Yu crouches, heart pounding, but it ain't just fear. It's hate, burning hot. He glares up, fists clenched, wishing he could tear those things from the heavens. The lightning dances, wild and wrong, each crack shaking the valley. The hunters whimper, some praying to the Elder's light. Yu don't pray. He just watches, eyes blazing, until the red fades, the bolts die out, and the Supernaturals vanish, their fight moving far off, beyond the peaks.
Shizuka grabs Yu's arm, yanking him up. "Move, dumbass!" he snaps, snatching some of Yu's load with one hand, dragging him with the other. The group bolts for the mountains, their tunnels waiting like open mouths. Yu stumbles, the deer's weight slowing him, but Shizuka's right there, steadying him, half-carrying the gear. "C'mon, you bastard!" Shizuka growls, but there's no anger in it, just the kind of push you give someone you'd die for. Yu runs, legs burning, Shizuka's grip the only thing keeping him from falling behind.
The valley's cliffs loom closer, their crags hiding the burrows where the last of humanity hides. Yu's chest heaves, not just from the run, but from the truth he can't shake: those things up there, they're why his mother's gone.
They finally get into the cave's mouth. The valley's cliffs tower around them, hiding the tunnels where what's left of humanity burrows like scared ants. Shizuka's still, carrying some of Yu's load, muttering about how they got lucky dodging those Supernaturals. The others scatter quick, hauling their kills to the storage pits, their faces pale from the red sky and lightning show.
Yu trudges to the stockpile, a damp corner of the cave where the old folks divvy up the spoils. He drops the deer and gear, wiping sweat from his brow. An old woman, Chichi, shuffles over, her back hunched, eyes soft but sharp. She's been like a grandma to him, raised him after his mom got torn apart, kept him fed and patched up 'til he hit eighteen and bailed to live on his own. Didn't want her catching heat for his big mouth, his doubts about the Elder that make folks whisper he's trouble.
"You're quiet," she says, not looking at him.
"Just thinking," Yu answers.
"About what?"
He glances over his shoulder. No one is close enough to hear."That feeling again," he says. "Like the air is holding its breath. Like something bad's about to happen."
Chichi pauses for a second, then keeps wrapping."You felt it today?"
"Up there, when the sky changed. Same as the night my mother" He stops himself.
Chichi leans in, voice low."Yu… never speak of that to the wrong ears. Not to Shizuka. Not to Kael. Not even to the stone you sleep on."
Yu smirks. "What, you think I'm cursed?"
"Not cursed," she says, meeting his eyes. "Marked. And people fear what they can't mark back."
He doesn't reply, just takes the bundle that Chichi is giving him and throws it over his shoulder. "Don't worry," he says going to his spot. "I know how to keep quiet...Thanks, Granny Chichi"
The cave's alive with movement, crystals embedded in the walls glowing like stars, lighting up a maze of tunnels and hollowed-out homes. In the center, a massive skylight yawns open, showing a slice of sky gray now, no more red, but still heavy with threat. It's a long climb to the top, and nobody bothers unless they're desperate to feel the wind. Folks bustle around, carrying water, mending nets, but they steer clear of Yu. He called 'em ignorant one too many times, and they look at him like he's a curse waiting to happen. He don't care. He avoids their eyes right back, heading for his corner of the cave.
His spot's a small, dark hollow, far from the others. A slab of rock serves as a bed, covered with a thin hide. Next to it, a chunk of charcoal and a beat-up diary pages of scavenged cloth stitched together. Yu drops his sack by the bed, sits heavy, and grabs the diary. He scribbles his thoughts.
That feeling hit again today. Same as when the sky went red, when those Supernaturals were fighting up there. Time slows, my gut twists, and I know shit's about to go wrong. Same as the day mother died. Started back then, that night the village burned. Kept happening all those years we ran through forests, dodging claws and storms. I always know when it's coming. Don't matter if I tell the others, they already think I'm half-crazy. Probably it's why I don't trust the Elder's bullshit. That feeling, it's like a truth they're too scared to see.
Yu scratches a few more lines in his diary.
"Yu! Come on, let's hit the field," Shizuka calls, poking his head into the dim hollow. His grin's easy, like nothing's wrong in this screwed-up world. Yu pauses, sets the charcoal down, and grabs a hunk of bread from his sack. He bites into it, chewing slow, then stuffs the diary under his arm. "Yeah, alright," he mutters.
They head out together, weaving through the glowing crystal tunnels, past folks who give Yu side-eyes but nod to Shizuka like he's a hero. The air gets fresher as they near the valley's open field, a flat stretch of dirt and grass ringed by the mountains, where the hunters train to stay sharp against whatever the hell's out there.
The others are already at it: spears thrusting, nets flying, bodies slamming in mock fights. Shizuka joins in, his wide shoulders rolling as he grabs a practice blade, but Yu finds a shady tree, slumps against the trunk, and watches. His diary's tucked away, bread half-eaten in his hand. He ain't here to sweat; he's here to observe, like always.
Across the field, Kael wipes sweat from his brow, leaning on his spear. He nods at Shizuka, chuckling'. "Why does Yu even show up? he comes every time, sits under that tree like a rock, never joins in. What's his deal? he Irritates the me."
Shizuka blocks a swing from another hunter, then steps back, breathing' steady. "Nah, Kael, you got it wrong. Yu's damn good at techniques. When I pick up a new move, I go straight to him. He breaks it down, spots weak spots, suggests ways to tweak it. Like, too many, man. He's killer at observing. Spends his life quiet, watching people, seeing what we miss."
Kael snorts, laughing' hard. "You're shittin' me. That carrier? The one full of doubts, questioning everything? Teaching you, our captain? No way that moody bastard's got anything worth learning."
Shizuka shrugs, smirkin' as he swings his blade again. "Believe what you want. He's saved my ass more times than you know, just by seeing shit clear."
Yu hears bits of it from his spot, but he don't react. Just chews his bread, eyes on the trainees, mind turning over every move like it's a puzzle.
While Shizuka's still talking about Yu's skills, Kael crosses his arms, a smirk creeping on his face. He's not trusting it, and before Shizuka can finish, Kael shouts across the field. "Hey, Yu! Prove it then. Quick fight, you and me. Let's see what that 'observing' gets you."
Yu looks up from his spot under the tree, plastering a fake smile on his face. "Nah, man. I'm good. I am just here to chill."
Kael's grin turns fake too, all teeth and no warmth. "Come on, carrier. Don't be a wuss. Show us your stuff."
Yu stands up slow, brushing dirt off his pants, his mind racing with excuses. Great, this idiot thinks he's hot shit. Probably he just wants to show off 'cause he can't handle Shizuka praising someone else. Like fighting me'll make his dick feel bigger. He chuckles inside, but out loud, he says, "Got stuff to do, Kael. Maybe next time."
Kael not accepting it. He strides over, grabs Yu's hand in a mock shake, and growls, "Think fast!" Before Yu can pull away, Kael's fist slams into his gut. Yu doubles over, hitting the dirt hard, coughing up air.
The field goes quiet, all eyes turning to them. Spears drop, trainees freeze, watching the drama unfold. Shizuka steps forward, face hard. "Kael, back off …"
But Yu raises a hand, waving him off. "Stay out of it, Shizuka."
Kael's eyes narrow, fury flaring. "You just told the captain to shut up? Your son of a mare!"
The words hit Yu like a bolt. The world slows, that sixth sense kicking in, not from Kael coming at him, but from the insult to his mother. That word, "mare," echoing like claws ripping flesh, dragging up the night she died. Rage boils, hot and blind. Kael advances, fist cocked, but before it lands, Yu surges up, slamming a punch straight into Kael's chin. The crack echoes, Kael staggers back, nearly tumbling, eyes wide.
Yu clenches his fists, doubling tem up, breathing heavy. Kael rubs his jaw, then laughs loud, a bark that cuts the tension. "Alright, shit carrier. Let's go!"
Yu's thoughts narrow, all focus on Kael's stance, left foot too forward, shoulder tense, he's guarding his right side weak. Breach there, hit low. No more excuses, just holes to exploit.
Shizuka watches, thinking, That's the same look he gets when he breaks down my attacks. Sharp, like he's seeing right through. He glances at Kael, noting how the guy's body's gone rigid, muscles coiled too tight. Damn, this is a rare fight. Do I jump in or watch a bit more?
Kael and Yu charge, fists flying, the field holding its breath.