When life binds you together

“Rure!”

“Rureeeee!”

A ringing sound hit her, she could feel her head throbbing mixing with the screams of the people around. Her eyes blurring at the sudden thump from behind her, leaving her on the floor as the smoke rushed towards the buildings. She was left sore and dirtied, a bloodied mess while the village was being burned down from above.

“Harure!”

She felt the dust following her feet as she was dragged, pulled behind her home, far from the center of the pyre. She could slowly make out the figure kneeling in front of her. A face with worry lines stretching as far as it could with glistening eyes staring back at her. Lips were moving but she could not hear a thing, she could only feel the fates of the lives on this land as the darkness lathered her up even more dirty than before.

“Chiharureika!”

They marched from home to home, watching the figures of darkness seep into each house. Making noises, throwing belongings outside their homes, and forcing inhabitants running. The darkness was searching for something only a moonlight’s power could give, not for anyone’s taking. They burnt the roofs, the fields, and soiled their water with their tarnished bodies from the blood of the invaded clans.

“This is a warning to you water dwellers. Give us the Pearl mother and the King of this land shall forgive this village and promise your lives freedom.”

The leader of the winged order calls his blades away from the village after a sweep of his eyes over the scorched trail. Once when wings meant freedom from oppression, they now serve as wards of prison because a man who seeks power over all gifts and blessings have become greedy, testing the limits of fate. How could they not do what is asked of them when they have no upbringing of loving homes unlike the other clans who were created by those who cherish their other halves and so the lives that are born from it. This was the thought of many beings who tried to make reason for what has become of their world.

With a cough on her sleeves, she was sent back to the present and away from her thoughts. She moved her head left then right, wiping her dirtied face on the sleeves of her purple dress. It was her familiar that saved her. Koharu was not a pet. Koharu is not limited to physical form. Koharu takes the form of a spring spirit, a beautiful fox with fur painted at the tips like the petals of the Sakura tree. Pink blessed the white fur with eyes that glow softly in the moonlight and left petals in their steps. Koharu is also the dragon that swims with the water spirits and flies with the winds and breeze, both flowing with endless movement. Koharu is graceful, silent, and protective. Koharu’s soul lights in the dark like spirit whisps to guide Chiharureika into the motherland. Koharu is both guardian and epitome of true love for Rure.

“Koharu?”

Rure could not keep her eyes open as Koharu sat in front of her in fox form. With a wet swipe of tongue against her smudged and scratched cheek, Rure hugs Koharu.

“The village was attacked.”

Koharu whimpered, licking the ends of her paws wounded when the fox dragged Rure out of her home and hidden. Rure pushed her body to stand and survey what was left from the sudden attack and damage left behind, she bends down to carry the fox, walking to a gathering group nearby.

“Did they take anyone?”

She hears the voice of the village leader grieving as she pulls people together away from their ashen homes. Rure looked up at the sky in disdain, she could not curse the spirits of the wind for giving such a blessing of all kinds, but she could call to them to help them get through this predicament.

“Let us call to be cleansed from the corruption that they have brough on this land.”

With a chant of a prayer for water, the wind pushed a heavy cloud above the village and cried for the wounded. Rure watched as droplets of water cascaded down her skin, seeping into her bones as her clothes sunk against her skin heavily. Koharu could only watch the people, with wilted petals in tow.

“We will seal the village. I foresee a doom written in the stars. This is the first of many for our kind alone. We will need to train harder and twice faster. This life will need its healers and seers, and their familiars. It is our fate to provide this help.”

The village leader cries at the roots of the Sakura tree as she gives a soulful weep upon hearing that all her people were accounted for, not a single soul missing in place. This was the beginning of this world’s circles and sanctuary.

Years after the fallen wings have disgraced the balance.

When the village regained most of its homes and treasures, the leader asked for a gathering of fates as requested by the clan’s chief, the Pearl mother. Villages and circles came together, and it was the first time Rure had ever seen the gathering place crowded and with such uneasiness in the air. She could feel the lingering worries that danced from skin to skin.

“Orders from Clan Kazesoi and Tsuchisoi has been going around Clan Umisoi, disrupting the peace within villages. I have heard as well how they have been attacking Clan Ensoi with their own blessings.”

Murmurs washed over the place as the chief let the thoughts of her clan’s future flash before her eyes. With a clenching fist, she lets out a sigh.

“This is not a gathering for retaliation.”

“Mother Pearl! How can we not fight to protect our homes, our children, their futures?”

“Mother Pearl, how can we feel safe when members of the circles have gone missing?”

Rure could not believe her ears.

“Koharu? Do you know who are missing from the circle?”

Koharu glances at those sitting behind Mother Pearl, dressed in silver and white, skins swirling with a shade of blue.

“There are three missing members from the circle. A healer, a seer, and …”

Gasps and murmurs of disbelief washed over them as the chief explained why they could only provide the skills they honed and nurtured, and why retaliation was not what is needed now.

“The clan leader of Kazesoi intends to rule all lands, he has ordered a journey to collect all clan mothers. Attacking them would only result in more wounded and imprisoned. I do not wish for death to fall on our lands.”

Mother Pearl could not let her heart break at the thought of children whose lives were taken by the blades they looked up to for protection, and those who lost the protectors of their own homes at the hands who promised a safe world as above and so below. A report on the souls who passed were read out loud for continued prayers and wishes for a safe passing. Clan Tsuchisoi still had villages that stayed away from the corrupt, but they too have slowly been overtaken by those who walk with the wind. Only two known villages have kept true to their roots, but they too, have lost their homes. When villages and circles choose not to be guided by their Mother Terra, they call themselves orders. Those who remain villages and circles fled their homes and have since then lived with the Clan Ensoi and Clan Umisoi.

“It is not hard to believe that he wants to make a harem full of power and his to order. To have children with powers combined for something more dangerous than war.”

Koharu’s ears tingled at the thought of going home to The Motherland.

“A pact has been made. I, Clan Umisoi’s Mother Pearl, Clan Ensoi’s Mother Flame, and Clan Tsuchisoi’s Mother Terra will choose members of our circle to serve as shrine maidens, guides and keepers across villages to bring home our people.”

Rure had never felt as strongly as she had in her life. She knew she needed to do this. With Koharu by her side, she could help bring their people home. But with a heavy heart, the clan chiefs did not wish for the fates they were placing on the young souls they knew they needed.

“Clan Kezasoi has a hold of their Mother Sky. We heard that she is imprisoned behind his concrete walls. The order has grown stronger and more powerful.”

Clan Umisoi has already chosen the circle who will serve. Mother Flame has a different approach to spreading the news.

“We will not sit still and let the winged continue to corrupt this land. We are the last free village of Clan Ensoi. We must free our people from Clan Kazesoi. We will stand with Umisoi and Tsuchisoi to bring our people home and create a unified sanctuary.”

Growls and howls of agreement trembled within the walls of the caves as Mother Flame reignited the fire spirits from what’s left of her village. Mother Terra, on the other hand, could only call for the people she wished to serve as they continue to slowly build a circle that could match the strength of orders. The truth in this case is that she could not let the children carry the burden of the present. They already carry the fates of the future. She could not save the present when they were attacked, but she could keep the promise of her clan’s future. Only a handful of members of the circle were of age to serve on the intended journey, going against several of the captured villagers, who were a lot more skilled and corrupt.

This then led to the creation of the most powerful circle known to their kind. The earth healer who could take and give life. The fire seer who could manipulate events and travel in one’s mind and memories. The water shrine maiden who was pure in heart, the direction of peace, the answer to everything, and her spirit guide who could manifest magic for its own. They were the chosen adventurers for The Motherland. 

Let life be a loving lesson to appreciate the connections you’ve made during your journey.