Chapter 3. Scarred for Life

''Oh, dears, we are so sor--'' The lady herder dropped her sack of bird dung. The children stopped running. In a second, the sun hid behind the clouds and the wind blew cold. 

Carysse smelled the danger and immediately planted herself in front of Chaos just in time to parry an arrow.

''Stay right there!'' She ordered Chaos behind her as she felt him itching to move. Chaos just made a tch sound. Only the sentries had access to the bows and arrows so Carysse kept moving her eyes around the rocks but she saw no one there. And she could only think of one person who could throw an arrow from that distance.

Where are you, freak Bal?

With fate's guidance again, the sun peeked a little, and Carysse saw the faint glow of the approaching steel. But when Carysse realized it, her confident smile faltered. It was not only one or two but four arrows volleyed towards them. She won't be able to protect both of them without her being shot at least once.

The flow of the wind changed at her back--the arrival of something swift. 

In a blink, steel cut down iron in front of her. Four arrows but a single strike.

''Huh,'' Chaos sneered behind her. ''You're lively as hell, Ashki.''

Ashki twirled his ax and looked at Chaos plainly.

''Thanks though I can't say the same for you.''

Carysse sighed in relief as beads of sweat dropped from her face. They were saved, for now. 

The sound of the clink of armor approaching made Ashki look at the front and face Bal.

''Now I see the whole picture, brats.'' Bal smirked and pulled out a sword, the expression on his face was a savage hunter about to kill his cornered prey. ''You are all sentenced to death for bringing a deserter right into the center of the village.'' 

In his words, the whole village was stirred and then there was an uproar. Carysse squinted at the sight of the villagers coming together with fear and desperation in their eyes and voices.

''What have you done, Carysse?'' One lady shouted.

''You were supposed to protect the village and its secrets!'' Another reminded her.

Many were already crowding them with tools in their hands. The children were just frozen in place, taking into view their once big brother Chaos. The younger ones were juggling their memories on who he was but most of course, remembered, since they sat and ate with him for how many years.

Carysse didn't know what to do. Her perspiration trickled down from her forehead and much more at her back. The tip of her knife was shaking and she was breathing too hard. Ashki looked back in concern at Carysse's strained face. She had to do something that would calm them down. But her voice betrayed her. All she could do at that moment was grit her teeth for she didn't have the power nor the courage left to tell them straight in the face that she held on to a linggering trust towards Chaos that was why she brought him back.

All of her stress vanished when a rough and bony hand rested on her shoulder. If it had been others, Carysse would have jolted in surprise. But she immediately recognized the touch and will forever remember it. It was the same hand that fed her ever since she was little and it was the same hand that worked day and night to revive the village.

''Elder Shimar...'' She whispered without looking back at him.

''You've done more than enough, my child.'' 

The elder then walked past them with his rod poking on the ground, silencing the uproar. His tan wrinkled skin showed through the red cloth draped around him that was dotted with tinkling shells and beads of all kinds. He was old, anyone can see that his flesh was failing him but his face, hair, and eyes reflected wisdom. An air of dignity and ancientness surrounded him and prompted the villagers to bow down including Bal. Even the sunset displayed its vibrant colors at that moment.

''Go and attend to your duties. Dinner is almost upon us.'' His voice was the definition of authority. The crowd dissipated without another word. No other grumblings.

''And you, my child.'' The old man turned to Chaos and smiled.

''Welcome back.''

***

It was past midnight when they finally called for her. 

After dinner, the night was unusually quiet. The kids suddenly had the urge to sleep early. The sewing mothers hid their needleworks in their houses, instead of displaying them outside where they could share their works to their neighbors for it was only during night that they had the luxury to do so. The fathers didn't do extra work and even the sentries were not drinking this time.

The village was on edge.

Although dinner was the usual. The vegetable stew consisted of potatoes, salted liveroot, fat bananas, and white carrots. It was paired with dried fish and sliced pieces of apple and berries. The small sanctuary that they lived provided most of their needs and though not as plenty back in the original village, they were never lacking. There are times when meat was rare but if so, the fish made up for it. And even if the fish were not in season, they had the birds. If the birds were in their breeding season, it was time for the harvest of their gardens. For two years and counting, nature was at their side. But until when?

After having her fill, Carysse grabbed her blanket and climbed her favorite tree that overlooked the village. It was a giant Kairin tree, its white wood reflecting the silver light from the moon and its branches were so wide it could hide a platoon of soldiers. Chaos and Elder Shimar had entered the tent after eating and now was the time for her to rest for a while. For tomorrow will be another day of survival, but this time, with Chaos in their village.

When she was able to sit, Carysse let her anxiety sink in with no one around. She was free this time to finally catch up to her emotions that she forced to hide it earlier. She didn't know when the tears formed but now, they dripped eagerly to the sides of her faces.

The moon above brought her back to that night.

''Chaos!''

She was chasing after him. They were already past the boundary. She had to stop him, or else,..

But Chaos paid no attention to her, his eyes gleaming with the determination to leave.

Carysse brought out a pouch filled with dangerous powder and threw it towards him, the powder hitting the tree in front of him. It was a desperate move but Chaos finally stopped with his vision blocked.

Both of them were panting heavily.

Carysse stepped forward.

''Chaos, let's go back. We can do solve this dilemma if we stay close together.''

Elder Shimar and the others were already at the sanctuary. Only a few of them survived the sudden attack from the outside. Young fighters like Carysse and Chaos were needed more than ever.

''Come on. Elder Shimar and the kids are worried. We need---''

''I don't need you.''

And the rest--that was what Carysse wished was a nightmare that she could wake up from. It was a dark memory that crippled her for a long time--a poison to her emotional being that she had a hard time brushing it off her. She couldn't believe she would suffer at the hands of someone she regarded as family.

'Hey, munaris,' she said in her mind as if the moon could hear her. 'Was I a fool to bring back someone who almost killed me?'

She had swore to herself that she would not bring up his name for as long as she lived. She had trashed his name, erased his good image in her heart, and had forgotten him for good. Yet not forgiven.

But Chaos appearing after two years shattered her resolve. She didn't know why or how. Her thoughts betrayed her for she had only realized now, Carysse had hoped for him to return.

''Damn it,'' she cursed.

A wave of fatigue washed over her. Too tired to think anymore, the warm wind breezed through her like a soft lullaby, lulling her to sleep.