| Yasha opened her eyes slowly, looking around. For a moment, she was confused, not remembering where she was. That had been happening the last few nights, with all the moving around. She glanced over to the form lying next to her, and she smiled fondly. She had meet him on the road. Both looking for a place to call their own, neither wanting someone to share it with. They traveled together for a while, both telling each other, and themselves, that it was just for a few more days. Surly they would find their perfect homes here. And when the 'perfect homes' weren't there, they moved on, saying just for a few more days, the perfect home lie just over that hill on the horizon. Beyond that forest in the distance. Just over that river ahead. And then the unthinkable happened. Yasha found herself caring of all things! Good and proper demons never cared about anyone but themselves. When the time came, the females bore a few children, and sent them out on their own as quickly as they could. There were always those few strange cases where the demons had actually become mates. Mates! It was almost like that horrid human ritual of tying yourself to their mate for life. I'm sure it was all well and good for them, but it just didn't happen with demons. At least that was what Yasha and Meito believed. They both agreed that long term commitments were just outlandish. And inconvenient to top it off. But as they traveled over that hill, through that forest, and over the river, looking for their perfect homes, they found it, with each other. So, with this new realization that home was where ever the other was, they stop their wandering, and chose a nice little cave in the center of the forest. It had been a bear's cave before, but had been long abandoned by the time the got there. So they settled in, and life became pleasant. Yes, she gave in to such sentiments. She figured, hey, I already threw my whole loaner belief out the window, why not everything else while I'm at it! After her long life of being shunned and alone, she was getting spoiled by all this togetherness. Meito rolled over, bright green eyes blinking sleepily. "Morning. Mmm� what time is it?" he asked. "Just a bit past sun rise." He gave her a warm smile. "Feel up to a hunt?" She smiled back, then replied. "Not really. I'm still pretty tired. Maybe later, ok?" He smiled again, black hair falling into his eyes. He shifted easily, his body slipping fluidly from human to panther. And with that, he was gone, off to hunt the fat deer of the forest. Yasha slept more, savoring the feeling of peace that she had never know before now. A demon could get use to this. *** Fire. Yasha's eyes snapped open. Light spilled in to her warm, dark sanctuary, her home. The rough sound of human voices, which was accompanied by their harsh smell, assaulted her delicate senses. Through her sleep filled mind, she could make out some of their words. "�here�demon�danger�burn� kill�" Their voices were filled with anger, hate, and fear. Yasha could smell their bloodlust. Fear raced through her mind. How had they found her. Did they see them come in? Had she been careless, and let one of them see her. She didn't even know humans lived around the forest. Something thunked on top of her home, and the smell of smoke trickled into her nose. She sneezed once, then again. They were burning her home. HER home! Anger built up inside of her, and her teeth bared in a snarl. Before she knew it, she had shifted, changing into her wolf form. She could see the flames now, licking the dried sticks and leaves, the moss and bark. She charged out of the den, barreling over two men who stood at the entrance. She snapped right and left, keeping torches and pitchforks away from her body. They were nowhere near as quick as she was. She leapt for a man's leg, and sunk her teeth in, viciously holding on with all her strength. A broken cry of her name drew her attention. There standing tied was Meito. Blood flowed from a dozen wounds about his body. His green eyes were full of pain and fear. Seeing their chance, the men leapt forward, brandishing their weapons and rope, prepared to capture her as well, but she wasn't going without a fight. "Yasha! No! You can still escape! Please�" but the rest was cut off as the man holding his bonds hit him sharply on the head. She hesitated for a moment, not wanting to leave the only happiness she had ever known "Please� Yasha�." A human pitchfork stabbed straight through her leg, bringing a cry of pain and anguish to her lips. As if some spell had been broken, she leapt forward, breaking free of the circle of men, running. She turned back to see if Meito was watching. He was, eyes so full of pain and sadness an involuntary cry escaped her lips. But she ran on, and this time, didn't look back... |
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