Chapter 3

An End to a Journey, a Beginning to a New One

Dart struggled to the top of the wheat covered hill that overlooked Seles. It wasn't his strength that was at fault but his emotions were overwhelming him. The thick smoke arose from the town and blanketed the entire sky for miles. His heart was beating faster and faster as he got closer to the top. Ashes and debris were floating from the sky and landed on the ground as Dart looked upon his hometown.

The church steeple that was once the highest peek in the village was now partially destroyed with only one side in tact. He could not even make out the rest of the village. Everything was in shambles.

Once Dart saw this a burning rage awoke from inside of him. He clutched his fists in anger and almost let out his emotions, but he had to come to his senses. His family was in that village. Dead or alive. Either way he would have to seek them out. Dart took a deep breath and sprinted down the rest of the smoke damaged hill. Survivors were laying out on the hill looking at their hometown. Dart looked among these people to see if any were his family. He felt an uneasy feeling when none of them were. He once again headed down to the village. The smoke was thick and opaque. He could barely see five feet in front of himself.

The young warrior finally charged into the little town. Putting his hands out in front of him and keeping his eyes half open he started his search. He came across other people searching for their family and completely destroyed piles of rubble. He even tripped on debris but got right back up again.

After several minutes the young man's hope was diminishing. He found no signs of his family whatsoever. His mind was now coming to conclusions. Images flashed in his mind of what might of happened to his family. He knew that his younger brother was quite stubborn and could have had a strife with an enemy soldier. Or they died of suffocation from the smoke or being burned alive from the fire.

His attention turned when he heard a woman calling out. It was faint, but Dart could barely make it out.

"Dart!" the woman yelled, over and over again.

The warrior scanned the area but could not find anyone or anything. "Hello?" he answered back.

"Dart? Is that you?" the woman asked. She was able to reach him and place her hand on his shoulder.

Dart turned around and faced the woman, who was no other than his Mother. The sinking feeling that he had acquired was now diminishing. "Mother!" he said in rejoice. He wrapped his arms around his Mother as she did to him.

"Where's Father and Kylos at?" he asked.

"They're outside the village. We have set up a little camp." she replied.

"So they are alright?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid many others have perished. We couldn't save the horses."

His Mother led him outside of the area. They stopped many times to help others in need and to also bring them to the campsite. "Why are you still in the village?" he asked is mother.

"I was going to go back and see if I could salvage anything from the house, but I found something much more important."

"What's that?" he asked.

"You. . ."

Dart and his Mother finally made it to the site. A few tents were set up and some fires. Some people were screaming while others were dazed in shock. He noticed his Father was lying down and his brother comforting him.

"What happened?" Dart questioned.

Kylos looked up and couldn't believe his eyes. His older brother who has been gone for five years has returned.

"Is that Dart?" his Father asked who was looking up at the sky.

"Yes it's me, Father."

He used his hand to feel his son's face. When he knew it was him a grin came upon his darkened face. "It is you," he shouted in joy.

"What has happened to you?"

"He's been blinded," Kylos replied.

Dart clutched his fists and looked up into the grim sky.

"Why did the Imperial army do this?" he asked.

"We do not know." Kylos said. But I think you should know. . ."

"Please don't tell him right now," their mother yelled.

"Know what?"

"Shana has been kidnapped by the soldiers."

"What?"

"Please, Dart take it easy. You must be tired from your journey," his Mother pleaded.

"They have taken Shana? But why?"

"I don't know. But they came here last night, burned down the town and took Shana with them."

Dart stood up and once again scanned the surrounding area. He noticed a man wearing a soldier uniform lying several feet from him.

"Is that a. . ."

"Yes, it is. He went against his commands and started helping the villagers. So the rest of the army left him behind."

Dart, with no warning, walked over to the injured soldier. "Hey buddy. Are you awake?"

The soldier opened his eyes and looked up at the young warrior. "What do you want?"

"The young girl you took. Why did the army take her?"

"I don't know. I'm just a lowly soldier." the man said as he had trouble to speak.

Dart wasn't satisfied. He wanted to ask him more questions but he knew it wasn't right. "If you're wondering where they took her, it's Hellena Prison."

"What? They took her to a hell of a place like that?"

"Yes.. I thought the same thing. The original orders were just to get the girl. But somehow destroying the town got mixed in with it. When I found out. I tried to tell everyone not too, but they didn't listen to me. Instead I helped out the injured and they left me behind."

Dart nodded. "Thank you."

He got up and walked back over to his family. His Mother and brother stared at him as if they already knew what he was going to say.

"I'm going to look for Shana," he announced.

"What? But you just came back!" his Mother yelled.

"Shana is like a younger sister to me. I must get her."

"I'm going too," Kylos said. " I'm seventeen now. I'm old enough."

Dart knew his brother was very arrogant and stubborn, just like himself. He viewed his brother's point and knew if it were him he would of want to go too.

"Okay, we'll leave first thing tomorrow."

To be continued...

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