Daughter of Amazons: Prolog
By Kit
(Jul 17/01)
The characters of the Ranma 1/2 universe are the creation and possession of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi and her licensees (Shogakukan Inc., Kitty-Fuji TV, Viz Communications Inc.)
No copyright infringement is intended.
The young Akane helped her mother to sit in the shallow cave they had found. The heavy rains had been beating them mercilessly soon after fleeing from the Joketsozuku village. She was afraid they might not be far enough away yet, but her mother had started to fall behind.
The young eight year-old looked worriedly into the eyes of her mother. She wasn’t sure when her mother had been hit by the arrow, only that they couldn’t get much further. She could feel the weight of her whole world crashing on her shoulders.
"Should I pull it out, Mama?" her trembling voice begged, trying to sound strong.
Mama coughed. "No my little angel." Looking at her daughter, trying to force her eyes to focus, her expression became very serious. "Akane, you must go now." The girl in question started to shake her head furiously, but the woman cut her off. "Listen to me. I am not going to make it much further. You have to try to get back to your father and sisters. Your only chance is to go now. The rains should help you hide."
"No, Mama!" she squealed, throwing herself against her mother’s body.
"Here." Akane wiped at her tears, as her mother struggled to move.
"Mama, stop! You need to rest if we’re gonna get out of here."
"Take my necklace, angel, and promise me you will get back to your father and sisters."
"You’re coming too!"
"You have to go now. I will try to follow later, but you must go now!" The last of her plea was almost lost as she started another couching fit.
Akane slowly unclasped her mother’s necklace, then moved toward the entrance to the cave. The coughing noises stopped. With a longing look back, she hung the locket off of a tree root growing into the wall of the cave. She would find help and come back for her mother and the locket. She ran out into the night, her tears lost in the downpour.
Ke Lun looked across the fires at the bound girl. The Council of Elders had gathered to decide the fate of the young outsider. Searchers will still out looking for the girl’s mother, but her fate was already decided. If she still lived, she would be killed.
The girl was another matter. She had not actually handled the forbidden treasure, so she was safe from her mother’s fate. However, she was alone. After the actions of her mother, no one would be willing to leave, just to attempt to return her to her family. Some of the village wanted to just turn her loose and leave her to her fate. Unfortunately, most where upset about not being able to punish her mother and wanted the daughter to pay in her place.
For her part, Ke Lun didn’t want to see her leave, even if she didn’t know just what she saw in the girl. Certainly, she did not want to see the child simply abandoned. Then the idea came.
In exchange for her protection and care, the girl could be made a servant of the village.
