Blackbeard; The Legend

Through the Thicket

The coachman that Akahana had hired to steer the caravan was an experienced one. He was quite professional with his job, never asking why she was running away from her family. He just kept driving, guiding the horses through mountainous paths and lush green dales. He took discreet routes, going through forests and usually avoiding villages, only stopping to rest for a bit.

By now, Isamu must've sent out search parties to find her, and since he was a former hero, his influence would extend to a vast amount of neighboring landlords and cities that he defended when he was younger. Was he fuming furious? Or was he scared for her? His wife, and now his only daughter had vanished, potentially taken away by bandits before her wedding or whatever theory he concocted to explain her disappearance. 

Hiroaki must also be terrified for her as well. The guilt only multiplied more as she thought about his mother Hekima, and how after failing to find someone for Hitoshi, she found someone for Hiroaki, and now, she had no one for him, and for Hiroaki, he had no one either.

Only Twig knew the truth of where Akahana went, being the only witness to her escape. She expected that he pretended that he didn't know where she went, as to deflect the suspicion that she had ran away on purpose. On that night, she thought that he was going to stop her from leaving. Her hands tightened. She was prepared to fight him, her own brother, the person who had taught her so much, in order to escape.

Akahana tightened her fist, and forced herself to stop. She had made the decision to leave, and she had to accept the consequences of her action. She couldn't turn back now, for if she stayed, she would've never been truly happy, even with Hiroaki. 

A road bump jolted her back from the past to the present, as the caravan traversed through a rough road. It was the only one they could go through, as the coachman had seen a nearby town, and despite the horses tiring, he urged that they move onto the next one, for the fear that they'd be recognized. Akahana trusted the coachman to make the right choice as he ushered the horses to keep going. A looming thicket was fast approaching the caravan as it followed the path that lead into the forest.

Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, illuminating only a bit of the shadows that blanketed the forest. Immediately, Akahana felt something off about the forest. No birds were chirping, and where she expected sound, whether it be from animals or the wind, there were none. She rested her hand on the sheath of her blade. The horses also grew nervous, as they trekked deeper into the thicket.

Crack!

From the darkness of the the trees, a loud noise emanated. "Stop." Akahana told the coachman, and he halted his horses. Exiting out of the carriage, she drew out her katana, ready to meet the oncoming force. The coachman looked to where she was looking, terrified of the ever-nearing threat. Trees were being toppled over as the creature came nearer.

Suddenly, the beast appeared from the shadows, swiping at Akahana. She jumped backwards and saw her opponent. Two flaming orange eyes glared at her, and it let out a terrifying roar. Its body was made from wood, vines wrapped around it. On the back of the monster, a beautiful red tree with pink leaves seemed to have made a home for itself on there, as the roots were draped over the monster's shoulders. Akahana recognized it immediately from the tales her father told to her and her brother. A Mokujū, a woodland monster that roamed the forests, snacking on unfortunate travelers. The tree on its back would lure those who needed shade, or those who wanted to revel in nature, before devouring them when they got closer.

The Mokujū roared and slashed at Akahana, who nimbly deflected the attacks with her katana. With the grace of a dancer, she sprung at the beast, hacking at its rough bark skin. The Mokujū swiped wildly around as Akahana landed on its head and thrusted her blade into its head, neon orange blood spurting from the wound. Redrawing it, she continued to plunge the katana into the head of the Mokujū, until at last, the beast toppled over, lying lifelessly on the ground.