Temple of Sin and Sorrow

[Sha]

My feet were hardened from my travels this past year and so they did not ache, however, the frigid air atop the mountain where her temple lay seemed to affect my breath. We had descended quite a ways and were only a few hours walk from the village. My lungs began to regain their composure as I sat with my back to a tree next to hers. Removing my pack I dropped it beside me. I lowered the cloth which I wore around my mouth before rummaging briefly through the leather pack I had just taken off of my back. Soon my hand emerged with a tied cloth which I opened to reveal dried meat.


I took a piece and bit into it. Espe had said she was not hungry and so I did not ask her again if she wanted to eat, instead, I simply held out the cloth which held the jerky, offering it to her in silence as I chewed slowly, watching her hold the swords with such tenderness, as though they were a child.

 

[FluffyFox]

I glanced at the meat he held out to me and slowly reached out taking the smallest piece there I slowly ate it trying to savor it as much as possible, our temple was not very rich so we did not get much food, it was hard to grow anything on the top of the mountain and people did not travel up the mountain in the snow. I didn't want to eat all his food so I stopped after the second piece.


My stomach gurgled as I stopped eating and I blushed before looking away. I quickly stood."Let's get going again, the sooner we get to the village the better it will be." I said as I smiled to Shanori. I was happy I wore a many layer kimono in the winter, it hid how thin I really was, if I sucked in my breathe you could see my ribs.

 

[Sha]

I noticed her blush when her stomach growled after she had finished. As though this was her cue she stood and pressed us to move forward. I was a bit surprised, it had been a short rest, and for someone who doesn't travel often this was quite the journey to make on foot. I let out a sigh, I would have prefer to sit a bit longer but I didn't mind much either way, so I wrapped the last few pieces of jerky, placed them in my pack, and stood throwing it over my shoulders while still chewing on a piece of jerky protruding from my mouth, "Alright," I said through the food in my mouth, "If you're ready, I'm ready."


We departed again down the trail. The snow at our feet continued to thicken as we walked through what felt like powdered sugar falling gently from the sky as I savored the dried strip of meat meandering up and down as I chewed it as a farmer might chew a blade of wheat.

 

[FluffyFox]

I fell in step behind him as we walked. It wasn't that I wanted to move on, I just didn't want to think about the food he had there. I had seen once a girl the forest gods rescued and brought to the temple once, she ate to much right away she threw up and I didn't want that to happen to me. We came to a part of a trail where there were large rocks and I had to carefully climb down them. I only slipped a couple times from the large amount of snow, and I was able to catch myself both times.


Once at the bottom I looked to Shanori as the path split here. I had been told one went to a river and the other to the city but as I had never traveled I didn't know which to take, Lupine had warned me in the pat forest gods might come up from the lake and try to kidnap me, but when they did he always chased them away.

 

[Sha]

The day pressed on. Snow continued to rain down from the greying clouds above as we walked through the moderate cold. My footprints from earlier had by now been completely imprisoned by the new snow when we reached a fork in the road. We began to move down the right path towards the village when the forest around us began to howl. The wind picked up, battering against us causing me to raise an arm to defend my eyes as I peered into the trees from where the wind blew.


Though the light was beginning to fade as the sun set we were a mere hour out from the village at the foot of the mountain. Between the trees pairs of red dots began to appear. They seemed to be eyes though they were illuminated in an unnatural way. I moved my hand towards my sword as I looked back at Espe who was beside me, still tenderly cradling the two swords, "Wolves?" I asked, unsure of why their eyes shone so brightly.

 

[FluffyFox]

I moved behind Shanori as the bright red eyes grew in number."No, not wolves." I said as a boy with white hair walked out in front of us. He had a long white kimono on with red accents. He smiled at us as he licked the blood off his claws."Well well well. Little Espe's come down from the mountain, where is Lupine? He is awfully protective of you." He said as he started to walk forward. I shrunk back trying to stay hidden.


"Hmm, your new, i've never seen you at the temple before." He said as large cats slunk out of the bushes with red eyes and a red slash across their backs."Just give us Espe and it will all be fine, I wont have to kill you." He said before his ears twitched, they were cat ears."Quick, everyone scatter, Lupine's coming down the path!" They dashed into the woods as a large white wolf slowly came into view.

 

[Sha]

My hand moved slowly to the hilt of my sword as a smile pervaded my face unwittingly. He licked blood of his claw-like fingers before threatening Espe and myself. I began to draw my blade slowly in anticipation as I grew ready for a fight, "Is this another God of the forest?" I asked without moving my eyes from the white-haired boy. I was hardly able to contain myself. Usually my mannerisms are more stoic, more managed and dilute, but here - when before us stood what had the potential to be a God; I hoped I could test my strength against the foe.


It was then he shouted for them to scatter as Lupine, the wolf we had seen at the edge of the temple when we first departed in the morning approach us. I retained the position of my sword, "And what is it you want? Lupine, was it? A wolf with no pack is hardly a worthy foe." My smile faded as the anticipation of war drained from the atmosphere around us.

 

[FluffyFox]

I took a step as Lupine walked right up to me before turning into his human form. He had long white hair down his back with a white inner haori and a black kimono hanging off his arms."Who says I would be your foe." He said as he looked past me at Shanori. I did not want the two to fight, knowing Lupine, who had been alive for much longer then anyone else here, would not fight cleanly."Lupine what do you want?"


I step back as his gaze drifts back to me before he takes the kimono of his arms and wraps it around me."You are my bride are you not?" He said before patting my head and making sure I was all bundled up."I'm coming with you two, to make sure you don't hurt her." He said to Shanori before he took the two swords from my arms.

 

[Sha]

I removed my hood allowing the cool, icy breeze to bite at my ears and sway my hair in it's melody. I released the hilt of my sword from my grasp and groaned, rubbing my temple with my left hand as my right remained ever ready upon the hilt of my blade. "You?" I asked incredulously. "And what the hell do makes you think you could stop me if I tried?" I asked through a sigh before finally removing my hand from my temples. I peered through my locks of crimson hair with my blue eye as my red one remained hidden beneath my hair.


"Don't take me for a weakling, dog," I scoffed condescendingly towards the white-haired man now holding the swords.

 

[FluffyFox]

Ilooked between the two of them with a sigh."Please don'/t fight." I say softly to the both of them then take the swords back from Lupine who kept glaring at Shanori."I'll carry these." I said, wanting to pull my weight. I walked forward so I was up next to Shanori."I'll stay with you two until the base of the mountain at least, if I like you i'll stay more, if not, I might just take Espe and the swords back up to the temple."


I sigh at him as he moves past us. I look at Shanori with a smile."Please don't take his words to heart, he doesn't like to show his emotions." I say as I walk forward." I think you two would be good friends." I say before I look forward and take delicate steps through the knee deep snow.

 

[Sha]

I stood still eyeing Lupine as he passed me, speaking his short rebuttal, I said nothing while he began to trudge through the ever deepening snow towards the village. Espe, once again carrying the swords with the same tenderness and care, spoke a few words regarding Lupine and followed him further down the path. I stayed towards the back now, allowing him to lead while Espe walked delicately through the ever thickening snow. My hood was still down around my neck. The cold felt pleasant as it grazed my ears. Every now and then I would glance around half-hoping that the cats would reemerge, but it seemed as long as Lupin was with us, this would not be the case.


"I was looking forward to that fight, y'know," I said to Lupine who still lead the way, "And now I don't think they'll be coming back, not as long as you're here." My eyes rolled gently. Then in the near distance the villagers could be heard. The snow's fall became less and less and surely it would soon cease completely as the village became visible in soft candlelight as the sun began to fade behind the mountain behind us.

 

[FluffyFox]

Lupine looked over his shoulder with a smirk on his face."Don't worry you'll have plenty times to fight others." He said and turned to me."Take care of Espe." He said before he started back up the hill. I smile at him before I turn back to Shanori."Let's go!" I said and took his hand with a smile.


I yawn softly as I smile at him tired from walking all day."You don't have to worry about the swords, I placed a seal around them so others can't detect them." I say with a look to the village.

 

[Sha]

"Well, looks like I won't have to get along with him after all," I responded as the white haired man began to walk back up the hill. Not half an hour later they had arrived in the village. The wooden homes covered in the pillowy white snow which abounded all around them despite the snow having ceased to fall. Beautiful red and white arches stood scattered around the village's river which passed just by it on the left side, hindered only by a windmill presumably used for lumber.


The inn was towards the center of the village, though this place was certainly not used to many visitors, it seemed mostly there out of custom. The streets were rrelatively barren, a few men and women walked about, a group of children played in the snow, looking on at the pair of travelers with wonder and curiosity.


"Those cats we saw, any chance they'll come this far?" I asked Espe as we walked down the main road between the short buildings of this small village of Yuki.

 

[FluffyFox]

I looked at him as we entered the village before I looked around with amazement."This town is so pretty!" I said as I spun around before running to catch up to Shanori. I fell in step beside him as we walked."They will not leave thier lake, but we might meet other forest gods on the way, they will sense me and come to investigate us." I said


I looked at the small inn as we came near it a few people were standing outside, it seemed this place was the area in town everyone hung out. I step behind Shanori shyly as they looked at us before stepping aside. I smoothed out my priestess clothes and then looked at Shanori.

 

[Sha]

The roads of the village must have been salted as the snow was significantly less than that of the trail we had just taken. Her kimono waved about her legs as she spun joyfully when we entered the village. I glanced back and let on a soft smile at her happiness, I had forgotten she had never left the temple and how new this all must have been. Perhaps she was not a fighter in the same sense as I, but her carefree joy resonated something within me that I had long been without.


The inn was fairly crowded when we entered. Most likely the villagers had come here to relax during the snowfall as night fell. It was not overly loud but it was apparent that few remained sober at this time. A few glanced over to us as we walked through the doors but seemed more interest in their own doings than ours. A young woman approached us, "Staying the night?" I nodded and glanced back at Espe, "Ready for dinner? I know I'm hungry," I said returning my attention to the hostess who motioned for us to follow.

 

[FluffyFox]

As we stepped into the Inn and I stepped behind Shanori, a little afraid of how the people looked at me. I held onto Shanori's hand with one hand and the swords in my other."I'm a little hungry." I said with a soft spoken voice. We came to an area to sit and I sat down looking around to see a group across the hall looking at us, they looked like bandits. I held the swords tighter to my chest as I looked back at Shanori trying to keep my mind off of them.


I only asked for a little bit of bread and some soup so my food came pretty quickly. I set the swords down in my lap as I ate, all the food tasted really good, we never had anything like this up at the temple. A shadow came over my back as the three men from the other table come up around me."I think the two of you should hand over those swords your holding missy."

 

[Sha]

It was surprising when she took my hand as we walked to where we would sit. I had almost forgotten she had been a prisoner of sorts within the walls of her temple and now we walked through groups of strangers a day's walk away from her home. While I had quite a bit of rice laden with meat my new companion maintained her small appetite. Without saying much to each other I could tell she was enjoying the taste of her soup, it must be hard to get decently seasoned food so far up that mountain.


I glanced up from my plate, licking a grain of rice from them and peered at a man who's shadow was now cast upon our table. He asked for the swords, "Condescending bastard," I thought as I brought my hands to my lap, hidden beneath the tabletop. My hand gravitated to the hilt of my sword, but given the amount of people about the inn, I didn't want to swing something so long. I pointed to the swords with my elbows still fastened to the table, "Those swords?"


The man in front nodded through crooked teeth as he brandished a dagger at his hip, "Aye," he smirked, "Those swords." I let out a sigh as his two companions cocked their heads behind him. The other patrons didn't seem too keen on getting involved.


I let closed my eyes briefly with a sigh of contempt, "Alright." I said standing, showing a bit of my sword's metal, "But you'll have to win them from me."

 

[FluffyFox]

I shyed away from the two men as I moved away from them afraid. I held the swords to my chest and looked at Shanori as he stood and told them they would have to get through him. The men chuckled and drew their swords and one looked at me."Maybe we should take her as well." They said as they chuckled again. I stepped back again as the serving girl came up.


"If your going to fight please take this outside, we don't want blood spilled in the Inn." She said and took my hand pulling me back."Don't worry, that man your with looks very strong, I have a feeling he will win." She says as we watched them walk outside. I frown and go over to the window to watch.

 

[Sha]

Much to my surprise the thieves listened when the server told us to leave, more surprising still was how nonchalantly her tone was when she spoke. It was as if this had happened before. The one who did the talking was the first to leave, followed by myself and then his two friends. I was not overly fond of having the enemy to my back, but by the looks of these men, I didn't have much to fear. Of course, their skill in fighting was secondary to the way in which they fought; a thing I came to realize as I felt a boot strike at my back causing me to lurch forward. I managed to stay on my feet and quickly planted my right foot into the ground. My eyes rolled instinctively as I drew my blade and produced a gash upon the assailant's chest. pivoting from my planted foot and swinging upwards. His smile faded more quickly than his white tunic turned red as he fell to the thin snow at our feet.


Beside him, a man with a headband fastened to his forehead, covered in dirt and blood, drew from beneath his coat two daggers, each no more than a foot in length and swung them without hesitation as though they were the two blades of scissors. Given that I was at the end of my swing it took little effort to duck below his rash attack and stab upwards through his heart with my blade. I prepared to turn quickly but I heard no crunching of snow as powder once again fell from the sky.


Remaining calm I removed my blade from the man's chest and turned my eyes to the window of the inn, seeing Espe peering through the window with other onlookers, and upon noticing her safety, turned myself to face the leader of the small group of bandits.

His face held a shit-eating grin as a thumb rode slowly across his chin. With a hand still in his pocket he spoke as his left hand fell to his hilt, "Impressive," he chuckled, "They are, or were, no match for me, of course; just as you are not," He paused, "but impressive, nonetheless." I said nothing as I watched him with blood continuing to drip from my blade pointed to the red tainted white earth. "If you are willing to go so far to protect a few pieces of metal, they must be worth a hefty sum. What do you say I let you live, and we split the profit?"


His voice was cocky and filled with condescension. I let out a sigh as he finished, "Fool," I muttered as I sprang forward. The bandit drew his sword from his side and blocked the attack as it came for his neck. A look of surprise passed briefly over his face, as though being told "no" was a novelty to him. Our swords clashed again. Then twice more before the muscle of his left arm tore open to the sting of my blade causing his sword to lower. Our fight had moved to the center of the street outside the inn, a few villagers had gathered nearby to watch while faces peered out from every window of the village. I watched him as he wavered upon his feet, blood dripping from his arm as we stood in the falling snow.

 

[FluffyFox]

(Just a kindly reminder, the site has a no cussword policy)


I watched as he fought the two men, one of them hitting him unfairly from behind. He was soon able to take out the two men, but they had moved out of my vision range. I grabbed my cloak which I had slipped off and hurried to the door following after them, not wanting to be left at the Inn. I come to the edge of a building and peak around the edge as I look at the two of them.


The bandit leader had a gash on his arm, but I didn't notice any of his men around. I was about to take a step out, still holding the swords to my chest when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see a person who looked like a copy of the one fighting Shanori and that was when I realized the two must be brothers. I tried to run but her grabbed me and picked me up moving out towards his brother.


"I would stay your blade unless you want this little one to get hurt." He said setting me in front of him as he faced Shanori from the side. I tried to get away but he just grabbed me harder and whispered in my ear."I wouldn't fight, you never know what a bandit might do to you if you fight back."

 

[Sha]

It was then that a voice spoke from behind me. I turned my head quickly to see Espe in the clutches of a man who looked strikingly similar to the man I had just wounded. It was almost as if they were twins. "Imbecile! Could you not have done that a little sooner?!" The wounded man yelled from the street.


"I wanted to see how you'd fare, little brother," The other man said with a chuckle. The one addressed as 'little brother' growled something under his breath as he grabbed his sword from the bloodied snow and held it firmly in his blood covered hand. "We don't usually get fighters this far out in the middle of nowhere," The elder brother continued with a smile, restraining Espe who still grasped the swords. "Well, some, sure, but none who have ever wounded my little brother." He was at the edge of the road now, still grinning as his brother had before I had wounded him.


Glass suddenly shattered against the head of the captor. He winced as the shards fell around him and his hostage, "What?" He cried in anger, loosening his grip, "Who?" He said, now turning his head. Now was my chance. The man had turned to see the girl who had served us only moments ago frozen at the end of her throwing motion with wide eyes as though she had been compelled by some outside force to throw the glass against the bandit. I lunged forward, he was a few feet away, but well within the range of my sword. I had to be careful not to hit Espe.


As I came within range his brother shouted, "Behind you!" While following me with a sword in one hand and blood dripping from the other. The elder brother turned back and held Espe in front of him. I dropped my sword to the ground. I again planted my right foot while launching my left at his knee; a vital place he had not the foresight to protect. The joint cracked as he cried and bent over, his arms around the girl released as his brother closed in behind me, swinging down with his blade. The blade barely caught my shoulder but blood immediately sponged into my tunic beneath my kimono, protecting it from stain. His older brother writhed in agony as he clutched his distorted knee as I rolled to my feet and raised a half-sword, no more than a foot and a half long, from a sheath within my sleeve. I pressed it hard against the man's neck causing blood to trickle ever so slightly down the sharp steel.


"You alright?" I asked Espe without taking my eyes, nor my sword, off the man's throat as he dropped his sword to the ground.

 

[FluffyFox]

I was shaking lightly as the two men talked and I looked at Shanori as tears came to my eyes, I was scared. I jumped lightly as the man who grabbed me leaned over me a little and then he turned around pulling me with him. The girl who had served us food was there and then we turned back around to face Shanori. I gasped lightly as I was let go and fell forward.


When I looked up I saw Shanori wounded and I quickly got up and moved over to him."Your hurt!" I said and looked at the man he stood there. The girl who had served us walked up and looked at me as my hood had fallen down letting my ears show."Your a forest god." She said softly and the bandits looked at me with a little fear in thier eyes before they took off running away.


I reached back and pulled my hood back up and held a finger up to my mouth."Shh, it's a secret." I said and looked at Shanori. I went over and looked at his shoulder trying to think what the healer at the temple would do for this. Lupine was the one who always cared for me if I got hurt or sick but I had never gotten a wound like this before.

 

[Sha]

The one who's knee was now collapsed got up as hastily as he could, limping loudly and in clear pain away - his brother lurched away from my blade as he notied Espe's ears and assisted his brother in fleeing. Normally I would have like to see such men die, but as it stood, I had little reason to follow them. As I watched them limp away I felt the girl's hands touch my shoulder as she inspected the wound with curiosity and worry.


I looked at her, my face betraying no emotion, and spoke softly, "I've had worse." I drew the blood stained rag from a pocket and wiped the short sword, sheathed it, then lifted my greater weapon from the snow, forgetting I had injured my shoulder causing me to wince and drop it back into the snow, "Damn," I whispered. I rolled my shoulder and lifted the sword from the ground while beginning to wipe the blood from it with my injured right arm.

 

[FluffyFox]

I watched him work for a moment before I moved forward and took his hand and cleaned off his blade for here before I gave it back to him."Here." I said softly then stepped back holding onto Sin and Sorrow. I looked back at the girl who had helped us who just smiled."Don't worry, I wont tell anyone about your ears." She said and looked at the two of us."If you come back to the inn I can look at your shoulder, this town gets lots of bandits, the temple above tries to help but they can't come down often, and the lord of this area has forgotten us, I don't even know if he knows this town is here."


I look at Shanori and move over to him."Let's go back to the inn." I said softly and followed the girl. She took us up to a room and then took can of Shanori's shoulder."I'll bring your food up in a minute." She said and then left. I sat down in one of the chairs and looked at the two beds, I had never slept in a bed before. We always slept on thin mats on the ground.

 

[Sha]

The room was still as the girl tended to the wound upon my shoulder while I held my kimono in my hand. The tunic I wore beneath was stained with blood and sliced open in the same way as the kimono, though as I inspected the outer garment I noticed it held no stains of blood. As the alcohol was softly touched to the wound with cotton I winced slightly and glanced over as she was beginning to wrap it. The clothing above my waist - a silk undershirt, a thin leather tunic, and a kimono - was strewn beside me to facilitate her mending.


Not long after the wound was bound she exited the room after telling us that our food would soon be brought up as a convenience for what had transpired. I turned my attention to Espe who had moved to a chair and was admiring the beds. "We should have killed them, what if they return?" I asked before pausing briefly, "And I'll have to ask if they have a seamstress in this village," I said through a strain in my voice as I stood and rolled my bare, wounded shoulder to test the depth its pain.