• A deep searing pain...

    She ran as fast as she could, carrying enough food for a few days and a hunting knife, trying to space herself from the soldiers. Hours before, soldiers quietly ambushed her village, taking her husband and killing their only child... Tears streamed down her face as she ran throught the fields and into the forrest.

    These raids have been going on for countless years, but the villagers were never found by the warriors...until this day... She took out her knife and cut her waist lenght hair short and took out a sack of gold from her pack, holding it to her chest as she ran. She was already dressed in some of her husband's clothes. He'd made her dress in them as the warriors moved from house to house, killing and taking people for themselves. She ran for half an hour more before she had to stop to catch her breath. She sobbed, laying her face inside her hands, knowing that she could never turn back, never use her name or voice again. She started running again, already knowing her destination.

    From a young age, she was taught to fight with a sword to protect herself and others. She reached the forrest, gasping for breath. Relief flooded through her body and her whole spirit. She had arrived at the nearby mining town. She knew they had a truce with the warriors, so she was safe for the time being...

    She walked into a blacksmith shop and calmly asked for a sword. She was good at immitatig a man's voice and did so as she spoke. She would be using this voice for the rest of her life. The blacksmith looked up and blinked in suprise. He took a sword from a shelf and handed it to her, taking the gold in return. As she turned to leave, the man asked her curiously. "What is your name, sir?"

    She paused and looked over her shoulder, "Kohaku," she said before walking out of the door. That would be her name from now on...