12 Years Ago
Startled from my slumber, I jolted awake to the cacophony of crashing pots and pans reverberating through the stillness of the night. In an instant, I scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over the thin sheet wrapped around my ankles, my heart pounding in my chest. Without hesitation, I pushed aside the makeshift cloth door that separated my room from the rest of the temple and rushed into the darkness, only to collide with the imposing figure of my master.
"Hard Master, what in the world is happening?" I gasped, my breath catching up to the sudden adrenaline rush. Hard Master turned his calm gaze towards me, his presence a comforting anchor in the chaos.
"It is unknown to me, Red Star. Come, let us find out together," he replied, his voice unwavering with a tinge of curiosity. Taking my tiny hand into his large, reassuring one, he led me towards the epicenter of the ruckus that had disrupted our peaceful slumber.
As we reached the end of the hallway, I stood transfixed, astonished by the sight before me. My twin brother, Storm Shadow, locked in a fierce confrontation with a stranger, a boy barely older than ourselves. This newcomer had a mop of golden hair cascading just above his eyes, his attire suggesting he might have hailed from the streets beyond the temple walls. Despite his unassuming appearance, he held his ground against my brother, who had undergone rigorous training under the tutelage of our uncle, Hard Master. My thoughts were abruptly interrupted when I saw my brother, Storm Shadow, choking the boy with his foot.
"Enough, Storm Shadow!" Hard Master's authoritative voice cut through the tension, causing my brother to turn towards him, with me following closely behind, my heart still pounding.
"He was stealing. We need to call the magistrate," my brother argued, his voice laced with desperation to justify his actions.
"He was hungry. We need to extend our welcome and show him the way," Master replied calmly, his composure unwavering in the face of my brother's emotional outburst.
"He's a cur! A frenchie!" Storm Shadow persisted in his fury.
"He doesn't fight like one," I interjected finally, my voice trembling but resolute. Hard Master acknowledged my words with a nod of approval.
My brother's face contorted with rage as he glared between Hard Master and me. Finally, his gaze settled on the boy, now dubbed Snake Eyes, with a seething hatred.
"Now, what shall be your clan name?" Master inquired, extending his acceptance towards the outsider. Snake Eyes responded with a defiant glare at my brother, his eyes narrowed with fury. Hard Master's smile remained unyielding.
"Ah, you shall be known as Snake Eyes."
My brother stormed out of the kitchen, refusing to remain with us. I made a move to follow and attempt to calm him down, but Hard Master gently restrained me.
"I am Hard Master. This is Red Star, she will take you to your new room and tend to your wounds, courtesy of Storm Shadow," Master instructed Snake Eyes, his voice unwavering. Then, he turned to me and said, "Red Star, make sure to provide him with a decent meal before he rests."
"Yes, Master," I replied, bowing respectfully as he departed, leaving me alone with Snake Eyes. I turned to the new clan member, carefully studying his features, his hair, his height, and his attire, all clues to his past. My eyes eventually locked onto his, and though they betrayed no emotion, they held a captivating intensity that drew me in.
"Hi, my name is Red Star," I smiled warmly, my attempt to ease the palpable tension that surrounded us. His expression remained stoic, but I preferred that over the anger I had witnessed before.
I continued with my duties, fetching a bowl from the cupboard and filling it with food from the undamaged stove. Throughout the meal, I could feel Snake Eyes' eyes on me, observing my every move. Calmly, I approached him, still smiling, and handed him the bowl. He accepted it cautiously, and I replaced the chopsticks in his hand with a spoon, understanding that he might not be familiar with their use.
As he ate in silence, I kept my gaze on him, trying to gauge his thoughts and emotions. Once he finished, I retrieved the medicine bag and guided him to the spare room adjacent to mine. With each step, I could hear his soft, slow footsteps behind me. In an attempt to quicken his pace, I gently took his hand in mine, expecting him to pull away. To my surprise, he allowed me to hold it.
As we walked past my brother, who was still glaring from across the temple grounds, Snake Eyes' grip on my hand tightened, a silent acknowledgment of the tension between them. Arriving at the spare room, I directed him to the bedding mat and sat in front of him, ready to tend to his wounds.
"Just ignore my brother, and he shouldn't disturb you. If he does, I'll help you beat him up," I joked, trying to bring levity to the situation. To my delight, Snake Eyes nodded, acknowledging the sentiment.
"You should stay still. This might sting a bit," I warned as I began cleaning the fresh scratch on his face, trying to be gentle yet efficient. Throughout the process, he never flinched, his unwavering gaze fixed on me, as though he sought comfort in the presence of another amidst the chaos of his new surroundings.
"Done! Good as new," I declared with a grin, proud of my handiwork. I even winked at him playfully, hoping to elicit some response. "You probably want to get some sleep now, right? I'll come check on you tomorrow, okay?" I said, standing up and making my way to the door.
"Wait!" he called out, and I turned to face him, curious about what he wanted to say.
"Stay with me. Please, just tonight," he pleaded earnestly. I smiled sweetly, touched by his request, and nodded without hesitation. Placing the medicine bag near the door, I lay down next to him, offering silent reassurance.
"Good night, Snake Eyes," I whispered softly, my voice carrying a hint of excitement as I drifted off to sleep, my mind already teeming with thoughts of the adventures that lay ahead with my new friend.