Chapter Three - Red

The sunlight broke through the trees canopy. Asuka woke and for the first time since her mother left she had a full stomach, she was warm and safe. Maybe Kam wasn't the Prince of the story but he was the next best thing. She stood and stretched, Kam was still asleep, quietly she rolled up her blanket. Hearing the sound of a stream she picked up the empty canteen on the ground and headed towards it. A small path lead to a nearby brook; the water was clean and cold, a bluebird chirped nearby bringing a smile to her face. She filled the canteen and noticed her reflection showing clearly in the water, her face was covered in dirt and dry tears, her hair a tangled fiery red mess "Not much of a Princess at the moment" she said to herself. She cleaned the dirt from her hands, gave her face a quick wash and brushed her teeth as best she could. Dipping her hair in the water she could see the dirt washing away, she dried her hair and reached into her pocket removing a fine purple ribbon, the last thing she was given by her mother. It smelt of fresh Garland flowers, she tied her hair back with it and looked for the bluebird in the trees but it was gone. The birds beautiful song had been replaced by the sounds of feet pounding on the forest floor and the loading of guns.

Asuka ran back to the camp her legs moving as fast as she could will them. Arriving back at the camp she could see Kam was still asleep, she fell next to him, short of breath.

"…Kam…Kam Wake up…Kam" she placed her still wet hands on his face hoping to stir him, his rough facial hair scratched her hand. "Please Kam Wake Up…Please" she grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. "Kam…I'm sorry" she stood up and with her large steel capped boots, kicked him square in the ribs.
"OOOWWWWWwww…What the Hell?" Kam grabbed his side and groaned in pain.
"There are some men coming" she pleaded.
"aarrrgghhh..I think you broke a rib…" he prodded his now tender side
"Please get up" she pointed towards the brook, her hand shaking with fright.
He rose from the ground and kneeled while pulling a pistol from his side holster he clicked the safety off and handed it to her. "This is my friend Murasama you just point him at a bad guy and pull the trigger he'll do the rest. I want you to put a bullet into anything that comes near you, do you understand?",

She looked down at the large steel object in her hands its cold metal chilled her hands. She looked up at Kam and nodded.

He drew a black knife from a sheath on his leg and headed towards the stream.

"Jaques…Jaq…Where are you?" He looked out towards the forest, he didn't have time for this, find the girl deal with her and get back those were the orders not go for a nature hike. He sighed. An arm wrapped around his neck and he could feel a blade dig into his back.
"How many of you are there? And why are you here" Kam growled as he caught sight of pistol at the mans side.
"Only Two" the man answered gruffly "We are here for the Mage, you are of no concern to us"
Asuka peeked out from behind a tree "I'm not a mage" she quietly whispered to herself.
"We are all willing to give our lives to eliminate the Mage scourge, why would you protect her, she is one of them"

"…because she.."

"KAM LOOK OUT!" Asuka screamed and pointed across the stream

A single gunshot rang out and struck the tree near Asuka, she dropped her gun and placed her arms over her head.

Kam saw the muzzle flash as it fired and moved his knife away from his captives back and in one fluid motion threw it into the chest of the hunter across the stream, he watched as he clutched his chest and fell backwards. The mage hunter wasted no time as he struck Kam in the ribs and struggled free of his grasp.

"I offered you a chance" he drew his gun and aimed at Kam as he clutched his chest.

"That was pretty foolish, you shouldn't give your enemies a chance.."

"A chance to what?" the hunter interrupted

Kam drew his second gun from the holster on his back and took aim at the Hunter. Two gunshots shook the air.

Asuka gathered her courage and opened her eyes the shots still ringing in her ears. She looked down and picked up Kam's gun slowly she peeked around the trunk of the tree. A figure slowly approached.
"SSSTTOOP" she aimed the gun her hands shaking.
"You already kicked me, now your gonna shoot me? Kid's these days" Kam collapsed back into the stream.
Asuka rushed to his side "Kam, Kam what happened?" the water around him began to turn red as it continued down the creek, she watched his face turn a ghostly white.
"Sor..sorry Kid" he looked up at the sky, a bluebird flew overhead.
"Kam…Don't go…don't leave me" her tears fell against his face.
"…my pack has enough food for…" he coughed, blood trickled from his mouth.
"There has to be something I can do…Please…" she looked at his chest to see a small hole in his black shirt she pressed down on it as hard as she could her hand turned red as the blood flowed between her tiny fingers.
"…there's enough food for a day or two...head down the path and you'll find a settlement" Kam coughed.
"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…this happened..I'm sorry I kicked you I'm sorry I took your food please don't go…please" the tears flowed freely now the water around them was now a deep red.
"Heh…I was starting to like you kid…hey…you..look pretty with your hair…like that" he stroked her cheek and closed his eyes.
Asuka grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight "Nnnooo…I'm sorry" She placed his hand on the ground and placed both her palms back on the wound in his chest in a desperate bid to stop the blood. "Don't go…not like Mom…no..not again..NO never again!" she started to feel warm a faint yellow glow appeared around her hands. The stream appeared to slow she felt warmer and warmer by the second the feeling of warmth overtook her. She could see her mother smiling. Asuka fainted and fell against Kam