Warr:
Drip Drip Drip.
I woke up in a small dark cave. Although my vision was blurry, I could tell there was a fire lighting up the cave. I tried to get to move, but my body wouldn't listen. (Damn it, what happened?) I thought as I stopped trying to move. The last thing I remember was fighting with that damn human. Flashbacks of the battle flooded my mind. I remember the white box and the crushing weight. I could still feel the punches that seemed to come from all sides. I had been utterly defeated. Shame and sadness gripped me as I thought about my loss.
"I lost again. How laughable... I whispered to myself.
Oh! You up," A voice announced close to me. I opened my eyes to see the person who got me into this mess. ( I never did get her name.) I thought as I examined the cloaked woman. I realized that I didn't know the person's name, nor had I ever seen her face entirely. She demanded that I only call her master or teacher, which irritated me. I didn't dare voice my displeasure for fear of being killed. Still, I started to refer to the woman as Hood.
"Where am I?" I asked. Hood looked at me with her crimson eyes, seeming irritated with my question.
"A cave. What does it look like?" She said sarcastically. ( No shit!) I thought to myself with anger. I guess it was a dumb question, but I hated how she talked to me. Hood always spoke to me as if I was beneath her. Even Gora didn't speak to me with such discontent.
"You should be thanking me. I am the reason you are still alive. If not for me, Gora would have killed you by now. My teacher said, looking at the fire she had made.
"Thank you, master!" I said quickly. I wanted to say she was the reason I was in this mess in the first place. I was minded my business when she came along and roped me into her little scheme. My new teacher just nodded before turning her attention back to the fire. It was around this time when I got a whiff of roasted meat. My mouth began to salivate, and my stomach growled at me. I didn't know how long I had been knocked out, but it must have been long considering my hunger. I thought about asking for a bite but held my tongue.
"Hungry, I see. Do not worry, the food is almost finished. I didn't keep you alive just to starve you to death." The cloaked woman announced; I breathed a sigh of relief. I was in no shape to hunt for my own food. Although happy that I would get to eat, I couldn't help but wonder why I was still alive. Before my battle with Gora, my new master had made it clear that she wouldn't interfere. Even if I was about to perish. She had also been adamant about not mentioning where I'd received help.
"Not to sound ungrateful, but.. why did you save me?" I asked as I braced myself for a tongue lashing or, at worse, a physical one. After a few moments of silence, I opened my eyes. I saw my teacher staring at the cave ceiling. She was in deep thought.
"I guess you could say that I still have use for you. Although you have failed me once, you are probably my best option for the job." Hood said, pointing a stick with cook meat on it at me.
"Plus, the other beasts are being recruited by Gora's minions as we speak." The woman said before taking a bite out of her meal. ( So, she still needs me to kill Gora.) I wondered. It struck me as odd that she needed me to do a job that she was capable of doing. I forgot those thoughts when the teacher threw a meat stick in my direction. The food landed directly in front of me, and I wasted no time gobbling the meal up. Judging from the taste, I could tell it was boar's meat. I devoured the meal viciously, almost swallowing the wood it was attached to. Although I wasn't full, I wasn't as hungry as before. I lay there for a moment waiting for the next meat treat when a thought crossed my mind.
"Would Gora and her group be looking for me?" I ask. I wasn't in any shape to put up a fight. So, I could afford to have them find me.
"The girl has already begun her climb up the mountain. Plus, it would be pretty hard to find us now." My master said before quickly turning her head towards the cave entrance. The woman seemed alarmed by something. I asked what was wrong, but my master silenced me quickly.
BOOM!
The sound of thunder resounded throughout the cave. (That's strange. I didn't hear any rain.) I thought as I looked at the same spot my teacher was. The first thought was the snake Gora had tamed recently. He was the only beast I knew that could control lighting. I was a little relieved. I was sure my master could deal with him if it was Titan. That is if she decided to help me.
"Is this the place?" I heard a male voice ask. Moments later, two people entered the cave. Both figures were cloaked in black robes, just like my master. So, couldn't make out their faces.
"Yup, this is it!" A female voice announced as they stopped a few feet away from Hood. My master was speechless as she examined the two newcomers. (By the Goddesses! Who are these monsters?) I thought to myself. The air around me became harder to breathe, and everything in me said run. If I wasn't wounded, I would have undoubtedly tried to run away. The two monsters were blocking the entrance, meaning I would have nowhere to escape.
"Impossible.. how... why?" Hood was at a loss for words as she got to her feet. I could see her backing away slowly. This was my first time seeing my teacher like this. I wasn't too surprised, however. The two people in front of us were at layer nine. This was my first time seeing someone at this level. Yet now I was staring at two of them. ( I'm screwed!) I thought to myself.
"Surprised, sister? Your not the only one who can bend the rules!" The woman spoke first as she slowly walked towards Hood. My teacher could only back up, almost tripping on a rock. (Sister?) I thought. I was surprised to find out that they were siblings.
"Impossible. The king would have never let you leave." Hood said in disbelief. Her words made the newly arrived woman laugh. That was when the man beside her took off his hood. A handsome man with red skin, inky black hair, and yellow eyes appeared underneath the cloak. ( A demon.) I thought as I glanced at the man's horns. My teacher gasped upon seeing the man.
"Your majesty... you've come as well?" Hood announced after falling to one knee. My master lowered her head, refusing to look at the demon man.
"Tsk tsk. You almost broke your promise, little one. You were told not to interfere. We have come to bring you home in case you get any more bright ideas." The demon said his yellow eyes seemed to glow in the dark. My teacher raised her head but quickly lowered it again when she noticed the demon's menacing glare.
"Come along, sister. We have much to discuss. The woman said, grabbing Hood's hand. My teacher stood her head low in embarrassment. She didn't even try to fight. The man put his hood back on, and the trio began to walk towards the exit. I was relieved that the monsters were leaving but confused about everything else. (Who are these people?) I thought as they made their way out. Just before they reached the exit, one hooded figure stopped.
"You two go ahead. I have to tie up some loose ends." Hood's sister declared before turning around. It was hard to tell under her hood, but I knew she was looking at me. (Damn it!) I thought as I struggled to move. My wounded body refused to listen, and I laid there helplessly.
"Hurry, the longer I stay here. The more I'm tempted to see the princess." The man said before walking out of the cave. The cloaked woman knelt down in front of me. I flinched, preparing for the worst.
"You almost did a nasty thing, kitty. Count yourself lucky you failed. If you didn't, I would have ripped you limb from limb." The woman said as she cupped my head in her hands. I gulped as I looked into her red eyes. The woman had the same eyes like her sister.
"Still, you need to be punished even if my sister put you up to this. So, listen very carefully." The woman stated, never breaking eye contact.
"You will pledge your life to the one you tried to kill. Your new role will be as her faithful guardian, understand?" The mystery woman gave me no room to argue. I could only nod my head. I didn't dare reject the woman. She was far more powerful than me. After saying her peace, the mystery woman stood and walked out, not without one last threat.
"Don't fail me, cat! There will be no more chances." Hood's sister declared before disappearing into the night. I was left speechless and confused. (What the hell just happened.) I wondered. I took one last look at the cave's exit. My mind and my heart were still racing. I hoped I'd never see the trio ever again.
Warr: Layer seven mythical tiger.