Hey there: D! This is the forth chapter of Merle's past! Yay! I have not written a chapter for this story in a while it seems.

I'm not sure if a lot of people are reading this fic, so you might wonder why I bother. Well…I am having fun writing and I don't like the idea of not finishing a story that I worked hard to start. I hope this chapter will serve a higher turn out. Please review… flames are welcome if you wish to do so.

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or Merle. I own Ceival, Lok, Mai and Mieko.

Saying Goodbye to All that is Familiar

Merle and Mai sat huddled together trembling behind the flames. Silhouettes danced behind its' glow as the two sister made themselves as small as they could. Mieko had got up and slowly edged himself towards the danger.

"Mieko, stay with us!" hissed Merle with panic in her voice.

The little cat boy was not listening; he seemed to be walking in his own world and totally unaware of the happenings around him. He could hear his dad's voice in his head,

'Listen to your old man, he knows the tricks of battle.'

Then why did you leave us?

He could then see his father. A fierce glow sparked in his eyes as he looked to the skies, recollecting the time when he was a warrior. Was it excitement Mieko saw, or was it sorrow; Mieko couldn't tell.

Mieko could now see his father, covered in blood and his mother surrounded by the men, as a wave of hatred and sadness swept over the young child. He had never felt hatred before as its venom spread through all his body and consumed him. His innocence and boyhood was suddenly taken away from him at that moment. This wasn't how it was suppose to be. He was supposed to become a man by hunting game for the first time and catching a dinner for the whole family. Or building something that his father was proud of. But not this; this was forced on him like a blow to the gut. He felt at a loss. Tears were now streaming down his face as he fell to his knees. Mieko's long stringy black hair dangled in his red struck eyes.

Ceival was being pushed around in circles as the men that closed in on her jeered and taunted. In was like a cat and mouse game; only the rats were tormenting the cat. They let her go in the middle and she would try to claw her way out of the circle when another man would push her back in the middle. She to fell to her knees, ready to give up on the struggle when she spotted Mieko,

"Mieko," she whispered, and she quickly looked away.

But it was too late… the men had spotted him and all the glare and attention was on the trembling Mieko like an intense glare of a lion and it's pray.

"Look here boys! Another piece of scum! Looks like you beasts were getting busy, huh? Time to take out the trash."

Ceival jumped to her feet trying to aid her son before nasty hands got to him first, but another man held her down and poked her in the neck with a sword.

"What cha think 'ur doin', sit back down, slut!"

The man kicked her in the back and her legs buckled from underneath her. She let out an ear-slitting scream.

Merle and Mai pricked up their ears toward the noise as a shiver run down their backs.

"Mom," Mai said in a small voice as fresh tears ran down her check and Merle squeezed harder as she clung to her sister. There was another shout,

"MIEKO, RUN NOW!"

Merle picked herself up,

"Brother, no…"

Mai fell back as she tried to hold onto her sister. But Merle could wait no longer.

The site beyond the fire was horrible. There was blood, and bodies, and the burning smell of fire, blood and sweat clouded her senses. Merle bit her tongue in shock as the bitter taste of blood filled her mouth. A perfect taste to fit the scene. Blood trickled down Merle's chin as she clenched her fists.

She could see her mother and brother struggling to get away from the grips of dirty hands that grabbed and pulled at their clothes and tails. Merle felt her body go rigid, and a weak stop pulled at her stomach. A head fell onto her back as Mai came out behind her.

Mmmmerle…why are they ddddoing this to ma and da and Mie…ko? Wwww…what ddid wwwe do to…to them?" She squeaked.

"We are alive." Is all Merle said, a glow of anger filled her eyes as her nailed came out of the tips of her fingers,

It's all over…our family is broken in a night's time, and the pieces are scattered. And if we were to find the glass bits, they are too sharp to put back together. My future has changed and can ever go back to the way it was.

Mai suddenly ran to her mother, tripping over her feet as she tumbled forward. Her small arms were stretched out in front of her waiting for someone to catch them. And as her mother reached out her long arm and hand, they felt each other's fingertips meet.

SWOOSH

In a few overwhelming seconds a figure behind Ceival had swung a large stick at the cat that was running forward; it was like the small bundle was as significant as a baseball being pitched at a player in a baseball game. He swung with just as much passion like he wanted to win; win the death of this family and their whole race.

The wood and the young girl's head connected in a horrifying smash. The force threw the small cat girl a few feet away from her mom. Ceival still had her arm outstretched, waiting for the hand of her child that would never reach her. Only cold empty space filled her grip and the site of a girl that lay on her back; arms at her side and legs resting still. Blood gushed out of her left eye and her other wide open. Her pupil was waning like a crescent moon as her face took an expression of a deer caught in a headlight. Her eyes started looking more with tiger's eyes than a human. The girl didn't cry or whimper but lay there shocked. Merle ran to her sister's side and threw herself to the ground.

"Mai, I sorry I didn't hold on to you! I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." Tears fell onto her sister's chest as merle tried to lick the blood from her face.

"Mer…le…I couldn't reach mothers hand…." She said in a delirious and wavering voice.

"HEY MEN, THERE'S THREE OF THEY NOW!"

Ceival managed to jump on the back of the man with her claw emitted like knives.

"Run children, I'll catch up."

Merle reached down to pick up her sister and ran behind the fire as Mieko did the same thing. He grabbed the nearest brush and ran it through the flames. And with this fiery torch, he set the ground on fire. The three siblings raced inside their house panting and brimming with fear. They found the hidden back door that lead to the other side of the cave. As they excited their beloved home, Merle looked back in sorrow. This was the last time she would see this place. It smelled like all that once was familiar, and now what was just a peaceful dream.

This was a really short chapter and I hope the next one will be longer. Thank you for reading all four chapters so far. I'm sorry that this is getting kinda sad and it will be like that till the end. The last chapter will be happy and will involve some kind of reunion. That's all I will say. : o.

Reviews are much appreciated and they make me very, very happy. : )

Thanks again! --