Zami stood amidst the lifeless bodies of the bone-headed beasts, their black blood soaking into the ash-covered ground. He calmly wiped the dark ichor from his katana with a piece of torn fabric he had carried, ensuring the blade gleamed as if untouched by the chaos. His silver eyes remained sharp, scanning the horizon for any sign of further threats.
Turning to Kiyo, who clung to the hem of his cloak, he said with measured calm, "We're safe for now. Stay close."
The young girl nodded silently, her pale face showing traces of fear but also trust in Zami's overwhelming strength. As they began walking again, the gray wasteland stretched endlessly before them. Broken trees and jagged rocks littered the desolate landscape, and the oppressive sky loomed above, casting everything in an eerie twilight.
After a long silence, Kiyo spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper, "I saw more of them..."
Zami's steps slowed, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his katana. He turned his head slightly toward her, his expression unreadable. "How many?"
Kiyo hesitated before answering, "A lot... More than before. They... they kept following me."
Her words hung in the air, and Zami's sharp mind began piecing together the strange circumstances. Why were these creatures targeting her? Was it coincidence, or something more deliberate?
"Did they say anything? Did you notice anything unusual about them?" Zami asked, his voice steady and analytical.
Kiyo shook her head. "They don't speak... but they don't stop."
Zami frowned. He couldn't ignore the peculiarity of it all. These creatures were not just aimless predators—they had purpose, coordination. That alone was troubling.
"Strange," he muttered under his breath.
The pair moved forward, the air around them growing colder. The crunch of ash beneath their feet was the only sound for a while, until Zami finally spoke again.
"They want something," he said, almost to himself. "But what?"
Kiyo glanced up at him, her black eyes wide with unease. "Do you think... they'll come back?"
"If they do," Zami replied without hesitation, his tone firm and reassuring, "I'll deal with them. You're safe with me."
Kiyo's small hand tugged lightly on his cloak as if for comfort, but she said nothing more.
As they continued through the desolation, Zami's instincts remained on high alert. The strange targeting of Kiyo, the persistence of the creatures, and the growing unease in the air all hinted at something far greater at play. Though they moved forward, Zami's mind lingered on the unknown.
And in the distance, somewhere beyond the darkened trees, unseen eyes continued to watch.