RIN'S P.O.V

'Why are we still in this village little one?'

I sighed and opened my eyes as Kitsana spoke to me through our bond.

'Because, my entire life is in this village.'

'No it's not. Your life is where you make it.'

'Well I make it here.'

I said as I stood up and stretched as the sunlight came in through the doorway of my hut.

'Why? The villagers all hate us and you have nothing keeping you here.'

I sighed and blocked out Kitsana as I grabbed my bow and arrow from beside the doorway. I slung the quiver over my shoulder and headed out into the forest to hunt down my breakfast.

The villagers all glared at me as I passed. Once the trees of the forest enveloped me I felt a sense of belonging that I only felt when I was here. I jumped up into a tree, bow and arrow at the ready, waiting for game to come my way. An hour passed and nothing happened. I started to dose off as the sunlight filtered through the tops of the trees. I felt the bow slip from my hand and hurried to catch it, only to have it and my quiver full of arrows fall to the ground. I growled and started to climb down to get them when Kitsana stopped me.

'Wait little one.'

I froze where I was, halfway up and halfway down the branch I'd been on. I stayed quiet and listened like Kitsana had taught me, and a deer trotted into the clearing.

'Great. There's game, but no way of killing it.'

I thought to myself as I climbed silently back up onto the branch. I watched the deer graze, my stomach empty and mouth watering.

'You know that's not true little one. You can always change with me.'

'No, I want control.'

I said and heard Kitsana laugh within my head.

'That is not what I meant little one. I meant you can borrow my body like before.'

She said and sent flashed of when I'd used her power and transformed into a fox for the first time. I'd gotten my revenge for my family, as well as the fear of what I could do.

'I can't control myself in that form.'

I thought to her, sending flashes of when a group of villagers came to my hut when I was nine to tell me of my brother's fate. All the emotions I felt consumed me and I transformed into my fox self and attacked the villagers.

'You didn't kill them, you have some control little one.'

'Yeah, some. I don't want to risk it.'

I said and put a hand to my stomach to silence it.

'Do you want to starve then?'

Kitsana asked and I sighed.

'That's what I thought. Don't worry little one, I won't let you do more than kill that deer. And the practice will be good.'

She said and I nodded before standing up on the branch then going down on my hands and knees.

I let Kitsana's aura seep out of her cage and envelope my body. I smiled as the feeling of being submerged in a spring river spread throughout my body. I felt my bones pop out of place and readjust to form my other self. My midnight black and red streaked hair grew in length from my shoulders down to my feet before wrapping around me and turning into fur. My teeth and nails lengthened to form my fangs and claws. I stretched as my transformation finished with my fur lengthening again and forming my twin tails, both tipped in scarlet.

'Keep me in check Kitsana.'

I said and jumped from my place in the tree as I saw her nod.

I had my teeth into the hide of the deer before it even knew what was happening. I let Kitsana drain it of blood before I started to drag it back to the village.

'Hold on little one, you need to change back.'

Kitsana said and I stopped. I let the deer carcass fall from my mouth and pushed Kitsana's aura away with mine. I changed back. My black and red fur shortening to my shoulder and turning back into my hair. My fangs and claws returning to normal and I stood up straight.

I wiped the blood from my lips and started to drag the deer carcass behind me as I walked towards the village.

'You know it would be easier on you little one, if you would fully accept me.'

'How do I do that?'

I asked as the trees thinned out and the village came into view.

'Hunt and eat your kill in fox form. Our auras would then completely mix and I'd permanently become a part of you.'

'Next time I go out hunting we will.'

I said as I reached the edge of the village. I heard Kitsana laugh and saw her nod.

"There she is! Get her!"

"Demon!"

I looked up at the angry shouts of the villagers. They were all holding weapons of some kind. Either spears, kitchen knives, pitchforks, or rusty swords.

"Look at her! She's covered in the blood of the innocent! Kill her before she kills us!"

The village master said and they all attacked me.

The deer carcass fell from my hands as I was hit and knocked to the ground. They all started to kick and stab me. When a kitchen knife was plunged through my abdomen I instantly locked Kitsana up in her cage.

'Let me out little one!'

'No! I don't want to hurt them!'

'So you'd let them kill you?'

I didn't respond and Kitsana fought harder against her restraints.

"Die!"