As they drew closer to Kashmir's house the plume of smoke grew thicker, the fires that created it still smouldering amongst the ash of that which it burned. Then the odor hit. Rancid, acidic and strong enough to make the two of them begin coughing. They had slowed their pace down to a trot, wary of any danger, and still not knowing from where the fire burned. As they drew closer however, it became apparent to both of them. The smoke's origin lay within his home.
"Kashmir, wait! " John yelled, but he had already broken away, leaving John behind. Urging his horse forward ever faster, digging his heels into the beasts sides. He could see it now, as he sped along the plains. His house, on the outskirts of the village, in ruins, it's life fleeing upwards into the sky on the trail of the black soot. His horse thundered closer, it's hooves pounding the ground relentlessly, it's nostrils flaring as it breathed heavily. John was still shouting from behind him, trying to get him to stop. There was no stopping. He had to get to her, she had to be okay. She had to be.
John had fallen far behind Kashmir, as the man rushed towards his burning home, pushing his horse so hard it's a wonder the beast hadn't collapsed by now. John pushed his forward as well, trying to catch Kashmir, but to no avail. In the distance, he saw the man disappear into the smoke that surrounded the house. John stopped his horse several hundreds yards short, watching, not knowing what to expect.
Silence. Nothing had happened in nearly a minute - suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream pierced his ears, shattering the silence and sending his horse in a panic, throwing him from the saddle. John immediately got to his feet and ran, as hard as his legs would allow it. Breathing harder than he ever had in his life, his feet carried him to Kashmir's house. The house was little more than rubble now, the entirety of the structure had been reduced to ash. It wasn't a large house, but the pile of smouldering wood lay scattered in several directions. Kashmir was no where to be seen. Breathing hard, John made his way around the side of the house. There, beyond the extent of the wreckage, was Kashmir, hunched over on the the ground. John stopped in his tracks as if punched in the gut. To Kashmir's left was a body, lying sprawled on the ground. It went without telling who the body belonged to. John moved forward, cautiously, so as not to startle Kashmir, keeping his eyes fixed on the body next to him. The light from the fading sun was enough to give illumination to what John had wished not to see. The body was blackened, burned in the same manner as the house. But from so far out... It was not from the same fire. Wrenching his gaze off the remains of Kashmir's wife and back to the man himself he continued moving forward, but stopped short again when a voice came from in front of him.
"John. " Barely more than a whisper. "Why? "
John continued to look at Kashmir as he stood up, his hands in front of him, his head down. "Why? " He uttered again, louder this time. "Kashmir... " John said quietly as he moved forward again, reaching Kashmir's back. Putting a hand out and grabbing his shoulder he pulled Kashmir, attempting to pull him around. As Kashmir turned, John jumped in shock and horror to what he saw before him. Kashmir's downwards gaze became suddenly apparent. In his hands, stripped brutally from her head, lie the burnt flesh that was once his wife's visage. John stumbled backwards and fell down, tripping over a rock. He leaned over and emptied his stomach onto the ground beside him. He looked back up at Kashmir, who still held the same pose. His arms fell, dropping the flesh in his hands. Falling to his knees, Kashmir looked up at John. "Why John? Why has this happened? "
John stammered, "I-I-I don't know... I... Kashmir... "
Fury ignited in Kashmir's eyes, "WHY HAVE THE GODS FORSAKEN ME!? " His fists clenched as he yelled into the sky, "Why have you taken all I ever cared about from me!? WHY!? "
John could barely find his voice, "K-Kashmir. This could not have been the Gods' doing. It was men Kashmir... The Gods, they... They could not have done this."
