𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑬𝑹 - 𝑇.𝐺

𝘁𝘄𝗼

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You moved silently through the forest, each step calculated to not make a sound. The full moon lit your path as you searched for the ingredients for your healing potions. The forest was your home, your refuge, and every tree and plant was an old friend. Your heart was at peace here, far from the distrust and fear that the outside world held for you.

You found a bush of rare herbs, the leaves glowing softly in the moonlight. Kneeling down, you began to carefully harvest, placing the herbs in a cloth bag. Your mind wandered as you worked, remembering the times these same herbs helped save lives. Each healing was a small redemption, a small chance to erase the dark past you carried.

With your bag full, you stood up and looked around, feeling a cold breeze pass through the trees. It was time to return to the cabin, before any curious villager or, worse, a demon slayer, found you. The walk back was familiar, almost automatic, as you followed the paths you had charted over the years.

As you got closer to your cabin, you saw something that made your heart stop. A man, tall and with a serious expression, was moving towards your house. He carried a katana with a blue blade, the unmistakable mark of a demon slayer. But you can feel that he was not a normal demon slayer, his aura exuded strength, he is a Hashira, and his presence was a clear threat.

You instinctively backed away, trying to hide between the trees. Fear pulsed through your veins, a fear you knew well. You had run from slayers before, but it had never been this close to home, much less a hashira. Every muscle in your body was tense, ready to run if necessary.

However, as you took a step back, your foot broke a dry branch. The sound echoed through the forest, loud and unmistakable. The hashira turned, his eyes narrowing as he searched for the source of the noise. You held your breath, hoping he wouldn't see you, but it was too late. The hashira was alert, the katana already in a defensive position.

You slipped between two nearby trees, hoping to gain a bit of an advantage, but the hashira was close behind, his presence like an inescapable shadow. You knew you couldn't go on like this for long. He was faster, stronger, and he would eventually catch up to you.

Finally, in a desperate move, you decided to try and lose him. You veered sharply to the left, entering a denser area of ​​the forest, where the trees were closer together and the bushes were thicker. Every step was a fight against the vegetation, but you kept going, your desire to escape giving you strength.

The hashira didn't give up. You could hear him, his footsteps as steady as yours, getting closer and closer. Your heart was about to explode out of your chest when you finally saw a small cave hidden among the rocks. It was a last chance. With a final push, you launched yourself into the cave, hiding in the shadows.

The slayer stopped at the cave entrance, his breathing controlled and his eyes adjusting to the darkness. He couldn't see you, but he knew you were there. Every instinct told him that the demon he was looking for was just a few feet away. He entered cautiously, katana ready, each step measured and careful.