Chapter 2 – The Dark Omen

Kaze woke to see the beams of the warm and bright sun coming through his windows. It was a beautiful day, and a great day to be out hunting. He quickly remembered the uneasy feelings he had last night as he was falling into sleep. He quickly brushed off the uneasiness and continued to pull on his clothes. As he pulled on his hunting jacket, he noticed that he had not heard his mother or father this morning. He quickly grabbed his knife and sheathed it, running out into the main room to find them asleep on the couch. He sighed in relief and gently woke his father, pointing to the door and motioning for him to follow. Kaki slowly got up, making sure to not wake his sleeping wife and joined his son, grabbing his bow and arrows. It was time for the two to hunt. As they walked along the normal path, Kaze finally spoke, "Papa, why do we hunt anyway?". Kaki smiled and stopped, sitting against a tree. They had been walking for atleast ten minutes and he decided to take a break to tell Kaze why they hunt. "You see my boy, we hunt for survival. Our God gave us these animals for food, but we must always remember that even if we are eating them, that God has given us that purpose. We are kitsune, natural hunters and guardians of the Forest." Kaki stated, smiling and looking up at Kaze, who was staring into the woods. "What is it you see, son?" Kaki asked, frowning and looking in the same direction as his son. He regreted this decision immedietly, for he saw a tall, slender man in a black suit. He had no face and his skin was a sickly pale colour. Kaki grabbed Kaze and ran deep into the heart of the woods. Kaki, who was fearful not of the strange creature, but of Kaze's sanity, hid in a small cave. It began to drizzle as he entered the cave. It was odd, the weather was so clear and nice. What had caused the rain that day will not be known, but it was true, the myths of the man in the woods. The "Slenderman" as they called it. He started a small fire inside the cave to keep them warm, and looked over at Kaze. Kaze, who had been looking at the Slenderman, was now huddling close to the fire, watching the rain as it fell into small puddles. Everything was silent except for the steady sound of the fire crackling and the rain hitting the frozen ground.

Kaze woke with fear flowing through him. He looked around the cave and found his father watching over him. As the fear drained from his body, he began to look outside. At the entrance of the cave, he saw a small group of rabbits. He smirked and flicked his wrist, sending his knife at the rabbits and killing one as his father shot another with an arrow. Two rabbits…It was enough to hold them. Kaze worried for his mother. She had plenty of food, and could defend herself, but what were to happen if the house began to burn? He pushed the thoughts out of his mind, and continued to skin the rabbits. He put the meat in his bag and found a small crevice in the rocks to hide them. He had small stashes like this around the woods incase an unfortunate event should ocurr. He walked to his father, sitting next to him. "I'll watch over us papa, get some rest." Kaze smiled, taking the bow out of the old man's hands and putting the arrows on his back. "Ah, thank you my boy, you of a great help to me. I am proud to have a son as strong as you." Kaki smiled, drifting into a deep sleep. Kaze began to scan the cave, marking good spots to store game. He always does this when he is bored. The young man sighed as he stood, seeing a shadow of a man at the entrance of the cave. He knocked back an arrow and aimed it at the entrance, seeing the man from before. "Who are you, mister?" Kaze asked, not lowering his bow even an inch. The tall man took a step forward, speaking with a deep voice. "I am known as Slenderman. The guardian of this forest. You and your father are trespassing." The Slenderman replied, raising his hands. "I mean no harm, I am just here to converse with you." He said quickly. "Very well, but one false move, and I will not hesitate to shoot you in the back." Kaze growled, lowering his bow and sitting next to his father. Slender sat on the other side of the cave. "So, why have you two come to this dark place?" he asked, pulling out a small loaf of bread and tossing it to Kaze. "Me and my father hunt in these woods. I have a mother back at the heart of the woods. I'm very worried about her." Kaze answered, biting into the soft bread. The flavor spread through his mouth, making him hum in delight. "She is perfectly safe, I can see her now, working in the kitchen." Slender replied, looking at the young child. There was a hint of compassion in his voice, as he knew how the boy had felt. Kaze yawned and looked at the entrance. Wait, why was it getting darker? "Shit!" he yelped, realizing that night was falling. "Child, take my hand. Kaki, take your son's hand and hold on tight." Slender commanded. Kaze did what he asked without question and Kaki, while a tad hesitant, grabbed his things and did the same. Within seconds, they were on their front porch, looking at the small house. "You two go inside. If you need any help in the woods, call my name."Slender said, and disappeared into the night. They two boys walked inside. Sky practically jumped on them, covering them with kisses. "Where were you two?! I was worried sick!" she said between kisses. Kaze just batted her away with his tail. "We were out hunting dear, Im so sorry to have scared you." Kaki answered, kissing her passionately, earning a barfing sound from Kaze as he ran to his room for bed. The young boy was exhausted and layed in his bed, thinking about the slenderman and falling asleep minutes later. The darkness that spread over that forest was not normal, the rain, the man, the nightfall, it was all very…peculiar. He began to dream of a small foggy forest, full of spirits. The scariest part of this dream, was two of the spirits, were his parents.

A.N. – Woo! Second chapter down. I know these chapters are a bit short, and im sorry for that. Cliffhangers are great too hehehehehe :D. Thanksu soooo much for reading this! Ill be updating it soon! *gives cookie and flies away*