Chapter 4 - An unexpected twist

The afternoon has already passed by the time my father declares the training over. Exhausted and with my head lowered, I sit in the grass.

No matter how hard I try, I still fall short of my expectations. Every strike, every movement I make, my father sees through and easily blocks. Although he said it wasn't bad for the first time, that's an obvious lie.

"I will never be strong enough" I mutter, staring at the ground.

Shiro, sitting next to me, notices my silent frustration. Without saying a word, he wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer. "What's wrong, Sota?"

I rest my head on his shoulder. "I'm not good enough. I'll never be able to protect you and our parents." The words come quietly, almost like a whisper. The desperation in them is clear.

Shiro grimaces. Then he snorts. "Pff, nonsense! Don't worry about it. Besides, I'm the one who protects you!" He grins widely, like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"But..." I want to argue, but words fail me.

Suddenly, Shiro jumps up and extends his hand towards me. "Come on, get up! I'll show you something beautiful!"

Reluctantly, I grab his hand, and he pulls me up with ease. "What are you going to show me?" I ask, curious.

"Wait and see!" Shiro waves at me excitedly and takes a step toward the gate. "Come on, we need to hurry!"

I follow him, but as he opens the gate that leads off our property, an unsettling feeling rises within me.

I swallow. "Shiro, Father said we aren't allowed to leave the property." My voice is quieter than intended, a hint of uncertainty in it.

"Ah, come on, Sota! Dad always exaggerates." Shiro doesn't seem worried at all. "Let's go! You're always so shy when it comes to breaking the rules!"

Shiro's enthusiasm overpowers my doubt. I look back one last time. The uneasy feeling in my stomach doesn't fade, but I step through the gate and keep my eyes fixed on the forest.

The forest has always been frightening, yet today, for the first time, I dare to enter it.

"Hurry up, Sota!" Shiro calls out, marching ahead with determined steps. I follow him, but the path isn't as easy as he makes it look. Roots stick up from the ground, and the tall grass makes progress difficult. Over and over, I have to climb over fallen branches or squeeze through tight gaps between trees.

"Do you have to run so fast?" I groan, trying to keep up with him.

Shiro laughs. "You're just too slow!"

I snort and barely avoid a low-hanging branch. The forest feels denser the further we go. The sunlight only breaks through in narrow strips, and insects buzz all around us.

After a while, I slow my pace and wipe my brow with my sleeve. "How much further?"

Shiro turns around while continuing to walk. "Not much longer. Promise!"

We push our way through the thick underbrush, and slowly, my initial discomfort begins to fade. The forest is strange and full of unknown sounds, but with Shiro by my side, it doesn't feel quite as threatening.

Suddenly, he stops. "Now we're really here, Sota!" he says, pointing ahead.

Before us lies a small clearing. I look around curiously, but nothing catches my eye. Just as I'm about to say something, I notice that Shiro isn't moving anymore. "What's wrong, Shiro?" I ask.

No answer.

A strange feeling crawls up my spine. I walk past him to get a closer look. Then, I lose my breath.

This can't be real. The sight tightens my throat. Everywhere, there are rabbit remains. The meadow is covered with lifeless bodies. My stomach churns as I see the dead rabbits, lying motionless on the ground, as if they never had a chance against whatever attacked them.

"Th-th-this isn't real! No, this can't be real!" My hands tremble, my gaze fixed on the lifeless animals. A lump forms in my throat, and I feel sick.

"Shiro, this is terrible! You said you were going to show me something beautiful!" My voice grows shrill, and tears fill my eyes. "This is not beautiful at all!"

Angrily, I ball my fists. "Why did you bring me here?!"

Shiro looks around, trying to stay calm, but even he looks shocked. "It must have been a predator. Maybe a bear or a wolf." But the more he sees, the more he begins to understand. "This is really awful."

I can't think clearly anymore. The smell of blood hangs in the air, mixing with the dirt of the forest. My legs give out, and I fall backward. I catch myself with my hands, my gaze still locked on the rabbits. Shock paralyzes me. I can't move, and the fear steals my breath.

"We should go back. We… we should just…" I stammer, feeling my body start to tremble.

But then I hear a threatening growl from the underbrush. Something inside me screams, but my body doesn't move. It's as if I'm paralyzed. And then the wolf jumps out. A huge, blood-smeared creature, its wild eyes and hungry mouth coming straight toward us in the twilight. The wolf, bigger and more terrifying than any I could have imagined, bares its teeth into the darkness.

My heart stops.

"Shiro!" I scream, but my voice is shaky and full of panic.

"Wh-what… what's going on?" Shiro slowly turns to me, his eyes wide open, and I see him freeze. He doesn't seem to understand the danger immediately. His gaze is empty, as if he's analyzing the situation instead of acting.

The wolf is already too close.

"Shiro!" I yell, panicked. The anger in my voice is drowned out by my fear.

Shiro reacts, but it's too late. The wolf lunges at him, its teeth sinking into his arm. A terrible scream escapes Shiro as he's jerked to the ground.

"NO!" I yell. The fear suffocates me, and I can do nothing. I can only watch as the wolf pounces on Shiro.

The world around me blurs. "Shiro, please…" I whisper, tears streaming down my face, but my body doesn't respond. I can't do anything.

Suddenly, a raging rumble strikes me. My body vibrates, as if overwhelmed by a wave. Fear, shock, and helpless rage merge into a single, uncontrollable impulse.

"STOP!" The scream is wild and tearing.

The wind around me gathers, swirling fiercely. Then, without me being able to control it, the wind that's gathered around me crashes against the wolf in a single, powerful impact.

The wolf is hurled through the air like a leaf in a storm, crashing with a deafening thud into a rock. The impact leaves a deep dent, as if a tremendous force struck the rock itself.

I'm still standing there, the wind dying down, but my body feels empty, as if everything has been drained from me. My heart beats far too fast, and I feel dizzy.

The world around me blurs, the last thing I hear is Shiro's startled cry before I fall onto my back and lose consciousness.