Spirit of animals

As the day passed, I grew worried and more impatient with what to do with myself. Now the estate had been reduced to ashes, my family life ripped away from me. Orochi has been gone for the rest of the day it is the early evening now. Tomoko has gone off to go back to the port on her own and I am now by myself here.

I don't believe that I am not safe but in the middle of the mountains where the sun slowly disappears behind the horizon is chilling me to my bones. I can't help but think if something was to happen to me, who could do it? Beliath? Not possible.

As I shake my head, I retreat to my room where I lay on my bed. "So quiet."

My sword was standing upright against the wall beside my bed. To others, it might seem that the sword is just a plain sword but now that I look at it, it holds a much deeper meaning.

It belonged to Aiya who used it to slay demons in her path of revenge towards Beliath. Now, it belongs to me; the only girl that was born in the family after her and the last one of the Lotus clan.

The hairpin my mother gave me and sitting on the table next to me, dully shining in the candlelight. I pick it up and run my thumb over the flower on the pin. The day I said goodbye to mother flashes in my mind.

The last time I was going to be able to speak with her.

It was heartbreaking.

Beliath didn't need to go and kill off my family when the one she wanted was already dead. "How could she?" I bring my legs up to my chest and stare down at the pin.

What was my purpose now?

I sigh and stare at the pin in my hand for a few minutes, "Ugh! It's too quiet in here!"

I set down the hairpin and head out of the room to bathe. The house was still empty which made me even more worried as to why Tomoko wasn't back yet. Going to the port shouldn't take that long, should it?

The trip up to the spring was short a bit nippy in temperature until I got to the steamy air of it. The warmth caressed the cheeks and beaconed me to come to the water.

I shiver and head into the water hoping it will bring my mind to sanity from the unbearable silence that was in the house. The sound of moving water fills my ears along with the sudden wind. I open my eyes to see the star and the bright moon illuminating the sky above.

It looked like the same sky I used to stare at in the human world. The human world where the only worry I had was to become a good daughter and get a husband my parents approved of.

Again, what is my purpose now? I sigh and let the steam relax my body.

*SNAP!*

I jolt up looking around me, "What is the world was that?"

The area around me was dark besides the dim yellow lights that were coming from the light beside the spring. I checked towards the walkway where I came here from the house but it was completely black and empty as well.

I bite my lip nervously at the silence growing around me. Should I leave now? Orochi should be back by now, I hope.

*SNAP!*

"Who's there? Orochi if it's you, don't play games with me."

Silence.

My gut is telling me to get out of the spring and go back down to the house where it is safe. But, I can't help but wonder what is breaking the branches and twigs in the dark.

I hurryingly get out, tying my robe onto myself when a little while light catches my eye. It's floating in the middle of the air; a white ball of light, only big enough to hold in the palm of my hand.

"What in the world..." I step towards it but it floats backward away from me.

I take a few more steps toward it but it does the same thing again. "Why are you floating away from me?"

I start to walk towards it now almost as if I'm flowing it now. It increases the speed and makes itself get ahead of me by 20 feet which now I am running towards it at full speed. Stupid little light, why are you bothering me at this time of night?

The light comes to a full stop when I finally reach it. I throw my hand out in front of me to attempt to catch it but it disappears before my eyes. "Wait a minute! Huh?!"

Then, I see what is in front of me. A cave opening that leads down into the dark.

"Where... Am I?" I mumble as I take in the giant opening. Long grey spikes come down from the front in a menacing way.

More snapping comes from behind me and I panic from the sound. My first reaction is to run deeper in the cave but is that a wise choice? I ignore my worry and do it anyway.

The light fades the deeper I get into the cave as the darkness consumes the light. Dripping water is heard in the distance in the cave. If there is water, that must mean I am close by the ocean or some large body of water. I speed up my footsteps as the sound gets louder the deeper I go.

Light from above slowly comes the cave in front of me revealing a small pool of water. I gasp at the natural small beauty I have found but it is cut short by the shuffling behind me.

I turn around and freeze. Oh no...

The dark figure is only slightly visible by the light but it's enough for me to make it out in the dark. Its shape was recognized in only a second, a bear was staring at me with its big brown eyes.

My blood froze inside my veins and all I could do what stand there in fear. My heartbeat was fluttering at an incredible speed, but I was prey trapped inside of the eyes of the bear. Its heavy breathing was making it worse and it's face tensed up at me automatically.

The bear suddenly stood up on its back legs towering over me and finally let out a huge rawr. I screamed at the top of my lungs as I cowered behind my crossed arms, hoping that it would alert someone in the area because my fateful death but nothing happened. I was perfectly fine.

I open one of my squeezed shut eyes to see a pale glowing hand outstretched to the bear who is now on all fours again. "H-Huh?!"

My eyes go wide to see there is a small woman next to me squatting on the floor in front of me. She was illuminated by a blinding white glow that seemed to come from inside of her.

"Hush, little one. There is nothing to worry about. She is only lost." Her hand patted the bear and it closed its eyes surrendering itself to her.

Her hair flowed down to her waist in subtle wavy shinning. Even though we were submerged by the complete black of the cave; her skin looked like glass with no flaws in it. She was surrounded by a beautiful white cloth that was made of thin material, making her outline easy to see. Her face was effortlessly sculpted, lashes curled against white skin, red pouty lips, and a soft V-shaped jaw.

"She does not mean to hurt you. She was only protecting her cave from what she thought was someone hunting her." The beautiful woman's voice rang out like a bell in the silent cave.

"Who are you?" I ask the woman.

She smiles softly at the bear, "No one of importance. I have come because of this one and you. Let me show you the way."

The woman gracefully stands and grabs my hand pulling me away from the bear and out of the cave. My heart has started to slow from all roller coaster of emotions as I feel a sensation of calmness take over my body and filling my limbs.

"Little one," She says as she turns around to face me, "I have come to help you."

Puzzled, I ask, "With what?"

Again, she smiles gently and places her hand on my head, "You are a lost soul in the demon world. Orochi has done all he can for you. Now, you must do this on your own without the help of anyone."

I start to panic a little, "Do what? I'm confused."

"Find your purpose.", Is the last thing my ears catch before I feel my body fall backward onto the grass and into the darkness of my mind.