I awoke to the smell of blood.

Was it weird that I liked that?

Getting up, I found out what was causing the smell. My pelt that I had been using as a blanket had turned red, and was stained through-and-through with dried blood. Perhaps I had gotten a little over enthusiastic with last night's activity?

Nah, that can't be it. I doubt I would ever be over enthusiastic about killing.

I got up, and stretched just like I had when I was four-legged. There was something simply satisfying about hearing my own body pop in just the right spots.

I walked to the entrance of my cave, and found I liked the smell of the morning due, especially when mixed with the smell of blood. I started walking down the mountainside, hearing the chirping of the birds, and feeling the soft grass beneath my feet. After a couple moments I had reached the bottom, and was now under some shade. Immediately I felt refreshed. I guess I wasn't really a creature of the day, no matter how much I enjoyed the sun.

I took a sniff, and all of the now-familiar scents reached my nose. The breeze was flowing north, so the scent of the spike beavers was blown my way. I made my way toward them, but something caught my attention on the way there. it was a strip of cloth, caught on a tree branch. I held it up to my nose, but couldn't catch a scent from it. Next, I looked around, and successfully found some footprints, followed them for a short while, and soon found a cave to the south of my own. It was under an overhang, and went down into the ground, flooding when the rain came.

Option available. Would you like to learn the job -Tracker- or not?

I looked up in surprise. It had been a while since I had heard the voice, but what she said got me more interested.

"Yes?"

Job -tracker- acquired. would you like to see details?

I thought for a moment, but declined. I wanted to see what was in this cave, and looking at the details of my job would have to wait.

Making my way into the cave was tricky, as the ground was slippery, and there were no handholds. My night-vision was very useful in this situation, and considering I don't think I could have made my way down the steep slope with a torch in one hand.

Once the cave leveled out, I approximated that I was about seven or eight stories underground. I took a sniff by reflex, and found a scent I had never encountered before. Taking a close look at the ground, and since my night vision was so good, it was like looking around in a dim room. As I got close to the ground, I spotted glowing foot prints.

Yep. Glowing footprints. Looks like I really had gone mad.

However, as I looked at it, it slowly lost luminescence, and faded away. I stood back up, then it clicked. I had never seen glowing footprints before, but I had gained the job tracker, so this vision must be something that I got from that job. I quickly followed the rapidly disappearing footprints, and made my way quietly through the cave.

Suddenly, the cave started brightening. I kept going, but the footprints had all gone, since I couldn't make them out with this light.

After a while, I reached a doorway, or what looked like one. With my excellent hearing I heard voices, and after stopping I began to listen closer.

"He he, we sure made off with quite a bit, huh?"

"Shut the f*** up Grabnotz, you were such a coward I think you pissed yourself."

"Come on, why you hatin' on me bro?"

"Because your a bitch, and it has never been proven that we're brothers."

"But Mom and Dad-"

"I said there wasn't any proof! now go back to f***ing the worms."

The first voice, Grabnotz I assume, muttered something that was probably unintelligible to the other one.

"Whore..."

"What the hell did you call me?!"

"Nothing big bro!"

"It's never been proven!"

I left them to their family squabbles, and turned around, thinking I should investigate the cave further before I did anything stupid, when I heard a deep, guttural voice.

"Well well well, what do we have here?"

I froze, and slowly turned around.

"A little kitty in my cave? How adorable."

I looked up, and saw something I wished I hadn't.

Author's note: Well, here it is. Devour it like you do a subway sandwich.

(Mmmmm,,, subway....)

A huge, ugly face greeted me, as well as a group of what looked like boogers animated and given life. Not sure what to make of these creatures. Booger monsters?

"Well little kitty? What would someone like you be doing in my cave?"

I slowly looked around, then looked back at him.

"I apologize."

He looked smug.

"You should. After all I'm the great and powerful-"

"No, I think you misunderstood me."

He stopped, then tilted his head about thirty degrees.

"What did I misunderstand?"

"I was pitying you for having to live in such a dump."

He was speechless. I just smiled like he had, smug.

"You, ahhh!" He got up, then ran toward me, blustering in an angry way.

"Oh come now." I said, swaying away from his sloppy punches. "Is this all the strength you have?"

He snarled, then pulled a spear off of the wall of the cave.

"You little cat..."

"Oh? What do you think your going to do with that spear? Ram it up your ass? Sorry. I'm not into that kind of thing. But thanks for being a willing host."

The look on his face was priceless. He was so livid I think his head started steaming.

"You f*****... you motherf*****!"

He threw the spear, and I pivoted. It passed through the air in front of me, and I reached out with both hands, gripping and spinning the length of wood, pirouetting on the ball of my left foot, completing a full circle, and bringing the spear into a guard position in front of me.

I smiled. I was feeling generous today, so I'd give them all numbers. Ugly was talking again.

"Go! Kill that sonovabitch!"

All of the booger monsters started running toward me, and I gave a bow, with spear at shoulder.

"Snakes Slithering Wrath, number three." I had practiced in dozens of dojos. While I had never thought practicing with weapons like the spear and sword would be practical, they had helped to strengthen my muscles, in a way normal unarmed combat couldn't.

Three approached. They didn't seem to be that coordinated, as they all watched each other, making sure that the other two were beside them at all times.

They were so busy they didn't see my spear coming until the one on the left’s throat had been impaled. The other two kept going by virtue of momentum, and I brought the butt of the spear around in a spinning arc, knocking his head off. The one on the far right only had time to scream before I kicked him as I spun, making him fly into the wall, impaling himself on a convenient spike.

"One, two, three."

The booger monsters surrounded me, and they all looked like they wanted someone else to go first.

I would fill the bill.

I jumped forward, spinning the spear above my head, and brought it down, ramming it into one's chest, hard enough that it continued on, impaling a second on the spear, making what could be called a booger shish kebab. Eww.

"Four, five."

The one to my right pulled back his club, making an attempt to hit me. I pulled the spear out, making a smooth motion like the monsters had no substance, and were just illusions. But the green blood they spurted from their bodies was very real. Using the butt I shattered another one’s skull, then spun it around and beheaded another.

"Six, seven."

I continued my form. Snakes Slithering Wrath number three was a unique form, in the way that it dealt with numerous enemies, while leaving much room for improvisation. I loved this form.

Over and over, I hit them, stabbed them, bewildered them with the shining tip of the spear. I closed my eyes for a second, breathing deep.

*Inhale*

To my left, one was splattered against the wall. To my right, a hundredth of a second after, one lost his head. His body kept running, as though he was a chicken without its head. He died soon enough. I spun. Dealing death to all around me. I laughed, and the wind laughed with me. All too soon, I stopped. What is it?

*Exhale*

I looked around, and swore.

All were dead, and I hadn't even gotten warmed up. There was still half the form left.

I finished counting.

"Fifty-eight, fifty-nine."

I looked down at my spear, and saw it had shattered long ago. It was now half the length of the original, losing both the blade and the butt. Practically useless. I didn't know how in the world I had killed anyone with this, but I guess they were so weak even half a spear was enough for them. I spit on the ground, and tried to rid my nose of their scent.

"You killed them all."

I looked up, and saw ugly standing among his fallen comrades.

"Yes. Tell me, what are you?"

He looked up, then snarled.

"You exterminated us, without even knowing what we are?"

I answered solemnly.

"yes."

He looked tired. I wonder why?

"They were goblins. I'm an ogre. Does that answer your question?"

I nodded.

"Then, you can finish up, and kill me too."

I thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Okay."

He raised his round wooden shield, and his flanged mace. He stood a few feet taller than me, and in all was probably three meters tall.

I ran forward, and dodged his swing with the mace, running up his arm, then kicking the back of his head as I vaulted off of him.

He turned, swinging horizontally, and I jumped, flipping onto my hands, so when he swung back again I pushed against the ground. hard. this sent me up to his head, and I kicked him still upside down. The kick stunned him, and I flipped back to right side up. I breathed in, then out.

I tightened my muscles, then flexed, and jumped.

I jumped eight feet, bringing my legs to the level of his head. relaxing all of my muscles, I spun, and extended a leg, tightening my leg at the last moment, and his head flew off.

"Sixty."

---

When I got back, I knew something was up. Talkir and Shielin were hiding something.

We were in my cave, which was getting bigger all the time, due to the nest's effort.

When I had walked in, everyone had been a little surprised that I was covered in green blood, and carrying the head of an ogre. I had no idea at the time, but apparently I had stumbled upon nature's bandits.

Shielin had chittered at me, and I'm pretty sure she would have scolded me, if I wasn't king of the forest.

I asked for a report like usual, and they answered hesitantly, like they wanted to get it exactly right.Ei

What is going on?

Finally, after several moments of the two of them avoiding my gaze, and me sitting in silence. Egain sighed and looked me in the eyes.

"Since these pansies obviously don’t have the balls to tell you themselves, their-"

He was interrupted by Talkir pinning him to the ground, and covering his mouth.

He grunted with the effort, but managed to talk.

"Gr, sorry sir, ah, but we were waiting for the, grr, right time."

Throughout his sentence, Egain struggled to throw him off.

I asked what had been bugging me.

"What is it?"

Talkir stepped off of Egain, and Egain brushed himself off.

"Well, sir, it has dawned on us that we're holding you back."

I was speechless.

"Ssss, that one is correct. You have no need for the nest, and we are but ants compared to you."

I made a sound in my throat, something between a squeal and a hiss.

"Sir, what we're trying to say is,"

I felt all the breath leave my body.

It's happening again.

"We're leaving. I don't know when we'll be back, but I’m sure you that when I come back, I'll be useful to you."

Wait... don't leave me... you’re my only friends...

"Ssss, yes. When this one comes back, Shielin will be strong enough to stand beside you."

Stop... you don't have to be strong...I just want...

"Goodbye. Egain will stay, and watch over you until we're back."

I just want... to not be lonely anymore.

They left. I raised my hand, and tried to stop them, but they were already gone. I fell to my knees.

Why... why...

Just when I had found people that tolerated my existence, they were gone.

Shit.

---

I walked through the forest, not feeling the soft grass beneath my feet. not feeling the warm sun above. Just feeling the familiar emptiness.

Shit.

I didn't walk anywhere in particular, just walking to make sure I was still alive, and hadn't died again.

Shit.

I was walking, when I heard clanking. it sounded like a dozen metal plates being banged together, and I thought maybe I should climb a tree. If it was something strong, I'd want to surprise attack it.

I just couldn't summon the motivation to climb the tree.

Shit.

I waited. I sat down, and played with the leaves and twigs on the ground, folding the leaves, making little flags from leaves and twigs. Once, I'd seen children play in the sand, and make little flags from leaves and twigs. That'd been on my fourth mission. I'd question my master why they were doing such a thing, and he had told me to hike the mountain.

I wonder why I played with the leaves and twigs now, instead of when I was young? Did this mean I had never been human?

Shit.

I heard the clanking get closer, but I didn't look up. Eventually, a hand grabbed my shoulder.

I snarled, and bit at it, and because the owner of the hands had great reflexes he managed to save his hand.

"Woah!"

I looked up at my assailant on all fours, my ears pricked and my tail straight behind me.

I saw a man in his twenties, hand on a brilliant sword.

I growled, deep in my throat. I didn't know my throat could make such a sound. I had unconsciously activated fear, and a couple of the armored men behind the man quivered.

I looked up at them, sniffing them, and knew that if Talkir or Shielin had been here, they would both have died.

F***!

---

I looked down on the creature before me. It looked like a cat demi-human with black fur, but it's blood red sclera told that this was no ordinary demi-human.

He growled, and I tightened my grip on my sword.

"Kai. Get over here."

My lieutenant complied, walking over to where I was. She had her sword ready. It was different from mine, in that it was curved, and only had a blade on one edge. It was referred to by most weapon smiths as a katana, and only the very skilled could wield one with any proficiency.

I briefly wondered what a creature like this was doing so far from civilization. Most demi-humans either were tribal, or lived in cities.

Then I saw the blood matting the fur it had around it's waist, and thought,

Looks like we found what happened to the bandits.

---

I kept growling, but he didn't seem to care. Then, he spoke.

"Hey there. Are you the one who killed the bandits?"

I thought for a little bit. If I lied, they would probably leave me alone.

But then I wouldn't get to let out any of this RAGE.

"Which one's are you referring to? The goblins this morning, or the ones from last night? ‘Cause I had a blast ripping their heads off and putting them on poles. did you find their decapitated heads as amusing as I did?"

I knew I sounded rabid. They probably thought I had rabies, and I don't think me having rabies would make a difference.

"If that is the case, then you are a danger to all of your surroundings. I have been ordered by the king to deal with any threats in this area, and I deem you as one."

I smiled. Through the pain, the sadness, the insanity.

"Oh? And what’s a bastard like you going to do about it?"

He stepped forward, and unsheathed his sword.

Looks like negotiations had ended.

I activated shadow blade, and swung at his head. He looked up in surprise, but managed to get his sword up in time to block me. I stepped into him, and places my claws at his stomach. Then I activated shadowblade, and poured as much mana as I could into them.

A wet, smacking sound. He looked down at the hole in his belly, then looked back up at me, licking my claws.

I smiled. Insanely. Sadly. With hatred.

He brought his sword around, and I used my claws to block his stroke. My claw for the middle finger broke off, but I grabbed his sword, ignoring the pain brought by gripping the blade as hard as I could. My blood ran down his blade, and I tore it from his hand. a large gash had opened up on my palm, but I paid it no mind, as I stepped forward again.

And stopped.

For a moment, I wondered what had happened, then I saw the woman.

She was crouched low, and was re-sheathing her katana-looking sword.

Bitch.

I tried to turn toward her, then it hit me.

A slice from my right waist up to my shoulder had opened.

I relaxed the muscles in my chest that wanted to flex, so that instead of blood spurting, it instead ran in a sheet down my chest.

Ignoring the pain, and having avoided losing a great deal of blood, I stepped forward and grabbed her by the neck. Then I turned her around, a surprised look on her face that I could still move with such a horrible wound.

I held her neck with my right, and the hilt of her sword with my left. All in all, I was bigger, had more muscle, and was fueled by rage and adrenaline. She still gave me a fight to bring her into submission.

After I had shown her that fighting was useless, she began kicking and trying to headbutt me.

What a crazy woman.

I tightened my grip around her neck, and whispered into her ear.

"If you don't stop, I'll rip your head off like I did the bandits. But instead of mounting it on something, I'll eat it."

She stopped, and shivered. She didn't seem scared. She seemed more... excited. what a scary woman.

I looked up from my hostage, and saw that all twenty of the soldiers had brought out their weapons, and the man had pulled out his knife with one hand, even though there was a hole in his belly.

I thought for a while, but I knew that I couldn't fight with this wound. If I tried, it would only end with me dead from blood loss, or a sword.

Whichever came first.

F***.

While thinking, I realized that I was hungry. I bit her ear until it bled, then licked it.

Mmmm...

Yes. They were strong. Too strong for me as I was.

I must get stronger.

I will never lose the people I care about ever again.

"And f*** any whore who gets in my way!" I yelled.

I threw the woman at the leader, knocking him over, and turned and jumped up a tree, then began hopping away.

I guess this was a draw. We'd have to settle this some other time.

---

But, that woman had really been scary.

I thought, while wrapping my wounds.

I think I heard her moan when I had bit her ear, and that had not, been what I was expecting.

A gasp of pain, maybe. Or an intake of breath. Not the sound of pleasure.

That, combined with her strike that even I hadn't been able to follow, made her strange. she would be a difficult opponent, ignoring the fact that I hadn't even seen all of her techniques. I guess I learned a valuable lesson from this.

Women are scary.

But I had to thank her. She and her friends had helped to distract me from the sadness of my friends leaving.

At least, I told myself that. I could lie in my mind, but my tears told a different story.

---

Baryll's POV

That bastard...

I looked over my men, and all of them were shaken.

I had had to have dozens of stitches on my stomach, and I'm pretty sure some of my men would need therapy after this. The creature had used some sort of ability that damages the mind, and few of them were unscathed.

Kai had reacted strangely, and had barely moved since we'd gotten back to the village.

She had her eyes closed, and was leaned back. For a second, I thought she was more hurt than I had thought, but when I could make out what she was muttering, I immediately turned myself around, and walked as fast as I could in the other direction.

Me and that creature would probably disagree on many things, but I got the feeling we could agree on one thing.

Women are scary.

Author's note: So sad... I can't believe the feels... f*** it! I have to do it! For the story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Sparta!!!!!!!!!!!!!