LAN
He loves snow and now, being saved by a pile of snow that kept him safe when he fell into a ravine.
The blizard got stronger. More and more snow piled on Duke Kun and Lan like a sugar flake on a big pie.
Lan crawled over to her father with all the strength he had left. "Dad, Dad." The boy drove away from the snow on Duke, then turned his body.
Duke's colossal body was shivering, cold as ice, and his lips were cracked. Luckily, there was still warm mist blowing from his nose.
It gave Lan a safe feeling for a little. "Don't worry, Dad, I'm here with you."
Lan rubbed his father's palms which were getting stiff and frozen. He cried, thinking for the worst. If father is gone, how will Lan's life be? How would he tell everyone about it? How is he going to face mom?
Lan was known to be intelligent, but in his current state, he was just like any other eight-year boy. He burst into tears. "Dad, daddy, please wake up. I'm scared."
He looked around. The sun was getting dimmer on the horizon. Soon night would come. He knew the menace of the night in the wild forest. Either bandits or beasts would slash their throats, devouring them as dinner.
Three men came carrying torches. They were dressed all in raven, and dark cloth covered their lips.
Lan caught their swords still tucked away in their sheaths.
Friend or foe? Lan thought. He hugged Duke Kun tightly. There was nothing he could do. "Who are you? What do you want?" he asked.
Without answering, one of them pulled Lan away from his father. Meanwhile, two other men checked on Duke Kuan's condition.
"What do you want? Who are you? Let me go!" Lan kicked the pile of snow, helpless, and suddenly froze. Not from the bite air but fear.
The man threw Lan into a pile of snow, stomped his chest, preventing him from moving. He drew his sword, preparing to stab him.
"No, no! Dad, help!" Lan groaned, screaming helplessly as a kitten forced away from its mother.
"Die you, Bastard!"
Lan spits at the man, making him angry.
"I'll chop you up, then spread your meat for the wolves to eat!"
Lan will remember him, when he becomes a ghost, he will haunt this killer for revenge.
The sharp part of the sword reflected the light of the torch. It was ready for piercing Lan's chest.
Usually, a kid would close his eyes in fear, but notLan. He looked into the man's eye like a lion, intimidating the swordsman.
He made the swordsman tremble until his sword vibrated, but the swordsman made up his mind and thrust the sword into Lan's chest.
An arrow swiftly pierced the swordsman's arm, pushed him back off. The swordsman raised head toward where an arrow came from.
Lan also tried to turn his head around, wondering who the saviour was.
"Who's there?!" the swordsman snapped, holding his arm that was injured. "Come now, before I kill you!"
From the direction of the pine forest, two arrows flushed out simultaneously. One hit his forehead and one on the chest.
He was thrown back, fell. Red hot blood flooded the white snow and seeped there.
The other two swordsmen, stunned, exchanged looks, nodding in agreement. They left the Duke in the snow and drew a sword. They ran in the direction of the arrows.
They were prepared, brushed aside several arrows that after their chest. From their movements, both of them were using the Kun fighting style. Perhaps they were part of asail.
The closer they got, the more pronounced the saviour figure was. He wore a white wolf fur cloak that covered his back. The wolf's head enveloped his head as if it was biting from behind. He used a bow as a melee weapon like a staff.
Alone the saviour fought against two attackers. From the depths of the forest, an arrow whistled and pierced the leg of one of the swordsmen, cripled him.
Using a hand, the saviour stuck an arrow into the attacker's forehead.
The groaning voice of the man whose leg was pierced by an arrow caught the saviour's attention. He drew an arrow from the dead assailant's forehead, then stepped forward while preparing his bow. He pulled the strings and was ready to shoot at close range.
"Please forgive me. Please, spare me. Let me live." The attacker begged. "Please, I have a child and a wife at home."
The saviour seemed to have a conscience still. He slowly lowered his bow. "You cowards want to kill a child. Go home and take care of your family." His voice sounded hoarse.
The saviour went to check on Duke condition. Then, from a distance, a boy of Lan's age tried to help Lan.
"Are you alright?" the boy asked.
Lan nodded, then glared at the saviour who was examining her father. Lan's legs seemed to have lost bones, and it was hard even to stand up. Luckily the boy next to him was willing to help him up.
"Thank you," Lan said. "Father, my father–"
"Don't worry, my father is good at treating people."
"Hah, good at killing and good at healing. Strange man, extraordinary." Lan commented.
Suddenly the saviour turned around, raised his arrow, and prepared to shoot Lan.
"I-I was just kidding." Who would have thought that he was easily offended? "Uncle, I–"
The saviour shot his arrow at Lan.
****