The festival atmosphere was gone.
Anna now sat at the long table, not as a celebrant, but as Chief.
The news after searching the village were good but sightly shook her.
Other than the young children, the older ones all were safe. As well as her own.
The news of Jaxon death shook her, Ray was missing from the village.
Multiple invaders were confirmed from the bodies, one was captured unconscious.
This was probably Ray leaving someone for her to question.
She had already activated the village's second defense state. The once invisible barrier now solidified into a faint, shimmering wall around the settlement.
Messenger birds had been dispatched to the other islands.
The Outskirt Island consisted of 16 villages and only 9 responded.
Each reply carried similar reports:
Large amounts of Deaths and children being kidnapped.
Anna folded her arms, this was felt like a silent raid. As there were signs of fires of smoke raising, the villagers had considerable distance apart.
But there were not that far from each other, if there was a fire on the village over. They would see the smoke from where they were.
Anna was lost in deep thought when a parent stepped forward. Most of the villagers were shaken up by the act of violence she had acted out earlier, and were still reeling from that so this woman was brave.
"Chief… why are we not pursuing them? Our children are out there."
The woman's voice trembled, though she held herself upright.
Anna met her eyes calmly.
She got up from her seat, placing a hand on the woman's shoulders.
"I understand your worry and fustration. But the situation outside is uncertain and dangerous, for us to be out there. Especially for all of you,"
The woman was about to speak when Anna continued.
"Our assailants are Awakened, and it would be a useless. For all of us to be out there do we know where they are? We will be letting ourselves be preyed on by them. What if the children come back while we are out, wouldn't they just follow us back into danger?"
The woman kept quiet looking at Anna her eyes shined at the corner of her eyes.
"But don't worry Ray is out there looking for them." She said with a reassuring smile.
A sign of relief show on the woman's face, as it lightened up a little bit.
This was a lie, she did not know where Ray was or what he was doing exactly.
Damn that old bastard! She thought to herself.
Anna had exhausted herself in the fight, her body wasn't suppose to move that fast or much at her age. Her muscles arched a bit, and the use of Hashi made it a little bit more. Draining her further.
But as a leader, she carried weight and shouldn't show weakness. She must be reliable and be a pillar for everyone under her care.
As a mother, she was quietly grateful her own children still breathed and were safe.
A large villager rushed toward her.
"Chief. The bandit is awake."
Anna moved toward the empty house being used as a holding cell. Four guards stood ready two outside, two within.
The prisoner was bound heavily.
Ropes and chains were used, a metalic black large needle was driven through his calf.
His hands were bound behind, he was kneeling. Neck bound to Rocks to stop him from raising his head. Ankles tied a distance apart.
This must have been seen as extreme, but he was Awakened.
Underestimating him would be foolish.
Anna entered holding carving tools, she took a glance at the prisoner.
This man wore mismatched clothing and, from first sight she knew that this wasn't a Bandit but a Pirate.
A guard from the side placed a stool behind her, she sat slowly.
Letting out a tired sigh.
The pirate grinned.
"Well, love. You must be the in charge here, aye?"
Anna regarded him quietly.
"I did not expect to this again, 32 years later."
She exhaled.
"I am too old for this."
She ignored the Pirate, turning slightly.
"Close the door, and leave. You wouldn't want to see this."
The guards hesitated only a moment before obeying.
The wooden door shut.
Silence lingered.
The Pirate smirked, "We can make a deal."
"Can we now?" She asked raising from her seat.
"Yeah, i'll tell you everything there's no need to-"
His sentence ended in a scream.
Outside, the villagers stiffened.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH, AHHHH!!!"
Another scream pierced the air.
"MY EYE!!! BITCH!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT I WILL DO TO YOU?!! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!!! I'M -"
Threats followed but, it ended with another ear piercing scream of pain.
Then pleading "Listen lady, i did nothing, i didn't kill anyone since i got here okay? Hey what are you going to do with that? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT?!!! AHHHH!!!"
It did not matter it still ended with a scream.
The sounds inside were not chaotic, but the sounds of the victim told all that was happening inside that shad.
Some villagers turned away, dispite not watching anything. Others clenched their fists.
But none interrupted.
-----------
Elsewhere
"Ro!"
"Ro, Wake up!"
Ro groaned as someone shook him violently.
His eyes opened slowly to find Yume hovering above him.
"Move." A voice said.
SMACK
His head snapped sideways.
He clutched his cheek and turned.
"Which bastard?!"
He froze, Selena stood over him.
Her claw-scarred face was tense. Her usually warm dark eyes burned with fury, and fear.
"What do you want?" Ro muttered.
Tears slid down her cheeks.
She suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace.
Ro stiffened.
"... What's wrong with you?"
He looked past her. Takahiro and Yume stood nearby, silent.
Yume hesitated before speaking.
"Big brother... invaders came."
As she explained, the deaths, the kidnappings, the attack, Ro's expression shifted from different expressions.
From confusion, to disbelief then rage. Then to worry.
"Whare's Kenji?"
"His fine," Selena answered quickly.
Ro exhaled.
Selena's pushed away from Ro a bit, as she looked into his eyes her composure cracked.
"Ro i don't what to do, the kids are missing. Mom is acting strange, Dad went missing. There's blood everywhere Ro and so much of it. And Kenji... Kenji almost died."
Ro put his hands on her shoulders.
"Slow down. Breathe."
His voice softened.
"It's okay. The old man is okay, his out there probably hunting the bastards down. You know him."
They remained like that for a moment, then.
"Alright, big sis. You can leave now this is getting weird."
She shoved him away.
He stood and surveyed his surroundings.
He had been sleeping in a pile of his drunk friends. He stretched lazily.
"Where's Mom?"
"With the captured invader."
Ro nodded.
"I'll wash up."
He walked toward the well.
As he passed, he saw bodies being dragged into a pile.
The smell of iron lingered in the air.
At the well, he hauled up a bucket and dumped cold water over his head.
The alcohol haze faded.
The contrast struck him.
Hours or even a few minutes ago, everything was fine, warm, happy and carefree.
Now it was cold, everyone worried and in fear.
His jaw tightened.
"CHIEF! A message from Ray!"
A villager rushed past.
Ro moved intercepting the man and pinned him lightly against a wall with effortless strength.
"Mind if I read it first before you give mom?"
"Huh, But—"
"Relax, don't worry know one will know."
He took the folded paper.
It was barely a note.
After reading it, a slow, predatory grin spread across his face.
He refolded it crudely and handed it back.
"You can deliver it now."
The villager hurried away, looking at Ro with confusion.
Ro stood alone.
Now I know where you are now FUCKER! His grin widened slightly, not out of amusement but rage, hot boiling rage.