1 Chapter 1: Coward

Far away from the bustling cities of the east, were the dirt was bone dry and the days were cold, stood a hut made of bones. A small girl could be seen lying on the floor next to her brother and father. The day was still early but the small girl got up and started about the day. She stoked the fire and heated a thin broth upon its flames. Her father was awakened by the smell of the burnt wood.

"Su Cho, I told you not to get up so early so many times! The sun has not even appeared yet your already working and wasting firewood!"

"Father, it's alright. Su Cho only wanted to start breakfast. Don't be so mean to her." called her brother who's eyes were still half closed.

"What use is such a wasteful person. It would be better if she just stayed on the mountain if she wants to work so much," muttered her father.

Su Cho's eyes began to tear. The mountains were safe during the day but at night many creatures would prowl about in search of food.

"Father," cried her brother's whiny voice begging him for more sleep.

"I'm heading out! I don't need this slop." said their father, pushing open the door and hobbling out with his gathering basket. The door banged shut making the bones on the house rattle all over.

"It's alright Su Cho. I still want breakfast."

Despite her tears, Su Cho could not help but smile as she watched her brother groggily sit up.

"Alright Taro, Just wait a few minutes."

Some minutes later Taro could be seen running off to the village to be with the rest of the children, his bowl empty. Sighing enviously Su Cho picked up the dirty bowl and set to cleaning and repairing the hut.

The bone hut was different from the rest of the huts in the village. Only once her father had injured himself and taken up herb gathering did they move out here. At night she could hear the animals preying upon each other and often she would lie awake listening to their ferocious calls. Taro had heard from the other village children that the hut was made out of bones to scare the monsters away. She wondered if that really worked.

She shivered as she looked up at the lone mountain, thinking of all the wild things that lived up there.

"If only father hadn't injured his leg. Then we would still be back by the village."

"Su Cho, where are you? It's me, Wan Wan" A thick waisted girl could be seen peering around the bone hut.

"I'm back here Wan Wan" She excitedly called back, putting down the small axe. Wan Wan was the only friend that still came out to visit her.

"Su Cho! Have you heard?"

"Heard what"

"The village benefactor is coming and he's bringing someone with him. They are looking for people to go serve in the city."

A puzzled look crossed over Su Cho's face. "Why would they come here though? There's definitely better village's to pick servants from."

Wan Wan's face blushed, "This, I don't know. I also heard that they were planning on going up the mountain. Maybe they want to go hunting?"

"Hunt such fierce beasts. Who would want to do that?"

"Su Cho, you don't understand. These people are not like us. They can smash rocks into sand and fly in the air. How could a few small beasts be dangerous to them? But you're missing the point Su Cho! If some of us can impress them then we can to a city! Imagine all the people and riches. We would no longer be surrounded by dirt and dust. Its a once in a lifetime opportunity"

"But Wan Wan, what about our families? They would miss us."

"Your to little Su Cho. Think about the future. I refuse to end up like the elder's wives. The men go hunt a little and the women end up doing everything else! If I go to the city though, who knows what will happen! And you, do you want to be under your father's thumb forever? Cutting wood and gathering herbs till your hands fall off?

"But Taro would be left all by himself. I can't just leave him. If I'm little then he's still a baby."

"Who cares about family! Family just ties you down. Besides your father takes good care of him. We should try and get selected to go together. I've already come up with a few plans."

"I don't want to go Wan Wan. Who knows what are in those big cities. We'd be there all by ourselves. I don't want you to go either. I would miss you."

Wan Wan took a step back. "Nothing will hold me here! Your just looking for excuses for when your not chosen," then she began to laugh maniacally, "Your afraid of leaving here aren't you. Ha! You're afraid of staying here too! I know you're afraid of the Mountain. Your like a rock. Won't move forward, won't move backward.

"Wan Wan! Why are you being so mean today? Why don't we just go in the hut. Its to warm out here. I feel like I"m burning up. I bet that's why your so grumpy too. I'll make us some tea and we'll both feel better."

"Warm? What warm. The wind is blowing straight through my shirt. I thought you would be happy for me. For us. Your father treats you so badly yet you still want to stay! You can just stay where nothing ever happens. Soon I'll be in the city seeing the greatest stuff in the world. I'm not staying here any longer. I have stuff to do. I don't have time to waste with cowards. "

"Wan Wan don't go. You only just got here," Su Cho cried as she wavered precariously. It really was to hot out here.

Inside the bone hut she collapsed into a state of weakness. Her cheeks were red and soon she could not help but fall asleep. Their she dreamed of strange things. The bones of the hut mocked her and a pair of black eyes watched her every move. They wanted her to up the Mountain. They wanted her to stay there with them. She refused each time though and the bones would rattle and the eyes seemed to want to hurt her.

"Su Cho, Su Cho. Wake up. Father will be furious if you don't leave now. Su Cho!"

Opening her eyes she looked at her surroundings. Feeling her face she realized she no longer felt odd. Then the realization hit her. She was late

"Taro, where's the sun!"

Hesitating he said, "Definitely past half."

Climbing to her feet she ran outside to check. Father was going to be furious. Stuffing on her shoes she grabbed her basket. Pausing for a moment she looked back at her brother quizzically. "Taro, why are you back so early?"

"Wan Wan came back and started telling all of us how you were disrespecting the Village chief and benefactor and wishing ill luck on their hunt. She even told me to scram before she told the elders what you said. She said that you were too much of a coward to say it to their face!"

Su Cho was stunned. Her friend of eight years said such things about her. That was outrageous!

"They couldn't have believed her though," she said desperately, "I've never done anything like that."

Taro only looked at her guilty, "Its been such a long time since you played with any of us. They….They even started calling you the ill luck child again. I'm sorry Su Cho! I told them to stop but then they said I was just as bad as you were. His glossy eyes looked at her, "I don't want to be bad though. I want everyone to like me. I don't want to be an ill luck child!"

Looking at her brother dejectedly, she went over to pat his shoulder. Its okay Taro. Its my nickname. How could they give it to you?" He only wailed harder though. "Taro, I need to go. Father's waiting. You don't want father to be mad at me do you?" At this he shook his head. "Good, good, then stop crying. Take deep breaths. I'm leaving now. I'll make sure to cook something good for dinner."

The bone hut was close to the mountains and before long Su Cho could be seen struggling up the rocky terrain. She passed many herbs along the way and collected some that seemed better than others. These herbs were relatively common and she did not bother to much with them. It was only higher up the mountain that precious herbs could be found. Soon she could see her fathers back. She didn't dare call to him though in case she awoke the beasts sleeping upon the Mountain. The closer she approached him the faster her hands worked filling up her basket. Bluewort, SpinningNettle, GoldCabbage filled her basket. Once she was close enough to hear his footsteps she stopped looking up altogether, focusing on solely picking up the herbs in front of her.

Glancing around she looked for any good stuff to cook with. She needed more than rice and water to make a good meal for Taro.

"Put your head back down and get to work. Even if you were to stay here till dusk you wouldn't be able to gather enough herbs for the time you missed," he spat, "I'll having nothing to hand into the elders tonight because of your lazy bum."

Su Cho didn't say anything as her father continued to rant on about how miserable she was. As she gathered herbs she began to think of when she was younger. She envied Wan Wan and the other children who would go off to play by the Mountains edge every day. She use to wake up in the morning with the other children and watch as the village men prepared for their hunting trips or as the women began the chores around the house. After the hunting trips, large feasts would be held and she and the rest of the children would skip around the fire antagonizing one another. Back then her father smiled often and would pat her on the head.

At the day's end, they began to walk towards the village. That was when Su Cho started noticing that people were pointing at her and whispering. Her father eyed her distrustfully.

"You better not have done anything"

"I, I didn't" she stumbled, remembering what Taro had said earlier.

As they approached Suga Su Cho felt a cold sweat break out on her back.

"These baskets are only part full. What are you bringing them back for now? Go back and gather some more."

"We ran into some difficulty Suga. We did not have the time to collect enough."

Didn't have enough time! What else does a cripple have to do? Do you think we let you go to that hut so you could waste our food? Wan Wan, take the baskets.

"Yes, father."

"I'm sorry Suga, tomorrow we will definitely make up for it. If we could just get our rations before we go?"

"I don't hand out rations to the useless. You had better make up for the extra herbs tomorrow or else you'll not have any food then either. "

Su Cho's father face was taught as he tried to appease the old man.

"Theirs no need for that. Just give us half rations. I have my little boy at home. He is waiting for me to bring home dinner."

"Why would I give you rations for your children's sake. Your family obviously have no respect for me or my guests."

At this point, a crowd had gathered around the three.

"I'm sorry Suga. Please tell me what I have done wrong. I have always thought of you in the highest regard. I would not dare to slander you." At this point, her father's face had turned from confused to scared. Slandering the village chief was grounds for exile. Su Cho face was ashen as she listened to the events playing out. Suga turned to her.

"Your daughter can tell you what happened."

"I didn't do it," she blurted. Her father's full rage had turned to face her.

Wan Wan stepped in front of her father. "Are you calling me a lier"

"No, Wan Wan. I would never. I don't understand why you said those things."

"I told you father, she is a coward. She can't even admit that she was wrong." Su Cho was stunned to see that there was not even a trace of guilt I Wan Wan's eyes.

Su Cho's father yanked her arm, "Su Cho what did you say!"

Wan Wan laughed "She said that my father and the village benefactor are really weak. That they aren't even qualified to go on the hunting parties."

"No, I didn't. Wan Wan stop lying! I definitely did not say that."

Whack! She felt her fathers hand against her face.

"All the food I've wasted on you. You dare say these kinds of things about the elders!" Whack, "It wasn't enough that you took my leg, you also want to take your brother's life." Whack.

Su Cho was on the ground now, "Father, I really didn't. I really didn't. Do you think that bad of me?"

Whack.

"I'm sorry Suga for my daughter's disrespectful behavior. I'll make sure to punish her well."

"Yes, yes. I'm sure you well. However, if I ever hear a repeat of this issue don't blame me when I kick you all out."

"Yes, yes, Suga, Miss Suga. This will not happen again," he said bowing at the waist. "Thank you for your mercy. Su Cho! Up! Get home!" He snarled.

Su Cho began to run back to the bone hut. She was starting to feel hot again. The wind stung were her father had hit her. When she arrived back at the hut she fell to the ground. Her hands became dirty and caked with mud made from her tears.

"Su Cho, Su Cho! Don't cry. You don't need to make dinner. We can just heat up breakfast again. Okay? Don't cry."

Some minutes later her father arrived back at the hut.

"What's going on here. You were so late and the house hasn't even been taken care of? You lazy oaf! You wake up so early and still can't get anything done! Miss Suga was right. Why do I have to have such a witch for a daughter? Why have the gods cursed me with you," he ended reaching for the only lock in the hut. The lock to the bitter alcohol for which he had spared no effort to obtain. He drank himself to sleep that night cursing Su Cho's name. Su Cho didn't hear any of it though as she lay passed out on the floor, having barely made it inside, her cheeks red like embers.