Aya's POV
As we pulled the boat into a small inlet, and I expanded my senses completely to search out any dangers nearby. It was all beach sand leading up into the forestry. Perfect for me, except I had yet to find out about the predators that may lay in wait.
By the smell on the breeze, I could tell there was a village nearby with livestock ripe for a drink. God's, my mouth watered..
I picked up my pack and slung it over my shoulder. To my surprise, the captain came forward and with his weathered hands he gave me two swords. One long and one short. "Place them in the sash area your waist, you never know when you might need them here." Looking around, I could see he was a bit embarrassed considering his usual rough exterior. ( I remember watching him grow up.. He was in his fifties now. )
Quickly giving them my thanks, I stepped off their boat, as their memories of the "crossing" faded away just as I did, into the lush green forest.
Moving my long sleeved black cloak out if the way, I gently I slid the swords into place. The black sheaths were placed beneath the sash I wore below my blue and black obi where it tied above my left hip. It was so strange.. Almost as if the swords were at home. Like I had always been carrying them there, even before their creation in a forge. Even I knew how it would have sounded, but it was true.
Resting my left hand on the end of the black leather handled sword, I bent over slightly and sought out the food sources at that nearby village. I had to stop my thirst. It was imperative. My blood was beginning to almost boil in my veins from hunger.
My predator, inner-demon, presence, was now at the forefront of my consciousness, though I still had enough control over my mind so it would not attack humans. I sped over to where the scent of livestock was coming from. Moving so fast, a humans eyes would only see a hint of a blur.
I crept around a building made of wood with splinters, searching around for any present humans. One moved through the building slowly, singing to himself.
He was young, about sixteen. He was holding two wooden buckets in one hand, as the other moved the goats in the pen away from him. His sackcloth tunic rode high as he dumped the contents of the buckets into the long feeder.
All in black except for my obi, I laid low in the lush greenery. I could tell he sensed something was off due to the loud reactions of the goats. Shrugging, he passed through the building and walked out the other end toward a small hut.
As I turned my head back to them, my garnet eyes flashed to crimson and my fangs elongated. The goats sensed me and were doing all they could to escape. I let my nails grow to three inches so I could get a better grip on them, so it would hurt them less in the end.
Jumping into the enclosure with a hiss, I grabbed hold of a black and white adult. Taking an arm beneath the belly and holding it's head at an angle to my shoulder, I drove my fangs into it's throat, drawing hard and deeply off it's artery. The goat kicked and screamed. ( I don't know if you have ever heard it, but they really do scream. )Within no time, it's heart slowed to near death and saving it from a living hell, I snapped it's neck like a twig.
By the time I was finished with the livestock, eight goats lay dead with very little blood marking that I had been there. I was hoping it would be enough for my trip to see the one I called: "Good father."
Excited again, I turned toward the trees. I wanted to make it into the deep forest before sundown, so I could take time to study my surroundings better.
Following the outskirts of the village, I searched the ground for trails that led west. Finally I found one that could barely be seen.
For about six hours I followed the trail. Finding myself a boulder to sit on, I relaxed to the sounds around me. With my inner-demon sated, the birds had come back, no longer fearing me and were singing happily in the canopy provided by the tall trees.
Lifting my hand, I reached out to touch some of the moss on a tree next to the boulder, when my eyes caught a flash of silver in the corner of my eye. With a sigh, I stated quietly. "You may as well reveal yourself. That flash of silver gave away your position. Though your step is as loud as a hurricane touching down." My hand slid to the hilt of the long sword and grasped it tightly.
Several minutes later, a young man in a long blue hanfu with a matching cloak stepped out from between two trees. His sword was sheathed in his hands, but was ready to use it. I could tell this from the muscle play at his shoulders and in his forearms. "You are early." He said with a huff as he placed the sword down at his side. "Good thing too. The Elder has not been eating or speaking. It doesn't look good. You are Aya, correct?" He had studied me as he spoke and ended up shaking his head. "Maybe your visit can help snap him out of it."
The tone in his voice said that he loved the Elder very much. That he was here like this confirmed it.
"I am new to this country by less than a day, so I don't know how you do things here.." Slowly I released most but not all of my aura, letting him sense to power that comes with age. It also showed the strength of my soul. That presence was in control of me again, and she is perturbed. "Human or not, where I come from, those of my age are spoken to with at least a modicum of respect. We shall start this again..." I inclined my head deeply, eyes lowered. Then slowly straightened my neck. "I am Aya. The one you seek. How may I help you today, kind Sir?" He answered in two simple words that made the presence in me grit my teeth.
"Follow me.."