Authors note: My contribution for Rin Week 2024!

I may add to this later, because I think it's going to be very special. But for now, it's one chapter.

Essentially you'll be reading a mirror to Barefoot chapter 1 — only from Rin's point of view.

It's harder for me to write from Rin's perspective. There's parallels between Rin's experiences and my own as a child, that make it harder for me to be an objective writer.

Hopefully this goes well. 3

Chapter 1 - Death

The day was bright and sunny, the golden sun shone down upon green grasses and lush landscapes. A village lay in its heart, surrounded by thick forests and clear streams. Despite the brightness of the day, one young human girl had little hope for a future. Every day was the same, in Rin's small world, since the slaughter of her family. It was a brutal, savage and utterly horrific scene. Robbers had slashed every member of Rin's family to shreds, and reveled in the blood that they bathed in. Rin had run, as her mother commanded, and watched in horror from her hiding place in the bushes outside. Images that rose to terrify and remind her of her utter helplessness daily. She hadn't spoken since it happened, it was as if words had abandoned her completely. It had been so long now, she believed that her heart would never speak again.

The villagers didn't necessarily have pity on her, as much as they felt guilty for not doing anything to prevent her family's deaths. To help alleviate their guilt, they collectively agreed to give the orphan an old feed shed to sleep in at night. She was "permitted" to collect leftover food, so she could survive. Other than that, the villagers pretty much ignored her. And she resolutely avoided the human villagers as much as possible. At their cruelest times, they'd beat her for some perceived grievance, but it was uncommon. As long as she obeyed their rules.

They allowed her to stay. But Rin, was truly and fully alone.

The moon was her only constant friend. She would sit in the woods at night, listening to the sound of the forest. Her brown eyes solely focused on the beauty of the moon above her. Sometimes she would fall asleep under a tree, imagining that the moon watched over her while she slept.

In this manner, Rin's existence continued. Her lips silent. Her soul heartbreakingly lonely. Her body surviving.

It was a day like any other, where she was just trying to survive life. It was that day, that changed her soul. Forever.

The sun was setting, it was like any other day. There was a particular time at sunset, when the sun touched the horizon, that it made the woods appear that they were on fire. There was a particular tree that she always would lay under, it felt safe there, away from the village. Away from the humans who she feared more than anything in the world.

As Rin neared her tree, she realized something was different. There was a hush in the air. The birds didn't sing, the trees didn't even move in the breeze. Cautiously, Rin tiptoed forward, peering through the underbrush. When she came to the small clearing where her tree stood, she finally saw the reason for the sound of silence. There was something there, right where she usually lay, at the base of her tree.

Slowly, she stood to her feet, mouth gaping in open wonder. What is it? Rin took a step closer. There was a mound of fur, but it looked like there was a body there too. She could see the long silvery white strands of hair, and blood staining the white clothing. How did a dead thing come to my tree?

Rin was about to step into the clearing, when the being suddenly flared to life, rising like a ghost. Her brown eyes widened with a gasp and she stumbled a step back, grasping onto the tree closest to her. Heart hammering in her chest, she gazed at the being in wonder.

The man — she now realized — was both terrifying and beautiful at the same time. Rin was dazed by the sight. His eyes glowed red, lips curled in a fearsome snarl. But it was his beauty that she saw. Long silver hair that gleamed in the dying sunlight, the delicate curve of the moon on his forehead.

Swallowing her fear, she moved deliberately into the clearing. The moment their eyes met, she felt a thrum through her entire being, into the very core of her soul. Suddenly, it was as if she knew, that he was her fate… her destiny.

He must be… a god.

But he was injured, she could see the bloodstains, clearly now. His clothing was torn across his chest and shoulders.

Who could wish harm on such a beautiful god?

The god must have realized that she was no threat, because he turned away. She felt herself desperately longing to be looked upon by him again. Even just for a moment.

He must be recovering. There is so much blood.

Determination filled her heart. Turning, she raced back toward the village to find something to help the him recover.

The moon was full and high in the sky by the time she came back to the clearing. The god was asleep, his eyes closed. Trembling more with excitement than fear, Rin moved as close as she dared. Quietly she placed the bamboo container with water on the ground a couple feet away. Her arms had not been big enough to carry both the food and water. Once the water was placed, she raced back to the village for the food that she'd collected for him.

A short time later, quiet as a mouse, she snuck back to the clearing. Rin peeked around the lush vegetation, eyes wide. Attempting not to disturb the sleeping god, she placed her meager offering on the ground beside the bamboo water container. It wasn't much. A huge leaf, for She had no plate, with fish and mushrooms on it. Walking soundlessly in bare feet, she stood and turned to walk away.

"Mind your own business girl. Your generosity is wasted... I don't eat human food."

Rin gasped, stunned by the sound. The tone of his voice sent a thrill to her bare toes. It was so silky… deep and haunting. More perfect than she'd even imagined. Slowly she turned, gazing at him with wonder over her shoulder. He refused to look upon her again, but she could his his eyes. The red was gone from his irises, leaving only an alluring gleaming gold. Certainly her heart was about to leap from her chest. For a long silent moment she gazed at him, reclining, looking as regal as a king. She wanted to remember this moment for her entire life

Very little did she focus on what he spoke. He was a god. She was a human. Humans brought gifts to gods. That's simply how it was. Determination to bring him the very best gift she could find, filled her tiny heart.

When it was clear he would not speak again, she quietly walked into the woods, thinking about his voice over and over. The soothing warmth in it.

The moon was still full and high when she made it back to the village, this time with a very specific destination in mind. She stood at the edge of the reservoir filled with fish, it belonged to the villagers. They'd warned her, both with their words and their fists, many times never to touch the fish there. She couldn't comprehend a more worthy cause, than to gift some of the fish to a god… And not just any god. Hers.

Determination filled her, and she waded silent until the cold water. Around the water crickets and frogs sang their quietly comforting songs. Rin stood in the middle of the water, and put her hands into it, waiting for the best fish to swim close enough for her to snatch. It took some time, but Rin was exceedingly patient. She occupied her mind thinking of her god's gold eyes. Finally, the largest fish she had ever seen in the reservoir swam by her fingers, as quick as a flash she grabbed it and lifted it out of the water. It wiggled in her small hands.

"Ah I knew it!" Came one of the growly voices of the men from the village. Rin turned to look at them with surprise. There was a group of five adult men standing on the bank.

"I knew you were the dirty culprit Rin!"

In silence, Rin dropped the fish back into the water, it splashed twice and then disappeared. For a moment Rin was jealous of its ability to hide. She would not be able to hide from punishment, now that they'd caught her.

Without speaking, the young girl walked to where the men stood, head tipped down. The first hit came from her right, it was hard enough that the force sent her flying backwards. Her eye on that side throbbed instantaneously. Once she was sprawled on the ground, the hits came from all directions.

Determined not to make a sound, not to cry, or show weakness, Rin curled in a ball and waited for the torment to end. One of them grasped her by her yukata and held her in the air. She winced away from his raised hand, but it didn't prevent him from smacking her back to the ground, again.

I just hope to see him again. One more time.

They yelled things at her, but Rin had gone numb, as she always did when they beat her. She no longer heard the things that they said. It was long moments before the men felt that the little girl had received enough punishment for her crime.

Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to allow them to fall. When the blows stopped, Rin peeked her one eye open, for the other was too swollen to see out of. The men had backed off a few feet and stood together, talking amongst themselves. Shifting, she tried to stand but fell to the ground again. Her leg was hurt somehow, searing pain blinded her momentarily, when she tried to put weight on it.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Rin forced herself to her feet. Her mouth was full of blood, so she spit, and realized that she spat out a tooth along with the blood. Moving stiffly, she began to limp back toward her tiny shack. The pain was overwhelming, she just barely made it back to her shack before she collapsed. For all the rest of hours of the night, she lay on the floor, whimpering softly from the pain.

It was the sunlight that aroused her from a fitful sleep, many hours later.

Oh! It's daytime.

Rin tried to stand, and stumbled, forgetting her injuries. She looked into the water pail at her face, it was covered with dark purple bruises. There were more across her chest and down her arms and legs. Her heart crumpled a little, and she put the pail away, not wanting to see what she looked like any longer.

Carefully this time, she stood to her feet, angling so that she didn't put full weight on her injured leg. Outside, the village was already busy — she couldn't risk taking another fish, or they'd surely kill her this time. All she had, were a few pieces of grain that they'd allow her to glean from the last harvest.

At least I can see him.

Taking the last of her food on a large leaf, she began limping toward the forest nearby. Once she passed through the bushes and into the lush woods, a great burden seemed to have lifted from her shoulders. Here, in the woods, she felt peace. The birds sang, the trees rustled in the wind, seeming to welcome her into their private sanctuary.

It took her longer to make her way down the path and back to him this time, because it hurt too badly to move fast with so many injuries. When she finally stepped into the small clearing, and saw him resting there, her soul sighed with relief.

He's still here!

Her heart lifted joyously, as she limped slowly toward him. This time, she noticed that the bruises on his skin, were gone. His gold eyes opened as she approached, though he refused to look at her.

"No thanks."

Suddenly afraid he would reject her gift, she took a couple running steps forward and fell to her knees beside him. Urgently she held out her simple offering. Her mouth opened to talk, wishing to speak for the first time… but no words came. Only a grunt.

"I told you. I don't need anything from you."

Rin felt her heart fall, and her arms lowered slowly with a disappointed sigh. There was a long moment of silence.

"Where did you get those bruises?"

The sound of his voice surprised her, she looked up, but he was still looking away. How had he seen the bruises?

"You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to."

Rin felt the warmth of his voice, but it was when his head shifted and his eyes met hers that she felt it. He was like the sun, bursting through a dark cloud. She basked in his light. Her heart leapt. Deep in the gold of his eyes, she saw the depth of his soul. Something that, at the moment, she wasn't aware that no one else in the world had seen.

For a long moment she just stared at him, awed by his beauty and warmth. Then, she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. She hadn't smiled since her family had been killed. It was him… he brought back the light in her heart. Despite herself, she laughed, wanting to stay and throw herself into his warmth. Rin leaned toward him, her fingertips lifted, and like a butterfly's wings brushed against the soft fur that he lay on.

"What are you smiling about?"

Rin couldn't help herself, she couldn't stop smiling. Her fingertips lovingly caressed the fur, somehow intuiting that it was part of him.

"I simply asked a question. I don't care… I'm just curious."

Opening her eyes, Rin gazed up at him. Her god. Beautiful and perfect — who cared about her. He cared that she'd been hurt. She wanted to throw her arms around him and stay forever… but she wouldn't disrespect a god that way. Instead she withdrew her hands from the fur and got to her feet. The simple interaction, had made her body hurt less. That or, she was too absorbed in her adoration to notice the pain any longer. Unable to bear the beautiful heat of his eyes any longer, she skipped off into the woods, still careful not to put weight on her leg.

I love him!

She thought joyously as she skipped back toward the village, giggling to herself softly.

Maybe he will love me too, and take me away from this place forever!

Smiling, Rin walked back to her little shack. She would return later… and find some way to speak. She needed to ask him to take her away. When she got to the door, she froze, realizing that there was something inside. Eyes wide, she shrunk against the doorway. It looked like a human, but… he was clearly not human. Whatever he was, growled while he drank from some of the stored containers. He noticed her, and turned.

"Ahh… what girl? Does this old hut belong to you?"

Slowly she nodded, moving to hold onto the doorframe.

Will he beat me too?

A sound outside drew both of their attention. The growly person who was stealing, stood and moved to the door.

"Damnit! They've caught up already!"

Rin turned around, horror flashed across her face as she watched a huge pack of wolves descend on the village. The muddy brown huge beasts attacked the villagers, toppling them to the ground and tearing them apart. Blood soaked the ground everywhere. Most of them raced toward the river. Rin watched, frozen, then realized that they were chasing the growly man, who was trying to escape across the river.

They attacked him, as the rest of the wolves gathered at the shore, all around a man who also looked like a wolf. Except that he wore wolf fur and had pointed ears. The wolves pulled the growly man to the shore in front of the wild wolf man.

From her shack, Rin watched in silence, not close enough to hear the conversation between the two. It didn't last long, the growly man gave something to the wolf man, and then the wolf man was going to walk away. But then he turned and slashed the throat of the thief with his claws.

Horrified, Rin clutched the wood frame of the door.

More blood. More killing… will it always be this way?

The wolf man's hand dripped with hot blood, he said something to the wolves, then turned and walked away. The wolves remained, scattering amongst the remaining living people in the village. In horror, Rin watched as the wolves attacked the villagers. They tore into their necks, sending sprays of blood through the air. Screaming, others tried to run, and ended up getting dragged back and devoured alive by the vicious beasts. Everywhere, there was death. The groans and cries of those who weren't quite dead, but still dying.

Terrified, Rin forced herself to move. It no longer mattered that she was injured, she had to escape. She had to live. Turning, she fled into the woods, running as fast as her feet would take her. It wasn't long until she heard the snarling wolves behind her. They chased her. She knew this path by heart, she had to get to him! He would protect her. Tears burned her eyes, blurring her vision, and ran hot trails down her cheeks.

Please! Please save me!

Her lungs burned, unable to get enough air as she ran. In her mind, all she could see was his beautiful eyes. She ran toward the tree — giving it everything her broken body could give. So close, almost there!

Just as she was about to veer into the underbrush, her injured foot got caught in a root sticking up out of the ground. It sent Rin sprawling to her face with a cry.

No…

Turning, she knew it was too late. The wolves were here.

NO!

Her mind screamed for him as the wolves descended, their vicious teeth tore into her tender flesh, rending skin and bone. She screamed once, before her throat was torn out by another beast. Then, all that came out was a gurgle, hot blood poured from her throat as she tried to cry out again… and failed.

I love you.

Rin whispered in her mind, as darkness descended. The memory of eyes the only thing she clung to. She knew it was the end… one heartbeat, the next one was slower. The one after that never came.