It was a small clan, but it was still hers. Hotaru was raised by the demons of this clan, even though they weren't her own kind. In fact no one was of the same demon species in this clan. It was made up of rejected or orphan demons, just like herself. Unwanted by their own kind they managed to find a home in each other. It was surprising to find demons forming clans outside their own kind, but there was an exception in this case, because for some unknown reason they got along just fine.
Hotaru was found as an infant at the rivers bed, wet and shivering. Since she was a fire demon the water had made her weak and she should have died if a member of this reject clan, a wolf demon, hadn't found her.
By the age of three Hotaru had come into her firepowers, which was unusual since most demons don't get their real abilities until they are six-teen. By the time she was five she had gone on her first hunt and caught her first prey.
Even though she didn't know why she had been abandoned she was happy. The clan had many children to play with, either orphans or children who were pushed away by their own kind. Growing up in this clan she and the other children grew up oblivious to the world outside the clan, until that day came.
It was a bright day considering demon world standards. Hotaru was twelve, and playing with her friends in a nearby stream. It was a small group of six; three boys and three girls. Nina, the youngest around seven, turned towards where the clan had set up camp for the night.
"Someone is screaming," she said quietly and the others stopped their playing to strain their ears to hear what the girl was talking about. Nina was a bobcat demon, and had been thrown away by her family when there were to many mouths to feed and decided to get rid of the runt. She had orange hair at shoulders length and red eyes that had a golden outline around them. Makoto, the oldest of fifth-teen, looked in the direction of the camp. Makoto was half water demon and half hawk, and had been thrown away because he shouldn't exist. He had brown hair with blue streaks in it that didn't go past his ears, aqua eyes, and cerulean markings on his face.
"There it is again," Nina said worriedly, "Can you see anything Makoto?"
"Yes," he answered, "we need to go help them, we're under attack!"
They all broke into a run towards the camp. Hotaru desperately trying to dry herself of so she could use her fire abilities. However, before they could reach the camp the children were being pushed in the other direction.
"Emiko!" Hotaru said shocked. Emiko was the wolf demon that had saved Hotaru from dying, and all the children looked to her as their own mother.
"Run," she panted. Twigs began to snap behind them, each snap getting closer and closer.
"RUN!" Emiko yelled pushing the children ahead and turning to face whoever or whatever was after them. The children bumped into each other as they ran.
They should've just stayed with Emiko. Demons from outside the clan came into view and through weapons and other forms of attacks at them. Hotaru now desperately tried to dry her hands, since she was the only one who had her true powers. Nina could hear distant sounds, heal quickly, and had claws and fangs but that was about it. Makoto could see far distances, levitate, and wasn't a half bad fighter but couldn't do much more. There were fraternal tiger twins, Kyo and Hana, but they could only use their claws and fangs. Even Koki, who was the strongest next to Hotaru, was useless. He was a fox demon and was strong, fast, had claws, fangs, and had learned to use each thing to his advantage, but when he charged at the demons he was thrown back into a tree.
"Koki!" they all yelled worried for their friend. But they should've worried about themselves, like normal demons do. One by one they were captured by the demons.
Hotaru ran trying to escape, as sparks began to come from her hand.
"Come on!" she yelled desperately as each of her friends were captured. Flames surrounded her hands and Hotaru smiled slightly Charging at the demons she managed to kill two and injure three. But there were still some left and more kept coming.
Her friends crowded around her as more demons appeared. Koki and Makoto stood ready to fight. Nets were thrown over them and they were entangled in the massive web. Hotaru would have burnt through the nets, but with the others inside she didn't want to hurt them. She felt a hand grab her by the throat and pull her out.
"Save that one," one of the demons said. Hotaru felt shackles being put around each of her limbs. She tried to escape, but pain shot through her body whenever she tried.
"Kill the others, but save those two." Hotaru looked beside her and saw Nina also in shackles beside her.
Hotaru covered Nina's eyes as she watched her friends be killed one by one in the most painful way possible. When the demons had finished her friends were unrecognizable, their bodies mutilated. The demons forced them to walk; Hotaru still covered Nina's eyes afraid she would look back.
"Let go," one of the demons said smacking Hotaru's hand away from Nina. Nina blinked and started to turn her head back but Hotaru stopped her.
"Don't look back Nina," she said sternly. Nina nodded sadly and went with the demons, who were pulling their chains to move. They were led back to where the clan had set up their camp. Hotaru told Nina quickly to look only at the sky, as unrecognizable bodies came into her line of vision. Hotaru looked and saw demons standing with more members of the clan shackled, one in particular stuck out.
"Emiko!" Emiko looked up at the sound of her name. Her black hair was matted and her face was bleeding, her eyes looked defeated. Hotaru looked at the women who had raised her as if she were her own and fought back tears after seeing her in such a sad state.
Hotaru was quickly silenced by one of the demons after her outburst. Emiko looked at her and Hotaru knew that look was telling her to be quiet and not to struggle. She hung her head in defeat as the demons led them away, pulling their chains to make them hurry up. Where exactly they were going was still a mystery.