With rain clouds and smoke the day became darker than it had been before. Even so I could still make out the earthy color of the mud gaining a reddish hue from blood. The horses surrounding us neighing, like the toll of deaths bell every time one of the men at the edge of the group were cut down. Kaya still held onto me tight trying to cover my eyes, but I still saw what had to be the leader stroll up to our group of terrified villagers. He was one of the biggest men I had ever seen, not very muscular but he to be strong since he carried a greatsword as long as he was tall. He had short scruffy red hair, his dark brown eyes had a scar on the lid of each, his nose a sharp, and curved, almost like a beak. This is how I named him though, The Cardinal. 

"Listen up now!" he yelled to us "We already went through your piss poor huts, we couldn't find anything worth a drink. So instead we will be taking merchandise" 

He now turned to his men "Grab woman and children, don"t hurt any good looking ones. Kill the men"

     That's when the panic began. All around the villagers no longer thought of anyone but themselves and their families. Kaya and I were left to be pushed around as everyone tried to escape these bandits now scooping up anyone that was easiest to grab. Then to make their job easier they went to kill the men. After the first few fell, an even greater chaos emerged. Although the bandits were armed and ruthless, they were outnumbered, so when a rush of villagers pushed forward to the edge of the town people were able to break through. But it was mostly to no avail, those who made it past the raiders holding the line were caught by the horses.

     That's when Kaya grabbed and pulled me deeper into the village. We broke through the stumbling mass of bodies and headed into the fire.

"Come little brother, we cant go that we" she told me "There has to be a way that isn't completely covered by fire. Then we cant cross the river."

     So we ran through the smoke and heat trying to find a way through. Then, we did. The opening was back at the farm house we were headed to earlier in the day. We ran hard towards the field that hadn't yet been swallowed by the fiery hell. But then I felt the pull on my other arm as I yanked away from Kaya. As I was thrown threw the air towards the house I barely saw the raider that had thrown me advance on Kaya.

     And then the flames ate me whole.