The monster

POV: Zara (2)

        Azai bolted after hearing the scream, not caring about my shouts for him to stop. I knew. The monster had already gotten what it wanted. When I finally caught up, he was just standing there, staring at the ground. There claw marks in the cobblestone and A blood trail continued all the way until the forest line, probably continuing until the mountain. I moved forward. The claw marks were as deep as my leg was high. I looked back at my brother. This is what he would have to face.

        I heard a mumble coming from his direction. "Azai?" His eyes shifted to my face. "THIS IS ALL MY FAULT, DON'T YOU SEE. IF WE GOT TO THE MOUNTAIN -- IF WE GOT TO IT SOONER, THEN WE COULD'VE, we could've -- saved her." He fell to his knees. Tears rolled down his face. I sat next to him. Just to give him the company. He blames himself for the attacks, constantly saying that he could've saved them. Even before we left. Before we were the ones to face this challenge. This was the first attack since we began the journey to the mountain.

        After, I don't know how long, Azai stood up. His eyes were red and puffy and his cheeks were silver with tears. "We have to get to the mountain. Zara, We have to go." He said it with such certainty that it almost startled me. He would rather die trying to save these people, then live, being one of the fortunate. "Azai..."
"No. Now we have to go." There wasn't so much as a quiver in his voice. "Who was it?"
"What?"
"Who was it that the monster took?" He wouldn't get like this over just anyone. "A child. A little girl." He pulled out a stuffed bear from his jacket pocket. "This -- it fell when he -- it's hers." Now I understood. The attacks were all adults. Mostly women. Sometimes men. Just the thought that the monster is now taking the children, it was too much. Azai started to walk to the woods again. At a fast pace. I followed behind. I just hope, that he will be able to survive fighting such a strong thing. If he didn't, then, what would we do then?