Kaze: Guardians

The Request

     It was a cool evening, with barely any stars, the moon rising in the East as though it was an actor on a stage. The clouds were gray against the backdrop of pitch-black, covering any lover's hopes of stargazing. The moon was big and bright. It cried out into the darkness she had created. What a horrible way to spend eternity. I thought to myself.
     "Boy, I have a favor to ask." I whirled around. It was the Fisherman.
     "You startled me."
     "I seem to startle plenty of people nowadays. You, those idiots trying to throw eggs at my house..."
     "Why would anyone want to waste food like that?" I asked.
     "We're getting off topic. The favor?"
     "Oh. Let's hear it."
     "As you know, tomorrow is the Lunar Eclipse."
     "Is it really?" I asked. I had never seen an eclipse before. I had always been asleep. Now, though, I was on my own, and I made a decision. "Exciting! I'm gonna watch it, then."
     "Sure thing, but first, you and Kasumi need to go up to Backdrop Mountain and find--"
     "Backdrop Mountain? Why is it called that?" I interrupted.
     "It's in the background of all of the chapters, so the author saw it as a funny joke."
     "Oh. Anyway, I need to find...?"
     He sighed, frustrated with my wandering mind. "You need to find a red flower with a white stem. They're called Snow Bloods. I use their smell to drive away the insects that always seem to swarm about the house during the Eclipse. Plus, the stems make an excellent soup. So, if you could do that for me, I would be very grateful."
"Sure! I've never climbed a mountain before. It should be way more interesting than what I was gonna do originally. Is that all you need from me?"
"Actually... Since I finally have you here, there is one thing, but I can't ask you to deliver. Such things are out of our control most of the time."
"You don't know that. Try me!" I challenged.
"Fine then. I suppose it doesn't hurt to try." He paused and looked me up and down, as if seeing if I was up to whatever challenge he had for me. "There seems to be an air of doom and gloom surrounding the city, wouldn't you say?"
I had noticed some of the villagers being very subdued lately, but I had just arrived. I thought that maybe their behavior was normal. "I have. Do you know why?" Does this matter? I thought.
"Our kingdom's hunting dogs have been whimpering and pawing at their cages. Stray alley cats come barreling out into plain view. Birds flock to get out of Hima. Just today, I noticed a horse that had gotten spooked by simple conversation. The animals know, so the villagers are aware. We don't know what, but we know something's wrong. And it's coming fast.
"That's really spooky, but what does this have to do with me and your deal?"
"I want you to protect my friend Kasumi if at all possible. Take her with you to Backdrop Mountain. Keep her away from the city as long as you can, if you can. And if it comes to this," he pressed a stone into my hand. "Just say shrobos kitane. It will seal her inside the stone for you to carry around until the danger passes."
"But we can help!" I shouted. "We can protect the city from the huge disaster! Why wouldn't you want us to stick around and assist people?" I asked.
"I'm afraid this is out of our hands. I can't help feeling that whatever it is, it's predetermined. Let nature run its course. It'll be alright."
"So get Kasumi out of the city tomorrow morning. Stay in the mountains collecting Snow Bloods until the danger passes. Is that it?"
"Sounds about right."
"Can we bring Juno and Priestess Yara with us?" I asked.
He shook his head. "The Priestess has her own methods of staying safe. She's going to watch Juno."
"I see. What about you?" He didn't respond right away. "Oh."
He sighed. "This world is changing every day. If you don't change with it, you're hopeless. It's like a tree in a windstorm. The trees that bend with the wind survive. Those that don't snap and die. I have grown into a mighty oak, but...this will be my downfall. I can feel the hurricane drawing near."
     "Oh."
     "Good night, Kaze, and good luck." His footsteps receded into his bedroom. Without thinking, I walked out the front door and into the night. I needed to clear my head.
24 Hours Before Disaster