As Fuyuki Tamaki approached the clearing, the acrid scent of smoke stung her nose, mingling with the sweet aroma of the berries she had gathered. The dense undergrowth of the forest seemed to claw at her legs, slowing her frantic pace. Each step felt like an eternity as worry gnawed at her heart, knowing she had strayed farther than her mother had deemed safe.
Finally breaking through the trees, the sight that greeted her was a nightmare incarnate. Her village, once vibrant and full of life, now lay in ruins, consumed by merciless flames. The air was thick with the sounds of agony and despair, punctuated by the crackling of fire and the cries of the wounded.
Fuyuki's chest tightened with fear and sorrow as she scanned the chaos for any sign of her family. Ignoring the danger that lurked amidst the chaos, she darted towards her home, her mind consumed with the desperate hope of finding her loved ones alive.
Pushing through the shattered remnants of her front door, Fuyuki's heart shattered at the sight before her. Her mother lay crumpled on the ground, a deep gash marring her once-beautiful face, while her father... the image was too gruesome to comprehend. The bile rose in her throat as she fought back the urge to vomit.
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But amidst the despair, a weak voice pierced through the chaos, calling her name. "Fuyu!" Her mother's voice, though barely audible, filled her with a glimmer of hope. Rushing to her mother's side, tears streamed down Fuyuki's face as she knelt beside her, clasping her hand tightly.
Her mother's eyes, once bright and full of life, now seemed clouded with pain and resignation. With every ounce of strength she could muster, she whispered her final words to her daughter, urging her to flee from the horror that surrounded them.
Fuyuki's heart shattered as she watched her mother slip away, her final words echoing in her ears like a haunting melody. "I love you, Fuyu." With tears blurring her vision, she knew she had no choice but to honor her mother's last wish and flee from the devastation that had torn her world apart. As Fuyu fled from the smoldering ruins of her village, her heart pounded in her chest, her breaths ragged and shallow. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, sent shivers down her spine, knowing that the creatures of the forest were hot on her heels.
With every step, the weight of grief and despair threatened to overwhelm her, but she pushed forward, driven by the primal instinct to survive. But her efforts were in vain as she felt a searing pain rip through her back, sending her crashing to the forest floor, the ground cold and unforgiving beneath her.
Struggling to lift her head, Fuyu's vision blurred as she caught sight of a dark figure looming over her, their features obscured by the shadows of the forest. Their words were a distant echo in her mind, muffled and incomprehensible, as darkness enveloped her, swallowing her whole.