I don't actually have a title for this one. WOOPS

The town square was alive with the panicked banter of its residence, the mayor of the town struggled to keep the people in check.

“Everyone, please! Please calm yourselves!” The mayor begged.

“That damn beast has been terrorizing us for months!” one of the townsfolk cried out. “Sooner or later its going to get its filthy claws on one of us!”

The mans words caused the rest of the crowed to raise their voices in agreement. I stood further back from the masses, leaning against a lantern pole, kicking around a pebble against the bricked road.

“What the hell is a Ushi-Oni even doing in these parts!?” Another voice demanded an answer. “Shouldn't she be in causing havoc in the east and not here!?”

The mayor was distraught, sitting back in his chair and rubbing the sweat from his forehead. It was a situation that the town wasn't use to, our interacting with the monster folk was always very limited. Every now and then one of the more civilized of their kind would come into town looking for work or attempting to sell her wares or simply just passing through. But other than that and the occasional adventuring lizardman, we went about our daily lives in peace.

But then she came practically out of nowhere. No one knows if she travelled so far and decided that this would be her new home, or she was brought here by a less-than savoury traveller, or she is simply a cursed woman from another town. All we know is that she's vicious, she's scheming, and she's hungry.

The Ushi-Oni, a spider-like creature that walks on eight legs with large bone claws on each end. Her ears resemble those of a predator under her two demonic horns. Her skin is a sickly blue, covered in dark purple tattoos running across her chest. She has fur covering most of her body, including her giant claws on the end of each arm. The breasts on her human torso are covered in stripes of fur, and she wears some sort of seal on her left eye.

And with that face. She would be beautiful if she wasn't so damn terrifying. Appeared out of nowhere one gloomy night when a pack of farmers were going home from the pub, loud and boisterous as they were. The drunkenness was suddenly burned out of them when they noticed her standing at the other end of a nearby ally. She grinned a wicked grin and closed the distance so fast it knocked one of them on his arse.

Somehow, they all managed to get away, perhaps she let them, or she spend so much time toying with them she didn't realize it when they were actually gone. The second encounter was during the day when two children were playing by the river. We heard the screams all the way from town, and by the time we got there, the poor kids were already run up a tree. The Ushi-Oni left some carvings in the trees, words in eastern tongue, though none of us could read them.

The creature is toying with us, scoping us out like prey. She is looking for the perfect piece of meat to drag back with her to her home, a picky hunter to be sure.

“We need to slay the damn thing!” Another person in the mob yelled out, causing yet any uproar of agreement. “Before it gets it filthy claws on one of our children!”

“And I suppose you have a plan!?” Another voice shouted. “That thing would tear us apart in a fight!”

“We'll call for a regiment from the king to handle it!” Another suggested.

“Nonsense! It would be weeks before they get here!”

“We can hire an adventurer!”

“When will another one of those come through town? Do you understand how backwater we are?”

“I'll go.”

The mob went silent, their gaze fixating itself on me. My hand was raised in the air, my expression sincere.

“What?” The Mayor asked with a raised brow.

“I said I'll go.” I repeated myself.

The town knew who I was, a simple farmhand given a place to sleep in return for work around Old Man Benjamin's ranch. My mother and father passed away sometime ago and I couldn't afford to keep our home with the meagre I was making as a shoe shiner. So I left my old life behind and found this time a year later, I decided to stake my claim here and (try to) work my way to the top from the bottom. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case since all I can do with the money I make now is feed and clothe myself. But I have a nice spot in the barn to sleep in so I its not all gloom and brooding.

“Are you serious?” The Mayor asked in disbelief. “What could you possibly do against a monster like that?”

“Well, I'm as strong as an ox, Mister Mayor.” I pleaded my case. “And it aint like I got family anymore, no ones gonna miss me.”

The mob murmured among themselves, many of them shrugging in agreement. It wasn't like I was particularly liked among the inhabitants, I just kind of existed. There really wasn't much they could lose. If I get rid of the monster, I come back, people cheer once or twice and then life goes on. If I die or dragged away then its just means Old Man Benjamin will have to find a new farmhand, which isn't hard to do with all the kids lining up for my position.

“Well, okay then.” The Mayor coughed. “Jerry, I leave this matter in your “capable” hands.”

The mob all gave me a little ceremonial clap, at least some sort of encouragement for the task ahead. After that everyone returned to the daily grind, leaving me alone in the town square. The Mayor didn't even take the time to thank me for my sacrifice. You know, I didn't really realize how much people didn't give a damn about me until now.

I returned to the ranch and packed the things I would need. A bed roll, some food, and a few of my personal belonging that I didn't want swiped while I was gone.

“You're actually going through with it?”

I turned around to find Mr. Benjamin leaning against the barn door, his wrinkled face doing much to display his look of disbelief.

“I imagine someone was going to have to.” I reasoned.

“Y'know it aint like fending off wolves from the sheep, right boy?” He asked. “This monster doesn't go down easy, its wounds heal on the spot, and its blood can drive even the most stalwart of crusaders mad.”

“I know that.” I said to him. “That's why I'm gonna try talking with her. See if she listens t'reason.”

Benjamin's face turned to a frown, his eyes furrowed and suddenly furious. “Are you out of your god damn mind, boy?”

“Why?” I looked back at him again.

“That thing is a Ushi-Oni! We're not talking 'bout a Werecat or a Large Mouse! Its claws can tear you apart, and its appetite fer men, men like yourself, is endless!”

I shrugged and threw my bag over my shoulder. “My father always told me to give everyone a chance. I'm sure she's just lashing out is all.”

“How can someone who's been shit on so often be so damn naive?” Benjamin asked in shock. “At least take a weapon to put up some sort of fight!”

I stopped and glanced around the barn, spotting my lucky shovel right away. I picked it up and slung it to my back, its head still sharp, just the way I like to keep it.

“There, happy now?” I asked him.

“No, I aint. But at least you won't be going down without swinging...”

I walked passed him, stepping out of the barn and turning back to say a few more words.

“If I don't come back. I'd just like to thank'ya for letting me stay in your barn.” I said, raising my hand and offering a shake.

Benjamin sighed, taking my hand in his. “Thanks fer all the work ya done here, lord knows it'll be awhile before I find someone as competent as you with a pitchfork.”

I left the barn behind me, turning back to it one last time at the greetings gate. I gave Benjamin one last wave that he returned with a simple nod. And once again I was on the road, this time with a destination. A destination I wasn't so sure I wanted to reach.

The Ushi-Oni's lair was only a few miles out of town, I would reach before sundown if I didn't make a stop. It was a cave, a large cave that no one's been in for a very long time, even before the Miss's made camp there.

I had to say, the mountain range was majestic and humbling to look at. Endless peaks of rocks tipped with snow for as far as the yes could see. It was something that made a fella like me feel rather small. These mountains had always been peppered with caves and holes any sort from monster to criminal to hermit could hide in, it was the perfect place for the Ushi-Oni to live.

I found the cave that matched the description, not a hard search to be sure, I don't think the Ushi-Oni would make her place hard to find in case her prey would come looking for her. There's something to admire in cockiness like that.

I stood outside the cave for some time, gazing into its black void. Something inside me wanted to turn around and go back, but what would I tell the townsfolk?
“Oh, I got really scared and came back! Can I live here again!?” The very thought of it made me click my tongue in disgust, my parents didn't raise no coward.

I entered the cave cautiously, narrowing my eyes and peering into the darkness.
“Maybe I should have brought a torch...” I whispered to myself before stepping deeper inside.

“Hello!?” I called out. “Miss Ushi-Oni!? Are you in here!?”

I was hoping I could call her out into an encounter rather than stumbling through the dark with her lording over me. The deeper I advanced into the cave the more open it became until I was in a large clearing, the sound of water dripping from stalactites above filled my ears. At the far end I could see what looked like another opening to the outside world, though from this distance it just seemed like a dot of light.

Slowly it became easier to see, my eyes adjusting to the dark around me. My surroundings were bathed in indigo, though tiny details were lost on me, I could at least move around without tripping and hurtling to my doom.

“Did I miss her somehow?” I asked myself, standing in the centre of the cave with my hands to my sides. “There's no way, I would have seen her if she was heading towards town...”

“Oh, you didn't miss me at all.”

My heart skipped a beat when I heard the voice coming from above me, I turned my gaze upwards to see the Ushi-Oni clinging to the ceiling of the cave above me. She grinned a wicked, toothy grin, releasing herself and landing only a few feet away from me with a loud thud.

“Though I was not expecting guests.” She joked, her claw like legs clicking against the ground.

“I-I guess it was kind of abrupt.” I said with a nervous chuckle. “Sorry 'bout that.”

“So, why are you here, human?” The Ushi-Oni asked, circling me slowly like a wolf circles its kill. “Have you come to slay the big bad monster? To take my head and claim glory for all the world to see?”

“Actually.” I corrected her. “I was hoping we could talk this over like adults.”

She stopped her prowling, looking at me with her golden eyes, her glare piercing into my soul.
“Talk this over?” She repeated my words in disbelief before bursting out into laughter. “My my, aren't you the diplomatic one.”

“I just figured there has to be a reason behind it, is all.” I said to her with a shrug.

“Yes, there is.” Said the Ushi-Oni. “I'm bored.”

“You're bored?”

“I'm bored.”

“Well, I don't think that's a reason to terrorize a town!” I scolded her.

“Oh, but you're so close and you all scream so loudly.” She taunted.

“You even went after children!”

“Oh please.” She waved her claw. “No harm in scaring a few children, I wasn't going to whisk them away or anything!”

“You can't just go around like everything's your play thing!” I argued. “What if you hurt someone important!? What if you make off with some man with influence? What would you do if an angry mob just came crashing down your cave!?”

“Well maybe then I'd at least have some company!” The Ushi-Oni roared, stomping two of her legs against the stone below, her claws echoing throughout the cave.

“That's the stupidest thing I ever hea-” I cut myself off, the realization suddenly dawning on me. “Oh my god...That's what this is about isn't it?”

The Ushi-Oni's ears drooped against her head, her eye contact broke and she suddenly looked off to the side, even in the dark I swore I could see a shade of pink on her cheeks.

“You're lonely...This is all just one big lash out.”

The monster pouted her lips and crossed her arms. “You don't know what it's like to be all alone.”

“Actually...I kind of do.” I corrected her. “My family passed away a long time ago. Its just been me ever since.”

The Ushi-Oni's ears rose on her head, her face changing to one of concern before she shook it away and returned to her previous demeanour.

“Oh, poor you.” She mocked me. “Now try doing that with the libido of a demon!”

She advanced on me, the clacking of her claws growing ever nearer, but I stood my ground.

“Do you know what that's like? The constant burning in your body? Your blood yearning to touch another? A biting at the back of your mind that never, ever, leaves!?”

“Still.” I looked her dead in the eyes. “That doesn't give you the right to try and abduct every man you come across.”

She gritted her teeth, the claws on her arms grinding against one another.

“Though... I suppose it aint very kind to just expect you to live here all by your lonesome.”

The Ushi-Oni's ears twitched, the tension in her body suddenly relaxing.

“So how's bout we make a deal?” I made my proposition. “The townsfolk don't expect me to be coming back anyway. So how about I stay here and keep you company for awhile?”

“Oh really?” She clicked her tongue. “And whats to stop me from just pouncing on you and having my way with you?”

“Your word.” I nodded.

“My...My word?”

“Yes, your word. You said I was a guest. And you don't treat guests like that.”

“Are... Are you serious!? That's it!?” She shouted in disbelief.

“Yep, that's all the reason I need to trust you. Your word.” I stood my ground, closing my eyes and crossing my arms.

“Are you gullible or just stupid?” She asked me.

“Probably both. My old man always said to give everyone a chance. So I'm giving you a chance.”

“Now, I know it isn't all about the dirty.” I started again, wagging a finger in her face. “You just want company. Just like a child looking for attention.”

“Are you calling me a child?” She asked, clearly offended.

“Y'er acting like one, aren't you?” I asked her with my hands back at my side, my accusing gaze seemed to be piercing into her soul.

Her ears drooped against her head again, looking away from my ever present judgement.

“So, do we got a deal?” I asked her. “I'll stick around for a bit, see how it goes, and you stop causing havoc in town.”

The Ushi-Oni still refused to make eye contact, scraping her claws together sheepishly before whispering something.

“Okay...”

“Well okay then.” I stated with a nod. “The name's Jerry, by the way, what's yours?”

The Ushi-Oni ears popped back up, her eyes moving from side to side as if she was lost in thought.

“I think...It was Risuka...That’s the name I remember...”

“You “remember”?” I was perplexed by her words. “What, like amnesia?”

She nodded. “I can't remember anything past a few years ago. Just...Risuka.”

“Well, that's rather odd.” I commented. “But at least it's something.”

I looked around the cave, scratching the fuzz on my chin. “So, where should I set up in your humble abode?”.

“Oh, I don't live in here.” Risuka stated.

“Really? Where do you live then?” I asked with a raised brow.

She beckoned me along, leading the way towards the bright light at the other end of the caves. I minded my step until we reached the other side, the light blinding me and slowly revealing what was before me.  I had no idea how something like this could remain hidden for so long, even if it were at the other side of a mountain.

It was a meadow with an ancient looking tree in the centre. A river ran through one mountain to the other facing east to west, and the sun shown brightly over the mountain tops. The field was blessed with flowers of various colours and sizes and various woodland critters scampered and scurried through the grass and tree.

“You live here?” I asked in disbelief, spinning in circles slowly to take it all in.

“Yeah.” She confirmed proudly. “Found it all on my own, too!”

“Well, if I'm going to be spending awhile as pseudo-collateral, I'm glad its a place like this!” I almost shouted, losing my self in the sights, sounds, and smells of the area.

My smile quickly turned into a frown when I heard voices off in the distance. Coming from behind me, I recognized two of them, one being the mayor and the other being Constable Ruck. I turned back and headed into the cave, following the voices to the entrance. A group of twelve men in gear were stacking  gunpowder kegs at the entrance of the cave.

“Jerry!” The constable yelled out. “It hasn't caught you yet!? Good! Get over here, now!”

“But wait, I-” My protests were immediately cut off by the mayor. “Jerry, behind you!”

Risuka stood timidly behind me, examining the men's actions. “What are they doing?”

“Jerry, run!” Ruck barked, drawing his sword. His subordinates followed in kind, loading bolts into their cross bows and getting ready to loose.

“Hold on! Everyone, please calm down!” I begged, throwing my hands up in the air.

“What are you doing, boy!? Get over here!” Ruck demanded.

“No! Its okay!” I cried out, waving at them to stand down.

“What do you mean its “okay”?” Ruck growled, his sword high in the air ready to give the order to fire.

“I made a deal! She'll stop attacking the town if I stay here for a little while!”

Ruck's face twisted into one of disgust. “We have a chance to end the beast or trap it here for good, why do you hold on to such a silly bargain!?”

“Because I'm a man of my word!” I protested. “She hasn't even really hurt anyone! I can at least give her a chance!”

Ruck's glared down at me with fiery hatred, spitting into the gravel below him. “The boy has clearly lost it.”

He and his men backed up, following a line of fuse further down the hill. As I tried to move forward to continue my defence, Ruck's men brought their crossbows to bear once more.

“It is better to die here, Jerry. Then to live your life as some brain washed servant!”

Ruck reached for the torch being carried by one of his men, throwing it down against the fuse. It sparked to life, consuming the long line at a rapid pace.

“We gotta go.” I gasped to Risuka, grabbing on to her fuzzy wrist and dragging her deeper into the cave.

I didn't even look back as the thunderous and deafening eruption filled my ears, I was only fixated with the clearing ahead of us leading back into the meadow.  I rolled out into the grass, rocks and dust filling the sky as the cave crumbled down behind me. When the smoke settled, the passage was blocked, there was no way in or out, I was trapped here.

“I can't believe it...” I whispered, looking back at the cave in in horror. “They tried to kill me.”

I turned over to Risuka who seemed to be just as in shock as I was, if not more, I don't think she's ever seen gun powder before.

“Are you alright?” I asked her as soon as I got back to my feet.

Her head turned to me slowly, she was visibly shaken. “Y...Y-yeah, I'm okay.” She managed to come up with an answer.

I examined the rubble again, there was no way I was going to be able to clear that out...

“Looks like I'm stuck here.” I groaned, sitting down on the grass and rubbing my head. “You can climb these mountain sides, can't you?”

Risuka blinked, scanning the peaks around her. “I guess I could.” She confirmed, scratching her chin with her claw.

“Well, at least one of us can leave.” I stated, lying back in the grass.

Risuka looked back at me with sudden determination in her eyes. “I'm not going anywhere.” She stated bluntly, crossing her arms.

“Why's that?” I asked.

“Because I said you were a guest here. It would go against my word if I left you here alone.”

My brow went crooked, my lower lip trembling before I finally broke into laughter.

“Dang.” I sighed, wiping my eye with my thumb. “My stupid must be rubbing off on you.”

“I guess it is.” Risuka said with a nod. “If I try to carry you out of here, I'd lose my foothold on the mountain side and we'd both fall. So we may as well just get comfy and find another way out together.”

“Fine by me.” I said, leaping up from the grass and back to my feet. “May as well make myself at home, huh?”

Risuka showed me what little there was to see in this meadow. A small hut that seemed to be her home rested behind the old tree, from the window it seemed to be just a bed and a table, though I'm not sure how someone with her physique could sleep in a bed made for humans.

My choice of food ranged from what I had in my pack, the rodents that scurried around, and whatever fish that would hopefully find its way downstream, if at all. It was limited, rationing would have to be top priority for us.

“I guess I'll sleep here.” I announced, padding at the spot right under the old tree.

“Are you sure you wouldn't want to sleep with me?” Risuka asked.

I looked at her with a furrowed brow and a sly smile, her face suddenly lighting up when she realized what she had just said.

“N-No! I mean i-in my room n-not with -me- per say!” She stopped fumbling her words, looking at the ground and covering her mouth with her claw.

“I think I get what you mean.” I chuckled. “But I'll stay out here for a night or so, see how it goes.”

She agreed, nodding her head furiously before trampling off back into her little hut. I took the time to adjust myself, going over what equipment I had. A knife, rope, my shovel, sleeping roll, about two days worth of food, a few more days if I ration properly, and some extra set of clothing. I can transition from outfit to outfit every two days, clean them off in the river and such. I also had a small hatchet, good enough to chop branches but I wouldn't rely on it for anything else.

Drinking water was obviously not a problem, the problem was if I was lucky enough to get a fish or two down the stream from time to time, the idea of snacking on squirrels and gophers really didn't appeal to my appetite, but if worse came to worse it would be my only option.

I spent the rest of the day preparing for my new life, if I am to die here I may as well die comfortably. I got accustomed to everything on this side of the river, no prepared to accidentally fall in during a crossing and be swept into some lonely cavern some miles away. By the time my new customs had been prepared, the colour of twilight above had given way to the clear night sky.

“Risuka.” I knocked on her door. “Are you okay in there? I haven't seen you all day.”

“I-I'm fine!” She stumbled. “Just taking some time to myself is all!”

Third day into my little exodus, Risuka still seems to be distant. The down-looking, almost hostile force disappeared entirely on the first day. She does her best to keep her distance from me, and whenever I catch her looking at me she seems to be blushing or fidgeting. I am under the impression that my nights won't be so peaceful for much longer.

Though, I've grown accustomed to her spider body, the fur covering the exoskeleton seems rather soft and well kept. She had a very elegant way to move about her, her skin seemed soft and free of blemishes, and she was rather pretty. I guess I shouldn't be saying that, what with her being an evil monster and all, but gosh darn I don't care one bit! She's my only friend, even if she keeps her distance.

I was having trouble sleeping that night, moon must be doing work on my insides. I felt uncomfortable no matter what position I found myself in, eventually I just lied on my back with my hands behind my head, resting my eyes rather than snoozing the night away.

From my right ear I heard the door to Risuka's hut open, the sound of her bone-like legs thumping ever closer to me. She slowed down when she closed the distance.

“He's asleep...” She whispered to herself.

She took a few more steps closer, the light of the moon vanishing behind her.

“That bastard...” She cursed. “Just walks around all day doing his little chores. Waving and smiling all the time.”

I could hear her claws scrape against one another. “It's not even lust anymore.” She whimpered, “My heart goes crazy whenever I look at him.

I kept my eyes closed, letting her continue her little ramble.

“J-...Just once. Just one little peck, he won't even notice.”

I heard three more thuds, she was now right beside me. I opened my eyes only slightly, seeing a blurry visage of her bend her eight legs until she could lean forward with her claws against the ground, in which I quickly closed my eyes again.

She was looming over me, holding her breath as to not “wake” me. I could feel her move in closer, our noses practically touching now. With a quick gulp, she leaned in, and I felt a soft and warm, but quick, pressure against my lips before she quickly pulled away and stood up.

I squinted my left eye open, seeing Risuka hold her cheeks with her claws, humming quietly to herself and doing a little dance. It took all of my willpower not to burst into laughter.

The next morning, I was up bright and early, ready to have another day of doing my best to keep me busy. Food was running low and more and more the squirrels in the trees were looking tastier and tastier.

I knocked on Risuka's door. “Hey, you up?”

“Y-yeah!” She called back, opening her door and stepping outside.

She rubbed her arm, avoiding eye contact, guilty of what she did last night, not that I minded.

“You feel like helping me out today?” I asked her. “Trying to make a safe passage to the other side of the river.”

“Oh!” She squeaked. “Y-yeah, sure.”

Risuka began to do stretches, trying to look enthusiastic for the task ahead before tensing up with a quick “Ouch!”

“Hey, whats wrong?” I asked her, dropping my tools.

“I...I think I pulled something in my back.” She complained, trying to reach over with her claw.

“Well don't stretch like that!” I scolded her. “You'll just make it worse!”

I took a look at her, sighing to myself before stepping over her abdomen with one foot. She gasped as I stood behind her, I could feel the heat off of her skin from here.

“Here, I know a trick.” I assured her, pressing my thumbs into her shoulder blades.

Risuka let out a squeak of surprise but quickly eased into my hands as I pressed my thumbs against her back.

“Just an old thing someone showed me awhile back to get rid of knots in the back.” I told her as I massaged her shoulders with my thumbs.

Her skin was amazingly soft and silky, something I didn't except from someone who had been terrorizing a town just a few days ago. I found myself wandering from her shoulders and town her arms, Risuka yelping as my right hand trailed from the fur of her forearm to her side and stomach.

I quickly snapped out of it, though the damage was already done. Risuka was trembling in my hands, her eyes fixated on the ground. For a race as lustful as the Ushi-Oni, Risuka was strangely squirmy.

I took my hand from her side, twisting it around her forearm and locking my fingers with her claws. She looked down at our hands interlocked, her trembling suddenly ceasing. With my other hand, I placed my fingers against her chin, turning her head to her left while I leaned over her shoulder.  Without even a second thought I locked my lips with hers, closing my eyes and kissing her deeply. I felt her free claw press against my cheek, holding me closer to her.

I couldn't help but laugh when our lips parted. “Guess that's repayment for last night.”

“Y-you were awake for that!?” Risuka yelped.

“Yep.” I hummed, stepping away from her. “Not that I minded.”

“So...Does this mean...” Risuka gulped, biting her claw. “We're dating?”

I wiped my face and looked up at the sky before locking my eyes with hers again. “I guess so.”

--

Two days after our little agreement, Risuka managed to tear off a large enough chunk of the poor old tree to get us across the river, something I thought was sort of out of line until we got to the other side.

“Well, we certainly have more space now.” I joked while stretching my legs.

Risuka examined the edge of the meadow, her eyes narrowing on a large rock.

“That looks...Misplaced.” She stated, approaching the boulder.

“Misplaced?” I asked. “What do you mean by that?”

Risuka dug her claws into the boulder, lifting it from the ground and throwing it aside. To our surprise, the boulder hid away another entrance to the meadow, one leading into another cave with a small dot of day light at the end.

“I don't believe it.” I whispered, looking through the tunnel. “We got ourselves a way out!”

We jumped into one another's arms, leaping and laughing like school girls who were just asked to the prom. No more worrying about food or what rodent I had to eat first, no dying in a canyon miles away from civilization, nothing could hold us here anymore.

We packed what little things we had, the day was still young and we could cover a lot of ground before night fall. We stood at the other end of the tunnel, what looked like a road that was walked over many times lied before us at the bottom of the slope.

“Do you think there's a place out there?” Risuka asked, looking over at me. “For us, I mean.”

“Worlds a mighty big place.” I answered with a sigh. “Somewhere out there, you and I can make it, I figure.”

I returned Risuka's gaze, giving her the warmest smile I could muster in that situation. I pushed my hand against her claw, locking my fingers in between them and holding on tight. She did her best to the return the smile, nodding as we made our way down the slope and towards a new life.