My house was in flames and most of my friends had this crimson liquid spilling from wounds. I refused to believe or accept that it was their blood. I merely ran. I stumbled over Rasha. Rasha, what a wonderful girl she was so full of live and happiness, so joyful, so pure. Why was she like this?

The woods were ahead and the Bruten cared only for gold. They would not hunt us down, would they? They were brutal monsters so maybe they would hunt us down if only for sport. How disgusting, hunting for sport. I wandered among the trees for a time; once I said that I knew this place, this forest. Now I know nothing; the Bruten will destroy everything in their path, maybe there will be something left when they leave but I do not think so. Everyone... so many of us... they killed them didn't they. The rational part of me knew town would be obliterated. I wish it was not true but the world is cruel and uncaring. My books and notes are gone. Everything will have been fed to the flames. My friends... the ones who didn't die fighting will be running. Why didn't I protect Rasha I should have done something. I focused. I needed to find others and maybe help. Anyone else alive would be a blessing,- even the cowards who ran first. I cut off. I was a coward too. I ran with the rest of them. Focus! Calling for others was out of the question Bruten stragglers would be spread across the woods. The main horde would be keeping to the town but you never knew with a group this size,- or with the Bruten.

I focused again. First I must keep on my feet. I was far too afraid and was making so much of a racket that I would be known to anything in the woods. Maybe the entire Bruten force,- I refuse to call it an army. Those destructive primitives could never form an army. I stopped a wave of understanding coming over me. That might just be the way I could find others,- listening. I stood still and just listened. The forest made its own sounds and even hiding people magnify a fearful quiet. It is quite hard to hide from the birds and mice that normally make a racket.

I don't have to work that hard; I can easily hear movement somewhere to my right. I can think of anything else so I follow the noises. Stepping softly I came upon one of the Bruten. He turned as I stood there. I now know the origin of the expression still as a startled deer. He turns to face me and let out a roar, an inhuman roar. There was nothing to do but run. Then by a stroke of luck I ran right into Coing the blacksmith. He was brandishing an iron bar fear evident within his eyes.

"Bruten, behind me," I gasped.

Coing nodded and stood behind a tree. When the Bruten came crunching around he swung the club wildly around and I heard as it struck flesh.

"I was hoping to get one of those fiends," he spat. "Have you seen my brother?" his tone changed so drastically from when he was cursing the Bruten. Now his voice sounded suddenly desperate worry over his brother clear.

Coing and Cognassier were brothers and close friends. They Cognassier sold Coing's blacksmithing at his butchery and brought in a fair amount for the work. They really loved each other as brothers should they were sometimes referred to as the pride of Lelafe.

"Cognassier? No I haven't seen anyone," I replied picking up the Bruten's weapon.

"If they hurt him I swear I will hunt down every last one of them," he hissed. It was only then that I noticed that he was spitting blood.

Blood, you can lose some blood and still live, yes. I thought though in my heart I knew my friends were dead.

A piercing scream split the air, it was Kotogne. We ran, we ran toward the scream not away from it. We follow The Great Lord and if we die we will rest in with our Lady High. Lord protect us. We see Kotogne and her sister Kvitten cowering behind a tree as two Bruten circle around it.

"Together?" Coing asked.

"Together," I agreed.

***

We rushed out of our hiding place and swung our weapons at the closest Bruten. I felt a jarring impact as my club connected with a head. The head didn't roll. Instead it exploded against Coing's iron rod. The Bruten collapsed dead. I didn't think of it as a he but an it. A thing or animal rather than a person. There will be no afterlife with our Lady for him; for he is faithless. The other Bruten turned around weapon flying. I ducked and his axe as it soared over my head. I tackled him getting inside his axe's long reach. That was my mistake. He was far, far stronger than me; after my initial burst he pushed back at me hands around my neck Coing was fighting a new Bruten and was in no position to help me. I am going to die I realize. I think of all the things I should have done all the people I should have loved and I realize it didn't matter they are all dead with me.

"See you all with the Lady High," I wheezed. At least I will be with them now. Well until Coing dies too then no one will remember us and we'll fade into the void.

There was a warm feeling running down my chest and I feel lighter, like a great weight is gone. This is what acceptance feels like. I pause noticing that blood is running down my tunic and look up. No I correct myself this is what it feels like when the person choking you is stabbed in the neck with a sharp rock. I got up and turned to face my savior, Kotogne. She was still wearing the same blue-green tunic from earlier today. Was that only hours ago it felt like a lifetime.

"Thanks for the help," I said weakly.

"No problem, just don't die like everyone else," Kotogne laughed anxiously.

Everyone else. Everyone else is dead. What about Biser, Cognassier, and Aya, are they dead? Do they deserve to be dead? Lord and Lady how could this happen! We were protected; they were supposed to guard us against this sort of thing.

Coing ran up with Kvitten and Quitte, he was panting. "We need to find my brother, has anyone seen him?" I could feel the desperation in his voice, and with the dying light I could see it glint inside his eyes.

"He was fighting trying to get his brother and his wife Meela out of the town to the north. He was leading a small group of refugees."

"I need to find him, I need to go to him," Coing was starting to mutter. His words were almost indecipherable.

"No Coing, we need your help." That was Kotogne's voice. It rang out clear as a bell and held a tone of; - command, desperation, need?

I noticed something in the bushes. It was just a flicker, but still it held my attention.

"You're right, Kotogne but still he's my brother, I have to help him somehow. "There," I called, "movement in the bushes. Declare yourselves."

Kvitten and Kotogne looked up shocked. Quitte still didn't look like she cared at all and Coing leapt to his feet.

There was no need to fear it was Cognassier with Biser Aya and Dunja in tow.

"Brother!" Coing shouted as he ran up to hug Cognassier, "what is wrong?"

Then I noticed it too right before he said it. "Meela is dead."

Quitte started crying again. Crying for her dead husband.