The day my childhood ended.

I can remember it as if it were yesterday. Summer. The sun nestled in the great expanse of sky, warming our faces as we lay in the grass fields a short while from our home watching hazes of clouds skitter above us. To children, there is nothing bigger or more wondrous. The sky was our empire- and from those clouds we had the power to create anything our imagination allowed us. Back then, I liked to think of clouds as foretellers of our destinies- shapes that morph and change with time, allowing snatches of insight into the uncertain futures before us.

"I think that one looks like a pretty lady". My sister pointed into the sky. "See, there's her parasol, and they're her long sleeves". She smiled wistfully. "That's what I'll look like one day", she declared.

At twelve, Rong all the hopes and dreams a girl her age should. But she was also fearless and kind. Our mother died when I was very small, from then on she looked after me, protecting me from other children's taunts and teaching me everything me knew. Together we ran in the fields, climbed trees and even swam in the river. I loved her fiercely.

Now at ten, two years her junior, I was growing up too, and began searching for my own future amongst the clouds. As I watched, the cloud-lady began changing before my eyes- morphing and spreading till she became something else entirely. "A soldier!" I cried excitedly. "With a long sword and a helmet!" My father at this time was a respected Captain in the Imperial Army. Sometimes he let me ride with him on his war horse, and I loved to watch him spar with the other soldiers. I could not wait for the day I could begin my training. I had already learnt passages from the Sun Tzu by heart, although admittedly my understanding of it was limited.

As I gazed upon the smoky figure, I wished hard that I could become a great Army Captain one day, like my father. "Rong", I said seriously, "Do you think I will be as great as father one day?"

Rong rolled over on to her front and grinned at me. "Of course" she replied, squeezing my hand. "One day, everyone will know Li Shang, for he will protect China from harm and be the mightiest warrior that ever lived!" She laughed. "Brother, you will live in a palace and have the most beautiful girls in the kingdom for wives".

At this I pulled a face. " I do not want a wife" I declared. "Unless she is as brave as you, sister". All the girls I had ever seen rarely went outside, and never swam in the stream or ran in the fields. Such things were not deemed proper for a young lady. I couldn't understand it. Their life seemed incomprehensibly boring. My sister was not afraid to break the rules, and I admired her all the more for it.

Rong suddenly tugged on my sleeve. "Let's play soldiers! I'll be the maid in distress. Brother, you can show me how a true warrior fights!"

I laughed in excitement. "I'll go find something to use as a sword!" I ran through the fields down the bank towards the stream, where trees grew thickly together. I studied the fallen branches, picking them up as I had seen my father handle his swords, appraising the length of the Ren, and the grip of the Jing. The sun suddenly dipped behind a cloud, and I shivered in the breeze. Selecting two or three of the better sticks, I started back towards the field.

Some say danger has smell, or a presence that you can sense before it reveals itself. I knew something was wrong even before I heard Rong scream. Running up the hill, I saw them, huge dark shadows against the sun. Two men, with sallow skin and lank, matted hair. From the sashes of their robes hung cruel, twisted blades, glinting wickedly. Huns. I crouched low in the long grass, transfixed for a second. My father had told me stories about them when I was younger. For weeks afterwards I woke in the night suffering terrible nightmares, and Rong comforted me until I fell back to sleep.

Rong. My sister. I saw her, tiny next to the two Huns. One had her gripped by the arms, and was laughing. One ran a dirty finger down her face, leering unpleasantly. My sister glared up at them, spat in his face. "Let go!" She cried shrilly. The Hun let out a roar and struck her round the head. Without thinking, I charged from my hiding place and ran towards the men, brandishing my stick. I was the warrior, she was the maid. But this was not a game anymore. It was a foolish move, but how should a child know that? I swung my stick at the nearest Hun, but he caught me by the arm. I cried out and saw a glint of steel as his blade came towards me and I was thrown backwards. The last thing I heard before unconsciousness took me was Jun Li's screaming filling my ears.

I awoke to warm rain on my face. My head was throbbing with pain, I could taste blood. But I was alive. I sat up, and looked around for my sister. "Rong?" I called. I could see nothing through the long grass and the rain. I stood up, dizzy with pain, and looked around the field. Still I could not see her. Panic began to rise in me like a bubble. "Rong!" I screamed. There was no answer. My voice came bouncing back towards me, hitting me in the chest like a blow to the heart. Blindly, I stumbled forward, pushing apart the grass, screaming her name as I went.

That's when I saw her.

She was lying on her back, spread-eagled, staring into the sky. But she wasn't watching the clouds this time. Her eyes were glassy, blank, staring wide and unseeing into the heavens. Her neck was impossibly bent to one side, and from the corner of her parted mouth a trickle of red made its morbid descent. Her clothes were torn and her skin slashed. To this day I have not seen a sight more horrifying, except in nightmares.

I sank to my knees in the soaked grass, a red stain blossoming on my trousers. I took hold of Rong's already cold hand and screamed into the sky. I could make no shapes out in the sky, just an angry, boiling mass of grey, contorting twisting like the rivers of hell.

Hours later, when my father found me, I was still screaming.

Its good to be back :) Sorry haven't updated in AGES, just had al oad of stuff going on and university work is piling up once again! Umm yeah so next mini chapter is up! I had so much fun writing this. Hope you like it. Feedback appreciated :D