Beyond the Mountains

 is the thirty-first chapter of Natsumi Mukai's +Anima manga.

Synopsis
Some Kim-un-kur escort Igneous Giesrieg and his soldiers down Moss Mountain. On the way, they discover Marca Brighton hiding in some bushes; she claims to have gotten lost. The Kim-un-kur instruct Igneous to take her back to Sandra. Igneous finds her familiar and asks her if they know each other; she denies it, and the soldiers think that Igneous was flirting with her. Marca asks where the children are, and Igneous suspects her of spying on him. Igneous informs her that the children are staying with the Kim-un-kur, then he forcefully guides her down the mountain path.

Cooro heads into the forest to see Nana Alba who had asked to meet him there. She apologizes for running away when Senri went berserk. Cooro suggests she instead apologize to Senri, but also reminds her that when Senri regained control he called out her name, meaning he considers her a friend.

Back at the Kim-un-kur camp, Si Mukar invites the +Anima children to stay at their village. Cooro considers it, but Nana wants to return to Sandra so she asks Senri and Husky for their opinions. Husky asks for some time to think about it, and walks away.

Husky goes to see Upas to ask him how Sailand destroyed his tribe when they are on the opposite side of the mountain. Upas tells him that the Kim-un-kur tribes on the western side of the mountain were enslaved and used to access the eastern side. Mukar had the trail sealed to prevent further attacks by Sailand. Upas asks Husky how badly he wants to go to Sailand, and offers to unseal the trail, albeit on one condition.

The +Anima children eat together, and Nana gives Senri a new scarf since he had destroyed his old one. They discuss where they are going to go next; Cooro likes the idea of not worrying about food if they stay with Mukar, while Nana claims that the mountain is too cold but really is worried about her Anima growing stronger if she stays with the Kim-un-kur. They notice Husky is being unusually quiet and question him, but he gets up and runs away.

Husky thinks about Upas's condition: to take Cooro, Nana and Senri with him. He tells Upas that he can't ask them, however they were eavesdropping and choose to go to Sailand with him anyway. Upas warns them that the path is sealed and getting back won't be easy.