Wild

Chapter 3

"Ester... Ester...." I heard a voice call out.

Hm? Who is calling me...

"Ester... You're life is in danger. You need to go to the Lost Temple."

What... The Lost Temple? My life is in danger?

"Ester... Ester... Ester!" Another voice called out to me.

My eyes flew open and right in front of me was Ralph.

"R-Ralph?! What are you doing here?!" I exclaimed.

It was still dark outside. I guess I fell asleep without realizing after Ralph left.

"Shhh.... The villagers heard news of another ambush." Ralph said gravely.

"Wait what? Another one?!"

"Yeah. Your dad wanted me to keep you safe, so he ordered me to bring you to the Lost Temple."

"The Lost Temple?! Why not the emergency passage?"

"Because we're afraid that you might come up and be in danger again."

"... B-but wouldn't the Lost Temple be more dangerous?!"

The Lost Temple is a Temple which no clan has explored. Some foolish people may go into the Lost Temple, but never come our of it again. Search parties be sent there, but they would never come back.

"As long as you don't go inside the Lost Temple, you would be fine."

My heart thumped loudly in my chest.

"B-but are you guys going to be okay?!"

Ralph smiled kindly. "Of course we are."

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I brought Ester to the Lost Temple.

"Be careful okay?" Ester said worriedly.

"I will." I replied, then I ran back to the village.

As I ran, I recalled the time where I met the mysterious girl outside of Ester's tent...

"W-wait!!! You like that girl don't you?!"

I immediately stopped my attacks.

"What does that have anything to do with you?" I growled, glaring at her.

"I-I know that you don't trust me... But I just came to say that the wolves are planning another ambush against you guys."

Suspicion rose up in my head again. "And how do I know you're telling the truth?"

"You should be able to feel their footsteps."

Glaring at her again, I concentrated and felt the faintest rumbling from the northeast.

They... They really are here!!!

The mysterious girl looked at me. "They're coming for the girl you like. They also plan on eradicating your village." She said calmly.

"Why?!" I shouted.

"I haven't the faintest clue." She said.

"..."

"I suggest you hide the girl you like somewhere safe. Like the Lost Temple."

"...Lost Temple?!"

"The wolves never venture near that place."

I looked down. The Lost Temple?!

After a moment of silence the girl was gone.

Who is that person....?

I sighed as I brought myself back to the present. There's no use brooding over the past.

I jumped out a thicket and landed out onto the battle field. The scenery that lay before me shocked my very soul.

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It's been a while since Ralph left, it was almost sunrise. I looked at the Lost Temple now that it is a bi more bright. Much of the building is covered with vegetation, and there was no entrances. Strange stones carvings circles around this building. I looked around the area and sighed.

I wonder if they're all right...

Suddenly I heard footsteps coming this way. I gasped in fear and quickly hid behind a bush.

"E....Ester..." I heard a strained voice call out to me.

"Ralph!" I jumped out from behind the bush, hoping that he would bring good news...

But instead, I gasped; horrified.

Ralph was covered in injuries, his left arm was completely gone, his calf was beaten up to the point where the bone slightly stuck out. His stomach area was completely crimson red.

I ran over t him as he collapsed onto the ground.

"Ralph!!! Oh my god... Y-your arm!! A-and all these wounds! I can't..." I looked over his wounds in panic.

"Es....ter.... I'm... so... sor......ry......" He managed to say.

"Don't talk right now Ralph! You don't need to be sorry for anything!!" Tears started flowing out of my eyes.

"Es....ter..... Pl.... please..... run......" He reached out for my teal stained cheek.

As soon as he finished the sentence, his hand fell onto the ground, only having had managed to wipe a single tear off.

"No... Ralph! Ralph!!!! Please... wake up! Wake up!!!!" I sobbed, shaking his limp body..

The trees rustled loudly around me. I felt footsteps on the ground slowly coming towards me.

Run.

Filled with grief, I quickly ran from Ralph's body to wherever I could get to.

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I betrayed my village. I betrayed Ester's father. All because of this greed in my heart. I wanted her to notice. I wanted her to see me as a lover. I just wanted... her.

And the price? Was a blood filled village full of dead bodies. The children. The parents. The elders.

As soon as the girl left, I decided to wake Ester up and bring her to the Lost Temple, then tell the village. I wanted to spend time with her for just a little longer. I lied to her.

Then there was ambush. None of the villagers were prepared. It was my turn t be on watch, but I wasn't there. And... it happened.

Everyone died.

I'm sorry.... I'm sorry!!!

The least I could do was warn Ester. That I saw..

I'm so sorry..... Please....

The mysterious girl that I met was smiling at the scene of the war.