Feral

Chapter 10

Iwaizumi's POV

I slowly opened my eyes, glancing around before smiling slightly to myself. Yui was still cuddled on top of me, and Oikawa was cuddling close to my with his face in my side. I smiled faintly and enjoyed the warmth both of them were providing before pulling the hoods of their cloaks over their heads. And just in time too.

"Hajime- Oh, sorry."

"It's alright dad. What is it?"

"There is a gathering in the village square for hunters. I'd like you to attend it please."

"Right, thanks dad." I said, watching him shut the door. A gathering? I don't know if that was necessarily a good thing..

After Oikawa and Yui were up, I took them to the village square with me. That werewolf from earlier who was chained and muzzled being restrained by two hunters at the head of the crowd. No one spoke, and only looked at the werewolf who was more of a wild animal now.

"Our jobs and livelihoods for years have been to hunt to feed ourselves and our village. But what good will it do us if we are all ripped to shreds by these beasts? We are no longer hunting deer or rabbit. We are hunting werewolves!" A man declared, the others shouting and raising their fists in support.

Oikawa held onto Yui tightly as he watched the man grab his bow while another handed him an arrow. He took a few steps back, lining up his shot at the werewolf. He almost released the bow when a hunter ran over and tackled him.

Everyone looked in surprise as the two got off the ground. The hunter who tackled the man was the young hunter who had saved me with a sedation dart.

"Don't kill him!"

"What madness are you spitting boy."

"He's never hurt anyone in his life. Something is clearly wrong. But it is no pardon to kill him!" He shouted, everyone yelling in protest. The man grabbed the boy's arm before laughing.

"Very well. You seem to have such a understanding of these monsters. Why don't you go live with them? Send and release both of them in the deepest part of the woods." The man said, another man dragging the boy and werewolf off. Oikawa looked ready to try and stop them but I grabbed his arm and shook my head.

I bit my tongue as they dragged the boy and the werewolf off... The other hunters talking as the man shouted over them all.

"Game will still pay its normal price. But for every 5 werewolves dead, it will pay double!" He declared, the hunters suddenly getting excited. The village had werewolves in it, and I hoped that hunters wouldn't begin raiding the homes to get them...

Oikawa's POV

I didn't like what I heard at that gathering.. They were going to begin hunting werewolves... I can't let anything happen to myself or to Yui. What if Iwa-chan- no, he wouldn't do that to me. I picked Yui up, double checking her ears and tail were covered complete as we left the gathering with Iwa-chan.

We walked in silence, other hunters that were leaving the gathering already making groups to go out to the woods to hunt.. I was scared.

"Oikawa.. are you alright?"

"I'm scared.." I mumbled quietly, Iwa-chan glancing around before putting an arm around me and pulling me closer. I leaned into him a bit as we walked, Yui hanging onto me too. She didn't look like she entirely understood what was happening, but she knew that I was worried. And that caused her to look worried too.

I didn't want to scare her, but she had to be aware of what was happening so she could protect herself if she needs to. But where could I teach her how to hunt now..? The woods would be full of hunters. And the village is no safer. There is one spot I could try and take her to keep her safe in case this thing or whatever is happening spreads or gets worse. 

"Oikawa?"Iwa-chan questioned when I stopped walking. I looked down at Yui before looking back at him.

"I want to thank you so much for offering to let us stay with you.. but it's too dangerous here."

"You can't go back to your home. It will be even more dangerous there."

"I know.. I'm not taking my daughter there. I have somewhere else I can take her."

"Is it far?"

"Kinda.."

"Then I'll come with you, I can help protect you both."

"What?? I don't want you uprooting yourself like that! And what about your parents??"

"My parents still have money, and they can't stop me from going with you." 

"You would really come with me??"

"Of course I would." He said with a small smile. A slight blush showed up on my cheeks. I didn't want Iwa-chan to be doing this if it would disrupt his life.. But it would be nice to have him with me and Yui. We all returned to his home when his father walked over.

"Hajime, did you go?"

"Yeah.."

"What was it about?"

"...They're saying we should be, be hunting werewolves now. And that they'll double the prices."

"That's wonderful!"

"...Dad, I'm going somewhere a while with Oikawa. So, I need you to take good care of mom. I won't take any of the money."

"What..?! Where are you going?"

"I'm going to go talk to mom, and then gather my things and leave." Iwa-chan said simply, walking off. His dad looked kind of angry and looked at me.

"Who exactly are you?"

"...As I said.. I'm just, a traveler that Iwa-c- er, Iwaizumi came across and I was caught in the bad weather.." I said, his father looking suspiciously at me and Yui. I got anxious, waiting for Iwa-chan to return. Finally, he walked back over, and with his mother.

She looked a little saddened and worried, but she gave Iwa-chan a big hug. She walked over to me as well, giving me a hug too. I was surprised by her action but smiled at her. She gently grabbed my hand as I held Yui with my other arm.

"Hajime told me that you two are traveling somewhere... and you might be gone a long time.."

"Yes ma'am.."

"Well. I wish you all a safe journey." She said, making me slightly. At least she was a lot nicer than her husband. She looked at Yui with a warm smile before looking back up at me and saying quietly so only I could hear.

"Please take good care of my son."