Jine's Village

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He woke up to the sound of shouting and opened his eyes to the sight of Ansei's frightened face.

"Jine, we have to go. Pack your things and meet me outside the village. I’ll get Anya and Mitze."

"Wha- what's going on?"

"They're here." The fear in Ansei's eyes was unmistakable and her tone left no room for argument.

Jine dressed himself quickly. Grabbing a small sack, he shoved in whatever clothes he could find. He picked up his carving knife and threw that in too for good measure. Just as he was about to go retrieve his bow, something flew through their window in an explosion of wood.

There was a scream from Ansei before his sight was engulfed by flames.

The fire devoured the wooden house, racing over the floorboards and consuming any furniture in its way. Smoke filled the room and he could not breathe. Gasping and choking, he could barely hear Ansei's desperate cries through the roar of the blaze.

"Run! Jine! Run! Don't let them see you!"

His vision watered. When he squinted through the haze, he could make out the forms of Anya and Mitze, trapped on top of their loft, wailing in fright. They were separated from him and Ansei by a barrier of flames.

"Jine! Run!" Ansei turned and screamed at him yet again.

"N-no! I'm going to get them out of there! I'm going to-"

He was cut off by a fit of coughing from the smoke inhaled into his lungs. He took a step towards the barrier of flames. The heat scorched his face. He had to save them. He had to save his siblings.

"NO! Get out of here!" A force yanked him back and the next thing he knew, he was thrown out through the front door. Within the burning house, Ansei braced herself to charge through the flames towards Anya and Mitze.

Abruptly, there was an ear-splitting crack and the floor right before her feet disappeared. Half of the house crashed down the tree in a blazing inferno, plummeting towards the ground. The last thing they heard was Anya and Mitze’s terrified cries.

There was silence all around. The crackle of flames and the shrieks across the village were only a distant echo in Jine's ears.

Then, Ansei screamed. She collapsed onto the floor and screamed, banging her fists against the broken floorboards. The flames threatened to consume her trembling form.

Jine ran towards her, dodging fiery bits of debris and falling splinters of wood. He barely noticed the heat scalding his skin. All he cared about was getting to his sister.

When he got to Ansei, he grabbed her by the arm and tried to drag her away.

But Ansei continued to scream. “I told you to run away! Go away! GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE!”

“I’m not going anywhere without you!” Jine shouted back in return.

Ansei shook her head and let out a few broken sobs. “I should be dead. I should be dead instead of them.”

Jine choked up, tears streaming down his cheeks uncontrollably. He clung onto Ansei, refusing to let go no matter how many times she tried to push him away. “No… no, please… I can’t lose you too! We only have each other now! Ansei, please come with me! I’ll protect you!”

For a few brief moments that seemed like an eternity, the siblings simply held onto each other and cried as the world burned down around them.

Ansei let out her breath in a long shuddering sigh. “I’m sorry, Jine. L-losing it like that. I must be the worst big sister ever.”

She chuckled bitterly, before she picked herself up from off the ground, hauling Jine up with her.

Jine shook his head and she smiled at him. One of her small sad smiles. “Let’s go far, far away.”

Together, leaning against each other, the siblings limped their way out of the inferno that had once been their home.

Once they were finally out through the front door, the cold prickled at their skin. The stench of smoke hung heavy in the freezing night air.

They could not descend using the step ladder at the risk of being spotted, thus they slithered their way precariously down the tree trunk, avoiding any burning branches. Jine’s hands and knees were scorched and bleeding, but he held back any complaints, for Ansei was in a far worse state, with burns covering her arms and legs.

Hidden among the leaves, they were finally able to catch a glimpse of the state of the village.

Most of the treehouses were on fire, as well as the houses around the village clearing, including Kiye and Lyen’s residence.

Many of the villagers had been rounded up in the centre of the clearing. They were surrounded by armoured warriors, whose helms obscured their features. But Jine knew with a sinking heart that they were Rhyll soldiers, for many of them were mounted upon giant wolves.

The large creatures lumbered around the clearing, snapping their jaws and baring their elongated fangs at any villager they came close to. Direwolves. Ansei had told him that they were the Rhyll’s preferred mounts.

The leader of the soldiers did not wear a helmet. He had a cruel and brutally scarred face. As he circled the villagers on his direwolf, he appraised them with an eerie blood-red gaze. The torch in his hand lit up the villagers’ frightened and uncertain faces.

“Is this the last of them?” The leader called out, his voice cold and detached. “Burn down all of the houses. Search the whole village. Don’t let a single one of them escape.”

A few soldiers, armed with bows, shot flaming arrows at the intact treehouses. Those quickly disappeared into a roaring blaze as well.

Two soldiers dragged a young woman out from behind a tree. Two pups clung to her legs, their eyes round with fear. Jine recognised her as the village baker, who made the most delicious pastries in her small makeshift oven and often gave them out to the younger pups for free. She and her children were flung unceremoniously into the centre of the clearing as well.

More soldiers approached the edges of the clearing, starting their search among the trees.

Ansei grabbed Jine by his wrist. The two slid the rest of the way down the tree and fled into the nearby bushes, the crackle of fire concealing their footsteps.

They fumbled their way through the darkness of the undergrowth, heading towards the edge of the village.

Out of the blue, a small voice sounded. “Jine? Is that you?”

Jine whipped his head around. Just a short distance away, Kiye and Lyen were huddled up together behind a bush. They appeared relatively unharmed, although Lyen was in a pretty bad state, his face ashen and his breath escaping in wheezes as he struggled not to cough.

“Jine, they have our father.” Tears shimmered in Kiye’s widened eyes.

Jine peered through the bushes, and there indeed Chief Kuwei was, dragged behind the Rhyll leader’s direwolf by a rope around his neck. The Chief’s features were barely recognisable for his face had been reduced to nothing but a mottled mess of flesh and blood. Jine could only recognise him by his braided beard, which was matted with more blood.

“Kiye,” Jine breathed out. “You and your brother should come with us.”

But Kiye only shook her head.

“They have our father.” She repeated in a choked sob.

Jine looked around for Ansei. His sister was already a few bushes ahead. Her amber gaze bore into him with an unspoken plea as she gestured for him to hurry.

Jine glanced back at Kiye, who simply stared back at him sorrowfully. “Jine… You promised we’d look after each other…”

Taking a deep breath, Jine made up his mind. He ran up to Ansei. “Sis, please go on ahead first! I’ll meet you by the river!”

Ansei cried out his name, but Jine did not turn back. He had already returned to Kiye and Lyen.

“So, what’s the plan?”

Kiye drew a small knife from her belt, clutching it in her trembling hands. “W-we have to fight! Or the Rhyll will kill all of them!”

“Kiye! That’s… crazy!” Lyen managed to cough out a protest. “W-we… don’t stand even a sliver of a chance!”

“But we have to save Father!” As Kiye’s voice rose in pitch and volume, Jine hushed her hurriedly.

“Let’s just wait and watch for an opportunity.”

Their discussion was promptly interrupted by a wail from the gathered villagers.

"Kuwei! Why did you betray us?" It was the baker lady, who stood at the front of the group. Her children had started to cry, and she had gathered them up in her arms. Although her trembling form betrayed her fear, she glowered unflinchingly at their incapacitated chief, her eyes burning.

"I…did not…have a choice." The Chief croaked out in a rasp. The Rhyll leader had untied him from the direwolf and tossed his body down before the villagers. "They…caught me…and they…t-tortured me…"

"And now you have condemned us all!" The baker's voice had risen to a shrill shriek. 

"I…h-had to tell them…" The Chief gasped. "He told me he'd spare…our ch-children…"

"Enough!" Their exchange was cut off by a curt command from the Rhyll leader.

The baker set the children down and dropped to her knees, starting to plead weakly. "G-general Ghost… w-why are you doing this? We left the Rhyll so long ago, and w-we've never bothered you ever since. P-please, we only want to live our lives in peace…"

"Silence." The Rhyll leader, Ghost, spoke in a quiet but dangerous voice. "You sent this vermin -" he jabbed a finger in Chief Kuwei's direction "- to steal and plunder from us, yet now you expect us to let you go without atoning for your crimes?"

The baker lady let out a small whimper.

Ghost dismounted from his direwolf and unsheathed a set of twin blades strapped to his back in one fluid motion.

"Eight years ago, your leader led a rebellion against the High General and threw our nation into disarray." Walking up to the baker lady, Ghost pointed one of his swords in her face. "I would have killed every single one of you filthy traitors, but the High General was merciful enough to spare some of your worthless lives. And yet. And yet. You dare show up again in my citadel, and you dare pilfer from my stores. You took the High General’s mercy, and threw it back in his face!”

“This year you steal. But who knows what you’ll do next year? Another coup, perhaps? As if I would ever risk you disrupting the order within my citadel!”

Then, Ghost let his blade slide under Chief Kuwei's throat. "Tell me, Chief. Do you still remember what the punishment for treason and theft is under our law?"

The Chief was shaking uncontrollably. A single word escaped in a barely audible rasp. "D…d-death…"

The hints of a smile played on Ghost's lips. "That's right."

In a flash of silver, the Chief fell to the ground, limp, blood pooling out from the deep cut in his throat.

Kiye screamed, or rather started to scream, but Jine grabbed her and pinned her down on the ground, shoving his fist into her mouth to muffle her. Sharp little fangs sank into his already burnt knuckles and he let out a hiss of pain. Jine shot a glance at Lyen, relieved to find that the boy was completely frozen, although his eyes were wide and his face was as pale as ever.

Their little scuffle went unnoticed by the soldiers, for Ghost had just given his next order. "Kill them all."

Chaos erupted in the clearing. One of the villagers burst out from the centre of the group, wielding a pitchfork. He charged at a Rhyll soldier. Caught off guard, the prongs slashed across the soldier’s chest. Ghost snarled and shoved one of his blades into the villager’s back. He dropped to the ground beside the fallen Chief, motionless.

Some of the villagers tried to run, but were shot down by arrows, or torn apart by the direwolves. Others, in a fit of desperation, attempted to attack the soldiers, pummelling them with bare fists or the makeshift weapons that they had been hiding. Ghost’s blades sung in streaks of silver and crimson. Anyone who got close fell with a single strike.

The baker lady, who was cowering on the ground and shielding her pups, shrieked out. “You promised you’d spare the children!”

Ghost paused. He gestured at two soldiers, who ran up to the lady and dragged her off her wailing children. The mother howled and pleaded, but was silenced by a blade buried into her skull. The children's cries faded as they were towed away towards what appeared to be large wooden cages.

Around the clearing, children were torn from their families, forced to watch as their screaming parents were slaughtered in the swing of a sword or the snap of a wolf’s jaws.

The scene blurred before Jine's eyes. He could barely see through the hot tears welling up.

“Let me go! Let me go!” Kiye was yelling and struggling, but he refused to release her. Until something sharp jabbed into his elbow. He yelped, loosening his grip and tumbling backwards.

Kiye scrabbled to her feet, brandishing her knife. "Father!"

Before she could run out of the bushes, Jine tackled her to the ground again. The two crashed heavily into the undergrowth, branches and twigs crunching beneath them. Amidst their scuffle, Jine spotted Ghost through the leaves. The scarred warrior had grown still, his blood-red gaze affixed on the very bush they were presently concealed in. Very slowly, the warrior made his way towards them.

Kiye had noticed as well and she froze. Both of them could only watch, petrified as the warrior advanced closer and closer. Ghost stopped before the bush and raised one of his swords.

Jine squeezed his eyes shut.

CLANG.

Cracking a single eye open, Jine felt his heart plummet to his stomach. Ansei stood before Ghost, blocking him off from their bush. Her sword clashed with Ghost’s in an ear-piercing screech of metal.

“D-don’t come any closer.” Ansei could not seem to keep the tremor out of her voice. Her knees shook, and the sword looked ready to slip out of her hands at any moment. Still, she did not move, simply staring up at Ghost with a challenging light in her eyes.

Ghost raised an eyebrow. “Have we met before, little one? That scar on your face is dreadfully familiar.”

Ansei said nothing but her hands trembled harder than ever.

“You are terrified, yet you insist on standing in my way.” Ghost’s lips curled into a sneer. “Do not expect me to show you any mercy.”

He swung his other sword forth, the blade arching towards Ansei’s torso. Ansei dodged out of the way and dropped to one knee.

When Ghost’s swords came slashing down again, she fell to the ground and rolled out of the way. The blades stabbed into the patch of earth that her head had occupied just moments ago.

As Ansei leapt back to her feet, she flung her sword out at Ghost. The blade grazed against Ghost’s shoulder, drawing a line of blood.

Jine’s breath caught in his throat. Ansei too seemed shocked that she had managed to land a blow. She stiffened, but only for a second before a twinkle sparked in her eyes. She tightened her grip on her sword and held her head up high.

“Not bad, little one,” Ghost cast a nonchalant glance at his wound. “But not good enough.”

And right before their eyes, the cut started to close itself up, the blood congealing into a thin red scar before the scar faded away into a faint pink line as well.

A choked gasp escaped from Ansei’s lips and she nearly dropped her sword again. She stumbled back, glancing furtively among the trees as if meaning to flee. Then, she closed her eyes, uttering something softly under her breath, before she swung around and charged at Ghost.

The warrior did not even blink. Ansei swung her sword to strike. Side-stepping smoothly, Ghost thrust one of his swords up and drove it straight into her chest.

“NO! NOOO!” Jine burst out from the bush, sprinting towards his sister, only to be kicked aside by Ghost.

Ansei lay on the ground, her blood pooling around her. She lifted a hand weakly and reached out for Jine.

“Jine…run…”

“It is a pity.” Ghost remarked coldly as he wiped the blood off his sword with his cloak. “She would have made a fine warrior. Too bad she was born to treasonous scum.”

Jine crawled up to Ansei again, and this time Ghost did not stop him. He cradled her face in his hand and whispered her name over and over. Her eyes were already closed and her skin was cold. So terribly cold.

“Take him away.”

Jine’s head snapped up and he spotted the approaching soldiers. His mind went blank.

Before he knew what he was doing, he had already yanked his carving knife out. He flew at Ghost.

“I’LL KILL YOU! I’LL KILL YOU!”

He could not see through the tears at all. He ran at Ghost over and over, only to be kicked away each time. Finally, he leapt up and stabbed his knife down, only to feel a burst of pain explode across his left eye.

Red, hot blood blinded his vision, streaming down his face mixed with his tears. But he could not stop. He charged at Ghost again, repeating the same crazed mantra. “You killed my sister! I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you!”

A hand grabbed him by the throat, hoisting him up into the air. Suddenly, he could not breathe or do little more than to kick his legs uselessly. The knife slipped out of his grasp.

Ghost’s red eyes burned into him, his face twisted into a snarl. “Foolish pup! I spared your life and yet you would attack me? Do you wish to die as well?”

“Y-you…killed my…sister…” Jine choked out, clawing at Ghost’s talon-like grip around his throat.

“Fine. Then I shall allow you to accompany her to the grave.”

The grip around his throat tightened further, if it were even possible. Black spots floated in Jine’s vision.

“A-Ansei… I-I’m sorry…” I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.

“Please! S-stop!” A weak voice called out from across the clearing.

Ghost’s hand slackened ever so slightly as he turned his head back towards the bushes.

Lyen had stepped out from his hiding place. Kiye was clinging onto his wrist, trying to drag him back, but Lyen only shook her off.

He took another step forward on shaky legs, before kneeling down.

“We wish to serve the Rhyll! We swear fealty to the High General! So please! I beg of you! Please spare my foolish friend!”

Lyen…what are you saying?!

But perhaps it was fortunate that Jine could not get a single word out.

In the next moment, Lyen started to cough violently. The coughs wracked his small, frail body, and a large amount of blood spewed from his lips.

Ghost threw Jine at one of the soldiers standing by. “Put that feral brat in a cage.”

The warrior himself stalked up to Lyen’s quivering form. The pup had collapsed on the ground. Ghost raised an eyebrow.

“Let him go! Don’t hurt him!” Jine screeched hoarsely, barely able to get a sound out of his aching throat. He bit and kicked at the soldiers restraining him. However, one simply grabbed him by the scruff and crammed him into the nearest cage.

Ghost picked Lyen up, swaddling the unconscious pup in his cloak. 

“Get his sister too.” He indicated Kiye, who remained rooted to the spot. She was seemingly in a state of complete shock, offering little resistance as a soldier dragged her off and tossed her into Jine’s cage.

Ghost, still carrying Lyen, mounted his direwolf once more. The general cast a sweeping glance around the village.

Not a single house was left standing. The village had been reduced to smouldering piles of wood.

Not a single villager had survived. The soldiers were slowly starting to drag the bodies into the bonfires that had once been their homes.

Only the children remained in their cages, shivering and wailing for their parents, for their families, for all that they had lost.

Satisfied, Ghost called out one final order. “Return to the citadel!”

He rode away into the trees and the rest of the army followed.

The wooden cages had been mounted on wheels and strapped to direwolves. As the great beasts lumbered forward, the cages moved along, slowly pulling out of the village.

Jine tried desperately to catch one last glimpse of Ansei, but she was lost among the throng of incinerating bodies.

“Jine… I’m so sorry…” Kiye started to blabber brokenly. “I didn’t know he would spot us… I didn’t know your sister would… W-what are we going to do? What is he going to do to Lyen?”

“Just shut up!” The words were forced out of his bruised throat in a mangled howl. Jine banged his fists against the bars of their cage, and then banged his head against them as well for good measure.

The burns on his hands and the cut on his face stung something fierce, but it was nothing compared to the gaping hole in his heart.

He couldn’t save Anya and Mitze. He couldn’t help Kiye and Lyen. He couldn’t protect Ansei. He had failed every single one of them. He truly was better off dead.

The procession advanced and the village slowly disappeared from sight. It burned alone into the night.