Choices (Yona of the Dawn)

Chapter 6

I packed what little stuff that I owned and prepared to leave the castle as soon as possible. All the pretty hair pins, beautiful silks and satins, and specially made cosmetics lay scattered across the floor of my room. The simple clothes that I kept stuff inside the deepest corners of my wardrobe are now the fabrics that wrap around my body. A sword I've never drawn now rests on my back. A bag filled with all of my essentials is slinged over my shoulders. I left the castle without looking back. I won't believe Yona and Hak are dead until I've confirmed their lifeless bodies with my own eyes. I keep my emotions locked deep inside. I won't let anything slow me down before the last glimmer of my hope completely disappears.

It took me days to get to the northern mountains where Tae-Jun last saw them before they fell to their deaths in the valley below and a few more to finally reach the valley below. Trees swamp the entire valley, covering any footprints with dark shadows and fallen leaves. Drowsiness overwhelms me as I spent the past days getting here. I sit at the base of a tree, my eyelids about to fully drop, when I suddenly see something gleaming under the minimal sun rays. Sleep suddenly slipped my mind as I rushed towards the familiar glaive. I can't tell if this is something I should be happy to see because it means they're somewhere nearby or if it means the owner is unable to come retrieve it. "Who are you?"

I whip my head towards the voice. The lack of sleep is catching up to me because I didn't even notice the young boy that approached me from behind. "I'm looking for someone."

"If they fell off that cliff up there," the young boy points upwards, "they're probably as good as gone." I clutch Hak's glaive tighter in my hands, unwilling to accept that fact. The young boy began turning away. "Wait! You live here." It came out as more of a statement than a question. The young boy gives me a suspicious look but waits for me to continue. "I'm looking for two people. A man with dark hair. He's tall and strong. And a girl. She's small and has red hair. They're both around my age." I immediately see the recognition in his eyes. This boy knows exactly who I'm talking about but he hesitates. "Please.." I whisper.

He sighs loudly before saying, "Follow me."

I follow closely behind him with my heart racing with uncertainty. The glaive I'm now carrying in my hand is my symbol of hope. In the distance, I see a small hut. The closer we got, I see a girl with short red hair sitting at the front of the house. There was no mistaking that shade of fiery red hair with anything else. "Yona!" I sprinted past the boy in front of me and towards her. The look on her face was a mix of relief and joy. That was the first time in a long time I cried to my heart's extent while tightly hugging the girl I thought I lost.

Yona tells me about how Yoon, the boy I met earlier, is the one that saved them. Hak was unconscious for a while but he woke up and left not too long ago to search for his glaive. Yona continues to tell me that they are searching for a priest to advise them on what to do. We are currently staying at Iksu's place, Yoon's guardian, until Hak is healed enough to start traveling again.

"Any luck, Hak?" I hear Yoon call out upon Hak's return. Yona and I exchanged glances before we both rushed out to meet Hak. In all the years I've known him, I don't think I've ever felt the need to throw my arms around him as I do right now. With no hesitation, I pulled him into a tight embrace. His initial shock soon morphed into reciprocated relief and gratitude. I only remembered that he was injured when he let out a muffle ouch. I pull away from him with tears brimming my eyes. "I found your glaive, by the way." I let out a small chuckle as I pointed at where I left it.