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This storm felt worse than any other storm Chise had been through. Luckily Chise’s black and scarlet mane was immune to winter’s harshness, but her bone head had a little bit of frost frozen underneath her curled horns. Chise kept walking as she let out a visible puff of hot air, she needed to find a den for the night, or perhaps for the winter. But so far, there was nothing to be seen or heard for miles except snow and the blowing of wind. Chise still trudged through the snow storm with her furry paws.Finally, Chise could see the faint line of trees indicating the beginning of a forest a few miles ahead. Chise began to trudge faster, the trees becoming more clear. Yes, it was forest to her relief, maybe could find a den or perhaps some leftover scraps in there. The thought of food made Chise drool a little, which turned into frost quickly, but now was not the time. Yes, she was hungry but finding a den was the most important right now.Chise reached the border of the forest and entered, winter and woodland fae scattered. Chise has gotten used to the fae’s disgust and fear of her, as she kept trudging through the snow she could hear them cursing her in the trees. “Its her ” “Disgusting” “Abomination” “Go away” “No one wants you here!” “Go back into the blizzard” “You don’t deserve love” “Those humans got what they deserved by loving you”, Chise stopped at the last comment. Did they really just--”If you all want to say something, say it to my face instead of hiding in the trees. Or do you really think you’re safe up there?” Chise said, loud and clear. No one , insults the only people who loved her for who she was. The fae went silent, as they usually do when Chise has something to say back to them. Chise resumed back to trudging through the snow, which was almost up to her chest. Now she really needed to find a den. Although Chise could barely see through the snow now, there was something up ahead. What is it...wait, its a cave! Chise hopped up to get to the top layer of snow and ran towards the cave.When she got inside, there was nothing in it except darkness. Perfect. The ground was dirt, and soft enough to dig into. Was the world actually being kind to Chise for once? She began to dig a burrow, a pile of dirt forming. Chise made a burrow that she could curl up in and sleep. She was probably going to hibernate this time. Chise entered the burrow and curled up in her fluffy and warm foxen tail. It was warm, really warm. It reminded her of home. Home...when she used to snuggle up with Yuuki and Chika. When Yuuki would pet her fur and scratch her bony chin. When Chika would tell her that her fur was soft and beautiful. When Yuuki would play hide and seek with her. When no one feared her presence. When people loved her. When Chise felt love for them… Chise let out warm tears in her hollow eyes as her green orbs flickered out.
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Chise sat in front of the pot, her green orbs staring directly at it. Tonight Chika was cooking rabbit stew, Chise’s favorite! She licked her front canines with her pink tongue, Chise could barely wait for it to finish. “Now now, Chise, patience is key.” Yuuki said softly as he pet Chise’s fluffy tail. “Sorry, but it looks so delicious!” Chise said joyfully with hunger. Her tail started to wag, smacking Yuuki’s hand and forearm. After many hungry minutes of staring at Chika stirring a spoon in the pot, Chika poured some stew in three bowls.When Chika served Chise’s bowl, Chise was ready to gobble up every content in her meal, but Chika held her hand up. Chika then scooped up the biggest piece of rabbit in the pot and dropped it in Chise’s bowl. Not even ten seconds passed and half the bowl was gone, along with the chunk of rabbit. “Slow down Chise! You want to savor your meal.” Chika scolded Chise. Chise felt a pang of guilt and slurped slower. “You too, Yuuki.” Chika added as her husband was also gobbling down his stew. Yuuki stopped and smiled, “Well, my beautiful wife, I simply can’t resist your cooking.” he said with a comically dramatic tone. Chika replied with a playful tone, “Well, my handsome husband, we don’t gorge our food like savage wolves. Unless you actually want to starve this winter.”. The three of them laughed.When they were done, they prepared for bed. Yuuki and Chika laid down on the cotton sheet on the ground, Chise joined in between them. Her bone head rested on Yuuki’s shoulder, while her back faced Chika. Chise slowly drifted into sleep. It was perfect like this. Chise opened her eyes, realizing that it was just a dream and that she was back in her burrow. She could hear the distant sound of birds chirping, signaling spring was here. Chise crawled out of the burrow and stretched her body, yawning. She was feeling a bit hungry, perhaps it’s time to go on a little spring hunt. Chise exited the dark cave, the warm spring breeze welcoming her. The once barren forest was blooming with life.The trees’ leaves have grown back, the snowy ground replaced with green and lush grass. The chirping of birds was lively, the distant sound of deer hooves crunching fallen leaves. Chise closed her eyes, listening intently. She opened her eyes and sprinted into the bushes. Chise caught a robin that was rustling in the bushes, her maw crushed its ribs, killing it. Chise started to eat the small bird, its contents were delicious.After Chise finished her meal, she decided to rest in the bushes for a bit. Chise felt...content, strangely, nothing had bothered her today and she had a successful hunt. Usually, it took her until sunset to find prey in her first hunt of spring, but she actually had time to enjoy the warmth of spring today. Chise got up and stretched her hind legs, then left the green bush. She darted through the trees and bushes, trying to find a pond or a lake of sorts. And wouldn’t you know it, there was a pond of fish nearby. Chise couldn’t believe her luck, it was like the world was giving her a day off of the bad one.She stopped in her tracks as she reached the pond, tilting her head down to drink it’s cool contents. Chise was so at peace, that she didn’t notice that she hadn't seen a single fae, that she didn’t notice that everything had gone still, that everything went silent, that there was something else in the pond’s reflection.
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Damn it, Damn it! Chise sprinted through the forest with her life as various arrows shot past her body. She got too comfortable in her surroundings, she left herself vulnerable to outsiders. And by outsiders, poachers. Sure, humans and the fae treated her like a monster, but poachers? That was an entirely different story. Chise hadn’t seen what they did to their prey first hand, but she knew what they did was terrible. She had seen maimed animals left on the ground to rot, ariels with missing wings and bruised bodies. And she knew for a fact one didn’t require the sight to see her.“It’s running to the side, target from there!” one of the poachers called. Chise hissed when she felt an arrow nick her hind leg, but she still kept running. Her adrenaline high and lungs burning. But it seemed that her efforts to run faster didn’t go in her favor as the poachers only got closer. A terrible pain struck Chise’s side, she tripped over her own legs and skidded across the forest floor. Her body made an abrupt stop into a tree, her head hitting the bark first. The impact on her head had left her senses a mess, Chise could only lay helplessly on the ground.The poachers pulled out carving knives as they neared Chise in her weak state. Was this it? Was this the end of Chise Hatori? One of the poachers grabbed Chise by her horns and yanked her skull head up. Another one held her body down, while yet another one pressed the carving knife up to her throat.Yes, this was the end.Chise felt her consciousness slip away, but before her mind faded into nothingness, she could make out a thorn vine wrap around the poacher’s hand.
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A loud ping rung in Chise’s ear canals, her body aching as she woke up from a dreamless slumber. “The thing is awake.” A rough masculine voice rung through her ears. Chise felt her eyes flicker back to life as her green orbs became visible. Fear quickly rose in her small frame as she realized where she was. Little poor Chise was stuck in a cold metal cage too small in a wagon too big to contain just her and a couple other cages full of maimed ariels. Chise felt like she was about to vomit at the fast and sudden motions of the wagon dashing through a road unknown to her. Her cage kept sliding and a couple times nearly tumbling over as the wagon kept dashing.
Chise looked up to see the owner of the voice. It was a tall man with tan skin and short black hair, a scar printed onto one of his eyes keeping it shut. The vibe he gave off was a not-so-friendly one. Especially with his disgusted expression. “Oi, Peter! Why the hell did you decide to bring the mutt with us?” The man yelled to another man sitting on the floor. But this man Chise looked to didn’t seem right, however she didn’t know why. Maybe it was because all the caged ariels flinched and hastily moved to the corners of their cages when he spoke.
“Well you said that the company has never seen a creature such as she?” As soon as those words left Peter’s throat Chise knew that the man was not just a man. His voice was layered and monotone, nothing like a fae or a human’s. The vibe he gave off and the chills it gave Chise taught her part of why the reason why the ariels wanted to hide. But for some reason the other man didn’t seem to care, or perhaps he didn’t notice.
The other man scoffed and crossed his arms. “Yeah? So what? The company sells abominations all the time, so we’ll meet many other creatures like the mutt to stuff and sell.” Chise mentally frowned at the man’s ignorance then noticed something move across the floor. It was...Peter’s shadow? Not only it’s growth but also the two ruby dots within in it. Chise was getting more scared and confused by the second. Mostly scared.
Apparently her fear was known as her shivers gave it away to the other man. He scoffed and spat at her, Chise quickly moving shuffling herself away from the spit that hit the bottom of her cage. The man laughed and lowered himself to Chise’s level. “You are one lucky bastard, mutt. But how lucky will you be after you are sold at an auction?” Chise didn’t even care to process his words as Peter’s shadow kept creeping across the floor, she shivered more as the ariels began to curl up into balls in fear of the shadow. The man still has not seemed to noticed.
Chise froze when she saw thorns grow out of the shadow, the same thorns she saw before she went out cold when she was cornered at the tree. Words managed to bubble up her throat. In a small voice, “Behind…” she croaked. The man burst out laughing, unaware of the thorns rising up in a deadly circle around him. “So the mutt SPEAKS!” The man bellowed and continued laughing. But all Chise could hear was the silent sound of screaming ariels and skin tearing.