Kota

Great flames leaped into the sky under a hazy cloud of smoke. The houses burned quickly, taking with them many victims, young and old. The village was small, situated between two mountains, one to the east and one to the west. It was veiled in shadow almost all day, with the exception of noon, when the sun was at it's highest in the sky.

It was midnight and Kota stood on a green knoll about a mile away from the village, bathed in the gloomy light of the waxing moon. He watched the quiet chaos with a scowl, feeling no remorse for have starting it. All was quiet other than the occasional hoot of an owl in the distance. Kota whistled, a low sound that to a nearby traveler could've sounded like the coo of a dove. Something stirred in the shadows in response to the sound, indeed, many forms moving as one. Hooded figures protruded from the bush. One whispered in a rough voice, like shuffling your feet in gravel. "Master?"

Kota nodded, curtly, motioning with his quick and jerky movements for the voice the come forward.

"What do you wish of me?" the voice said, stepping forward to stand beside Kota but keeping his head inclined, his black hood shadowing his face. Kota knew what this creature was but he was not afraid. He felt many eyes on him from behind, boring into his back like knives.

"Take your... er... men and clean up this mess. It shall look as if this village never existed. Do not salvage anything you find, throw everything in the ravine on the other side of the pass. If your job does not live up to my standards... Well, I think you understand the consequences. Get it done."

"Yes, master." the hooded figure replied quickly disappearing back into the bush with the others.

Once he knew they were gone, Kota turned and began pushing through the black veil of trees and bushes with ease. He met a few small but vicious animals on his way and he defeated them either by kicking them hard with his heavy metal boot or giving them a sharp poke with his small dagger. When he cleared the undergrowth it was almost daylight, the purple of the night sky was mingled with the pink and orange hues of the new day. Birds began to stir and chirp in their treetop nests. The mammals too were wide awake, digging, scurring, and fighting with each other constantly, ignorant of Kota's approach.