Auream Ruins

4. A Cottage And Some Corpses

Kira's Perspective:

Quiet. Peaceful. Eerie... I silently pulled my bow from my back and grabbed two arrows. Crouching, I pointed the nib of the arrow down for now, scanning for any signs of abnormality. I felt something off. There was a smell that I couldn't quite place and it was as if it was tugging at me. It made me feel queasy. But how? I knew this forest like the back of my hand. I had grown up here. Laughed and cried. Fell down and got up. This was my home. And yet it felt unfamiliar. Strange.

I frowned and got up. Sanji and Yuuki behind me followed suit. Sanji held one of his shadow blades from its hilt-facing down-and was flanking out to the west and Yuuki was copying him- only to the east. She had two hands out in front of her and both of them had beams of pure light shooting out of her palms. It was only visible to people in near proximity because it was so faint. I only just realised she was using them as a sort of radar or sensor.

I crept forward, bow gradually being aimed at anything that might come to harm me.
"Nothing on your left," He whispered when he caught up with me.
"Same here to the right. Behind us too, absolutely nothing," Yuuki added.

I nodded silently and looked around. We were in Hakke woods. Where I grew up and trained everyday with my master. It used to be a lush green forest with flowers that glowed with every step I took. It had lively beasts chirping and squeaking in every corner and it's trees as high as the clouds. The scents of delicious fruit always drifted about as if they were wandering in the forests just like I used to do. The ground was filled with insects scurrying around and the dense atmosphere was always a perfect temperature.

But that was then. Now...it seemed lifeless. Dull. As if every living organism had their souls sucked from them and the colours were mundane. There were no more beasts chirping under the bright sun. Only a still, boring view of olive green leaves. There was no warmth under the canopy or scents that made one's mouth water. Only the scent of...something sharp. Stingy. Maybe something metallic...

Blood.
It was the smell of blood.

Glancing at eachother in panic they dashed head first into the array of greens and hues of brown. These were one of the times they all were greatful for their animals instincts and speed. One a fox, one a wolf and one a cat, they all could run faster than any normal human.

Leaves rustled and branches snapped under their feet and they sped through the thick and heavy collection of plants. They ran, ran until the reached a quiet opening where a small cottage was situated by a tranquil lake.

Kira took a big gasp. This was her home but...
"Why-why are there dead beasts here? What happened?!" Yuuki stammered, all the while stumbling back.

Corpses of varying sized beasts littered the ground. Some with horns and some with wings. Blood trickled down the small pathways, making a spiderweb of scarlet. Completely painting the ground. The cottage walls were splattered with ruby droplets. Everywhere the thick stench of blood scented. It was a sticky and red, oh so very red. Crimson, Ember, Maroon any dark red could fit this horrible scene before them.

Sanji's grim expression said it all as his lips thinned into a straight line. He slightly scrunched his nose at the potent scent.
"Kira, do you know what's going on?" He gently inquired to the pale Kira beside him. His voice was opposite to his feelings inside which were a mix of horror, disgust and piping hot rage.
"I-" She chocked out a sob and a single tear rolled down her paper white cheek. "I don't know."
Sanji squeezed Kira's shoulder. She couldn't hold that dam that was blocking the tears any longer.

Her home. This was what was left of her home. Where she galloped in the fields with her beast friends and played hide-and-seek near rivers. Where she had fun in beautiful caves with stalagmites hanging from every inch of the ceiling. Her home.