The Will to Live Chapter 2: Introductions
This is part of a collaboration between Ruinai and myself. It goes to describe my character and how he fell into his current predicament.
The Will to Live Chapter 2: Introductions
What do I remember? I remember seeing the sun crest the hills. I remember roaming through the woods, playing with my older sister. I remember my mother and father, looking at each other with a love that burned so bright it could make even the bitterest of hearts melt. And I remember smoke...... I remember blood...... and I experienced what was to hate.
***
Humans armed with their guns and armored tanks came thundering through, tumbling our precious trees to the ground. My sister and I ran to get to the village to warn everyone, but it was too late, they were too close. Everyone armed themselves with bows, daggers, scythes, and axes; throwing on chainmail. The humans had their technology, but we had something more. My sister and I were born differently from the rest of the villagers. We both had......gifts.
***
"Sister! First course of action! You remember what to do?!" I shouted.
"What do you think we've been training for?!" She yelled back, placing her hands on the ground, face stern with concentration. Giant thorn vines began to snake out of the ground, wrapping around trees, creating walls of thorns 100ft thick. The vines shot out their thorns like bullets, replenishing them all the while as my sister continued their growth.
I followed suit with my end. Concentrating I stretched my arms out to the sides, calling forth the winds to carry me. "A few lightning bolts should send them packing." I said tilting my face towards the heavens. The once bright sky darkened with the formation of clouds. Lightning flashed and sizzled through the dark grey, directing itself to the intended targets. It hit two of their tanks, causing them to malfunction. Some of them began to panic as I sent a cluster of bolts their way, trying to push them to retreat. I hit two more of their tanks, causing many of their soldiers to turn and retreat. That's when I heard the explosion.
Three tanks had managed to fire, their bombs obliterating a section of my sister's wall, which frantically began repairing itself. I turned to cast more bolts, but never got the chance.
Searing pain filled my shoulder and I lost concentration, falling to the earth. I had been shot. I had the good fortune of regaining my control 20 feet away from the ground, gliding to my sister.
"Oh gods, Anton are you all right?!" She gasped, worry in her voice.
"I'm fine Nova. Just keep concentrating." I said, clutching my shoulder.
"I will, but AHHH!" A bomb hit a mere 20 feet away from us. I managed to summon strong enough winds to block the brunt of the blast, but not enough to keep us from being knocked another 20 feet away.
I raised my head. "Nova, are you hurt?"
She didn't answer.
"NOVA!" She was still breathing, just unconscious. The humans bombarded us, making short work of the vines now that they could not replenish themselves. The villagers charged, not willing to go down without a fight. I picked up my sister, carrying her to a small cave where the too elderly and the too young had gone to hide. I ran back to join the fight. My heart sank as I reached the village. Many whom I had known to admire lay dead and even more wounded. I ran into the fray. I summoned up my power full force, calling upon the lightning once more. And that's when I saw him. My father lay on the ground, blood pouring from his chest. I ran over to his side.
"FATHER!" I screamed, tears running down my face.
His muzzle scrunched up a little as he opened his eyes. "Anton......" he said in a gasp, "Where's Nova?"
"She's alright, she's with the others. Can you move?" I asked.
"I'll try." He said, rising up with my assistance.
We made it to one of the storage shacks. I eased my father down so he could rest. "Son, you have to go. I... I'm not going to make it."
"NO! You're not going to die. You're going to be al....alright." I said my voice shaking.
"Son, I'm proud of you." he gasped. "I love you... Anton......" His eyes went blank, the light fading.
"Father?" I said , tears flowing."FATHER!!!" I shook him, unwilling to believe it, but he never stirred. I held him as tightly as I could, before laying him gently on the floor, finding a sheet and draping it over him. I left the shack, walking in a daze. Bullets flew all around me, as I faced the human soldiers. And that's when it happened. For the first time.... I lost control.
All seemed to go quiet, and then, like a sonic boom, the wind burst from where I stood, encircling me, and creating a twister around my form. "Die."I said coldly. Once again the clouds darkened, and a storm from hell formed, ravaging the land, killing any whom I commanded it to, with its fierce lightning and gale force winds. I didn't have to worry about my people, the ones who weren't already dead had fled. I relished in killing the humans at that moment, let them suffer the fate that they had bestowed upon those whom I loved. My madness was interrupted however. Another bomb had managed to land close to me, knocking me off my feet and into the side of one of the tanks, and all went black.
***
Those memories were only months old, but they seemed ancient. I don't know if my sister and the others made it out safely, and I suppose I never will. My powers are tied to nature and connected with my emotions, useless when surrounded by stone, metal, and mortar. The amount of rage I'd have to generate would be maddening, like it had been that day.
And now I stood here in a cell, with a very peculiar wolf. He walked over to his cot, lying down with his arms behind his head. He seemed different from the rest. Wiser, more collected. I leaned against the wall opposite of him. I looked at him for a while, thinking. Finally, I found my voice, saying two words. "Name's Anton."
The wolf looked over. "Runai.", he grunted.