" Certain shadow creatures are willing to sell information for the right price."
Amon vaguely explains again, silently hoping that Shayna wouldn't press for more answers.
" I'm sorry... I shouldn't have rushed up the mountain like that. I should have just stayed at the Chief's hut and waited."
Shayna apologized with a frown.
" What made you do that anyway?"
" We half-beast creatures were created as a bridge between beast and man. Which is why we all speak common human and common beast. "
" Common beast?"
" It's known to your kind as emotions. I felt Little One's fear and anxiety. He showed me that the shadow creature targeted you and your wife, last night. Which is why he urged me to find you. To warn you."
As Shayna explains Amon couldn't help but pull a long face, silently wondering how they come to such a conclusion.
"But then again, what can you expect from a five-year-old listening to the story of a baby."
Amon silently noted as he watches Little One staring at him with his huge blue eyes.
"How long this baby plans to stare at me? Does he truly believe that I'll disappear the moment he looks away?"
Amon questioned as he stares back at the cause of the whole scenario. Wondering how one Little baby could cause so much trouble.
" Alright, here we are. Safe zone."
" Safe zone!"
Shayna chimed as Amon puts her down on her feet. Amon then places an arm around Little One to support him as Shayna holds Amon's other hand.
" Stick close to me, you still smell like Little One and that could be a problem but at least here, you can tell the shadows creatures from the normal shadows by their glowing eyes."
Amon informs as they slowly stroll through the empty street of the village. In the distance, they could hear the sound of battle as the farmers did their best to protect their crops from the shadow creatures.
" Ahhhhh!"
A cry screamed out in the night, making Shayna scared as she hides behind Amon, tightly holding his hand with both her hands.
" We're almost to your home, just a bit further."
Amon said in a low voice as he scans the area for danger, being extremely careful so that he didn't need to use Darzirak in front of the little girl. What was just 20 feet away, felt like 20 miles away from the constant thoughts, that kept reminding Amon, his cover would be blown if he didn't do this right. He suppressed the urge to run the last few feet and finally stepped up onto the porch. He lets go of Shayna's hand and knocks on the door.
" What's the safe word?"
The voice from the other side demanded, causing slight confusion to Shayna since she never needed a safe word to enter her home.
" Shadow creatures can't say the goddess's name, Luna."
Amon proclaimed and immediately the door swung open, a hand grabs Shayna and Amon, pulling them both in as the door quickly shuts behind them. Shayna was surprised to see Richard pulling her in through the door.
" Rich?"
She softly muttered his name with wide eyes, wondering how he was still here in the daycare. Richard didn't notice her surprise and hugs her tight.
" Oh! Thank the heavens! You're Alright!"
Her mother exclaimed as she hugs both Richard and Shayna.
" I am, Thanks to Mr. Amon. He saved me before the shadow creature got me."
Shayna informed as she looks up at her mother's tearful expression, Emma cupped her daughter's face in one hand and kisses her forehead.
" Amon, thank you. Thank you for bringing her home safely. "
Emma thanked Amon who standing there with a huge grin at the sight of their reunion.
" I should be the one thanking you, you took care of Little One and in return he made Shayna follow his whims, not to mention, made everyone in the daycare cry. Seriously, I'm really sorry about all this, and thank you."
Amon bows his head low as he finishes saying.
" I'm just glad you're okay."
Richard softly muttered to Shayna as he awkwardly rubs the back of his neck, looking at her from the corner of his eyes with a blushing face. His hand never let go of hers even while he hugged her.
" I'm glad to see you too. But won't your parents be worried?"
Shayna asked with a confused expression.
" Richard was so worried about you that he begged to stay the night here. Isn't wonderful that you have a wonderful friend?"
Emma informs with a smile.
" Now, come! Your favorite food has been waiting forever for you! Amon, please join us! "
Emma invites with a hand reaching out toward Amon.
" Ah, sorry about this but my... wife would be extremely worried. I haven't seen her since this morning and I doubt that she knows what I have been up to. "
Amon informs with an awkward laughing smile as he rubs the back of his neck.
" Oh, of course. But does anyone at the Chief's hut knows the safe word?"
" Hector should know he was with us when we came out with it together. "
" Ah, yes! Oh, and the safe word is just Luna. There's no need to repeat the whole sentence."
Emma says with a waving hand as she closes the distance between them to see her guest off.
" *Laugh* I'll do that. Hopefully, Hector would answer the door."
" I'm sure he will. How did you come about that information on shadow creatures?"
" My mother is a Demon Slayer, she was an elf, raised by humans. "
Amon twisted his words slightly with a smile.
" I'm glad that you learned a lot from her! Now we would be able to shelter and treat injured farmers before sunrise."
" It's great that I'm able to help in this way. Well, I best be off now. Stand back there might be shadow creatures by the door. I'll push it back if I see one but close the door behind me immediately. "
Amon instructed with a waving hand gesturing for Shayna and Richard to stand clear.
" Yes, of course. Thanks again, Amon."
Emma thanked him once more.
" No problem."
He chimed over his shoulder with a grin as he pulled the door, open.
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