Hollow Village III

We end up being cornered far away from the exit of the cave...

I move my sword as a shield to push away the growling foxes

-They're scared of fire...- whispers Zhou

-Mhn, I noticed... If I were to help you jump, would you reach the other end of the cave?-

-What?-

-If you can leave you can go and call for help... Like this I can only stay on defense-

-I... Cannot-

-Then I'll earn you some more ground...

Hold this for me and scare off the foxes- I pass him my burning sword, which he takes with shaking hands, and reach for the bow on my back.

I already shot with closed eyes... Darkness won't be a problem.

I take three arrows and wait for them to bloom with fire before shooting...

One firey arrow gets released

The sound pierce the whole cave and some foxes look up as those red stars pass over their heads...

One land in front of the stairs and two a bit behind it creating three little openings for Zhou.

-Will it be alright now?-

-Mhn-

-Once you're out, go to the nearest water source and ask for help in my name-

-Water...? Oh! So you were...?!-

His confused expression turns into realisation in a second, recalling that time a few days before on the beach

-I cannot assure you it will work- I sigh -But if it does I'll explain everything, now go... I'll cover you up-

I rise him up and help him jump to the nearest arrow, he lose balance just a tiny bit coming face to face with a growling fox

-Quick Zhou!-

I yell at him as a few foxes seems to approach his figure while he get ready for his next jump...

I thrust the sword on the ground in front of me and reach again for my arrow shooting at those little demons surrounding him

-Zhou'Ge! Jump now! Once on the stairs you'll be safe!-

He nods, gulping down and pushes himself foward

Second arrow, one more to go...

The foxes are mostly around me but I can hear some going toward his direction, I reach for more arrows and cover him up before he jumps again

-Yes!-

He rushes to the stairs and climb the first step, a fox jumps over and bite on his clothes digging the claws in his back...

Zhou growl in pain trying to hold on the stairs not to fall.

I reach for more arrows but I find none, widening my eyes in shock

I didn't take enough weapons...!

I only have my brother's knife left and no time for sentimentalism now, so I throw it right on the fox's head who falls back dead

-Take the knife with you!- but Zhou is quicker and already took hold of it before climbing back up and disappearing...

-Now it's me and you only- I take back my sword, moving it against the little foxes amd rolling it before they move away creating a passage...

The fox woman comes foward with her heels clapping on the cold stone and her white legs shining bright

-Already forgotten me, my child...? I am your real opponent-

She smirks

...

Zhou runs with all he's got falling down a few times...

His back and shoulders loose blood and start pulsating, causing him to feel more and more dizzy... He feels about to pass away from the blood loss...

He falls once more and this time it all seems to stop...

His vision goes black and the pain takes over his consciousness

-A doctor...- He shakes his head -No... Water first...

Lai'Er...-

One hand over a rock and one over a dry branch hissing himself up, screaming for the pain and the strength used...

And he slowly crawls out of the bloody snow he fell into, before starting to run again

He reaches a small canal, frozen on the surface and falls on his knees

-I... Don't know who I am calling for but... Miss Ying...

Needs help-

It's all silent and frozen... Except for the knife she gave him, still lightly burning to warm his hands up

His head start spinning again, making even talking difficult...

"What's... Wrong with me...?

But... This cold wheatear in this state I will... Surely I..."

He presses the warm knife to his chest with shaking hands biting on his bottom lip...

-Anyone...! Please! She will die...-

Tears build up at the sides of his eyes as nothing happens

-I did not leave her alone to die...! If nobody is gonna help.... I will... Go back...-

He tries to stand up even if a hand comes from behind pushing him back down

Zhou looks up to meet a dark water coloured head

-You...-

-Have you said she needs help?-

Shaking his head from any other thoughts, Zhou nods to the other man who presses his lips

-What happened?- he asks staring at his hand covered in blood, then at the young man's mutilated skin

-I... A fox woman lured us in her lair...

She didn't want to go but I insisted and we fell... In the trap.

There are so many foxes in that cave and she's alone...-

The other man widen his eyes

-How reckless!- he growls angry -Let me treat your wounds first-

He bend down but Zhou pushes him away

-No! I have no idea who you are or what's happening but... She told me to ask for your help... Even if she didn't said so, she knows she cannot make it out alive from there...-

-Tz...! You will die young man if you stay here in the cold, don't be stupid-

Zhou shakes his head gripping the knife

-ChangLai needs you-

The other man growls deep in his throat and in a second he's already running meters away...

...

I get thrown against the rock once more and this time I really hear a crack while blood gush out of my mouth

-Hahaha playing all cool before and now what? Already spitting blood... Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy some fun before a meal but you only shamed yourself-

"I can still make it out..." I spit to one side and straighten up, holding my sword

-Not giving up uh...? You have guts, I own you that...-

The fox woman jumps foward along with more foxes, I rise my sword as a shield but it goes flying and she catches it

-Fire uhm... You thought I was as frail as my servants?- she rise an eyebrow letting the sword fall at her feet, unbothered by the flames

I close my eyes searching for anything useful...

She step over the metal, crushing the blade in half as her amused laugh echoes in the cave

-Pitiful... Human are always like that. Looks promising and then, a whole flop!-

I find it...!

That small connection, I feel it inside me again...

The Earth is responding.

Opening my eyes the ground around her star moving slowly

-It's... Slippery?- she whispers as one of her heels seems to get stuck

-Quite different actually... It's going to be very hot soon-

-What?- she looks confused before realizing...

-Lava! What witchcraft is this?!-

-Nothing of the sort...

Shouldn't a spiritual being know more of their realm? What happens when you mix Fire and Rocks?

Excatly what's happening now-

-But you will be diying too! What's the sense of all this?!-

-To take you all with me-

The soil starts shining as the heated area expand, the small foxes yelps running toward the stairs in vain...

They look at the woman with sad eyes... And so does she.

It's actually a sad scene to watch...

Hundreds of foxes, scared, hoping that the only bond in their whole existence would save them...

But she can't...

Nobody can escape now... Not even I can stop it.

The stairs begins burning and the foxes's fur gets set on fire...

They cry...

They cry more...

Hurting my brain as I cover my ears falling on my knees

-Stop... Stop crying... Stop it!-

I yell over them but nothing can stop them...

Not when death is facing them, they don't want to die... I don't want to die!

-I know I cannot be saved but... Spear them... They only follow orders, they're innocent like little children-

A whisper...

I rise my head to see the fox woman beginning to melt in the lava under her feet

-Why would I?-

She's... Crying? Real tears streaming down her cheeks and evaporating on the spot

-I thought you were on that side where you don't kill innocent ones-

-They deserve it-

-They don't-

I rise and eyebrow

-It's my fault... I'll die for their sins too.

They where once excluded by other foxes in our kingdom... They lost their owner and went mad... She died years ago, right before her marriage... Fox servants cannot stay without an owner, so I took them and locked them down here to help me hunt.

Of course they would help me, my order is their only reason to life... Not to mention their only way to eat too-

-I...-

A fox died before her marriage...? Was that...?

-They are just confused children! Spear them!-

-Shut up and die!- I yell melting more rocks until she screams, completely embraced by the fire

-Please...!-

-SHUT UP!-

I yell once she's gone...

The cry of the foxes tortures my brain.

I reach for an higher rock to find some peace, beginning to cry curled up covering my head with my arms as the sound almost makes my ears bleed.

I need to stop this or I will die too...MBut I don't know how...!

"What a stupid death... What a stupid situation"

-WOULD YOU ALL STOP CRYING?!-

I yell not realizing they already did...

-Uh? What...? No... Don't... I didn't- somehow I panic at the idea of having killed them all...

I rise my head to see darkness once again

-Uh?- I hear the sound of water splashing and soon after a big wave hits against the tall rock I'm kneeled on

I reach one hand to feel the cold liquid but instead I find some wet fur...

A fox

She jumps over the rock and comes toward me, bending down... There's no blood on it and it's all intact...

Was that an illusion too?

-Looks like they found a new owner now-

Hearing that voice I stand back up with wide eyes searching in the darkness

-I'm here- he calls softly, I drop down the rock as the foxes makes way for me to pass and reach his tall dark figure

-You really arrived...-

-Mhn, I couldn't let you die now- he reaches one hand and cut the distance between us, patting my back to calm me down

-Thanks- I smile for a moment -Zhou... Where is he?!-

-I'll take you to him-

I shake my head -Help the foxes out... I'll find him-

I head toward the exit and stop halfway

-Will we meet again?-

He sucks his breath in -Soon-

-Mhn, that's fine too-