- Be me
- Single as hell
- Praising chief god
- Mom and Dad want me to grow up to be priest
- works every day at with church building
- life_is_good . png
- decided to start working with homeless in church
- work in soup kitchen
- cooks soup and bread then I take soup and bread out to homeless people
- homeless people take the soup and always pray for me
- recently been feeling back because they always pray for me but I never seemed to pray for them
- ask priest about this, he told me to do what god wants me to do
- asks god, god doesn't answer
- is confused, what do I do?
- asked parenets
- parents said that god would watch over me whatever I do
- fuck it, I'm going there.
"I probably shouldn't keep that curse word there," Able said, scratching out the chicken scratch on his paper. He worked by candlelight in his dim room in the family home's basement. His bed of stuffed feathers and hay was at the side of the room, slid up beside the wall of the wooden foundation. The jugs of spare rainwater were kept down here, in case any metal drum found a leak. Other than that, he had the candle wax and matches to get light after dark, and a log cut in half to form a flat enough surface for writing somewhat legibly. He could hear the muffled noises of the outside, but the lack of windows sometimes made it a trial to confine himself to the basement walls.
With his newest post for the community wall, he rolled his paper up and tucked it under his shirt. Digging behind his bed, he took out a metal handle he could use to hold the candle for travels. The light illuminated more of the basement, showcasing how little was actually in there.
The real home, of course, was up the stairs he went. He did his best to avoid making noises as he traveled up to the first floor, but the stairs creaked like a rebellious toad. He skipped the last, hopping into his floor and looking around. It was late in the night, so no one was awake in the home. He walked by the room of his parents, seeing them and his little brother sleeping away.
A quick swipe of the keys and he was out through the back door. Like his own home, the majority of the village he lived in was asleep, houses idly puffing smoke through the chimney as wood was burned for warmth. The entire location was mountainside; looking out, he could see the blue light reflect upon the thousands of trees that dotted the value, showing from none other than the blue moon scantily hidden by clouds. Turning around and up, the main square of the village was the top of their home.
He started walking left, leaving the marble-peppered path to their home. Only once he came down a flowing river did he start traveling up, using the river as a guide to lead him to a safe passage. Various wooden catches the size of convoy trailers were set at intervals, as the whole location was built along this miracle from the mountains. Various boats could be sent down from the center, padded with string-strapped haybales and scriptures for the surnames they belong to. They would be filled with everything a person may write up for, continuing to travel down until the freelancers at the bottom would take their oak paddles and ropes and bring the boats back up to the storefronts. Able didn't know who first came up with this system, but according to his elders, it made the place rich.
It also made walking up the only part of the journey that was dangerous to trek. Some parts of the slop were too steep to walk normally, and steps and holds were built into the land to continue on up. The further you lived down the valley, the more you would need to sip from the rivers to not faint from dehydration. As the elder child, he became the one to do the trips. He would have baskets strapped to him so he could use his hands for the climb, and when he got lucky, a freelancer wouldn't mind bringing him up for a fruit or two to snack on.
Without the basket, however, the journey was considerably easier. The time flew by before he knew it, having made the trek up to the flatted ground of the town square. Small shops sat in a circle around a well, kept rich and healthy by the river that flew in and out of it to cycle water out every day. On the building for clothing items was what he was looking for, an assortment of wooden planks nailed to one of its sides with numerous other posts from the other members of the village. Able dug under his shirt until he felt the flattened roll of paper and pulled it out, unfurling it and pressing it against the wood. The wisp of the moving river acted like a humidifier and kept everything slightly damp, so the paper was able to stick to the wood while he looked for nails.
"There is usually a bucket of nails and a hammer somewhere..." Able said. Looking around, he spied it next to one of the sleeping homeless people. Her body was concealed by an unusually expensive cloak, but he knew it wasn't out of the ordinary for the clothes on their backs to be their most prized position. He saw her stir once he picked up the bucket, slowly sitting up as he went back to nail his post secure. "Church boy," she said, her voice croaking hard. "You returned..."
"I wanted to make this post before I forget," Able said, picking up the hammer. It took three good hammers to push the nail into the damp wood. He stepped back and admired his work, another small share of his among the other nifty post about other people's days. "It's a nice evening tonight."
"Yessss..." she said, looking up at the moon. "It hasn't rained too often this year."
"The priest says it is thanks to the blessings everyone has given this year," Able said. "As we show thanks to the Chief God, he recognizes us by changing nature in our favor."
"Yes, indeed..." the woman said again, standing up. "I can't help but feel blessed for you, however. For so much that you do for us-"
"It's nothing, just a deed anyone would do," Able dismissed.
"Feeding the town's homeless is no small deed," she said, bowing before him. "You have been raised a good man, I only wish I had the means to repay you..."
"Your prayers do plenty, I assure you," Able begged. He always felt flustered when someone would show their thanks. He had been taught that a giver's best quality is to never expect back, yet every person that would come through the soup kitchen would always swear to pay the favor forward back to him. Was it because he was still a child? Did they see a bright priest in him as well?
"Well..." Able said. "There is one thing that you could do to help."
"Anything!" she said confidently. Able nodded and grabbed his hand, encapsulating it in both of his palms. From under her cloak, he could see her confused gaze, taking a breath before stating his wish. "I want to pray for you as well, just like you all do for me."
He didn't know what reaction to expect, but seeing her posture simmer down was not the first on his mind. Her hand nervously withdrew back, sliding back into the safety of her cloak. "I don't think that is such a good idea...to waste such goodwill on my person..." she said, stammering through the words.
"But, I've gotten so many prayers for my growth, it feels selfish to not try to match the blessings with my own," Able responded adamantly. "Please, if you may, just this once time..." but she kept shaking her head and stepping further back from him. "I'm sorry..." she said, before running off into the corridors of her sleeping place. "Wait!" he said, chasing after her, but he could no longer see her. Running out through the back, he looked through the tree line. It was like she had disappeared into the dark.
The next morning, he awoke doozy from his late-night trip up the hill. He had taken a boat back down, using the oars to avoid the catches until he could slide into the one beside his home. Luckily, one of the freemen had swiped it away before his family woke up. They were always out on the river for as much money as possible.
On his way to do his duties, he stopped by the community board to see what had been posted in the morning. He saw that a large number of people had gathered, and walked up to see what the fuss was about.
"Priest child," one of the villagers said.
"Hello, sister," Able said, bowing respectfully. "Why is everyone here? Did the villa really like my newest post?"
"Oh, we always know when our Able makes an endearing and crude post," she said, giggling. "But no, everyone is looking at the one in the corner..." He looked there as well, seeing a hastily scribbled post that was nailed loosely. He went over and read, surprised more with every line he passed...
- Be me
- Broke_as_fuck . png
- Moving from town to town
- found this place
- everyone treats me nicely and like an actual human being
- feels happy, place is chill
- meet someone cute and nice
- heart starts beating
- don't know what's happening
- run away flustered
- have secret but afraid if I tell them I'll lose a friend
- What do I do? I am afraid they won't accept me for who I am but I really like them and want them to be happy. I hope this isn't selfish...
"Awwwww..." Able said.
"Right? Oh, I wonder who it could be!"
"Maybe it's someone that has recently moved here!"
"They could have already left already..."
"But that would be a shame!"
Able heard everyone discussing it like gossip, but then remembered he still had duties to tend to in the church! He wished everyone a well day and went to work, but the interaction from last night couldn't leave his mind at all. Could she have been the person? He thought while he cleaned and dusted. She did run away and disappear, but she didn't show any interest in him that could be related to love. The way he saw it, the only surefire way would be to ask her once more.
The day passed without any major hitch. It was always peaceful on the slopes, and going on steering the boat into the sinking horizon was always dreamy. This time though...he didn't fall asleep. He wished his parents goodnight and waited until he knew they were slumbering, then snuck back out as he did the night before.
The moon was now starting to wane from the full state it was last night. He occasionally took looks up at it while he scaled back up to the villa square. It helped pass the time the loneliness of the forest brought. Soon, he was back at the community board at the top of his ascent and looked around. He looked where he found the bucket last time, but the beggar was still long gone. All that remained were the neatly collected remnants of her sleep. He took a few more steps around, but couldn't find any more traces of her in the usual sleeping corners.
Finally, he got lucky. As he went back to the well, there she was, cloaked and all. She was staring into the well, only looking up when she saw Able going to her. "Well look who decided to show up," she said, Able chuckling. "I'm sorry that I ran away from you earlier...I don't know what came over me..."
"It's alright," Able said, as forgiving as ever. "I probably came on too strong yesterday. I would have felt bad if I forced you into anything..." He moved closer, leaning over the well beside her. "If you want to just go to the next service with me tomorrow, that may do it instead."
"Service?" she croaked. "As in, inside the c-church?"
"Yes!" Able nodded. "If I can't provide you a blessing, I would want you to get it regardless." He grabbed her hand softly, watching her suddenly wince from her touch. "Ma'am-"
"It's...malnutrition," she said, doing her best to wave his concerns away. "Your touch...it just shocks me a bit...I not too good around your peers..."
"I see. A beggar would experience such sensation if they aren't provided for..." he let go, watching her body relax as he moved away. "We can visit the soup kitchen as well after. You must be given something to go on."
"Yes..." she said. She seemed to be struggling to look him in the eyes. "...I suppose."
"Then it is done!" Able said, pleased. "At the first ring of the bell tomorrow, please wait by the board. I'll meet you there once I get up the hillside."
"Sounds...like a plan." Her tone devolved into a sense of thankfulness, bowing to Able back. "I'm sorry for my avoidance. I'm sure that once I get food inside me, you can finally see me for who I really am..."
"I do count on it," Able said, hugging her. "I want you to have a peaceful time in this village, as much as you can." He heard a slight hiccup from her and felt her back go stiff. His hands landed on surprisingly sharply tapered, yet moving ends, that pressed out and back in like flaps while he hugged. He could feel soft, furry hands press against his chest, nails digging slightly in as if telling him not to let go. Once Able pulled back, however, his eyes disagreed, still seeing the sickly, shorter woman he huggled before.
With their agreement in the night, it was something to look forward to for Able as he woke up the next day. Today was one of the many days of the month that a full congregation could take place. Instead of just the village members taking part, outsiders would ask freelancers to paddle them up the flowing river to the center of the market. Able would always wonder how much money those oar manners made from this stint as he traversed up with his family.
Like always, they would usually split off, his family catching an empty boat to eventually go back up on while he continued on, a basket full of fruit and bread strapped to his back. It was the hardest during the day, doing a marathon climb with the donations and sun bearing down on him. Through the power of the Chief God, he was able to make it up and reached the crowded lines entering the church. The bell had long since rang, and among all the movement and tourism, he saw the cloaked beggar basically hugging the well. She was unusually jittery today, staring around at everyone that passed her like an ant choosing which crumb to go after first. "Morning, ma'am," he said, seeing her visually jump. "Oh! I didn't mean to scare you like that..." Able said, urgently grabbing her hand.
"It's...alright..." she breathed between words, needing the breaks to collect her thoughts. "Please, help me inside...my head feels strained..." Able nodded and helped her walk into the church, greeting the door bearers as they found seats near the back. Able wanted to urge her closer, but with all her objections, the back was the closest they could get to the priest.
As always, Able found it admirable, watching the senior man speak so eloquently for his age. Tales of countless heroes who through the coins of their fate into the hands of the one true god, were able to endure even the harshest of conditions and enemies. It was awe-inspiring, hearing what he could do through faith and faith alone. Occasionally he would look to his side, seeing how the beggar was taking it. Even beside her, she still seemed uncomfortable. She fidgeted in her seat whenever the priest's reciting would have mentions of manono, and would grip his hand harder when oracles would break for the choir to sing.
However, by the time the final prayer was reached, she had seemed to reach her limit. All of a sudden wincing, Able noticed and whispered to her while his head stayed bowed downward. "What's wrong?" he said, seeing her shake her head in silent suffering. Her hands retreated into the cloak, the hidden mitts under her fabric holding onto her ears for dear life.
He had to abandon his wish. Able helped her out of the congregation. If he was anyone else, he would be sure the eyes on him would be eyes of silent judgment, but to everyone, seeing him helping what seems to be a fainting woman out for some air was as honorable as anything.
"T-thank you..." the beggar said as she collapsed against the wall of the well. With everyone in the church, it was just the two of them outside in the bright sun.
"Wait here, I'll get you some water," Able said. He left and came back with a cup from one of the shops, scooping water out of the river to bring back to the beggar. "You must have been dehydrated."
"God bless you..." she hoarsely said. "Please...put it beside me."
"No, you are in no state to tend to yourself. Please, let me help you."
"No, wait, wait-" but she was in no condition to stop him. Taking the hood off her cloak, Able took a small moment to register the two fluffy dark blue ears that suddenly popped out.
"Please..." she urged. "I swear, your eyes...it's the sun's reflection...it's not what it looks like..."
A shiver started to go down Able's spine as he took off the rest of the cloak. As expected, tattered clothes were on her, but so were giant paws with the claws of a large feline animal. Her legs were the same, coated with a dark blue coat of fur starting at her thighs, and going down to equally large hind paws for feet. White puffs of main surrounded her neck, arms, and legs, and the purple bat wings were squished under her weight. He thought back to the hug he gave last night, the dread slowly settling in on what exactly he was hugging.
"M-man..." he started to say, stunned in disbelief. "But your kind don't reside here!"
"If you, let me explain-"
"Wait...some monsters do reside in the mountains..." Able starting. He felt like his whole world was starting to fall apart. "Of course, we should have been aware of this all along! How many of you were lurking in our village? What are you doing to the citizens? The town? Did you poison the river?" The Manticore wryly looked on, her face wrought with regret. With nothing else to do, she slumped against the well wall, zoning out while Able kept bombarding her with questions.
"...and the freelancers! Is that what they are here for? Do they want to..." Able finally noticed that she had lost focus, coughing occasionally. "Beggar?"
"Priest boy...I'm the only one," the Manticore told him. "I found this place when traveling. I was starving, but you lot took me in without even questioning what I looked like. I knew you all may reject me, even run me out of the valley if my secret was found. But I knew I would have better chances if I could gain my strength back here..." Able silently listened. He picked up the cup of water again only to get a paw pushing it away. "I'm not thirsty...it's the amount of worship in the realm. It leaves me weak."
"But you always gave me blessings..."
"You don't understand," she said, looking out at the river flowing down the incline. "The valley is unforgiving to those who don't know how to traverse it. If I were to try it, it would be days before I found civilization again. And more often than not, they wouldn't be as naively kind."
"But-" The church bells then rang, overpowering any sound that could have sounded within the square.
"Go now, I'll be fine," she said, coughing once more to clear her throat. "Being out here helped a bit. Thank you, but you don't want to lose your people's goodwill."
"Yes, but we must tend to you first!" Able said, looking around "Manticore or not, I won't leave you out here to dry. Maybe if we-" he turned back, but saw a beggar-sized hole where she once was. Soon, the square was filled with people milling around for break, one of the locals spying Able in disbelief by the well. "Able! What happened?" he said, going to help him up. Able turned to him, not knowing what to say. "The beggar...I brought her for the session but she-"
"Maybe she was nervous," he reasoned. "Don't push yourself too hard Able, you are doing great but you're still just a boy. Come, come now," he helped him back towards the church, Able just nodding along.
He's right you know, Able heard in his head. You have a bright future ahead of you. Don't worry of me, blessing or no blessing I'll be fine~
He looked around, looking for where the Manticore was, but saw no hint of that thick purple cloak anywhere.
The rest of the day went without a hitch. Like always, he would join the children's choir. Like always, he would join the soup kitchen to serve anything. He thought he would see the Manticore again, crotched and hidden under her large cloak, but not even a sly appearance was made for stew. The priest noticed his mind drifting off while was cleaning the rows, walking up to him and tapping his shoulder. "Able-"
"Priest?" he said, stopping his wiping.
"You seem sluggish today, do you mind if we..."
"Oh, not at all!" He said, sitting down on the bench. The priest sat as well, nodding and clearing his throat. "So, I heard that you had quite the interaction today..."
"Yes, the beggar...she seemed pretty unnerved by the whole event today..."
"It can be hard for those lost on some level to reacquaint themselves with the Chief God," the Priest said. "But that's why we have people like us, Able. We nudged them closer and closer until they can fall back into the line to Heaven themselves. It is our role in this world, and quite an honorable one at that."
"And what if they don't...want to fall in the line?"
"Then, honestly there is nothing we can do," he said, readjusting himself and sighing. "It's one of the cold truths of this world. Not all people would see eye to eye, or believe that they could succeed in life on faith alone. But the Chief God always says that even the weariest of detractors are redeemable. They may not necessarily even be evil, just less trusting." Able nodded, seeing that that seemed to make sense. "Yes..."
"Although, there are the mamono that inhabit this world too."
"Right...the ones that seek to guide you off the path."
"Right Able," the priest said sternly. "I've seen many good men come and go to those...bastards if I can be crude. That's why I'm so glad you are turning so well." The priest took Able's hand, gently holding his fingers. "If I lost you, the village lost you...then I don't know what more can be done to be immune to their ways. It may be chaos..."
"Chaos..." Able repeated nervously.
"Oh but I don't mean to scare you!" The priest said, giggling. "The valley is one of the harshest places to those to who the Chief God doesn't give their tools. We have learned through him the potential of the mountain rivers, and are thriving because of it! You can live mamano-free here if you choose to." Able silently nodded in agreement, still, a bit wavered.
"Now then, don't tear yourself up about the beggar," the priest said, patting him on the back and getting up to go to his quarters. "If I know anything about the valley, it's that it tends to create a safe space where the Chief God is easy to reach."
"Yes, priest..." Able said, going back to wiping. It helped him a little...but now it raised a few more questions. Questions he would try to answer later once the sun went down again.
Nighttime was busy with people getting rides back down into the valley. He decided to take the path up, keeping himself hidden from the numerous lights that dotted the river.
"You shouldn't have come here," said a grouchy voice from the trees. He looked around, before seeing the Manticore sitting at the top of the next flight ahead of him. "It's the third day in a row, you need sleep priest boy."
"You shouldn't be here," Able said. "The priest, he said-"
"I can take a solid guess what he said," she said. "Do you think I've only now become a Manticore?"
"No," Able said. "But I know enough that just being around you is dangerous enough..."
"So, why come?" She said. Able looked at the steps, trying to remember everything from the day before. "You, you prayed for me so many times..."
"What are you getting at?" she asked, tilting her head.
"If you wanted to attack us...you could have done it alre-" Able saw the blur appear at his feet mid-thought. He looked up and stumbled back, seeing the beggar appear instantly in front of him. The cloak whipped after like a flag in a high window. Her barbed tail was inches away from his leg and was the first thing Able shifted away from. He almost went into a tumble down, before being grabbed and pushed into a tree. Able whimpered, hearing one of her paws smashing through bark right next to his face. She was panting already, sweating and out of breath, yet she was able to almost take her head off.
"What were you saying?" She said, her voice sounding the fullest it had ever sounded. Her barbed tail winded its way up along his body, stopping at his face and splitting at its tip. It sounded like squelching swamp water, unfurling like flower pedals to reveal a pulsing pink hole that immediately started leaking clear liquid right in front of him. "Just because you are the priest boy, doesn't mean you should get attached-"
"Who's there!?" yelled one of the freelancers. Footsteps and lantern light started approaching the valley path, illuminating the sides of both the beggar's and Able's faces. The beggar stepped away, quickly retracting her tail and pulling the cloak over herself. "W-wait!" Able said, finally able to utter something. He lost his footing right as his body relaxed, but even with his back against the tree, he still couldn't shake the sight of the pleasant woman that thanked him every time she saw him. "We-we're not done! I'm still unharmed!"
"This is your final warning," she said. It contrasted his notions so much. She stumbled back up the stairs, limping as she had always had and coughing with each muscle she had to use.
"But I can help you!" Able yelled, reaching his hand out to her. "If we just visit the priest-"
She didn't answer. Right as the freelancers came with light, she suddenly dashed away, the resulting of the trees and bushes being the only sign of anything leaving the vicinity. "Where are-boy!" One of the freelancers said. "What are you doing up? You look too young to me making midnight trips."
"I-I..." Able had never told a lie before. But he had a feeling, multiple, that was creeping up on him.
"What the heck was that as well?" The freelancer said, also hearing the leaves rattled.
"I..."
"Must have been a deer right?"
Able had never told a lie before...
"What happened!" Said another that came up to the first one with a lantern.
"A deer cut across the path it seems!"
"That rustling did sound like a deer..."
"Sounds like they'll do anything for food, even scale the valley..."
"Boy! It was a deer right?"
"...yes," Able said, shaking in his legs. "I-it was a deer..."
- I SAW A MONSTER!
- wait this is a community post
- how do you start this? Oh yeah...
- be me...
- something something something...
- I SAW A MONSTER!
It was hastily scribbled in pen that looked more like an animal's writing than human's. Yet, it was just comprehensible enough to attract a sizable crowd today. With everyone that came up to the square, they were attracted to the commotion, came over, and joined the growing fears. Someone, no...something had managed to survive far enough into the valley.
Everyone was questioning, panicking, and wondering what to do.
Everyone except Able.
When the soup kitchen was opened that day, Able was still in the same place he was as always, handing out bowls to everyone that came in line. He saw the cloaked Manticore come up, she acted as aloof and pleasant as ever, nodding and giving a blessing to Able as she moved on. There was a split second where he was sure they locked eyes, and he saw dark blue eyes glow under the shirt. Nothing was said, but he stared off as she went away, mindfully eating her stew as she left the church.
"Able," The priest said, walking up to him while he was serving. "I need to talk to you." Able nodded and walked with him, the priest taking them to the curtains behind the stage. "I'm sorry I had to bring you all the way here, but I didn't want you to worry of on listeners."
"I understand," Able said, the priest nodding back. "Now, I understand that you had a run-in with a deer last night?"
The freelancers talked? I knew it! Able's mind said. It was a split second of panic. He felt his body go instantly cold. Of course, the first time he had lied, it would eventually find its way back to the one person he never wanted to find out. He nodded nervously, seeing the priest's hand raised above him...before landing on his head in a small pat.
"I knew it. I'm glad you nodded," the priest said, smiling. "It would be a questionable thing if one side didn't line up with the other..."
"Yes..." Able said quietly. "I...I like walking to the villa square at night..."
"Understandable, if I were in your shoes, the valley moon would be a sight not to miss as well," the priest said. "But, it is imperative you do no such thing anymore. You have heard the news right?"
"But everyone said that a monster couldn't survive in the Valley!" Able said.
"I understand your frustration, but be it or not, there will always be wrenches that are able to defy even the most certain of facts," The priest said, looking up at the roof of the church. He caught the silhouettes in the colored glass for silent consul, seeing if the ambiguous figures could bring advice to him. "My father had to go through the same thing, and now, it seems my turn will finally come. Funny how I thought I could beat it to death..." he chuckled, looking at Able look to him with a fearful face.
"Boy, as long as you keep to your household, the monster will never come after you. In fact, I'm sure the protection of the Chief God will keep you safe, if worst comes to worst..."
With that talk, Able was sent on his way back home for the day. He thought about that protection, wondering if it was there the time he almost met an unsightly end at the tree. He thought about it the entire time the sun went down, and the moon rose. He thought of it as he struggled to fall asleep that night, the sight of drooling fangs and prodding barbs burned into his memories. He even thought about it as he made the way back up to the village, finally disappearing once he saw the familiar cloak leaning over the well.
Once he got within a storefront's width of the well, the hood of the cloak fell, revealing twitching ears. Able stopped in his tracks, watching the cloak stand up as the Manticore turned to face him once again. "I thought I told you to stop coming here."
"How were you caught?" Able asked inquisitively. "You're so fast, and so cunning. The freelancers thought you were a deer!"
"I guess I'm just that weak," the Manticore said, sitting against the well.
"No, no you can't be, you're not," Able questioned, walking closer. With all that he knew now, everything was screaming for him to turn back, but he kept barreling the thoughts away. "You were still able to get your food unopposed today. No one paid mind to you, even after the alert went out as a monster. The only people that could have seen you and reported you...are in the valley." Able stopped, a wicker light brightening in his head. "Only someone that lives in the valley would be able to put that post on the wall...yet everyone was gathered around the church...there had to be eyes..." he repeated to himself again.
"Priest boy," the Manticore hissed warningly. Able gulped, seeing how she bared her fangs at them once again. Pearly white things that glimmered in the moonlight, yet could make all the horror stories he was told as a wee little lad come true. Yet...he had to know.
"Why did you out your presence to everyone!?" Able yelled before his mouth was covered. He could taste the soft fur on her paw as she hushed him, once again seeming like she could instantly teleport over to him. "Mmm, mmmph!"
"Boy, shush!" She said when her ears picked up rustling from a nearby building. From the general store, someone came out, looking out at only an empty square. Shrugging, they went back inside. Unbeknownst to him, the Manticore had jumped up onto the roof, panting as she clutched Able in his arms. Able was also panicking, feeling the claws gently press into his skin so that he didn't slip out of her grasp. "B-beggar..." he said. She ignored him and stood up on wobbly feet, jumping into the forest. Able had no idea of where he was being taken, only the sudden changes that pulled the blood to various corners of his brain. He started clutching the manticore, wrapping his arms around her waist for anything that could keep him safe.
Soon, the Manticore let him down, seeing how flush red his face was from being pressed against her. Looking around, Able saw the moon, but when he looked down at the Valley. He saw the village square he had called home, being no larger than his hand in the distance.
"This is the valley," the Manticore said, sitting down beside him. Able looked around some more, able to see billows of smoke he hadn't recognized before. On the harsh slopes where one fall could leave you crippled or worse, others have tamed the lands, or else they wouldn't be able to burn wood for their warmth. He looked back at the Manticore, who had already turned her head away to stare out. Her messy hair frequently blew over her eyes, fueled by the winds this high up on the terrane.
"But why?" Able said. "Why bring me up here?"
"Don't you get it?" the Manticore said. "You can't get off from here, without me to take you down. You're stuck on this perch, your screams would be drowned out by the constant winds and flowing water. And I can do whatever I want to you here..."
"But you would never..."
"That's not the point!" She said, jumping up and pushing him into a wall. "Why do you chase after me so? Do you want to be corrupted?"
"I just want to help you," Able said, struggling to pry her claw off her. At most, he was able to push off a finger, but the other four would just grip him tighter. He felt his ribs start to bend, being pushed inward by how much she was squeezing. "P-please, you are squashing my frame..."
"A lesser mamono could have done way worse by now," she said coldly. "Admit it! Following me could only lead to disaster."
"No person could ever lead one astray!" Able yelled. "Everyone has the ability to serve. Even if you're a mamono, you never hurt the village...ack, please...we can work through this together..." His head started to feel hot, feeling cracks in his chest starting to tick. the Manticore only kept the pressure on, waiting for him to fold but failing. "Fine," she said, pushing her tail over his mouth. It opened and clasped around his lower face while her other hand pinned him to the wall by his abdomen. "You're too sweet priest boy...but this is going to hurt you as much as it hurts me."
She pinched one of the fingers on her just a bit further. To her, it was putting in just enough effort to finally snap the toothpick. To Able, however, his body went white hot as one of his ribs finally succumbed to the tension. The snap was as clean as it was horrifying, instantly making him want to crumple down onto the ground. He screamed, but the furthest the sound went was to the ends of the tunnel in the Manticore's tail. She could barely watch Able's face shaking around, his hands trying desperately to free himself. Finally, he succumbed to the pain, fainting under duress and shuddering. She let him fall from the wall into her arms, carrying her in his arms as she got ready to leap back down the valley. "It was inevitable..." she said, a wave of pain washing over her herself. Her eyes went wide as she fell to her knees, sweat suddenly starting to bead down her face.
"Of course, now he had to start radiating..." she said checking his face while she held him. He already looked at peace and was snoozing away and nestling himself into her chest. His chest visibly glowed, at its highest where the snapped rib was located. In no time, it looked like he could be still again. She tapped his chest, seeing how completely healed it was in no time. "Oh, priest boy..." she said, stroking his hair. "Your healing factor is your greatest strength...eventually, I'm sure you will thank me for what I did." She waited until his body had repaired himself, and started scaling down, each landing threatening to break her own bones. She already felt sluggish from how little she ate and drank a day, but dealing with the kindness of this boy was a new level. Each handshake and smile was a battle to not faint from his mana, and she was sure the boy was going through the same thing.
They were complete opposites. She knew it would never work out.
She hoped he now thought the same thing too.
With the evidence of their escapade hidden in some of the most remote parts of the mountains, the villa slept and woke up without a hitch. Able opened his eyes in his bed, only remembering the stern face of the Manticore before he fell asleep. He pinched and patted his chest, feeling that his ribs were completely fine. "It must have been a dream..." he said to himself. But deep down, he knew it wasn't. He was kidnapped. He was suffocated with the devil's peach, attached to one of the most licentious monsters to walk the face of the earth. He was crippled and almost left for dead in a place that was unbound by civilization's feet.
And yet, he still couldn't get her face out of his mind.
The face of pain.
Something was still off to him, and he was going to post about it. To him, the Manticore was defying all that he had heard about monsters. Even if consider she was bidding her time, there is no reason with her speed and power that she would need more time. Monsters don't think. They act on pleasure and ravage and destroy. They took great strides in breaking their victims, and laughed for hours while stepping on their heads like stools.
Rooting around for his quill, he took out his pen and started writing. With how long his post took, he only reached the villa by noon. He snuck the post in a lull moment and hurried away to work. Once the church broke for luncheon, he came back out, seeing a crowd for sure gather around the community board again. Among the crowd was the capped Manticore. She looked over and caught his smile. She started backing away, going back into the shadows while Able continued on with his day.
That was until the church bell rang throughout the village. Every, instead of gathering inside the church, gathered around the well. The ring was so urgent that it couldn't wait for everyone to be seated. Once the crowd had finished gathering, the priest came out, dressed in his robes and holding a box painted in white and yellow. The murmurs quieted as he raised his hand, instantly commanding the control of the crowd. "We all know, why we gathered here today," he said, lowering his hand. "Unfortunately, news does tend to spread like wildfire through this village. Especially when a particular makes like a disease and becomes viral."
"Everyone contracts the news, and through that news, we all become infected with the emotions it elicits..." He made a grim face, his arm starting to shake as he clenched with a death grip on the box. "So I will only ask this once...who posted that paper on the community board!?" His voice rose sharply above his normal calm, clear tone. For the first time for many, they saw the noblest person in the villa unnerved. If raising a hand could get attention, near yelling left the crowd speechless. And why wouldn't it? For on the post, laid the fact that-
"I did!" Able said, yelling from the midst of the crowd. Everyone parted to make room, but as soon as the regulars saw who it was, they were in even more disbelief.
"W-what?" the priest said. His hand holding the box lowered, the lower rim of his eyes raising as even he was at a loss for words. "Able, you're-but-what ideas-who could have caused this?"
"No one!" Able said. "For I was the one the made the post about there being a monster in our village. And I was the one who said that monsters...monsters can live alongside us!"
To his left, Able heard someone faint in the crowd. Nothing moved, most looking towards the priest for what to do next. But even he was stuck between a shrine and a hard place, the thought of Able being corrupted threatening to him into two.
"W-well?" the priest whispered. "Who is it?"
Able gladly obliged. He left and came back holding the hand of the purple-caped beggar, who was tugging hard but not able to break the hold. Labored breaths came from her, as she seemed barely able to stand on her own two feet.
"But she has been in the villa for moons a many!" One of the onlookers said, recognizing the cape. "She would never-"
Before that sentence could be finished, Able pulled the cape off from the beggar. In an instant, it fell off her. Sleeves gave way to paws that expanded out like pillows the moment they left the sleeves. Ears popped up and curled over. A long tail, tired from hiding itself, unfurled, landing in an ominous roll on the ground.
"AAAAAAAA!" Someone shrieked.
"Manticore!"
"It can't be!"
"But...the valley was a natural barrier..." The priest whispered to himself. He watched Able help it closer to the priest, seeing the Manticore lose more and more footing until she fell to her knees before him. "Uhh...um...oh, yes excellent Able! I knew I taught you well! To know that they were susceptible to us as we are to them...I've taught you well!"
"Of course..." someone in the crowd said. "Holy energy can weaken monsters. The boy is a savant!"
"Wait, what?" Able said, looking around. He was glad everyone was happy, but this wasn't the reason he expected. Before he could process everything, the priest took his shoulder, squeezing to the point of his nails dug into Able's skin. "Ah, ow, sir, you're-"
"Tricks are a cunning way to lure her close, but nevertheless you are a true servant in the making. Take her away," the priest waved. "Leave her to rot in the villa hold until sundown."
"Ugh..." the Manticore uttered. All the order energy around her left her all but dead. Able could see her collapse on the ground before she was gingerly dragged away by a group of village men.
"Wait!" Able said, reaching for her but being pulled back by the priest. "I know, there is always some regret in grey actions. But I'm sure we could ask the Chief God to repent. Now then, why don't we go talk to her?" While everyone else followed the Manticore to the hold, Able was taken back into the church and sat down in one of the rows. The priest had someone close the doors behind them, leaving him and Able completely alone before he finally focused his attention on the boy. "Able, what are you doing!?" he asked him angrily, his demeanor from before gone.
"I was saying the truth," Able said back. "Sir, if she had lived with us for years, she was surely not going to cause anymore."
"That doesn't matter!" The priest yelled back, his voice reverberating across the room. "It doesn't matter for how long she has lived as one of us. At the end of the day she is a monster! If she doesn't do it now, it is only a matter of time!"
"But it was a matter of time," Able said. "I only found out because she needed water. She could have easily hurt me, or worse...but she didn't!"
"What? Next, you're going to say that the deer that you encountered earlier...was..." The priest trailed off. As if to confirm his instant realization, he looked at Able. Able was silent. His mouth never quivered, but his eyes met his and told everything. "Oh, Able..."
"Sir, I only want to give her a chance..."
"And I only want to save everyone," the priest said, moving towards the door. "We all can't have what we want. Sometimes...the hardest compromises must be made."
"Yes, sir," Able said, turning in his seat as the priest moved to the church entrance. Two people opened the door for him, the priest turning back around to take a long gaze at the boy. "You remember what I said? About monsters?"
"About how they can't be redeemed?"
"You aren't thinking of...freeing, the manticore, are you?" He asked fearfully. Able averted his eyes. "I...I can't lie to you, sir. I'm sorry."
"I thought so...then I guess you may change your mind in the hold as well." Able looked back up in shock, seeing the doors slam shut behind him. Able ran to the doors and tried pushing them up, but the two men pushed back and kept the heavy oak secured shut. Soon, Able was taken to the hold himself, powerless against the older men as they forced him into the cell.
"You can't do this!" Able said, grabbing the bars. "I did nothing wrong!" He shook them, desperately trying to get his captors to change their minds.
"Don't bother," he heard the Manticore say. "They won't let us go, Able."
"But you didn't hurt anyone!" he cried. "I thought everyone would...I didn't mean for it to get like this..."
"Ssssh," she said. A small wind followed after her, blowing in Able's face. She seemingly teleported in front of him, embracing him in a small hug. Able felt his mind ease, sinking into her embrace with tears in his eyes.
"I'll...be fine," she said. "They are just going to keep me here and tell me to leave the valley, don't worry."
"But what if they hurt you?"
"They won't," she said, pressing him tighter against her. He couldn't see her face, but he could hear the strain in her voice. That familiar croak she had to conceal herself away.
They sat in silence for a while. In the hold, there were no windows or holes in the walls. They couldn't tell how much time has passed in the hold, but after an eternity keys jingled around the corner, along with later a chorus of laughter. It quickly stopped when four men came around the corner, one holding a bunch of rope. "Able," someone said surprised. "What are you doing in here?"
"I don't know!" Able said. "They threw us both in here."
"Well that doesn't make sense," another said. "The priest must be getting nervous about this monster..."
"I would too, looking at that tail." 'That tail' rose up and launched itself against the bars, making the whole gate shake and making them jump back. "Shit!"
"She's only doing that because you're scaring her!" Able said. "The priest said anyone was redeemable, so why can't you let her go?"
"Everyone but monsters, Able," one of the men said.
"Well maybe she isn't a monster then!" Able said with resolved.
"Eeii, I'm starting to see why you're down here then," the man with the rope said. "You've been around that creature for too long. Don't worry, once we burn her at the well, everything will be alright."
"What!?" Able turned back to the Manticore, who averted her eyes and kept her face hidden. He realized fast that she lied to him.
"I know, from what I know the last burning took place generations ago," one of the men said, taking out a key. "After that, no more monsters ever appeared in the valley."
"And we don't intend to ruin the peacefulness of this place. Everyone, once the key chinks, get ready to catch."
"No, think about this, you don't have to kill her!" But everyone ignored the boy. The manticore slowly got up as the key turned, watching for the chink of the lock sliding away to start her dash out of the hold. She sent the door flying open, sending one man into a rough collision with the stone wall. The rest were knocked down like bowling pins, but she slowed down after passing the last one. She staggered one, two more steps before falling down, right before the door.
"Arg, all that to be slowed down by a priest stone..." the last one said, taking out a pendant that was peppered with white diamonds. "Hurry now, we need to tie her up before she reached the masses..." The rest went to tie her and pin her down, holding the pendant to her face for maximum effect. The one who was the original holder went to able, grabbing him and getting him to help with the man who was knocked into the wall. "I think she knocked a tooth out..." he said, clutching his own ribcage. "It feels tender..."
"What now, Able?" The other man said who had the hurt man's arm around his shoulder. "I think I feel blood on his head...no sane person would do that, she a monster!"
He didn't know. He could only look at the Manticore squirm, as hostile to the pendant as vampires were to light.
He was let out once the Manticore was long gone. Someone offered to take him back home, going with a freelancer to ensure he actually made it back to his house. "You are to stay at your home tonight. You're a good kid, able, but this is something that must be done." Able nodded silently, waving to the man as he continued down the path. He knew he couldn't do anything alone, but seeing how much she was struggling while being wound up like a wild boar was jarring.
"They are just going to keep me here and tell me to leave the valley, don't worry."
"But what if they hurt you?"
"They won't..."
"I get it now..." Able said through sobbed tears. "She knew this would happen from the start. She knew..."
A loud uproar erupted from the town square above. He could see the fire glow from all the way down here.
Even if there was a chance he could convince everyone that she was fine, he couldn't stay down inside his house. He made his way back up through the forest. Even the dug-in paths were populated with people, and he had to scale his way up with nothing but his sense of the slope before him. Trees became checkpoints for him to rest on so he wouldn't slip and fall down the valley. No one scales this place without the path, but if he didn't he could be sent back home. Each step was made with a will to save that beggar before it was too late.
The noises became jarring as he got to the square. The moment he got up he ducked behind the storefronts, avoiding the crowd that populated around the well in the center. He knew he wasn't going to make it through there, but he did have one idea. He went in through the back of the general store, pulling a cape off of the wall and covering himself in it. Surrounded by it, he then went back outside and covered his face in mud.
Hoping it worked, he walked into the masses' gathering. He saw a lot of new faces he didn't recognize. He remembered the other billows of smoke he saw from the other night, realizing that it must have been where everyone was. He got patted and prayed for the more he moved inward, everyone confusing him for a lost child.
Bundles of people later, he emerged from the crowd to finally reached the front. The Manticore was tied to a log buried in the ground. The light he saw at the top was the massive fire behind her, burning high into the sky with enough wood to fuel a town. Several people, all dressed like the priest were at the forefront, discussing something in hush whispers.
And then there was the priest himself. He adorned a black gown, with a matching tall hat that had the order emblem etched into its fabric. He still had that same box from earlier, milling around the Manticore like he was admiring a table hand-crafted by a master artisan. He stayed low, blending in with the crowd until the priest started talking.
"Members of our covenant, we have gathered here today because of a presence that has appeared yet again in the Chief God's sacred lands to us," he said, finally leaving the tied-up manticore. "Centuries ago, we were faced with a similar prospect. Yet, with only the tools given to us, we were able to drive off such horrid creatures that lusted for us in the dark." He looked up to the fire behind him. "This burning fire is our desire to tame the lands, and our God's approval!" Another uproar came from the crowd, Able cheering too while nervously looking around for anyone that might recognize him.
"And now, of course, we must keep it this way. Ungag her." While the other supposed priests freed the ropes around her mouth, he finally opened the box, taking out a dagger a foot long. Its blade made up the majority of the length, being thin from base to tip. It also looked recently shined, glowing in the light as if it was the one radiating light itself. "Before we could burn you, we must ensure that you are in no state to ever come back," he said, walking up to the Manticore. She was struggling hard against the bindings, but once the priest took out the pendant once more, she fell limp from its power. "You...fuck..."
"the forefathers told of this, to use the pendant as a tool to ward off beasts in the night," he said. "It seems to work proactively as well." All the other priests took a part of her body, holding her still and leaving her eyes to lazily track the black robes as it walked up to her midsection. "And now, watch as we once again spill her blood, and bring yet another sacrifice for generations to come!"
There was no other time waste. Able rushed towards the log, getting the gasps and screams of various crowd goers. The priest turned around, only to see a dirty boy jump into his face and run off. "Ack!" he said, watching the boy disappear into the crowd. "How dare he..." the priest started, realizing there was a sudden lack of something in his raised hand. He looked, and the pendant was gone. "That boy...that boy! Someone stop that boy!"
Many made grabs, but looking for a dirty child was choosing to be a challenge when the crowd was so packed. Before the news could spread to the end, Able emerged back out of the crowd and was well on his way to going further up the valley. He knew the massive crowd wasn't far behind him, and starting further up the river. No one goes up the mountains, as what laid there was inhospitable. And it was his best shot of keeping the pendant away.
He climbed and climbed and climbed. And even still, he still felt like he betrayed the Manticore. He knew he couldn't overpower everyone there. But he knew someone who can. And he hoped without the pendant to inhibit her, she would be able to make a dash as well. But even still...
"Of course, now he had to start radiating..."
He doesn't know who or what said it, but he had a good guess. "Please, you can overpower their aura," he said, continuing to climb. He followed the river no matter where he went, soon leaving the calls behind. He was going to make it, seeing the river start to crest where he was. He peered over, seeing that it continued up to the mountain, but there was a waterfall that the water dropped down before he could continue the rest of the way. He started to look around the waterfall, having noticed something in the trees when-
SMASH. A tree suddenly had a crater smashed into its bark. He almost jumped out of his skin, seeing a small ball drop out, it thudded heavily, but it was no bigger than the end of his thumb, but it had made such a gut-wrenching sound into the tree. He hid behind it, not wanting whatever had done the damage.
"Halt!" someone yelled behind up. Turning around, he saw the priests standing in the shallow waterfall floor, one of them holding an oddly shaped weapon at him. it curled up from his hand toward him and had a small hole that was pointed directly at his chest. Was that what made the tree hole? He thought, suddenly getting a shrill feeling down his back.
Behind them, the black-robed priest finally caught up to them, and with him were two people that walked the Manticore. She was still tied up at her upper body, and blades were held at her back in case she tried to make an attempt to escape. She wasn't fainting as when she was around the pendant but being around so many holy people still left her unsteady on her feet.
"Able!" The priest called out. "I knew it was you the moment word came back from your house. Hand the pendant back over!"
"Never!" he yelled back from his shelter. Another shot ran out, sending wood chips falling over him. "She will die if I do!"
"Please, just let him go," the Manticore said, barely able to keep her head up. "He's just a child, it is I that you're after."
"He is just a child..." the main priest said. "He doesn't understand the lengths it takes for a population to rise in the Valley. The hard work. The struggles we faced, the struggles you caused. It was a matter of survival, and once again the demon lord sends her forced to try again!"
"Why not use her as collateral?" the one holding the gun said. "The boy seems to care for her..."
"An unfortunate realization," the main priest responded back. "Although, even if we do get the pendant back, I fear it may be too late for Able."
"Understood," the gun holder said, pressing a level back on the weapon until there was a click.
"Wait, you can't kill him!" The Manticore yelled, trying to surge out of the ropes but being held back. "If you so much as lay a hair on him-"
"May he be reborn into a new Able, one that could hopefully learn the ways from a new, monster-less life. Able!" he yelled his name after doing the prayer so quietly, seeing the boy with the clock on walk out from the tree. He was nervous, seeing the weapon still aimed at him.
"Throw the pendant over! If you do...we will release the Manticore to you."
"No, he's ly-" she was hit over the head with a stick, and sent reeling into the ground.
"We can assure you, you both will be alright," he said, nodding to Able. The boy looked within his hands, then looked back up, chucking the pendant at the group of priests. It bounced along the water until settling down in the sediment before them, one of the priests grabbing it and handing it to the one in the black robes. "Perfect, he said, feeling the weight in his hand once again. "Now then,"
"Consider it done," the gun holder said, his hand already set on the trigger. Before Able could gasp, the man pulled the trigger, sending another pellet at rapid velocity into Able. he spit out blood as it broke into his insides, falling over and clutching his ever-bleeding chest.
"Priest boy!" The manticore screamed out from the ground. She was lifted back up by her hair, gasping and moaning as she was faced toward the dark-robe priests.
"It is a sad sight to see isn't it?" he said, rolling the pendant in his hand. "He could have made a good successor one day...but now, your influence killed any hope of that. To end what could have been is one of the hardest things you must do as a leader, but it is one I would never hesitate to do. And now, it is your turn to be sacrificed to the valley." He dropped the pendant and pushed it in her face, seeing her pupils sharing as she stared into the accessory.
"Yes...fall and slumber away..." the priest said, watching her eyes begin to shake. Let the blessings of the valley submit you, and spill your blood!" With his other hand, he rose it drove the dagger into her shoulder blade on her back. However, the barbed tail broke through the ropes and had everyone stepping back. She slowly arose, digging her paws into the ground.
"Someone shoot her!" one of the priests yelled. Another round broke the serenity of the waterfall. She jutted back, but didn't slump back over.
"Again!" the same person yelled.
"I'm trying!" the gun-wielder said, frantically taking another pellet out of his pocket.
"She's supposed to be weakened! The pendant-" The dark-robed priest took out the pendant again. His eyes shrank as much as the Manticores, seeing the red glow that pulsated. It was nothing like he felt before, causing a numbing sensation that creep up his arms like a-
"Monstuerous tool, Able switched the pendant."
"Quick, it must still be on his body!" one of the other priests said, before the Manticore dashed behind him. It looked more like phasing, her body blurring until reappeared. Her paw slashed his back, sending him writhing with pain into the ankle-deep water. The other priests started to run, but she continue to move blistering fast, drawing my bloody slashes into each of the priests before they could make a break for the clearing. The gun wilder was the last, moving his gun around as she ran from person to person, until he was the second to last left. "Stand back!" he yelled as he saw her turn to him, seeing the bloodlust rising in her eyes.
"I said stand back!" he said, pulling the trigger and shooting at her again. This time she dipped out of the way, the bullet going sailing harmlessly into the forestry. She advanced while he reached for another bullet, his hands shaking and knocking it into the water before he could stuff it back down into the chamber. He started backing away, splitting his attention between the manticore and loading his slim chance of survival. The main priest decided to hightail it back to the villa, leaving his last subordinate there to die.
"Please, look deep into yourself!" he said, trapped between a tree and a manticore. Her tail loomed above her shoulder, slightly open and drooling, faced towards him. "Monsters...monsters still have a soul. Can you really sit here, knowing the casualties you're causi-grrk!" A paw wrapped around his neck, pressing him against the tree. he grabbed the hand and tried to pry it off, but compared to her he was no more stronger than Able. Getting tired of his shifting, he squeezed one final time, cracking his neck in her hand.
"Now then," she said, "Where is the last one?" She traveled back down the river, noticing how different it looked from the usual village when he looked back at the view above and saw the waterfall. "The priest boy was trying to reach the rock again..." she reflected, sighing as she continued back down.
She ended up meeting the town search halfway, with the priest leading the mass over pitchforks and fire. She stopped and stood, watching the realization move like a wave to the ends of the group. There she was, sitting there at the top of the hill. Her eyes were the only thing that glowed in the distance.
"Where's the boy!?" the priest said. "Did you kill him too!? Take him as your treasure?!" She shrugged, parting the hair in front of her face.
"Answer me! As the priest, we may be mortal, but we will not let you get away with all the grief you caused. This is our home, and we will defend it, as together, we will banish you back to the hell you came from!"
She didn't comply with his demand. Rather, she held the end of her tail rose to her hand, dropping the knife it swallowed back into her hand, coated with slime and all. "Then I guess there is no way around it," she said wiping the slime off her fur. "I'll make sure no monster will encounter you lot ever again~"
Hours passed in the night. Able faded in and out of consciousness, unable to even move a muscle with how much his body at to divert to closing his bullet wound. The water passed around him, as if he was another stone that has settled in the basin of the waterfall. Daybreak eventually came, and the Manticore made it back up the incline, covered in blotches of blood. She went as is, dripping and all to the curled-up boy in the water. "Priest boy," she said, scooping him out of the water and holding him in his arms. He stirred awake, closing his eyes when she put her tail end against his bullet wound and sucked the bullet out. "Agh!"
"Relax, I'm sure your healing factor will keep you alive," she explained, the tail spiting the bullet back out into the water. "And if it doesn't...well, I'm here now."
"What of my people?" he asked. The manticore hesitated. She knew after such much has happened, he would probably be able to guess. Although she didn't want to say anything yet. "It's a long story...but how did you find a different pendant?"
"Well...it's also a long story," Able said back. "I'm sorry that my people..."
"You don't need to say a thing," she cut him off, tapping his nose. "The fact you're willing to see past it is good enough for me."
"Am I going to die and turn into a monster?" He asked as they started going into the forest. He pointed them to the tree where he found the other pendant. The Manticore tucked him in one arm and came around, spying a hole in the tree. In it, was the yellow pendant that caused all the pain from before.
"No you are not," she said, making a mental note and leaving it there. It was time to take him back to the village, as gruesome as it seemed.
"What about being eaten in my sleep?"
"You would be bad for my diet..."
"What about ravaging towns?"
"I...can't say a definite no. Usually, it's self-defense."
"Do monster girls really go after little children?"
"We are going to have to do quite a lot of unlearning..." She commented, keeping Able close to her body as she walked downhill. The sun seemed to shine on the valley as they walked down, treating them both to that breathtaking view they have seen over and over again. It seemed to warm the Manticore's spirits. She could barely remember the boy's name, yet he turned out to be the only one that truly cared for her.
And she was going to return his kindness tenfold.