User blog:Roastedman511/A Lone Hunter, Chapter Eight

POV: Rain (First Person)

I hadn't slept for the past two days. Ever since Serena had run into the forest, tears in her eyes. I had tried to track her down but to no avail. I could only be mad at myself for even trying to run after her. Yet it seemed like she wanted me to. She wanted me to hold her close and wipe the tears away while it rained.

But I wasn't able to.

I got up from the couch and walked outside, my chest heavy. Why did she leave? I never had this feeling before.

No, I had, but not because of this kind of situation. The last time I had felt like this was when my parents had died. When Quilla had embraced me and waited as I fell asleep on that night, Sheila crying as well with the death of her father as well.

This was sadness.

I was sad because I had fallen in love with Serena, the same Jinko who had tried to hunt me down a year ago. At first, it seemed like life had a cruel sense of humor. Then it turned out to be just the right move.

Before I knew it I had walked out to the plains where we had hunted the other day to see if her leg was good enough for her to hunt normally. It was also the first spot that we had kissed. I still felt that same warm touch of her lips against mine. I looked at my arms, the runes faintly glowing at the thought of me wanting to use them so I could cover more ground quickly.

It was hard to sleep at the thought of her gone now. Sure she was a Jinko, but I wasn't worried about that. I was worried because she had left without a reason. That and most of the Mamono in this forest would be going into their mating season. My time was limited as I continued to walk around, wearing only my usual house clothes.

I then stopped at the lake where Sheila was already at the pier, eating a raw fish she had caught on her wooden spear. I sat down at the edge next to her, letting my feet dangle in the water as usual.

We both sat there in silence. She already knew that I hadn't gotten a bit of sleep in the past two days trying to look for Serena. She shook my shoulder, getting my attention from looking at the lake's waters.

"Don't worry. She can take of herself. If you can, anyone can." She said calmly.

"I know, but it's just-" I tried to say, only to be cut off by her pointing her spear at me.

"You need sleep. You have more bags than a weresheep in the winter."

"Thanks, Sheila. I've just never felt like this about someone before. I spent all yesterday checking most of the forest. Except where Mara's pack roams. I wouldn't even get close to there before they set up an ambush."

"True. Mother wants to know if you really love her or been seduced, though." The Sahuagin said, cocking her head to the side. "You have a small bit of demonic energy on you, but not much."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"All we did was kiss a bit. Don't worry, I know that she can easily track me down since my saliva has spirit energy in it. Part of me hopes she'll track me down that way." I said, letting out a sigh.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"You shouldn't sigh so much. The merchant says every time you sigh you let out a bit of happiness."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Merchant?" I said confused until I realized what she meant. "Gray!? He was here?!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">She began to blush a bit at the mention of his name.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Wait, Sheila didn't blush. Not one bit. She usually kept a calm and bored attitude. "Y-yes. Him. He comes by sometimes."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Really now? I thought he only stepped into the forest during the summer. Why did he come visit so early?" I asked.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"A certain book I was looking for, that's why." An older voice said. I turned around quickly at the sound of Quilla's voice.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">The Sahugain's green-blue scales shined like armor, and in her arms, she held a book that was in Zipangunese. She walked down with the elegance she was known for. She was the leader of the tribe of Sahuagin in the forest. She was also my aunt through marriage to my uncle.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"What's in the book?" I asked.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Is that the one?" Sheila asked her mother.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Yes. After some searching, that merchant friend of yours found what I was looking for."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"What would that be?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Well Rain, I think you'd know once you look at this page."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I got up off the pier and looked to see a familiar sight. The page was filled with numerous drawings of runes, many I didn't recognize until I saw ones that I did. Each one having a distinct recording of how to use them in combination with each other.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">What really stuck out was one rune that both my arms shared. The were the only ones that matched. I looked at the definition to see it meant "survive". The one next to it? "Change." Each one had a single purpose. Quilla smiled as she then showed me who wrote it.

<p data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;text-align:center;">On the Rules of Runes and Magical Engineering, by Trevor and Li Nolan.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">My mouth hung open. It had been a long time since I saw that handwriting. Either of them. I looked to see Quilla nodding her head.

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

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">It had been a mystery at first about how I had gotten these runes onto my arm. Some thought it was a spell created by the Order, but as soon as I I had been found and examined by some they found it was something more... Different.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">The only thing that seemed strange was that whenever I used them my nails would grow into claws, my eyes sharpen, and my canines become longer. Mara had gone as far as to say I was a gift from the Demon Lord, the first ever male Mamono. It was soon disproved once Quilla had looked into it.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">It wasn't widely known, but some had found out that just after simply touching them the runes would change that so-called "monster" appearance. When Sheila had when I was young I had grown some fish scales along my arms and could breathe underwater just like Sahugain could. Being a kid. though, I didn't like it much. It was during this time Mara had been more or less nicer than currently. She had become obsessed with the fact I could look like an almost male werewolf.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I couldn't deny it, though, the wolf look did seem much better looking. Enhanced smell and fangs came in handy as well. Sadly we found out the hard way I couldn't eat raw meat like some Mamono.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"So he was the one," I said.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Yes. Seemed your father and my husband had you in mind when the Order came. Apparently, these runes were made in an effort to try and make it so normal people could gain the abilities of some animals. A hawk's eyesight, a wolf sense of smell, even greater speed like a tiger. Your father wanted you to be able to survive it seemed. He did mention in the book that they do require vast amounts of spirit energy, but you seem to be fine when you use it." Quilla said.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Seems he did. I just hope Serena's been able to 'survive'." I said, worried about how she was faring out there.

<p data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;text-align:center;">POV: Serena (First Person)

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I struggled as I hunted, my whole body feeling as if it was on fire. The deer was in my sights, and my legs were all too ready to launch myself at the source of food. I pounced upon it and swiftly took my claws and ripped out its throat.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">After taking a bite of it to sustain my hunger, I took the beast and dragged it back to my den. As I made my way back I could feel the urge in my body to do what was natural this time of year. The fact I and Rain had kissed didn't help me.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">The constant hot flashes weren't the problem for me, it was the burning in my own womanhood. That and the thoughts of Rain taking his arms and wrapping them around me as I was on top of him-

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">No! Do not even think about that! Just wait it out and you'll be fine. It's only one week. Just one week and then you can go find him on your terms. I told myself.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Once I was in my den I began to take the venison and shred it into small pieces, placing it on top of the hot stone above the fire I had made. Ever since I had left I had felt the needs that came with being in heat. That and how I had left Rain two nights ago.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">As I had run away I could hear his voice calling out for me, but I couldn't answer. It wouldn't be me, it'd be me wanting nothing but to push him down and make him mine while my mind swam with nothing but sex in mind.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Even now it was still present in my mind. I was glad that I was still able to keep some kind of control in my body. Yet there was still that reminder of having a small bit of his spirit energy in me. If I gave in the least bit I could effortlessly track him down right now back to his house. It was waking every single bit of willpower I had to not do it. Getting so close to him wasn't helping me in the least right now.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I looked around at the den, trying to find something to take my mind off my present state, but to no avail. This place wasn't exactly filled with pleasant memories. As I had told Rain, he wasn't the only one who had lost someone during that fire.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Faint memories crossed my mind at the two graves at the cabin, ones of his parents and uncle. Meanwhile, I didn't have a single thing to remember mine by besides the time I spent with as a young girl. My father had been a well muscled and hairy man, I remember that. He would sometimes tickle me with his rough beard when he played with me.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Meanwhile, my mother was more worried about me becoming strong enough to take care of myself. She taught me how to hunt, fight, and most things I would need. I missed them every time I came into this den. Being away for the past few months hadn't helped with all those feeling coming back as I looked around.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">You wouldn't feel that pain if you were with him. He cares for you and you know it. My mind said. I wasn't going to give in.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">He's taken responsibility by looking after your injury. Not to mention he truly cares and is handsome to boot! So why not? In a way... Don't you owe it to him?! Don't you have to repay his kindness in a way you know would benefit the both of you!?

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I shook my head and rolled on the cave floor in embarrassment as the thoughts filled my mind. I tried my best to suppress my feelings and urges. No way would I do that. Sure I felt that way about him, but not so much as I'd act like I was paying him back. He even said that he was just taking responsibility.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Why was this so hard? Why couldn't this thing be over already for the second time so I wouldn't have to worry about it!?

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Because you..." I said as I went over and plucked off a piece of venison from the hot stone plate.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Five more days to go, five more days and I could see him. Five more days and I could run through the forest and find him, and run into his arms.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Because you love him..." I said as I ate a piece of the deer meat, my eyes looking out the opening of the den.

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

<p data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;text-align:center;">POV Change: Rain (First Person)

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I woke up once again in an empty bed, expecting Serena to be there. This had been the fourth time I'd done this within the span of two days. I tried to not show that her leaving had affected me when talking to Quilla, but it didn't help.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">My chest was filled with pain, not the usual kind though that came with accidentally cutting one's finger or hitting a toe against a tree. No, this was worse than that. It was the pain that came with losing someone you loved. It was something I hadn't experienced since my parents died. My mind kept wandering to her,

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">My mind kept filling up with thoughts about her. Where she could be, how she was doing, whether or not she'd come back and we could finally say the damn words that we both wanted to hear from the other. It wa

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">s truly painful. I was glad that I was here at home, and not at the small pier.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">No one should see me like this, in this state. I was the "Spirit of the Forest". A male monster that killed Order soldiers and poachers, leaving nothing but warnings of to never come into the forest or they'd meet a grizzly end by my arrows or my axes. What was this feeling? Was she feeling it as well as she was out there, doing who knows what? It was then I realized what the pain was.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I realized that the reason I had never felt this way before, was because it had happened to me before, and became nothing but a foul memory. The same reason I had put up with her criticisms and abuse, why I would tease her at times.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I laughed at how cruel the world could be sometimes as it knocked one down, only to let us get back up o they could get another hit in. There was one reason why my chest felt empty and ached. The reason it felt this way. Why I felt this way about Serena...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">For the longest time, I had felt alone. That I wouldn't necessarily find someone to spend my life with or talk to other than my "family". Then she came along and found a way in despite how much of a pain we found each other. I felt it tighten as I realized these feelings I had and what they truly meant.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I was so much of a damn idiot.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Quickly I grabbed a few drinks of water and a piece of jerky to eat as I grabbed my stuff. I holstered my axes and put on my boots. I threw my summer cloak around me and headed out, my feet carrying me faster than they ever did. My whole body felt different now, much stronger than usual. I could feel my magic pulsing through my body as I went from tree to tree, my claws leaving scratches on the branches and trunks.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">There was one sole reason why I felt this way, why I had done all those things. She could be a pain, bu there was a good side to her as well. A more gentle one she didn't like to show often when around me or when it the morning. I knew the exact reason why my feet were bringing me to a spot I knew would be an easy place to start looking for Serena. It wasn't adrenaline.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">It was the fact that I loved her, and was going to show that I did.

<p data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;text-align:center;">POV Change: Mara (First Person)

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">I watched intensely as the man ran, his speed almost greater than some of the swiftest deer I had hunted. My whole body felt a shock go through it with every step I took behind him. I wasn't sure if he knew I was there.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Rain seemed to be quite in the hurry, as I caught a glimpse of the markings on his arms flashing bright blue as he left scratches on trees that were part of my territory. I began to race up to him, my fellow sisters by my side. They all knew that plan that had been made and how it would be executed.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Mara, we're supposed to cut him off and bring him to you, yes?" Asked one of the few married ones, Rosi.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">"Yes," I said. A small bite in my answer. "Bring him to me. Do not hurt or touch any part of him. He is my kill and I will make sure to reap what I sowed."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">The few I had taken with me nodded their heads as we ran and kept a safe distance.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">A wry smile grew on my face as my mouth began to salivate at the smell of his spirit energy being released in such dangerous amounts. How I wanted him to be mine and only mine. Those claws of his matching up to mine as we held our hands against one another while joined...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">It was enough to make my own body and mind want him even more. The fact we could potentially take him here while the tiger-bitch was gone made it all the more tempting for me.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">Soon, when night falls... He will be my Alpha male...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">A/N: I'm aliiiiiiiive! Yes! Finally get to write this chapter up and get it to you guys! Soon the end will come my friends. As for the steam levels while writing this... I may need some more cups of water even still... Speaking of thirsty, look at this werewolf! Why you gotta be so obsessed Mara? I mean there are plenty of fish in the sea you know. As for Rain and Serena though, well... OTP! SHIP IS A SALING!

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;">As always, see ya next chapter, for it shall be the last.