Beast Master: The Last Awakening

Destiny sometimes surprises you, but in a way that you didn't really want at all!

This was the exact thought that came to Kaelin's mind, sitting on the dusty floor of the village square. The place, which was filled with joy and giggles sometime ago, is now filled with screams of pain and cries of people who just lost their loved ones. Kaelin was also sitting there, like a statue made up of stone. His brain was still unable to process what happened just sometime ago!

....

"Kae, listen, quick!"

The barbecue was just finished. Kaelin and Joe was gossiping with some steaks in their hands. Suddenly Kaelin heard his grandma's voice.

He looked back.

"What happened?"

His grandma stood up from her seat and walked very fast towards him.

"Kae, go from here, now."

"What!"

He was surprised, why he would leave the place, when all the villagers were there!

"But why!"

"I can't tell you now, but don't stay here anymore, just--"

Before she could finish her words, suddenly everything changed.

A very loud roar was suddenly heard from behind, as if a huge animal was screaming in anger. All the people sitting there became stunned suddenly.

What was happening!

Kaelin looked at the place from where the roar was coming, and immediately stopped.

"What's that!"

He murmured.

On the side of the village where the forest is, a huge animal was standing on the road. The animal's body was covered with thick fur; it stood like a mountain, blocking the road. The paws with long sharp claws and fanged mouth were ready to attack.

But the most terrifying of all were it's eyes, bright red burning embers with boundless hatred and anger! And the whole area was filled with a pungent smell.

"Kae, run!"

She screamed. But Kaelin couldn't raise his legs, as if they were frozen there. For the first time in his life he was frightened, frightened for himself, his grandma, Joe, Noah and all the villagers. His brain was giving signals to run away, but his body was not able to move, and his mind didn't want to go away without saving them!

"Joe, take Kae away, otherwise you both will be in danger!"

She screamed again. The villagers who were standing there stunned, started panicking. They had started to run, run away from that place.

But...

There were actually no place to escape.

They didn't know, when they were busy seeing that creature, there came three more, and silently surrounded them from all sides. Before they could do anything, they were trapped in the square.

A few moments of silence, and then suddenly all of them attacked them from all sides together!

With sharp nails and teeth, the body of the villagers began to tear apart. The whole area soon was filled with screams of pain and cries.

Kaelin was still standing there. What he would do then!

How to escape from these animals! Where did they came from all of a sudden! How to stop them!

Lost in thought, he didn't see that two of them were coming towards him. Suddenly he heard Joe's voice,

"Kae, move!"

Stunned in surprise, he saw two terrible beasts rushing towards him! He closed his eyes knowing that death was certain, and he did not have the power to escape from them.

But before they could jump over him, another sharp scream was heard.

He opened his eyes, for another surprise waiting for him.

Beside him, his grandma was standing.

But, WAS SHE REALLY HIS VERY WELL KNOWN GRANDMOTHER!

Her eyes were glowing, just like those four beasts! Two sharp fangs came out of her mouth, and she was standing with a glowing sword in her hands.

"Don't you dare to touch Kaelin."

She said in a rough, harsh hissing sound. With the change of her appearance, her voice was also changed. It was like she was a whole new person, whom Kaelin hadn't seen ever!

The beasts roared, as if they missed their prey; and suddenly jumped on her together. Joe moved aside with Kae, holding him from back with all his might. Kaelin tried to escape from him, he had to help grandma. But Joe held him tight.

"No, Kae. Don't go there. You can't survive."

Kaelin, with all the villagers watched from a distance, how his grandmother was fighting with thise beasts.

For the first time in his life he realized, actually she was not just a normal old woman!

He couldn't say exactly how long the fight was going on like this. Suddenly all the noise stopped. The four beasts fled the way they had come, wounded, unsuccessful.

And his grandma was lying on the floor, her whole body was torn apart, covered in blood. She was dying!

Kaelin rushed towards her. She had difficulties in breathing, but still, she smiled at him. Kaelin's eyes were filled with tears, he couldn't say anything. He placed her head on his lap, sitting on the ground.

But despite all the pain, her eyes were glowing. She told in a very low, weak voice.

"I saved you Kaelin. I've done my duty, I kept my promise. I didn't let them harm you."

Kaelin still couldn't say anything. Tears were rolling through his cheeks. He shook his head.

"Don't talk, granny."

She smiled. But after a few second, her voice was serious.

"I- I was wrong Kae. Though out my whole life I t-thought I could save you if I don't let you know the truth, if I could stop you from going to the forest."

She stopped, then said again.

"But I was wrong. Thing don't end like that! You have to face the situation, and grow. I'm sorry Kae, please forgive me."

Kaelin cried.

"What are you saying? I can't understand!"

"You are not just a normal human, Kaelin. I hid the truth from you for so many years, but now it's time to know your true identity. It's time to know yourself. Otherwise, they'll ruin you, finish you, completely."

"But who granny!"

She breathed heavily. She knew that her time was running out. She put her trembling right hand slowly on Kaelin's left cheek.

"K-know y-yourself K-Kae! Know w-who y-you r-really are! Kn-"

She couldn't say anything more. Her hand fell on the ground, eyes closed.

Kaelin sat as he was. He knew, they'd never open. Again.