Panting I ran in through the woods, my sword barely clutched in my hand from the right arm that hung limp at my side, my left hand was pressed against my right forearm as blood continued to seep between my fingers; I had to hurry. A root catches my foot causing me to careen forward, without an arm to stop me I turn my body and slam my left side into the ground, a thorn digs its way into my wing; I can't scream though, I can't let them know where I am. I struggle to my feet before I continue running in the direction I was headed.

"Kaemon…"

The rumbling stopped and the walls of my home finally stopped swaying.

"I smell you…" The creature outside hissed.

I heard the wind whistle as he raised his hand and brought it down on the roof. I raised my sword just in time and keep him from crushing me along with the wooden walls. Hot blood sprayed across my face and chest as my sword cut into his palm.

The demon recoiled, pulling his wounded hand away from my sword. Cold steel glinted under the dark blood as I stood and readied myself for another attack.

He looked around at the broken mess of my home and grunted. "Der's no one 'ere…"

I watched the demon as he looked back and forth across the wreckage and realized he was blind unless the thing he was hunting was moving.

"I smell you…" He grunted again as he sniffed the air around where I stood.

I held perfectly still as he sniffed around… then the wind blew in his direction…

"Ah… found you!" He bellowed as he swung his massive hand in my direction; I couldn't react fast enough. He caught my left side and smashed me into one of the few support beams that were still standing.

I felt bones break as the support beam broke under the strain of the hit. I slid to the floor and shook my head, dazed, and gazed down at my arm; damn, it was useless. Blood began to seep out of the gash that ran down my forearm.

"I smell your blood." The demon growled as he turned his blind attention to where I was huddled.

I sucked in a breath of air as I pulled out a piece of wood that had lodged itself in my arm. I stood and held my sword tightly in my left hand; I had to give them enough time to get away.

The demon snarled and swung his hand down on me again, but this time I was ready. I rolled to the side and swung down on his wrist, cutting into the soft flesh; it would take several hacks to make it to the bone. He yowled and pulled back, bashing me to the side with his other hand; it took me longer to get up that time.

I laid there, dazed and confused, as I tried to pull the pieces of my brain back together long enough for me to stand up. The demon's massive, uninjured hand closed around me and lifted me off the ground.

"I gots her!" He chortled as he shook me back and forth like a rag doll. "I kill her now." He began to squeeze.

I gasped for air and clawed at his hand as he squeezed the air from my lungs, but I didn't really try.

Then I heard the scream. The high-pitched scream that could only belong to one of my two children.

"Kaemon! Rin!!" I cried as I brought my sword up with both hands and shoved it into the demon's hand, as deep as I could get it.

The demon howled and instantly threw me away from him. I hit the ground and skidded.

When I stopped I struggled to my feet and ran into the woods next to my ruined home.

"Kaemon… Rin…" I breathed as I ran to the clearing by the wall that closed in the back of the house.

What I saw on the ground nearly made my heart stop.

"Rin!" I cried as I ran over to the unmoving body of the Rin. "Oh please… Please…" I whispered as I check over her body.

Good… She's still breathing.

I scanned over her body but didn't see any life threatening wounds, just some bumps and bruises, another good thing.

Someone groaned just up ahead and I ran over to him or her with my sword drawn.

"Jaken…?" I questioned as I came up to the other body.

He was gasping for air and there was a large hole in his side.

"Oh Jaken…" I sighed as I ripped the bottom half of my kimono off and tied it around him to keep the blood in. "Thank you…" I choked; I knew he had defended Rin and Kaemon at the expense of his life. "Kaage…?" I murmured, as I looked around for my faithful feline. I found him a few feet away sprawled out in unconsciousness; I tugged off my left sleeve and tied it around his body to stop the bleeding that oozed slowly from the cut in his side. Carefully I lifted my wounded companion and placed him in the dark trees next to where Rin still lay then proceeded to gingerly carry Jaken to the same area and lastly Rin.

I snooped around until I found a cave then carried them all into the cave. I went back out into the clearing and ran around as I looked desperately for Kaemon.

"Kaemon?" I asked as I look around. "Kaemon honey…" I murmured as I felt the tears well up in my eyes.

"Kaemon." I choked as I fell to my knees.

"KAEMON!!!!" I screamed as I felt my heart break, they had taken my son.