I always knew, no I was always aware that I was, no I am a monster, all the beastmen, but aside from killing each other in fights there was nothing monstrous about us, 

Animalistic yes, but monsters….

Grancnchh!

Grancnchh!

Grancnchh!

“I’m not sharing,” a Crocman growls noticing Shiryu’s disdainful stare

The boy turns quickly looking towards the silver mountains up north,

Grancnchh!

Behind him the monsters feast on humans…

(I need to get away from this)

It’s only been a short while since the beasts started their mainland buffet, 

They move in small groups, only attacking during the day, near small villages, or pathways and riverbanks,

Men, women, children, it didn’t matter…

Day was much easier to catch humans as they felt safer then, normally a person is able to sense the presence of a beast, from far away giving them enough time to call for other people to hunt it, but now as the looming dark presence of a dragon covers near the entirety of Gaia, humans are not able to detect the beasts, giving them free reign to ambush and hunt them.

…..

(Maybe I should try to get back to Terra) Shiryu ponders at the mountains

(I know there’s a rift between rings now, 

Should I go home, beg the supreme leader to cure me?)

…..

The warm sun bathes down on a tiny forest bordering a riverbank, there used to be a tribe inhabiting the forest but now they’re food

Shiryu scales up a tree away from the avid chomping below gazing at beautiful landscape ahead a grassy series of plains and small bathe happily in the sun further up is a grand towering tree with gorgeous leaves and colourful flowers that beg to be admired, the outline of buildings can be faintly recognized near said tree….

“Hauhh” he yawns 

(I wonder where Kage is now

I bet she could easily destroy that dragon with one strike)

Chhk~

The leaves near Shiryu ruffle slightly immediately capturing his attention

(Is that?)

A small boy hides fearfully in the tree

His entire body trembles the moment Shiryu glances at him

“shhh” Shiryu gestures to boy to stay quiet

(He must have seen all of his people being slaughtered, if the others find him…)

…The child backs away slightly, his cheeks tear stained and nose leaking of snot

“Noo, noo, don’t move stay put…” Shiryu mouths silently but the boy only gets more afraid seeing his teeth

Crrrkk.

His branch bends a little,

“Stop moving please…”

CRRRKKBRRKMK!

His warnings prove to be no avail the boy tries to jump to another tree but the branch gives away instantly

(Gahhd!)

Thump!

Shiryu leaps forward catching the boy out of the air, and taking the brunt of the fall

“hmm!?” the other creatures look at once

“Looks like you finally caught yourself a human,”

“…..”

(Should I make a run for it with the child?

If so where could I go?)

“….”

“Go on” growls a wolf noticing the young mans still silence

“Eat it”

“….”

(Even if I run with this boy, the humans would just kill me, I can’t leave the group…..)

“…..”

“If you don’t want we will gladly take it” the crocman edges closer

“……

You all have eaten enough, maybe… we

We should let this human go.”

“Psssshahahahahahah!

What?

We’re not eating to fill our stomachs, humans make us stronger, 

And also because we Love it

Now eat it, or we will.”

“…..” Shiryu looks down at the boy he holds tightly in his arms who doesn’t even try to move stricken with fear

“I.. I can’t…”

“Ok, then we will”

“No, stay back!

Stay away or I will”

“Grauuuhh!” the group of beasts all pounce at Shiryu together ripping the boy out of his clutches

“Or you will what?

Hibernate?”

“Now stay put, and watch this very carefully,

This is how to eat a human.”

“No!”

“Aiiiieeeeeee!!”

Grancnchh!—