10 Minute Tales

Jun 20 - Unexpected Twist

"She should be here by now." he muttered, staring at the doorway. The night outside was kept at bay by a pair of dim paper lanterns, which swayed in the breeze. He watched the wind over the fields, the gentle swaying of the rice keeping time with an unknown rhythm.

"She seems to have been captured, sir." a voice echoed from the shadow. He didn't even flinch at its sudden tones. "The lord seems to have detected her eavesdropping somehow."

"Why does that not surprise me..." he sighed, closing his eyes. "We cannot compromise our mission for one trainee. She is lost to us."

"As you say." the second voice replied, before letting the room fall to silence once more. That trainee had only been sent on her first mission that very night, and already she had proven her ineptitude. What had convinced him to accept her in the first place? He shook his head, still lost in thought... when an odd rattling noise distracted him. He stiffened, focusing his mind. He could hear the crawl of ants on the rotting planks beneath him. He could see each individual crease in the lantern. He could feel the tremble of the earth caused by the stream beyond the river. And now he paid attention, he could sense something approaching.

"... the north." he muttered. A trio of his allies rushed out to intervene with this trespasser. It was no human, he could tell that much - the steps were too light, the motion too fluid. Either this was a master ninja without a name, or a beast was approaching them. One hand slid down to his shuriken pouch smoothly, barely making a noise. It would be soon.

-----

Rushing, racing, running at breakneck pace, travelling through lands that had once seemed so large at speeds people couldn't track her. She was free! She slid to a stop on the top of a hill, looking around in joy. Her ears twitched as the wind raced through her newly acquired fur. This was bliss! She giggled as her large tail wagged behind her, creating another soft breeze. Why were people afraid of monsters, anyway? She had seen the power of co-operation with them first-hand. She settled down as she remembered her duty. She had acquired information on the lord, information she had to share. She looked around again, with a more analytical eye. Where was the base? She had been told to look for an old willow tree where the stream split into two... there. She grinned as she saw the willow. That had to be it. She burst into a run again, making a beeline for the tree. What would they say to a spy like her now she was beyond human?

-----

"She's here." he muttered, gripping the shuriken a little tighter. She had been captured, his aide had confirmed it. So how was she here now? She rushed into the building and knelt before him. He could see the truth of the matter. She had been transformed, shifted, changed. Her humanity was gone, replaced with orange ears and a large, bushy tail. She couldn't remain with them.

"Master." she spoke, kneeling, submissive. "I've returned."