Disclaimer: I don't own Akatsuki no Yona | Yona of the Dawn!

Chapter 30

The sun had set on the village and the night had grown cold when Shin-Ah saw a bright light erupt in the sky and shimmer out. He and Lien were sitting on the edge of a porch, enjoying the quiet moment and watching the stars bloom in the evening. But when the light flashed, Shin-Ah stood up and watched the explosion. He had seen a light like that enough times to know what it could mean.

The first time he had seen one had been during the time his village had moved to the mountains. It had been from a distance. It had looked like a flower of fire in the sky, and he had been brave enough to ask one of the village elders what it was. A firework, something people used to celebrate festivals and other events. But there was nothing to celebrate here.

The latest time one had been used was by Yoon and Yona during the battle on the sea outside of Awa. Fireworks could be used as a warning or an alert, a call to arms or a signal.

Someone had sent up a signal.

"What was that?" Lien asked, standing up beside him. Ao was perched on Lien's shoulder, and she perked up, ears popping forward and back.

"Firework," he replied.

"I know that, but why…" She frowned and looked around, her honey-colored eyes searching for something. "Who even has a firework around here."

"Let's go." He set off for their small camp, taking a couple steps before waiting for her to walk with him. They hurried through the small village, heading around dilapidated buildings and people who were starting to gather, talking about the firework explosion.

Yoon knew how to make fireworks, but he hadn't mentioned making any lately. There was no reason for it, in any case. Most likely it had been someone else, someone new, who had sent up the signal firework, and the only new person that Shin-Ah knew of was the stranger who had wandered into town earlier that day. Kija had taken up the job of watching the newcomer on his own accord, and he had seemed harmless, dazed and confused even. But apparently he wasn't as innocent as he appeared?

Shin-Ah and Lien were almost to the camp when something moving on the horizon caught his attention. Soldiers in Fire Tribe uniforms. He stopped to lift his mask for a better look, and a moment later Lien paused as well, turning back to him, eyes curious.

"What're you looking at?"

"The Fire Tribe army is coming," he said, counting the troops. Roughly sixty, plus twenty more on horseback. Too many. He lowered his mask and started toward the camp again, hurrying enough so that Lien had to job to keep up with his long stride. Normally, he would have simply slowed down for her, but there was no time. He trusted her to stay near him.

The scene at the camp was confusing. Hak had the stranger pinned up against a tree with his sword at the guy's throat while the guy cried, his eyes trained on Yona like she was his lifeline. He seemed less afraid of Hak and more obsessed with Yona. Shin-Ah didn't particularly care for that simpering expression of his. Kija must have felt even more strongly than Shin-Ah did since he was posed beside the man, giant claws at the ready, fury in his blue eyes. Jae-Ha and Zeno were also already at camp, along with Yoon, and no one looked particularly pleased.

Yona, however, was looking at Hak instead of the man, a small frown on her face. "What are we supposed to do?" she asked, "How many do you think will come here?"

"Let's just ask him," Hak said, pressing his blade in closer, "How many soldiers are on their way?"

"Sixty," Shin-Ah said before the man could answer, "And twenty mounted riders."

Everyone turned toward him, their eyes widening or hardening depending on who it was and how battle ready they were. Yoon gaped at him and flung a glare at the man Hak was threatening.

"You're bringing an entire troop to this village?!" he demanded, looking like he might actually be violent for once. "The only people here are the sick and elderly and kids!"

"Plus us," Jae-Ha said with a dark smirk, "I suppose they're coming for us. Am I correct, Mr. Second Born Son?"

Beside Shin-Ah, Lien sighed and put a hand to her forehead. "We should've tossed him out earlier."

"I agree," Kija said before bowing to Yona. "I'm sorry, princess, this is my fault. I knew he was suspicious." The look he shot at the man would have made other people cower, but the long-haired stranger only had eyes for Yona. His fixation on her was disconcerting.

"It's all right, Kija," Yona said, "I'm more concerned about how we're going to fix this."

"I'll go to them, I can stop them," the stranger said quickly, "It was an accident, I'll tell them that I didn't mean to set off the firework."

"And why would we trust you?" Yoon asked, his hands on his hips, "You're their leader, right? Don't you want to capture us?"

"No…" The man shook his head and dropped to his knees, nearly cutting his own neck on Hak's sharp blade. "I just…" More tears ran down his face, making him quite the pathetic figure. "I'm still so happy you're alive." He extended a hand to Yona as if he might touch her, and Shin-Ah unsheathed his sword while sparks danced around Lien's fingers. Both of them stepped forward and flanked Yona, a silent agreement between them to protect her.

"Tae-Jun," Yona said, shaking her head, and Shin-Ah stiffened. He knew that name from when Yona and Hak had told him about how they had met Yoon and started their journey. They had been trying to find the priest's home when they had been attacked by this man, Tae-Jun, and his soldiers. Tae-Jun had almost caused Yona and Hak's deaths when they had fallen over a cliffside during the fight with him. On Yona's other side, Lien's flames flickered brighter. She recognized the name as well.

"Tae-Jun, we're counting on you to do this," Yona said, reaching over and putting her hand on Shin-Ah's arm. "It's your fault this village is going to be attacked, and only you can call off the attack."

"I can stop it," he said again, "I will stop it."

"You must," Yona said, "If this village is attacked and the villagers hurt by your soldiers, I will personally kill you myself." The threat hung heavy in the air, the truth in the statement making it feel almost solid. The bow and quiver of arrows on Yona's back were not just for show. "If you can't call them off, this village and my friends will be in danger."

"Trust me to do this," Tae-Jun said, bowing lower before he climbed to his feet. His face was a mess of snot and tears, and he rubbed his sleeve across his cheeks, wiping some of the grime away.

Yona nodded. "We'll be watching, Tae-Jun."

Shin-Ah looked out across the plains, to where the soldiers and horses were still marching toward the tiny village. With that force, they might even overwhelm the dragons and Hak, though they would suffer for it. The sound of drums slowly grew, the rhythm one meant for battle. Shin-Ah held his sword defensively, ready for the fight, doubting that the man, Tae-Jun, would be able to get to the troops in time. The archers were already preparing a volley.

"We should move back," he cautioned.

"Trust me, Princess Yona!" Tae-Jun yelled, his face a mask of determination as he sprang toward the plains, racing toward the soldiers. He started shouting at them almost immediately, demanding they cease their attack.

Shin-Ah didn't move from his protective spot beside Yona, still thinking they should move out of range of the arrows. He lifted his mask again, watching Tae-Jun run through the darkness, almost getting himself shot full of arrows. Amazingly, though, something he said must have gotten the attention of the soldiers because they stopped. After a few painfully long moments, the troops turned and started moving away.

"They're leaving," Shin-Ah said, hardly believing that had worked.

"He did it!" Zeno said, pumping a fist in the air.

"He almost got us all killed!" Yoon said. He made a face at Zeno. "Don't forget whose fault it was in the first place!"

"It's Hak's, he startled him into dropping that firework," Jae-Ha said, earning himself a steely glare from Hak.

"Thank goodness that worked," Yona said. She gave a sigh of relief.

Lien's flames dissipated and she whipped toward Yona's, her light green hair flying about her face. "Wasn't that the guy who almost got you and Hak killed?!"

"Yes," Yona said, blinking as Lien stepped toward her, "Why?"

"Aren't you mad at him?" Lien asked, incredulous. Ao leapt from her shoulder to Yona's head as Lien flung her arms into the air in frustration. "You didn't act mad at all!"

"I did threaten to shoot him," Yona said, tapping her finger to her lips, "But I ended up not having to do that. Which I think is good."

Lien looked over at Hak, who still looked angry about the whole situation, and then back at Yona. She looked confused, like she didn't understand their reactions.

"That was more excitement than I was looking for tonight," Jae-Ha said. He sat down beside the fire, his back to the village, looking out toward the plains. "It's made me hungry."

"Hungry is our middle name," Zeno chirped. He dropped down beside the fire as well, his back to the plains. "What are we eating, boy?" He looked at Yoon expectantly, and the fifteen-year-old made a face.

"I haven't had a chance to cook, go to sleep and dream of food," Yoon said, but he was already setting up to cook their meager meal. Shin-Ah kept an eye on the troops until they completely disappeared. He didn't trust them to stay away, but there was no sign of them at the moment. They would need to keep a close watch on the horizon throughout the night, and Shin-Ah knew he would be awake for most of the night. Maybe Lien would stay up with him.

She often did when he took a long watch. She was nice company, and she was still teaching him the constellations, pointing out each bunch of stars. He was starting to recognize some of them, though he doubted he would ever remember them like she did. Jae-Ha did. Jae-Ha knew the stars like Lien, but Shin-Ah would rather learn them from Lien. She told the stories that went along with the stars, and she didn't tease him when he got them wrong. And he liked how she was patient and quiet and traced the invisible lines with her finger, sometimes lifting his hand so he could trace them with her. Her hand was soft and gentle, so unlike his rough, callused fingers, worn from using the sword every day. Though the hard work was beginning to give her calluses as well. But that was nice, too, in its own way. She worked hard and had earned those calluses.

So he guessed he just liked when their hands touched, no matter if her hands were soft or worn.