"speech"
"thought"
In the middle of a small clearing a figure lay sprawled out in the grass. With a groan it rolled over and sat up. Looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings the figure spoke.
"Ow, what happened? I remember the bus...hit me then nothing. Why am I alive? How am I alive?"
Staggering to her feet the figure began to run its hands over itself. She was tall and slim with long arms and legs. Two pert breasts jutted from her chest. Short black hair framed a oval face set with a pair of bright green eyes full lips and a nice narrow nose. Panic seemed to set in as her hands rapidly felt over her face.
"This isn't my body! This isn't my face! What the hell happened too me?"
Before the woman could panic more a loud 'Crack' of a branch brought her out of her panic.
"Who's there?"
A large purple figure stepped out from the underbrush. Hulking muscles and a a mouth full of fangs set in a permanent grin greeted her question. It spoke a in a rasping hiss.
"Well a little girl appears. You seem lost, could I lend you a hand. What do you say? We could go and have a bite to eat."
Screwing her face up in disgust at the sight of the creature she had only one response to it's offer.
"Fuck that noise!"
And with that she spun on her heel and ran. Ducking and weaving through the underbrush she listened as the much large creature crashed noisily through trees and the like. Finally after what seemed like hours she fell beside a large oak, panting and exhausted she exclaimed.
"Dammit I hope I lost him, it whatever that was."
As she was catching her breath she listened for crashing that would signal the nearing of the monster. But she couldn't hear anything, no crashes, no birds or insects, nothing. Realizing that something was wrong she began to stand when she heard the monster behind her.
"Found You! You didn't think a human could outrun a Yoma did you? How foolish, but you've made me work up an appetite, so hold still and let me eat your guts!"
The monster lunged and all she could do was throw her arms in front of her face in a futile attempt to ward him off. But instead of to pain of a monster landing on her she felt the spray of warm liquid hit her. Opening her eyes she gaped at the sight. The monster that had been chasing her was cut in half by a beautiful woman with a large sword. The woman was wearing some kind of silver plate with a black body suit under it. Silver eyes and hair completed the look. Realizing that the liquid must be the monsters blood she couldn't help but let out a cry of disgust.
"Yuck! Purple blood. I hope it doesn't stain skin that would be nasty."
Turning to her savior she gushed.
"Hey thanks for killing that thing. It found me in the forest back there and had been chasing me for a while. How did you kill it? I mean it seemed a hell of a lot faster and stronger than me so why are you so strong. Also I'm a bit lost. Could you tell me where St. Louis is?"
The woman had been watching impassively gained a look of disbelief on her face at the others questions.
"You have no idea where you are or what those things are?"
"Nope the last thing I remember was going to work and being hit by a bus. I'm pretty sure I died, I mean who could survive being hit by one. Everything went dark, then I wake up here looking completely different. I get chased by a monster then saved by a pretty girl so I'm pretty confused. Do you think you could tell me what's going on, the basics I mean I have absolutely no idea what is going on?"
Confused by the strange strange girl the armored woman explained as best she could.
"Those monsters are called Yoma, they eat humans. They can take the form of anyone they've eaten to disguise themselves. You are in the western lands called Lautec near Stora. I am a Claymore a woman who has been trained by the Organization to fight the Yoma. That is how I was able to dispatch the Yoma just now. I have never heard of this St. Louis I am sorry. "
"Thank you. Well nothing for it now. No matter what brought me here I doubt I can go back. Besides no one would recognize me anyway so the only thing is to go forward."
Giving the armored woman a determined look.
"Let me come with you. I have nothing. I mean look I woke up in a forest, naked. I literally have nothing. I don't know anyone or where anything is. If I just wander off I will eventually starve or get eaten by another one of those monsters, so please let me come with you. If this Organization trained you then maybe they can train me."
Pausing and seeming to think it over the other woman finally gave a nod to herself before speaking.
"Very well, I will take you to my handler. He will decide if you may join. But first I should know your name."
Embarrassed by the lapse she opened her mouth stopped then closed it. Thinking for several moments she finally spoke.
"My old name is really no longer important. It's part of a past I can't return to so I guess you should call me Anne. Yes Anne is a good enough name."
"Very well Anne, now follow me. By the way my name is Lucy, Claymore number thirty eight."
With that the newly named Anne followed Lucy back to the mysterious handler.
An hours walk brought them to the outskirts or Stora. Anne looked at the pitiful little 'town'. Stora was a small village at least to her with barely four dozen housed and businesses clustered near a river. Watching Lucy disappear on to one of the streets Anne waited near the treeline. Several minutes passed before Lucy reappeared carrying a large bundle. She was followed by a short fat man in a black robe. The two of them stopped in front of her. Dropping the bundle Lucy spoke.
"These should fit you, get dressed."
Nodding her thanks Anne quickly grabbed the bundle. The fabric felt strange to her, a bit rough compared to the artificial threads she was used to. But she gamely fit everything on, a pair of leather pants, a thick woolen shirt and thick black boots. Confident that everything was as good as it could be she stepped out of the trees.
"Thank you for the clothes, I assume this is your handler?"
Taking that as his invitation to speak.
"Yes I am Lucy's handler. I am Ron. I assume you are Anne. Lucy spoke of your ability to flee a Yoma. Impressive most people would have been frozen in fear. Even those who could muster up the courage to flee are usually caught quickly. She told me you managed to avoid it for almost half an hour. That means you are someone we could use. I would be willing to vouch for you if you desire. Make no mistake if you come with me there is no going back."
Looking Ron in the eye Anne replied with complete conviction.
"I have nothing to go back too. It's either go with you and learn to fight or wander around until I'm caught and eaten. I would rather die fighting than just waiting to be dinner. My old life is gone. I won't let old fears hold me back anymore. I'll go with you."
Clapping his hands in delight Ron exclaimed.
"Very well. From now on you are officially a trainee. We will make our way back to Staff, so be prepared for a long journey."
Anne looked up at that.
"I will receive training to do all the outdoorsy stuff. I mean I'm a city person. I've never had to hunt my own food. I can hike I suppose but I haven't had to do anything like this a while."
Waving her concerns off.
"Of course you will have training but that is for later. For now Lucy and I will show you the way. We will set out at first light. So let's get food for our trainee and a somewhere to sleep."
At the crack of dawn the next morning the three of them set off East. For several weeks they traveled. At the pace they set Anne was surprised at how easily she kept up, but just chalked it up to the whole 'dieing and waking up in a new body and strange world' thing. Along the way Lucy managed to show her how to skin rabbits and even a deer. Ron was mostly quiet, but eventually began to explain the geography and names of cities . Until one day he stopped them near Toulouse. Stopping about a mile from the city. They were met by another man in black named Erin. Ron spoke to Anne.
"This is were we part ways. Lucy and I have a job to do back west. You however will continue with Erin here. He will take you to Staff where you will begin your training."
Giving thanks to both of them Anne grabbed a startled Lucy and gave her a hug.
"Thank you for saving me. I'll be sure to become strong. Then I'll save you one day. So don't die or anything foolish like that okay?"
Quickly calming herself she responded with her now familiar soft voice.
"Very well. I wait for that time then. Good luck with your training, you will need it."
And with those words she and her handler were gone. Pulled from her thoughts by the newly arrive Erin. He spoke in a quiet calm baritone.
"Now lets be off. I will be taking you to Staff. You will join the warriors already there and begin your training. Understand?"
Getting a quiet nod the two of them set off. After several days the forests and grasslands began to thin, being replaced with rock ground. Finally arriving at a compound seemingly carved into the rocky hillside. Several buildings were built at the top of the hill. Entering one of the largest holes they ascended many flights of stairs before entering open ground again. Following Erin into the large building Anne was impressed by the sight. Large columns supported a heavy stone roof. They entered a side chamber where a twisted man was cleaning a heavy wooden table. The man a tall hunched figure turned to them. A grin twisted across his face.
"Ah Erin and what must be our newest recruit how wonderful."
Erin sighed before responding.
"Yes Yarrik she is. Apparently she managed to outrun a Yoma for half an hour. Even before than Lucy said she showed almost no fear."
Eyes widening in glee the newly named Yarrik crowed with excitement.
"Oh ho. Really, well then. Come closer let me get a good look at you."
Anne shrugged and did so. Yarrik walked around her slowly, taking in her stance. Finally completing his circuit he stopped back in front of her. With an ugly smile he spoke.
"I have a good feeling about this one Erin. If what you say is true then using the normal stuff would be a waste on her. No I have an idea. Something I've been saving for a special occasion and this seems like a perfect time to use it."
Surprise ran across Erin's face before he responded.
"You're really going to use that, on her. Well you are the one who would know best. Very well I'll leave you to it."
Wondering what they were going to do Anne asked just that.
"Oh well since you are going to be one of us I'll explain. Yoma are flesh eating monsters who can take human appearance and hide among them. Claymores can find them by their own nature. We take recruits and implant Yoma flesh into them. This transforms them into half breeds making them far stronger and faster than regular humans. Most importantly they can detect and use Yoki, the supernatural energy that gives the Yoma their power. Usually we just use parts from random Yoma that they kill but I have a good feeling about you. So I will use something a bit more potent."
Waving her over he showed her a large cylinder. Inside was a disgusting lump of flesh. Yarrik pointed to it.
"This is a hunk of flesh from an Abyssal One. The strongest Yoma around, leagues above regular Yoma in all things. Normally this is discouraged but I've made several improvements to the process. With this you will do great things young lady. Now lets begin. Hugh, Dae come here. Please remove your clothes and lay on the table. Now don't give me that look I am a professional."
"This is my future. I can do this and fight or I'll end up a random monster snack. No contest no matter how horrible this is it's my only option if I want to be someone. Or else I will just be a random peasant for however long until I'm killed. Didn't I want adventure, well isn't this the start of a interesting adventure, after all a dramatic painful back story is a hallmark for main characters."
Her introspection finished Anne quietly stripped and climbed onto the wooden table. Yarriks two assistants Hugh and Dae quickly came over and latched thick leather straps to her arms and legs. Rolling out a tray of surgical instruments Yarrik brandished a needle.
"Now this is my own invention, It'll help with the pain and should eliminate the horrible stigmata as it helps your body smoothly integrate the flesh."
With that a burning sensation forced it's way into her body. Doing her best not to panic she could only watch as they began to make an cut on her abdomen. The pain was horrible it was all she could do not to scream. The next part was worse. She couldn't help but scream as they removed what might have been her appendix. She panted as the pain just kept coming.
"Hum she is a tough one, that or the medicine works, she only screamed once. No matter bring me the Yoma flesh."
A splash was heard as Dae removed the flesh from its fluid filled cylinder. Handing the small lump to Yarrik, Hugh and Dae proceeded to pull the cut apart to make way for the hunk of meat. Screaming as she felt her flesh pulled apart, she gave a louder higher scream as she felt the Yoma meat make it's way inside of her. She bit back a moan as she felt it move and shift around inside of her even as Yarrik stitched her up. She began to have flashes of her old life she barely noticed when they removed the straps. Laying her on a gurney they wheeled her into a dark room with several cots. None to gently they dumped her onto one of the thin cots. The last thing they did before leaving was spread a thin gray blanket over her. Then they left without a backwards glance leaving her alone with her nightmares and pain.