Free To Be

by Adam Lynch

  Ten Darkane soldiers accompany the four of us—but traveling from a distance. The officers don’t want a crowd to scare the animals away, but they also need men to help carry the captured animals back to the fort when necessary.

  Fraisha and Judan take the lead, but ensure I remain close for support and direction. Yuuto travels behind me. The forest is how I left it last: overcast skies and serene surroundings, aside from our feet shuffling the autumn leaves. Though the forest is pleasant to the eye, it is not pleasant in my memory. Hiking out here again so soon is agitating my peace. It’s difficult to look around without jumping at things I keep imagining from a distance. I keep swearing I spotted a Starlight…

  Unfortunately, this won’t end until we find my tiger-bear friends. But we’ll never find them if I don’t summon them. Zara and Cybil are smart, have powerful senses, and know how to avoid danger. The only way we’ll ever find them them is if I force them to come here. The thought of that feels wrong, and I’d hate to endanger them again after everything they’ve done for us. I can’t do that to them. But… if I don’t summon them, then what am I going to do? Are there other tiger-bears I can summon in the area? But that feels wrong, too. I don’t want to force animals against their will and survival instincts. It’s not fair and right for me to put them in danger for our sakes, especially in this case. It would be selfish… cowardly… and honestly... slavery—I mean what animal would willingly come here to be captured by the Daraken and be made their slave?

  But then what am I going to do? I decide to ask Yuuto—thank God he’s with me this time.

  “You have to summon them, Taiyo,” he whispers. “What other choice do we have?”

  “But I don’t want to endanger them.”

  “You won’t have to. Have them kill the Darkane.”

  My eyes expand and I gasp. I stop to face him a second. “Huh? Kill them? I-I don’t know if I can do that.”

  “I get how you feel. I’ve never killed anyone either. But you have to. It’s us, the animals, or them. It’s terrible, but it’s the only way.”

  Is he right? Is ordering the animals to kill the Darkane the only way out of this? I’m terrified at the thought… for many reasons. Firstly, I’ve never killed anyone before—I know Zara had killed the Starlight, but that was her own doing, not my command. I also know that I wouldn’t be the one killing them—the animals would be, but it would still be by my command.

  Secondly, if I go through with this, I’ll be the one in charge of setting everyone free at the fort, because after two officers and ten soldiers are killed, I will have initiated a war between us and the Darkane—this is the same problem I had last time I was out here… and like I told Yuuto last night, I don’t want to ruin or get in the way of whatever plan Akio and the others are putting together—I don’t want to cause any hiccups.

  But If I don’t lead the Darkane to Zara and Cybil, or two other tiger-bears, they’ll get suspicious of my motive and threaten to hurt my friends. The same will happen if I try to escape.

  Ah! What do I do? What do I do? I think Yuuto is right. No matter what I choose, I’ll end up sacrificing something: me and my friends, the Darkane, or the animals… there is no way out of this, is there?

  Suddenly, I hear the trees surrounding me whisper, Taiyo, behind you.

  Startled, I spin around and sight Judan standing there. I gasp and his eyes expand.

  “What? What is it?” Yuuto asks, spinning around and shuddering. Judan scowls and crosses his arms.

  “How is it that you always know when I’m behind you?” he asks. I gulp, looking away a second in order to compose myself and catch my breath.

  “I-I uh…”

  Fraisha stops and turns around, noticing how far behind the three of us are. “What is it? Something troubling you two?”

  “I heard the two of you whispering about something,” says Judan, examining us each. “What would have to be kept a secret from us? You’re not plotting against us, are you?”

  We both shake our heads. Then, Yuuto speaks. “T-taiyo is just nervous. I was trying to cheer him up.

  “You’re lying to me…”

  “Not now, Judan,” says Fraisha. “We need to find these tiger-bears and get back to the fort. It’s risky enough that we have this sizable of a party traveling with us, one that could easily be spotted by the Starlights—and they are the ones we should be worried about right now. Speaking of which, Taiyo, what’s the fastest way we can find your friends?”

  “Taiyo was just telling me there’s something he can try, but it’s really embarrassing,” says Yuuto to them suddenly. “He was telling me he’d prefer to be alone a minute if he has to try it.” I face him, surprised and puzzled by what he’s doing. He mouths the words, summon them.

  Fraisha smirks, seemingly intrigued. Judan stares skeptically, crossing his arms. Then, Judan faces Fraisha. “I don’t feel comfortable leaving them by themselves, brother.”

  “I told you to focus your concerns on the Starlights, Judan. The Leferians are not a threat to us, even if the mind-reader is one of them.” He faces Taiyo. “Is this the fastest way you can think of finding them?”

  “Y-yes,” I reply.

  “Then go and do it. And be quick about it. Don’t waste our time.”

  I travel a distance from them in the forest. When I reach solitude, I inhale deeply and exhale slowly. Ah. Solitude. What a relief. Even if for only a minute, it feels nice. Too bad I don’t have a second longer to spare. I whisper to the tree closest to me. “Hello.”

  “Greetings, Taiyo.”

  “May I ask you a favor?”

  “Yes, Taiyo. We’re always here.”

  “Can all the trees of the forest search for two tiger-bears and summon them here to help me?”

  “Certainly. We’ll get right on that.”

  “And one more thing, sorry… uh… can you uh… can you… tell them... to uh... kill... the two large, dark men with us?”

  “Yes, we can, Taiyo.”

  “T-thank you… and uh… sorry to bother you.”

  “You never bother us, Taiyo.”

  Suddenly, I face the direction I hear foot steps. It’s Fraisha.

  “Have you done what you needed to do? Any results?”

  “Y-yes. I know where to find them now.”

  “Excellent. Lead the way then.”

  I nod, gulp, and take the lead. Yuuto walks beside me. The Darkane stalk closely behind. It’s nerve-wracking. I feel them peering over my shoulder, waiting for me to reveal something. I have to be very careful not to do anything to draw their suspicion in any way… I breath in and out slowly to try to compose myself. I think it’s helping. Yuuto mimics.

  I lead us randomly through the forest. I don’t know where we’re going. But that doesn’t matter. I’m simply stalling for time until the tiger-bears arrive. First, the trees of the forest will have to find them and inform them, then the tiger-bears will have to travel to my location. I’m hoping they’re not far... because I don’t know how long I can lead the officers before they start becoming suspicious of me...

  Ten minutes pass when suddenly, Fraisha walks beside me, looking at me. I pretend not to notice, gulping, but he doesn’t let up.

  “Taiyo.” Ah. He said my name. Now I have no choice but to acknowledge him. With wide eyes and a stiff neck, I turn to face him. I feel the awkward look on my face… and I hate it. “Have you remembered yet?”

  “H-huh?” I gasp.

  “Have you remembered how you escaped the Starlight’s arrows?”

  What? This? He’s asking me this right now? I haven’t even had time to think of an answer yet. I wasn’t expecting this so soon. What do I do?

  My heart pounds. Sweat runs down my face and my hands. I can’t think. I turn from him and face Yuuto—I’m desperate for advice. When we make eye contact, I’m hoping he’ll signal something I can use in this moment, but he does nothing, and quickly looks away.

  “You turned to look at him…” Fraisha says,
my face quickly facing his again. He pauses. “Your friend, Yuuto. You turned to look at him… why is that?” I gulp. I have no idea what to say. So I stare blankly. He studies me. “Does he have the answer? Were you looking for him to give you a hint?” As my heart races faster, I have to open my mouth to breathe. He continues scrutinizing. His eyes are so bright I feel like they’re already burning me.

  “I just remembered why you never caught my attention before, Taiyo… it’s because you were quiet. You never talked to anyone, and no one talked to you.” He peers over me and looks at Yuuto. I gulp. Then, he looks back at me. “Then, all of a sudden, Yuuto—a total stranger to your village—is brought in, and he’s the one you chose to accompany you on this mission.” Wait? Did he trick me by asking me to choose who I wanted to bring along? I feel my lips shake, but I force myself to stop by tightening them. Fraisha smiles. Is my worst fear being realized? Is he suspecting Yuuto as being the mind-reader?

  I glue my wide eyes to the ground, my face frozen and pale. Fraisha whispers to my ear, “Is this because he understands things about you that no one else could? Even if you’ve never said much to him?”

  I gasp.

  But then suddenly, I hear whispers from someone else...

  It’s not Fraisha; it’s not Yuuto, and it’s not Judan… but something else—was it the trees? I hone my hearing on the whispers, and listen again. I didn’t hear what they said the first time, but I can’t ask them to repeat… not while Fraisha is staring directly at me...

  I listen for them… but instead of hearing them, I hear something else. Wait… was that—no. It couldn’t be. I listen more carefully, tuning everything else out. Suddenly, I hear it… and there can be no mistake.

  It was the ringing of bells.

  I spin my head northwest of me and sight two tall beings with reptile skin, black and blue armor, and black holes for eyes.

  I stop breathing. Upon sight of us, they vibrate their tongues, hiss like snakes, and draw their duel blades.

  “Whoa!” shouts Fraisha, drawing his katana and Judan his spear.

  “Get back!” shouts Judan as he shoves me aside, blocking the Starlight’s first attack.

  I slip on the leaves and fall on my back. The Starlight kicks Judan past me. It glares at me. I gasp and back-crawl as fast as I can. It hastens towards me and prepares to impale me.

  Judan tackles it to the ground. He pulls out a small hunting knife and stabs it twice before it grips him and throws him aside.

  I back-crawl again until unexpectedly hitting the other Starlight’s legs. It swings its blades at me, but I duck and hug the ground. I dig my fingers in the dirt, crawling away as fast as I can, but the Starlight grapples my ankle, crushing it as it lifts my body airborne. I flail, grunt, and pant heavily. It’s preparing to chop my leg off. I scream and flail as aggressively as I can, but nothing slows it down.

  Suddenly, Fraisha thrusts his katana through its back and it grunts, stiffening its body.

  It drops me. Bang. The shock of the impact prevents me from feeling it, so I immediately crawl away to safety.

  “Taiyo!” Yuuto shouts. He runs towards me with his spear in hand—a spear? I forgot I had a weapon with me—but will it do any good against them? “Take my hand!” I take it, and he pulls me up. Then, I pull out my spear.

  Suddenly, the ten Darkane soldiers who had accompanied us from the rear arrive at the scene. Their eyes wide, their bodies stiff, and their weapons drawn, they examine before taking action. “Stand down!” Fraisha shouts, waving them off. “You’re no match for them. Take the slaves and retreat!”

  “Whoa! Watch out, Taiyo!” Yuuto pulls me to the ground with him suddenly. We hear the swooshing of a tossed blade fly over our heads. It hits a tree and cuts it deep. Whoa…

  I face the direction of the tossed blade and sight the Starlight who is closer to Judan—Judan lies wounded beside it. He tries to stand, but the Starlight beats him until he can no longer attempt.

  The Darkane soldiers then charge the Starlight. But one after another, they’re deflected with ease and brutally battered.

  Fraisha grunts and grinds his teeth upon witnessing this. But then he aims his attention back on the Starlight he impaled, backing slowly from it while armed with Judan’s spear. The katana is in its chest, but the Starlight still comes.

  Suddenly, it accelerates towards Fraisha, ramming him to the ground. Then, it stomps on him, knocking out his breath. It stomps again and again.

  I look at Yuuto who pants, hugging the ground with me. He calms a little when we meet eyes. “Taiyo… we-we have to do something…”

  “I know…”

  “Have you called the tiger-bears?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Are they still coming?”

  “I-I uh—hold on, I’ll check…”

  I face the earth beneath me. “Are the tiger-bears almost here?”

  “Yes, Taiyo. They should be here in two hours.”

  “What? Two hours?!” Yuuto exclaims. “We’ll be dead before then!”

  “I know…”

  “Ask the earth if there’s an animal closer by…”

  “Okay...”

  A Starlight by Judan lifts a defeated soldier in the air by his neck. The soldier flails and struggles to breathe. The Starlight growls and salivates as it watches him suffer. Then, it sinks its teeth into his head, and tears it off his neck. His body drops as it chews his head like nuts. Blood pools the ground.

  Yuuto whimpers and I hyperventilate. Are they… are they going to do that to us?

  Yuuto grabs my arm and we meet eyes. Tears run down his. “Taiyo… I-I don’t want to die…”

  Seeing how scared he is, I somehow find strength to comfort him, grabbing his other arm with my free hand. “I know…”

  “I’m not ready…”

  “Don’t worry, it’ll be okay…”

  Suddenly noticing the Starlight with a katana in its chest approaching Yuuto from behind, my eyes widen. Yuuto mirrors my expression as he looks behind him. Then, he twists back towards me, quivering. “No, no, no. Taiyo… h-help me. Help me!”

  The Starlight stomps on his back, pinning him in place. Yuuto screams, tightening his grip on me. I pull him as hard as I can, but he won’t budge. I look up at the Starlight who’s salivating over him—no, no. I can’t let it do this—I won’t.

  “Taiyo! Please… help me! I’m scared!”

  It bends its knee, arches over him, and grips his neck. It chokes him until he can barely speak. It eyes his head as it salivates over him. “Taiyo… h-help me… please...”

  Suddenly remembering my weapon in hand, I go to jab the Starlight’s head. But it grips my spear without even looking, pulls it out of my hands, and tosses it. “No!” I scream. “No, no, no!”

  I spin my head around, searching for anything to help me. I gaze at the sky—the clouds are gone. No wind. No lightning. No present animals. What do I do? What do I do? I’m helpless… I’m scared...

  Think, Taiyo. Come on. Think! You useless idiot! Your friend is about to die! I look around again in desperation. I try to think, but I can’t at all. It’s gone blank. My heart is pounding and I feel like my blood is boiling out of the pot. I knew this would happen. I knew nobody could count on you. People die when left in your care. Yuuto is going to die because of you. You will lose your only friend, and you will deserve it.

  “No! No!” Tears run down my eyes. I run to attack the Starlight, but I’m so weak I don’t even distract it. Desperate, I throw myself back on the ground, gripping Yuuto’s arms. His face red, and his veins popping out of his head, he makes eye contact with me, but is unable to utter anything because of the Starlight choking him. I cry and scream, terrified as I watch the last seconds of his life pass me by…

  Suddenly, tree trunks shatter, branches break, leaves shuffle, and large sprinting steps are sounded. I look above Yuuto and sight a fox the size of an elephant dashing towards us. Her eyes red and bulged, her ears flat, her snout bent, and h
er jaw opened, teeth as sharp as a shark’s is shown as she sinks them inside the Starlight’s body—even through its armor. She jerks it off of Yuuto like a stick off the ground. Everyone is taken aback.

  The large fox with three tails slams her prey to the ground, leaves and dirt flying everywhere. She hones in on it, scowling with devilish red eyes and growling with saliva pouring out of her mouth. Like a snake, she shoots for her finishing bite, but the Starlight catches her jaw with both hands. It resists as long and hard as it can, but is quickly overwhelmed. Like a crocodile, she slams her jaws shut, breaking through more of its armor, and teething its flesh. Then, she swings it left to right, green blood squirting as the Starlight shrieks.

  She slams it on the ground again, and then stains her jaw by digging and feasting on its flesh until it’s not recognizable. Green blood pools everywhere.

  After finishing her fatality, she aims her attention at the other Starlight near Judan. The Starlight gets in defensive position, aims its blade at her, and eyes her carefully. The surviving Darkane soldiers summon every ounce of strength they have to crawl away to safety. Fraisha and Judan gaze with dropped jaws and expanded eyes. Yuuto and I do the same. Is this… could this be the animal I summoned? Does this mean she’s fighting for us? Yuuto faces me for a second and raises his eyebrows—he’s as surprised as I am.

  The fox approaches the Starlight as it circles around her—Judan uses this opportunity to crawl away from them. They lock their eyes on each other—the first to look away dies. As the fox growls and grinds her teeth, she digs her feet into the ground and lowers her body. The Starlight raises its blade, hissing.

  Suddenly, the fox whips her three tails at the Starlight’s hands, launching its weapon out of sight. The Starlight spins its head towards it and the fox cues this second to pounce it. Pinning it helplessly to the ground, the fox bites its head, swings it left to right, and digs into it until its mutilated and unrecognizable. Another blood bath is spawned.