Astray Among The Stars

Chapter 48: Rain

Tevra's father glanced towards the horizon, as if searching for guidance beyond the mountains, uncertain of what awaited him at the other side. His obsidian hair wavered in the wind like a majestic mane as the lake shore breeze caressed his skin, the scarlet trees dancing in unison, their leaves a chorus of rustling.

Tevra's eyes reflected in the vermilion binary sunset, watering as her father shifted his lonesome gaze to her. Though she was too young to understand, she knew he was leaving, just like the rest of the village men.

Merin's marigold eyes narrowed, wet with solemn tears. He knelt down and tightly squeezed her, whispering an ancient prayer of hope. She did not let go. She didn't want to. Her guts sank and churned as he slowly released his grip, his touch gently fading. No words were spoken. They both knew it. This was a last ditch effort. The last company who set out never returned from the war, not a single soul. It was likely he would never see her again.

Her father stood up straight, hugged her mother, and walked away. He gave one last glance back at his family as he joined the militia, his expression torn between brave and broken. Tevra watched the figures march and disappear into the shadows of the mountainous forest, staying until twilight, the lachrymose girl dozing off in Armani's arms, her mood just as solemn as their surroundings.

* * *

Tevra bolted, bounding through the scarlet forest, her path weaving between porcelain trunks, her mother chasing after her, calling out her name in the distance. Tears streamed down her cheeks, splashing down on the forest floor with every step, the dried maroon leaves crunching beneath her feet.

She could not let him go. She missed him, and she would do anything to bring him back.

The Valmirian panted, her legs burning as she continued her trek at an anxious pace. She tripped on a bulging root, her face slamming into the ground, her body tumbling amongst the decaying leaves. She sat up, her limbs aching, now covered in scrapes and rashes. She sobbed momentarily before painfully standing up. Her eyes widened as she heard voices in the distance. She cautiously stepped forward, peeking behind another large tree root into the valley below.

Several Valmirian men scrambled in the dry creek, fighting hand to hand with dark armored figures. It was no use. The invaders held the upper hand, eventually crushing their resistance. Tevra watched in curiosity, her three hearts pounding.

As the surviving men were lined up in their knees, a hand seized her, another covering her mouth. In an instant, she relaxed. It was her mother. She pulled the girl away, shielding her gaze away from the action. The P'Shari soldiers opened fire, slaughtering the primitive company.

Armani held her in silence for an eternity, her cries muted. The forest hushed from the gun fire. In the absence of ambient creatures, an eerie aura of silence plagued them. It was as if the forest died with those men.

The P'Shari soldiers walked off, returning to their post. Armani stood up, slowly backing away from the men, her footsteps careful and quiet.

* * *

The Valmirian girl stared at the mountain range, her eyes reflecting the dim apricot flames in the horizon, the sky glowing, flickering from a raging inferno beyond the rocky barrier.

Her mother hugged her from behind, taking her inside the small wooden hut. The time had come. The war had reached their village.

Ushered inside by her mother who then left their home, Tevra anxiously paced about the room, her mother informing the town of what they spotted foraging this morning.

Tevra peered through the crack in the wooden door, spotting her mother gathering the remaining adults of her village, their leader barking instructions and words she did not yet understand.

Her eyes turned as she backed away, Armani approaching the door. It opened, with her shortly lifted into her mother's arms. She turned the girl so that they were face-to-face. Armani hugged her tightly before solemnly setting her down.

"Hide."

Tevra obeyed, cramming herself underneath their bed against the hut wall, piling woven baskets and items to conceal her position. Tears dripped to the dirt floor as Armani's footsteps exited, joining the rest of the townsfolk for a final defensive. Thunder boomed overhead, the gods' tears of sorrow raining down upon them, the strong shower pounding the ground and roof, yet that was not enough to drown out her surroundings.

Tevra closer her eyes as she heard the cries of battle ensue, covering her ears to block the screams and sounds of weapon fire. She hid for what seemed like an eternity. Slowly, but surely, she felt the heat of flames encroach on her home, unhindered by the rain, the fire ravenously consuming the dry wooden hut, its walls and furniture burning to ash like her memories and childhood.

Tevra coughed as smoke filled her lungs, climbing out of her hiding place. She stared at the burning walls, flames licking the ceiling. The girl looked back to see the smoldering bed collapse as tears filled her eyes, her childhood home consumed by the flames.

Tevra ran over to the door, peeking through a small hole. Her guts churned. The whole town would be gone by morning, a symphony of flames danced in the rain. Dark figures marched their way into the burning structures, grabbing anyone they could. She backed away as a soldier approached, darting to jump out the window. Yet it was too late. The soldier bellowed in, smashing the wooden door to pieces. Thunder bellowed overhead as a fierce hand seized her arm, yanking her to the floor with immense force. She kicked and screamed as the soldier effortlessly dragged her through the mud of her village, her fingers digging into the soil to no avail, plowing the rain-soaked ground. It was useless. It was hopeless. There was nothing she could do. She gave into the darkness, ceasing her struggle.

The soldier tossed her to the ground in front of an intimidating figure, his tall dark stature towering over her. Tevra glanced up. His eyes were cold and indifferent. Her captor saluted him.

"Another slave for the empire."