In the Midst of War-Short Story

I’ve been recently working on rewriting the history for one of my fictional worlds, Alis. Doing this, I’ve also been rewriting my character Kaden’s backstory. So, today I bring you a short story from his POV when he was a kid. 

***

Run. 

The sound of gunshots rang in Kaden’s ears. The ground rumbled with explosions as he ran, stumbling and falling with each one. The wetness of blood on his shirt was more acute in his mind than anything else. His heart raced inside of his chest and panic threatened to take over with every sharp, gasping breath. 

Run. 

He tripped over another root on the ground, crashing into the underbrush. The thorns scraped his short legs as he got back to his feet, but he ignored them. 

Run. 

Trees rose up higher and thicker around him as he ran deeper into the dimly lit forest, though he hardly paid any attention to it. His legs ached for a rest and pain flared up from seemingly every area of his body. But Kaden couldn’t stop. 

Run. 

His chest ached and his vision grew blurry. Sweat caused his hair to stick to his forehead, getting in his eyes even more. Another rumble shook the ground, causing him to stumble again, banging his knee against another tree. Pain flared up in his leg. 

Run. 

The trees began to grow so thick, he had to twist and turn to avoid crashing into them. Leaves and branches tore against his small face and arms over and over. Stones fell underfoot, slipping out from under him every step. He kept pushing forward. 

Run. 

The word echoed in his mind as he tripped over some unseen object on the ground. He fell forward, hitting his arm against another tree. Tiny branches bit at his face as he collided with the dirt floor, rolling until he hit a large tree. 

Kaden didn’t get up. Every part of his body ached, causing him to tremble. He stayed still against the dirt floor, gritting his teeth. His arms felt like a thousand tiny needles were pricking them and his chest felt so tight he could hardly breathe. 

Memories and pictures of destruction and death filled his mind. Fire. Smoke. Ashes. 

He whimpered, pressing his eyes shut tightly and curling up into a ball. He didn’t want to get up. He didn’t want to open his eyes. He didn’t want to run anymore. He was sick of running. Sick of pain. Sick of war. 

Whimpering again, he trembled harder. 

That’s when the faintest brush of something soft on the edge of his hand. Then the feeling of something leaning against his arm. 

Kaden’s eyes flew open and he sat up quickly, much to the protest of every part of his body. He winced then began to look around for the thing that had touched him. 

At first, he didn’t see a thing, just the dark tree behind him and the thick forest surrounding him at all sides. Everything was quiet and still. 

He took a few deep breaths to calm his racing heart. It was nothing, probably just the wind. He was safe in the forest. 

Then he saw the twitch of something in the shadows to his left. He blinked, staring hard. 

Another twitch. 

He stiffened, his throat growing tight. 

Then silently, out of the shadows, crept a small panther. It was midnight black with large, round black eyes. It had two tiny round ears and a perfect little nose. It stared at Kaden for a long time, an almost curious expression on its face. 

Kaden looked at it for a while in wonder. He paused for a long moment then, seeing as the panther cub never left, gently outstretched his hand. 

The small panther looked confused for a moment, but eventually it finally trotted over to his hand. It sniffed it for a moment, before rubbing its head against Kaden’s hand, making a soft purring noise. 

A small smile formed on Kaden’s face as he rubbed the top of the panther’s head. 

The panther laid down next to him, allowing him to keep petting its head. 

“What are you doing out here?” A voice said suddenly. 

Kaden’s head snapped up quickly and he stumbled to his feet, causing his legs to begin to shake with pain, but he ignored it. His hand found its way to the dagger sheathed at his side. Under his feet, the panther cub sprang up to its feet, staying by his side. 

He looked around for a moment before spotting a woman creeping out from behind a tree. She had bright red hair pulled into a single long braid that hung to her waist with flowers stuck throughout it. She had a beautiful face with light pink lips pulled into the smallest of smiles. Her dress was plain, though leaves and flowers hung onto it like decorations making it more magnificent than any other fancy dress Kaden had seen in the city. 

But what he noticed most, was the large panther trotting by her side, its tail curling and uncurling in graceful curves as it watched him. 

The small panther at Kaden’s feet let out a small meow at the sight of the larger panther then it quickly trotted over to the large panther, rubbing its small head against the panther’s large legs. 

Kaden turned his attention away from the panthers to the woman standing in front of him. He didn’t say a thing, but his hand never left the dagger at his side. 

“Are you alright?” The woman asked in a soft tone, her dark blue eyes twinkling in the sunlight. 

He swallowed, but kept his mouth shut. 

The woman watched him for a moment, then apparently deciding Kaden wouldn’t answer, she took another step forward. “I can help you,” She said in almost a whisper. 

“N-no,” He replied, trying to keep his voice from shaking. “I-I can leave if you want me t-to.” 

The woman cocked her head to the side, raising an eyebrow. “You don’t have to leave. Especially since it looks like you’ve become quite a good acquaintance of Maya’s cub.” 

Kaden’s eyes flickered over to the small panther, but he quickly looked up again. “What do you want from me?” 

“Well, that depends,” The woman took another step forward, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. “Where did you come from? Do you have a place to stay?” 

He swallowed. “The war,” He whispered. “My…I don’t have a place to stay…” 

Her face shifted to an expression of sympathy. “You poor child…” She said under her breath, just barely audible. “Would you like a place to stay?” 

Kaden felt his legs begin to tremble again. Pain stung his arms and face and exhaustion caused his vison to blur. Without even knowing what he was doing, he nodded his head. 

The woman smiled, pushing her braid over her shoulder. “Then come with me.” She turned and began walking away. 

Kaden watched her for a moment before forcing his legs to move after her. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the panthers come to follow. 

The panther cub walked up to his legs, staying by his side. 

“My name is Mia Ketern,” The woman said softly. 

Kaden looked at her, furrowing his eyebrows. Something about Mia was different. Everyone else he’d ever met would have never helped someone like him. They would have just walked the other way…or worse. 

But…that woman was different. She seemed to actually care. 

He allowed his hand to drop from the dagger’s hilt. “I’m Kaden.” 

For the first time in his life, he didn’t feel like he had to run. 

****

Until next time,

A.J. Syngraféas