The Last Stand of the Hare Clan

 

by Rich Wulf




A plume of greasy black smoke rose above the Shinomen Forest. The smell of burning flesh washed across the plains of the Hare Clan. An army of the dead shambled over the rough roads that led to Shiro Usagi. At the head of the column rode a tall man in robes of shimmering black, shaven head gleaming in the noonday sun. A satisfied smile flickered across his gaunt features as he looked upon the castle of the Hare.


In the road before the castle, a band of samurai made their final stand. Garbed in the red and white colors of the Hare, now stained with the black blood of their enemies and the red of their fallen brothers. Usagi Ozaki stood at the head of his band. He held Kenno, the Ancestral sword of his clan, steady in his hands. There were few Hare left, far too few. They had given too much ground to the Bloodspeakers.


Jama Suru pulled his demonic steed to a halt, just out of the range of the Hare archers. He held out one hand, commanding his undead hordes to a halt with a single gesture.


“You who bear the blood of Reichin,” Suru shouted in a hollow voice. “Your existence is an insult to all who call themselves Bloodspeaker. Yours is a clan that was born in blood, Usagi. Today you shall die in it.”


“Come then Jama Suru!” Ozaki retorted, commanding voice booming across the plains.


“Your death will come in time, Champion of the Hare,” Suru replied with a smile. “For you there will be no mercy...but I make this offer to those who serve you. Turn your backs upon the Hare. Realize that, today, there shall be no survival if you continue to wear the colors of your clan. Join my ranks, acknowledge Iuchiban as your master and you may yet survive this day.”


Suru’s words echoed into silence. Not a single man moved. Not a single Hare stepped forward to accept the general’s offer.


“You stand alone, sons and daughters of the Hare,” Suru continued. “My hordes outnumber you six to one. No one shall come to save you. Your castle will burn. All of you will die in dishonor.”


“You would not be the first to promise that, Suru,” Ozaki replied with a smile. “Yet we are still here.”


Suru scowled. He lifted one hand, preparing to give the command to attack, when the sounds of drums echoed from the forest. The undead general’s eyes narrowed as he turned to face this new threat.


Usagi Kashira, son of the Hare daimyo, appeared from the edge of the wood. His armor was stained with mud from days of travel. His face was lined with exhaustion, but his face shone with hope.


And beside him rode Daidoji Kikaze, leading the iron cavalry of the Crane.


A cheer rose from the ranks of the surviving Usagi, and Ozaki raised Kenno to salute his son and his welcome Crane allies.


“Come, then, Children of Doji,” Jama Suru shouted defiantly. “Save the Hare Clan if you can...”


The Bloodspeaker armies began to march....


To be continued...