I didn't know where to go; I've never left the borders of the village. I was only twelve years old, and I now lead what left of the Raionzuden village. The only thing I knew of the world outside of the village is that if you follow a road that it will lead you to a larger village maybe even a town that thrived with people that could help or maybe just give us a place to rest and feel safe again.
"Haruto!" Renato shoved and pointed head, "There someone walking downs the road!" We were young, and we weren't fighters. I only counted eight of us, five boys and three girls and none have combat training, but we were good a hide and sought.
I whip around and address the group hastily, "Quickly hide in the woods!" without question the pack of children jumped into the bushes and climbed the trees. I grabbed Sota by the wrist and swiftly raced up a tree on perched Sota and me on a large branch covered with thick green leaves.
I was the oldest, and it was my obligation to protect the younger cubs. I broke a long dead stem from the branch of the tall oak tree and grasped it like a sword. It may not kill the path walker, but it might give the children enough time to escape.
The path walker approached, he whistled happily, and sometimes he changed the tone to a humming. He didn't seem to be a threat, but for the sake of my family and my friends I wasn't going to say he wasn't a threat.
He carried a large woven bag filled with sticks and wheat, and he walked with a cane. The closer he got the more visible he became. I could see a long grey beard that almost scraped the ground and that he walks with a curve in his back, but one this changed my whole point of this man. Under his straw hat, I could see the golden eyes that could warm the cold hearts of any man, woman or child. Without a second thought, I leaped from the branch and led right in front of him, blocking his path.
"Bandits!" he yelled overproducing the "s". He swung his walking stick like a hammer bringing it down to strike me on the head.
"No, wait!" I yelled placing my head down crossing my arms above my head to absorb the blow, but I never felt the shock. I lifted m head and looked up to see the sick stopped right before it reached my arms. The old man sat and stared at me with his golden eyes that you could barely see through his squinted eyes.
"You can't tell me to wait, you're a bandit!" he pulled his stick back to his chest. The he led into an uncomfortably close and squinted even more. "You're a little young to be a bandit." He enlarged one eye and scanned me. "Wait a minute…You're a Raionzuden!" he jumped back with relief "Few, I thought I was under attacked!" he laughed.
"What are you doing out here young cub?" he asked.
I sat there staring at the ground for a second tear slowly filling my eyes. I sniffed then looked up at the old man. "We have nowhere else to go…" I motioned the children to show themselves. They crept out of the bushes and jumped out of the trees.
"Bandits!" he screamed again over overproducing the "s."
"No, the not bandit's just children," I shouted trying to gain his focus.
"Oh good, I thought I was under attack." He put his weight on the walking stick then scanned the children. "You bunch look like you've been through hell this past day…Let's take you home now" he began to walk towards the village.
"We can't go home" I spoke harshly
"Whys not?" he was confused
"We don't have a home anymore." I began to tear up.
"Belief me boy, whatever you children did your family will forgive." He smiled
"You don't get it. There is no home; it's burnt to the ground our families are stacked on top of each other in the middle of the village with their eyes carved from their head!" I began to shout. "We are the only survivors!" I fell to my knees and sobbed. The old man's face was no longer smiling; it was more of a confusion.
"Do you see those smoke clouds in the sky…its not a bonfire" I pointed. The old man was speechless for a long time just staring at the black ash clouds in the sky.
He cleared his throat "I have a farm about three miles up from here…You children can stay with me. It's safe, and there's enough room for all of you." He knelt down and got face to face with me. "The names Ren." He stuck his hand out.
I stared at his hard for a second then grasped it. He pulled me up to my feet and dusted me off. He addressed the group, "Come on everyone!" then he flipped around and started walking down the path back the way he came.
Renato placed his hand on my shoulder. "Can we trust him?"
I stared at the man as he walked down the road. "Spread the word, if I say "run" everyone scrambles to the woods and hides until you or I come to get them." Renato nodded and began to whisper into each of the children's ears.
