Fifteen minutes in, a similar feeling washed over body—what she felt at that tree. Various silhouettes peeked at them out of the trees in the distance, all eyes on them, all stale as statues—except for one, which zapped in and out of existence. Is it people or her poor state messing with her sight? She didn’t know and didn’t care. Focus on mom! Just on her! Her walk broke into a jog.

After another fifteen minutes, they entered the village and blasted straight to the village hub. When they reached the place, the table was no more; the soldiers were packing up. Leaving to the doctor now would mean that they would miss out on the rations—no choice left. She dragged herself to them. “Sir, I’ve brought my mom. She’s hurt. I should take her to the doctor soon. Can you give us the rations quickly?”

“Sorry kiddo, the allotted time is up, can’t right now,” that same guard stuffed the bundle of paper into his bag. Her clothes were sweat soaked, stained with blood, the neck veins popped visible—throbbing and her mom was wheezing for air. Yet, rules are rules.

“Sir, please, we need this ration. I can’t let my mom starve,”

“I understand this. But I can’t do anything, kid.” He didn’t even care to look at her. The soldiers who gave out the rations before these men were kind. Why did they even change them?

“But sir—” The newly appointed lieutenant interrupted her.

“But what? You’re late. Now leave,” commanded the lieutenant rudely, pointing to the exit. The people nearby took notice, forming a wall around them and Arai broke through that wall and froze there, awe-stuck at his friend’s state. But something was worse, her rage. He dashed away from them instantly after he saw the lieutenant’s facial expression.

“No! I’m so done—with you, higher section officers discriminating against us. I’m not leaving until you give the rations that are meant for us.”

The lieutenant clenched his fists. His eyebrows rose. He glared down at her. SLAP! His rough fist slammed against her cheek. “You go our way—or no way. Do you understand, army selection candidate?”

Army selection candidate? Don’t tell me… That was right. The man in front of her was the one who was in charge of the selection. Yesterday, she lost the title and today, this? But she wasn’t giving up—or more like she can’t control herself, her eyes fumed—with rage to break the system. She rushed to the tree in the centre of the hub and graced her mother down in the shade and ran back to him. In one quick motion, buried her fists into his abdomen. Ha! THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE!

He swiftly clutched her hair and threw her to the ground, stomping her guts out. The guards rushed in to pull her up and held her in place. Yet she broke the grip and used the momentum to jump, and wrapped her hand around his head and slammed her knee into his nose. He, in turn, punched her away, and she flew back to the guards, who made sure that she wouldn't run as they held her in place. “You’ll never forget this,” taunted the lieutenant.

With blood dripping down her forehead—she swore. “Try me… You’ll regret it!” She was grinning sneeringly with her teeth covered in red, with piercing eyes, a smile that betrayed all her innocence. “I can promise to pay you back for this,” she smirked. He gritted his teeth and cocked his leg back.

His motion broke when Sensei rushed onto the scene along with the Elder. It soon grew ghost-silent. She crumbled down on the floor when they let go of her. “Uhm... Elder, this isn’t like what you think,” the lieutenant walked towards the Elder, rubbing his shivering hands together.

“I know what happened. Give Mika the rations and leave at once.”

“Yes Elder, just as you wish!” The lieutenant paced to the bag and left the rations in the tree shade, and walked away.

“Mika, take Akemi to the doctor. Arai, help her out,” ordered Sensei and the young boy did as told, picking the ration bag and helping Mika stand up while Sensei lifted the lady and they headed to Mrs Tanigawa’s house, the only doctor in the village.

“I told you to be calmer. Why don’t you just listen to me?” Sensei asked.

She wiped her blood off her mouth and replied. “I did—” She coughed. “—and it got nowhere.” Sensei stayed silent.

They entered the doctor’s place and let her look at the injuries. The kind doctor saw Akemi, and it was immediately clear what happened. Dehydration, and it seemed like the lady had been skipping meals lately. She informed Mika about it when she stitched her up. Her mom soon woke up and Arai informed her of what he had seen at the tree.

“There was something more than just red stained grass! Claw marks—no—blade marks that were inches close from cutting the bark deep enough to press it over. You’re right, there was someone, someone who wasn't there when I reached. I informed the clan leader.”

Akemi was listening very keenly with a frown. Mika and Sensei reassured her and they walked back home.

At their home, Mika checked the bag of rations to make dinner and noticed something strange. The lieutenant didn’t give her the right portion for two but for one. She grunted from the bottom of her lungs—making dinner with what she had. Her mom, who took notice of her, laid on the cot and pressed her eyes close.

“Dinner’s ready! Want to have dinner now, mom?”

“I’m sleepy. You complete dinner and get in bed.” She pretended to yawn, and her girl caught it.

“Stop acting, mom! There is enough for the both of us,” she giggled.

Akemi sat up on the cot. “But my little soldier needs more food.”

Mika picked the bowl of porridge and sat down on the ground—beside her mom’s dangling legs. “And my mom needs all the food!”

Akemi looked down with a bright smile, patting her kid’s head. “I had lunch at Kai's. I still feel full. You can have the bowl.”

Mika smirked. “The doctor said you fainted because you didn’t eat. No more arguing, you are not skipping this, we can share,” she insisted, spoon-feeding her—yet, she ate a few spoonfuls.

“Stop! Eat more! You need this more than me,” the little girl said, continuing to feed her.

“Time for you, open up!” The lady took the spoon and fed her girl.

They eat about half a bowl each. Mika plopped the bowl to the side and pulled the sheets from the drawer and a spare pillow and set it up on the cold wooden floor, right next to the cot and fell into it as if it was made out of cotton. The fall hurt her—but after such a hard time, any sleep was good sleep.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Akemi frowned at her.

“I’m sleeping here tonight. You can take the bed tonight,” she grinned. Akemi snapped and jolted off the cot and with all her might, picked her little soldier and dropped her on the cot, while tickling her and got into the bed next to her—pulling her closer and spooning her.

Akemi wrapped her palms against her kid’s hand, and it was surprisingly warm. She pulled it off the thin sheet. Burns glowed in her palms. “Oh god—what happened to your hand? Is it because of the warm bowl?” She crooned.

“Meh, it’s whatever. I’m fine. I wanted to feed you anyway,” she snuggled under her mom’s cold arms, feeling hungry yet fulfilled. Even when this world is unfair towards us. I’ll find a way… I’ll save you from this illness, ma… She swore to herself while they dozed deep asleep.