9 years ago...
The stars burned brighter that night. As if the heavens were mourning before the people even knew they should. It felt like something ominous was going to happen. Everyone within the vicinity of the village could feel it, but that wasn't the case for Hazuri and her family. They had other things to talk about.
"We have told you countless times not to wander off, especially when there's no one around" her mother said with tears in her eyes. Hazuri was confused. She didn't understand why her mother was about to cry. She just went out to play with some children in the village. She didn't do anything that could make her mother cry.
"But mummy, I didn't just wander off, I went with my friends. We were all playing at the village square together. And mummy, you and daddy were not home, how would I have told you that I was going out to play?".
"What about your uncle then?hmm? Wasn't he around? You could've told him. We were all out looking for you when we couldn't find you in the house. We were worried sick, anything could've happened to you." Her mother was ranting at this point, but this time, the tears were already pouring down her face. Hazuri, seeing this, still didn't understand why her mother was so upset.
"Uncle Timone was at the back, and I didn't want to disturb him so I just went out through the front door. I wasn't going to waste time outside, I planned to get back early. I'm sorry I made you all worried. But I just wanted to play with my friends." Hazuri explained.
"After dinner, I want you to go to your room and think about what you did." Her mother scolded her. Hazuri felt bad, that even after apologizing, her mother still decided to punish her. She didn't feel like she did anything wrong. She ran into her room, threw herself on the bed and cried. But of course, how could a 10 year old child have been aware of the dangers of the creatures lurking the surroundings of the village?
"Honey, don't you think this punishment was too much for her? She's just a child, she doesn't know what she did wrong". Her father tried pleading on her behalf.
"No my love, you know exactly what could have happened if they had gone the wrong way and found themselves outside of the village. Like you said, yes, she's a child, but that doesn't mean that I should just let her walk away without any punishment after disobeying me." Her mother replied.
"Sister, brother-in-law, that's enough, I'll go to Hazuri and explain to her that what she did was wrong, and anything could've happened to her and nobody would've been there to help her." Her Uncle Timone interjected.
"Whatever you want to do, just ensure that she understands and that she won't do such a thing again." Her mother said.
"I'll try my best, just don't be too hard on her, she's still a child." Her uncle continued.
But alas, she never really got to repeat such an incident. Because not up to two minutes later, ear piercing screams filled the air.
There was a heavy sense of sadness all over the village. Hazuri's family felt it too, but the screams were only becoming louder. There were sounds of scampering footsteps, like as if no one knew what was going on, but everyone was still trying to get to safety. Then, they heard it–the snarls, the heavy panting– the howls. Of course, they knew a day like this would come. A day that those terrifying creatures that no one knew their origin or purpose, would come to invade the village, killing and eating everything in their path, whether man or beast. It was almost like a mindless rampage. Or... It wasn't.
Hazuri's parents were warriors, they've been training, been preparing for a day like this. But no matter how much one trains, he would never be prepared for the reality of it. The screams, the thick stench of blood and ripped flesh permeating through the air, the wails of sadness and desperation. The people of the village ran anywhere they could, but there was no saving them, unless, more warriors was sent to aid them. But it would take 4-5 hours for the warriors to get to Hazuri's village, it would take the creatures even less to finish their massacre.
The only hope for the villagers were the warriors that lived in the village, and they weren't much to begin with, nor were they properly equipped. Before this time, no one believed the threat of the monsters that prowled the surroundings of the kingdom. It was all but a fairytale to them, something the royals made up in an attempt to keep the villagers and members of the kingdom in check.
Hazuri's parents rushed to put on their gears and weapons.
"Timone!!". Hazuri's mother shouted in a state of panic.
"You know what to do. We've talked about this. Take Hazuri away from this place while we hold those monsters off". Hazuri's mother continued.
"Of course"
"Just be careful, okay? Do not let anything happen to the both of you. Ensure that Hazuri is safe and away from this bloody massacre. Don't look back or worry about us, we'll be fine. Just focus on Hazuri".
"I'll try my best. Stay safe" Timone muttered sadly. He knew that this could possibly be the last time he might see his sister. But he didn't leave without a hug.
* * *
Hazuri was laying on the bed, crying and feeling hurt that her mother didn't want to understand her. She just wanted to play with her friends, what was so wrong about that? She was gradually drifting away into the realms of sleep when she heard the screams. The cries, snarls, howls and every other terrifying sound that you imagine can be produced from the clash between man and beast.
Hazuri sat up suddenly to the sound of Uncle Timone swinging the door open forcefully.
"Hazuri, you have to get up, put on your cloak and your shoes. We have to leave now".
Even as young as Hazuri was, she understood the gravity of what was happening around her. She didn't know what was causing the screams, the shouts and the snarls, but somehow, one way or the other, she felt as if she already knew something like this would happen. She didn't know how, if it was a dream, or someone told her, which was highly unlikely, all she knew was that she was aware that something like whatever was going on would happen.
She quickly put on her cloak and shoes and rushed to the side of Uncle Timone who lifted her up and ran to the back of the house.
"Wait. Uncle Timone, what about mummy and daddy? Why are we leaving them behind?"
"Don't worry sugar plum, mummy and daddy would come meet us later, let me get you somewhere safe first, hmm?".
"Are you sure?"
"Of course" Timone lied. But he knew that was the only way to make her feel calm and to not ask questions.
Hazuri knew her Uncle Timone was lying. She didn't know why, but she could tell he did so for a good reason. Hazuri had always been more perceptive and mature for her age. She knew she might not see her father and mother again, but she prayed that they would be safe and that she might meet with them sometime in the future.
They were already at the outskirts of the village. It wasn't easy getting there. Ducking and running through alleyways and narrow paths in order to avoid those creatures. The village was surrounded by vast trees. It wasn't a thick forest, so they could cross it quickly, especially with the way uncle Timone was running. But it was a dangerous journey, the monsters had always been rumored to inhabit the forests surrounding the villages and the kingdom as a whole. Timone wanted to believe that all the monsters were in the village, and the woods were clear from any threat. But one can only hope.
Timone was getting tired of running, but he couldn't stop, he just couldn't. Hazuri had to get to safety. But his legs were about to give out, he decided to lean against a tee for a few minutes. Then he noticed that the forest was quiet. Too quiet. Until, they heard it, the snarls, and the sound of rabid footsteps, like something running around, surrounding them. They saw a flash of teeth, fangs, from behind a tree. Hazuri wanted to scream, but Timone covered her mouth and her eyes so she couldn't see or shout. She was petrified. Anybody would be rightfully so. Timone saw a glimpse of the monster's claws. He knew his wish for all the monsters to be in the village was that, only a wish.
The creature slowly advanced towards them, crawling on all fours. Timone was gradually stepping back, one foot at a time. He knew he couldn't escape it, but he had to try, for Hazuri. The creature kept snarling at him, snapping it's jaw open and shut. He was so distracted by wanting to run away that he couldn't concentrate on his surroundings, so he slipped and fell on a rock. The impact of his fall, and his will to not let any harm befall Hazuri, made his arm fall from her eyes. Timone regretted it instantly, especially when he saw the fear in her gaze. The creature was still advancing towards them, but Timone couldn't turn around to run. He knew that if he looked away from that monster even for just a second, that that would be the end for the both of them.
Hazuri had never seen such a scary, disgusting creature. It looked like one of the monsters in the bed time stories her mother usually reads to her. The thought of her mother at that moment brought tears to her eyes. She had never been so terrified in all her 10 years of living. The creature was almost to them now, they still tried to keep moving backwards, one foot at a time, hoping they would far away enough that they could run. Until the worst thing that you could ever think of happening, did happen to them at that point. They had moved backwards until they hit a tree. They didn't have anywhere else to go, nowhere to hide or run. They could only pray for some kind of miracle to save them. The monster was was already right in front of them. It was almost 7ft tall even in it's crouching state. They could smell it's rancid breath, they could see it's terrifying features vividly, it's eyes in slits, the sickening green color of it's body. The skin of the creature was rough ,so rough and dry, like a desert that once held water, with the cracks sunning through it, the claws were huge and sharp, the arms were long. It's wide jaw was hanging open, displaying the large sets of fangs and scattered sharp teeth present in it's mouth, as if to make them even more fearful of it's presence.
They thought that it was the end for them. Hazuri was sad that she never got to say goodbye to her parents, and the last time she saw them, they were mad at her for disobeying them. Timone was pained that he failed to fulfill the last wish of his sister, and he prayed that wherever she was, that she would be able to forgive him for not being able to protect Hazuri. They both saw the silhouette at the corner moving. They thought that it was another monster coming to join the one in front of them. Perhaps the creatures were already coming back from the village, and then they would feast on them. The creature snap it's neck behind it suddenly, as if sensing the presence of another. The silhouette was moving quite fast, it moved with an unhuman-like speed. At this point, Timone was sure that it wasn't another one of this creature, but he still didn't know who or what it was. It's movements were inhumane. The monster was no longer facing them, it instead was concentrating on the new comer.
No one knew what happened next. They just heard the sound of blade slicing through flesh at the same time Hazuri closed her eyes and screamed. It became quiet again. Hazuri opened her eyes and saw the monster lying on its back, with it's arms and head seperated from it's body. They had seen the silhouette at the last moment, it was a man, a tall man, with the most curious set of eyes, until he just disappeared after the deed was done. Timone picked Hazuri up and continued running outside of the forest still shocked by what had just happened, but thankful that someway, somehow, his prayer had been answered. They ran from the forest without looking back, acting like nothing happened, eager to forget such a terrifying incident.