Chapter One: Gazico of the Hidden Forest
The forest was quiet and the leaves of the trees gently swayed from left to right. The sun shinned through every crack of the layer of leaves above the ground. One place of the forest, however, was not covered by trees. Instead there laid a small lake that glistened in the open sun. The water was calm and clear, the surface barely moved. Inside fish swam, blissfully unaware of any danger or fears. From time to time birds flew from the hidden holes in the trees to scavenge around the lake.
A small rustle came from a bush not to far from the base of the lake and next a small fawn emerged from the ruckus which broke the silence. It slowly moved over to the lake, alone and thirsty. Unknown to the fawn a pair of eyes were set on its every motion. Not very far away in another bush hidden by the dense leaves, a wolf plotted its attack. It took small breaths in as to not alert the fawn of its presence. Finally the fawn reached the lake and bent its head over and began lapping the water.
Small ripples began to emerge from where its tongue hit the water and it peacefully closed its eyes. The wolf tensed its body up, knowing this was the perfect time to attack. Just like a mouse it slowly moved its way out of the bush into the fawn's sight but kept itself close to the ground. After it felt it was in good range, the wolf stood up on all fours and leaned back ready to strike.
There was a small sound behind the wolf, but it didn't reach its ears because all the concentration was set on capturing this fawn. After a few moments the wolf lunged at the still unsuspecting fawn and just as its teeth reached the fawn's hide, there was a sound of a flying object. Before the wolf could touch the fawn something struck it right next to the corner of its left eye. The object continued moving through the wolf until it came out the other side, sending the wolf flying away from the fawn and the lake. Even before the wolf knew what had happened it laid motionless on the ground, a death quick and painless.
Leaves began to rustle as a young boy stepped out into the open part of the forest. The fawn was brought back to its surroundings and turned around terrified, first looking at the wolf then the boy approaching.
"You should be more careful," a gentle voice came from the object moving closer.
The fawn turned around and was about to dart back into the safety of the forest, but the voice of the human coming closer seemed too had crushed its fears. It watched as the boy came over to it and knelt down before it.
The boy put out his hand slowly and the fawn quickly sniffed it. It hadn't been alive for very long, but the fawn knew that this creature was different from the others that it had seen off in other distances.
Slowly petting the young deer's head the boy spoke, "Go home now. You mustn't stay in places like this for to long. I'll take care of this wolf. Don't worry; he did not suffer any pain."
The boy smiled at the fawn and it turned around and dashed into the woods merrily, glad to have been spared. The boy turned around and stood back up. He bent over and picked up the cold body of the wolf. Blood trickled slowly out of the wound. The arrow had struck the beast just in a way to kill it yet keep its blood from flowing onto the ground, staining the pure earth.
He put it over his shoulder and began walking down the path, away from the lake which had returned to its calm and motionless state. Just as if nothing had happened the birds came back down and began looking for food.
The boy had long dark raven hair which was tied at the base of his neck to keep it from flowing in the wind. His eyes shinned a dark green which pierced through the souls of all he met, and yet at the same time was a gentle green which comforted all he knew. He wore a white skin tight shirt that ended at his wrists. Over he wore a dark blue vest that loosely covered the shirt. Both garments were tucked into his dark brown pants that came loosely up to his belly button. His pants were fastened with an even darker brown belt that had a gold medallion for a buckle. Also fastened to his belt was a bag on his right, filled with potions, herbs, and other things he may need, and to his left was a small hunting knife which he rarely unsheathed. On his back was his bow and quiver which he had just used to slay the wolf on his shoulder. His pants were tucked into his leather boots that came up half way up his shins.
He continued to walk down the forest that had no paths in a one set direction. His face was stern, yet deep inside he was happy for the catch that could feed some of his people that night.
He lived in a small village hidden deep within the forest. The village was built on rules and laws created before even the oldest of people were born. While it did mature, its still was of its own and one thing that remained in the village was an untainted pure emotion that all people shared. There was no violence, drugs, or even people who hated one another. They all lived in perfect harmony. Such a village may seem weak, but hidden so far in a deep forest they were able to keep their own ideals and ways. Anyone from the outside who stumbled in on the village was to be immediately removed and could never stay. Though it seemed a harsh way of living, the people valued their way of life and wished it not to change.
Suddenly the young man stopped moving his feet forward. He looked to the left and right behind with without turning his head and opened up his ears. A small rustling sound came from behind him to the right near some bushes. He put the slowly rotting wolf down on the ground and walked over, bow drawn and arrow in hand.
Slowly he got down to a squatting position and gently moved through the leaves. Whatever it was still had not detected him and continued to rustle amongst the leaves. He stopped short of the sound and lifted his body up a little. There was a figure of a human, but he was to far away to make out the exact details of the body. He moved in closer, still cautious.
When his eyes were close enough he could make out that the figure was that of a woman. She had blond hair and was nude. Her body was beautiful and elegant. She bore no marks of any form of scar and she seemed to be no older than he was himself. The fact of her being unclothed did not cross his mind because of the fact his village tolerated nudity and did not see it as any form of shame or embarrassment. He stood up slowly and walked forward, letting his guard down.
"Hello? What are you doing here?" he asked.
She did not return an answer to his question, just stood motionless as he advanced.
"Are you okay," he asked.
She turned around and he gasped. There was a dagger lodged deep into her heart and blood poured from the wound.
"Hurry!" he asserted, "Come to our village! We must treat that wound as fast as possible!"
She didn't say anything but look into his eyes with her own. As he stared he felt his feet and legs go numb. Her dark blue eyes had no pupils, no glare from the sun. They were dark and his reflection was lost in the shadows. His breath began to fail and his heart pumped quickly.
She moved slowly towards him, putting her face near his. Slowly her arms reached around his body and her lips almost pressed against his. She put to much weight on him and they both fell over, but she remained still close to his lips. He could feel her push the dagger deeper into her chest as it stabbed his with the hilt. After a moment of him suffocating she gently kissed him and he could fill the air from her mouth enter his.
Hirotine, my dear Hirotine, have you come back for me?
His heart began to beat faster and he began to feel woozy from the loss of air.
Am I going to die? he asked himself.
Everything was dark and he couldn't hear or feel anything. His right arm began to hurt and then his left. Slowly his whole body began to feel hot and heavy and he began to smell smoke.
"Rise Hirotine!" the loud voice shocked him.
He quickly opened his eyes and saw that fire was engulfing him. He couldn't move his arms or legs or even his eyes. All he could do was gaze into the fire that dance before him. Suddenly his entire body began to move on its own and his eyes became fixated on a dark body cascaded in shadow.
"You are a fool if you think you have won that easy Takakura," he could feel his mouth move and the words vibrate from his throat, but the voice was not of his own.
His body stood up slowly and he could see a slightly curved sword in his right hand through the corner of his eye.
"I wouldn't expect anything less," the raspy low dark voice came closer.
He put his sword in a ready stance and lunged for the dark creature. There was an explosive sound as both his raven dark sword and the others clashed. He jumped up over the person and came down with his right leg extended and his sword in a downward slash. The enemy countered this attack by first dodging the blow and smacking him with his hilt. The young man went flying onto the floor. He was unable to open his eyes, even though he could feel his body moving.
I have to open my eyes!
Suddenly he began to lose the feeling in his toes, then feet, then legs, then torso, all the way to the point he couldn't feel anything except for his right arm, and that too faded quickly. Confused and scared he stared into the darkness, unknown to what had just happened.
"Gazico?" he heard a distant voice, "Gazico?"
It began to come closer and closer to him until he could almost make out who was calling. He slowly opened his eyes and looked up. At first his vision was blurry and unfocused but after a few seconds he could make out that the girl who was injured was still on top of him. She had passed out the same as him, but he could no longer feel the daggers hilt push into his chest.
A pair of feet appeared next to Gazico's face and he desperately tried to move his head to see who it was. He could barely move his eyes though, his body had been drained completely and he could feel his heart beat slowing down.
"Gazico!" it was the sound of a girl, "Are you okay Gazico?"
A hand touched his head and the warmth soothed his pain. His eyes closed and he once again was lost in the darkness.