Under the Sun

Chapter One

When Rena stepped into the forest that morning, the last thing she had expected to find was a half conscious man sprawled out among the brush and tangle of wood-leaf. Yet, in spite of her initial surprise, Rena was no stranger to the unexpected. Living as she did, secluded and isolated from the rest of the world, she had to be prepared for anything. Had she but known that would include stumbling upon a half-dead man, she would have come bearing her basket of medical supplies and something to help transport the injured person back to the small house she was staying in.

Noticing an odd looking glint reflecting off the stranger's wrist, Rena knelt down to examine the body. Totally beaten and broken he might be but penniless he was not. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that the glint had come from two spherical stones no bigger than small buttons. They were attached to a silver chord and flanked by a row of smaller black stones. Rena admired the stones for their bold color scheme, a mix of fiery red and burnt gold. Each stone piece resembled a volcanic eruption that had been condensed into a miniature bead. The trinket was valuable enough to be of interest to her. She could loosen its clasp, take it, and run. But, leaving the man to die alone when she had the means to help him just wasn't an option.

Two other articles adorning the body stood out to her and Rena took note of them for future reference. One was a scarf made of a thick cotton material. It was red in color and stained with blood. The other was an elongated katana fastened to the man's backside. She didn't even have to pull the blade from its saya to know that it too was covered in blood.

Rena knew that ninja populated the majority of each hidden village. She'd witnessed them pass through her domain on occasion and would conceal herself within her home during those intervals. Sometimes they'd pass through in pairs or groups. And other times they traveled solo. Much of what she observed had come and gone without becoming an issue. That said, the scene before her now was a familiar one.

Eager to return to her dwelling before the last of the sun dipped below the trees, she went about arranging the body for transport. Forced to do everything by hand, she had her work cut out for her. When she was finished, she looked around to make sure that nothing else was amiss. Satisfied with her survey, she began the laborious task of hauling the man back with her.

By the time she reached the house, exhaustion began to seep into her bones. Rena was a petite woman by most standards but she was anything but weak. She had trained herself to pull her own weight and then some. Still, for all her superhuman fitness, the man she carried was twice her size. She'd made it back before the sun set but the few strides it would take to reach her front door were almost impossible to execute.

Rena paused to give herself a short break. She gently deposited the man's body onto a thick patch of foliage. Despite the constant jarring of being moved, he was still out cold. She settled down beside him to catch her breath. Up ahead, the house was a comforting sight to behold. Candle light illuminating it from within shone through the small square windows adorning the front and sides of the building. Rena was tempted to get up, leave her burden behind, and seek out the security and warmth that reached out to her from a distance.

Inside waiting for her was another quite like herself, one whom she had developed an affinity for. She longed to call out to him and reveal her presence. She knew he would come to her aid if she did. Still, the forest had more eyes and ears than she could count. When the lights went out, one had to be wary of what lurked in the shadows.

Steeling herself for what was to come, she readied herself to complete her task. Rena hoisted the man's body up with both hands, making sure not to jostle him in a manner that would cause him further harm. When she'd gotten a secure hold on him, she made her way to the front door.