The nine female warriors marched through the Land of Stars, navigating rough, pebbled paths and raised terrain on the backs of the majestic Kami dire wolves. Hoshiyo rode on Amaterasu, with Takeko holding on behind her. The journey was long, and Takeko rested for hours during the steady walk back to the mountains.
Villagers trudged along the path in pairs, carrying their belongings on horseback, heading south to the village by the dock. Hoshiyo observed each individual as they passed, their clothes and skin cloaked in dark ash residue. Many bore the painful marks of third-degree burns.
Rei waited for most villagers to pass before whispering, "Amaterasu, what's going on?"
"I am not entirely sure. Would you and Tsukuyomi feel comfortable going ahead and finding out?" Amaterasu asked.
Rei smirked at the challenge. "You can count on us, right Tsukuyomi?"
"Right," Tsukuyomi replied. The shimmering blue wolf pounced out from behind Amaterasu, with his loyal companion Byakko carrying Rei. Together, they rushed ahead to investigate.
The other Kami stayed behind, watching their group closely. They observed as Tsukuyomi ran out of sight, and smoke began to rise in the distance. Something had gone wrong in the village, possibly more severe than anticipated. Hoshiyo frowned, turned to the wounded civilians walking in the opposite direction, and said, "Hold on Amaterasu. I want to ask them personally what they saw."
"Don't expect an accurate answer," Amaterasu cautioned. "You should rely on your own eyes for the upcoming challenge."
"I'll keep that in mind," Hoshiyo said, nodding to Amaterasu. As they stopped, the others waited patiently behind them. A woman on a horse, wrapped in bloody bandages, sat a young toddler in front of her, their face marred by burns. She turned to the wolves, sensing their desire to speak.
"What happened?" Hoshiyo asked.
"The Shogunate attacked us," the woman replied, trembling. "They claimed we knew a pack of female warriors and threatened to destroy our homes if we didn't expose their whereabouts."
Hoshiyo clenched her teeth, her eyes wide with shock. She had to choose her words carefully. "Why would they destroy the village looking for female warriors?"
"They didn't say," the woman answered, her gaze dropping to the girls atop the dire wolves. Her eyes lingered on the two swords hanging from Hoshiyo's waist.
"I have no idea why the Shogunate would commit such a hateful crime," Hoshiyo said, trying to maintain her composure. "But we hope you find peace in your new home. We will stop them from causing more damage."
The woman's frown deepened. "You are the warriors they were looking for."
"No," Hoshiyo insisted, waving her arms defensively. "We are just Ronin passing through from the Land of Swords."
"If you say so," the woman said, returning to the path with her village. She hoped never to see those Ronin again.
Hoshiyo wiped her brow and said, "Phew, that was close."
"Let's move quickly," Amaterasu urged.
The pack quickened, weaving through the endless line of humans heading toward the fishing village. No one wanted to see innocent lives lost over a misunderstanding.
"What could we have possibly done to anger the Shogunate?" Hoshiyo whispered.
"We didn't do anything wrong," Takeko whimpered.
"Not in our eyes," Hoshiyo replied, "but we may have upset some people on our way out of the Land of Stars without realizing it."
Ceres nodded. "Our only hope is to negotiate our way out of this."
"If they're slaughtering villagers, negotiation might not be an option," Hoshiyo said grimly.
The sisters charged forward, bracing themselves for the worst in their encounter with the Shogunate. Hoshiyo clenched her teeth, leaning forward. She thought to herself that today might be the last day she ever saw the land of the rising sun again.
As they drew closer, the air grew thicker with smoke, making breathing increasingly difficult. Everyone covered their mouths, coughing as they pushed through the suffocating haze. Rice fields burned faster than water could quench them, and the pack found themselves surrounded by no clear path to safety. Hoshiyo's eyes widened in panic as she searched for a way through the flames, Amaterasu guiding her.
The Edo village, with its thatched roofs and paper windows, was now engulfed in a raging inferno that devoured everything in its path. The once bustling houses and shops were reduced to smoldering ruins.
Hoshiyo, perched on Amaterasu's back, was in a daze. Her eyes were fixed on the flames as if already consumed by them. She stuttered as she watched the villagers, dressed in kimonos and hakama, running in all directions, their faces contorted in terror. She held back her tears, struggling to comprehend their sudden shift from happiness to sheer horror, watching friends and family burn as they scrambled to escape the nightmare imposed by the Shogunate.
Ceres jolted her back to reality, shouting, "Hoshiyo, we must help them! We can't just sit here and watch them perish!"
Hoshiyo rubbed her parched skin and slid off Amaterasu's back. She shouted, "What are we waiting for? Save as many as you can!"
Her sisters and the dire wolves scattered in all directions, frantically helping anyone in need. Hoshiyo shed the thick layers of her yukata and used them to cover a mother who clutched her children tightly, shielding them from the heat and falling debris. The mother's arms were severely burned, a sacrifice she made to protect her children. Hoshiyo guided them away from the village as others pushed past, desperate to survive.
Once they were safe from the flames, Hoshiyo hurried back. She saw Takeko comforting an elderly couple on the road, stumbling and crying for their lost loved ones. Walking back to the burning buildings, Hoshiyo felt a profound betrayal. She had always believed the Shogunate was the protector of Japan, but now she questioned if she had chosen the right side.
Amaterasu leaped from the rooftops, landing beside Hoshiyo. She stared into the fire, causing her to sweat and cough. "I found Tsukuyomi and Rei forming a human chain to pass buckets of water and douse the flames on the other side," she called out. "No one else alive appears to be trapped inside the buildings."
"Good," Hoshiyo whimpered, "We have to help as many as possible. It's our fault these people lost everything. Let's do our part in restoring what we can."
"The humans' only option now is to find a new home. Let the rest burn out on its own. We will build a fortress here to protect those who live here from now on," Amaterasu said.
"I don't want just to protect our island, Amaterasu. I want to save the world from burning by any means necessary," Hoshiyo replied.
Amaterasu grinned and said, "You are just like your mother."
A few droplets of rain quickly turned into a downpour, drenching the shops and homes of the small village hidden in the forest. The flames shrank significantly. Hoshiyo quietly walked through the town's main street, watching the rice paper lanterns melt and fall apart from the intense heat. Others struggled to save what little they could from their homes, carrying out bundles of clothes, precious scrolls, and family heirlooms. She reached the entrance, where the sacred torii gate, though warped and blackened, still stood proudly protecting the village. However, the graceful pagoda and tranquil garden were burnt to a crisp.
Rei waved to Hoshiyo, her drenched hair flopping in the wind as she ran towards her with a cheerful smile. "Hey, I'm so glad you're okay. We rushed ahead and witnessed the Shogunate charging through, setting everything ablaze with flaming arrows. It's unbelievable they would commit such a hateful act."
Hoshiyo nodded solemnly. "The Shogunate was looking for us. They burned the village down when they didn't find what they wanted."
Rei gasped. "Are you sure? Why would they be looking for us? Did we do something wrong?"
"I haven't found the answer yet, but they won't stop until they do," Hoshiyo replied grimly.
A gust of wind tousled Rei's wavy blue hair, concealing her tears. She bit her lip and whispered, "I'm not ready to die."
"We won't let it come to that without a fight," Hoshiyo reassured her.
Takeko arrived breathlessly, calling from a distance, "Hoshiyo, Rei, come quickly! We need help in the town square!"
Hoshiyo and Rei hurried after her, their hearts racing with concern. "What happened?" Hoshiyo asked urgently.
"Now that the fires are out, the full extent of what the Shogunate did is clear in the town square," Takeko explained, leading them through the narrow paths.
"What did they do?" Rei asked urgently.
"You should see it for yourself," Takeko replied hesitantly.
In the heart of the village, a large crowd of returning villagers stood in solemn silence, fixated on something deeply troubling. The sisters stood at the forefront, their expressions tense and troubled, sensing they might bear some responsibility. Frustrated and anxious, Hoshiyo pushed her way through the crowd, her shorter stature making it challenging to see over the heads of the whispering onlookers. Families knelt on the ground, their cries of anguish filling the air.
Once Hoshiyo reached the clearing, she looked up and gasped sharply. Instinctively, she covered her mouth, her eyes widening in horror at the gruesome sight before her: four human bodies skewered on stakes, charred beyond recognition—the sharp stakes pierced through their bodies, from their backs to their mouths.
Rei followed closely behind Hoshiyo and screamed in sheer horror. Overwhelmed, she dropped to her knees and retched violently into the dirt. The shocking scene sent a chilling message as if warning them that they could be next in line for such a gruesome fate.
Hoshiyo pinched her nose to ward off the acrid scent of charred flesh. She glanced up to find the dire wolves observing from a distance, their eyes keenly fixed on her every move. A surge of determination welled up within her, urging her to take action, though she was acutely aware of the dire consequences if she faltered. She whispered, "Do you think they were still alive when this happened?"
Tears and saliva streaked Rei's face as she gasped, "Yes, the blood stains on the gravel suggest they were. Why would they kill them in such a horrific way?"
"The Shogunate must have been furious not to receive any answers about our whereabouts. These Samurai left a message for us in case we returned," Hoshiyo said.
"Would it have been any different if we stayed here?" Rei asked.
"Yes, it would be us on those stakes, not them," Hoshiyo replied.
Emotions surged through Rei, cascading like sweat down her soot-covered face. Exhaustion weighed heavy on her, yet she summoned the strength to stand steadfast beside Hoshiyo. Together, they bore witness to the scene, sharing a deep-seated pain in their hearts. The thought of facing such a brutal end sent chills down their spines.
Ceres approached the two sisters, her demeanor devoid of emotion. She stood beside them, silently observing their visceral reactions, knowing they processed the situation differently. In a calm tone, she said, "Now is not the time for mourning. The villagers will soon abandon this place. We must seize this opportunity to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead."
Suppressing her anger, Hoshiyo tightened her fist and said, "We came here expecting celebration, only to be confronted with harsh reality. Our path won't be easy."
"No," Ceres affirmed. "We no longer fit among humans or the Kami who raised us. We're something greater now. It's time we forge our destiny and fight for those who can't fight for themselves. Are you prepared for that?"
"We were born ready," Hoshiyo declared.
Turning away from the grieving villagers, Hoshiyo strode forward with determination etched on her face. Proudly standing tall, she led the others towards the village entrance where the charred torii gate still defiantly stood. The dire wolves descended from the rooftops to join them, a silent symbol of unity and resolve as they embarked on their journey into an uncertain future.