Chapter 3

Discoveries of Hope

The first thing that Tenshi noticed when he woke up was that it was cold and he was so hungry, but the men had said that he should stay put, that as long as he stayed within the cave those that meant him harm would not be able to find him. But that didn't mean he wasn't hungry, sighing he remembered back when his father would take him and his sister out on dates as such.

They would explore these caves and would camp here in this one this very one, that he now hid in. As sleep over took him he was dimly aware that things would only be tougher on his life, from now on.

Sonya was very familiar with the picture before her, as she gazed out over the carnage of the battle that took place here only days ago, the troops had arrived and upon arrival were met with several dozen Lycans. They were dispatched fairly easily, seeing as these were the elites of her father. She was now looking upon the bodies of the Royal Family or Clans as humans would call them. The villagers in the city must have fled earlier on in the attack as no one else could be found. And Lycans didn't take captives.

A frown appeared upon Sonya's brow as she looked once again at the ruling families bodies. Everything was fine except for one small detail. The youngest child was missing, hope flared in her heart as she quickly regained her voice.

"Vice Captain, we have a situation," Hanabi the Vice-captain a vampire of rather short stature of 4'10" raced over to her.

"What is Sonya-teichou (1)," she asked as she looked around for possible targets. Sighing Sonya handed her the scroll that she was reading. Interested Hanabi took the scroll and upon further investigation an excited gasp escaped her.

"Is it true Sonya-hime, could he possibly be alive," hope filled her eyes as the vice-captain looked back at Sonya for confirmation.

"Hai, it is possible and as such we shall begin a search. Spread the word and double the efforts, we have a chance to make up for our lack of honor." Sonya shouted. With a snap to attention and a quick gesture of honor, the vice-captain was racing towards the units to tell them the commands.

Sonya sighed as she looked up into the sky…

And with words unheard to the naked ear she spoke.

"Please be alive and well Master Tenshi…" and with that she joined the search for the only living member of a great clan.

Tenchi was hungry when he woke up this time, his stomach was growling at him in protest and he figured since it had been several days since he had hidden no one would be around. So as he gathered himself to his feet and grabbed his katana, he made his way over to the entrance. It was sunny out with a few grey clouds but it was light and a new day.

Plus as an added bonus not a soul in sight, so with a new purpose he started to climb down the hill towards the apple grove where he could find some food. And maybe later see the damages done to his home and scavenger whatever was usable. But for now it was food time.

He'd made it down and was now climbing a tree for an apple, as the rabbit he'd caught slowly cooked over the fire he'd made. As he reached out and took the apple he fell from the tree onto his arm.

"Ouch, damn it I must've broken it the other night." He gasped in pain as he gently tore his cloak and wrapped his arm in a sling.

"There that should do it," satisfied with his work he slowly make his way over to the fire and sat down cross-legged. He bit into the apple and his stomach did flips. Food, just what he needed at the moment. He had everything he really needed but now the only thing that plagued his mind was how was he going to get supplies or how he was going to hunt down whoever had attacked his family.

He finished the apple and tossed the core far into the forest and turned towards the rabbit. Grabbing his knife he started to eat like he would for the next couple foreseeable years. Not even noticing the smoke his fire was giving off.

To say that Sonya was aggravated was an understatement. Those stupid foot soldiers were suppose to stay with any survivors instead here their bodies were miles away from any point. Obviously dead and no young master.

Hanabi could sense the distress with the princess and quickly took action.

"Sonya-hime I know that you don't want to hear this but maybe he moved on somewhere on his own perhaps, he might have even died. Who knows but he is obviously not here at the moment." She spoke softly.

Only to have Sonya turn sharply towards her.

"I decide when to call of this search, and till then we're stuck here so live with it," she hissed. True she didn't know who this Tenshi was personally but if he was anything like his father, her father had said they were then they were people worthy of protection. Sonya was about to tell her to continue when the wind shifted direction.

Rabbit, cooked rabbit. That was something that no Lycan or wolf-brother would do, they preferred their meals cold and raw. Just as Sonya was about to comment on it Hanabi beat her to the punch with other news.

"Hime look over there in the grove, there's smoke that's where the smell is coming from." She said with the joy barely being suppressed. Sonya nodded and quickly spoke.

"Quick before whomever escapes let us investigate. Maybe they know where the young lord is."

As her and the vice-captain took off towards the smoke, praying that they weren't too late.

"Damn it this stupid arm keeps getting in my way," growled Tenshi as he moved the broken arm out of the way for the fifth time in the last hour. He knew that he should start heading back up towards the cave as noon was just starting to arrive and soon he would need shelter again. He quickly doused the fire and started to head his way back to the cave silently praying that someone would come and find him soon. Or else he might starve.

Hanabi, Sonya and her Royal Guards where now racing towards the smoke when suddenly it disappeared. Upset and angry, Sonya was about to blow the stack when Hanabi spoke softly to her.

"Fear not Hime, the scent of smoke is on this traveler and the winds are in our favor. We shall not lose him." She said, calming down Sonya nodded her head.

They moved for several more minutes before they came to the base of a hill there at the edge of the clearing was a young boy, with his arm in a sling. Sonya was about to take a step forward when Hanabi's arm shot forward. And whispered,

"No, Sonya-teichou, you are to valuable I shall go and see if this person knows what we need. Then I will return." She spoke; Sonya nodded her head as her vice-captain marched towards the boy.

"Boy have I have few…" she said only to be cut off by the boy.

"Who are you what do you want, I'm in no way obligated to help as you can see I am merely a villager of that once great city." He said lying through his teeth. He knew she'd buy it or so he hoped.

"Liar, you don't even smell like a villager, and all the nobles within the city were killed within the city. So tell me who you are now and answer my questions and I will let you go without any harm." She smirked if he wanted to lie then she would oblige him.

"I have no reason to tell one such as you warrior excuse me now," he said.

He hadn't taken more than several steps when the warrior stepped in front of him.

"Then I will drag you back to our camp and make you talk human worm." She spat as she unsheathed her sword, however she was not as quick as the traveler, who used the end of his handle to smash it into her sternum knocking her out as he swept her feet out from underneath her. She landed with and umff. And she was out like a light, which was when things got hectic as her guard of 5 moved forward to contain this new threat to the princess. As they encircled him, reason would have dictated that he surrender and put his sword on the ground. But Sonya wasn't ready for what he did next.

Quickly drawing his Katana, the boy made to attack one of the guards the guard then blocked him and with inhuman strength hit him in the stomach knocking the air out of him. As the boy dropped to the ground, the rest of the guards poised their swords at a vital spot while the one who was engage went and removed his hood. The moment they did however they noticed something familiar. That was when they heard their princess speak to them.

"Quickly lower your swords that boy is Tenshi-Dono, the last surviving member of Ching Wan's Clan," the moment this left her mouth, an intake of breath went around the clearing as they had finally realized who they had. Several emotions played through their hearts for Vampires were very emotional creatures when it came to their own. And pride bloomed in their hearts at his resilience.

However they were soon faced with another problem. He had attacked and was defeated as such he would more than likely not be willing to come quietly. But for now the important thing was getting him back to the Palace, where he would be safe for now. Only trouble was how were they going to do that.

Auther's Dictonary

1) Teichou- in this meaning means Captain

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