Chapter Text
Okay Sato, time to calm down.
Asami inhaled slowly through her nose, holding it for a second then letting it out through her mouth. She watched as it condensed, flowing a little to the left with the small breeze that passed through the forest.
Asami looked around, taking in her surroundings. The small group of hunters that her father handpicked to go with them stood behind her, scattered in the clearing. Thick snow fell around them, catching in their eyelashes and making the snow even harder to trudge through. The full moon covered the ground and trees in a light that made it look ethereal and cold at the same time.
The woman narrowed her eyes. The moon. She glared at it as if it had personally offended her. She was unsure of whether to be dreadful, ecstatic, anxious or downright terrified at the moment.
Tonight was the night of the full moon. The night when the dark brown skin of Shifters turned into fur and half-man half-wolves howled into the night.
Tonight was the night of Asami's first hunt.
Footsteps sounded behind her, and Asami turned to see who was approaching her. Her father, Hiroshi, stopped next to his daughter, an intensity and fire in his eyes like she had never seen before.
"Asami," He started, placing a hand on her shoulder. " You have been training for this moment for a long time."
"Only since I was six." She added lightly. Her father still stared at her with that intense look. No mixing humor with a night like this.
"With your extensive training I expect nothing but the best from you. Tonight, you will have your first wolfskin." He declared, determination laced with his words. Asami nodded solemnly, shouldering her crossbow. She glanced over to Mako, who was polishing his revolver for the umpteenth time. "Mako!" She called. "Are we ready?"
Mako tucked the silver gun into his holster, turning around to address the other men. "Hunters!" He barked, catching everyone's attention. "We leave at Asami's order. Get ready!"
Asami looked at her father one more time. Hiroshi stared at her with an unidentifiable expression, his hand still on her shoulder. He pulled his daughter into a hug, which she tensed at. She slowly wrapped her arms around him, returning the rare gesture. He pulled back, his eyes now brimming with tears. His voice was raw with emotion, and he asked;
"For your mother?"
Asami closed her eyes, inhaling softly.
"For mother."
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Asami inhaled sharply, white hot and searing pain bursting through her shoulder. She bit her lip, stifling the groan that tried to escaped her. She rolled onto her good side, knocking her head against a cold, hard surface.
Asami blinked, her vision swimming. Since when was her bed this close to a wall?
She opened her eyes, adjusting to the darkness of her room.
Asami frowned. She wasn't in her room. She lay down on a small cot, surrounded by three stone walls and an iron one. The room was unfurnished, save for the cot she was on.
Asami paled. She was most certainly not in her room. She was in a cell.
The huntress swung her legs off the bed, her head spinning. Her hands flew to her hips, hoping to find her gun and dagger. They weren't there.
Asami cursed, standing on her bare feet. She walked over to the iron bars, one arm clutching the other as she gritted her teeth against the pain that shot through her shoulder. Asami heard laughter, faint but distinct, followed by a rough sounding language she couldn't understand. Heavy footfalls were heard, fading away with every second.
But there was one pair of footsteps that seemed to get louder and louder, until a tan female stood in front of Asami's cell.
The girl could not have been more than Asami's age, wrapped in thick brown furs with white trimmings. She had chestnut brown hair that was a cut above her shoulders, and beautiful brown skin to match. But what caught Asami's attention was the girl's eyes; they were bright cyan orbs like Asami had never seen before. The girl spoke, her voice rough and accent thickened but her words unmistakable.
"You're awake."
Asami tensed, fear seeping into her pores. How could this woman speak her language and a language Asami had never heard before? Where was she? Asami could've sworn Mako had picked her up before she passed out.
Asami looked back at the woman, who was still staring at her with those too bright eyes. She croaked. "Who are you?"
The woman smiled, baring larger than usual canines that shone in the light of the torch mounted on the outside wall.
"I'm a Shifter, and welcome to the Prison Dens."