a musebox

"Kirara, we need to find shelter," she says to her feline companion, who mewls in agreement - especially when it starts to rain. The twin-tailed cat scampers off into the thicket of trees and Sango follows, hoping they can find someplace soon to get out of the rain. By the appearances of the clouds overhead, it looks like it's going to rain throughout the night and only get worse from here on out.

"Perhaps we should have stayed at the village," she says to herself, continuing to follow Kirara into the forest. There's a path, clear enough to follow along. She keeps a steady pace, hiking up her Hirakotsu higher onto her shoulder as she's mindful of the low hanging branches and exposed roots. Clear enough, but there's still a few hurdles here and there that make it just the right amount of difficult. She supposes it's nothing that can be helped and the weather wouldn't permit anyone to venture outside to clear the debris - at least not until the area is considered safe.

Another while passes and Sango can make out the silhouettes of rooftops from homes and other buildings. A village!

She feels relief coursing through her as Kirara runs up ahead, but the closer she comes to this village, the demon slayer begins to see what the catch is. It's vacant. Upon closer inspection, she can see that the smaller of the houses lining the outer village have been ransacked and destroyed, any and all valuables and possessions stolen. The homes further in haven't fared any better, but she can see that there's a castle at the top, as most villages have them. Judging by the looks of it at first glance, she can see that it's been relatively untouched, but even as she ventures a little closer, she can see that even this place wasn't spared from bandits and whoever else happened to be passing through.

"Let's do a quick check around the perimeter," she says to Kirara, and the small two-tailed cat transforms into a large, roaring feline, and heads in one direction while Sango takes the other. Nothing seems to be out of sorts, and Kirara hadn't been able to scent a demon's presence, which means that this village and its people were the victims of rotten luck.

A look inside the mansion tells her that it's not been lived in some time; there's that old mildew smell permeating throughout the rooms and Sango decides that staying in this location might attract other robbers and bandits. So, she decides to leave the mansion as it is, and ventures out back into the rain. Movement catches her eye and she heads towards it - it's an old man, tending to his small garden...even in the rain.

"Hello?" He looks up and waves her over, appearing to be none too concerned that there's a stranger in his village. "You'd best be careful, young slayer." Immediately when he says this, Sango can feel her hackles rising as she prepares for the worst, but the old man waves his hand again, like he's dismissing her concerns.

"The reason this place has been abandoned is because of an ancient demon who lives in that mountain there," he points to the mountain and she's just close enough that she can make out the familiar dark spot of a cave's entrance. "They left because of the demon...but you've stayed."

"I came here a long time ago when my village was destroyed by bandits and demons. When I got here, the place was already empty. I believe it's been empty for a very long time..." Sango looks to the old man again, wondering how he's managed to survive all alone in an empty village, yet the proof is right in front of her.

"You're welcome to stay if you like. I'd suggest holing up in one of these homes here, where they're off the main path and away from the mansion. Word gets around to other bandits and robbers, so they know to stay clear of this place, especially now since there's nothing left to take." Sango nods at his words, looking at Kirara, who's now since transformed back into a small cat.

It's been a few days since her arrival; the rain comes and goes, and the sky remains a cast-iron grey. She can tell that Kirara is restless - she is, too - but there's nothing to be done, especially since the weather has not been in their favour. She's helped the old man gather up food for the approaching winter months, preparing her own stores as well since it looks like she might be here a while. It's peaceful.

Until one night, Sango is woken up by Kirara's growls and hissing, her companion dashing out of the home and into the night, Sango in hot pursuit. Like a trained hunter, she's gathered her demon slaying equipment and already has her demon slaying gear and outfit on. It doesn't take her long to realize she's lost Kirara, but Sango knows that her friend has a much better chance finding her way back to the house than she does in the dark. With an anxious feeling in her heart, she starts to head back...only to realize that she's standing in front of the mouth of the cave.

"W-what?!"

There's some kind of force that pulls her in, or makes her legs move against her will, but she soon finds herself enveloped in a cool darkness. It takes her a moment, but her eyes adjust accordingly and she can make out the faint light of a phosphorescent green stone lining the walls, almost like gems, that help guide her way.

When she stops, she can see that she's found herself in some sort of circular room - one that hasn't been made so naturally. And that's not all...there's a presence here. A presence that could only belong to a demon.

An ancient demon.

Sango immediately readies herself, drawing hirakotsu.