Naren stared at the man unaware of the words he let slip.
A corner of the man's lips rose, revealing his gums.
"Huh?!"
Vera's eyes widened, as she opened her mouth, trying to diffuse the situation. But Naren spoke first, grabbing his scarf that was still wrapped around Vera.
"I said you look cool."
The man lingered a second his sharp eye slowly mellowing out as waved his hand urging Naren to come over.
"Shit man...Come grab some."
—————
Vera watched as Naren was sat right next to the man, his stomach already eager to get something to fill it.
A burning glowing piece of meat was being passed from hand to hand like some party trick as Naren kept trying to wait out the searing pain. That is until he grew too impatient and sank his teeth into it.
Immediately, he spit it out.
Vera had to cover her mouth with her shirt as she let out a little giggle, watching Naren try to dig out the piece from his mouth.
"Don't fuck with it?"
The man's voice stopped Vera's amusement at once. His cutting voice, had her feeling constantly at odds. Even more so as his gaze shifted onto her along with an outreached hand.
"How bout her? lil girl wanna try some?"
She shook her head. At least she wanted to, but as she tried her stomach had other plans. Ones that didn't quite agree with logic nor the sight of Naren it just witnessed.
"Come on, shrimpy, try some."
Vera walked over carefully. Sitting down right next to Naren, brushing off the wrinkles on her clothes. She sneezed as the wet clothes had finally gotten to her. At least now, the heat would slowly dry them.
"T-thank you sir...I-Naren and I appreciate the meal."
"You raised right shorty."
The man handed Vera a portion, which she grabbed while clenching he jaw. Immediately, she sat it on the floor waiting for it to cool. She took small bites, covering her mouth as she chewed, disguising her disgust.
Naren took another bite, scrunching his face as he chewed. The thick hard pieces lumping in his throat as he hurriedly tried swallowing.
"Eugh...It's nasty...What's you're name anyways man. You're cool."
"Cairo."
"Naren. And this is shrimpy."
Naren patted the man in the back, his eyes still locked on the deep dash on his bare abdomen.
"How'd ya get that?"
Cairo grit his teeth as an eerie grin took hold. He pointed his thumb deeper into the cave, up stream into the darkness.
"Hideous little shit down there. Got me locked in here waitin' till I tear it piece to piece."
Naren stared off at, deeper into the cave trying to filter through the noises of running water and squirming insects. Then he finally heard it, an unsettling shrill voice that sent a chill down his body.
Reflexively he shuddered.
"Damn, a freaks got another freak captive, huh?"
Vera's mouth hung wide open as the chunk in her hands fell to the ground.
Cairo stood up, an unsettling grin growing on his face, the cloth scabbard falling off his waist as he did. He turned to Naren, staring daggers with his only eye.
Grey staring at gold.
"So I wasn't trippin."
Before Naren could even say anything, Cairo's knee was already buried into Naren's face, a deep blunt pain sending him staggering back, landing on his shoulder which sent another string of cries from his body.
Vera staggered back in fear as Cairo's gaze turned to her. Her eyes shaking as her legs trembled. It was like she was burning up.
'Be brav-'
"I have never seen this person in my life."
Vera covered her mouth in surprise, Cairo's grin shifting like he didn't truly know how to smile as he turned back to Naren.
"Thought you was cool..."
Naren staggered to his feet, grimacing with the pain in his shoulder hanging lifelessly by his side.
"Just said it as it was...Perverted Fre—."
Before he could finish, a swift slash arced a few inches from Naren's neck. He stepped back just in time, pivoting over his left leg, sending his right in a horizontal sweep across the floor. Cairo hopped up, avoiding the sweep, only to see a jab flying at his airborne body.
Instead of dodging, however, the shinobi threw his own kunai forward, piercing straight ahead, ready to take the jab head on.
Naren pulled back, avoiding the glowing blade. Both landing back and setting their footing.
The air between them shimmered.
Cairo's skin gave off an amber glow as steam rose from it. Even a few feet away, Naren could feel it. The air grew hotter, drier, and breathing became more of a chore.
Cairo ignited. The oils on his body engulfed in flames licking his forearms in slivers of dancing embers. Like a symphony of cinders, the heat spread through his fingers to the kunai in his hands, catching fire just the same.
Naren clutched his shoulder in pain.
"Neat trick. You do birthdays?"
Cairo shifted, ready to attack, but a sudden voice stole his attention.
"T-That's quite enough!"
Vera stood holding a broken katana. It's cloth scabbard unwrapped and sitting on the white floor.
However, in her hand, the blade shook uncontrollabley, barely able to stay in her grasp. As if it had a mind of its own.
Cairo's smile disappeared as his eyes took on a monotone look. Something akin to a cat watching a mouse it decided to live still show itself.
"You want your head rollin?"
Vera's legs trembled as the burning sensation intensified. She was afraid to look off him, wondering if her eyes might sear shut the moment she did.
A roundhouse kick came right at Cairo's neck. Then, in rapid succession, a side kick straight to his abdomen, spitting all the air out of Cairo's lungs.
"Atta girl, shrimpy!"
Cairo staggered back, the flames only growing stronger, as he coughed up some blood. Blood trickling down the reopened wound as he held it tight, his teeth gritting in an unnerving smile.
Naren tilted his head.
"What's up? You done..."
Naren's golden eyes glimmered, his words trailing off. His breathing had grown haggard with the air around him altered. His eyelids shuddered as he caught himself from almost falling back.
By now, there was a fair bit of smoke he'd inhaled from all his close encounters with Cairo. Doubly so since they were in a space as enclosed as it was. And all that smoke was now sitting in his lungs, messing with him.
'Damn it.'
Naren grit his teeth as his vision grew hazy. His eyes immediately rolling to the stream of water. A glistening reflection cast from the burning carcass.
Cairo took a step forward, but Vera came in between him and Naren. Pointing the broken katana at Cairo, evidently struggling under its weight and life-like squirming.
Cairo's sharp eyes cast breifly on the little girl.
"Drop the blade."
Vera shook her head as her legs trembled.
"N-Naren was already injured...It was hardly a fair exchange...Y-You coward..."
Cairo clicked his tongue, as his eyes narrowed on the girl.
"The prick was hurt?...Like I care."
Vera nodded, sweat beads falling down her face.
Cairo sighed. Holding his hand out for Vera to return his sword.
Vera held it firmly though.
"I want to ask for your word...that you mean us no further harm."
"Gimme one reason why I would shorty."
Naren watched as Vera trembled between them. Her small scrawny body barely able to hold the weight of the blade, let alone her own words. What a dumbass. Well, at least he could use her. Maybe as a diversion?
Suddenly, Naren heard the shrill voice again. This time, close enough for everyone to hear.
A wet fleshy noise resonated throughout the cavern.
"~Momma~..."
The embers licking Cairo's forearm, immediately snuffed out.
Naren instinctively grabbed Vera, covering her mouth.
Vera struggled in Naren's arm, caught by surprise.
"Mrggm mhg."
"Hush."
Naren whispered as he lurked back, already regretting not leaving her behind.
The fading flames of the carcass cast a dim glow at the far end of the cavern. A wet slosh focusing into view.
At first, Naren almost threw up in his mouth, staring at the bare lumps of flesh that hung over with no real purpose. Then his eyes narrowed as he watched the beast come into view.
Stitches and stitches of body parts. Human, animal, insect. They all lumped together, forming something that looked...just wrong. Limbs jutting out without any movement. Heads and eyes staring off with no nerves to connect them.
But worst of all...It spoke.
It spoke in a human tongue.
"~Momma uhm hu..gr...y~"
Then the carcass snuffed out. All light fading from the open cavern.
Naren dove back in a panic, holding Vera closer to him as he slid through the stone ground. He was never anything for protecting anyone, but unfortunately he needed Vera to turn him into a shaman to begin with. If something happened to her, then he'd have wasted his time.
Vera shut her eyes tight as she gripped Naren's shirt.
Then a sudden burst of light had her reopening it.
In the shadows a sudden glimmer of embers sprouted atop the three meter tall creature's back. A lone man with an unsightly grin burned. His entire body egulfed in an ember dance. His one grey eye burning just as deeply.
"Shoulda run when ya head the chance pussy!"