Chapter 17
Prep and Assassinate
Hayate walked away with Cassandra and the rest following behind. Cassandra then escorted the two back to their base camp.
At the Alliance's base camp, a solemn silence hung over. All around the big fire pit were tents. All empty, cots messy with the belongings of the fallen still beside them. Pictures, helmets, half completed shields, drawings, personal letters, chests, cans and half eaten food litered the floor. Hayate looked down and picked up a sword. Inscribed on it were three words.
"Heim, Leben, Freiheit"
"It means home, life, freedom. This was Schulf Sweil's sword."
"Did he die too?"
"I'm afraid so..."
Sophitia placed her hand on Hayate's shoulder in consolation. They began to scavenge the items around the camp they could use.
"Well all we could find was a few undamaged knives for you Hotsuma. There are enough food rations for about 2 weeks." Announced Cassandra.
"No, we cannot stay here for one more moment! We have to get out of this god-forsaken land!" Yelled Hayate.
"Hayate you know that charging in is not gonna help anyone. We have to do this in absolute preparation." Said Hotsuma sagely.
Hayate could only gruff in discontentment. Sheathing his sword he watched the campfire. Glowing embers flew as he stared, contemplating on his future victory.
"Well, lets get some shut eye" Cassandra said.
The night passed on, everyone fell asleep. However , one person stayed up. Hayate looked at the sky. The stars twinkled and the moon radiated. Hayate began to grow tiresome. He got up, looked at the horizon and packed up.
As dawn came, Hotsuma was the first to awaken. He instantly became aware of Hayate's absence.
"what the hell is wrong with that guy?"
Sophitia broke from her dream to a frantic Hotsuma.
"What's going on?"
"Gone...gone...gone."
"Dont tell me its Hayate..."
"Yea him! And he didnt leave one drop of sake!!!"
Sophitia quickly ran over to Cassandra's tent and dropped to her knees at her cot.
"Cassandra! Cassandra!", said Sophitia as she violently shook the bag, "Get up! Hayate is..."
"That girl cannot control her hormones..." Sophitia scoffed. "Hotsuma! Cassandra's gone too..."
Meanwhile...
Hayate walked through the desert plain torwards the Wiyot camp.
"Have you been following me this whole time?" Said Hayate in an expecting tone
"Yea for about 1 and a half hours Hayate...I thought Asian guys were smart..."
"Hrmph...Well, do you have your stuff ready?"
Back at Alliance Camp...
"I think we can catch up to those two"
"How? They're probably miles away! Knowing Hayate, he'll rush into the Wiyot camp and kill my sister."
"Well, this will take a lot of power but all I need a paper, brush and ink"
Hotsuma proceeded to draw a character on the paper. It was marked 'hikari'.
"what are you planning to do?" Said a puzzled Sophitia.
Hotsuma threw the paper into the wind and made a quick string of handseals.
"Grab my hand!"
Sophitia hesitantly went toward Hotsuma. Grabbing his hand, they both dissappeared into the wind.
Hayate and Cassandra began to see the houses of the Wiyot tribe village. With dawn a few hours passed, smoke rised from the village in the horizon.
The duo began to create a plan of attack.
"Ok Cassandra, I'm not as reckless as Hotsuma plays me out to be. I want you to first..."
Cassandra fell unconcious. Hayate had chopped her neck and knocked her out.
"Nothing personal..." Hayate whispered.