It was early morning, the kind where the sun's just starting to peek over the horizon but you can't really see it through the thick gray fog wrapping the Forest of Whispers. Kaoru trudged along, his bare feet sinking into the damp moss, the cold biting at his toes. Sayuri held his hand so tight it almost hurt, her fingers sweaty even in the chilly air, and Rei clung to her other hand, his little legs tripping over roots as he tried to keep up. Kaoru's chest felt tight, like someone was squeezing it, his breaths short and shaky after hearing the shadowhawk's cry just before dawn. He kept glancing over his shoulder, expecting those monsters from Tsukikage—the ones with glowing scales and yellow eyes—to come charging through the mist. But the forest was quiet, just the sound of their breathing and the soft tap of Yorimitsu's staff on the ground, his silver hair catching what little light there was.
They'd been walking since first light, when the sky was still more gray than blue, after Yorimitsu said they couldn't stay at the last hut—not with the Shattered Court so close. He'd promised a clearing with old wards to hide them, but it felt like they'd been walking forever, the morning stretching on as the fog slowly thinned. Kaoru's feet were scratched and sore from the rocks and twigs, but he didn't say anything—not when Sayuri and Rei looked so scared, their eyes darting around like something might jump out any second. At nine, Kaoru was supposed to be the brave one, but he didn't feel it, not with Mama's scream and Papa's shout still echoing in his head, louder than the forest's whispers.
By late morning, the sun was higher, the fog lifting enough to let some light filter through the glowing leaves above, though the forest stayed dim. Yorimitsu slowed down, his scarred face tight as he scanned the trees, gripping his staff like he was ready to fight. "We're close," he said, his voice low, like he didn't want the forest to hear. Kaoru's heart lifted a little, though he wasn't sure he could trust that feeling—not after everything.
They reached the clearing just past noon, the sun high but hidden behind the thick canopy, casting a soft, dappled light. The ground was covered in glowing moss, softer than the forest floor they'd been walking on, and in the center stood a circle of stones, each one carved with symbols that shimmered like moonlight, even in the daytime. Kaoru felt a strange hum in the air, like the wards were alive, watching them. Sayuri squeezed his hand, her brown hair falling into her eyes, and Rei pressed closer to her, his blue eyes wide, still clutching the dull blade he'd found in Tsukikage like it was his only shield.
"This is it," Yorimitsu said, setting his staff against one of the stones, the blue runes on it glowing brighter for a moment, like they were talking to the wards. "The wards will hide us—for now. But we can't let our guard down." He looked at Kaoru, his eyes sharp but not unkind. "We'll rest here tonight. First, we set up camp."
Kaoru nodded, his body so tired he felt like he might fall over. Yorimitsu pointed to a spot near the stones, where the moss was thickest. "Sit," he said to Sayuri and Rei, his voice softer now. Sayuri pulled Rei down beside her, their bare feet leaving dirt smudges on the moss, and Kaoru sat next to them, his legs shaky as he finally stopped moving. They were safe—at least for now—and that made his eyes sting, though he blinked the tears away.
Yorimitsu set up a makeshift shelter as the afternoon sun dipped lower, the light turning a warm orange through the leaves. He tied a rough cloth from his pack between two trees, making a small roof to keep the damp air off them. Kaoru watched, his chest tight with a mix of relief and worry. He still didn't know if they could trust Yorimitsu, not after losing everything in Tsukikage. He kept thinking about the shadowhawks, about what Yorimitsu had said: *They'll come looking. They always do.* Kaoru pulled Sayuri and Rei closer, their small bodies warm against his.
"We need water," Yorimitsu said as the afternoon faded into evening, the sky now a deep gold, the air cooling fast. "There's a stream nearby." He looked around the clearing, his sharp eyes spotting a cluster of bamboo stalks near the edge, their green stems tall and sturdy. He bent down near the shelter, picking up a rough, sturdy stick from a pile of fallen branches, its wood scratched and heavy in his hand. With a quick, powerful swing, he sliced through a bamboo stalk, the cut clean and smooth, like he was swinging a sword, his warrior's strength showing in every move. Kaoru's eyes got big; it was just some stick from the ground, but Yorimitsu made it look so easy, like he'd been fighting forever. He cut three more pieces, carving out the insides with the stick's jagged end, making rough containers. "We'll carry water in these," he said, handing one to Kaoru and a smaller one to Sayuri. "Hold them tight—they'll spill if you don't."
Kaoru took the bamboo piece, its surface smooth but heavy, and nodded, his hands shaking a little. It made sense—bamboo was all around them, and Yorimitsu knew how to use it. They followed him to the stream, the evening light now a soft purple, the air chilly as the sun dipped below the horizon. Kaoru knelt on the muddy bank, filling the bamboo with cold water, the weight making his arms ache as he held it steady to keep the water from spilling. Sayuri struggled with hers, the smaller bamboo wobbling, and Rei watched from the bank, clutching his blade, his eyes far away.
Kaoru glanced at Yorimitsu, who was filling his own bamboo piece. The old man's sleeve slipped down, revealing a mess of scars across his wrist and forearm—jagged, pale lines crisscrossing his skin, some old and faded, others newer, the marks of sword fights from his days as a warrior. Kaoru's stomach twisted, a shiver running through him. There were so many scars, not just one or two, but dozens, running up his arm and disappearing under his cloak, a map of battles Yorimitsu had survived long before Tsukikage. Kaoru wanted to ask about them, but he didn't know how, and Sayuri, who'd noticed too, just looked at him with wide eyes, staying quiet.
They carried the water back to the clearing as the sky darkened, the first stars peeking through the canopy. Kaoru set his bamboo down on the moss, the water sloshing inside, and took a small sip, the cold water washing away the dryness in his throat from all that walking. He handed it to Sayuri, who drank slowly, her hands still shaky, and she passed it to Rei, who sipped it fast, a little water dribbling down his chin onto his dirty shirt. Yorimitsu set his bamboo near the stones, the wards' glow catching the water inside. "Firewood next," he said, brushing the dirt off his hands. "We'll need to stay warm tonight."
Kaoru nodded, leading Sayuri and Rei to a pile of fallen branches nearby, the rough bark scratching at his hands as he gathered sticks in the fading light. Sayuri picked up a few small branches, her movements slow, and Rei trailed behind, dragging a big stick that was almost as tall as he was, his blade tucked under his arm. "Kaoru," Sayuri whispered, her voice so quiet it was almost lost in the rustle of leaves, "do you think we're really safe here?"
Kaoru's heart skipped, the shadowhawk's cry echoing in his mind. "I don't know," he said, trying to sound brave. "But Yorimitsu said the wards will hide us. We just have to trust him—for now." He didn't know if he believed it, but he had to say it, for Sayuri, for Rei, for himself. They brought the firewood back, piling it near the stones, and Yorimitsu started a small fire with a flint from his pack, the flames sparking to life, casting a warm glow as night settled in, the sky now a deep black dotted with stars.
"Now food," Yorimitsu said, standing up and brushing the dirt off his hands. "There are mushrooms in these woods—safe ones, if you know where to look." They followed him a short distance from the clearing, the firelight barely reaching them, the night air cold against their skin. The forest smelled like wet leaves and earth, and Kaoru's stomach growled so loud Sayuri looked at him, a tiny smile flickering on her face before it faded. Yorimitsu showed them how to look for mushrooms—small, brown ones with caps that curled up, growing near tree roots. "Don't touch the red ones," he warned, pointing to a bright red mushroom with white spots. "They'll make you sick."
Kaoru's hands shook as he picked the mushrooms, his fingers stiff from the cold, and Rei stayed close to Sayuri, pointing out ones she missed, his voice soft. "Here, Sayuri," he said, holding up a tiny mushroom, his little face serious. Sayuri nodded, adding it to her pile, her hands steadier now, like helping Rei gave her something to focus on. Kaoru watched them, his chest aching in a way that wasn't all bad. They were still a family, even after everything.
Back at the clearing, the fire was burning steady, the night fully dark now, the wards' shimmer the only other light. Yorimitsu picked a long, flat stick from the firewood pile and sharpened one end with his flint, making a rough skewer. He speared the mushrooms onto it, holding them over the fire to cook, the flames licking at them until they turned soft and brown, the smell making Kaoru's mouth water despite the knot in his stomach. They ate together, sitting on the moss around the fire, the mushrooms warm and earthy, though Kaoru barely tasted them. He kept watching Sayuri and Rei, making sure they ate enough—Sayuri nibbling slowly, Rei taking tiny bites, his eyes far away, like he was seeing Tsukikage burning all over again. Yorimitsu ate quietly, sitting a little apart, his silver hair glowing in the firelight, his scarred hands steady as he broke off pieces for Rei when the boy struggled.
After eating, with the night growing colder, Yorimitsu led them back to the stream, the moonlight making the water shimmer like silver. "We need to clean up," he said, his voice gruff but gentle. "Can't sleep covered in ash and dirt." Kaoru nodded, though his cheeks burned at the thought of bathing in front of a stranger. He helped Sayuri and Rei take off their torn, sooty clothes, the three of them stepping into the shallow part of the stream together, the cold water making Rei squeal and cling to Kaoru's arm. Yorimitsu waded in a little ways off, rolling up his sleeves and splashing water on his face, his scars even more visible in the moonlight—long, jagged lines across his arms, chest, and back, some deep and puckered, others thin and faded, marks of countless sword fights that told of a life filled with battles.
Kaoru glanced at Sayuri, who looked nervous, her arms crossed over her chest even though she was just eight and small. Kaoru felt a pang—he didn't want her to feel scared or shy, not after everything. "Sayuri," he whispered, "you can wash over there, behind that rock." He pointed to a big, smooth stone at the stream's edge, tall enough to give her some privacy. Sayuri nodded, her face red, and slipped behind the rock, keeping her back to them as she splashed water on her arms and legs, washing off the ash but staying mostly hidden. Kaoru stayed close to Rei, helping him scrub his face, the cold water stinging his own scrapes and making his teeth chatter, but it felt good to get the ash off, like he was washing away a little bit of Tsukikage's fire. Sayuri peeked out when she was done, her hair dripping, and Kaoru gave her a small smile, glad she felt safer.
They dried off with the rest of Yorimitsu's cloak, which he tore into smaller pieces for them, the rough fabric scratchy against their damp skin as they headed back to the clearing in the dark. The fire was burning low now, the night air cold enough to make Kaoru shiver as they settled under the makeshift shelter. There wasn't much to sleep on—just the mossy ground, which was soft but damp, and a few handfuls of dry leaves Yorimitsu had gathered for them to spread out. Kaoru lay down on the leaves, the moss cold beneath him, pulling Sayuri and Rei close to share their warmth. They didn't have blankets, just their torn clothes to cover them, and the ground was hard, with little rocks digging into Kaoru's back. The shelter's cloth roof flapped in the night breeze, letting in drafts that made Kaoru's skin prickle, and he could hear the forest whispering around them, the leaves rustling like they were talking.
Sayuri's hand found his, her fingers cold but steady, and Rei curled up between them, his dull blade still in his hands, like he thought it might protect him even in his sleep. Kaoru tucked his arm around them, trying to keep them warm, but he couldn't stop shivering, the cold seeping into his bones. He stared at the fire, the flames dancing in his eyes, and tried to push away the memories of Tsukikage—the fire, the screams, the way Mama and Papa had disappeared.
The quiet broke with a rustling in the trees, a sound that made Kaoru's heart jump. Yorimitsu was on his feet in an instant, his staff in hand, the runes glowing bright in the dark. "Stay down," he whispered, his voice sharp, his eyes scanning the night. Kaoru held Sayuri and Rei tighter, their breathing quick and scared against him. The rustling came again, closer, and Kaoru saw a shape in the shadows—a small, dark figure, its eyes glinting like coins in the firelight.
Yorimitsu stepped forward, raising his staff, and a burst of blue light shot out, lighting up the darkness. The creature screeched—a small, fox-like thing with too many tails, its fur black as night—and darted back into the trees, disappearing fast. Yorimitsu lowered his staff, his shoulders tense, his scarred face grim in the firelight. "A duskfox," he said, his voice low. "They're drawn to the wards—and to fear. The Shattered Court's magic is stirring the forest. We'll need to be careful."
Kaoru's heart was still racing, his arms trembling as he held Sayuri and Rei. "Was that… with the Shattered Court?" he asked, his voice shaking.
Yorimitsu shook his head, sitting back down, though his eyes kept scanning the trees. "Not directly," he said. "But they're drawn to the same things the Shattered Court wants. We'll move again at dawn."
Kaoru nodded, though he didn't really understand. He lay back down on the cold, damp moss, pulling Sayuri and Rei close again, their breathing slowly calming as they drifted into an uneasy sleep. The leaves under them crinkled, the ground hard and uneven, and Kaoru could feel every little bump beneath him, making it hard to get comfortable. They weren't his siblings by blood, but they were his family, the only one he had left. He'd keep them safe, no matter what, even if the Shattered Court was coming, even if the forest was full of creatures like that duskfox, even if Yorimitsu's scars meant a past full of danger. The night stretched on, the fire crackling softly, and Kaoru finally closed his eyes, the cold and the hard ground keeping him on edge even as he slipped into a fitful sleep.
---