Fearless (A Mulan Retelling)

Chapter Forty Six

As Iris and the men got closer and closer to what used to be Ramarath, the sight of it got worse and worse. Yet, it wasn't until they were standing at the edge of the village that Iris really grasped the desolation. From back on the hill, it had simply looked like a big pile of ash with a multitude of skeletal buildings. But now... it was still that, but more. Now, Iris saw the mass of bones that laid on the ground. Everywhere. Bones of what used to be Eldians.

These were once people not very different from herself.

"This is unspeakable," she whispered, trying to pull her eyes away from the wreckage and death.

"I... can't even understand," Kayde said next, sounding horror-stricken and angry, "This is... evil. Just evil I don't understand why or how someone could do something so cruel. These were once... citizens. Families."

She looked at him.

"I agree," the general joined in, motioning to the former settlement. "This is nothing short of despicable. This is the wrath of the Tokens. And I'm afraid that this wasn't the only village to end up like this. Here around the country's borders... I'm afraid to say that what you see will be recurring."

"Then we'd best hurry," Iris said, "The sooner we get to the fortress... the sooner this all ends. Hopefully."

"Ah. You are also right in that," he said, giving his horse a light swat, "We should speed up. Wallfront isn't too terribly far from here." Iris, and the others, hustled their own horses at his words. As they tromped through the town, Iris couldn't help but to cringe every time she heard a crunch under Gretchen's hooves.

What a mess.

The general and his men moved on out of Ramarath as quickly as they could. Even though this was a sight Zayn had seen before, it still spooked him just as much. As he led the group through what used to be the marketplace, he couldn't help but look for her. The little girl that had given him nightmares for months.

Yet, her body had fully decomposed now. A little red bow, once the general's, had fallen inside the skeleton's open mouth. This made bile rise in his throat and a big lump form in the pit of his belly. He cut his eyes back to the road, knowing that it was probably best if he ignored the dead. Subconsciously, he urged his horse to go faster.

At the pace that they were going, it didn't take long to pass through Ramarath. After all, it wasn't a very large village. As it moved farther and farther out of sight, the weight that seemed to coat the very air finally lifted, even if the horror was still there. In fact, Iris found herself taking a deep breath once they were far enough away from the place.

"General," Iris addressed Zayn.

"Yes?"

"When was that village attacked?" she asked. Surely it had been awhile, considering that the people were nothing but bones.

"That was one of the first settlements attacked by the Tokens. That was right before I sent out the draft. That was why I sent out the draft," he answered.

"I see," she said quietly, fading into the background.

He spared a glance back at her, noticing immediately the dent in her brow. She looked... revolted. Revolted and sad. Her eyes were downcast and partially closed, as if she were trying to hold in tears. Gods, he hated that she had to see it. In his mind, he wondered how she kept them from falling. He was surprised again at how strong she managed to be.