A Shattered Past

Issue #1

      Rea had thought that the day would be normal just like the rest of the week had been. She had been wrong. Her hometown was burning, her parents were missing, and she believed her older brother to be dead. As she ran through the streets of the burning city of Briar trying to find her way out, she became aware of the burden now on her shoulders. She had to take care of her baby brother, Brooks. He was clinging to her back as she ran. The cobblestones were hot and were starting to burn Rea's bare paw pads, the fact that she was running out of breath, and that there was smoke everywhere wasn't helping either. Every time she took a breath, the oxygen that should have entered her lungs was replaced by smoke, it was getting harder and harder to breath, but she had to keep moving, her and Brooks' lives depended on it.

As she started to think all hope was lost she burst out of the city gates. They were out of Briar! The air became clearer as they left the burning city behind. She kept running, trying to get as far away from the city as possible, the fresh air rushed into her lungs, giving her hope that maybe her and Brooks would be fine.

Eventually she couldn't run anymore, she toppled over into the grass, her chest heaving. She greedily sucked in big gasps of air. Brooks curled up into a ball, not moving, he had fallen asleep during their daring escape and until now had managed to stay on Rea's back. Rea's cloak had protected her from debris that had fallen as she ran, and she had bundled it around Brooks slightly as well. Now she slipped it off and wrapped it around her brother's sleeping form. She looked at her hometown in the distance, as she watched the flames lick the sky through the thick smoke. As she looked through the smoke she noticed that the castle was fine, it hadn't been burned. She breathed a sigh of relief, it gave her at least a little hope. She started to walk back over to Brooks, then the full extent of what happened hit her. Her brother was gone, she had no idea where her parents were, and her home was destroyed. She sat in the grass, tears beginning to run down her face. She wiped them off with her paw and stood, her fur rustling in the slight breeze that blew from the bay, caging any sad thoughts. She couldn't afford to cry right now. She finished walking over to Brooks, laying down beside him. She tried staying awake but the run had exhausted her. She fell into a deep sleep.

Her dreams were pierced by the sound of rustling bushes. She slowly stood, creeping over toward the nearby treeline. Someone or something had been watching her and Brooks. The bushes moved again and Rea could have sworn she saw another fox. She lunged at the spot where the bushes had moved, bowling into another fox, just as she suspected. They rolled over and over until Rea broke free, having noticed and taken the other fox's sword in the process. She now had it in her vise-like grip, the end pointed directly at the other fox. He looked up at her, his bright blue eyes flashing angrily. His dark red fur was fluffed out and his teeth were bared. Noticing the sword his eyes widened. He relaxed and looked at Rea, smoothing his fur out. "Umm...I believe that sword is mine." He said calmly. Rea scoffed. "Yeah right. You were spying on me and my brother!" She spat back, speaking harshly. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't cut you to ribbons." She finished, a threatening gleam in her eye. The other fox had a mischievous glimmer in his eye as he said, "I can name three reasons. One, I wasn't spying. I simply thought you two were guards. Two, I'm not the one being threatening here. And three, you're much too pretty to be a killer." Rea groaned, "You've got to be kidding me. You're one of those types." The other fox smiled and asked, "What do you mean by 'one of those types'?" Rea kept her frustration in check. "One of those foxes who thinks they can get what they want by using flattery. Well news flash, I'm not susceptible to your tricks." Rea replied, still gripping the sword. The other fox laughed and he said, "I just want my sword back, then I'll be on my way." Rea glared at him suspiciously. "Not a chance. In fact, you're coming with me." She replied, walking behind him and prodding him in the direction of the field her and Brooks had been in.

As he looked at the city of Briar down the hill he froze. The fires were out, but the city looked like a charred mess. "What in the stars happened?" The fox asked Rea, apparently he had been oblivious to the battle. Rea prodded him further and replied, "The Rebels happened." Any trace of playfulness or trickery was gone from his voice now as he replied, "You must have come from there." Rea nodded, not showing any signs of sadness. "How many?" The fox asked, closing his eyes as if remembering something from his past. "I don't know." Rea replied. The fox stopped walking and sat in the grass.

The sun was setting over the mountains and hills behind them. Rea changed the subject quickly. "Now, who are you?" She asked coldly. The fox looked at her and smiled. "I thought you'd never ask. I'm Rein, how about you?" He asked, seeming glad for the change in mood. "I'm asking the questions here. Where are you from?" Rea replied, evading Rein's question. "I'm not really from anywhere. I have a home if that's what you're asking, but I don't live in any one kingdom." Rein explained, trying to be as vague as possible. "Alright, what were you doing out here spying on me and my brother?" Rea asked, watching as annoyance flickered across Rein's face. "I was coming back from a trip and noticed you two sleeping, I thought you were guards so I hid and watched for a bit. I wasn't spying on you." He said, trying to keep his own frustration in check.

He stood and started to walk back towards the forest. Rea took off after him. "Where do you think you're going?" She asked, annoyance in her voice. "I'm heading back to my cabin. Unless you wanna give me my sword and let us talk this out like civilized foxes?" He replied, still seeming calm. He yawned and sat down in the brush, crossing his legs, while waiting for Rea's answer. She grumbled and reluctantly dropped the sword at Rein's feet. He slowly picked it up and slid it into his scabbard. "Y'know, thinking about it, since your home is burned to a crisp, why don't you come back to my cabin with me? It's small but I have enough room for you." He said after staying silent for a moment. Rea looked at Rein suspiciously. "I know I gave you the sword back but that doesn't mean I trust you enough to let you take us to some kind of murder cabin or anything." She said, raising one eyebrow at Rein. "It's not a murder cabin, and besides, if I wanted to kill you I would have done it when you gave me the sword back." He replied, smiling slightly. Rea stayed silent, she was grateful for the offer, but she didn't know if she could trust Rein fully. Just then a rustling noise pierced the silence, Brooks had awoken and was padding over to the duo. "Rea, who's that?" He asked, pointing at Rein after rubbing the sleep out of his eye. Rea smiled at the small fox, her eyes softened. With a kind look in them she said, "Brooks, this is Rein, he's going to take us somewhere safe, tomorrow."

Rein wore a worried expression as Rea walked Brooks back to a sheltered area and let him go back to sleep. As she walked back over to Rein she noticed his worried look. "What's bugging you?" She asked, sitting in the grass beside him. "I can't be caught out here by guards. Are you sure we can't go tonight?" He replied, his eyes shimmered in the moonlight as it rose over the bay ahead of them. "Me and Brooks are exhausted, so you can wait with us until morning, or you can take off and leave us behind." Rea said, standing. She stretched and started walking over to where Brooks was. "It's your choice." She said, laying down in the grass. Rein thought for a moment then walked over to them, sitting in the grass next to where they were laying, keeping his eyes on the forest. Rea noticed him and asked, "What's wrong? Are you not going to sleep?" "Sleep? I don't know the meaning of the word." He laughed, "Besides, somebody has to keep watch where nothing eats you two, especially you Rea." He winked at her with a grin as her face reddened. She muttered a frustrated "Good night." as she rolled over, facing towards Brooks. Before she knew it she was sound asleep.