Journey
A journey of hardship and loss, love and friendship, mystery and destiny, and one girl who will bear it all upon her shoulders
Lost
A little girl sat playing with a white toy horse by a pond. Her violet eyes shone brightly and her short black hair curved around her pale cheeks. The cool breeze ruffled the skirt of her sage dress lightly. Fall is coming! she thought excitedly.
"Murasakino! Time to come in!" called a tall red headed boy.
The girl jumped up, scooping up the small horse, and began running towards the boy.
" I'm coming Toki!" she called out happily.
As she reached him the dark haired child gazed into his bright green eyes and he smiled. Toki swung her up onto his shoulders. She giggled and stroked his dark red hair lovingly.
"I love you brother!" she said.
" And I you little sister, " the boy replied, beginning to walk towards a brick palace.
Murasakino bolted upright in her canopied bed. Her heart was pounding. Something was going to happen, something wrong. All was quiet except for Kiri's gentle snoring. The giant black leopardess was curled up tightly at the end of the bed. Her silver spots shimmered in the moonlight. Murasakino's dream came rushing back to her. Why in the world had she dreamt of that evening so many years ago? Oh well, she thought. She lay back closing her deep violet eyes and drifted off.
Wrong
She gasped, suddenly awake again. Why couldn't she sleep? Murasakino listened to the silence trying to reassure herself. There was a shuffling outside her door and she held her breath. Kiri's ears flicked towards the noise. Ever so slowly the door opened and a dark shadow slipped through. The door clicked shut. An involuntary gasp escaped Murasakino's lips.
" Shhhhh, sweet sister," a sickly familiar voice whispered.
Something was going to happen, something wrong.
The shadow stepped into the moonlight flooding through the window. No no, no, no, no, a! Murasakino screamed mentally. The figure smiled darkly. Her hair passed her hips and was dark as Murasakino's. She had eyes as red as the blood that was splattered across her black dress and was in the ends of her hair. In her hand she held a long, silver sword, stained with crimson blood.
"Kallika, what…", Murasakino began, her voice shaking terribly.
" Dearest sister, you're the last tonight. I'll truly regret ending your innocent soul's journey just as I did Kayra's. Mother, Father, and Toki were no problem although Toki did fight fiercely. Do you know that he tried to save you? He could have chosen anyone of the family, including himself ,yet he chose you. You should feel honored sister. He never once cared about me", her eyes flashed dangerously, " No matter, he's dealt with now. Well, on with night. Remember me sister, I'll certainly remember you."
Kallika laughed evilly. She strode forward like she owned the world. Kiri leapt forward with a roar that shook the windows. Kallika merely raised her hand and flung Kiri through the glass doors, over the veranda, and down towards the ground a story below.
Glass shattered and flew everywhere. Murasakino was motionless and hardly able to breathe as tears began to flow down her face. Finally, Kallika reached Murasakino with a malicious smile upon her face. Her red eyes shone as she placed the sword tip over her violet eyed sister's heart. Faster than she thought possible, Murasakino grasped the dagger beneath her pillow, and flung it with all her might at her 15-year-old sister. The dagger struck Kallika in the chest and her hands flew to the dagger, grasping it desperately. The sword fell to the floor, cutting Murasakino's arm on the way.
Kallika fell to her knees and then backwards. The young girl leapt from her bed. She knelt beside her sister who's crimson eyes stared blankly at nothing. Murasakino pulled the dagger from her dead sister. She then took Kallika's sword and wiped them both on the dress that covered her quickly cooling body. Taking the sword belt from her older sister she placed it around her own waste and slipped the sword and dagger into it.
Toki
The young girl opened a closet , found a small bag, and stuffed a few possessions into it, including a large bag of coins. She spun around and raced to her door, flung it open, and dropped the bag on the floor. Before her lay her brother Toki. He was bleeding heavily but was coughing. He's still alive! She thought. Murasakino sat on her knees and pulled Toki's head onto her lap.
"Toki! Wake up! Kallika's gone and Mother and Father and Kayra are dead! You have to wake up! Toki please!" she began to yell, her voice raising higher in panic.
He coughed again and slowly opened his eyes, looking into Murasakino's tear filled eyes.
" Sweet sister, I won't make it I've lost too much blood and my wounds are terrible." He rasped, painfully.
" Yes you will! You have to Toki! I can't live without you!" she wailed.
" Of course you can. You're a smart girl and your strong too. Don't forget Kiri. She'll", he broke off into a fit of coughing,
" But who will look after me! Kiri can't always be there. She doesn't take care of me like you brother!", Murasakino replied, tears streaming down her face onto her brother and mixing with his blood.
" I'll still be there for you. Watching over you even if you can't see me. I love you little sister. Never forget that." Toki said drawing his final breath.
" I'll always love you too brother, always", the young Murasakino cried.
Toki closed his eyes and a smile spread across his lips. Murasakino slipped out from under him, picked up her bag, and looked down into his peaceful face. Never again would he put her on his shoulders and carry her around. Never again would he play dolls with her, even though he was a boy. Never again would he tell her goodnight and give her a hug. Never again, never again….