Tsugi jerked awake, his face was wet and slimy, and his breathing was fast as he gazed around the room.

Wooden panel walls lined the little room instead of the cold dank stones that he could see even with his eyes closed.

A giant wolf-like dog of fur as dark as night lay sprawled on his chest, nearly burying him. His tail wagged gently as he gently licked Tsugi’s face, breathing a puff of air as if to say, “I need to go.”

"Hey buddy." Tsugi ran his fingers through the fur sitting upon the creature’s head, wrinkling the loose skin upon it, contorting its face.

Tsugi raised his hands above his face, staring at his scarred hands like seeing those scars, the very scars that brought upon other nightmares, would ensure that he was indeed awake – and not asleep.

"Damn nightmare." And it was only one of many – in both sleep and wake.

Rubbing his face, he grunted and sat up in bed stretching the tight muscles on his little body.

Had he overexerted himself, scaling that snowcap mountain just to lose his mind amongst the clouds? To get as close as he could to those stars as if with just one reach and he could touch them?

But it was no matter. He’d soon leave this place and those stars would just be nothing but another thought at the back of his mind. Everything was in place now after weeks of planning, and he would return soon – to a place where he could look up at those very stars for as long as he wanted.

"Come on bud." The dog hopped off the bed and eagerly followed behind him as he grabbed his pack and cloak.

"Good morning young master." A maid greeted him. "Would you like for me to bring you some breakfast and water to wash?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you." He went down the wooden stairs of the inn, where lively chattering consumed the room. Men and women sat at tables and dined harmoniously as he walked past them, stepping into the crowded streets.

There was a time when he sat in a tavern just like this one, and met the ones that would forever change the course of his life.

"Fine jewelry for your loved ones?"

"Medicinal herbs here!"

Merchants had arrived in Quitol, filling the streets with the sound of clopping horse hooves and rolling carts.

"Mother look!" A small child tugged at his mothers dress, pointing a tiny eager finger in Tsugi’s direction. "It's a dog. Can I pet it?"

"No!" She barked, pulling at his arm. "It looks like a wolf, it might bite you. Stay away from it!" The child let out a wail so loud that even banshees couldn’t master, screaming and crying at the top of his lungs – a very good set of lungs by the sound of it.

The mother quickly purchased sweet bread from the food merchant and shoved it into the spoiled child's mouth, placating him.

Tsugi couldn’t help but watch the little family, yearning for something that he never had. Though, how would one know how to miss it if they’ve never had one to begin with? And so he just ambled on, making his way out of the little town and to the outskirts of green fields and gentle greeting wind.

"Potty." The dog ran to the tree nearby and did his business. Tsugi couldn't understand why everyone was so afraid of Ruzo. He may look scary, but he was the sweetest and most loyal companion anyone could ever ask for.

Tsugi pulled out a small ball from his cloak and whistled, "Ruzo!" Ruzo stopped sniffing and shot his head up to stare intently at his master. Tsugi chucked the ball far across the vast grassy field. The creature took off in a flash after the ball, returning shortly with his pointed ears erect and long tail wagging in jubilation, dropping the ball into Tsugi's hand.

"Sit; down; spin; stand." The dog obeyed every command with intensity and tail wagging excitedly. "Yes." Tsugi threw the ball and Ruzo flew through the field, returning promptly, prancing with the ball in his mouth, and tongue hanging to the side.

After a long while of playing, the sun had reached its highest peak in the sky.

Ruzo panted tirelessly with drool foaming at his mouth from exhaustion, but he couldn't be happier.

"Alright bud." Tsugi wiped the slobbery ball onto the blades of grass and put it back in his robe before heading down the road towards the river.

Upon reaching the river he looked around to make sure no one was around before undressing. The last thing he wanted was for someone to see him. He dove into the cool river and with a splash Ruzo jumped in after him, swimming in circles.

Tsugi stared at his own reflection in the water. His shoulder length, midnight blue hair was drenched and dripping, but gleamed with a highlight from the afternoon sun; his face was small and slim; his young tiny body covered in fainted scars. If anyone saw him, they’d say he’d looked almost feminine – almost.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

He ran his fingers over an old scar under his armpit on his left side, remembering the first time he was left for dead. It's been seven years since that day, and the scar has almost completely faded from a risen pink scar to that of a flat light copper.

Ruzo swam up and circled Tsugi, licking him in the face every now and then as if he knew Tsugi’s mind was heading back to where he shouldn’t be. Tsugi shook his head, and emptied his thoughts, turning to pat Ruzo on his head as if saying thanks and finished washing up.

As they headed through the forest, he looked up and watched as the trees towered over him, creaking and rocking with the wind. Rays of sunlight peeked in and out of the forest with the waving leaves that seemed to dance and sing a sweet lilting lullaby.

The breeze, too, whistled a gentle melody as it twirled around him, bringing him the scent of earth, moss and leaves and –

Tsugi quickly crouched, his footsteps were soft, making no sound.

There, just beyond the tall grass, a rustling in the bush.

He signaled to Ruzo and he laid down, his nose and eyes pointing beyond the trees and tall grass – waiting.

Antlers popped out of the grass sitting atop a head with long white ears.

A luago.

Tsugi pulls out his blade from his boots. He must be swift and silent, for the giant rabbit-like creature's legs are long and powerful, it could disappear in a matter of seconds. Or it could close the distance just as fast with its arms that are long and lean, powerful enough to cause quite a bit of damage.

It was oblivious to the presence of Tsugi and Ruzo who were just one kilometer away. It lifts a squirming mouse to its sharp teeth and munches on it, ripping it in half. The bones crunched with strings of intestine and blood that dripped down its snow white fur and onto the vibrant green blades of grass.

With a flash, Tsugi's knife swiftly sliced through the air and perfectly separated the luagos’ cervical spine, dropping it to the ground instantly. On cue, Ruzo immediately responded and dashed off, leaving a small cloud of dust behind. He picked up the dead luago – who was almost the same size as him – and returned leaving a trail of blood behind him.

"Good boy." Tsugi smirked, watching Ruzo prance joyfully back to him.

Tsugi gathered up sticks and tinder off the ground, and started a fire that blazed with the burning wood, cracking and popping, sending a cloud of smoke slowly rising into the air. He gutted and skinned the luago, tossing the innards to Ruzo, who gobbled up the insides with glee, licking the blood from his maw as though they were a most welcoming treat.

He cut a whole leg off and tossed it to Ruzo who picked it up and laid down by the fire to munch on the delicate raw meat and bones. Then he skewed the rest and roasted it over the fire – some for now, some for later.

Night had arrived and the moon peaked out from behind the clouds. The fire sizzled and hissed with every drip of juice from the roasting meat. The grass rustled with the gentle breeze and the trees gently rocked and creaked, swaying ever so gently to the wind's command.

"Thank you for the food." Tsugi mumbled to no one in particular – or perhaps thanking the luago itself before sinking his teeth into the hot tender meat, devouring it deliciously.

"Would you look at this?" Drawled a deep chuckling voice, followed by a few other whispers.

Tsugi frowned, sucking on his teeth as he shifted his gaze from the crackling fire up through his lashes in irritation.

A big burly man walked out from behind a tree in the distance, sneering with his arms across his chest and a broad sword sheathed on his hip.

Four more men stepped out from the other trees behind him with axes and knives in their hands. None wore armor, just plain clothes and cloaks.

Bandits.

"Someone prepared dinner for us, boys!" The burly man approached, puffing up his chest like his ego could grow any bigger and sneered down his nose toward the boy propped on the log across the fire.

"What's a baby like you doing out here all alone?" A lanky man crossed his arms and mocked Tsugi in a provoking way. "Where's your mommy and daddy?"

They stopped and stood opposite the fire from Tsugi, towering over his tiny body.

"Get lost." Tsugi's dark eyes didn't move from the blazing, dancing fire before him, seemingly lost into its trance. Ruzo lay quietly and stared at the men. Strings of drool dangling from his mouth as though they were a hefty treat standing before him.

"Awe, isn't that cute. The baby can talk." The men burst into laughter. "And what are you going to do? Is your puppy going to protect you?" Thunderous laughter rang through the forest.

A hard kick to the chest sent Tsugi flying across the forest, slamming into a tree with a loud crack that sent the tree shaking violently and the leaves fluttering to the ground like confetti

The nearby fireflies took off into the night sky like stars at the vibration that rang through the dark shadowed forest.

Boisterous laughter could be heard from a distance, but they made no further advancements.

Ruzo still hadn’t moved an inch. He only laid there very quietly with his eyes locked onto the men, seemingly unworried of his master that had just disappeared from his side.

Tsugi stood up and dusted the dirt off his clothes as he walked back nonchalantly. That kick was nothing compared to the hell he had lived through. "That was the best you could do?"

The laughter ceased. There was not a single chirp of a cricket, nor the wind even dared make a move, leaving the woods in an eerie, deathly silence.

Tsugi took off his cloak, and earthen debris started levitating around him. His midnight hair danced under the moonlight as a monstrous shadow arose from behind him and umbrellas over them.

His eyes – a dark emptiness.

And the men froze with a sense of dread, unbeknownst to them their fate.