Heavy white eyes struggled to open. 'Where am I?' The man looked around him, finding himself in a upside down position and that he was tied up. "What the hell?!" He tried to wriggle his hands off the ropes, he couldn't transform in a place that could have humans around. Then he stilled when he heard a door open. "So you're awake." A man with similar eyes to his got in, glaring at him. "Toneri, right?" How the fuck he knew? Then he recalled his locket. "Yes. And you are?" Toneri saw the glare worsen. "Tch, it isn't you..." What was the deal with that murmur? His fine hearing heard every grating note within. 'Maybe he got something against foreigners.'

After a glaring competition, he was freed, but not without getting some death threats. He saw himself without his supplies, but if he rushed out right now, he'd risk his life. He made himself as subservient as possible to not arouse suspicion. "Here." A bowl of gruel was put before him. At his quizzical look, there was an exasperated sigh. "Letting guests die brings bad luck." With this, Neji went out. Toneri just ate in silence, intent in getting his strenght back. He examined his surroundings, seeing as the house was rustic, but sturdy, just right for standing against the winter storms.

He felt something not human in the house, it was so familiar... 'Another cursed one?' He went up the steps, getting closer to the presence, finding a young woman resting on a bed. 'Hn? She's completely human, but I can sense remains of a strong curse...' He checked her, taking in her features and the fact that she was obviously in a coma. 'She must have found a first generation if she's still alive.' The curse must have been pretty strong to latch on a second party to this extent, but it was a stroke of luck for this woman, as otherwise she would have died already. 'But the only way for her to awaken is to meet the source again.' Still, he had to find out which kind of cursee was the original. 'Should I check the forest?' The trees at the distance looked ominous to him.

Kurama kept padding in circles, hidden by the trees from the occasional trapper. He felt dread and had the nagging feeling that something terrible had taken place in his absence. His priorities shifted temporarily when he saw a foreigner enter his territory.

Toneri decided to bite the bullet and went into the woods, being careful to not let himself be seen by villagers. He went in a roughly straight line, figuring that the 'beast' he heard about would be living at the center. He kept alert, sure that it was the predator kind.

Kurama was wary of the newcomer, ready to go for the kill if the need arose. He kept himself out of sight, rounding around the man.

Toneri felt nervous, as if he was facing his ancestor, Kaguya. He tried to find the second presence, the source of the potent energy that was present in the uncounscious woman back at the village. "Hey, if you can hear me, I have news from someone you know!" He gulped, praying that it wasn't a misjudgement.

Kurama got curious, his pupils dilated in alert and he revealed himself, showing his claws and fangs to curb any funny attempts.

Toneri was shocked, this was the first time he saw a fox with nine tails. 'Kuh... it's like her...' He held the urge to flee. "Do... do you know a woman in the village? Pale, dark hair and eyes like mine?" He saw the tensing, as if the fox were about to pounce. "Calm down, I'm not a foe. Listen, she was attacked, long before I met her-" Several claws marks appeared on the trees and he winced. "I came from a tribe that accepts your kind... I myself am like you." He let out some of his cursed traits, namely, rabbit ears and claws. "See? Well, you can help her by just meeting her. I can bring her here."

Kurama was eyeing the man, recognizing that he had respect for him at least. He had considered going after Hinata personally, but he was simply too noticeable. "Fine. But if you hurt her..." He flashed his canines, smirking when the man flinched. "I understand, but it might take a while, I can't make them suspect me. I'll also try to find out who hurt her. I'm sure that you're itching to know." A growl was enough of an answer.

Neji found a bag a distance from the house, finding several logs and writing tools. His curiosity led him to take it home and check them.

"What is this?" He was shocked by the contents of the diaries. They described many kinds of curses - turning into beasts, part of bodies becoming a certain element, unnatural powers and much more. He couldn't stop reading, learning more and more about the cursed people. Their traits were passed by blood, generating hybrids. There were several advices on how to deal with them, but none were about how to kill.

Then he came upon a more detailed description of beastkin, finding several parallels with the mythical beast of the forest. 'Who wrote these?' He tried to find a name, only to see the initials T.O. 'That bastard has a lot to explain!'

Well, one more chapter, stay tuned and review your opinions.