Rika of the Dawn ⚠ short hiatus ⚠

Attack of the Fire Tribe: Pt. 1

I apologize for the delay, and enjoy this chapter!

"What are we going to do?"

"The river is our only source of water!"

"Without it, we-we'll--!"

"Everyone, calm down! I sent Han Dae down the river to investigate!" Hak boomed loudly, silencing the massive panic, "We'll buy our water from passing merchants for now."

I grimly watch as the villagers panic. This village was in grave peril without their only water source. Is this happening because of SoWon not being able to rid Yona and I like he did Father? I narrow my eyes at the dried up river bank. Why would he target the Wind Clan? They haven't done him wrong! So why would he--

"It's Elder Mundok!" Horses stamped into the chaos, Mundok perched on his horse, warily looking around before he sights stopped on Hak, Yona, and I. He jumped from the animal.

"Gramps!" 

Next thing I know, Yona and I were being tightly embraced by our grandfatherly figure. "Thank goodness..." Mundok whimpered in a whisper. "Thank goodness you both are safe." If his grip was already tight, I didn't think it could get tighter. "I didn't want to believe...the king passed away. You both and Hak had to flee from the castle. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you at that time." I sniffle, giving a silent chuckle.

Yona squirmed, "I can't breathe." She mumbled.

Mundok immediately released us with an unmanly squeak. He looked Yona down, "You've become a little thin, haven't you?"

That's right. Yona hasn't been eating much lately. It's the only reason she would become lighter and thinner.

Yona weakly shakes her head. "We've been given lots of warm and delicious food. It's the first time I've had food that delicious." My sister gives Mundok a small smile. "The Wind Clan is warm and reassuring, " she continues. "Just like you, Mundok."

The older man looked proud and grateful by Yona's response, I did too. The Wind Clan has done so much for us, I don't think we'd ever be able to repay them. Their kindness is rich.

Mundok spins around, fully intent on flinging his hug on Hak, but the younger man was not having it.

Tae-Yun suddenly appeared, asking for his grandfather to hug him as he did with Yona and me. Mundok happily complied as he took his young grandson under his arms and tossed him into the air.

I'm happy to see a family moment. It makes everything bad that happened to us seem like a bad dream. The sudden uprising commotion of the villagers.

The three of us, Hak, Yona, and I turn toward the growing crowd. 

"Han Dae!" Someone exclaimed, "What happened to you?!" 

The blonde boy was scruffed up, and not like falling in the dirt scruffed, more like he had gotten into a fight with a man three times his size. He was bleeding from the left side of the forehead, and his eye was swollen shut. His lip was busted and the blood kept rushing.

He weakly sat on the ground, saluting a bloody hand, "Oh, the Elder is here, too. Welcome home." 

Instead of a happy reunion, Hak and his grandfather rushed toward the injured boy.

"Those injuries...!" Mundok said, kneeling beside Han Dae.

"What happened upstream?" 

After a few minutes, Han Dae was being patched up and he began to explain why he was beaten up.

"When I went upstream, I was shocked to see people from the Fire Tribe blocking the river, " Han Dae started, placing a cloth on his lip. "It looked like some new bullying tactic of theirs. I picked a quarrel with the people who seemed unarmed...and they beat me up." He blushed shamefully.

His explanation roused the others.

"Those Fire Tribe guys...what are they doing?!!" 

"Are they trying to start a war with us?!"

"General Hak, please let me go!" 

The villagers were in a raging panic, and even a rock could see it. Hak was silent for a moment, almost considering it.

"Wait, " Mundok silenced everyone, and then all eyes were on him. "Do not interfere with the Fire Tribe."

Again, hearing Mundok's words, an uproar occurred. 

"Why?! They're blocking the river and they killed Han Dae!"

I resisted the urge to facepalm. Han Dae clearly wasn't killed, more like he was slipping into unconsciousness.

"That's right, Elder! At the rate, Capitol Fuuga will..."

"Calm down, " Mundok barked out, he silenced the crowd once again, "Don't worry about the river. Anyway, Give Han Dae proper medical treatment."

"Yes, sir." Tae Woo said, dragging the body of Han Dae off.

"Gramps?" Hak said, glancing at the old man, who rubbed his long beard grimly.

"This, " He began ghastly, "This is a warning from the Fire Tribe."

"A warning?" I surprise myself by speaking up.

Mundok glances off, frowning with more griminess. I could tell by the look in his eye, he wanted to tell us something. What was that something? Is it bad? Well, of course, it's bad. 

"They're trying to make Lord SoWon the King."