Secrets of Rioku

Chapter I

The last of the first snowstorms in the early morning of August blanketed the vast woodland in a thick layer of white, transforming the landscape into a winter wonderland. The snowflakes gently fell from the sky, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The trees stood tall, adorned with delicate icicles hanging from their branches.

The animals, snugged in their cozy burrows, ventured out cautiously to explore the magical scene. Footprints of foxes and rabbits crisscrossed the ground, leaving a trail of life amidst the stillness. With breath visible in the crisp air, nature seemed to hold its breath, as if frozen in time.

However, the serenity of the winter wonderland was soon interrupted by the children's laughter and excitement. Bundled in warm coats and scarves, they raced down the slopes on their sleds, leaving trails of joy in their wake. Snowball fights erupted, filling the air with the sound of laughter and playful screams.

Yet not far from the lively crowd, strong and fearful gasps could be heard. A small figure emerged from the trees, gasping for air and clutching her chest in panic.

It was a naked little girl, her face pale and filled with fear. Her breath came out in short, frantic bursts as she stumbled through the snow, desperately searching for help. Her body trembled from the cold, and tears streamed down her cheeks, freezing upon contact with her skin.

"Run freak!" Cruel voices from children behind her taunted, their words piercing through the crisp winter air. Accompanied by evil laughter, it was a nightmare the little girl feared all her life.

The little girl's heart pounded in her chest as she pushed herself to run faster, her feet sinking deeper into the snow with each step. Her determination was fueled by the hope of finding safety and solace from her torment.

“Please, stop!” the little girl cried to herself, begging, her vision blurred by tears.

“Hide well, don’t let us find you!”

The words of the merciless children stung, reminding her of the countless times she had been bullied and excluded for being different. But this time, it was more than just teasing; this time, her life was at stake.

The fear in her eyes intensified, yet determination flickered within her as she vowed to keep running, searching for someone kind enough to offer her the help she so desperately needed.

As she ran deeper into the woods, naked and barely breathing, she could feel the biting cold of the winter air seeping into her bones, her lips turning blue from the frigid temperatures. Every step was a struggle, her body weak and exhausted from the relentless pursuit. But she refused to give up, fueled by the hope that somewhere, someone would show her compassion and provide her with the safety she longed for, which even her family had failed to provide.

"Come on, just die!" An unexpected voice of a boy echoed, halting her weak steps.

With blurred vision, she frantically turned around to see where the voice was coming from.

"Help," she whispered weakly, her voice barely audible.

She knew it was not a voice coming from the children trying to hurt her.

“Please, help!” she tried again, this time a little louder while she kept turning, hoping to see where the voice was coming from.

The snow-covered trees stood tall and silent, casting eerie shadows that seemed to taunt her but she pushed herself harder, ignoring the burning pain in her lungs and the numbness that was creeping up her legs.

With more little steps, she stopped in front of a river. The river that meandered through the landscape had turned into a glistening ribbon of ice, reflecting the soft glow of the winter sun. She turned once again around the vast woodlands, and she felt defeated as she realized how lost she was.

A sudden fainting came to the little girl, causing her to take a good grip on the nearby tree. Slowly she sat down to prevent herself from falling, and her ears turned muffled to the surrounding sound and all she could hear was her desperate heaves.

Everything was silent as she let her eyes close and down, she rolled the icy ground.

With barely a pinch of air to breathe, the little girl looked up helplessly one more time and awaited her miserable fate. The silence grew stronger and the only sound that broke the silence was the occasional chirping of a bird, perched on a snow-covered branch.

“Ouch,” she whimpered as a small rock hit her face.

She slowly turned her head and saw a small boy trying to throw a stone across the frozen river, only to watch it skid and slide before coming to a stop. The boy's laughter filled the air, momentarily shattering the tranquility of the winter scene.

A weak smile grew on her face and she tried her hardest to come to her feet. It was a battle she knew she was given a chance to win. She took little steps, narrowing her distance from the little boy.

"Help," the little girl said once again as she stopped beside a tree, just four trees away from where the boy was standing across the frozen river.

"Rioku, come home, my boy. It is unsafe to stay out of the cold, and frozen rivers are the most treacherous." The boy reluctantly turned towards his mother's voice, his cheeks rosy from the cold.

The little girl shifted her sight to where the mother's voice was coming, and her heart felt at ease to see a cozy small house with smoke from the fireplace curling up into the winter sky. However, fear kept her feet from staying where she was standing, as she feared they might know her secret too.

"Mother, I do not feel cold! I am fine; it is just perfect to soothe my warm body after playing in the snow," Rioku protested.

His mother sighed, knowing her son's adventurous spirit was hard to tame. She wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck and walked towards him. "My boy, I'll let you play when the river gets thawed. But until then, I am asking you to stay away. It may look enticing, but it is not safe; it is unpredictable and dangerous; a small boy like you won't survive the harsh currents and freezing temperatures," Rioku's mother explained, extending a hand to guide him back home.

Rioku's smile faded slightly, and he pouted as he listened to his mother's words, realizing the seriousness of the situation. He nodded solemnly, understanding that his safety was more important than any adventure. "I understand, mother."

"Please do bear that in mind."

"I promise, Mother," he replied, his voice filled with surrender. "I will wait patiently for the river to thaw before I venture near it again."

He took one last glance at the frozen river, longing to explore its icy expanse, before trudging back toward the warmth and safety of home.

From afar, the little girl watched the boy and his mother enter the cozy home.

As the boy settled down on a wooden bench, his mother gave him a reassuring smile. "Remember, patience and being cautious are virtues, my dear. There will always be more adventures waiting for you when the time is right."

With a grateful nod, he reached for his favorite book, feeling a sense of contentment, knowing that he had made the responsible choice. "Mother, when will Father come home?" Rioku asked, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and longing.

He missed his father's presence and the adventures they used to embark on together. As his mother gently brushed a stray hair from his forehead, she replied, "Soon, my love. Your father is out there exploring the world for you. When he knows the world is safe for you, he’ll take you with him, someday. But for now, my dear, let’s just content ourselves with his stories.”

Rioku smiled, finding solace in his mother's words as he flipped through the pages of the book.

Outside, the little girl watched the boy from the window; her heart ached for the warmth of a mother's love she longed for. She envied how the young boy was loved and cared for when all she had to experience all her life was to be hidden and despised by her own family.

However, the loving scenario turned horrifying in just a glimpse. From the other side of the forest, a group of armed and uniformed men burst into their home, with a man whom the boy cried as his father.

It was a horrific scene as the father was thrown inside with his face and body bleeding, and the once serene and silent home was now filled with chaos and fear. Gunfire erupted, shattering the peaceful atmosphere and sending everyone into a state of panic. The young boy clung to his mother, trembling with fear, as they desperately searched for a way to escape the violence that had invaded their lives.

The young girl tried her best to cross the river, but her body was too weak to move. She could not do anything but watch the horrifying scene unfold before her.

The mother of the young boy knelt and begged the armed men, but she was shot mercilessly just like the father. Then an unusual force burst out of nowhere, causing the armed men to lie lifeless on the floor, even causing the nearby grounds to shake.

The young girl saw the scared Rioku run outside from the other side of the house and immediately rushed towards the part of the forest where she had just come from.

"No! No! Not there!" the little girl tried to run after Rioku.

With all her strength left, she sprinted towards the forest, desperately calling out to Rioku. But it was too late, Rioku had disappeared into the dense foliage, leaving the young girl feeling helpless and filled with worry.

"Rioku?!" the young girl shouted, her voice echoing through the silent forest. She frantically searched for any sign of the boy, her heart pounding in her chest.

Until the voices of the cruel kids echoed from afar, and she hurried to see them throwing stones at a defenseless little animal, a cub.

Without a second thought, she rushed towards the group, determined to protect the innocent creature from their cruelty.

“Stop it!” the little girl breathed and spread her trembling arms to her sides.

"Oh, the freak protecting her kind. Tired of hiding?" one of the boys said, stepping forward and pushing the young girl to the ground. She winced in pain as she hit the forest floor, but her determination only grew stronger. With a fierce look in her eyes, she slowly got back up, refusing to let them intimidate her.

But to her surprise, the kids started scurrying away in fear.

"Did I defeat them? Did I?" the little girl asked herself in a rejoicing tone.

She turned to see the cub, and that was when her knees gave up on her, collapsing to the ground.

The little cub was not a little cub anymore, it was bigger, but the little girl was drawn in its eyes, and she knew, just like her, it was afraid.

Overwhelmed with relief and exhaustion, she reached out to stroke the cub's white fur. It was as if the giant creature had emerged from the snow. "Don’t be afraid, I’m here. From now on, I'll protect you. I’m Rikka."