Cody: Sorry, but our……..ahem, friend, is not able to make it today, for some unknown reason. *looks angelic*
"Sora! Sora!" Kari yelled from outside.
Sora stepped out of the house, wondering what was so urgent.
"They've got the lists of the first casualties of the war at the town square!" She answered.
Sora froze. Did she really want to go? If she didn't, she would never know. She knew that everyone else would be there, looking over the lists and hoping not to find a familiar name.
"Are you going to come? I mean, I know it'll be hard, but at least we'll know if…." Kari trailed off. It was just as hard for her.
"Yes, one moment. I'll be right out." Sora replied softly.
The two women made their way to the town square, where, just as she had predicted, the whole town was gathered. It was a while before they could actually gat their hands on one, as there were many very long lines. The pair stood, fidgeting and fearing the worst. They saw some people turn away from the tables with tears streaming down their faces because they were so happy that they didn't see the name they were looking for. Others were crying too, but for the total opposite reason.
Finally, they reached the lists. Sora scanned down the first one, the disappearances. She was relieved not to find the name. The next one, was a long one. It was the list of all the casualties. She scanned the page, eyes eating the words, not really caring for what they said. Though there were familiar names that she passed, there was only one that actually mattered at that moment. Tai Kamiya.
"Yes!" She cried, as did Kari. "He isn't here!"
That night, Sora sat on the front steps, leading up to the porch. The town had just been sent the news, and it's people, the ones that were left, we sent into a bustle. It had now been almost a week since the soldiers were actually sent to fight.
Sora sat there, staring up at the star-lit heavens. The only comfort it gave her, was that somewhere else, her husband was looking up to the same sky. She longed to be with him again, and she waited for him to return. She wasn't sure if she would be able to handle it if he didn't. All she wanted was for this war to end, and for Tai to come back to her. Sora longed to fell his body against her own, to feel his comforting arms around her. She wanted him to hold her, to tell her it things would be alright. But he couldn't, not now. He was too far away.
A small tear slid own her cheek as she sat on the porch. She knew she wasn't the only one going through this and dealing with this, in fact, some had already lost their lovers. Although this was true, she still felt lonely, and afraid. Afraid he would never return to her, that she would never see him again. Slowly, she stood up, and walked back into the small farmhouse.
*~*~*~*
The feud raged on, numbers getting less and less everyday, due to injury and fatalities. The surrounding camps and fortresses were buzzing with people, mostly the nurses scrambling to keep it's occupants alive. Some efforts were worthwhile, but most proved to be futile. There wasn't one fighter that hadn't been wounded in some way.
Just over the mountains, some of the mounted warriors joined with the ones on foot. They were to await orders of what to do.
T.K. sat beside his massive mount, having to be ready if they were attacked. He had become pretty good at riding and manoeuvring the horse. It was a challenge at first, but it became easier with practice. The stallion had also begun to grow on him. Tai, as well as Davis and Matt were among the group. Guards were posted to keep an eye out for trouble.
The land was quiet, too quiet. This was the reason they were all so edgy. No fires were allowed to be lit, as well as anything else that might give away their position. A deathly presence surrounded them, making the feeling all the worse.
After a few days, some of the guards became lazy. The men in command at that particular post had decided that not that many men were necessary for look-out. Naturally, the smart and logical men argued with that fact, but none would listen.
This is the break the enemy was hoping for. In the dead of night, when most were asleep, they attacked.
Guns fired, and bombs were set. Multiple explosions littered the sky, turning the air blacker than it already was. No more stars were visible.
T.K. leapt up onto Cyclone, and dashed forward into combat. Davis did the same. Matt and Tai were back in a small ditch that had been dug, just in case. They fired at unsuspecting enemy fighters, killing most of the ones they hit.
Without warning, a bomb exploded where T.K. was headed. The blast threw the boy and the horse several feet, knocking the boy unconscious. The horse, miraculously, was able to say awake, though severely injured. T.K.'s body lay limp on the ground.
Another bomb was fired at the place where Davis had been standing, but he had been far enough away to miss the main effects of the explosion.
As Tai and Matt lay in the ditch, an uninvited guest sneaked up behind them. The two were unsuspecting, only to find out he was there when it was too late. Tai turned, and saw him, and shouted at Matt. A loud bang was heard, and he watched his friend fall to the ground. Tai feared for his life. Another shot rang out, and everything went black.
The battle was over quickly, as they had been ambushed when they were most vulnerable. Bodies lay strewn across what had once been a camp ground. They were the corpses of nurses, soldiers, and horses. A few horses had lived, but were dying slowly. The others ran around frantically, or were too stunned to move. The only survivors were taken prisoner by the other army. Although, they didn't get all.
The word was sent of the attack, and reinforcements were sent, but it was too late. The only thing to do was to bury the dead, and help the almost dead, though there were only six out of three hundred.
A young man, around twenty, found T.K. lying in the sand. He also saw the horse that was standing just over him. This was typical of a war horse, standing by it's master until the bitter end, and on. The man turned to leave, but turned back as he heard something. Someone was alive. As he scanned the terrain, he saw the same blonde boy stir slightly. He jumped off his own mount, and rushed over. He picked the man up the best he could, and placed him on his own mount. The black horse that had been protecting the boy mechanically followed them. It seemed he didn't want to be left behind either.
Back at the main fortress, was where T.K. found himself. AS he opened his eyes, he saw some nurses and a doctor standing over him.
"Oh good, you're awake." Said the doctor.
T.K. just groaned.
"It's alright, don't speak. You've been through some severe trauma, and it doesn't look like you'll be fighting anymore. You should be happy. I'm surprised you survived such a blast.
He looked up at the doctor, "S-so what's-" He winced with pain, it hurt to talk, " what's wrong with me?" he finished softly.
"Well, you've got severe burns all over your body, and a broken arm and leg. I don't think you're paralysed, but we'll see in time. You also have a few fractured ribs, and a hairline fracture in your collarbone. You've also got some critical wounds all over, but that's nothing a few stitches can't fix. "
"Is Cyces alright?" He managed to say
The doctor looked at him quizzically. A nurse leaned over and explained.
He smiled. "Oh, yes. Of course. He's fine. In fact, I think he's the reason you survived that long. He's hurt pretty bad too, and his fighting days are over as well. When you get well enough to move around, the captain had ordered that you be send home. He won't have you're life endangered anymore. You won't be alone though, there will be others. You'll also get better treatment than what we have here. I'm sorry, but you'll have to excuse us. Just rest, and don't talk too much." The doctor said, and hurried out the door, the nurses trailing him.
T.K smiled at the thought. He'd get to go home, back to Kari. He wouldn't have to fight, and she wouldn't have to worry.
His hope faded, as he thought more. He wondered what he looked like….was he different? Was his face scarred and burned? Did he look like some hideous monster? If he did, what would she think of him? What about Matt? Tai? The others?
Tears clouded his eyes as these thoughts plagued him. He didn't know whether of not the others made it, but there was nothing he could so now. He would just have to wait.