Day 44: Hunter and Monster

He saw her once, the first time he laid eyes on here when she glared back in a mixture of panic, anger and fear. His sword was drawn then, their hearts equally racing, by all means according to his training he should have beaten her then. The shed door was locked behind him, keeping the two secured inside with no easy escape. Yet she surprised him and broke free.

There was something bugging him since he tracked her down whilst she was in the midst of becoming wolves meat. Something which surprisingly Alma did not mention, either she was unaware or willing to forgive. He would hope it was the former but... he knew better than to expect naivety. Crawling into this den he called home for over a month, he gathed his belongings and equipment when standing at the door stood a lone Nekomata, blocking his path.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, that was a good show. Congrats."

She could tell from his somber tone that what she feared was happening. Just as he could tell from the sparkle in her eye and her parted lips that she was going to plead against him. That sinking feeling in his chest was adding weight, pinning him down as he found himself unable to move. Emyri sat back with her arms to her side.

"You're grabbing your things. I suppose you're leaving then?"

Leone sighed, retrieving his equipment and nodding. She stood quiet, moving aside as he approached her calmly. He paused, exchanging a look only to feel disappointment coming from her. From her perspective, she felt a deep pain and a sense of betrayal from him. Though their eyes looked into each other, both were rather quick to look away. She felt her heart break as he crawled out through the den, leaving her alone.

Leone sighed heavily, walking forward until he saw his mare. She whinnied and waved her tail once she recognized him, huffing and titling her head. Well, it is nice to have some familiarity stay with him. Equipping the saddle on her, he was busy placing his belongings over when he could feel her presence watching behind him.

"So that's it? No goodbye, no speech, nothing?"

Leone stopped what he was doing, talking back without ever turning around. "A speech? I don't do speeches."

Emyri turned away and rubbed her head. "You're joking, right? You know what I am really talking about, why would you just up and go? The girls like you, Mom is grateful to have you, I like you here. You don't need to go."

She paused, standing still for a response but getting nothing in return. Her pain was being replaced with anger and resentment, his silence adding mockery to her sorrow.

"That is, unless you want to go."

"I have to go." He said at last, leaning his head onto his mare's saddle. "Not by choice but by decree. They will be expecting the contract to be fulfilled soon, and I haven't a clue how."

Emyri stepped forward with a sense of determination. "What contract, what decree? You can tell me and I'll help you solve this matter."

"It's not that simple."

"Ha! Nothing ever is, but we've solved plenty enough when we are together. Thanks to you, my family made it through winter. They know enough to survive and manage to gather food, fish, heck you taught us the value in farming and planting our own fruits and veggies. We may not have had the soil for it but with Alma's people and winter ending you know we will get there."

"We can't."

"Sure we can! You just need to trust me and tell me what to do, and we can get it done fast. You will be surprised, I know I have been since you stuck through." She smiled, raising her paw with determination and confidence. However, Leone turned back and the pained look in his face with worry in his eyes painted a different mindset. Her smile dropped quickly as worry began to seep through.

"We can't, Emyri. I am sorry, but we simply just can't. This isn't something we can solve like before. Trust me on this."

"Is... Is this you being vague to protect me? Or are you hiding something else? Leone, I can handle the truth. I just need you to be honest with me."

He shook his head and looked back, facing forward and brushing the fur on his horse. "Do you remember the day we met? There's more to summoning a hunter, it isn't as simple as ringing a bell. A contract is signed in return, and we are bound to the detail of the letter until we see it through. Some contracts are different should the client select the terms and conditions, but ultimately it is our job and duty to abide to it."

Emyri looked down, wondering where this was going and piecing things together. "I'm curious, do you have such cotracts with you? Do you just carry them around where you go?"

He nods. "Once we ran out, we are to report back to our Guild for more contracts. It is how we are paid and shows as our proof of work."

Opening a pouch in the saddle, he pulled out what looked to be a rolled up file. Emyri slowly stepped forward, watching as he then extended the contract and revealed it to her. "I can't read."

Leone closed his eyes. "I can teach... I could have. Why didn't I think that before?"

He sighed before waving the contract for her. "This is my first contract, where my client signed unto the bottom. Do you know what it reads?"

She shook her head no, to which he resumed, "The contract states that I am to be rid of the Monster which is the cause of disturbance within your housing or property. He was adamant to have you killed, but his wife convinced him otherwise."

"Alma." She confirmed. "She told me about it."

"Then you know how close of a call we made it through." He rolled the contract up again, stuffing it back into its place. "The contract was fulfilled as soon as you left the village."

"Then you're being dramatic, this fuss is for nothing. We're fine."

"Emyri, we are anything but fine. We... are dangerous." He stuttered, dropping his head.

Emyri narrowed her eyes, pressing her paw to his chest. "You're nervous, calm down. I can hear your heart beating frantically, and you reek of something weird and sweet. Sit down, have something to drink. I'll-"

She gasped as suddenly he pulled her in without warning, bending her arm behind her, and pressing something metal and sharp to her neck. Time stood still, she couldn't move or talk. Leone took this moment to slowly lean forward, his voice whispering into her ear.

"You're not listening to me. The day we met, when you were attacked by the wolves, I was supposed to watch and let you die. It's my nature, all my life I was trained to kill Monsters, to kill you. When we first met, I purposely aimed to cut you should you escaped. A small cut to expose blood during winter is enough to grab any starving wolf's attention as they would be driven by hunger. I had anticipated that they would finish the job for me. I saved you from me, I am not your hero."

His grip softened as she was given control of her arm, feeling the blood pump through her numbed paw as she flexed. His dagger slowly sheathed away, he inhaled deeply as she stepped forward, anticipating a slap from her any moment. She was deeply perplexed, but ultimately a lingering thought stayed in her head.

"No." He opened his eyes to see her looking back without fear or anger.

"No what?"

"No, I will not accept that. You had the option to let me die, yet you saved me. Out of what, pity?" He rolled his eyes, annoyed at her words as she continued. "Don't your forget we weren't going to let you free either. You were our prisoner first, and a guest second. Heck, when you fell ill the girls were scared of losing you. We all were, depsite how we first met it's obvious you aren't aiming to kill me anymore."

"It doesn't matter if I don't want to, should there be a contract which forces me to go after you... I don't know. I wouldn't have a choice."

Emyri approached him, raising her paw up. "Everyone has a choice, you'll know what's the best one should that time come. We will know better, we will be better. When it comes, I know you'll do what's right to you."

With a flex, her claws extended outward before she caressed his cheek with a smile. "Besides, you have changed my life for the better. Since I met you, I have learned a great number of things that I know will benefit the girls when I show them too. Thanks to you, I feel like I have a leg to stand on now. Mother is happy for me this time, we even have a village to keep us company, everything is going far better than I would have imagined. All because of a boy who was hired to kill me. If that isn't funny then I don't know what is."

"Emyri-" She pressed her paw to his lips, silencing him for a brief moment.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me I'm wrong. Tell me you don't want to see me again. Tell me that you won't visit at least." She summoned her deepest strength not to cry then and there, thankfully his ears are not as good as hers so he couldn't hear her heart break through her words. Now, it was his turn, his choice to make. Her paw slipped away, allowing him the opportunity to choose.

His eyes looked over her body, her glow, and stared deeply into her jade green eyes. That glow that each cat girl shared in their eyes which pierced the darkest nights were hypnotic to him, especially hers. Those markings around her really heightened her beauty, but he would be a fool to say it was only for tonight. Each night, every night he would sleep and the pain and guilty thoughts would grow just as much as they grew closer together. At one point, he was meant to be her killer, then a teacher, and now... they were equals. Now she could match his gaze and look back.

His hand raised up and held her paw, with a low whisper, a faint reminder to her once more. "We can't."

Emyri fell forward, leaning into him as his arms held her tight. She purred gently in his hold, feeling the warmth brought by his actions and emotional turmoil. What was this, is this how messy a relationship normally is? Are all feelings of love simply a sense of adoration or obsession? If he leaves, could she let him go? It seems both of them in the end shared the same ignorance and weakness in this situation, neither of them knew an answer. But there, as he pulled her back and she looked deeply into his eyes, that was when his fear became real.

Instinct kicked in, and both held each other close through the warmth of their lips pressed against each other. It was taboo, he recognized it and she failed to argue against it. He saved her once, she saved him in return. Yet despite the consequences, they held each other tightly embraced to handle the unknown future held for them. He would still need to leave, that pained her to her core. But at the very least he could stay one last night with her and be hers.

As she laid back with him over her, she smiled and leaned in to kiss him once more, before nuzzling his neck to leave a subtle nip. Her teeth had sunk in just enough to cut through skin, enough to leave a noticeable mark. Whatever happens tonight happens, let fate stand aside and allow them this one pleasure together to end their final night together.

As Hunter and Monster.