• The moon shown bright, and there they stood one with a glittering knife intent of killing the other, the other trying to live to see another day. The one with the knife snarled then charged the other....
     
    Three days. Three days was all he could think of. There he stood sixteen, in above average shape compared to the other boys, he weighed about 160 pounds. He was slightly above average in looks, short black hair, tan skin, and green eyes. 

    He wasn't paying attention to the work he was doing, but it hardly mattered if he was. He wasn’t doing anything special just working on the normal household chores given to him by his father. He'd been adopted so to speak during one of his father's adventures when Rye was still a baby.

    So far today he’d gone to the forest to find wood, a twenty minute task that took him well over two hours. He’d then chopped the wood stacking it in two piles, one inside one outside. All this taking much longer than expected, but everyone in town just smiled when they saw him day dreaming. It was a warm day but not hot enough to feel the sun on your skin. The temperature was a little warmer than he’d have liked, but there was a slight breeze that made it worth feeling the heat a little more than normal and then getting a soft breeze to cool you off.

    A perfect day to remind everyone what happened in three days. It was the coming of age festival named the Reatsu Festival. This festival included food, drink, games, and traders. Unfortunately, it only happened once every four years. It was the biggest festival by far, but the ending of the festival was the most important part if you were in the age range of twelve to sixteen you were part of it.

    Every town held this festival to decide their newest generation’s fate. This tradition decided which item your soul would bond to. These bonds ranged from a sword to a blacksmith’s hammer to everything in between. Every person’s soul would bind to something and this bond would decide your fate leading to what trade you would become. An item that you are bonded to is known as a Kilre and no matter if you've never touched what your Kilre is it feels comfortable in your hand and you have a natural talent that will grow and grow. Your soul will only bond to one item ever and it can bond to almost anything but the Reatsu's ceremony had about a 95% success rate.

    The ceremony was held in a manner that Rye found a bit odd. The people of old would bring you one item after another until something reacted. When your soul first bonds the item it bonds to will react no matter if it glows or quivers a reaction will catch your attention. They ceremony of old took a very long time and was very ineffective once the number of children participating in the ceremony past two. Now they just had a room full of items that were common bonds and you basically got shoved into the room, known as the Trodin, and waited for something to react.

    This ceremony had a very long intro that involved meditation, bathing in a stream near the temple, and being blindfolded. The blindfold was introduced to discourage fights from breaking out between the girls and the boys during the “bathing” section then later you were blindfolded in the Trodin. The blindfold in the room was to discourage youngsters from force bonding to an item. Say if someone’s entire family were bonded to spears they would want to follow in their family instead of letting the item come to them. A force bond could lead to a backfire of the item and result in death or serious injury. A man once force bonded to a bow and found that when shot his bow’s arrows would turn around and come at him.

    This had all been explained to Rye yet he still ran it through his mind over and over again. He couldn’t help but wonder what if his soul would not bond or what if the object he would bond to wasn’t in the Trodin. He heard a girlish giggle then found a weight thrown against him. He’d been squatting down explaining this ceremony to a rock that he’d spotted on the ground when something crashed into him.

    Whatever had hit him had a good running start and enough force to Ryed him to the ground. It sent Rye sprawling he landed on his back and the weight had now moved from his back to lying on top of him. Without opening his eyes he muttered

    “And good morning to you too Kalren. Was the running start really called for?”

    He opened his eyes and saw a girl about the same age him with blue eyes and blond hair down to her chin with a bright red headband around her head. He was a few inches taller than her and he was about forty pounds heavier. She was pretty but the way she acted made her seem almost boyish. She wasn’t the prettiest girl in town, but Rye got along well with her. The summer before they had both found that being more than just friends was to their liking. Yet here she was on top of him with a huge grin on her face.
    “Well of course it was called for how else would I knock you over?” her response made him laugh. He tried to get up but Kalren stuck her hand on his head and pushed him back down laughing. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close giving her a kiss. She let him get up after that.

    He brushed the dust off his cloths then took her hands. He spun quickly leaving his hands in front of him and her arms over his shoulder. He bent forward lifting her off the ground. A surprised noise came from her and he laughed proceeding to carry her on his back by hooking his arms under her legs. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck.
    “So where to?” Rye asked this because Kalren had obviously been doing something when she saw him and decided to tackle him.

    Kalren rarely thought things through but that made her all the more fun to Rye. Her response was delayed due to the fact that she had to remember what she’d been sent to do.
    “OH! Right I’m supposed to go to the market and get some food.” Kalren’s response was an expected to do list for her.

    It was most likely a good thing she’d run into him or else the shopping list and the fact she’d forgot something to carry it all in would have gone unnoticed until she returned home with an arm load of food that had not been asked for, but rather had caught her eye.

    “So what’re we supposed to get for food and what’re we carrying it in?”

    “Um… I’m getting milk, some sort of veggie, some fruit, some fish, and something for my brother to snack on. And I’ma carry it all.”

    “Well I’ve got no other plans so I can help out if you want.” He was lying he’d been given a list of stuff to do but he and his father both knew only a quarter of those things would be done.

    Carrying her to the market despite her protests of wanting to walk they arrived to attempt at finding the food.

    “So are you worried about the festival?” He asked her because she was the one person whose answer would matter to him.

    “What festival? There wasn’t one at this time last year.” Her reply startled him.

    “You honestly don’t know?” He’d been obsessing about the Reatsu festival since he’d missed it when he was 11.

    Rye’s birthday left him about a month sort of joining the last festival. Kalren thought for second them laughed, play slapped the back of his head, and jumped off his back.
    “You know I don’t like to be carried.”

    He fake sulked and pretended that she’d actually hit him hard.

    “Well you got what you deserved!” She said this then seemed to spy something, because Kalren took off towards a vender cart and dove under it.

    The cart was small and loaded with clay pots. She dove head first under it and the vender attempted to stop his cart but tipped it over sending just about every piece of item on the cart into the street and breaking most of it. Kalren came out of the wreckage unscathed holding a small kitten. The vender was furious and started to scream Kalren started to argue back at him.

    “Why’d you jump in front of me?” He was screaming at Kalren now

    “You’d have killed the kitten!”

    “I don’t give a rats a** about the cat my goods are smashed.”

    Rye was trying to get to Kalren as fast as he could but before he could the vender slapped Kalren sending her to the ground.  This sent a chill down Rye's spine. He always felt that chill, like his blood had turned to ice, whenever he was in a fight or extremely mad.
    The vender was still yelling when Rye reached him. The vender looked at him and Rye instantly recognized the man as Bronic, a man who’d had several dealings with his father none of which ending well for him. That thought hardly crossed his mind as he threw a punch smashing Bronic’s nose into his face sending blood and gore everywhere. Bronic fell backwards clutching his broken nose and writhing around on the ground. Rye went over to where Kalren was sitting on the ground nursing her cheek. He helped her up.

    “We better take off before a crowd gathers.”

    She nodded as he said this. They took off running towards his house. Once they’d gotten the market out of sight Rye looked over at Kalren she was carrying the kitten she rescued. She cradled the small tabby cat in her arms and was petting it, the kitten was purring every time she stroked it. They slowed to a walk and Rye put his arm around her shoulder. She looked up at him and smiled.

    “So what were we talking about?”

    He smiled “The Reatsu festival. Remember?”

    Her response made him shake his head. “The one in three days?”

    He tried not to laugh but couldn’t help it. “Hey we were there to get food. What’a want to do?”
    She thought for a minute. “Nothing was really needed just wanted. I’ll stay at your house tonight and get it tomorrow.”

    He chuckled “So you can just spend the night at my house any day you want. Huh?”

    “Oh. I’ll just go home then.”

    He smiled “I was kidding you know you can stay over whenever you want. What're you going to do with the kitten?”

    “Keep it. What else would I do with it?” Kalren responded with the full intention of keeping the kitten.

    “And what will your parents say?” He knew full well that her parents would most likely not care about a cat, but he had to make sure Kalren wouldn’t get in trouble. She was constantly in trouble and he tried his best to keep her out of it, mostly to no avail.

    “They won’t even notice they’ll just think he’s a hat. See!” She said this while placing the kitten on her head.

    Surprisingly enough, the kitten laid out flat hooking its claws in her headband and draping its legs over the back of her head. She giggled and clapped when she notice the kitten fully intended to stay on her head like a hat. She started to laugh and Rye joined in. The kitten had a confused look on its face.

    “Alright I guess you can keep that cat.” He knew that no matter what he said the cat would stay. So he figured he might as well say she could keep it. 

    Rye decided to take Kalren for something to eat at the tavern. She went with him despite her several protests of her “Not being hungry”. He simply told her if she didn’t come he’d get two plates and just waste the food. She sighed and followed him to the tavern with the kitten cradled in her arms. The tavern at night was mainly a place for drinking but during the day it was a nice place to eat or just sit.

    They both ordered food from the friendly old woman that ran the tavern, and after talking for a bit about the festival they received their food. Their meals consisted of meat, cheese, and bread. It all tasted very good to Rye, and compared to his father’s cooking it was a feast. When they’d finished their meals, paid, and started on their way home.

    They returned home to find his father asleep in a chair on the front porch. This was a normal place to find his father about sunset. The only difference from normal was his big dog wasn’t next to him. Bruno, the dog, had been lent to a neighbor to deal with a fox problem. They’d both sit there for hours just watching the town. His father had been an adventurer in his younger days and during one of his “outings” had found a man being held capture by some rugged looking men.

    He’d always had an edge in combat. His Kilre was a shield leaving him with a defensive stature none could match. He’d rescued the man in captivity and had been rewarded with enough gold to let him retire in luxury. Here on the porch of his house slumbered the old adventurer, most likely dreaming of some far place. Rye envied the life his father had lived and had always enjoyed the stories he had told him when he was younger.

    He shook his father awake who in the midst of a fighting dream came awake swinging. Rye laughed, caught the punch his father had thrown

    “Dun startles me like that or I’m liable to clock you one.” Rye’s father spoke with an odd accent due to several missing teeth.

    His father’s real name was Bearian Nailio. But everyone that had known him for more than a minute knew to call him Bear never Mr. or sir always Bear.

    “Don’t worry Da you couldn’t hit me if ya tried.” Rye laugher was cut short by the old man springing out of his chair like a cat attempting to tackle him.

    Luckily for Rye the years had caught up to Bear and a bum leg left his attempt at a tackle easily avoidable. Rye sprung to the side catching Bear’s arm as he fell keeping him off the ground. He helped Bear to his feet and patted him on the back.

    “You almost had me old man. Maybe when I’m half asleep you’ll get me.”

    “Ha! You were lucky!”

    Bear sat back down into his chair. He was still mostly in denial about getting old, but it was good that he still had a thriving need for life. Rye hated to see old people that had given up.

    “Did ya finish the wood?”

    Rye laughed “Coarse I did. I’m not all around lazy I’m just regular lazy. Oh and Kalren’s spending the night”

    “Oh! Gud was wonderin’ if ya’d finished. Saw you two running and thought you’d forgotten about the wood. Hey tomorrow’s the day afore the Reatsu why dun me an you go for a little hike. I’d like ta talk to you ‘bout it.”

    Rye smiled “You eaten today?” Bear jumped up from the chair with a look like he’d forgotten that food existed.

    “Nope! You gonna cook?”

    “Sure give me a little bit.” Rye said this and walked inside to make dinner.

    He and Kalren found some fresh meat and some vegetables his father liked. It took maybe twenty minutes to cook the food but when the smell of the food hit Bear’s nose he was inside faster than you could think. Bear sat at the table waiting for food like a small child. Rye smiled when he saw him sitting there.

    Their house was the big compared to some of the houses in town and it was only them living in it. They had three full bedrooms, a kitchen, a dinning area, and a sitting room. They lived in luxury compared to some of the families in town.

    Bear still had plenty of money and lent out quite a bit of it to families in need. He never gave it away and always expected there to be more coming in then he let out. This lending process had left them with enough money to own half the town but that wasn’t what Bear wanted.
    The food that was cooking was ready to serve they all sat to eat leaving quite a bit for leftovers for when they didn’t feel the need to cook. Rye and Kalren had already eaten but sat anyway.

    Night had fallen and Bear had gone to his room leaving Rye and Kalren to sit in the big chair they had by the fire. They both sat there staring wondering what their Kilre would be. What they’d be doing for the rest of their lives would be discovered day after tomorrow.
    They were sitting together in the big chair. He had his arm around her and she cuddling up to him kitten curled in her lap. They talked quietly and before they knew it time had flown by and it had become quite late. Rye smiled when he heard her breathing get deep and steady then he realized she’d fallen asleep.

    He picked her up and brought her to the couch that was near the chair. He put her on the couch and covered her with a blanket. The guest room had become a storage room. Rye didn’t feel like sleeping so he returned to his chair.

    A loud bang came to the door. It was well past midnight and he could only guess as to who was there. He opened the door to find Bronic standing there nose a terrible broken mess. Rye could smell the ale on his breath and could almost taste the smell of him not washing.

    “Oi yer the one who broke me nose.” The man could barely stand let alone talk normal.

    Rye smiled and replied “That I did. I’d have done a lot worse to you had Kalren not been there”

    Rye’s reply angered the man. He disliked Rye mostly because his father had money making Rye a “Rich kid” which couldn’t be father from the truth. Rye saw his father’s money only when he needed it. He worked for his share.

    “Shud up! You caught me off guard but I’ll teach you a lesson this time!"

    Bronic took a drunken swing at Rye. Rye smiled he’d been waiting for a chance to do this. Rye was the best fighter around town by far and had proved so on many occasions. It wasn’t that he was strong or big but he knew how to hit, and hit he did right on the Bronic’s jaw sending him sprawling.

    Rye cracked his knuckles waiting for the man to get up. Bronic staggered halfway to his feet swearing feeling the effects of the punch and his nose starting to bleed again.

    “Ya hit like a girl ya wimp.”

    Rye stepped forward before Bronic could fully stand and placed a punch straight to his cheek smashing Bronic to the ground. The man yelped in pain,swore, and place his hand on his hip.

    He kept a rather large knife in his belt and he pulled that knife out now. Rye swore, there wasn't anything around he could fight the man with. Bronic charged Rye with the knife out. Rye threw himself at Bronic avoiding the knife. Rye grabbed at the arm with the knife threw his hip into the man's gut and heaved throwing them both to the ground with Rye landing on top of him still trying to get the knife out of his hand.

    Bronic slashed wildly trying to kill him. Rye couldn't get the knife out of Bronic's hand due to him slashing. After a rather close swipe Rye jump to his feet to avoid any further close calls. Bronic got to his feet glaring.

    The moon shown bright, and there they stood one with a glittering knife intent of killing the other. The other trying to live to see another day. The one with the knife laughed drunkenly and charged the other but something smashed into him.

    Rye stared at the force was that hit him. Bronic was a large man but was crushed completely by the charging force. Rye looked to see Bear standing there a look of pure anger on his face. His trusty shield held firm to his arm. He'd hit Bronic by putting his shoulder in his shield and charging the man.

    Bear stood there in full glory of his former self staring down Bronic.
    Bear's voice thundered in the night “You dare come to my house and attack my son with a knife! Leave now before I bash in the ugly mug of yours!"

    Bronic snarled and decided to charge Bear with just his knife. Bear roar like a lion and charged at Bronic. Bronic's knife collided his Bear's shield and went spinning into the night. Bear raised his shield and brought the flat end down against Bronic's jaw knocking him out.
    Bear walked over to Bronic and picked him up.

    “I'll be back you go ta bed I'll see to it he spends the night and maybe the festival in jail,”

    Rye nodded and headed inside. Rye walked into his room. He was still stunned by what his father was able to do and was completely lost in thought when he crawled into bed. He smiled closing his eyes only to open them the next morning.

    He was woken up by Kalren shacking him awake.

    “Wake up silly we've got a big day.”

    He smiled and followed her to the kitchen. He walked in to find bear sitting at the table enjoying a huge breakfast. He smiled when he saw Rye.

    “Big breakest afta a big night eh!”

    Bear always enjoyed when Kalren spent the night because she'd cook the next morning, and compared to Rye's and his own cooking Kalren's was gourmet.

    Bear sat there stuffing his face with the eggs, bacon, and sausage Kalren had made. Rye and Kalren sat filling their plates.

    Kalren finally seemed to have heard what bear had said.
    “What'a mean big night?”

    Bear responded with a mouth full of food. “Oh tha Bronic came lookin for trouble and got in a bit of a scuffle with Rye 'ere.”

    Bear response made it sound as if they'd had some harsh words not fighting for their lives.  Kalren seemed to think things over then got distracted

    “Oh that reminds me today's the last day to prepare for the Reatsu. Are you going to decorate your house Bear?”

    Bear thought for a minute. “I guess. Rye we still got the decorations?"

    “Yeah, somewhere in the guest room.”

    After breakfast Bear reminded Rye of the hike he'd promised to go on later in the day. Rye and Kalren made their way to the guest room in search of decorations. Rye was searching through a wooden box of what appeared to be Bear's books full of writing.

    Rye opened some of them finding Bear's journals they were extremely boring the pages Rye saw looked as if one of the fairy tale knights had written them. Rye was searching another box when he heard Kalren make a sound like she'd found something. He looked up and saw only her two feet in the air. She'd apparently found the decorations but had managed to fall head first into the box. She came up laughing and covered in ribbons. Rye carried a box full of decorations and Kalren carried her own.

    “Where's your Da?” Kalren questioned him when they entered the kitchen to find Bear not there anymore.

    “He's most likely in his chair out front.”

    That's where they found Bear sound asleep with Kalren's kitten on his lap. Rye placed his hand on the old man and woke him up. Bear woke with a start.

    “Huh! What wher... When'd we get'a cat? E're's Bruno?” 

    “Bruno's playing watch dog remember? And that's Kalren's cat.”

    “Oh, alrigh'. Wud ya want?”

    “We found the decorations!” Piped in Kalren.

    “Gud gud.’Ey Kal do me a favor an put those up. I gotta talk ta Rye for abit.”

    Kalren happily obliged Bear and started going through the boxes looking for the perfect ribbons.

    Bear got up and started walk motioning for Rye to follow. Rye followed without a word. Neither spoke until they'd reached a river where there was a rock Bear enjoyed sitting at. The rock was a big one that was bathed in sunlight despite the river being surrounded by trees.
    They sat down and Bear broke the silence.

    “So you been thinkin' about the Reatsu?” Rye nodded. “Yeap biggest day of ya life. But that's not why I brought ya here to talk about.”

    “Then what was it?”

    “It's about the whole soul bonding business. Now I know you may 'ave heard most of it but that's all flowery lies. Some of the people in the festival wont bond ta nothin'.”

    “What!” Rye was shocked he'd never heard of anything like that happening.

    “Well think 'bout it they can't put everythin' in there. Some people'll bind to stuff they'll never see. An I'm sure you'll do fine but I just wanted ya to know that even if ya don't bond ta nothin' not to worry. You'll still be the same lazy Rye I always known.”

    “Thanks. That it?”

    “Yup now go run along an help Kalren.”

    “You coming?”

    “Nah picked this spot fer a reason.” Rye left Bear alone with his thoughts and returned to the house.

    Rye had a short walk back to the house and it was a nice day so he enjoyed it. He drew up on his house to see something he half dreaded half looked forward to. Sitting on his steps was Zalring.

    Zalring hated Rye with all that he had. He was Bronic’s son and from what the past had shown the feud between Bronic and Bear had past to their sons. Zalring just plain hated Rye. Rye walked up to Zaling and pretended to look around.

    “Huh, last time I checked you were living in that shack over there.” Rye pointed at a house in the distance. 

    “I came to even the score for my Pa. ”

    Rye had figured as much and chuckled. Rye and Zalring had fought atleast thirty times and Zalring had never won.

    “Go home before I have to carry you there.”

    “Ha not this time. I've got a little surprise for you in store.” Zalring clapped his hands and the Jail keeper, Ward, as everyone called him appeared.

    “I'm sorry Rye but I have to take you in for a couple days.”

    “What! Why?” Rye was shocked a couple days meant he'd missed the festival, again.

    “I'm afraid Bronic's pressing charges against you for hitten him.”

    “Oh, come on Ward you know that isn't true. He hit Kalren so I broke his nose. Then he had the gall to come after me at my house”

    “I know Rye but he says he went there to talk to you and you slug him acouple then had your Pa cover for you.”

    “That’s a lie an you know it!”

    “Yeah your father explained all that but I'm afraid there's nothin' I can do. I'm very sorry.”

    Rye knew Ward really was sorry, but he also knew two things that made this seem not so bad. One when Bear found out he'd most likely come get him out, and two when he was out again Zalring'd learn a new lesson he could pass on to his father.

    The reason Zalring had shown up was that in order to arrest someone in town you had to point them out and Bronic was still in jail. You could pass on your info to a family member and they could do it for you.

    Rye went with Ward to the jail. The jail was a small building made from brownish river clay mixed with sticks and such to form a concrete type building.

    He was still in shock that he was being arrested for “Hitting” Bronic. A couple of hours past before Bear showed up madder than hell. After a few choice words with Ward he came to the cell Rye was in. Luckily for Rye they had plenty of cells and he couldn't see Bronic..

    Bear shook his head. “There's nothin' we can do till the day after tomorrow. Mayor can't get ya out till then. He has to stay at the festival and you couldn't get out till tomorrow. Sorry but it looks like you wont get to go to the Reatsu. But never fear I know a way ta find out what you'da bonded to after you get out'a here.”

    Rye nodded half heartedly and Bear made his way out the door. He couldn't believe it he was going to miss the festival. All this time spent waiting and he was going to miss it. He didn't know what he'd do. Now he'd have to wait another four years if they'd let him do it. Unless Bear actually knew a way which wouldn't surprise him.

    He sat there crushed by the turn of events that had led him here. Today had looked like such a good day and now it was gone. Everything he'd hoped tomorrow would be was gone. After about an hour later Bronic was let go Rye spit when he walked by he desperately wanted to be alone in a room with Bronic now that he'd pulled a stunt like this.

    Ward let Rye out to play cards once he'd realized Rye knew how to play. Bear had taught him several years ago on a rainy day. Ward tied one of Rye's legs to a chair to make sure he wouldn't “Escape”. Ward knew Rye could escape if he wanted to, but tied his leg to the chair in case anyone came in.

    Word travels fast in a village and most likely everyone in town knew Rye was in jail each with their own reasons for why he'd been imprisoned. Ward and Rye spent the night playing cards and went to bed around ten. Rye seemed to be in his own world the entire time he was in his cell.

    The next day Ward let him sit on the porch to watch the festival and even let Bear and Kalren come visit to bring him some food. Kalren was almost in tears when she saw him. She could barely speak and all she did was hug him he assured her it wasn't her fault but it did little to cheer her up. She played the part of being cheery just for his sake. Bear chuckled and said he was going to take her to play some games. Rye smiled when he realized Bear was trying to cheer Kalren up.

    They went off and Rye watched the festival he'd been waiting for slip by until it was almost sundown. The real festival was about to begin and he wouldn't be a part of it. He spent most the day in a trance swearing about his rotten luck.

    Kalren stopped by before the end part of the festival showing off her festival dress. It was a very pretty blue dress that Bear bought her and for once she actually looked girlish. He smiled and wished her luck at the festival. He gave her a hug goodbye and was surprised when he felt something on her chest.

    What's that?”

    “It's Ray Ray.” Kalren had named her kitten Ray Ray for some reason the name had come to her today.

    “You can't bring him into the Trodin.”

    “Sure I can. Just watch.”

    He sighed it figured she’d try and bring the cat. They said goodbye, and he watched as all the kids his own age gathered together and proceeded to the stream where they'd start the ceremony at. He watched as they disappeared wishing he could join them. He sat there until midnight when the festival was through. Ward brought him inside and put him in his cell.
    “Sorry ya missed the festival but you'll be out tomorrow.”

    Ward slept on a small bed they kept in the jail when they had a prisoner. Rye fell asleep but was awoken by a noise. It was a gurgling ripping sound of noise that led to a muffled scream only Rye could here. Rye shot awake to see what had made the noise and saw them clad in all black, there were three in the room.

    Three fully clad ninjas stood one holding what appeared to be a bloody head. When they saw Rye they walked over to the cell he was in shock they'd just killed Ward and were heading towards him. What could he do? His mind racing he backed up to the wall.
    One of the three stepped to the bars on his cell and in a deep voice spoke

    “Your town has been taken. We're looking for young ones who we can train as our own. Anyone who fights is killed. Your options are come with us or die.”

    Rye was in awe Ward wasn’t the smartest man ever to walk the earth but one thing he prided himself was that he was never surprised. Yet these three had snuck up on him and killed him. Then the thought came to Rye they were looking for youngsters to train. He fell under that category so did every kid in town, and most of them where in one place.
    The ninja who’d spoke went to Ward’s body and came back with the keys to the cell.

    “Now boy hear these word. When I open this cell you are to follow us and not try to escape if you escape we’ll kill you.”

    “What’s happening to the rest of the town?” Rye just now fully understood the size of the attack.

    They let him out and he followed them outside the entire town was running everyone trying to escape. There was already a line of chained people started in the center and the three ninjas that had captured him tied him in with the rest. Kalren and Bear popped into his head and for a second realized Bear would fight Kalren on the other hand would give up. It shook him to the bone. Bear might be killed he didn’t know what he’d do if Bear was killed.

    Where were they going to take their prisoners?

    What did they mean by make them their own?

    His mind was racing when he saw a man clad in black with blue parts to his outfit standing in the dead center of town. He was standing in full view yet his outfit made him seem invisible. He carried three swords compared to the other’s who carried two, one longer used for killing others and a short sword that’s intent was normally to turn on its wielder. Two of his swords were normal slung one at each hip. The third was much larger and was on his back. He was obviously the leader of this attack fore he was shouting orders and checking prisoners.

    Rye was staring at this man when he saw a wounded ninja run up to him. Rye couldn’t hear what he said but saw where he pointed directly at Rye’s house where Bear was undoubtedly fighting for his life. Rye was overwhelmed by the suddenness the town going from being happy and in a festival to being attacked and kill.