The Samurai's Whisper

A horse cantered up over the horizon. In one hand the rider held a meter long blade, in the other the reins. He looked out over the open valley as the warriors below noticed his arrival. Acting on instinct and survival they took positions of advantage and cover as they noticed the distinct armour, that directly signified what they were about to be facing. The moon light caught the highlights of the armoured plates that covered the rider and the horse. The Samurai.

The area they were defending was their home, once a deserted camp site where travellers would set up camp while passing through the mountain range. Hand built huts crafted with Japanese cypress wood, elegantly finished with care. With nothing near by for miles they lived off the land, but had set a standard unmatched for a place so isolated. A stream ran through the bottom of the valley, it divided straight through the middle of their settlement.

Coated in the traditional armour. The horses breath caught the bitter air and rose as a cluster of fog. The rider lay his sword across his lap as the horse came to a stop. He raised his hands to his mouth and let out a screeching whistle that echoed over the valley. The horse raised it's front legs and let out a shivering neigh. It's armour clinked and rattled, it's face covered by a wooden shaffron with engraved designs, etched into the accompanying plates that covered it's body.

The peak's of the hill's that ran on both sides was boarded with thick woodland. As the whistle rang out Samurai's appeared on either side, scattered out along the top of the valley. On their feet, they stood in line looking out at the men below as they did their best to adjust.

Some of the men gathered the elderly, women and children into a central house. "What is happening?" a child asked it's mother. "We are playing a big game of hide and seek'' she replied ask they huddled to the back of the room.

"Send ten to the far side of the valley" one of the elders ordered before closing the door. The word spread through the defenders as the Samurai's numbered on either side took bow and arrows from over their shoulders and took aim, holding them ready to fire.

At the front hill the Samurai stepped down from his horse and walked out in front and walked slowly forward.

The ten ordered had made their way to the opposite side of the village. Three of them continued further on although there was no one there they had the last possible area of attack covered. The moon lit the path ahead.

The Samurai's across the valley edge stood firm with their arrow feathers resting on their jaw lines pointed directly at their selected oppositions below. As the Samurai approached the village front he lead the horse to a tree and tied it. He turned around and waited a moment as he approached the village entrance, guarded by two men in half hannya masks. He dragged his sword across the gravel on the ground as he closed the distance between him and them.

Blossom trees ran along either side of the walk way, petals fell as the two guards simultaneously reached for their opposite pockets and wielded two knifes. They looked ahead as a rustling came from either side of them, then into the direction the noise was coming from. From a thick area in the planting two Samurais had appeared, they vaulted themselves behind either side of the guards and sliced the back of their knees with one swift swing of their blade's. They screamed in agony as they both fell to the floor, both suffering from severed tendons and muscles.

They reached to cover their wounds and tried to stop the loss of blood as the two samurais returned to the opposite sides in the trees they had left from switching positions. They disappeared back into the trees. The Samurai the path stepped over them and continued a step or two. Looking toward the village realizing the threat of conflict had began to subside as the warriors remaining in the villages cover peering from behind shacks, carriages. The samurai took off the helmet and he turned to the two guards.

"I shall save you both the shame."

With two swift swings to their necks he left them desolate in what ever position they were lying in. From behind a wooden carriage in the village two warriors made eye contact with a face of disgust muddled with anger. Looking across an open area to a third warrior on the other side holding the door to where the women and children were staying.

As the guards bled out at the entrance the Samurai made his way to the opened area and looked towards the housing and though it was too good to be true that their would be no other conflict.

From a shelter on his left a warrior ran as fast as he could through the door with an axe over his head. He swung for the Samurai but the blow was met with a block from his blade. The warrior took steps back preparing to engage in another attack. The Samurai stuck his blade into the mucky ground and approached the warrior with open hands. The warrior swung and the samurai leaned back as the blade passed inches from his face, he leaned in behind the warriors arm after the swing had passed placing his lead foot behind the warriors and his hand under the extended arm to his neck. The warrior from behind the carriage jumped and ran as the samurai swept and slammed the axe attacker to the ground.

The Samurai stood on the neck of the attacker as his head turned to see the help running to save him. The running warrior held his swords above his head as he prepared to swing through some part of the Samurai.

The mucked floor splashed catching the Samurai's attention he turned his head.

From behind the attacking warrior the other he was sat with had stood and watched as an arrow flew from above travelling through the air to meet the runner in the back. It pierced through his chest and he dropped to his knees falling face first into the puddle. The Samurai turned back to the warrior he had pinned to the ground

He looked him in the eye for a few seconds as they listened to the life leaving the other man through the end of an arrow.

"Stand." the Samurai said as he lifted the chin with his blade until he was standing across from him.

The end of the blade had began to tear the top layers of skin as dirt and murky rain water trickled down his face.

The Samurai held a fist to the air and as he did so the men on the hill began to make their way through the wooded ground closing in on the villages surrounding.

"How strong will the resistance be?" the Samurai asked as the men began move closer from all areas of height releasing their arrows on the village below. The warrior grabbed the Samurais blade with both hands. He squeezed and blood began to trickle down his hands. ''You wont be able to boast about conquering this land until the last drop of blood has been spilled from our people."

He released the bladed edge and held his hands out wide as the slices through his fingers and hands poured blood to the floor. The Samurai began to step back and turned his back to the warrior to walk towards his horse. The two Samurais that had left the guards immobilized earlier approached from behind the warrior, still standing with his hands extended. Hearing their steps he began to turn his head. As he did so he was met with a slash of a blade, which removed his head clean from his shoulders. His body crumbled to the floor. The second Samurai approached the motionless body. He picked the head up and went towards the entrance of the village placing in on a stick looking out towards the entering path. Fighting could be heard from a building or two back, shouts and sword clashes filled the silence.

By now the men on the hill had navigated their way through the woodland and reached the opposing force, arrows graced the air while sword exchanges rattled into the night. The battle lasted no longer than thirty minuet's, with the men of the village down to two both in cover behind a shelter that sat stream side. On the opposite side stood two Samurai. One with his bow and arrow extended and aimed in their direction. The other's had began moving the bodies out of the centre of the village.

"Lay down your weapons and we will spare you." the Samurai holding the bow yelled.

Stood beside him was the leader, "How thick do you reckon the wood is?" he asked his man.

"I'm not sure" he replied.

"Find out."

On the other side of the shelter, they spoke to each other about what to do.

"We can make a run for the woodland" one said.

"If we drop them and walk out they are going to keep us prisoners and eventually kill us. Or leave us..."

Before he could finish his sentence an arrow came piercing through the wooden board they were rested up against making entry at the back of his head. He fell limp being held up by the arrow. The warrior he was sat with let out a roar. Pain and anger. He leaned over and took the sword from his motionless hand. He stood up and took a deep breath wielding both.

The Samurai had loaded another arrow and watched the area to see for any movement.

The woodland was only a twenty meter stretch away. He began to run powered by adrenaline and a pounding heart.

"There!" the leader beckoned as the Samurai aimed and released the next arrow. It sailed through the air as the warrior closed the distance between himself and the shielded terrain. It passed his head and lodged itself into the nearest tree. By the time he had reloaded a second the warrior had disappeared through the maze of tree's.