Warnings: Death (adults and children),some graphic imagery.

Updated 11/20

Eran ran like the holy season of winter was biting at his heels, the booming vibrations that thundered through his body made him lose balance and fall countless times as he ran toward the northwest side of the village.

He dived into the nearest shrub that could hide his tall frame, his chest hitting the ground with a hard thud. He took a minute gasping for breath, fingers digging at his sternum.

Getting on his knees, he ground his teeth when he felt rocks and thorns stab into him. He pressed a branch away with one finger, eyes frantically scanning the area. The black figures he saw earlier were now much larger, but he still couldn't see what they were wearing. He was at such a great disadvantage he was shocked that he had made it this far.

A bright eruption of flames bloomed ahead of him, craning his neck up he watched as his mother flung herself to the rooftops with thick twisting vines launching her from beneath her feet. She grabbed a man by the back of his neck that was scuttling over the thatched roofs away from her.

She looked like she was positively dripping in ecstasy, eyes shining and teeth bared as she lifted him up closer to bite off his ear. Spitting it out into the fires below. The blood splattering her manic expression made Eran retch.

With a stomp of her foot the straw beneath her burst in all directions as a gnarly tree limb flew out and gouged another figure that came flying behind her. It continued growing, trunk and branches bursting outward as they screamed.

Eran could see her chest shaking with laughter. He wasn't sure if she was even focused on preserving the village anymore.

An opening was made when she led the new group chasing after her to the south side, away from the main garden. Making sure nobody was nearby by whipping his head around in each direction, he bolted through the last stretch of neighborhood that would open into a large cobble stone clearing.

As he ran through an alley and past the last set of store structures, his foot and leg got tangled by something and he crashed into the stones, arm and elbow ripping open as he skid. Looking behind him, he made eye contact with a hollow eyed stare.

He flipped over and yanked his leg away, hands fumbling as he frantically scooted away. His throat vibrated with a surprised sound he could only feel. Biting his tongue, he demanded himself to stay 'quiet'.

Something suddenly pressed against his back and he jumped to his feet, clutching his bleeding arm. He found himself surrounded by many, many dead bodies. They filled the square, remnants of those that were in celebration only some hours ago.

He could barely tell who was of his clan and who were outsiders. Carefully embroidered clothing were ripped and stained in blood, swathes of skin had been cut off of many heavily dressed individuals he identified as sentries that patrolled the ancestral wall. He could see the faintest of pink lotus petals on the skin that had not been completely cut away.

He touched his lotus mark between his brow. It was burning.

His eyes wandered to each of their faces, there were so many children.. He felt like he was choking on his tongue as he felt a sob trying to climb up his chest.

A hand grabbed his shoulder, Eran felt his throat rip as he was spun around. He would have fallen again if the person hadn't grabbed his forearms and yank him back up.

When he met his step father's green eyes he allowed his body to fall into his embrace. Eran's skin felt like it was swimming in needles but he couldn't care less. Fingers gripping the luxurious silk, he cried like the day he was born.

Tabunoki pressed Eran's face into the crook of his neck, it was a bit odd with his shorter stature, but he wasn't going to let this moment escape him. It was the first time he was ever able to embrace the boy since they had first met.

He wished he could have more time. He wanted to be with his children.

A kicking and squirming body made itself known. Eran declawed himself from his father and looked down at the thrashing bundle slung around his father's chest. He saw the scrunched chubby face of his sister, her lotus mark a ferocious pink bud between her naked eyebrows.

He stepped back - maybe stepping on some fingers - but his gaze kept on her. He wasn't sure how to feel about her still. He never even held a baby before.

Tabunoki began to remove the sling strap over his head, he placed it over Eran's head and under one of his arms. Another wrap was bound around his other shoulder and hip that further fastened the baby against him. Eran watched as Tabunoki also removed a heavy laden satchel, and hooked it securely onto his pack, just behind his left elbow.

His father straitened Eran's tunic, hands running down his arms and over his cuts. He smiled at him, but Eran couldn't return it. He had to swallow the will to pull away or flinch when his father placed a hand behind his head, pulling him down so that he could touch his fully bloomed lotus mark - placed just below his hairline, but above his brows - right over Eran's half bloom.

There was a static sensation. It made his chest bloom with warmth.

He felt dazed as he watched his father do the same to his sister, he saw a blue light flicker as the crying father pulled away. A hand placed on both of his children. He smiled weakly again, and turned Eran away. Gently pushing the boy towards the towering tree line on the left side of the plaza.

Like the lingering touch he felt when he left his hut for the last time, he felt his father's touch slip away.

He didn't turn to look back one last time when he ran for the ancestral border.

And he still didn't, when he placed his hand on one of the trees, - a pink orange glow illuminating from him and his sister's marks as he asked the tree's to part ways for him - and fled to the world beyond..

...

Chapters after this one are soooo long les gooooooo