Kantai Collection: Winds of the West

Chapter IV: Battle Fury

"Hyaah!" Andre shouted as he spurred the wagon's horses to speed up. The black smoke that was rising over the horizon a few miles away was in the direction of a place he knew well. It was coming from the village where his wife and daughter awaited his return.

He had been reluctant to leave the two of them in the village, but he was torn between wanting to help his newfound friends and his worry for his family. Regardless, he did not win the argument with his wife. She convinced him to go with the other men to get the equipment they needed for the farm work and the repair of their homes.

Andre urged the horse to gallop faster a second time. Clouds of anxiety whirled in his chest, strangling it like a snake does its prey. Over and over he repeated the same words - please let them be safe please let them be safe please let them be safe.

--o0o--

Charred huts and torn down stone houses greeted the caravan when they arrived at the village. Corpses of several villagers lay scattered all around, some holding farm implements while others holding now-silent infants.

The people of the caravan could not believe their eyes. One by one several started to go around, shouting the names of their loved ones, only to fall to their knees and weep when they found the bodies.

"This is horrible," Hagikaze said, urging her horse to trot in the streets of the wrecked village. "How could they do this to others... even the babies who couldn't even walk..."

"It's been like this for years now," Zai replied as she inspected the ruins of a hut. "Ever since the last battle between Belerion and the invading country of Westsea, brigands and bandits became more common. Hundreds of men and women from the villages were levied into joining the army of Belerion, leaving many farming communities with those who cannot and choose not to fight, like the elderly, the mothers, and their children. As if rubbing salt to the wound, so few of them returned when the fighting was done."

Zai then pointed to the North, towards the forest's direction. The ground was strewn with the corpses of juvenile boys and girls, as well as several adult men, all holding bloodied makeshift weapons like pickaxes and hoes. Around them were five fierce-looking orcs and scores of green-skinned diminutive goblins.

"The way the corpses of the orcs and goblins surrounded those youngsters, tell of their valor. They fought to the end, against impossible odds. The attacking force was too great that only a handful of their enemies engaged them while the rest went on to do this unholy work."

"Nowaki, Maikaze, Arashi, Hagikaze, Maya, help me look for survivors!" Setanta shouted. He then turned towards the still stunned members of the caravan. "Oi you miserable lot, stop dawdling and help!"

Realizing their error, the others who were left in the wagons started to aid in sifting through the rubble to check for people who could be saved. The dead villagers were also lined up by the wayside, while several others began to dig the earth for their graves.

After three hours of effort, the search was called off. No one was left alive.

Nowaki could feel the tension in the air. Everyone's face was grim. Some started to curse the fates for the disaster, some vowing revenge. Even the other people who were not related to the villagers were sporting the same look.

However, all blood drained from their faces when the people noticed the upright closed fist carved onto the bodies of the dead. Amidst the hushed voices the girls could make out the word "Bane."