The Bounty Hunter

Chapter 13: Sole Survivor

Chapter 13: Sole Survivor

August 20th, 2088

Kiras POV

My name is Kira and I am a cat-kin living in Obsidia. I have the best big brother in the world. Well hes not really my brother but I still call him that since it makes him smile every time. But I dont want to be considered as just his sibling. We first met 6 years ago when I was still living in Hafor village with my parents. At the time everyone thought he was a spirit of the forest. To me though he was the only kid who would really play with me, since I was the youngest and couldnt keep up with the others. He would always come up with the best games, like chase the string.

He was also so cool with the way he was protecting the village from all kinds of monsters that used to cause problems. I idolized him and eventually I developed a massive crush on him. I would follow him around everywhere and when it was just us, I couldnt help but start purring in contentment. There are two different kinds of purring that cat-kin do that are different from each other. The embarrassing thing was that I wouldnt purr how cat-kin do when happy with friends and family, but I would purr in a different manner which was used to show happiness with ones mate. Its the equivalent of repeatedly saying I love you!

Terra had no idea there was a distinction, but one day my mom walked in on me while I was with Terra and purring that way. It was so embarrassing. She naturally started teasing me endlessly about it, while adding that she and dad very much approved of him and asking when the binding ceremony was. All in all though, I was very happy and content. And then that fateful day occurred.

On that day I had decided that I would confess to Terra and try to get a promise we would date when I completed my rapid maturation. Some of the other girls had started to try to get closer to Terra and I was getting anxious one of them would succeed. So I was waiting by the river in the late afternoon, which was considered to be a romantic spot, for Terra to arrive but he didnt show. I had waited for nearly an hour, but he hadnt come. I wonder if he forgot. I muttered as I headed back to the village. I smelled smoke as I got closer and when I arrived, a hellish scene greeted me. The village was in ruins and corpses were everywhere.

I immediately ran for home while the tears ran off my face. I stayed quite because my intuition was telling me the bandits might still be nearby. And there my parents laid, in a pool of their own blood. My dad was lying across my mom, he had clearly tried to protect her from something, but the large hole in their chests showed that he failed. At this point, I couldnt help but cry out MOM! DAD! as I hugged their corpses which still had remnants of their warmth. Oh? Looks like theres still a live one here. At that voice I turned around to see two beast-kin I didnt recognize, armed with various weapons that were stained in blood.

Before I could even cry out in concern for Granny who was lying unconscious, she was enveloped in the same light that I had been and fully restored. The light even fixed the wagon and horses to as good as new. Head back to the city, I will finish things up here. Terra told us in an emotionless voice. Both Granny and I shivered when we heard that voice. Cat-kin have an outstanding intuition that is useful in various situations and right now it was telling us that Terra was off in a scary way.

He didnt wait for a response and simply turned around and started walking away. I really wanted to chase after him, but I couldnt abandon Granny when there was still a chance of more bandits being around. Be careful! I shouted after him and got a casual wave in response. I again was saved by Terra, but I realize now that I dont fully understand him. He clearly has still been carrying that burden of guilt from Hafor even though none of it was his fault. It makes me so mad that I dont know how to help him move on. But Im not going to give up so easily. I love him after all. As soon as I grow into an adult, Ill tell him that I love him and that Ill proudly stand by his side as his mate. And well get past the shadow of Hafor together.

Terras POV

EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! SUBJECT IN DANGER, PLEASE RESPOND TO SOS IMMEDIATELY! I had just crossed over to Obsidia when the emergency signal amulet I had given Kira activated. I immediately turned into a nearby alley and without regard for being seen I teleported to where the amulet was. For the sake of speed, I didnt draw a magic circle to aid me and simply spent quite a bit of extra mana to teleport successfully. The amulet functioned as a teleport marker, so even if it was somewhere I had never been I could still jump there.

Two filthy beast-kin were standing across from Kira, who was currently backed up against a tree. There was plenty of blood on the ground, most of it was from the two beast-kin. Kira was holding a short sword with a reverse grip in one hand and was still full of fighting spirit in spite of her obvious exhaustion. But that wasnt what entered my vision. The scene of beast-kin and an injured Kira reopened the old wound on my heart.

The dj vu overwhelmed me and instead of seeing the reality that was in front of me, I saw the same scene as back then. The faces of the villagers corpses appeared in front of me once again, their screams of despair were ringing in my ears and the smell of burnt flesh caused my bile to rise up. And just like last time, the overwhelming sensations and emotions came to a crescendo and then suddenly there was only silence in my soul. I broke again, huh. That was the last rational thought I had for a while.