The humanity, the terror, the…

Horror

Walking down the forest path leading away from the riverbank in the early evening light, Sango breathed a sigh of relief. It was the new moon again, and Inuyasha was incredibly temperamental, as usual. He never minded making his hatred of being cursed with human weakness known. Sango had invented this quest of searching for some tasty herbs to season their dinner with just to get away from the camp. Kirara had come with her, but had run off in pursuit of some fireflies.

Sango passed half an hour walking through the shadowy trees while the sky darkened to deep blue and more stars began to show. I'll have to head back soon, Sango thought. Kirara hadn't returned yet, but Sango wasn't worried. Kirara could take care of herself.

Sango turned around to start back the way she had come, but felt something suddenly snag her foot. She started and looked down to gaze upon a thick, low-growing vine. Disentangling her foot, Sango bent down for a closer look at the plant by what little light was left. It had waxy green leaves, small red flowers and stems studded with thorns. A funny smell also hung about the plant. Sango thought the description seemed familiar, but couldn't quite place it. She thought back to her father teaching her about plants.

"Sango, look at this plant, and remember it. You must always avoid it."

She remembered him saying that, but couldn't remember why he had been warning against the plant. Leaves rustled behind her. Sango jumped to her feet, one hand on her massive boomerang. She relaxed as Kirara stepped out of the bushes.

"Kirara, there you are. Kirara?" Sango stared at the cat demon. Kirara was in full demon form and she was standing oddly rigid. "Are you all right?" Sango reached out to touch her pet, but drew back sharply as Kirara suddenly snarled at her.

"Kirara! What's wrong with-"Sango broke off and dodged to one side as the huge cat demon lunged at her, slashing the air with her fangs. Kirara skidded around and faced Sango again, a dull red shine gleaming in her eyes. Sango searched frantically for any reason Kirara might be acting like this.

"The plant does strange things to demons. Even tame ones."

Sango gasped. Was the plant to blame for this? She struggled to remember…

"Always avoid it. Demons go crazy around the-"

"Kokochi plant!" Sango cried. The plant that drove demons to severe bloodlust. And Kirara was affected by it.

"Kirara, snap out of it! You know me!" Sango pleaded. Kirara growled and bared her fangs. Drawing out Hiraikotsu, Sango whispered, "Don't make me use this…on you." Another demon howled somewhere off in the woods and Kirara pricked her ears. She hesitated a moment, then tilted her head back and let out a strange, eerie wail that sent shivers up and down Sango's spine. Sango stumbled backward in shock at this mournful sound. It was almost like singing, yet singing had never made her feel so terrified. There was nothing tame about the cry. It was entirely primal. Completely wild.

Kirara's cry tapered off and she set her eyes back on her owner. Her red eyes were hungry and merciless. Sango felt frozen with terror as the wild creature that was no longer her pet took slow, stealthy steps toward her. Stalking steps. The lines between master and pet, predator and prey had twisted together.

Sango knew she had no other choice but to fight back. She jumped to her feet and sent her huge boomerang spinning into Kirara's face. A shield of flame erupted around Kirara, blocking the attack and sending Sango reeling back from the heat. Her head spinning, Sango barely managed to avoid Kirara's next pounce. Hiraikotsu lay charred and useless several yards away. Kirara whirled around to face her prey again. She almost seemed to be laughing at Sango's helplessness. The wind swept through the trees and rustling sounds met Sango's ears. Other demon eyes gazed at her from the leaves.

They were waiting.

Sango turned and dashed away through the woods. Sticks and leaves cut at her face as she stumbled past them, not knowing where she was going except that she had to get away. From behind her came another howl from Kirara, then the sounds of the crazed cat bounding after her. Sango sensed the other demons dashing through the trees alongside her. Her panicked footsteps rang out; she was running blind through the forest. Sango cried out when a rock appeared from the blackness in front of her, and she fell. Searing pain shot up her arm and she screamed, wrenching the limb from Kirara's jaws. Sango tasted blood in her mouth as she kept running. Her predator was only a few steps behind her…she spotted light up ahead. The campfire. She'd found the camp, but she was slowing down now, tired from her frenzied dash.

"Just…a few more…steps…"

She could feel Kirara's hot breath on her back.

"I…can…make it…"

Razor fangs grazed her neck.

"Kirara…"

The fangs found their target. Pain spread from Sango's neck and penetrated every inch of her body as she sank slowly to the ground. She took a great, shuddering breath as blood flowed down her shoulders and pooled on the grass. Kirara purred with pleasure and satisfaction of the kill. As the great cat demon's fangs gripped harder and Sango's vision dimmed, she recalled another saying of her father's…

Every demon slayer someday finds a demon that they can't defeat.

The End

A/N: Well, that was a little morbid, wasn't it? And if anyone is thinking they know where I got the idea for this one, I wrote it several months before I saw the first Inuyasha movie. Hopefully I got across the sense of wildness I was going for here.