Ten years ago the Shogun divided his kingdom between his two sons. He was hardly cold in his grave when the brothers hatred and jealousy of each other drove them to war. They were evenly matched for years, but now one brother has made a move that has tipped the scales in his favor.
May the Gods help all of us...
The young woman listened carefully. She was nearly finished gathering the herbs her grandfather needed. But even something as simple as gathering was more dangerous now.
A twig snapped had her breath catching and she looked around. The riverside was silent. There should have been birds chirping, animals running around, even a breeze blowing, but there was nothing.
That silence was what scared her the most.
Grabbing her basket, she hurried back towards the village. Not that the village would keep demons from attacking, they attacked regularly, but being around other people made her feel better. Especially her grandfather. He was so old and had seen so much that very little scared him.
A bunch of birds suddenly took off from a tree nearby, breaking the silence. Something had startled them.
Ayame didn't wait to see what it was, she hid in some tall grass and waited, holding her breath.
A scream made her close her eyes and cover her ears. Another attack. A middle aged woman from the village had been washing clothes in the river, Ayame had seen her on her way to the field where she picked her herbs.
Ayame opened them long enough to see the woman's body being dragged away. It was missing it's head.
She covered her mouth to keep from screaming or throwing up. The metallic smell of blood was in the air.
Usually the demons waited until nightfall to attack. This attack during the day, it meant things were getting even worse. Standing, she slowly picked up her basket and took a deep breath. She would have to tell the woman's family that she was gone. The village was mostly women, children and old men. All able-bodied men were sent to fight in the war. They had petitioned their ruler to return the men to the village to protect their families, but he had refused. So the village had taken matters into their own hands. The village elders, which her grandfather was one of as the village healer, had sent out messages across the land, a call for warriors to come and defend them from the demons. They would pay whatever they desired. They weren't a wealthy village, but they would find a way somehow.
May the Gods help all of us...
The young woman listened carefully. She was nearly finished gathering the herbs her grandfather needed. But even something as simple as gathering was more dangerous now.
A twig snapped had her breath catching and she looked around. The riverside was silent. There should have been birds chirping, animals running around, even a breeze blowing, but there was nothing.
That silence was what scared her the most.
Grabbing her basket, she hurried back towards the village. Not that the village would keep demons from attacking, they attacked regularly, but being around other people made her feel better. Especially her grandfather. He was so old and had seen so much that very little scared him.
A bunch of birds suddenly took off from a tree nearby, breaking the silence. Something had startled them.
Ayame didn't wait to see what it was, she hid in some tall grass and waited, holding her breath.
A scream made her close her eyes and cover her ears. Another attack. A middle aged woman from the village had been washing clothes in the river, Ayame had seen her on her way to the field where she picked her herbs.
Ayame opened them long enough to see the woman's body being dragged away. It was missing it's head.
She covered her mouth to keep from screaming or throwing up. The metallic smell of blood was in the air.
Usually the demons waited until nightfall to attack. This attack during the day, it meant things were getting even worse. Standing, she slowly picked up her basket and took a deep breath. She would have to tell the woman's family that she was gone. The village was mostly women, children and old men. All able-bodied men were sent to fight in the war. They had petitioned their ruler to return the men to the village to protect their families, but he had refused. So the village had taken matters into their own hands. The village elders, which her grandfather was one of as the village healer, had sent out messages across the land, a call for warriors to come and defend them from the demons. They would pay whatever they desired. They weren't a wealthy village, but they would find a way somehow.