[the next day]
"Ah," exclaimed Nesumi with a breath of satisfaction.
"It feels good to be out!" She stretches and thinks about her mother.
"She was right," thought Nesumi.
"Kids are a blessing, but who would have known that having them would require so much sacrifice."
"And ..." She pauses, almost horrified by the recollection.
"She could have gone into a bit more detail into how much it freaking hurts to give birth to them. I mean the constant pain, the feeling of something growing inside, there is nothing pleasant about it. I swear if I didn't love that idiot, I would have gnawed his neck off the second they were born."
"Come to think of it." She ponders for a minute.
"I almost did!" She chuckles.
"But, that is that I suppose, the children no longer require constant supervision, so it should be alright to leave them with their father."
She grins at the thought, knowing that he was not that incompetent, but felt the need to poke fun at him regardless.
"It is finally my turn to hunt." She finishes stretching and focuses on the task at hand.
She then sniffs the air and catches the scent of something in the distance.
[perspective of the huntress]
I can sense it move. I can feel its presence, but I cannot find it. I survey the surroundings, knowing that it is close by, and catch the glimpse of a shadow in the corner of my eye. I move towards it, little by little, careful not to reveal my whereabouts. I have gotten close. I can feel my muscles tense up in anticipation, I pounce, hoping for a memorable encounter.
I regret that it was not, for the beast, if it can even be called that, was smaller than a newborn rat, or rather it may as well have been, and to make matter worse, I missed. In watching it flee, I felt my pride being wounded. I had misjudged the size of my prey and had given it, as I was starting to realize, far too generous a head start. I know that it is young, but if nothing else, it will make good practice, and frankly, I would never be able to live it down if my family found out that I lost to something that insignificant.
I chased the creature, my speed, being close to what it was back then, has enabled me to narrow the gap. I am within a few feet, my snack is almost within reach, but then, the unexpected occurred. In that instant, a large object falls from the sky and blocks the path before me.
In reality, it was a gigantic beast, larger than any other that I had seen. I was denied the horror of his face, for the fiend had his back upon me, but it had skin that was pale, rough, and ancient. It had wings that were black as night, large enough to span the length of his body. It had claws that were sharp and horrendous, vicious things, that could grasp the earth and tear it asunder. I was afraid, I should run, but then he turned his head, granting me the terrible image of his eyes. It was like piercing into a hateful void that neither felt hunger or reason, but conveyed, instead, a strong desire to see me dead.
"Run," exclaimed her mind. "Please run!"
The demon moves towards her.
"Move," stuttered her mind. "Please move!"
The demon glares at her.
"Do not let it get me!" Her eyes form tears. "No!"
She screams and the demon strikes.
In the last moment, her body obeyed, and dodged the savage claws of her attacker. She breathes deep, stumbling, in a desperate attempt to regain her footing. It terrified her for the sense of fear, the feeling of danger, and the risk of death, were things that she had felt before, but never this strongly. It was the first time that she was the prey, not the predator, the only time that she was the hunted and not the hunter.
"Pathetic!" Declared Ganyal, her attacker, with a hateful tone.
"Where is the proud stalker, the great killer of the innocent?"
He laughs coldly and asked, "Has she lost her nerve without her mate to comfort her?"
"No matter for know this little vermin." He points at her.
"If you do survive this day, then the next time we meet, you will not be so fortunate!"
He lunges for the next strike.
[hours later]
"Daddy? Where is mommy?" Asked Midori. "I am getting hungry."
"Mommy has not hunted in some time," said Jinezu.
"She is probably having a bit too much fun." He chuckles and pets her head.
"But fear not." He looks into the distance. "She will be back in no time."
"I hope she is okay," cried Sokanu lowering his head.
"Why did she have to go? Couldn't you have gone instead daddy?"
"But how often ..." Said Jinezu while hiding his irritation.
"Do I get to spend time with you adorable little pups?" He hugs Sokanu.
"Do you not want to spend time with your father?"
"No, not really," said Sokanu with a cute tone and expression.
Jinezu grits his teeth. "I guess ..."
"I will just have to change that then, won't I?" He chases his kids with relentless tickle barrages.
"How about now?"
The kids shake their heads.
"Hmm." Jinezu pauses. "I have underestimated you kids."
"I have no choice but to unleash my ultimate ..." He pretends to be a warrior engaged in battle.
"Unstoppable!"
"Munchkin Crushed Attack!" He gives them a big old bear hug.
"Daddy!" Declared Saigora.
"Please let go."
"Do you still prefer mommy? Asked Jinezu while crushing them a bit more.
"Uh huh," said Saigora while sticking out his tongue.
"Then my answer is never!" He laughs and the children join in.
"Your mother is strong." He loosens his grip to talk to them.
"She is more skilled and more resourceful, than I could ever hope be, and there is no beast that is strong enough to defeat her." He hugs them gently.
"I promise that she will return."
[minutes later]
"Jin ..." Nesumi, who is nearby yet too exhausted to keep going, calls out to her husband.
"Jinezu..." She is barely able to speak and finds it difficult to stay awake.
"Help me!" She faints while in the arms of her lover.
"Nesumi!" Exclaimed Jinezu, his heart racing and his eyes fixed upon her wounds.
"What happened?" He notices the trail of blood.
"Who did this to you?"
