I finally updated! I'm sorry to those that are following my fic. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or Merle.

Five horrible men and a Traitor

The rising sun lit the tips of the zebra grass on fire. The golden strands were almost as intense as the orange backdrop stained across the still, and pale morning heavens. The chill of a heavy night sky was subsiding, and the air was prospering with the probability of a warm day. Morning doves were stirring in trees that were silhouetted like a curtain in front of the radiating sun. Their song hummed like a drum to each other from different directions. The steady call was not only heard from one another, but to the animals awakening around them. It was a peaceful start to a not so pleasant day.

Five men trotted trough a woodsy path and were oblivious to there surroundings. Their boots left large dents in the earth, as their clumsy feet stomped in the ground that was left to walk. They heard the birds and animals around them as a distraction to their own clouded thoughts. Their ideas were stubborn and headstrong; but like a child, they could switch their focus in a second. One aspect may seem important one moment, and in the next, that same idea becomes frivolous. That is why you can never expect to understand, trust or keep up with these pigheaded and violent men.

A long time ago they were once soldiers in the battle of Ryoku that took place in Kaylip. They had once fought to gain the spacious countries that seemed to prosper and grow more than their land was. The food was plentiful and the trade was flowing. The land seemed to glow with good luck. When they looked to have this land, they had to put up a fight. Now it was destroyed and ino longer desired. The land didn't seem like a shiny new jewel anymore, but just a mess of wasted land.

They didn't bother finishing what they started; they fled the scene. But at that point it was too late for the beings that had lived there, for they had fled too. It was too bad because the people who had lived there for hundreds of years were committed enough to grow, and build, and create life for themselves. And the people that desired the land were too distracted to keep up with such jobs. They were quick, and scatterbrained, and always looking for a fight. They didn't understand that land took more than luck to prosper.

Now after seven years, a handful of this tribe of people were living in the forest. The families wanted to settle down somewhere and build homes for themselves. But the men always kept the group moving, promising to find a country where they could force themselves onto. So they lived in tents and build fires nightly. They didn't move very fast because all they had was five Cattalon animals, which were a mix of cow and a wildcat, and four wagons. Children, elderly and most of the women were pulled on the wagon and the men walked along side. The men were getting very restless and all they wished for was to feed their boredom. And now their focus was to kill the beast that had appeared in the situation. Merle's innocent family had supposedly disturbed their peace. But they had forgotten that they where the one's looking to disturb peace.

As they dragged their feet, their heads were full of white rage. All they could think of was, 'those filthy beasts! How dare they mess with us! Who do they think they are? They will pay back for murdering two of our men and tearing apart a family. We will destroy their family with all that we have!'

And when they had finally reached this family, the site would have brought tears to a normal being with a heart and a soul. There lay the three siblings sleeping together. Their fingers were entwined with the others hands. There faces were calm and angelic, as small and relaxed grins inched their way up their cheeks. This was their heaven-on-earth and their sanctuary. But the men didn't see what was before them as beautiful or peaceful. All they could see was useless animals. Much like a tree that was in their path; the only way to get it out of their way was the destroy it.

Two men above each Mieko and Merle to grabbed their arms, and the fifth seldom grabbed Mai with the hurt eye. The three siblings woke with a start as they felt themselves being yanked above the ground and tore apart. They had been snapped from a wonderful dream and into reality, which to them seemed like a horrible nightmare.

Merle screamed at the top of her lungs into the ears of her captive,

"WHATS GOING ON! MIEKO! LEMME GO!" She was flinging around and kicking whatever she could connect with.

Mai gasped as she was pulled up, like all the wind was knocked out of her at once,

"Mommy! Dad! Help!"

Mieko was also punching and kicking his two men, who were trying to hold him still,

"Get your hands off me! Let my sisters go!"

The two men let go of him and laughed as Mieko fell face first into the dirt. Then one of them put their heavy boot onto Mieko's head.

"Hey men! Why does Eanfled get the easy one? Wanta trade Eanfled?"

All the men had their eyes on the one called Eanfled, who was holding Mai. He was a stout man with a large head. The large sword in his sheath almost trailed the ground from his short legs. He was an awkward and sensitive man with a heavy conscious, who was often pushed around. The only reason why he was on this trip was because of his skill with a sword. He was fast with his feet-work and quick with his swings. His opponents didn't even have time to think, before his sword was through their chest. His height helped him stay out of the path of the other sword as he ducked, and his range was near their stomach, which helped him to strike. And his skill would surprise all that were defeated.

"Why does it matter which one I take…you just want to pick a fight!"

"Eanfled wants da little one 'cause his arms are too small and weak! Let da baby have his bottle! Said a man with an accent. He had thick black hair and stubble and a large spear across his back.

"Leave my brother and sister alone!" Merle elbowed one of the men that were holding her in the face as he doubted over in agony. Merle gasped in horror as she could see the man now. The man had gashes all over his arms and face. Had her mom done this? His face turned white as a look of anger was drawn on his face. He grabbed Merle by the collar of her dress and lifted her off the ground. It wasn't until then that Merle realized how tall and lanky he was.

"Why you little brat! You're just like your mother! I can kill you in a moment, pest!"

Merle was choking as his long fingers stretch around her neck. She spat and gasped for air that wouldn't go down.

"Let her go! Please! Take me instead!" cried Mieko on the ground.

"Uufa…let her go. We can kill them at camp. I'm even let you kill that one specially."

A very large man stepped out of the shadows from beside Mieko. He was tall and big-boned. The large wool clothes he wore added to the proportion. He looked different from the rest of the men. He looked somewhat more refined and adorned with more clothes and objects; he was the only one with long necklace chains down his front. And the border of his red shirt had a gold vine design entwined around his sleeves and waist. The other men looked like they had not washed their clothes in over a week. They were simple, and dull, and worn out, and so was the men wearing them.

He also held himself differently. He stuck out his large chest and seems to glare down at everyone. You could tell that he never laughed or smiled but gave gruff orders. And his glare was deadly from under his think eyebrows that matched his thick hair. This man was scary to the three cat children as a similar chill course through all three bodies.

"Ajax…sir…yes boss, right away." And the man call Uufa dropped Merle from the high height and she hit the floor breathing hard-and-heavy, trying to suck in air through her sore throat.

The man called Ajax then lifted Mieko into the air by the back of his shirt.

"Don't think I'm going easy on you! One move on your part and I'll brake your back!" Then he shoved Mieko onto Uufa.

"COME ON! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELVES BASTARDS. IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE A BUTCH OF BEAST CATS THEN YOU MIGHT AS WELL STRAVE TONIGHT. You butch of dumb cattle…Uufa and Jocon hold the male. Walganus, you get the nasty she beast on the ground. And you can carry the injured one Eanfled. That seems like your speed. Back to camp…all of you."

They all obeyed quickly and quietly and they march down the woods path. Merle felt as though she could faint with exhaustion as black stops were dancing before her eyes. The motion of the clumsy boots swayed her back and forth. Mai and the man call Eanfled were behind the line of men. Mai was gazing up at the eyes of Eanfled; they looked tired and strained. Mai whispered quietly with the most strength she had. Her voice was hoarse and the man had to lean his head down to hear.

"What will you do with my sister and brother?"

"I…I, I, I don't really know. That is up to Ajax."

"I don't wwwww-hant to llll-oose thhhh-em. Please don't hurt us. What did we d…dddo?" and Mai's eyes shut with relieve to the stressed Eanfled. Because there were tears in his eyes that slid down his cheek and onto the innocent girl in his arms.

"I'm so sorry, forgive us please."

Meanwhile Mieko was trying to get loose from the grip of the two men. He needed more than an order from a loud human to keep quiet.

"Where is our mother? What did you do to her?"

"Your mother's gone! Don't waste your energy brat!" The tall man named Uufa spat in Mieko's face as a nasty smile played of his face.

"What do you mean she is gone? What did you creeps do to her?"

The other man called Jocon with the accent turned a dangerous purple as he said in a booming voice,

"You betta watch yer tongue or you'll end up like yer father!"

That strung a core in Mieko that seemed to pull at his insides. He felt that anger that appeared in him the night before.

"DIRTY PIG! LET GO OF ME! YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT MY DAD. AND YOU SPITTING WORDS ABOUT HIM IS A INSULT TO HIS LIFE!"

Ajax turned around and set a crashing fist onto his head.

"Be quiet…mouthy brat. Your father was a fool…and it seems that you are too. Is it too hard to comprehend? Or are you beast not capable?"

Mieko was still shocked by the blown to the head. He didn't understand what this Ajax guy was saying. Uufa decided to continue,

"Your mother killed herself as soon as you left. She left you worthless vermin to survive on your own. I wouldn't want to care for such brats either. But she was a beast too; maybe she should have taken you with her! Haha!"

The man called Uufa's booming laugh was not heard but the siblings for they had all passed out with the thought of their mother in their heads.

They were orphans now. They only had each other. What would happen to them? Who would help them against these horrible men? Maybe there was a traitor amongst them. A heart with a soul, and an eye with a tear.

I planned that more would happen in this chapter but it took longer to describe the men than I thought. Oh well, I guess. Maybe next chapter.

I seem to be torturing my characters; there will be good things at the end. I promise. I just have to get there…

Please review…even if you have to flame. Any suggestions I will take.

Thank you for reading…: )

FT