The Jungle Saga

The rhythmic creaking of wagon wheels filled the air as the cart rolled steadily along the dirt road, cutting through the vast open plains on its way to the City. The sky above was a perfect shade of blue, clear and endless. Lying atop the wagon, Bon stretched out lazily, arms behind his head, staring at the sky with half-lidded eyes.

After a while, he pushed himself up into a sitting position and scanned the horizon. His gaze landed on a small village nestled between rolling hills and scattered trees. "Wow," he muttered with a chuckle, tilting his head in amusement. "Didn't think there'd be a village in the boonies like this."

With that, he flopped back down, content to let the wagon carry him forward without a care. Then suddenly,the wagon lurched to a stop. Bon furrowed his brow and lifted his head to check what was going on. Up ahead, about ten feet in front of the horses, a lone figure stood in the middle of the road, blocking their path.

A girl, she wore a dark cloak,the hood drawn over her head, but the confident stance of her body suggested she was no ordinary traveler.

"Can you lend me your wagon and horses, pretty please?" the girl asked in a sweet, almost playful voice. But there was something in her tone that made it clear she wasn't really asking.

A child's voice trembled from inside the wagon. "D-Daddy, who is that…?" "Is it scavengers?" a woman, presumably the mother, whispered anxiously. The driver, a sturdy-looking man with a weathered face, climbed down from his seat and walked toward the hooded girl, standing his ground.

"I'm sorry," he said carefully, "but I can't hand over my wagon. I have to make it to the city before dusk." His voice was calm but firm. "If you could please step aside and let us continue, we'd be grateful."

For a moment, the girl said nothing. Then she sighed. "I guess things always have to happen the hard way…" she mumbled under her breath.

In an instant, she dashed forward. Her speed was incredible too fast for the driver to react. "Brace for impact," she said in the middle of an attack.

She lunged straight for him, her movements precise and controlled, aiming for a swift knockout blow. But just as her attack was about to land.

CLANG!, Bon appeared between them, his blade raised, blocking her strike with the hilt of his sword. "Tch." The girl clicked her tongue, leaping back, her eyes narrowing at Bon. They have a fighter, she thought.

The driver, stunned by the sudden turn of events, could only stare in disbelief. "Who… who are you?" he asked, bewildered.

Bon didn't answer. Keeping his sword steady, he exhaled through his nose and spoke instead to the driver. "As thanks for letting me ride in your wagon, I'll pay you back this way." He tilted his head toward the road. "Now take your family and move."

The man hesitated for only a second before nodding. He grabbed the reins and ushered his family forward, leading them away from danger. The girl attempted to stop them, but Bon swiftly stepped in her path again, forcing her to deal with him first.

She exhaled sharply. "So I have to take care of you first," she said. Without hesitation, she drew her twin daggers, the polished steel glinting under the afternoon sun. Bon didn't back down. He adjusted his grip on his sword and met her charge head-on.

Their blades clashed in a rapid flurry of strikes and counters. The girl was quick, her movements fluid and deadly, but Bon was faster, weaving between her attacks with practiced ease.

"You tried to knock that man out with one blow," Bon observed, sidestepping one of her slashes. "If you'd succeeded, the others would have lost their morale, making it easier for you to take the wagon."

She smirked, lunging forward again. "So what of it?"

Bon deflected her attack, his blade sliding against hers with a sharp screech of metal. "That means you're not a bad person," he said casually. "You weren't planning to kill them. Just needed the wagon for something, right?"

Her eyes widened slightly at his words, but before she could respond, "Kartia!" A voice rang out from the distance, fast approaching.

Bon saw another girl sprinting toward them, her expression frantic.

"Kartia! It's happening! Ana will be...!" She said, crying as she was trying her hardest to let the words out of her mouth. The moment she heard those words, the dagger-wielding girl, Kartia ,immediately turned and bolted toward the approaching girl, completely forgetting about Bon.

Bon watched her go, then sighed, sheathing his sword. "I guess a detour to that village might be interesting after all," he muttered to himself. Without wasting any more time, he descended the hill, following the path toward the small village he had spotted earlier. Whatever was happening there… it was enough to make that girl desperate.

Kartia run to the village with all her might, leaving behind the girl that came for her far behind with distance increase by second. She was getting close to the village as she heard drum beats, noise.

To her surprise, it was busy,the villagers danced and sang with joy in their voices. She then slowed down, gazed around as she took a slight steps forward.

As she stepped further to the center, she saw a little girl dressed and coat made of animal skin,she heard white drawings on her body. People were kneeling before her, giving her gifts and showing gratitude towards her.

Seeing this, Kartia felt her stomach boils, her heart pounded as rage consumed her."What is wrong with you people!" she shouted. "She is I little child, and yet you are so determined to feed her to some monster! Was she born to be some sacrifice to some lowly beast you claim to be a god? What kind of god that eats its own believers? What kind of god eats children!?" Kartia's voice, filled with rage, spread to the air and ranged to the entire ceremony.

Silence followed as everyone stopped what they were doing and focused on her. 

She changed her direction and faced towards the man and woman who were sitting down."You are her parents how could sit like that when your daughter is about to be devoured by some monster, huh?" She asked.

Whispers were being heard from the people, they went like "who is she?" The first person asked "She is that trouble maker " The other one.

The man sitting next to woman stood up and went closer to Kartia ,"For years, not a single harm happened to this village because the Swamp God protects us from harm, " He said. "For generations we have lived because of the mercy brought to us by the God. Now Kartia, you would not believe in it or expect to,in the end you are an outsider here, only seeking refuge," He added while going back to his sit.

Kartia couldn't believe the words that came out of the girl's father.She tried to speak,but a nice little voice called out to her. "Kartia!" She said and Kartia turned her attention towards her. The little girl was now standing and released a bright smile."It's okay," she added.

Two men took Kartia and threw her out of the ceremony grounds. Kartia was now angry seeing the men that threw her out going back,raged filled her and she drew out her daggers before she could storm forth,a voice of a crank old guy disturbed her.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the man said.

"Chief!" Kartia said.