The Path of Thorns

Since this was for a competition its really small.

The wind whistles through the trees as the stars wink down upon a lone figure that treads on a path to greatness. Burdened with a fate that holds hostage those who yearn to follow the very same path that is stained red with the blood of the ancestors of this holy land.

Seventeen years ago in Kotara, an ancient samurai village, chaos ensued as their heiress was kidnapped. The evil mercenary identified as Mana Naraz disappeared from the village leaving behind no trace. A few miles away from the village borders, a loud, pained feminine scream rang out in a secluded clearing. Katherine Utani, the honorable heiress, was brutally defiled on that day. Nine months later the product of this evil deed is born but at the very cost of Katherine's own life.

Five years since then, in the very same village, a cloudy day cooled by a gentle breeze that swept by a curled up child, no older than five. A clang of stone on metal startled the child and frantic forest green eyes popped out from underneath the only tattered cloak covering it. If one looked close enough they would be able to see the feminine features of the kid and the paranoia that swam within those seemingly innocent eyes.

Several people surrounded the entrance of the alley she was hiding in, making her eyes widen at her current predicament. Sneers and jeers made her curl up even tighter wishing she could somehow disappear. Another clang sounded and she realized the people were throwing stones at her which due to their terrible aiming hit the trash can behind her. Shouts of "demon", "weakling", "worthless brat" and many other demeaning words that should never be mentioned in presence of innocent ears were hurled at the trembling form of Yerathiel Utani. The name itself made it quite obvious that she was indeed the daughter of the late heiress Kotara. "Enough of this shameful behavior", the authoritative voice of Hank Simara, the temporary village leader, ordered, "How low have the respectable samurai village residents fallen to blame and try to harm an innocent little child for a mistake that was not under her control."

What the village leader did not know was that many attempts at assassinating Yerathiel had been made but a strong samurai, Akuma Chi, who knew and understood Yerathiel, saved her. Wary of these attacks every second of her life was filled with dread. Akuma knowing that her gender was a major drawback for her and suggested that she disguise herself as a boy. With Leader Hank's permission all official records were altered to keep Yerathiel safe. Secretly Akuma trained Yerathiel in the ways of the samurai village. She was a young prodigy and quickly excelled at weaponry, torture, mind games, tactical planning, hand-to-hand combat and various types of spiritual or other types of martial arts.