The Liberty Ranger

Chapter 1: In Midst of Flames

            It was difficult to identify the villagers, the smokescreen was too dense for the untrained eye to perceive what was going on.

"Mother! Mother!" Tednis yelled with all his might, as he grew desperate for he feared for his mother's life.

Agony had made him disorientated, instead of searching in rational places, he started to search all the burning premises. As he searched, Tednis heard a deafening scream.

"Help, please, somebody help!" It sounds like the bawl of a lady. Could it be?

This desperate cry for help caused him to seek vigorously for the source of the clamor, there being a chance that it might be his mother or his older sister. Tednis tumbled down every single door as he sought to find this distressed woman.

I'm sure there is someone here.

As he gazed upon the insides of the giant torch the home had become, Tednis encountered not one, but two figures in need amongst the flames: a hopeless young mother with her child.

"Help us please, I beg of you! Have mercy of me young man. If you can't save us both at least take my child with you." she said as the tears that ran down her cheeks became vapor.

Tednis instantly entered the ignited house. As he acted, the young mother's face changed completely. A radiant beacon of hope reflected from her eyes, salvation was just a few feet away.

Wait...

He suddenly stopped. His heart started pounding faster by the second, he stood still as he looked upon their faces.

What if because of this time wasted here I can't make it to my mother in time? Is this act even worth the risk? What if I'm able to save them but not able to make it out myself? I can't take the risk, there would be too much at stake for me. But...

His eyes started to shear tears, for he knew that his selfish desires were stronger than his compassion. She looked at him and knew that her meeting with death was closing in. The lady's glimmer started to fade away slowly as she saw nothing but regret and fear in his face. Heartbroken, Tednis turned his back on them:

"I'm... I'm sorry."

Determined to continue his search, Tednis ran away.

"Dane, look at me darling. Everything is going to be just fine." the young mother said to her child as death received them with open arms.