DAMSEL IN DISTRESS • 𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐲 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

one

CHAPTER ONE, damsel in distress

"Urokodaki-sama," you sniffed, wiping at the tears in your eyes, pupils downcast and shining with misery. "They made fun of me again."

The former Hashira immediately threw the plate he was holding, a crash of porcelain ignored as he embraced you into his arms. You cried into his chest, and the victory of the night was long forgotten. 
His strong arms were your eternal refuge, like a mother to a crying infant.

He hated seeing you cry.

"Welcome to the Final Selection," the twins greeted in unison. To your right was a sobbing boy, head a bright orange. You wonder if he dyed it. He sees to sense your staring, and looks up at you with love - sick eyes. You pretend not to notice him.

"There will be demons from this point onward, as the forest is no longer protected with wisteria, which demons loathe." Their speech only serves to petrify you more, and a tight lump forms in your throat. You struggle to swallow, throat dry with fear. "You will have to survive in this forest for 7 days. Only then will you have survived the Final Selection."

Gripping your sword in your hands, you begin to make the tredge downhill. Forage crunches underfoot, your bag of supplies weighing heavily on your shoulders. Urokodaki had packed food for you, but you knew better than to eat it all at once. You had gone hungry before.

The walk is long, and draining, and your head keeps whipping in every direction to check for predators. You're already beginning to get light-headed, and you had barely started. You were weak, and your jaw clenches in anger. Your pace picks up, eyes darting to find a place to rest for the night.

You would survive this. For Urokodaki. And to prove you weren't the damsel in distress people thought you were.

As you chew on an onigiri, a sesame seed stuck to your chin, you hear footsteps crunching over the pale grass. You suddenly register the stark difference in surroundings from the entrance - trees loom overhead like shadows, the elegant and protective wisteria's absence making you nervous. Your tongue attempts to catch the stray seed, before a claw leaps at your side.

"Waahh!!" You yelp, quickly twisting your body to the side. The tree is scratched instead, a harsh mark left on the pattern of the bark.

"Ooh, a slayer," the demon smiles, stretching out its elongated tongue. You frown, your own mouth gaping at the size. Saliva drips as its tongue drops to its feet, slithering through the floor like a living being. "You look delicious, and I haven't eaten in ages.."

You ready your stance, eyes sharp taking in the terrifying being that stood before you. It looked relaxed, paper-white skin cracked with pulsing veins, a dribbling tongue iridescent with saliva. You wince.

It has curly hair that drops down to its toes, and its arms are twice as long as its body. Even if it seemed easy going, you know if would waste no time devouring you whole. But you couldn't let that happen. Not anymore. Urokodaki was waiting. He was expecting.