Under the light of the full moon, the shadows began their attack. Five beasts emerged from the forest treeline overlooking the small Etena household. These five shadows were the size of the largest from the last attack. The five creatures look from one to another before they began their descent. Their feet thudded against the grass as they ran down the hill straight towards the house, their mission at the front of their minds.
As they neared the house they slowed from their running pace to a slow and cautious walk. They made their way to the nearest window. As four of the shadows stopped the one in the middle of their pack continued forward. Slowly and cautiously the shadow gently placed its front paws on the walls around the window and stood on its hind legs. It was now tall enough to peer through the window into the room.
Inside the shadow could see a small bedroom with only a small amount of furnishings. On the far side of the room lay a bed with a black-haired girl sleeping on it. The shadow paid no mind to the girl, she was not the target. The shadow quietly pushed off from the house and returned to all fours. He turned around to face his companions only to find them missing. The only trace of the four shadows that remained was the clouds of smoke they had become that floated away and vanished. The shadow stared at the remains of its friends with confusion, anger, and fear.
"Hey there."
The voice made the shadow jump in terror as it whipped its body around to its source. It was filled with horror as he saw the monster that stood before him, the silent murderer of its friends, with a smile plastered on his face.
Hitsu.
"You find anything interesting?" Hitsu asked causally.
The shadow began to back away in terror. Its escape was quickly stopped as it backed into something with a thud. It slowly turned to find a much larger creature as Juno looked down on it and growled.
...
Nox was awakened to the sound of an anguished cry outside of her window. She sat up in a flash and looked to the window only to see the usual scenery outside. Cautiously, Nox stepped off of her bed and tiptoed towards the source of the sound. She silently cursed every creaking floorboard as she grew closer and closer to the somehow ominous window. She grew closer and closer and cl...
THUD
Nox let out a startled cry as she fell backward and landed on her back. She looked up to the window to see the figure of a person, a person she knew.
"Hitsu," she mumbled angrily.
The boy outside the window smiled and waved with a grin on his face, he didn't hide the fact he found her reaction humourous.
Nox stood up and walked to the window with a sigh. She unlocked the window and pushed it open nearly hitting Hitsu in the process.
"You aren't funny," Nox said coldly.
"I think I am," He replied chuckling.
Nox let out a sigh before changing the subject.
"So what's going on," she asked, "are they attacking?"
"Yeah," Hitsu responded as he stretched his arms in preparation, "we just took out the first wave but they aren't done yet."
"So what do I do?" Nox said in a serious tone.
"It depends," Hitsu responded, "do you want to fight?"
This question caught Nox off guard and she visibly reacted with surprise.
"Wh-what?" She stuttered, "What are you talking about?"
"I've seen that power of yours," Hitsu said as he stretched his legs, "back when you saved me from that shadow. You and I both know you can fight, so do you want to?"
Nox couldn't answer, not because she feared Hitsu reaction but because she didn't know herself.
"I...Um...I..." Nox stuttered as she internally fought herself for an answer.
She looked over to see Hitsu looking back at her, his face seemingly begging for an answer, but Nox couldn't tell which one.
"I...Can't..." She answered surprising herself at how ashamed her own voice sounded.
"Alright," Hitsu responded, "get everyone in your parent's room and lock it down. I'll take care of the shadows, you keep them safe."
"Got it," Nox said before turning to make her way to her parent's room.
Hitsu turned to make his next move when Nox's voice stopped him.
"Wait!" She said quickly.
Hitsu turned back to see Nox was facing him.
"Be careful," was all she said.
Hitsu smiled and responded with a thumbs up. After another moment Nox turned and disappeared from sight into the house. Hitsu reached in and pulled the window down, he moved his hand and allowed the window to close itself.
"Alright, Juno," Hitsu said turning back to his cat, "Let's go..."
To his surprise, Juno was nowhere to be found.
"Juno?" he called out but he received no response.
Hitsu could feel a slight panic starting to set in as he scanned his surroundings only to see no trace of the missing cat.
"Where are you?" Hitsu whispered as he cautiously began to make his way around the house. Slowly and carefully he crept towards the side of the house before peeking around the corner. There he saw his target as Juno stood by the house, her eyes wide.
"Juno!" Hitsu said as a wave of relief flooded over him.
Hitsu ran over to his friend, but as he ran his relief was replaced with concern. Juno had returned to her usual small size. Her wide eyes stared directly at the house as if she could see through it. Her hairs stood on end and her tail pointed straight to the night sky. Hitsu immediately realized something was wrong.
"What is it, girl?" Hitsu whispered as he looked all around them finding nothing out of place.
Juno let out a quiet meow, the fear evident in its tone.
Hitsu's eyes instantly grew as wide as Juno's as he began to search more frantically.
"You hear shadows?" He said with panic filling his core, "But where?"
Another meow by Juno made Hitsu's heart sink. He slowly turned his head to where Juno's eyes remained locked. He hoped desperately that something would change, that if he could stop his own head then what he knew would be wrong.
"The shadows..." he whimpered as he finished turning. His view filled with the sight of the Etena household.
"...are inside?"
...
End of Episode 12