The sun was starting to disappear and the sky was turning dark. He was patrolling in the outer walls as per usual, when his steps halted. Peter, having sensitive senses, noticed there was a distant smell of smoke coming from the direction of the forest. His instincts were telling him to follow and investigate it.

  So, he stealthily wandered into the forest, searching for the source of the sooty scent. The deeper he walked, the more prevalent the smell became. Then, he saw it. A trail of blood that lead to a clearing. His instincts were blaring alarms in his head. He wasn't near enough to hear them clearly, but from the sounds he picked up, it was a group of men. It wasn't strange for a group of travellers to come through this area. But normally, travellers will go straight to stop at the village's inn for accommodations.

  "Why are these group of men hunting and camping near the village instead? Unless..."

  Peter laid low. He took a few careful steps toward the clearing, then quietly listened in. He could somehow make out a few words from the rowdy men's chatter.

  'Night, kill, fire, woman, feast'.

  Peter felt his blood turned cold. Fully trusting his judgement, he snuck back out of the forest, then immediately turned on his heel and ran as fast as he possibly could.

  An elderly man was perched on a bench outside of his home, leisurely watching the butterflies fluttering about in his flower garden. He felt a stir in the air. Something was amiss. His head snapped towards the gate in the far distance from where he was. Then, he saw Peter, running like a madman. He slowly stood from his seat when the young man finally came to a stop in front of him.

  "What's wrong, son?"

  Peter grabbed the old man's arm as he was huffing from the lack of breath. He quickly straightened himself and finally managed to speak.

  "Old man! Emergency!"

  He hurriedly explained all that he saw and heard, coming into his current conclusion. He had without a shred of doubt, a real certainty that raiders were camping near the area, waiting to strike the village at night.

  "If it was anybody else, I may've questioned it. But hearing this from you, Peter, I know how accurate you can be. I would count on your instincts with my life!"

  "I'm glad you of all people gets it old man."

  Old Man Norde placed a hand on his shoulder.

  "Of course, son."

  The elderly man turned towards a crowd that had gathered nearby and instructed the men to gather other able bodied men to take up arms and head to the village's entrance. Meanwhile, the women and children were urged to escape the village with haste through the back mountain.

  Unfortunately, unlike what Peter thought, the raiders didn't wait for long. They had easily grown impatient. A group of about thirty men marched through the gates, wearing leather armors and armed with weapons. Before the village men could prepare themselves. Before the women and children had safely evacuated.

  A few hours later, night fell upon the village. The whole place was already up in flames. The village men were dying, the women screaming, the children crying. All the while, the fully geared men were laughing and taunting them. Enjoying themselves as they watched the villagers struggled to save anothers' life and their own.

  - - - - -

  Tiana's grandmother, Aunt Laeya as she was often called, was strolling down the marketplace. She was browsing a soft new blanket for her granddaughter, when she heard a commotion. The moment she saw Peter standing there, gasping for air beside old man Norde, she had a bad premonition. That scene reminded her of when Peter ran to their house in panic and the news of her son that followed, had brought her to her knees. In a heartbeat, she knew. If something could rattle Peter in such a way, it would definitely concern the villagers' safety. Without hearing the rest of their conversation, she ran back home in a rush. There was only one thing on her mind then. Whatever it was about to happen, she needed to save her precious daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  One can only expect so much stealth from a woman in her 50's, as well as a young woman who had very recently gave birth and barely yet to fully recover. Neither had any sort of combat experience, not even basic self-defense skills to save themselves in these situations. So the outcome was obvious before they even started. While they were attempting to sneak their way to the back mountains, they had been spotted by one of the men. He called for a few others and now a small group of armed men with torches had been relentlessly pursuing after them nonstop.

  Both Lana and Aunt Laeya were stumbling and limping through the dense trees, until their steps started faltering as they were gasping for breath. They could still hear the rustles of heavy steps and voices of men yelling and cursing, approaching closer and closer. However, they were both too tired to keep running.

  Aunt Laeya looked at Lana who was right behind her, disheveled from head to toe, carrying the small, fragile newborn in her arms. The miracle of her son and his fiancee's love. They were the proof that her son had lived a good, fulfilling life before his timely death. Her heart ached at the pitiful sight of them. She decided then and there, that she will have to sacrifice her life for both girls to have even a sliver of chance at survival. So, Aunt Laeya grabbed Lana by the arm and led her behind a big tree and thick bushes, perfect for hiding their silhouette which bought them a bit of time as long as they don't make any loud sound.

  "Take this."

  She whispered. Aunt Laeya slung a string of small pouch over Lana's head, and hid it inside the collar of her shirt.

  "What..."

  Lana was confused. She was mentally and physically exhausted, barely holding on by mere willpower. It took her some time before she understood what was happening.

  "This will help you along the way. It should be enough for a few days of travel. Go to the next village in the south, it's quite far but you will be safe there. Ask for the village leader, he's a good man. Show that piece of paper in the pouch to him."

  Lana was lost, not knowing what to say. Her head was still buzzing from all the chaos. As she was trying to form words in her mind, Aunt Laeya pulled her into a tight hug and while holding back her tears, she whispered fondly.

  "Take care of yourself and your child."

  She loosened her embrace and gazed down at the newborn baby safely tucked inside her blanket. She softly caressed her pink chubby cheek with the back of her forefinger.

  "Be good for your mother."

  The sound of footsteps were gradually closing in. Aunt Laeya believed she couldn't stay any longer and risk them getting caught. It was now or never. She took a deep breath and stood up.

  "Go! Run, child! Live!"

  Aunt Laeya said her final words before running straight ahead without any hesitation. Lana could simply watch as it all happened. She was truly at a lost for words, overwhelmed by her thoughts and emotions.

  "W-wai.."

  Her feeble voice trailed and she instantly fell quiet when a louder, rougher angry man's voice was yelling at the top of his lungs.

  "Over there! Capture that bitch!"

  Lana flinched and instantly lowered herself further upon hearing the uproar that was not too far from where they were hiding. She held her trembling breath as she listened to her surrounding. The second she thought it was safe to move, she braced herself up, mustered every little bit of strength she had and ran for dear life towards the opposite way, all the while her anxious heart was beating a mile a minute.

  - - - - -

  Lana stood there, unmoving. Her dark, solemn eyes watched as the flames consumed the village, burning it to the ground along with the memories and everyone she cared about. After her fiance was gone, she had been able to hold on and live with the memories of her beloved by revisiting the places they first met, fell in love, went on their dates, and where he suprised her with a proposal. She often sat beside his grave and told him her day, imagining him listening. It didn't matter if people saw that and thought she was out of her mind. Sometimes her mother-in-law would brought up stories of his younger days, she never got sick of constantly hearing about them over and over. That was how she got by while missing him everyday. But now, she could do none of it anymore. She had lost it all.

  'It's gone.. everything.. just how much more must I lose...'

  The distant sight of the burning village blurred, and a silent tear fell.

  Then, the baby girl in her arms squirmed. The blanket that was wrapped around her had came loose. A small hand wriggled out from under it and landed on the lower side of Lana's jaw.

  "Mmm.. ma! Mamma!"

  Lana's body jerked slightly, surprised by her daughter's voice and the warm fingertips on her cold skin.

  "O-oh..."

  Lana looked down at her daughter, who was flailing her petite little arms.

  "Mma!"

  The baby girl tried to reach out her small hand higher, then tapped her soft palms twice on her mother's cheek. Lana stared at her daughter, stunned by the gesture. For a second, she could've sworn she saw an expression of concern in her eyes.

  '... Is she trying to make me feel better? Can she understand what's going on? No, that can't be. Still, it's a nice feeling. '

  Lana gazed at her child warmly and put on a brave smile.

  "Y-yes, sweetheart. Mommy's here. Mommy's okay. Everything will be f-fine."

  Lana's lower lip quivered. She pursed her lips and took a deep breath to stop herself from crying.

  'I was feeling so depressed, I forgot. That's right. I still have my lovely baby girl. I haven't lost everything.'

  Lana lowered her head and whispered softly.

  "Don't worry, mommy will protect you."

  She lightly kissed her child on her small forehead, looked back at the wild fire and smoke one last time, then turned and walked forward with determined eyes toward her next destination.

  'I promise. Even if it's the last thing I do.'