4. Jytos

4

JYTOS

I prowl the edge of the forest, my tentacles twitching with anticipation. Something is different in the human village today. The air thrums with an energy I've never felt before, and it sets me on edge.

"What the fuck are those insects up to now?" I mutter, my deep voice rumbling in my throat.

Crouching low, I slink closer to the village. My black skin blends seamlessly with the shadows. The scent of fear and desperation wafts towards me, tickling my nostrils. It's intoxicating.

My green eyes narrow as I focus on the village square. The humans are gathered there, a sea of pathetic, fragile bodies huddled together like prey. Their voices carry on the wind. It's a cacophony of worry and excitement.

"Interesting," I growl, a smirk tugging at my lips. "They're usually not this... organized."

I've watched these humans for years, studied their patterns and behaviors. But this? This is new. My tentacles curl and uncurl, itching to wrap around something – or someone.

An older woman stands at the front of the crowd. Her voice rises above the rest. The villagers fall silent, hanging on her every word. I strain my ears as curiosity gets the better of me.

"...offering..." I catch snippets of her speech. "...monster in the mountains..."

A low chuckle escapes me. "Monster, huh? If only they knew."

The crowd shifts, and I catch a glimpse of a young woman. She stands apart from the others. Her face is a mask of shock and disbelief. Something about her draws my attention. I find myself leaning forward, my claws digging into the earth.

"Well, well," I murmur, my tongue flicking out to taste the air. "What have we here?"

The girl's distress is palpable, even from this distance. I watch as she pleads with the elders, her voice rising in panic. But the crowd is unmoved. Their faces set in grim determination.

A growl builds in my throat. These humans, always so quick to throw away one of their own. It's pathetic. And yet... intriguing.

I settle back on my haunches. My eyes still fixated on the girl. Whatever game these humans are playing, I have a feeling it's about to get very interesting.

I stride back to my cave, my body filling with a strange, unfamiliar energy. Something's coming. I can feel it in my bones, in the air, in the very earth beneath my feet.

"Shit," I growl, running a clawed hand through my hair. "What the hell is going on?"

My cave looms before me, dark and imposing. It's always been enough, but now... Now it feels lacking. I pause at the entrance. My green eyes scan the interior critically.

"This won't do," I mutter, my voice echoing off the stone walls.

I move inside, my tentacles reaching out to brush against the rough surfaces. They're seeking something, though I'm not sure what. My body seems to know more than my mind right now, and it's infuriating.

I start gathering the softest mosses I can find, piling them in the back of the cave. My claws tear into the earth and create a shallow depression. It's not a nest. It's definitely not a nest. Because why the fuck would I need a nest?

"This is ridiculous," I snarl, even as I continue my work.

My tentacles stretch out and grab bits of shiny stone and interesting trinkets I've collected over the years. They arrange them around the edge of the not-nest, creating a glittering border.

I step back, surveying my handiwork. It's... cozy. The thought makes me bare my teeth in disgust. Since when do I care about cozy?

"What the fuck is happening to me?" I growl, pacing the length of the cave.

My instincts are screaming at me, urging me to prepare. But for what? A mate? The idea is laughable. I'm the only Umbrath left. There is no one for me.

And yet... the image of that human girl flashes through my mind. Her fear, her desperation. It stirs something in me, something primal and possessive.

"No," I snarl, shaking my head violently. "Absolutely fucking not."

But even as I deny it, I find myself adjusting the not-nest, making it softer, more inviting. I growl in frustration. Well, if something's coming, I'll be ready for it.

I pace the length of my cave. My claws scrape against the stone floor. The silence is deafening, broken only by the occasional drip of water from the stalactites above. Fuck, I hate this. The quiet. The emptiness. The constant reminder that I'm alone in this godforsaken world.

My tentacles twitch restlessly, seeking something – anything – to grasp onto. But there's nothing here. Just me and my thoughts. And let me tell you, my thoughts are shit company.

I think back to my encounters with humans over the years. Their wide-eyed terror, the stench of their fear. It used to thrill me, make me feel powerful. Now? Now it just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Pathetic creatures," I growl, my voice echoing off the cave walls. "Always running, always afraid."

But even as I say it, I can't shake the memory of that girl in the village. The way she stood apart from the others, her face a mask of defiance even as they condemned her. It was... different. Intriguing.

I shake my head violently, trying to dislodge the thought. What the fuck is wrong with me? I'm a monster. The last of my kind. I don't need anyone. I don't want anyone.

My gaze falls on the not-nest I've created. The soft mosses, the glittering trinkets. My lip curls in disgust.

"This isn't me," I snarl, lashing out with my tentacles. They sweep across the cave floor, scattering the carefully arranged items.

But even as I destroy it, a part of me aches. It's a feeling I've pushed down for so long, buried beneath layers of anger and violence. Loneliness. The crushing weight of being the last of my kind.

I slump against the cave wall, my chest heaving. My claws dig into my palms, drawing blood. The pain is a welcome distraction from the thoughts swirling in my head.

"I am Jytos," I growl, my voice low and dangerous. "I am the nightmare that haunts their dreams. I am the monster they fear in the dark."

But the words ring hollow in the empty cave. And for the first time in centuries, I wonder if there might be more to life than just surviving.

As night falls, I crouch at the edge of the forest. My eyes soon fixate on the village below. These humans seem to have no intention of sleeping. The air crackles with tension.

"What the fuck are you up to now?" I growl, my voice low and menacing.

The villagers scurry about like ants, carrying torches and strange bundles. They're preparing something, that much is clear.

I watch as they clear a large area in the center of the village. The ground is swept clean, and a circle of white stones is laid out. It's precise, deliberate. This is no ordinary gathering.

"A ritual?" I mutter, my interest piqued. "Well, isn't that fucking cute."

My gaze sweeps over the bustling humans, searching for one in particular. There. The girl from earlier. She stands apart from the others, her face pale in the flickering torchlight. Even from this distance, I can see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands tremble at her sides.

Something stirs in me, a feeling I can't quite name. It's not hunger, not exactly. But it's just as primal, just as demanding.

"Fuck this," I snarl, shaking my head to clear it.

I'm about to turn away when I see her. The old woman from before, the one who seemed to be in charge. She approaches the girl, her wrinkled face set in grim determination. I strain my ears, catching snippets of their conversation.

"...for the good of the village..."

"...the monster will protect us..."

The girl's shoulders slump, defeat written in every line of her body. And suddenly, I understand. They're preparing her for something. For me.

A low growl builds in my throat, rising to a roar that echoes through the forest. The villagers freeze, their faces turning towards the sound. Towards me.

I bare my teeth in a savage grin. Let them tremble. Let them fear. I am Jytos, the last of the Umbrath, and I bow to no one.

But as I watch the girl being led away, something shifts inside me. For the first time in centuries, I feel... uncertain.

"Fuck," I mutter, my claws digging into the earth. "What the hell am I getting myself into?"

The night deepens, and with it, my restlessness grows. I can't shake the feeling that something is about to change. My muscles coil with tension, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. Fuck, I hate this uncertainty.

I prowl the perimeter of my territory, my senses on high alert. The forest is unnaturally quiet tonight as if holding its breath in anticipation. Even the nocturnal creatures seem to have gone into hiding. Smart little bastards.

My thoughts keep circling back to that human girl. There is something different about her. Something that calls to the darkest parts of me.

I pause at the edge of a clearing. My eyes scan the shadows. The moonlight filters through the canopy, casting eerie patterns on the forest floor. It reminds me of the ritual circle those villagers were preparing.

A growl rumbles in me. What are they planning? And why does it involve me?

Part of me wants to storm into their village, to tear through their flimsy defenses and demand answers. To show them exactly why they should fear the monster in the mountains. But another part, a part I barely recognize, urges caution.

"Fuck this waiting game," I snarl.

I turn back towards my cave, my steps heavy with purpose. Whatever is about to happen, I'll face it on my own terms.