These aren't actually official, this is what I say they are for my story. Tough luck if you don't like it.
Mariah- 17, 5' 4"Rei Kon- 17, 5' 5"
Kai Hiwatari- 17, 5' 6"Tyson Granger- 16, 5' 4"
Max Tate- 16½, 5' 6"
The OCsDimetra Saizu- 7, 4' 10"
Just so you won't get confused later...
"blah blah blah"- people saying stuff out loud
'blah blah blah'- people thinking stuff
blah blah blah- flashbacks, dreams, lines from something running through minds
!-Blah blah blah-! Beginning and end to chapters, also major change in location
!- change of time, or minor change in location
Disclaimers- This is a show I own not.-!-!-Begin Chapter One-!-!-
Death and Destruction
I looked down at the water running in front of me, the sounds of water crashing coming from nearby. I slammed the bucket I was holding into the river, breaking my reflection. I pulled the dripping bucket out of the cold running water. I placed it on the ground next to me and repeated the process with the second bucket. I placed both handles on the edge of the yoke and stood, soon hoisting the wooden device around my neck, I looked over, there was the rest of my team, everyone except Rei. Rei just the thought of him made my heart beat fast.
"Mariah, we're going back to the village now. You need to get some berries."
Lee walked over to me and place a basket in the hand hanging over the yoke. I glared at his, Gary's and Kevin's retreating backs. How in hell was I supposed to do that and carry these at the same time. Typical of them, leaving the real work to me. I walked down the path and sidetracked from it, going about picking the berries, setting my yoke down for later. When I got back to the path I hoisted the yoke around my shoulders and somehow carried the basket.
Something didn't settle with me as I continued to walk down the path, no sound reached my ear, it was too quiet. I should have at least been able to hear the children playing. I continued to walk down the path, foreboding continuing to grow in my heart. I turned the last corner before I reached the village, at last I would be able to see what was wrong.
The basket dropped from my hand, red fruits spilling around my feet. I knew what was wrong now. Everywhere around me laid the ruins of my village. The huts were crumpled messes of twigs and rope, bit and pieces of pottery seemed to be slashed and broken beyond repair. But nothing was as startling as the next thing I saw, bodies. They were strewn everywhere. Their cause of death was apparent, gaping claw marks across their chests, faces, and limbs.
As I continued to walk I came upon those of my team, the White Tigers. Lee was face first in the ground, blood spilling around him from his back. Lee's spine was visible, as was most of his ribs. I could see his un-beating heart and gashes in his lungs. His black hair was spread around him, cut off near his head, gruesome cuts could be seen on his scalp every now and then.
Gary had been knocked over, I could see his blank eyes, blood poured from his mouth. His head was nearly severed from his body. His elbows were bent in unnatural ways. A gash ran from the corners of each mouth to his earlobes.
Kevin, little Kevin, his hair, no his scalp, was nearly peeling off his skull. I could see his cheek bones, his eyes stared up in the sky, a look of mixed horror on his face. Kevin had claw marks ringing around his neck.
Tears loomed in my eyes. I walked on, not believing any of this. Fei and Jamie, Rei's mom and dad, were dead. Fei's black hair had been pulled out at odd points, blood spilling from the wounds. His arms had been broken, I could see the bone coming out of his skin.
Jamie had her eyes closed, but I knew they would be as blank as her husband's. Her shirt had a rip mark across her breasts, blood spilling from the wound. She had two wounds on either side of her neck, she had bleed to death. Her legs were as bad as her husband's arm.
I felt like puking, there was so much blood, so gory, I had never been a fan of gory; and now I never would.
I fell onto my knees, tears flowing from my eyes. I hugged myself, sobbing pitifully. The water from the buckets spilled around me, I barely registered their cold feeling.
Padded feet came behind me. I stopped crying and turned around, my eyes widened. In front of me was a black cat, nearly as big as a panther. I could barely make out a bright orange stripe running down its spine to its tail tip. It had the scariest red glowing eyes I had ever seen. It reeked of blood, I could see some running from its spit that fell out of its mouth. It raised its paw, bloodied claws slipping into the sunlight. My eyes widened, this creature had been the cause of the villagers death, and soon to be of my own. I screamed.
-!-!-Different time-!-!-
My eyes snapped open, 'It had been a dream' I tried to reassure myself as I stared at the black ceiling above me. I froze was bloodied silver claws came slashing down at me. 'or not'. The paw managed to swipe several pink strands of hair off my head, but otherwise I seemed to be fine. I jumped off my bed, and onto the panther's back. I fell forwards onto the floor and shoved myself off it immediately; barely dodging another swift attack. One of my legs lashed out, striking it onto my bed. I ran over to my dresser and pocked my beyblade, Galux, and barely dodged the panther as it charged me. I landed heavily on its back, and then I jumped off it, grabbing my pink robe and put it on over my night gown and jumped sideways as the panther came towards me again. On the floor were my clothes.
I picked them up and jumped into my pink shoes as I ran out the door of my late hut. I heard it crash behind me. Fear pumped through my blood, I was sure I stunk of it too. I stopped running. The village was in shambles, everyone had the same wounds as in my dream. My breathing became shallower, I was sure I might suffocate. I barely was able to move my feet as my sharp neko-jin ears heard the beast creep up behind me.
As I ran through the thoroughly ruined village, something strange struck me. The only difference now was the fact that it was night instead of day.
I ran past my former teammates, I knew what they would look like, and I surely didn't want to look at their fallen bodies once again. All that was left was the errie silence of destruction that surrounded my assailant and me. Broken only by my footfalls and ragged breathing.
I ran out of the village and into the woods. I ran up a hill, suddenly my face hit the dirt, I had tripped. I heard a triumphant roar come from behind me. I was sure that this was the end. I waited for my final seconds to pass, but they didn't. I flopped around and saw that my death was prolonged. A tiger, a white tiger, had jumped into save me. It was battling it out with the great black beast.
"Child, run. I will hold this thing off."
I nodded and ran away, away from my village, my home, my past, my life. In a few minutes I came to the river. On the other side was safety, there wasn't a bridge in sight. I couldn't waste time looking for one. I jumped over it, I jumped farther than I ever had before. I landed and continued to run.
Slowly the sun started to rise, tears welled up in my eyes and fell down. I was sad and scared. Yet, I couldn't stop. I had to run, I had to survive, for the memories of my people. My legs started to ache, yet I couldn't stop, I was afraid that it would catch me if I did. Fear drove my aching legs to pound into the ground and back into the air repeatedly.
I hadn't eaten since the previous night, yet my fear overrode everything else, including my tiredness. I broke through the trees and was blinded by the sunlight. I rose the hand carrying my clothes and rubbed my gold eyes to see. I heard people shouting at me, cars, everything. Several on lookers tried to stop me, but they couldn't. Nothing could stop me, I was too scared to stop.
I ran into someone, pretty sure it was a wall considering it didn't move.
"Hn."
I recognized that, I looked up at the person from my position on the ground. It was Kai, I stared pleadingly into his eyes. If Kai was here, wouldn't Rei be nearby?
"Rei."
Kai stared coldly down at me and walked into a store. I felt crestfallen, he wasn't going to help me, or answer me. Fresh tears spilled over my face as I pushed myself off the concrete sidewalk. I brought my knees close to me and rested my head on them, staring forlornly at the ground. I heard people talk about me.
A pair of feet filled my sight, I recognized those shoes. I titled my head upwards, soon staring into Rei's gold eyes.
"Rei..." I felt too weak to even say that.
I saw Rei crouch down so he could look me in the eyes. He looked at me in concern.
"Mariah, what happened?"
Suddenly I was too weak for anything. I collapsed backwards, soon feeling a strong arm catch me. I closed my eyes as I was pulled forwards, my head soon rested on Rei's chest. I shivered and my tears redoubled in strength.
"Mariah, are you okay?"
Everything inside me felt weak, I couldn't answer even a simple yes or no question.
"What happened to your arms, Mariah? Mariah?"
"Rei, I think she should get some rest."
"Right."
I felt Rei pick me up in his arms and stand up.
"Kai, I'm bringing her back to the hotel. You coming?"
"No, you can handle this. Besides, I should see if Tyson and Max are in need of babysitting. Call my cell and a doctor if she gets worse."
"Heh, okay."
I continued crying into Rei's chest barely paying any heed to the conversation. Finally, I could heed my body's cries for rest. I was sure Rei would take care of me. I felt the noon sun beating against my back.
-!-!-End Chapter One-!-!-