Light broke into the darkness of the trees as the first rays of sunlight emerged from the horizon.
The rays illuminated the forest revealing a pristine expanse of green, brown and more as the wildlife work up to start their day.
Early morning dew clung to the leaves as a morning mist blanketed the area. The quiet babble of a stream and the calling of birds as they greeted each other in morning song.
Everything in the forest was having a good morning.
One individual in particular was mourning alright.
This individual's clothes were in tatters and stained with blood as he kept on moving forward. He ignored the birds, he ignored if he stepped into the stream or not. He ignored the potential berry bushes he could have scavenged from to sate his growing hunger.
The individual was known as Fumikage Tokoyami and he was mourning for the loss of life that occurred not even twelve hours previously.
Tokoyami had came to in a clearing full of blood and body parts. All around him were familiar faces, a worn out clearing dyed red.
Tokoyami observed the scene and the scent infiltrated his nose and his dinner came up. Bugs were already flocking the scene as they lavished in the red liquid that pooled.
Tokoyami felt his whole world come crashing down and he made to wipe away the tears only to find the beak that took up half of his face... as well as the feathers covering the rest of it.
"What?" Tokoyami looked at his hands to see them completely human and he rushed to find a mirror of any kind to look into to see what had changed.
A mirror sat in one of the tents, his mothers, and if that didn't make him feel worse then the image of his new head shocked him.
Feathers. So many feathers covered his face and the yellow beak made his head into that similar to a raven but not quite. There were tuffs of hair that poked out as opposed to a raven's sleek and slender head.
"Did you like my present?" a voice spoke within his head. "I only asked for so little, that I would allow you to be in control as long as you provided... I've had my fun... do you want yours?"
"Monster!" He cried.
"Am I the monster? Or is it you? I am a manifestation of your true desires after all. I wouldn't exist if it weren't for you you know." Dark shadow cackled from within his head and Tokoyami clutched it and bellowed.
"Get out of my head!"
"I would if I could. Sadly I can only exist if I take over your body... or we can work something out and we can work together!" Dark Shadow offered, a shadowy hand emerged from the chest and held itself out for Tokoyami to shake but he pushed it away and it dissipated into nothing.
"I won't make a deal with you. Not ever!" Tokoyami growled and the voice inside laughs.
"And risk another massacre? I think it would be in your best interest for this to never happen again. For me to come out and kill everyone you know and love."
That was enough to harden Tokoyami's resolve.
"I won't allow you to harm anyone else. I'll isolate myself from the world. I'll wander the wilderness.
"My how brave of you, and when you're to weak to be in control. When you can't fight to stop me from taking control forever?" Dark Shadow questions.
"I'll end myself before that can happen."
"Entertain me" Dark Shadow said simply and the voice went silent as Tokoyami scrambled to acquire backpacks, a sleeping bag, some food and water battles as well as spare clothing.
He moved with purpose as he left the carnage behind... as he left his old life behind.
/-/
That was twelve hours ago. The morning rays seemed to snap Tokoyami out of his haze as he peered at the new dawn. "A new day... a new life."
Thankfully the voice remained silent and Tokoyami kept on trekking. He made sure to cover his tracks for who knew when the Anti-Mutants squads will take action to detain him. With a massacre like that, it would be death row for sure.
This was his new life. One where he'd live for himself so that others wouldn't be harmed huh.
Tokoyami followed the sound of the stream and he found it with relative ease. The mosquitoes were starting to swarm him so he decided it was in his best interest to wash out the clothes and his body and change into something fresher.
As he took the clothes and washed them into the stream Tokoyami thought to himself.
"Everyone is destined to be experience tribulation in their lives. For some it is simply obtaining a job to pay for their bills. For some it is to painstakingly raise kids into fine adults. For some it is to lead a country and bear the brunt of bad media. And for those cursed with powers... they were fated to live a hard life..."
Tokoyami observed the tattered shirt that was no better than rags held together by strands but he kept it and placed it in his bag where he switched it for a hoodie.
"Destiny deemed that I shall suffer... I have the head of a crow... the symbol of bad luck... how ironic." Tokoyami continued to wash his clothes as the sound of search copters flew overhead, the dense canopy blocking vision on him, as well as hiding the copters from him. As he finished up he packed away the rags and donned a new outfit.
Thus began his journey. To find food, water, shelter. To avoid human contact. Tokoyami did what it takes to put minimal risk on others. For it was his fate that he suffered.
Tokoyami had developed strategies for his life out in the wilderness. It was mainly trial and error that had him adapt to his surroundings but it seemed like Dark Shadow had a keen interest in keeping his host alive.
Any poisonous mushrooms and polluted waters that came near him a shadowy bird manifested to warn Tokoyami of the dangers of associating with such sources.
Tokoyami could tell some of the better locations to hold camp. He could identify branches and twigs that would make great firewood and which would make good kindling.
He took strong stems and used them to bundle things together.
The knowledge of which food and water were safe as well as how to identify territories of animals that resided within.
As great as isolating himself was, it would be a problem come the winter months. When Tokoyami started to live in the wilderness it was approaching spring as the last of the snow melted away and the cold finally moving on to allow for the faint taste of summer to sit on people's skins.
The time now was the middle of summer from what Tokoyami could tell. The sun wouldn't melt his skin off if it wasn't Summer. As great as the summer heat could be, it only reminded him of how cold the winter will get now that he didn't have a permanent place he called home.
He couldn't exactly build a shelter... not without the proper tools. He could experiment but if it failed he ultimately would have wasted time and resources that could have been spent on moving.
There was also the fact that upon staying in one area he would quickly consume the area's dwindling food supply and thus when it runs out he'd be forced to move until they grew back.
Living in the wilds was a journey. It was tough for one with no training or expertise but he preferred it over the alternative.
As Tokoyami thought about the alternative he was also reminded of the two times he rampaged out in the wilderness. Upon coming to he'd have to move fast to avoid the locals from finding him but by then they knew it was a mutant he stirred up trouble.
With each rampage Tokoyami hardened his resolve to avoid others. It reminded him of the first time he rampaged. The faces still haunt him to this day. How many people had he denied a chance at life. A life they could have lived simply if he told his parents earlier. If they had not associated themselves with him.
The time was mid afternoon when Tokoyami decided that he found a river suitable enough for him to wash his clothing. He broke open his pack and he sorted the clothing into order of importance to be washed.
First things to be washed were socks. One might assume pants or shirts would be of higher importance but nothing felt worst than dirty or wet socks. Especially when you had to go hiking for miles on end.
Next was the underpants. The closest to his body and it would make his hikes more comfortable. He then placed the articles of clothing in order of importance and he started to wash them. And with the free time to wash his clothing he had the free time to think.
Tokoyami was torn between the guilt of killing his family, the anger at the voice within himself, the sadness of losing his family and friend. and the decidsion to accept the burden thrust upon him or to end it all so that he could escape from it.
He splashed his clothes with water and left them on the rocks to dry when he heard the sound.
A small snap, but something had to apply pressure for it to break.
Tokoyai twirled around to see a wide-eyed girl in a dress.
The long dark sea-green hair went down her back which ties itself into a bow. Her eyes had dark irises that seemed to stare deep into him and her mouth was wide.
Tokoyami promptly dropped the shirt he was washing and bolted, grabbing his pack on the way as the girl called out to him, the meaning of the words lost to him as he focused on escaping.
"Scared of a little girl? We could easily silence her you know. You didn't have to abandoned half of our supplies." Dark Shadow chided and Tokoyami swore at the voice to shut up.
His mind was spinning. Why did the girl have to see him? When will the officials be upon him. Why did she have to make him leave half of his stuff behind.
More and more questions kept on overwhelming his mind as he opted to take the shortest path around obstacles in his way. If he hadn't lost her with his speed then she would surely catch up to him with all the noise he was making as he crashed through the underbrush.
How did she find me? Am I that close to civilization? To people?
Tokoyami thought about his surroundings, this was one of the deeper parts of the forest and it would have taken hours for anyone to trek this far. It was also location along the stream which was situated inside of a grove, the dense cover of leaves and branches would have hidden anyone within.
There was a trail but it was overgrown... how could he have known it would have been in use. That being said, why would someone come this deep into the mountains... why today of all days?
Something began stirring inside Tokoyami and wisps of darkness started to form. Tokoymai hissed in anger, first at the shadows starting to form around him and the second at the girl who seemingly ruined his day.
Tokoyami stopped to catch his breath, living in the wilderness can have you build endurance from the hours of trekking and hiking he had to do but he only had be at it for a few moths at best.
"Wait! I just want to talk!" a voice asked, panting as the girl landed from the tree she jumped down from.
How did she keep up with him? Shouldn't she be some village girl who just played or did chores around the house? She shouldn't be sprinting across the woods for two hours... that was how long he ran right?
Tokoyami observed the surroundings to see that it was more mountainous, outcrops of rock and loose gravel melded with the forest as trees grew at irregular angles... as if something cared the rock.
"Stay away!" Tokoyami warned fearfully. He had felt the stirring, and it was why he stopped. He had hoped that she had been out of distance so that he could rampage... now he would add another life to his hands.
"I just want to talk, I'm not your enemy" She tried to reason. Her croaky voice was getting to Tokoyami. The voice inside was already roaring.
"Please... Stay away" he struggled, the wisps of darkness solidifying into arms "I can't hold him much longer."
Tokoyami thought this would deter the girl, to have her see that she should get out while she could. If anything the girl didn't listen, if anything she took a step forward and reached out a hand to comfort him.
That was the final stray as Dark Shadow took over.
Tokoyami watched in horror as an arm of darkness surged forward to impale the poor girl only for her to unhinge her jaw and an impossibly long tongue shot forward and slapped it to the side.
The shock of the deflected attack allowed for Tokoyami to take control again and he willed the darkness away.
"She is dangerous, we have to get rid of her." Dark Shadow howled as he fought for control but Tokoyami willed for him to fall back and he did cursing his host for not fighting.
"You... You're a mutant?"
"I am and I can see you are too." The girl stated with a glum look.
"I just want to talk."
"Dark Shadow hates strangers."
"And you a... What?"
"Dark Shadow hates strangers."
"Who is Dark Shadow?"
"The voice in my head wanting to kill everyone."
"Oh... And you don't?"
"No... I ran as soon as he acted up the first time..." Tokoyami grimaced and the girl seemed to sense his dampen mood.
"I'm sorry for your loss but we really should talk. I can help you. We can work together on this..."
"And how can I trust you?" Tokoyami growled, Dark Shadow's anger starting to influence his own. It was clouding his mind but her voice seemed to cut through it. It was like a beacon in this foggy mind.
"I am Asui.. Tsuyu Asui. Frog Mutant and I want to help." She warbled with concern. With sincerity.
Tokoyami wanted to trust her. Honestly he did. He felt the stirring of Dark Shadow within... and he reached his hand forward which she took and held in a reassuring grip. He needed support... He couldn't control Dark Shadow on his own. He needed someone to confide to.
"Fumikage Tokoyami... help me."
Tokoyami finds a friend, to help with his other "friend?" With a person to help come to terms with himself how will he deal with the devil that lays within.
Can he convince Dark Shadow to give up his evil tendencies? Will he be corrupted by Dark Shadow? Will Dark Shadow take control?
Who knows... well I do but we haven't gotten there yet.
If you haven't noticed... maybe not since this is only the second chapter. I plan on doing a weekly upload schedule for Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the two fics I currently write.
My Sister is a Time Traveler? and Duality.
If you haven't heard of My Sister is a Time Traveler? then its probably because its a RWBY fanfiction schedule for Tuesdays while our good ole Duality is set for Wednesdays.
So the schedule looks like this.
Tuesdays: My Sister is a Time Traveler?
Wednesdays: Duality
Thursday-Monday: Planning/Writing/ Other Fics that may come out?
Who knows. My friend also writies and he got overwhelmed from doing a weekly schedule so I decided to start smaller than him... ambitious four fics a week.
Anyway Until next time. *Falcon Flies off*
Next Scheduled Update: July 4th (7/4) (Expected Release date)