She was getting sicker. At first it was forgetting simple things like my name, and she’d just say it was tiredness. Then she couldn’t stand for long and spent most of her day sat at the window watching the birds. Even the priest moved more than her, and he was old.

The bright morning light woke me early and I had planned on getting up to join my parents in the kitchen, until my father spoke.

“Put the bowl down, I will call for help. The neighbour can prepare breakfast for you and Hirotoshi.”

“And what sort of wife would I be if I couldn’t take care of the family? I am fine, I just got too close to the fire and got dizzy.”

“No you’re not.” My father lowered his voice further, but even from the bedroom I could hear the low rumble. “You are getting weaker. Hirotoshi needs to be learning in the forge with me, not staying here—”

“He doesn’t stay here, he forages. Without him we wouldn’t be able to eat.”

I winced, keeping my eyes firmly shut. Did my father not understand how important it was to give Inari peaches? The priest had assured me it was the deity’s favourite food. And one day Inari would save us, healing my mother, I was sure of it.

“Will you please sit down? Hirotoshi will awaken soon, he can’t see you like this.” My father’s heavy footsteps approached the bedroom doorway. “Hirotoshi? Time to get up.”

I pretended to wake, letting out the biggest yawn. “Father, did I sleep too much?”

“No, it’s only just dawn. You are coming with me to the forge today.”

“But what about the peaches?”

“Later.”

I nodded. I couldn’t disobey my father. Instead, I’d work twice as hard so there was time to collect peaches before sunset.

Rising from my sleeping mat, I quickly dressed into my blue yukata. The light material would keep me cool enough as I helped out in the forge. I wasn’t allowed to touch the hot metal yet, instead I hammered alongside my father. Together we worked on many tools like spades and sickles, and when my arms couldn’t hold the hammer and longer, I’d work the bellows and keep the fire burning hot. Just like my father and grandfather and those before them, I’d become a blacksmith. And then we’d have money again. Our house was a luxury some couldn’t afford, we had a separate bedroom. Before I was born my family was richer, the forge burned bright and hot every day, and my father even had help. Many tools and sharp arrowheads were commissioned or sold in the markets. However the supply of iron had become more expensive and trips weren’t taken as often. Once I was older, I promised I would go for him.

“Ohayo,” I said to my parents as I walked into the main room.

“Ohayo,” my mother greeted back. She knelt by the window, tucking her hands in her lap, a bandage covered one, the cloth spilling out on the worn tatami mat. “Good luck in the forge today.”

Would she be safe alone? “Thank you, I am going to the shrine later. Shall I take the last two peaches?”

“Take one for yourself, I am sure Inari can spare a peach so my son won’t go hungry this morning.”

I moved to the woven bowl we kept in the kitchen and plucked out two peaches. A few days old now, the skin had started to wrinkle but I knew Inari would still enjoy them. One for her, one for her foxes. I didn’t need one.

“I’ll take the basket with me today, once I have finished in the forge I’ll find us something fresh to eat for later.”

“You’re a good son,” she replied, eyes crinkling in the corners.

My father sat beside her, watching every move. His lips were tight and thin, keeping back anger I knew brewed inside him. Avoiding his gaze, I hurried to slip the basket on my shoulders ready for later.

“Shall we leave now?” Without a word, he rose to his feet and walked to the doorway. “Goodbye!” I called before following.

The rest of the village still slept as we made our way to the forge. The silence pricked at my skin. All I wanted to do was apologise to try and make him happy again. But I can help him and Inari, there is lots of time. I would show him.

As soon as we arrived I hopped to work, first I relit the fire, kindling the warm glow of flames before feeding it with air from the bellows. My father inspected the work from yesterday, checking the edges and strength of the metal in the daylight. He nodded, his tied hair bobbing with the movement. The quenching had been successful.

I quickly lost myself in my tasks, listening to each command and obeying. Today the metal was struck harder, truer, anything to take our minds off my mother. Instead, my thoughts drifted to Inari. Our shrine for her was small, but I made it up to her with all my offerings.

In the beginning we’d go together during a break for food. We’d leave the heat of the forge to speak to Inari, offering cups of sake and berries I’d found out in the forest. Foxes loved berries, and she was a deity to them and kitsune. She also protected blacksmiths, and in turn, our family. That’s what my mother told me. Sometimes I wasn’t sure.

The sun rose higher and started to fall again. The heat of the summer stuck to our sweaty skin and all I wanted to do was wash.

“That’s enough for today,” my father said, looking over our work.

I looked up at him. “Are you sure?”

“I need to work on arrowheads now, I can do that alone. You wanted to go foraging, right?”

“Yes.” I put down the heavy hammer next to the forge. “Is there time?”

“If you go quickly now.”

I grinned at him and retrieved the basket I used for carrying what I found. “I’m going to go to the orchard for the peaches.” I bowed to him. “Thank you, I’ll see you later.”

I missed his response as I span around and ran off, the woven basket bouncing against my back. I needed all the time I could get to collect my prize. The peach trees stooped lower than the pines and chestnuts but they remained just out of my reach. It wasn’t long before I left the village behind and travelled deeper into the forest. My mother told me that many years before even her mother was born, the villagers had found a secret orchard in the forest. Each year they encouraged it to grow larger and give the juiciest fruit and now we had a bounty to pick from.

Before she got too tired, she’d follow me to the orchard, showing me which ones to pick, reaching for the ones I couldn’t get, and showing me which ones to leave behind for the other animals in the forest. That was important. Last winter she’d fallen and spent days laying down exhausted struggling to remember things. Since then I had prayed extra hard to Inari for her to get better and visited the orchard alone, so she could rest.

Many people before me had wandered through the forest, leaving a worn path all the way to the orchard. I followed it with ease while looking around at the trees. Birds were happily singing; a robin flew from one tree to another, dipping under thick branches. I paused. On the ground a fairy pitta bashed an earthworm against a pebble, ready to feed it’s young. One look at me, and it flew off quick; it’s shining blue and black feathers catching the light. They didn’t show themselves often; I smiled, maybe today was a lucky day.

A little further and finally the orchard came into view; three rows of dark trunks with wildly growing branches, and on each, round pink peaches. I smiled, it was time to get to work.

It felt like I’d just started picking, but my basket was soon filling. Just one more peach and I’d go home. I really would this time.

Although… I could see three more ripe enough to pick… but the sun was setting and I still had to make my way back. A few more would be fine, right? Mother would enjoy the peaches and this way I could share more between her and Inari. The few extra minutes would be worth it, especially when they were ripening fast. I didn’t want to lose them to the forest animals; these were for me. Anyway, I’d made sure to throw the rotting ones on the ground. The animals wouldn’t go hungry.

In the evening glow, the pink fruit burned red and orange; I continued grabbing them with delicate hunger. Standing up on the very tips of my toes, I wobbled around and grabbed the tree branch for support so I could reach high. I couldn’t wait until next year’s harvest; I would be much taller then, and the peaches at the top wouldn’t be out of my grasp.

Two more peaches fell away with ease, I yelped as one slipped from my grasp and landed in the grass with a soft plop. Placing one in the basket, I went back for the fallen peach snug between the long blades.

Drip. Drop.

Raindrops pattered down from the sky, bouncing off the leaves. Overhead clouds had rolled in without me noticing, and started to cover the remaining sun. I bit back a curse as I realised the trip back would be harder with even less light. I’d need to be faster than ever before.

And then came the deep rumble I always dreaded to hear. The thunder god Raijin was somewhere in the skies, banging his taiko with large hammers. Would he come for me? Raijin liked to eat children the most.
Fear gripped my insides. Time to run. I wasn’t staying around to find out.

Shoving the last peach into the basket, I slipped the handles over my shoulders and nestled it on my back. The path home was simple enough, all I had to do was make it out of the forest and into the village clearing. I just needed to stay on the worn path, now muddying in the falling rain. Returning my sandals to my feet, I left the safety of the peach trees to return home.

Drop. Drop.

Rain fell heavier now, the skies opening up further and aiming just for me. My thin yukata clung to my skin, and each step became more difficult as the fabric held me back. Was Raijin angry with me? Had I taken too many peaches or was he playing? No wind whipped in the forest and my fear deepened. If Fuujin wasn’t with him sending strong winds then—

The sky flashed bright, blinding me. I buried my face against the back of my hand and I started to run.

No, no, no. Go away.

The low rumble returned, growling louder and closer. And still no wind.

Everybody knew who rode alongside the lightning, Raijin’s favourite pet. Everybody feared the thunderous cries and destruction it brought.

I skidded to a stop and looked to the sky. Rain fell in my eyes and I blinked it away quickly, but I had to see. Every thunderstorm my mother told me to run inside. I’d never had a chance to see it before. Another flash and a bolt streaked the sky followed by the outline of fast moving legs. My stomach tightened. I knew what that was.

Raijuu.

The great white wolf sped through the sky, wrapped in blue lightning. Long claws bit into the clouds and propelled it faster until all was a blur. The air around me crackled. I ran; I didn’t even stop as a sandal slipped from my foot or as stones pricked my bare sole. I needed to escape.

Rain struck the dirt path like a barrage of arrows. The sky was a lit forge hammering swords of lightning. I was trapped between them running through the never-ending forest. The raijuu wasn’t far behind; I could hear its rumbling laughter around me.

My fingers held tight to the basket straps as I continued, eyes focused on the path. I just had to make it a little further, around two more bends, and then I’d be on the outskirts of the village.

Crack! Boom!

Bright whiteness filled my vision. A scream escaped me. Something crashed into my head and I fell on my hands and knees. Panting, I grabbed my head and winced. Splintered wood scattered the ground and glancing up I saw a pillar of fire engulfing a tree... or the remains of a tree. The raijuu had snapped it in one bite.

“Mother,” I cried, “I-I’m scared. Mother, I need you. I-I’m s-sorry I s-stayed out too long. I won’t do it again. I p-promise.”

The raijuu continued to laugh, the rumbles muting my cries. It danced around running on air, happy to strike fear in everything. Even the other gods feared the ferocity of Raijin’s raijuu.

Why couldn’t it leave me alone?

Wiping my tears on the back of my soaked yukata sleeve, I carefully stood back up. My hands were grazed, my feet bloody, and rain stung every open wound. But I couldn’t stay here. Not unless I wanted to die.

I made my way around the chunks of wood; nobody could withstand the raijuu’s power. As I ran, I continued to scan the skies. It had nearly hit me once, would it catch me this time? I thought back to the tree… was that all that would be left of me? Would my mother come to the forest to find a pile of broken bones? I shuddered.

A large pine came into view, one I knew well. Nearly home. As I ran closer I could see it battled the rain well, the needles catching each drop. Surprisingly, a man rested under it, safe from the downpour. He wore a blue-black kimono and held a sword in his hand.

“Samurai-sama,” I called. “A raijuu is coming.”

Could he hear me? He was looking up but could he see from under the tree?

“Samu—”

Crack!

I froze, screamed, and shut my eyes, flinching from the deafening noise. Was he dead? Were his bones scattered? I was too scared to look. Samurai-sama… Tears came again and I scrunched my eyes tighter. Above, the rain continued to fall. It was all I could hear aside from my heavy sobs.

Wait.

Where was the rumbling?

Cautious, I opened one eye just a fraction. The pine tree still stood.

What?