(Disclaimer: Don't own BOF, wish I did but I don't. )

Scias sat calmly on the edge of his cliff, watching the waves break against the rocks below him. Today was the start of the week of harvest, a day that all members of the Forest tribe awaited with every coming year. There was always plenty to do during the week of the harvest, everyone was always in a good mood and working hard. The sooner that everyone finished work, the sooner the fun would begin. Scias' family farm was the smallest, so they always tended to finish the first day.

Scias was around 10 years old and his fur was light brown and white on his chest. His robes were black and the lining was dark blue. His bangs were rather wild and tended to cover his eyes, which were hazel. He had grown faster than normal for his race and was just a few inches shorter than his father. Because of the sudden change in height he was a little clumsy. But, ones height was looked upon as a sign of power in the Forest tribe. Scias did admit that he was stronger than all the other boys his age in the village, and some of those that were older than he was.

This was because his older brother trained him using some of the older forms of swordplay. Gaijuin was Scias' brother and leader of the tribe's rangers. They would go on patrols to near by towns and were used as a form of communication, in some cases, protection. Gaijuin didn't know it, but his younger brother looked up to him. Scias looked forward to becoming a ranger himself one day, but for now he was a simple farm boy.

Scias stood and dusted himself off, then began through the trees to his home. The forest that surrounded the village was very thick, there were almost no clearings at all. A few of the tribes leaders had built their houses in the trees but most of them could be found on the forest floor, sometimes with trees going right through them. The trees served as a good way of keeping unwanted visitors out of the area. Just south of them was the tomb of the First Imperial emperor, Fou-Lu the God emperor. The ghost stories about that place, usually kept all intruders away.

Upon reaching his home, Scias noticed something different. He could hear no birds, and not only that but his father had abandoned his vegetables without cleaning them. He looked all through his house but couldn't find his mother or his father. In the den floor was an unfinished clay pot, something that his mom had been making for the festival that was coming up in a few days.

" P-perhaps .... they w ... went into town." he said aloud, attempting to calm his suspicion. Scias may have been a strong boy, but his stutter was something he could not control. He left his house after grabbing his father's katana out of the trunk in the hall. He quickly made his way to town square, where many people gathered when there was nothing else to do. Then he slowed his pace, he remembered something his brother had told him, " When in a crisis, always keep yourself hidden, don't alert the enemy of your presents. Wait, wait and watch for your opportunity to strike." his brothers advise was not to be taken likely, so Scias decided a slow, cautious approach to this matter would be better than rushing into something.

The closer that Scias drew to the town square the more fearful he became. He could hear screams now, and in the distance he saw a trail of smoke. " N-- no!" he cried, his pace quickening. He finally reached the row of houses that surrounded his destination. Tears began to run down his cheeks at what he saw. The cobble-stoned street was covered in a layer of blood, in the center of everything was the fountain, around which unmoving bodies of his loved ones lay. Soldiers, in imperial uniforms wielded sword and spears, their faces splattered with blood. Amongst the fighting rangers, Scias recognized his brother, Impaled in his right shoulder with a spear and another in his gut.

Scias couldn't move, his muscles were frozen in place. Moments later the soldiers left, leaving no reason, or clue as to why this was done. The last one to leave was a Captain, a man with blonde hair, with him was a large armored spirit. " Come Joh, there is much work to be done!" Laughed the Captain, returning the spirit to a card he held in his hand. With that the man disappeared into the smoke. Scias ran out into the street and kneeled beside his brother.

" Gai... Gaijuin, what h ... happened? W...why they here. " He said, still crying. He couldn't understand how his brother could be defeated so easily.

Gaijuin, with his last ounce of strength reached out his hand to his brothers face and said, " Find General Russo, he did this. He did the same to the Grass Runner clan, avenge us brother. Grow stronger . . . do what I could not."

A howl of agony escaped Scias' lips as his once powerful brother spoke for the last time. Scias grabbed hold of his brother's blood soaked tunic and pulled his limp body up a bit. " No! D--on't leave me b ... brother!" he cried, sorrowfully.

He stood silently, the fur on his face wet with tears and his robes with blood. Now he was alone. Then it occurred to him. His name meant ' the last ' in the ancient language, not exactly something that he thought about too often. But now it certainly seemed to mean something.