Chapter 7: The Raid
As a human, do not worry about your weakness compared to us. Your presence here alone is shifting everything and you, a human, will bring about great change for all of us. Physical weakness will be nothing compared to the power you have between our people.
"Ha?" Aoi, caught off guard, nearly dropped the package in her hands. She panicked to regain grasp of it and once having a proper grip she hugged it close with a sigh. The blue eyes met the two women quite seriously as she responded to Natsuki's challenge with a shake of her head, "I don't feel much like fighting, Natsuki…"
Natsuki stood straight, her fist dropping to her side and unfolding slightly. Don't feel like fighting? But we always fight. Sparring was the more correct term since she and Aoi hardly ever argue. They always sparred with each other, from childhood to present. It was the first time Natsuki ever recalled being turned down for a match, as she had never rejected Aoi either. Looking at Aoi's eyes they were slightly averted as any creature that didn't want to challenge the one in front of them, Natsuki nodded. That one day's still bothering her, huh?
"I'll fight you in Aoi's stead." A voice from behind Aoi drew their attention. A shorter girl walked out. Her raven hair, a slightly darker shade than Natsuki, was braided on each side with the rest of it tied into a short messy ponytail in the back. Amber brown eyes observed Natsuki, and then Shizuru, with the same vicious and untamed glint that Shizuru associated in Natsuki's eyes at times.
They, well Shizuru, did not notice her until she spoke and stepped out beside Aoi. The wolves were oddly silent and Aoi motioned for Shizuru to stay by her as Natsuki and the girl distanced themselves from on another at each end of the dirt practice ground. An intense stare down began and Shizuru looked at Natsuki with even greater intrigue. Natsuki really does love to fight… She found it admirable that the girl had something she was dedicated to. Aoi stood in the middle, palms outward towards the two challengers, "Don't draw blood now, you two." They got into identical stances—fists guarding their faces, one foot in front of the other, knees slightly bent.
"No promises." Natsuki shrugged.
"Hmp." The girl's expression did not change. She's a cold one, Shizuru thought, crossing her arms as she spectated.
Aoi rolled her eyes at Natsuki and her hands fell to her sides. She stepped back and returned to Shizuru's side, instantly beginning the fight. The two girls did not waste any time at all and instantly rushed at each other. Shizuru saw the way they fought was a type of boxing, heavily favoring the use of their elbows, knees, and shins to make the strikes. She found it almost cringe worthy thinking about how much time it took to condition their shins to even take that much damage, no less inflict it. Natsuki seemed to be fonder of her fists and elbows, while the girl concentrated more on moving faster than Natsuki to compensate for her shorter reach. For a while, they did well deflecting and avoiding each other's strikes, but soon it was evident Natsuki was beginning to overpower the girl.
"Ara, Natsuki is a true believer in brute force." Shizuru said more to herself than Aoi beside her. Although very fast, from what Shizuru learned spending the first week with Natsuki, she was definitely even stronger. Without a doubt, the girl would brawl with anyone any day without needing any reason.
The defending girl simply began blocking Natsuki's strikes with her arms. An uncomfortable frown formed on her face as each strike from Natsuki seemed to grow stronger and stronger, seeming to shake the girl's entire body. Shizuru just cringed slightly thinking how awful it must be to be on the receiving end of Natsuki's wrath like that. Aoi, sitting on the ground now, just leaned back on her hands, "Natsuki is about to get hit… whoa!" her eyes suddenly widened as POW, the sound of an impact and the two girls letting out pained grunts sent the two spectators standing straight.
As Natsuki had thrown her right fist for yet another strike on the defending girl, the girl stepped in, sped past Natsuki's unguarded left arm, got behind her, pulled back Natsuki's shoulders and struck her in the center of the lower back with her knee. As the strike sent her forward a bit, Natsuki pivoted on her foot, striking the girl in the side of the face with the back of her left fist.
The wolf ended it with a stumble backwards and as the girl shook her head, dazed from the strike to the face, Natsuki charged forward. Recovering, the girl's eyes widened as Natsuki's body collided heavily with hers.
Shizuru saw the fist fight turn into a desperate grappling match as Natsuki had the struggling girl in a tight hold. The hold seemed impossible to break free of and Aoi, deciding enough was enough, tapped on Shizuru's shoulder and they stepped up. Some blood had already been drawn, bruises especially, and that was one thing she did not want to happen. Placing a hand on Natsuki's chest, Aoi pulled her away and Shizuru helped the younger girl stand. One wiped their mouth, the other rubbed their back, "That's enough you two," she sighed, "You're both getting too riled up."
"Agh… well you're getting better. That's for sure," Natsuki pointed at the girl and then spoke to Aoi, "Sorry, if I beat your little sister too bad."
Despite the initial compliment, the girl just scowled at the second statement, still rubbing the side of her face, "I'm fine! I could have kept fighting!" she growled as the group made their way to the small pond.
"I could have held you there all day, pup." Natsuki scoffed with a grin.
"My, this is quite some rivalry I see here." Shizuru smiled.
Aoi let out an exasperated sigh, all too familiar with it, "You don't know the half of it. They have been like this for years."
The brunette handed a cloth to the younger girl and gave a pat on the back to Natsuki.
"Ow! Shizuru!" Natsuki growled. George suddenly appeared next to Natsuki and she stared sourly, "What are you looking at, weirdo horse?"
"Kanin na, Natsuki," Shizuru giggled, "George likes you. Don't mind him. Just don't let him get your hair," She knew Natsuki was fine and a rough pat on the back always seemed like the people's way of telling each other 'good job'. Actually, any sort of rough hit on the back or armed seemed to mean that—that Shizuru learned from Natsuki always doing it to her after hitting a target while hunting. Always. This was sort of payback. The brunette just smiled and, as George began nibbling on Natsuki's hair which sent her into hysterics, Shizuru turned her attention to the girl who handed her back the cloth, "Are you sure you're okay? Natsuki was a bit merciless."
"Ah, I'm fine… I'm used to this." The girl sighed.
Aoi whispered to Shizuru, "She really is. She always loses."
The girl turned around, red faced and fuming, "Aoi!" she turned back and crossed her arm with a slight growl, "My name is Nina by the way…. I am Aoi's younger sister. Half-sister if you are wondering." They really did not resemble one another. Interesting… Shizuru noted mentally. She figured if she looked hard enough maybe, just maybe, she could find some sort of family resemblance.
"We have different mothers that we each take to more than our father." Aoi explained.
"Aoi, you look like father, what are you talking about?"
"If you say so," the younger brunette smiled slightly.
Shizuru held out a hand, "Well, I am Shizuru. It's a pleasure to meet you Nina," She smiled, successfully remembering to leave out the confusing formal titles.
Nina just stared at the hand. After a few seconds, she lifted a finger and tapped a finger on Shizuru's outstretched hand. An awkward silence blew over as Aoi stifled a laugh and Natsuki stood between the two, staring intently. "You're doing it wrong." The bluenette grumbled, ignoring the horse saliva slowly dripping down her shoulder. She held Nina and Shizuru's wrists and brought their hands together, "Shake." Hands still on their wrists, she shook their hands up and down and beamed proudly. She knew how to do something no one else knew! Well, Aoi already knew. So yeah. Still.
"Natsuki it's just a handshake." Aoi laid down on the ground with a grin.
"Oi, let me have my moment."
"I see… interesting," Nina looked down at the joined hands and then let go, "It is good to meet you, too. I have heard a lot about you."
"Oh? So everyone seems to…" Shizuru sighed. Even after nearly a week, the hype about the human visitor has not died down. She wished she could simply blend in but she expected it to be impossible to begin with.
"Speaking of," Aoi sat up and grabbed the package she had initially carried in. Extending it towards Shizuru who accepted it into her hands, she said, "some women in the village made you a few sets of our clothes. Just so you have more than that to wear."
Shizuru looked down at the wrapped clothing and undid the ties slightly. She ran her fingers over the fabric, some thin leather, some woven silk. The silk pieces were a strong crimson red with accents and embroideries of gold. The leather clothing had duller red accented into it, fading into the hardened skin. Shizuru, awed by the craft, felt the ladies that made them should not have gone out of their way to provide these to her. She looked up, "Ara, these are beautiful! I really must thank them when I have a chance."
Aoi smiled slightly, "I knew you'd like it. They said the color was used because of your eyes."
"They are the most noticeable thing about you," Natsuki, wiping off the horse saliva in the pond, nodded. Not to mention her eyes gave off the impression of a certain… strength. Much like what the color stood for itself, "You might get to thank them today. We're headed into the village later remember?"
"Ara, yes! Shall we go now?"
Natsuki allowed Shizuru to put up the package inside and gather her belt attached with a pouch and waterskin. The bluenette found it rather amusing Shizuru was so gleeful about wearing the clothes for the first time tomorrow. Coming outside, Aoi and Nina went their separate ways from them and Shizuru led the horse alongside her. Leaving the pond by Natsuki's home and breaking through the woodline into village, the ordinary scene welcomed them.
Visitors from other places always seemed to be around, bringing in new items, new food their area could not grow. Seeing certain fruits, Shizuru noticed some of the visitors were from the other side of the mountain! Southwards past the mountain range near Zipang had numerous fruits growing; they were like a luxury up in Artai. Especially with the forest separating Artai and forcing trade to go around it or through sea. George jumped at the passing of a large bear-like shape shifter carrying a bundle of bananas and lychee. He walked on hind legs, towering over a transformed wolf, and something that appeared to be steel armor covered him. Shizuru calmed George quickly and looked on in awe, careful not to stare too long, "Amazing."
"What's amazing, Shizuru?" Natsuki turned, walking backwards, lifting a brow. She seemed quite as bored as usual. It was a pretty normal day. They settled into routine quite nicely, no different from a daily patrol for Shizuru around castle grounds. Back when she was still at the castle, at least. This time she had a friend to walk alongside and not boring ol' Yuuichi. In all honesty, Natsuki herself liked having the company of Shizuru. What she initially thought would be an inconvenience has actually been… fun.
"All the different people here." Shizuru smiled and they slowed to a halt to hand George over to someone who would fit him for new shoes and groom him.
They left and continued on. Natsuki shrugged, "We all share this place."
"Except with us." Shizuru stated. She could see they were nearing the mountain base. Natsuki wanted to go ahead and sign them up for the aforementioned tourneys at the upcoming festival, as well as visit the blacksmith to retrieve Shizuru's naginata. She kept a watchful eye out for the elderly women that made her the wonderful clothes, but saw no sign of them. Not yet at least.
"Hm, well." Natsuki looked over her shoulder, making no denial of it, "There's some of you. Mother and father never told me about what happened. They said it'll do me no good to be young and angry over something that's already passed. It is a little taboo to talk about too, apparently." She shrugged.
"Ara, young and angry is still right," Natsuki gave a sour stare and stuck out her tongue. Shizuru giggle, "My, I still wonder what happened still. It is also taboo for our people to speak of. Most do not even know."
"I wonder, too. Maybe we can coax it out of someone, eh?"
Shizuru nodded in agreement, feeling Natsuki's hand come to rest on her back with a smile.
Unlike the first day she arrived, no one seemed to pay as much mind to Shizuru. Talk still went around at times. She still got the occasional looks—some curious, some friendly, and some not so friendly—but they all left her in peace nonetheless. Some were kind enough to stop and speak to her, but Shizuru saw the most open minded individuals present were either the children or the young adults who knew nothing. Mixed reactions came from the elderly that have already experienced association with humans long ago.
Shizuru did not want to be associated with the mistakes people of the past made so she sought to prove at least she was different. So far she had successfully done well with Natsuki and Aoi. Nina, too, seemingly. A simple gesture such as Natsuki's hand on her back made her hope her first friend there would hopefully be a longtime friend out there. Even when she leaves.
"So no backing out on me, right?" Natsuki's arms crossed as they approached the mountain base.
There, a large arena stood enclosed by several posts and rope thicker than Shizuru's palms could wrap around. "Never." Shizuru responded, earning a sound of approval from Natsuki. Smaller ropes inside the arena separated it into four smaller sections. Some of them were occupied by men sparring and practicing.
Natsuki pointed inside it casually, "These ropes will come down during the festival and split it in half. One arena for us, the other for you." It made sense. Taking down the ropes completely would just leave too large of a space than necessary for two people to fight in. Leaning against the thick rope with a sword over his back was the young man Shizuru remembered from the first night she arrived, "Oi, Takeda."
He jumped and turned, "N—Natsuki, good afternoon. What brings you here?" A blush appeared to show on his dark skin. That, Shizuru never noticed before.
"Where's your father? Me and Shizuru wanted to enter." Natsuki said, pointing a thumb back at Shizuru. His father, and not Takeda, was in charge of the arena, as well as training others to fight.
Takeda looked rather disappointed it was not a social visit. Then again, it never was with Natsuki, "He's not here right now, but…" his eyes stared at Natsuki with a little more than what Shizuru was comfortable with. Her eyes lowered, but her smile still remained. She did not like it. Not one bit. But moreover, she did not know why she was getting so worked up over it. My, am I jealous? Shizuru asked herself. The young man obviously fancied Natsuki, which came as no surprise. She was beautiful, smart, strong, and soft when you know her. It really came as no surprise that any man would want her. Or woman…. Takeda stopped leaning on the rope, "he left me in charge for the next few hours. I'll take care of it for you."
"Thanks," Natsuki waved with Shizuru tailing behind.
Shizuru looked over her shoulder once to see him still staring. But, making eye contact with Takeda, he swallowed hard and turned around red-faced. Shizuru held her hands behind her back and leaned forward, looking at Natsuki, "Ara, something was there alright."
Headed to the blacksmith now, Natsuki lead them straight on the path to it, weaving through the passing villagers, "What was there?" she looked confused, "Did you see something pass by?"
Shizuru sighed. Quite the oblivious one. She shook her head, "Takeda-san, I mean."
Natsuki still did not catch on, "Yes, he was there?" she rubbed her head, looking straight at Shizuru. She accidentally bumped into another tribesmen and apologized to him in a tongue Shizuru could not understand. Her brow raised. They had established days ago that the forest had its own language, but a very long time ago they had learned the human tongue as well. Interacting with humans at one point, the native language almost died out in some places, but has recently been revived, "I mean, he's a warrior so usually he wouldn't be there."
Sighing once again, Shizuru rubbed her forehead, "Ara… I meant, he looked very interested in you, Natsuki. He likes you. However, you do not seem to like him much."
"Eh?" Natsuki snorted and held a hand to her mouth, "Oh, no. Not that idiot! I mean I already knew, but," she laughed, glancing to the side for a moment to make sure they were walking in the right direction. They were close, now. Smoke from the outdoor smith stacked high into the sky.
"Then…?"
"No! No, no, no," Natsuki shook her head, waving it off, "I'd rather get mauled by Orphans than pair with that idiot! Besides, I'm—"
"Ah, Natsuki!" she was cut short by a greeting from the smith. They approached it much faster than she judged before. The smith, transformed, was a large, white-furred beast with traces of smoke, ash, and coal on him. The only thing large about him was his arms from his work, and his gut. He was not as skinny or lean as the others. Shizuru could tell he was at least as old as Saeko and Gouu, if not older, from the fact he greeted her with a slight bow in which Shizuru returned, "I am Yamada. You're the much talked about guest from Artai. Shizuru, correct?"
"I am. You seem to know quite a lot."
He gave a short chuckle, "Indeed. Natsuki always comes to me if she needs information. I welcome you to do the same if you're ever in need of help."
"I'll remember that,"
"Of course, you won't need to right?" Natsuki rested her hands behind her head and walked up, "You've got me."
Shizuru smiled at that, "Hai, that's absolutely right. Natsuki has already been a wonderful help."
"That's good to hear you two are getting along, at least," Yamada walked into the open shop with the two following behind. Personally, it was surprising to him Natsuki got along with anyone besides Aoi and Nina. They stood at the outer edge waiting, the heat from furnace warming their faces. He soon returned with Shizuru's naginata. She accepted it into her hands, surprised to find it lighter. Whatever Yamada had done to it, the blade was also a dark, shining red now, "It was meant to be returned to you right away, but seeing something I've never worked on before I couldn't help myself! I reinforced it for you so it's lighter, sharper, if you don't mind me doing so."
She shook her head, "Not at all. Thank you, Yamada," She smiled, truly admiring the renewed weapon, its color, and the feel of the blade as she ran her finger along. Any more pressure as she touched it, she would have cut herself.
Yamada's ears pricked up as a few howls broke through the forest from nearby. Everyone surrounding them, perhaps the entire village, froze and listened, each face growing grave. Some broke into a run, "Well, it seems you could put that to use soon enough." He gave a toothy grin.
"Wait, what?" Shizuru looked back and forth at both, confused.
Natsuki's face formed into deeper scowl than ever and she shook her head stepping between the two, "No, she will not,"
The smith's eyes lowered with a sigh, "With all due respect, she is more capable than you think. Do not try to keep her from it." Yamada said lowly, entering his smith once more and pulling a tarp off the ground, "Excuse me, I must get back to work," Underneath were several forged weapons that he picked up in each hand.
Men and women that Shizuru once identified as warriors, and some hunters, rushed past and took weapons from Yamada's hands while doing so. They then disappeared off into the forest. People she identified as children, elderly, or just weak, began falling back deeper into the village with part of the force staying to provide protection.
From all this, Shizuru could very much deduce that an attack was near. And to have so many warriors, and even call on the help of hunters, it was big. Natsuki picked up one of Yamada's weapons which was a sword without a guard and a slightly curve blade, "That was a warning telling us a hoard is very close. Shizuru, you fall back with the others."
Finally understanding what Yamada meant by herself being 'capable' and 'not to be kept from it', Shizuru shook her head, "Natsuki, I can go with you. It sounds like a large attack, you'll need all the help you can get. I can help fight them," she stepped up, gripping the new naginata in her hand.
Natsuki turned around with bared teeth and a growl that took Shizuru by surprise. Truly, her mood could take a dangerous turn so quickly, "No, you can't fight them! It's too dangerous for the likes of you and I'm not letting you!"
'The likes of you'? Shizuru, being Natsuki's elder and with all the pride and upbringing of a knight, a warrior foremost, felt insulted by Natsuki's words. She had experience in dealing with the Orphans as early as the start of her teenage years, just as much with people, and here the wolf was treating her like a little squire again. A fledgling. Yamada, her parents, Aoi; all have already placed confidence and credit to her skill and profession despite her species. Why wasn't Natsuki? Her voice suddenly lowered, "Ara, so you think this human is weak…?"
"I'm saying you won't be able to handle this!" Natsuki slung the sword across her back. She did not realize her statement just reinforced Shizuru's thoughts, only in different words, "These things are much too strong for you, stronger than the ones you probably faced out there!" She pointed towards the forest.
Maybe not as strong as the Orphans of the frozen north, Shizuru thought. Natsuki would have no clue, living in the forest her entire life. Artai, being to the north, had part of its territory to the northernmost tip of the world. Five military posts laid across the frozen north, a few towns, and a university. Having just returned from a winter of visiting each post, she could verify the stories of the Orphans of the north being the largest and deadliest in the world, followed by the Orphans in the desert outside of Windbloom. Everything to her was an opportunity to learn—learn or die—and to truly understand what Natsuki says is true or not, she would have to carefully face them and learn the behaviors of each type. Shizuru even recalled for the moment she was there in the Kagean to learn first and foremost, aside from convincing them to speak to her about the King's proposal. Orphans always gave a reason to be cautious, but nonetheless, Shizuru was unimpressed. The forest limited their physical size, but the abundance of food bolstered their numbers. Orphans of the north had room to grow, possessed adaptabilities to the harsh environment, and the wisdom of surviving through the ages.
She took a few strides towards Natsuki, face just inches from the younger girl. She used what she learned the last six days with the wolves. And that was they were just as much about body language as they were with respect and cooperating as a family. But in times that required serious displays of leadership—or arguments began to divert everyone's attention from paying attention and listening—she learned standing tall and looking imposing gave you all the attention you needed to be heard.
Much to Natsuki's frustration, Shizuru did intimidate her, but she did not move. Shizuru's voice did not rise or fall, as to her shouting never did much to help in any situation, "Just because I cannot do the things you do, Natsuki, does not mean I am weak."
And much to Shizuru's frustration, Natsuki was hardheaded. The words seemed to strike somewhat of a cord with the young woman, but did not budge her decision. Natsuki stood silent for a moment, processing what the brunette said, while people were still flooding into the forest. Just how big the hoard was, they could only imagine.
The small argument had to come to a stop as Aoi rode up on top of George and two men followed closely behind. They were already armed with dual swords, one with an additional bow, and appeared to be warriors from the markings on their bare arms and chests. Aoi jumped down and led the horse to Shizuru. Without knowing what was going on between Natsuki and Shizuru, she still provided the words to break the argument and invalidate Natsuki's declination of Shizuru fighting, "There you two are! Shizuru, you're in our group so you better saddle up we have to get going." Shizuru gave a satisfied smile as she walked towards her steed. Natsuki just frowned.
"Tch…" Natsuki crossed her arms and stood at the edge of the forest, waiting.
Aoi shot Shizuru a questioning look and the crimson-eyed beauty just waved it off, "She'll be fine."
With the saddle lacking a stirrup, Aoi assisted Shizuru in hoisting herself up on George's back. Luckily, the brunette was as skilled riding without reins or a saddle as riding fully geared. She and George communicated well. One of the men; tall, black-haired, golden-eyed, and very handsome stepped up, "My name is Reito and this is Kazuya," the other man nodded his head, his tattoos blue and white compared to the wolves' dark green and black marking on Reito's skin, "I'll be leading this group. We have quite a ways ahead of us since we're being sent to the middlemost part of the territory. Just so you know, we will have to send the horse back a few miles before getting there. The terrain will get too rough for him and we will have to slow our pace."
Looking down from the leverage George gave her, Shizuru nodded, "Understood, Reito-san,"
With that, the five made their way into the woodline and Shizuru held onto George comfortably as their speed gradually picked up. Luckily the terrain was flat and not as thick as deeper inside the forest. The only thing Shizuru had to do was keep low to avoid branches pelting her in the face. Surprisingly, George was able to keep up just fine. Both of her initial companions into the forest had changed since arriving. Stronger, faster, more communicative—as if speaking. Diana gave the impression from the beginning, but George, Shizuru knew, was not the brightest. She actually named him as such because she thought it was a silly sounding name for a silly boy. The thought of George being more responsive to her speaking made Shizuru realize she never had to guide him so far.
She caught Reito glancing back several times whenever they needed to drastically change direction in their travel. The glances were hardly directed at Shizuru, only the horse. It could be they're speaking to each other, Shizuru thought. It would be no surprise to her if Reito possessed a Gift as well. He seemed intelligent to begin with, but she felt since meeting him there was a bit more to him.
"So what do you think has been causing all these hoard lately?" Kazuya spoke, breaking the silence somewhat, "My village has been getting them too, but it's just awful here!"
"I don't know, but it's been very dangerous to even leave a few miles to hunt. It's strange." Reito began, ducking under a very low branch. Shizuru had to detour around it, "I heard other villages nearby are being called to help."
"That bad, hm?" Aoi looked off to the side, "Last time was bad enough."
"I just happened to be dropping by, old friend." Kazuya smiled to Reito, "Us felines go around quite a bit."
"Felines?" Shizuru asked.
"Yep!" Kazuya held a necklace in his hand, a large tooth held by thread, "Me, the tiger family to be exact." Mentally noting he did dress and act differently, as well as had different color and style warrior markings, Shizuru just nodded and continued listening.
She remembered mention of a raid just before she arrived inside the Kagean. So, despite the numerous Orphans here, this is still uncommon. Seeing Reito glance back again as they made a turn, Shizuru caught his gaze for a few seconds. He suddenly looked away, speaking, "Ah. Everyone that was sent out is making a thick perimeter around the territory—outer, middle, and inner circle—to hit the front of the hoard. We can only hope the outer can take care of it."
The brunette glanced up to see a group of warriors and hunters perched up in the branches, assuming they had just passed a post within the inner part of the circle. Natsuki beside her looked as well and finally spoke to her since their little argument, "Normally we have a few warriors patrol around the territory in a few miles large post; split into the outer part, the middle, and inner. They're all distanced enough from each other so they can communicate and hear one another to send messages back to the village." Natsuki explained, the concept of relaying howls to inform one another piqued Shizuru's interest further. She only wondered whether the howls were a language of its own or just something they understood through set standards of pitch and length, "'There's monsters attacking', 'strange activing', 'intruder', 'a patrolman is missing', 'someone's been found dead', that's just some of the many things they can tell each other and bring back to us."
"A truly clever system your people have," Shizuru looked forward, focusing on balancing herself on George. She figured, with time and pestering Natsuki, she too could decipher those messages. She wished so much to understand the way they spoke to one another. Even if it was as vain an effort as a human trying to verbally communicate with a regular animal, and expect it to understand.
Much time had passed and their pace began to slow. None in the group kept track of the time—they only knew the day waned quickly into early evening. The sounds of insects and birds continuing to trill and chirp at least gave them good evidence that danger was not yet present. Hopefully, the danger would not have to reach this far. Like Reito said, the terrain roughened into a raised, ridge like area surrounding them with sudden dips and draws into the ground. He said to her that a few minutes' walk down, there would be a small gorge with a river. Sudden drop offs and falls were becoming more common; a serious hazard to a large horse as well as to the person riding it. And, indeed, Shizuru eventually did spot the gorge beyond the trees and saw the aforementioned river a ways below. She saw no clear way to get down safely. Not without falling and dropping a lethal distance. The body of water appeared to go on for miles, leading southeast away from the mountain. The group slowed to a walk and Shizuru dismounted, leaving Reito to 'speak' to the horse. Soon, George turned and left back in the direction they came from.
With George's departure, they pressed onwards, careful to watch their step and watch out for the area where they would plummet down to the river, "What did you say to him?" Shizuru smiled as the handsome man returned to the group.
"You figured out I had a Gift did you?" He smiled kindly back.
"Ara, it was quite obvious. It always felt like you two were having a secret conversation every time you looked our way."
He gave an amused sound, "Is that so? Well, I had to convince him it was too dangerous to go on. He wanted to stay with you, however." He paused and looked at the beautiful woman, "I don't blame him for wanting to stay with a woman such as yourself."
Natsuki heard the entire conversation and very low-key gagged, tongue stuck out. Thankfully, being in front of them gave them no way to see her. That guy is weird. And he plays around too much. He better stay away from her. She growled mentally.
"My, my," Shizuru gave a slight chuckle, looking forward. Natsuki was relieved she decided to ignore the blatantly flirtatious comment. Shizuru looked forward and jumped to see a lone, spunky looking man suddenly hang upside down from a tree branch—a patrolman from what she could deduce from his dark green and black tattoos like Reito. And very much from the fact he was armed to the teeth with a sword, bow, and daggers. She expected patrolmen to have partners, but knowing now they didn't she saw their job as ten times more difficult as she already imagined.
"Ah, you've finally arrived." He greeted, crossing his arms, grasping the necklace that nearly fell when he hung upside down, "Shall we begin the waiting?" Pulling himself back up, the others joined him up above, beginning the long, exasperating wait. There was even a slight chance the attack wouldn't reach that far. Shizuru sat on the branch, back against the trunk while Natsuki perched beside her. Silently and mutually, they let go of the earlier argument for now even though Shizuru still felt insulted for the 'weakness' Natsuki thought her humanity had. It just wasn't the time.
Each were disciplined enough to sit, wait, and listen. They sat silent, no conversations stirring about to avoid distractions. Shizuru had to constantly switch between sitting and standing since her rear would go numb, but eventually she just opted to stand the rest of the time. Like the others, she constantly scanned around the area in front, occasionally to the back, affording a few glances towards the others. Towards Natsuki. A bored looking Natsuki—really no surprise there.
Looking up and past the little break in the canopy, Shizuru saw the clouds passing. She held her hand out, the air growing heavier and moister with each passing minute. Humid… she closed her palm, Rain is coming.
Two hours passed with no event unfolding in their area. Natsuki's eyes were closed, but Shizuru could tell she was awake. The deep emeralds opened again. They looked straight at Shizuru, but she spoke to everyone, "The forest is silent."
Yes, the sounds around them had faded and faded until nothing but an eerie silence was left. One could hear their own breathing and the wind picked up. Everyone stood up, high on alert and the hairs on their arms and neck standing on end. Shizuru unholstered the naginata on her back, causing the rest to draw their weapons as well, "There," the patrolman pointed, drawing back his bow string. What looked like two dozen Orphans had broken through the outer party miles away and a short, deep howl in the distance followed their sighting, "There's too many and they had to fall back. Let's get to work." The patrolman and Kazuya fired their arrows while the Orphans approached, taking out several with amazing accuracy.
Once within a few meters, they prepared to make their descent to fight. Aoi grasped her two short swords in both hands and glanced to the side. Eyes widened, "Natsuki, Shizuru! Behind you!"
The two twisted around to meet a pair of Orphans that blended well into the foliage and bark, but it was too late. The creatures pounced on them, sending them down in the path of the approaching monsters. "That's not good," Reito growled and jumped down. The others followed and the chaos the followed only worsened with another approaching wave that escaped the outer patrol. Concentrating on her hearing for a moment, Aoi could hear other sounds of other groups in combat some miles down.
On the fall, Shizuru managed to keep her head from being bitten off by thrusting the staff of her naginata into the Orphan's gnashing jaws. She threw it below her to break her fall. The shock of the fall froze it for a moment and she used the opportunity to impale its chest, killing it. Looking about, Natsuki was already on her feet slicing through the creatures with Yamada's sword and using her other arm to fend off or pin anything else that jumped at her. The others were spread fighting, however never too far from one another in case they needed help.
Besides Natsuki, Aoi stood nearby displaying incredible swordplay with the dual-wielded short swords. The amount of grace that accompanied the power the girl used would be something Shizuru could actually admire if she did not have to concentrate on the Orphans that attempted to pounce her from behind—only to earn a naginata through the bottom of the jaw and through the head.
Natsuki, furious by the surprise from behind, took it out on the Orphans to the front of her. Perhaps rather brutally with unclean cuts that burned her skin with their blood. Being next to the opening of the gorge, she threw some tumbling down the steep hill that led down and off to a sudden drop off. She occasionally glanced Shizuru's way, making sure nothing would take her from behind and noticed the knight's grace with the polearm. Natsuki killed yet another creature hoping to nab her. Glancing Shizuru's way once more, she caught Shizuru's eyes and the crimson orbs widened. The knight ran towards her.
Natsuki stumbled forward and turned while doing so, back hitting the bark as Shizuru pushed her from behind and blocked an oncoming strike. Her eyes widened knowing that strike surely would have killed her by effectively slicing her in half. Shizuru let out a grunt as, once again, the shock that ran through her arms renewed the sharp pain she felt in her wrist days earlier. It only grew worse with the Orphan pressing down with a crushing force, bringing Shizuru lower and lower to the ground, until, shlick. Shizuru, with a cry to overwhelm the pain she was feeling in her arms, used the strength she had stored to push upwards against the Orphan to throw it off, plant a firm kick to its chest to send it stumbling backwards, and severe its head as it fell back.
The rest moved in bullet time as Shizuru sliced one, two, three Orphans approaching Natsuki and thrusted her naginata through the fourth with a last heavy breath. She leant over on the staff and looked up at Natsuki through the shadow of her bangs, "Does Natsuki still think I'm weak?" she said as she pulled her weapon out of the rapidly decaying monster. She wondered how often she would have to prove herself.
Locked with the crimson eyes, Natsuki could only think over and over again, She saved my life…. Her hands tightened their grip on her sword, "I…"
"Reito!"
Their heads snapped towards the direction of the men fighting, a rumble beneath their feet. Reito screamed as his arm caught inside the mouth of a large horned Orphan that charged through the trees, knocking some down, and striking Natsuki and Shizuru not paying attention in its path. The two women are sent plummeting down the hill and straight to the gorge. Smaller creatures followed them down the steep drop off, giving chase and cackling like a pack of starving hyenas.
Aoi closest to them ran and reached out for Shizuru's outstretched hand. The tips of their fingers brushed one another briefly, but Aoi lost her and could only watch helplessly as the two bodies skidded down the steep hill, "Shizuru!"
"Aoi, pay attention!" Kazuya hollered at her, struggling to break through the Orphan's tough skin. It kept trying to charge through, sending them back into the forest further from where they were originally stationed. Aoi, infuriated, left the beginning of the drop off and back to the Orphan still grasping a struggling Reito by the arm in its jaws.
Shizuru covered her face with her arms as she landed with a thud, hitting her head on something hard. She continued plummeting down the drop, hearing the cackling of the Orphans following shortly behind. With the momentum the large Orphan gave her to fall, she couldn't stop. Moreover, the naginata she had in her grasp was a danger to cutting her, or worse, as she fell, so she positioned it carefully. Shizuru looked around the cover of her arms, feeling the rocks slice tiny cuts into her arms and legs. There was nothing to grab onto. Just bare rock and flimsy plants. Natsuki. Where was Natsuki? She picked up her head slightly, using another arm to grasp the ground in hopes of slowing her body down.
She spotted the flash of blue falling and protecting herself in the same manner, the other Orphans giving chase and gnashing at her, only to miss. The knight's eyes widened spotting where the drop ended, leading to a larger drop straight down into the gorge some several feet below.
With a last, tumbling effort, Shizuru threw herself towards Natsuki and grabbed her hand, stabbing the ground with her naginata with as much strength as she could. They stopped just before the end drop off with a simultaneous relieved sigh. "Oh no," She heard Natsuki mutter. That could never be good. "Shizuru…"
The Orphans that pursued Natsuki earlier panicked to stop themselves. Some failed and flew off the edge. Some caught Natsuki and the force ripped her from Shizuru's grasp, throwing her off with them, "Natsuki!" Shizuru shouted and pounded the rock face with her fist.
"Aghh, you bastards! I swear I'm going to kill you ALL when we get down there!" Shizuru heard Natsuki say as her voice faded down below.
She looked up.
"Son of a…" the remaining Orphans grabbed hold of the knight, ripping both her and her naginata out of the ground, falling below.
The horned Orphan charged once again, attempting to ram Aoi against the large tree behind. Some moments early they managed to set Reito free from its jaws and Kazuya moved him to safety some distance off. The young brunette remained and the patrolman stayed in the coverage above. She stood completely still and waited for the creature to get closer. She judged the distance carefully, "Come on." She growled. One… two… Boom. She jumped aside and the Orphan crashed into the enormous tree. It paused and finally let out frustrated cries as it realized it just got itself stuck. The creature struggled to pull itself out. It roared furiously, but its cries were silenced with the patrolman dropping from the trees above and impaling it through the heart.
Aoi regrouped with the men and knelt beside Reito, "Are you going to be okay?"
It began drizzling.
With a grunt, Reito nodded. Looking down, however, the flesh around his left arm was horribly torn and mauled. Even that would take days to heal from what they could tell with his body struggling to stop the bleeding, "I will manage. It seems the attack stopped, at least." He looked off to the side and back at her, "Listen, Aoi. The Orphan sent us back maybe four or five hundred meters, but go back and see if you can find any trace of Natsuki and Shizuru. And hurry. We're only a few hours, maybe three, from sunset. After it sets, you know we won't be safe."
"Right," Aoi got up and ran back towards the spot they were originally station. She kept her weapons unsheathed and in hand just in case.
The ground in the area was torn because of the earlier fight; trees were toppled, blood coated the ground and bark, and monster corpses laid everywhere. Wherever the Orphans' blood touched—whether a bush or tree, even the soil—things began to whither. She quickly searched the flat ground in case the two somehow managed to get back up, but she knew from their scent trailing downwards they never recovered. Moreover, the rain was beginning to weaken their scents.
Peering down the drop off, she could see the downwards struggle they had. Beyond the edge of the drop off she saw nothing, her vision limited and obscured by the rock face and trees within the gorge. Despite wanting to make her way carefully down to peer over the drop off, the rain made the rock face too slippery and dangerous to tread on. Aoi held her forehead, not knowing what to do if her friends were dead at the bottom of that gorge. She needed to get down there with a group soon.
Calming herself with one deep breath, Aoi perked up, "No, I'm sure they're fine… Natsuki is too damn hardheaded to die and Shizuru is Shizuru! We'll find them soon." She nodded, assuring herself.
A rustling sound in the foliage some meters away drew Aoi's attention. She quickly turned around, seeing a gray hooded figure just standing there. Watching. The rain breaking through the canopy just seemed to roll off the fabric of the cloak while Aoi was getting soaked from head to toe. From what she could make out from the distance, the figure was tall, looking back at her with familiar golden eyes. Other details, she couldn't make out. Not even male or female. "You…" she whispered, feeling a pang in her chest.
It hurt.
It hurt so much looking at that person.
She stepped forward and the cloaked figure began walking away, "W—Wait!" Aoi veered off course, pursing the person. For that one moment, she forgot about everything. The fight, Reito's condition, Natsuki and Shizuru. She was desperate to catch up and began to feel her eyes burn. Every step closer made the onset of tears worse. The brunette brought a blood-stained hand up to cover her mouth as she saw one last and closer glimpse of the figure turning to look at her before it disappeared. "Oh, no…"
Searching the surrounding, thick foliage, Aoi found no trace of the person. She yelled as hard as she could through the loud, pouring rain, "Why are you doing this to me?! Haven't I learnt my lesson already?!" Aoi dropped the weapons in her hands and leaned against a nearby stump, letting herself fall to the ground. She held her head in her hands, "Haven't I… we… suffered enough…?" She asked herself in a near whisper, inhaling sharply as the burning at her eyes and the pain in her chest worsened and worsened until she just could not bear it anymore. She let herself sit there and cry, ignoring the calls of her companions off in the distance.
Just for this moment.