Alerted by the screams, Raidha and I ran out of the house. There were people running in panic through the streets. Many others went straight to their homes and locked themselves in. There were hardly any brave men who ran with very serious faces towards where the screams were heard. Some wielded real weapons, but most of them were only carrying agricultural tools.
Raidha and I shared a guilty look between us before running after them. We did not know exactly what the problem was, unfortunately, we could figure it.
"The Faerain are attacking us!" Shouted one of the town men.
We wished it was a mistake, but our fears were soon confirmed.
"Damn, I hoped they wouldn't follow us... To think that that tiger was so loved that they would come to chase us out of the forest..."
Along the way, we found several wounded inhabitants, and even some of them were already dead. The town was not very big, so it didn't take long for us to find the origin of the problem. The cats had entered the town and were attacking indiscriminately every person they found.
"A man with gray fur and green eyes accompanied by a silver-haired girl with red eyes, where are they?! Say it quickly!"
A cat was holding a guy by the neck, threatening him with his weapon. He was not the only one, we could see similar scenes in different parts of the town.
"I don't know!"
"Then you are useless."
After finishing his short interrogation, the cat simply cut his throat and threw him aside. The same was repeated with the others. We could do nothing more than hiding behind a house and watch in horror at the actions of those who had been our companions not long ago.
"Why are they attacking the townspeople? If they are looking for us, there is no reason to kill simple inhabitants who have nothing to do with us."
"It's probably quite simple... They're of another race and they're in the middle of their path..."
"That's nonsense!"
"Do you really think so? Think about it. They live locked in the middle of a forest, isolated from the rest of the world. They are a race that doesn't involve themselves with other races, even visibly despises them. You saw it, they didn't like us from the first moment. They just allowed us to be around because Mirthia took us in. Probably without her, they would have killed us at the first moment they saw us stepping into their beloved forest."
"No, I'm sure isn't that. Look at this town, different races live together and get along..."
"That's why everyone helps the poor old man, right? Don't be wrong, Raidha, people like you or Mirthia don't predominate. It is one thing to tolerate and another to get along. Everything indicates that the relation between races isn't one of friendship. They simply coexist somehow."
"How can you be so sure about this?"
"Well, it's simple... Perhaps in this world it was clearer because of the large number of different races that exist, but this happens everywhere. Here, in my world, and probably wherever we go."
"That is not true!"
"Really? Does not your own race despise others? You yourself have looked down on what you call young races. Also, the silphen and the katryde are not very different from these cats either. They live in isolation from others and consider themselves superior. If something gets in the way of their target they will just crush it like an ant, without caring so much about it. For them they are not "people", they are just animals that look like them... I may be wrong, but it is the feeling it gives to me after having gone through everything we went through..."
"Eh.... That... I can't deny it... As much as I want to... I can't..."
Raidha stared at the ground in silence, thinking deeply about what I had just said.
'Yes... And humans are the same. Throughout history, such a scene has been repeated thousands of times. I guess that's what is usually called "human nature." Racism exists everywhere in one way or another. It is more exaggerated in an age where the laws against murder do not exist... These half animals are more human than I thought. For better or for worse, I'll probably have to start looking at them more like people.'
"Here! They are here!"
And just at that moment a damn child, with an appearance similar to that of a rodent, appeared screaming like a maniac, destroying my ears and giving away our position.
"You, because of you they are going to kill us all! There is no salvation! You are horrible, the worst, garbage! You should be the ones to die, not us!"
He began to scold us between tantrums, drawing even more attention towards us.
"Shut up you stupid rat boy! And return with your parents at once!"
I sent away that terribly annoying child, but it was too late. Both the cats and the townspeople were already focused on us.
"Well, we can't hide here all day. We should try to do something..."
"Yes, we cannot allow them to continue killing innocent people because of us. And please, try not to kill them!"
And again she came up with unrealistic requests. I sighed heavily and looked up at the sky.
"It's going to be difficult... But I'll follow your orders... princess."
We left our hiding place and ran towards the group of cats. At the same instant they saw us, they all attacked at the same time. All the cats gathered at the same place in only a few seconds.
"Shit! I thought it was the dogs who attacked in packs, not the cats..."
"You are not the best suited to say this!"
"There are too many! Is the whole village here or what?"
The number of cats that were attacking exceeded thirty. Without exaggeration, it could be said that they were almost the entire village.
"Raidha, go back..."
"Do not say foolishness! I'm going to fight too!"
"But…"
"I have recovered enough power. Don't think that I'm a helpless girl. I'm not completely recovered, but it's more than enough."
"Even if you say that... there are still too many... We can only do one thing against a whole pack, divide them! I will try to create some walls to stop them. Don't get too far from me... It's time to make some mess!"
"Got it!"
Since in attack I did not stand out, at least I would defend. I began to lift chunks of dirt between the cat warriors, trying to separate as many as possible and block their view of us. My plan, fight one at a time, or at least three at most.
"Ok, come to me!"
I put my hands on the ground and released the energy as fast as I could. Like the last time, the earth started to shake and some parts began to lift between Raidha and I and the group of cats.