Chapter IV

Sakura the Pink Panther

I slowly stepped out of my old home, and onto the streets of Sonze. The sky was still dark, but the wind wasn't as bad. Rain had slowed a bit, although it was still drizzling. I looked up towards the sky, and found something within me. I found something strong.

Perhaps I might be able to survive this long and treacherous journey? There's something ahead. Something ahead for me. Something in the future. I wasn't sure what it was, but I now realized, that I had to become strong in order to survive.

I lowered myself like a mountain lion on the prowl. There were many trees, even on the our village streets, so it was good camouflage. I looked up and down the roads as I made my way towards the end of the dark trail. Sneaking passed a few men on their big brown horses, I shivered with fear, and anxiety. They couldn't hear me because we were taught to be stealthy and silent, like a squirrel or a snake. Although I knew I was quiet, I couldn't help getting a strange feeling that they somehow knew I was there.

I stopped behind a tree that was growing in front of one of the homes in our village, and snuck a peek at what these Outsiders really looked like. Upon inspection, they looked completely normal. A bit scruffier, though, but two of them were clean cut and wore thick layers of clothes. All of them had swords, but I'd never seen weapons like these. They were much craftier and seemed like it would take three summers to complete such dangerous beauty.

I shook my head, shaking my daydreaming out of my mind, and continued my sneaky ways all the way toward the forest.

"Check all the corners of this village! Take only those that are young, and female!" I heard a man on a masculine black horse announce. He looked a little older than I did, and had two lines down under his eyes. I knew, from the moment I saw him, that he was one Outsider I didn't want to mess with. Just his dark black eyes pulled a string in my heart and caused me become overwhelmed with this sadness.

A few chuckled at his announcement, but he held a serious face. I finally reached a thick part of our forest, and stopped behind one of the big oak trees. Sitting down, I took a deep breath and marked off a checkpoint from my internal list.

"I think I hear something over here!" Suddenly, my heart beat quickened. Did they know I was there? Behind the big oak tree? I figured that now I could use this tree to help me with my unfortunate situation. 'Protect me with your power, forest!' I proclaimed within my mind, and squeezed my eyes shut. I held myself into a small ball crouched against my protector. The men always seemed to gallop on their horses, but never got off.

"It's nothing. Probably just a rodent." I smiled, and sighed with relief. "Thank you." I whispered toward the oak tree after bowing. It was polite to bow, and thank the tree for your safety; they always bowed back.

I lowered myself and slowly stepped back a few feet. After I knew I was out of sight, I began walking quickly through the trees.

I came to a sudden halt as I discovered my first predicament. There was an open path I'd have to run across in order to reach the second half of the Sonze forest. Unfortunately, there were already a few men on their horses here.

"Take a look at this one." One of the men held his dirty hands against a Sonaran. She wasn't much younger than I was, maybe a summer-less.

A few other men held these rackety ropes that didn't look like ropes at all. They were the color of a dark gloomy day, and made a clicking sound. At the end of these ropes, there were Sonaran women… why were they taking all the women?

The man from before held the young Sonaran on his lap as she screamed with fear and struggled to get away. My mind went ablaze as I tried to figure out their ways, as I tried to figure out their reason. He slid his hand underneath the cloth covering her, and she began screaming, "Stop!" She was confused as I was. What did these men want?

"She's too young for you, Kellon." Another male on an onyx horse slowly made his way towards the men. "Drop her, she's been through enough torture."

"Yes, Captain." The man known as Kellon dropped the girl. She landed uncomfortably on the muddy ground that now covered her beautiful tan skin. Quickly she crawled up and ran away.

"Has the Captin' gon soft on us?" One man with a toothy smile made his way towards the Captain.

"I'm just tired of seeing such pathetic acts performed by such pathetic men." They were quiet for a moment, internally knowing that a comment would only bring punishment.

The man known as Captain turned his horse around. "Go back to your duties like real soldiers." They lowered their heads in shame and trotted off, the women in the ropes no longer persisting to struggle.

I was relieved that they were gone, I could finally have a chance to get across! Unfortunately, the Captain just sat there. He sat there on his colossal black horse, doing nothing. This was actually quite agitating, and I soon became angry. Had he fallen asleep? No. I could see his eyes. He was probably just thinking. Why won't he move! I need to leave!

"This is no place for a little girl to be hiding." '…does…does he know I'm here?'

My breathing became heavy and I felt as if everything around me had disappeared. He turned his head in my direction, digging his dark and dreary eyes deep within my soul. I'd never felt so exposed. My heart beat quickly, but at the same time, sunk into my stomach with ignorance. My body was shaking with an uneasiness, a sickening bliss, but I couldn't take my eyes away.

This invisible force held my eyes with his. How was he doing this? Was it even his doing? I wanted to hate him. I wanted to scream and scream and let everything within me flow out into a wave of emotion. But nothing came out. Not even a whisper.

"You should run away… before they catch you…" His voice startled me, and in confusion, I stood, and walked towards him. He looked down on me from the height of his horse. Just looking down at me. No emotions plastered on his face. Nothing but his long black hair, wet from the rain.

I walked in front of the black horse, looking Death straight in the eye, he didn't show emotion either. I continued walking while I looked at the Captain, not trusting him, not wanting to turn my back to him. I was afraid he'd grab me like the other men had done to that poor girl, but he made no motion that he was interested in such an act.

Turning my back with a new found confidence, I walked towards the forest. A smile creeped its way onto my cheeks, and forced me to come to a noble stop. I stood there for a few minutes until I heard fast, heavy footsteps. Curious, I turned around to see that he was gone. The only thing left were the hoof prints of the black horse.

I stood there in the forest opening, between two trees, and watch the rain bounce off the Earth where the Captain had just been. Could I trust this Outsider? …Mother told me not to trust anyone, but he let me go… He could've hurt me, or threw me down in the mud like the others had done to that poor girl… but he didn't…

There wasn't time for contemplating such unnecessary matters, I had a mission to accomplish. To get out of Sonze. I turned around and faced the dark forest, knowing that there was a trail at the end that would lead me to a cave. A cave that would lead me underneath the mountains, and to the Outside world. Although I'd never been to this cave, they always told sand songs of it. I just hope to Blossom that this wasn't just another song. That this wasn't just another myth.

So I filled my lungs to their maximum capacity, and then deflated them. I did this three more times with my eyes closed, building the confidence I'd need if they were patrolling the forests. I knew I could swiftly sneak passed them, it's just the slim chance that I wouldn't be able, that's what got me worried.

What amazing creature should I be? The onyx panther? They were such lovely creatures. Delicate and graceful, yet frightening and always brought a challenge. Yes. I would be a panther.

I giggled inside, 'Sakura the Pink Panther…' That had a nice ring to it. Off she went, that Pink Panther, allowing confidence to overflow her innocent being. She dodged left and right around the trees, always making the leaves rustle with excitement. They cheered her on. They knew she could make it to the cave. She was their last hope.