HOPE AND LOVE
by Shelly

CHAPTER ONE


	“Man, I’m hungry!”
	
	“You’re always hungry, Mushra,” Sago replied as he rolled his eyes. 
“Honestly, you’re just as bad as Kutal.”
	
	“Hey! What do you mean by that?” the small Enterran demanded.
	
	“Same thing I did last time,” he sighed.
	
	Yakumo smiled as she watched them. They had been going on like this 
ever since Kutal had left them, saying that he knew a place nearby where 
he could find something delicious for them to eat. He had gone off by 
himself as neither Mushra nor Sago had wanted to leave her by herself, 
unable to defend herself if anything or anyone came after her. They had 
had some close scrapes already, and she guessed that they had learned 
their lesson.
	
	She was amazed at how they had become such fast friends so quickly, 
but she knew it was because they were all helping her in her quest to 
find Shinzo that they had bonded so well. Sometimes she would lie awake at 
night and wonder if this place really did exist, because if it didn’t 
then their journey would be in vain and they would risk their lives for 
nothing.
	
	No, not for nothing. They cared for her, regardless of what might 
become of their hopes to find what humans remained on Enterra, and she knew 
that she cared for them just as much. It didn’t matter to her that the 
other Enterrans hated and feared humans. To her they all held the same 
potential within themselves for peace and love; she was just unsure of 
how to unlock that potential.
	
	Soon their attention was diverted by the rustling of brush near the 
trail they were on, and suddenly Kutal burst forth, shouting at the top 
of his lungs for them to run. Mushra leapt to his feet on his 
hoverboard, ready for a fight, but even his own eyes widened as he saw the giant 
bear that chased their feline friend.
	
	“Um, Kutal, I hope this isn’t what you had in mind for us to eat,” he 
said.
	
	“Of course not, you dolt!” he cried. “Now get your skinny rear in gear 
and run!”
	
	Yakumo and Sago had already heeded his advice and made tracks. Mushra, 
however, stood his ground and faced the bear with a cocky expression. 
“It’s just a bear, Kutal,” he smirked. “I’m sure I can handle him.”
	
	“Not with those poison claws, you won’t!” 
	
	The bear roared and aimed a massive swipe at Mushra with his enormous 
paw, the claws  missing him with an inch to spare, just enough to 
ruffle the hair covering his forehead. “Whoa!” Ducking out of the way, he 
wisely changed his plan to consider saving his skin as he took pursuit 
after his friends. “Hey, guys! Wait up!”
	
	They seemed to run forever as the bear continued after them, roaring 
and snarling all the way, before they saw a dead end approaching in the 
form of a drop-off down towards a sprawling valley. Yakumo came to a 
screeching halt first, but her relief was short-lived as the others 
barreled into her, one at a time, until they slid down the slope, crying at 
the top of their lungs as they bounced and rolled their way down to the 
bottom. They moaned and groaned as they rose shakily to their feet, 
Yakumo the only one unharmed as Hakuba had quickly regained control of his 
descent.
	
	“Are you all right?” she asked them.
	
	“Yeah, we’re fine,” Mushra replied as he removed bits of leaves and 
twigs from his hair and armor, leveling a glare at Kutal. “What I’d like 
to know is what was so darn tasty that you would risk the anger of that 
type of bear?”
	
	Kutal grinned sheepishly. “They always have the best honey,” he 
replied.
	
	Sago buried his face in his hand. “I don’t believe it,” he groaned. “I 
thought you would’ve learned your lesson with the honey-beings.”
	
	“I can’t help it I like it,” the cat pouted.
	
	“Yeah, well, thanks to you, we’re lost,” he returned.
	
	No one had noticed that Mushra was staring around at his surroundings 
with a strange sort of smile on his face, one that was sad yet full of 
bittersweet memories. He remembered this place and knew that not far 
away lie a village that might offer them food and shelter for the night. 
What he wouldn’t give for a comfortable bed and a hot meal.
	
	“We’re not lost,” he finally spoke up. “I know exactly where we are.”
	
	All eyes turned to him. “You do?” Yakumo questioned. 
	
	“Yeah! Further down into this valley, there’s a village where we might 
find food and a place to sleep tonight,” he answered, his blue eyes 
alight with anticipation. “Come on, let’s go!” he cried as he started 
forth deeper into the trees.
	
	“Mushra!” Sago shouted after him, but the young Enterran ignored him, 
leaving them no choice but to follow him. Apparently he was seized with 
some sort of excitement as he was so far in front of them they could 
barely see him, but they managed to stay on track and soon they saw a 
break in the trees ahead that opened up into a large clearing.
	
	What they saw made their jaws drop in disbelief, Mushra’s especially 
as his expression was mixed with fear and sorrow. “I don’t believe it,” 
he whispered. “No! It can’t be!”
	
	There was once a village here, but it had been destroyed, and recently 
as the faintest wisps of smoke still permeated the ruins. The buildings 
had been torn down and burned to a blackened crisp, and the only life 
left were the few dogs that roamed around, whimpering from hunger and 
backing away fearfully from their presence.
	
	Mushra couldn’t believe that something so horrible could have happened 
to such a peaceful place, a place that once long ago had showed him 
mercy when he was badly injured from a battle. They took him in and nursed 
him back to health after seeing him practically on death’s door, and 
with their care he had made a full recovery. They were the first to have 
shown him kindness...and love. And after he had left them, he had 
forgotten what that had been like until he had looked into Yakumo’s eyes 
after she had risked her life to save his, and now more than ever he was 
determined to protect her at all costs...because it seemed that 
another’s life had been taken away from him, one that had belonged to someone 
who had most helped him heal his heart and soul.
	
	He felt a wetness crawling down his cheeks, and he was startled to 
realize that he was crying. Never before had he cried, except for the day 
when he had left this village, and he had always thought that one day 
he might return and see everyone again, especially her. He had never 
thought he would return and see it burned to the ground, a blackened, 
burning mess that would take forever to search through for survivors.
	
	But he had to. He had to find her, if only to know that she was dead.
	
	He rushed forth towards the debris with a cry of despair, the others 
shouting his name as they had wondered what had come over him, choosing 
to follow anyway on foot to help him, even Yakumo as she had seen the 
despairing light in his eyes, he who had always been so strong and 
faithful to her when everyone else laughed at him for staying with her. And 
for that she would never leave him when he needed her.


	
	Mushra collapsed back onto his knees, indistinguishable against the 
black soot as he was covered with it from head to toe except for his 
face, and when he wiped the back of his hand against his forehead he left a 
black streak behind that dripped with sweat. After hours of searching, 
he still had not found anything that might tell him she was dead, 
although her Encard might well have been taken or worse....
	
	He didn’t want to think anymore. He wouldn’t accept the fact that she 
was dead, not after all she had done for him.
	
	Feeling a renewed determination come over him, he started back digging 
through the debris, hoping for a sign, any sign that she might be 
alive. But then he stilled as he heard something crack nearby telling him 
that something or someone was out there, and he took out his weapon just 
in time to block the strike of a sword that had been meant for his 
head. He pushed his attacker back, who crouched down in readiness for 
another attack, and he wondered who it was but was unable to tell as the 
figure was cloaked all in black, being the only thing uncovered was their 
eyes, a deep amethyst that he was sure he had seen before.
	
	His heart leapt with hope within his chest, but before he could say 
anything they attacked again with an overhead strike that he ducked 
under, bringing the end of his weapon up into his attackers midsection. He 
heard what sounded like a female voice grunting as the breath was 
knocked from her lungs. She sunk to her hands and knees as she gasped for 
breath and he stood victorious over her as everyone else came rushing over 
to see what was happening.
	
	“That’s what you get for tangling with me,” he boasted.
	
	He couldn’t see her eyes widen in surprise, nor could he hear her 
breathe his name.
	
	“Who are you?” he demanded. “And why did you attack me?”
	
	She moved so that she sat down on the debris and reached up to remove 
the hood covering her head, revealing a face fair, streaked with blood, 
and just as black as his was from soot and tears, her eyes red and 
bloodshot and filled with sorrow and pain. Her long hair, once a beautiful 
silver-white that shimmered iridescently with all the colors of the 
rainbow, was now colored a lifeless, dull gray. “Hello, Mushra,” she 
whispered, gazing up into his eyes.
	
	He inhaled sharply as his eyes widened in disbelief. “Sasuna,” he 
breathed, wondering if he was dreaming or was it really her sitting there 
in front of him?

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Hope you all liked it! Thanks for reading!