook her wings a bit, shedding several pieces of ice to the ground. " You better have brought the oil for my muscles or I'll flay you!" Kam sighed. " Just keep flying."

They soon had the Iwa border in sight. It was a wall with guards beside it. Good thing Isa would be the one whom has the envelope so they could pass. " Okay Aza, land ho!" Kam let go of his jutsu and rolled onto the ground, painfully getting up. His goggles making him look like an alien.

Aza (whom was larger) had to dive down fast and then glide the rest of the way. They had to go through the clouds, getting more wet becuase of it. She then landed hard on the dark dirt. Her legs absorbing most of the shock. The three shinobi had shocked the two guards in front of them. Kam guessed that they didn't think that shinobi would come falling from the sky. Kam grinned. " Lovely night, isn't it?"

On patrol during the night Zen ran through the city making his way from the square towards the village walls. As he jumped from roof to roof he scoped the area slowly. He wore a dark cloak with a hood as he reached into his cloak taking out the mask he wore when on duty and looked at it.

Spoiler:

He placed it on his face and put his hood on. He was ready for duty. People could see only the face of his mask and his eyes. Rising he looks down on the village sticking to the shadows.

It was a cool night. Small breezes of wind blew through the village as various patrons made their ways through the village enjoying the night. Teenagers walking enjoying themselves, older villagers seen going on dates. The chuunin on guard were the first ones to be called in there was an issue. Zen, however was anbu. He was responsible for handling high level crimes and threats the village as well as the Tsuchikage.

As he moved he saw a disturbance in the square but the chuunin were immediately on the scene. Making his way to the wall he looked out over the land. Something caught his eye. It was a large bird with two people. Quickly making his way over he focused chakra to his feet. He ran on the side of the wall out of sight with his cloak flapping behind him in the wind. He arrived just in time to see a landing. One of the men rose with a grin. "Lovely night, isn't it?

The guards reached for kunai prepared to form katas for a jutsu as Zen jumped behind them standing 10 feet behind them. He kept his demeanor as he stands in time to answer the mans question. "Indeed it is. Now that you've commented on the weather, I'd like to ask what your business in Iwagakure is?" As he spoke his hand slipped behind his back reaching for something just in case these people were a threat. He looks up revealing his sharingan eyes peering at every detail of the intruders.

The anbu realized that Kam's hands were ubnormal. Under his heavily armoured gloves showed Bird-clawed hands. His short body was because of forced malnutrution and his hair was completely bleached by the sun. they were littered with ice pellets from the high winds and very tired. " We flew straight from the Suna to here to give the Tsukage a letter. After we do that we have to prepare to go to the Mizukage tomorrow." Kam ignored all of the fighting sighns and talked as he untied the rope that attached isamu to his bird Azami.

Azami screeched as the rope dragged accross her frozen feahters. It nearly deafened Kam. " You idiot! Be more careful or ill snap your thumbs off!" Her large yellow eyes gleamed at the two of them. " Which one of you has the letter so we can go get to an inn?"

Zen reads the people's chakra levels as well as the chuunin and even the large bird. After waiting a moment to hear the persons response he lowers his guards a bit. Interesting, Please tell me your names and ranks. He watches as the bird is tended to as well as when the bird talks after a loud screech that made one of the chuunin cringe. Zen, however was unphased.

Waiting for a response the bird interrupts and speaks to the two men asking which one had the letter. As Zen makes a gesture to one of the guards the guard in question nods and then vanishes off the wall running down at full speed. He left into the night leaving Zen and one chuunin guard there. Listening to the relationship between the bird and it's master reminded Zen of his relationship with Iatos.

Understanding that the two shinobi didn't seem malicious he paused waiting on a response as he nodded to the chuunin to go back to guard duty. Thinking to himself about the probability of Lord Ryusaki being awake at such a late hour. His eyes never left the odd trio.

It was finally time to land. Isamu could walk on earth again after a long trip. Azami's landing was rough, as Isamu was on her back adding more pressure with his weight. By the time they were down on earth again, Kam talked to the guards and Isamu thought: "Lovely night? What is this guy talking about? I'm freezing!" Isamu was used to high temperatures living in Suna and now they were north in a cold area. An anbu appeared behind the guards, then asked Isamu and Kam the reason they were in Iwagakure. Kam explained to him about their mission, while trying to untie Isamu from Azami. The rope dragged accross Aza's frozen feahters. That was the reason why Aza starting shouting at Kam like always.

"I have the envelope with the letter. Wait for a moment please.." Isamu said while opening his bag to take the envelope and show it at the cautious anbu, who was scanning them, in order to be sure they weren't a threat. Isamu took the brown sealed envelope out of his bag. He then walked slowly towards the wall to show the envelope at the anbu. It had Kazekage's sign on it so he could let the three strange flying shinobi pass through the gate. He was right in front of the wall, he looked up to see him and then showed him the envelope and told him in a serious tone: "My name is Isamu Yoshira, my rank is Sunagakure Jounin. And that guy right there is Kamoku, a Sunagakure Chunin with his shinobi bird named Azami. Could you please let us pass now? We've had a long trip from Suna coming here for our mission." Isamu's face was indicating he was exhausted. Isamu then sighed and waited patiently for the Iwa anbu to finally let them pass.

Zenaku stood taking in all information possible as the other shinobi finally spoke up. He revealed himself to be Isamu Yoshira a jounin of suna. He also identified the other one as a chuunin named Kamoku. He approached with a sealed envelope showing the seal of the kazekage on it. As the Jounin spoke to Zen it was apparent that they had traveled a long way and seemed tired. With a slight sigh Zen breathed and maintained his normal cold voice he carried while on duty.

He glanced at the village over the wall before turning back to the three. Alright, It's late and i see no reason to wake the Tsuchikage at such an hour. You'll be our "guests" for the night. We'll give you a room and accommadations for the night and i'll return to take you to see the kage in the morning. Please look over there. Zen points to an obvious building in the open which was the top of an inn. Please meet me there. As Zen gets ready to jump off the wall the chuunin guard returns.

He whispers something in Zens ear and then goes back to his guard duty. Zen turns back to the three. It appears as if the Tsuchikage will see you now. Please, follow me and try to keep up. Zen leaps off the side of the wall freefalling down the high wall. The wind increases kicking up drastically as he finally focuses chakra to his feet. He feet connect to the wall much like a magnet connects to a refrigerator. He instantly kicks off the wall landing safely on a rooftop. He quickyly jumps from rooftop to rooftop in the blink of an eye quickly landing in front of the headquarters of the Tsuchikage.

He turns around to ensure his guests are nearby. After making sure everything is good he gestures for the two guards to steo aside he then turns to the shinobi. You two may enter but your bird must remain outside. I'll see to it that it's taken care of. As Zen speaks two shinobi appear with cleaning equipment and oils to treat the large creature. He next gestures for the shinobi to enter first and he'll follow.

Kam sighed. why did the higher ranks change their minds so much? Oh well. Kam listened to the things transversing on both ends. This was going to be a while. they soon took off to the Kage's building. while kam followed, his hair bobbing in his wake; Azami jumped in to the air and easily followed them. Kam however, almost couldn't keep up. 1: because he had just gotten of an 8 hour flight. 2: His eyes were being sewn shut and 3: He never really trained well on the ground.

As soon as they reached close to the building they had requested that Azami left to be treated. Kam's eyes clouded again. " Aza is a shinobi of the Sand. She will not be treated like a messenger hawk. She knows everything that I do and probrably more." they even asked to treat Azami. Kam's eyes nearly turned white with anger. " It's quite a large insult to treat a Moucho's animal." Even though Aza had a large wingspan, she was only 4 feet tall. Aza pecked at Kam. " Shut up you idiot and lets just deliver the bloody paper."

Isamu looked so relieved after the Iwa Anbu told them that they would finally rest. Isamu slightly sighed after listening to the good news. "Yes yes. I agree. There isn't any reason to wake up the Tsuchikage." He said happy. The only thing he wanted at that moment, was to lie on a bed and let sleep guide him through dreams. Unfortunately, a Chuunin guard said something at the Anbu, making him change his mind. Isamu heard him saying that they could meet Lord Tsuchikage right away. "....what?!" Isamu mumbeled. The Iwa anbu told them to follow him. He jumped down from the wall and Isamu followed with a terrible expression on his face. They jumped above the wall, then continued from rooftop to rooftop, following the mysterious anbu. Although Isamu was exhausted, he could keep up easily, but he then realised that Kam and Aza weren't that fast. They were aerial shinobi after all; plus, they were flying for about 8 hours.

Isamu finally reached the Tsuchikage's Headquarters right after the Iwa anbu did. Isamu put on his black ribbon in order to hide his tired eyes. After a few moments, Kam and Aza were there too. Isamu listened to that anbu saying that Azami couldn't pass. Two Iwa shinobi appeared with oils and clearing equipment. Kam was bothered but Aza just told him to shut up, so that they could finally deliver that so called letter. Isamu draged down his ribbon a little, then looked at the envelope. "We went through this, just to deliver some lines written by the Kazekage." Isamu put his ribbon back on his eyes and breathed deeply, getting ready to finally meet the Tsuchikage and go to sleep before he would colapse.

Zen turned seeing the exchange of words from the bird and the chuunin. Waiting to be sure that the younger shinobi had the letter in question in hand he looked back to see the one called Isa. He looked exhausted. Like he'd been in constant battle for a week and was on his last legs. Understanding the hour was late and this was business that needed to be concluded quickly he turns back to the entrance. The two masked shinobi step aside as Zen pushes the large doors open revealing a long hallway. Right this way.

Spoiler:

As Zen proceeded down the hall way he took not of various almost odd looking shadows. He knew that there were multiple members of anbu, like himself scattered throughout every hallway. He also knew they wouldn't make a move seeing as there was a higher ranking member among the guests. At the end of the hall way there was a large door with two more guards. I brings members from Sunagakure. Please step aside, we must see the Tsuchi kage immediately. The guards again stepped aside.

Pushing the large doors open Zen speaks. Lord Ryusaki. I've brought the Suna shinobi hear as ordered. His voice flows throughout the entirety of the room as he gestures the Suna shinobi to follow him in. He waits to see what his kage's response.