User blog:Roastedman511/A Lone Hunter, Chapter Two

I rushed outside and followed the sounds of the screaming. There were only two possible things it could be stuck in one of the traps my father had made and that I had set up near the house. It was either a monster, which could go multiple ways or a woman who happened to wander into the forest. I didn't want it to be anyone caught in the trap, but part of me hoped it was the latter.

I ended up on the other side of the house. At first sight, I could tell it was a monster, not necessarily what kind, though with how dark it was. She let out more screaming through the pain. She then stopped as she looked at me with her green eyes glowing in the night.

"You! Human! Can you help me out of this damn-" She let out another shout of pain as she tried to walk over to me, moving the chain and showing me it was a small bear trap. Despite the size at most it probably broke her leg. I wasn't sure at the time if it had caused any serious damage.

"Don't move your leg too much! It'll just make the teeth dig deeper." I said as I hurried over to help.

I saw the faint glint of orange fur in the night from the moonlight peeking through the leaves. I took my sword and put it near her leg in the way of the teeth. I then put my hands on either side and pulled it down. As soon as her leg was free she jumped away and then fell on the ground letting out another shout of pain. I looked at her with sympathy. The teeth of the trap had made a few nasty wounds in her lower leg and looked to be at a bad angle. As I went to inspect it she growled at me, and all too familiar one at that. The moonlight moved to show her pale face and red hair, her green eyes glowing fiercely like any animals would. It seemed the world had a cruel sense of irony having this Jinko get caught in a trap of mine when she tried to trap me once.

"Don't even human." She snarled. "It's your fault I'm in this position in the first place. Stay away before you do anything else."

Well seems someone had a major change in tone.

"Your right. Which is why I'm taking responsibility for my actions. How good can you walk?" I asked.

She looked surprised for a second until she looked away still angry. Had she been blushing? "I'm fine. It's nothing a warrior like me can't- OW!"

She tried to get up only to fall again, tears in her eyes from the pain. I could tell she was around my age by human standards. Her orange fur with black stripes bristling from the pain she was probably feeling. A year ago it had been this same Jinko who had tried to make me her husband during her mating season. It had been the first time I'd ever seen one of the proud tiger beastmen.

I walked over and put her arm over my shoulder and the other on her other arm as I lifted her up so she could put support on her other leg.

"Just what do you think your doing?! Going to go and violate a crippled monster? That's low even for a human. No wonder we find you men, scum."

I brought her into the house and set her on a couch in the living room. She proceeded to say how worthless I was for what I was doing. I tuned her out as I looked around for the usual first aid equipment. I looked for the familiar white box filled with a variety of medical supplies.

I walked in to see her trying to lick her wounds with no avail. It seemed each time she touched her leg she felt pain. If she was a wild animal I would've put her out of her misery on the spot, but this was different. My mother had raised me with better values towards women, even if she was only there for part of my life. Or if the woman happened to be a Mamono. Either way she was still injured and needed treatment.

I took out a ball of cotton and proceeded to dip it in some disinfectant. I handed her a stick about the size of the sword I had in my hand. She took a look at it confused and then looked at me with an angry look on her face.

"You're gonna want to bite down on it while I clean the wounds," I said.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Fine." She said reluctantly.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I was surprised she was being so accepting of my help at this point. I began to clean the wounds, causing her to bite down on the piece of wood as she felt the mixture seep in and get rid of any infection starting to set in. After I took some more pieces of wood and set them next to her legs. Then I grabbed the roll of bandage and wrapped it around her leg making a makeshift splint.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I backed up and sighed once my work was finished. She looked at her leg and then to me surprised. I got up, which seemed to make her tense up. I felt her relax after I came back with some fish. I offered the plate to her.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">She looked at it, then to me. I nodded. She warily went to touch it and then grabbed it, eating quickly like she hadn't had a meal in a while. The room proceeded to stay quiet as neither of us talked to the other. I decided to break the silence.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Sorry."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">She gave me an annoyed look. "For what? Breaking my leg or having to breathe the same air as me?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Well, ain't she the snappy type! I thought to myself.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"I'd have to say breaking your leg. The trap was meant for a deer or something of the like, not a Jinko who just happened to be passing by the only house in this forest. At least that is, the only one every monster knows the location of." I countered.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked defensively.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"It means why were by my house in the first place. The last thing I need is another hormone filled monster chasing me again."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Isn't my fault most of the prey I hunt seems to go near your house. Or near any of your hunting grounds. It's not like I want to be near you, you just happen to always be in the same area!" She shouted at me. "Now I can't even run if I wanted to because of you!" She then muttered something under her breath.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I sat back and thought about the situation. Currently, I had a Jinko, a tiger woman essentially on my hands now. They could fight and thought of themselves as pure and not needing a man. They were quite the courageous type. So for most men, this wasn't a problem unless you happened to meet them while hunting, or mating season like I did. During mating season, all that time spent building up a "pure" and modest mindset fell away.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">The only thing on her mind was finding a mate as with most monsters. She had tried this last year but seemed more reigned in. I noticed how she seemed to click her claws against one another, maybe some sort of tell when she was nervous? I decided to take a mental note of it. As a hunter, I had been taught how to tell how an animal would act in most scenarios. Right now she seemed more unsure of her fate right now being with a man while she was crippled.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I got out of the chair and took the plate that had been occupied by a cooked fish. I put it in the dishes I had used from earlier today and sat next to her on the couch. this seemed to shock her, her face reddening a bit. She noticed this herself and looked away defiantly as if I was trash.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Seeing as you can't do anything, I guess that means I'll have to hunt for the both of us until that leg of yours heals. I'm going to have to stock up anyways. It's been getting colder and you should know how the snow gets. So," I extended my hand out. "My name is Rain, what's your's?" I asked with a smile on my face.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">At first, she seemed wary, then she put her clawed and fur covered hand in mine. "Serena." She said before taking her hand away. I looked at Serena and walked into my room before coming back with a spare blanket I would use in the winter. I put it over her watching out for her leg.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Good night, Serena. Just shout if you need anything!" I said as I went back to my bedroom to get sleep. It was only just now I realized I had been running on pure adrenaline for what? Past half hour or so?

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I covered myself up and turned off the lantern in my room. I got up and made sure to lock the door, just in case someone tried to get the drop on me while I was still asleep in the middle of the night. I doubted she'd be able to try anything with a broken leg, though. I heard a faint good night as I began to drift off.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Goodnight as well, Serena," I replied into the darkness of the house.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I began cooking fish while my guest slept soundly. It was quite adorable with how Serena seemed to have curled up into a little ball, her left leg poking out from the blanket as she lightly snored. I then looked on the floor to see pieces of armor on the floor. I then realized they were made to cover her breast and lower area.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I then realized that meant under that blanket was a completely nude woman, one with claws that could easily tear me apart. I looked back to the pan of fish I was cooking and tried to get the images plaguing my head.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I had one job currently, and that was taking care of her until her leg had mended, then she could leave and I could get back to my normal life. I'd be able to hunt for myself again and not have to worry about anyone but me for a long time. I took the fish that had finished cooking and put it on a separate plate I had cleaned for the cooked fish. I then heard yawning and looked to see her wake up, and then wince in pain at her leg as she tried to move it while it was still splinted.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">She attempted to sit straight up and then gave me a look of disgust.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Oh, so it wasn't a nightmare..." she said dryly. I stopped myself from making a remark about her.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"No, it wasn't. Also, do you want me to leave the room while you get dressed? Or do you like to be naked in a man's home?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I could hear her face redden as she began to make a retort of her own.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Could you please leave the room?" She asked rudely.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I nodded and waited in the hallway as she put on her armor. I closed my eyes and listened in on the sharp breaths she was taking in from the pain in her leg. No doubt it was broken. Part of me felt terrible for what I did, even if it wasn't directly my fault. I headed to my room and looked through the drawers of my dresser until I found clothes that could work.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I walked in with my hand over my eyes.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"What do you think you're doing you peeping- What are those?" Her voice changed from angry to curious.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Clothes for you to put on. I thought it'd be better than that armor of yours and it would cover your body better. Now excuse me, I smell our breakfast burning." I hurried past my eyes closed until I was sure she was behind me. I was able to save some of the fish. I looked to see her trying to get on at least the armor that covered the area around her womanhood. I then noticed I was staring. She did too. I snapped my head back to cooking.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Was it me or was it getting hot in here? I took some fish and plated it up for Serena. I handed to her with a knife and fork while she stared at me as if what I did was the worst crime ever. I prepared to be lashed at again only for her to say something else.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"What are these?" She asked.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I got myself a plate and sat down on the couch next to her, making sure there was space between so I wasn't too close.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"They help humans eat food easier. The fork holds it in place and can stab it to bring up to our mouths, while the knife is for cutting it into smaller bits." I explained.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Sort of like claws?" She wiggled her own claws, a gesture that made her seem a bit cute until I remembered her attitude from earlier.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"In a way, yes. A bit like claws. Though I do have claws, just not," I showed my hand as my nails started to elongate and sharpen to a point. "Claws if you will." I let my nails settle back to their original length. The whole act seemed to interest the Jinko seeing a human do something like that. Not even I was sure how I did it. We continued to eat without talking. Serena ate the fish using her hands while I used the utensils I was taught how to use.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">The whole act seemed to interest the Jinko seeing a human do something like that. Not even I was sure how I did it. We continued to eat without talking. Serena ate the fish using her hands while I used the utensils I was taught how to use since I was a child. After we finished I took the plates and washed them in the sink. My father had told me we were exceptionally lucky to have running water here. Apparently, him and Sheila's father had made pipe's that went down into a separate well for cleaning water, the other for drinking water. They both had been "engineers" as my mother called it. This was just one thing they had built in their lives out of many.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"So how long until that leg heals you think? I don't know much about monster anatomy and such besides organs and the like." I said showing my lack of knowledge on monsters.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Maybe a month or two? Possibly three? This isn't the first time I've broken a bone. Last time it wasn't because of a dumb human mistake like yours, but I'm not so stubborn as to not accept any help." She then looked up at me. "So until then, we'll be stuck with each other until I'm in better condition and able to hunt for myself."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"In other words... No more being hostile? Bygones are bygones?" I asked sincerely, hoping for a good answer.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Yes... But there are still a few other things. I'm a Jinko and even though my mating season is far off, I still need to minimize contact with you. I can't hunt and can barely defend myself as well. I believe you understand what I'm getting at?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Totally. No being near you, touching, or in the same room if either of us is without clothes. I'm guessing the other bit is because I'd be presenting myself as a strong, desirable 'male'? Especially since you had your sights on me before?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">She nodded. I continued to make everything clear. "I'm okay to touch you if it's only your leg to check on it though right?" I sat down on the other end of the couch.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Yes, I'll allow you to. Just ignore anything I may say or do while you are. My legs are a bit close to more tender areas. On another note, don't touch my ears or tail."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Are those sensitive too?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"No, it's just I would claw your eyes out for it."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Thus began my time having to live with Serena the Jinko. I had left the house to tell aunt Quilla and sheila about the news. To this, I was met with a look in their eyes that said: "we know all about it already". Though it didn't go easy once I told them it was the same Jinko who had chased me last year, which led to Mara now wanting me as her own. I saw this as an upside, though.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">So long as she was staying in my house it'd make it clear some other Mamono got to me before she and her pack of werewolves did. So in the whole scheme of things I was in a much safer place than beforehand. After getting some more fish and gathering some deer meat for Serena to satisfy her Jinko appetite. Apparently, it was Serena's favorite, and who was I to judge? Fish can be boring at times when it's all you have to eat.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I returned later afternoon to a somewhat happy companion at her seeing the deer I had brought in. I gave her the legs which she loved especially and took the rest to prepare for myself for future meals. As I prepared a venison soup I looked at Serena staring at the axes of mine and my bow in the corner.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Maybe this mistake of mine would work out after all.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">A/N: Yeah, maybe it will Rain. Maybe it will...

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<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">C'mon you should know I'm not gonna make this one easy in the least. Also yay! I did the second chapter! By the way, do you guys think I'm portraying Serena right with her being a Jinko? I feel I am, just not sure if I am. Still, I feel this story starting to really get its footing. Just one more chapter and then we break in the good stuff. Who knows, maybe Serena will see just how sincere Rain can be?