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Part 32: Follow the Leader

Info

Writer

Blonde Teraesa

Character Introductions

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Character Deaths

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Arcs

Hikari Crystals Arc

Fight for Mikomi Village Arc

Timeline Entries

The Story

Endless Rain

Part 32: Follow the leader

© Blonde Teraesa

As Moyasu and the villagers, who were to accompany her, made their way further and deeper into the forest that divided Mikomi territory from Chi territory, Moyasu began to wonder what the good of moving to an already dead fortress could do them. There was no one there to repair the defenses from the first attack, and there hadn't been for quite some time.

‘The Mikomi are insane. All of them.’ She thought to herself as she ducked under a branch and felt Hana's hand grasp her shoulder. Hana was having trouble with the branch.

"How could you lift this with one hand? It's so heavy ..." She asked of the small girl.

Moyasu wasn't sure. She hadn't even remembered grasping the branch to get beneath it, but now as she looked at her hand she was sure that she had.

‘Am I not paying attention? That will not do.’ She scolded herself, smiling up to Hana and the villagers who now reached the branch.

"Sorry ... I guess living off the forest gives you a little extra oomph."

"Let me take care of that." Wevli spoke as he reached the branch, quickly hacking it from the tree with his sword as his brothers kept an eye on the dawdlers.

With a few more pauses on the path, the Mikomi villagers continued the venture towards the Chi village, unsure as to why they were taking such an overgrown and out-of-the-way path to where they were going.

They soon found out. Upon reaching a clearing, Moyasu stopped and turned, signaling for the people to stop.

"This is the safest way to the village. Mind your step. From this point to the forest there are hidden traps. But as long as you go in a straight line after me, one person at a time, we'll all make it."

Back at the village, Hitori had strapped on her armor and unsheathed her personal sword. It was lighter than a man's, but she was skilled with it when she wanted to be. And that would be now. Never before and never again would she be so serious with her blade as she would this day. This was a fight that she couldn't talk her way out of. She just hoped that everyone would survive it.

‘Shuhan ... guide my sword. You ... were always the best warrior.’ Hitori thought to herself, letting a tear fall before being shocked into reality by the war horn of a Sendo soldier.

"They're coming! Brace the gate! Take your places! Archers, ready! Soldiers, prepare! Today, we fight for the sanctity of our village. Our numbers are few, but our strength is great. Afrain will guide us to victory!" She shouted, finding a resounding and reassuring reply bellowing from the lungs of her loyal followers as she took her place at the front, atop the wall that surrounded her village.

Yes, it was hers now, wasn't it. Not before, but now it was. Completely. Everyone accepted her as the leader. And that led a swell of confidence and calm to wash over her as she saw the first Sendo horseman coming into view from the forest.

"ARCHERS FIRE!!!!"

Moyasu, who still had a limp from her sprained ankle, led the Mikomi down a small hill which she knew was not far from her home. A place she hadn't visited since the death of her people, and as she inched nearer to the point where she would be able to see her village again, her heart began to beat heavily against her ribcage. Anticipation? Fear? She wasn't sure which she was feeling, but it was hindering her movement.

"Are you okay, Moyasu?" Hana asked, leaning forward lightly so as to be closer to Moyasu's height.

"Yeah ..." Moyasu replied, looking off to the side.

She didn't want Hana to know what she was feeling. It was bad enough she was helping the Mikomi, she wasn't about to go completely soft and start sharing her feelings and hugs and all that sappy stuff. She was too tough for that, wasn't she? She would find out soon, because as she limped onward, she found herself keeping her eyes on the ground. That meant she was VERY close to coming into viewing distance. And that she didn't want to see what remained of her memories. Of her childhood.

"Afrain above ..." It was Wevles who broke the silence that had fallen after Moyasu's words.

Not Hana, as Moyasu expected. Hana gasped, however, so Moyasu knew it couldn't be good. With a deep breath, the young girl lifted her eyes.

"No!" Suddenly, Hana's hand was over Moyasu's eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't look. Please." Her voice was wavering, and Moyasu could tell Hana was serious, and that she was on the brink of tears.

More gasps were heard a few moments later, as more villagers made it into viewing distance of the ghost village. Wevli, Wevles, and Wevlum were now discussing something Moyasu couldn't hear, and it was making her mad. They had no right! The anger bubbled within her, as more of the Chi tradition flooded into her conscious mind and Moyasu forcefully pulled Hana's hand away from her eyes.

"Leave me be, Mikomi! I'm no weakling!" She hissed, looking towards her village, now determined to prove a point.

A point she would immediately forget. From where she stood, Moyasu's eyes widened at the sight of eight foot stakes surrounding her home, each one with a child's body or an adult's head impaled upon it. Her eyes scanned the vast number of dead, knowing that many were placed on those poles while still alive.

"I'm ... sorry, Moyasu." Moyasu didn't hear her, Hana's voice was far away now.

All that she could hear was the screams and shouting of her family and friends. All she could see was her mother's face on every stake. Then everything went black.

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