Chapter Text
Celine led Rumi home by the arm, talking about what she had read the night before.
“I thought I'd only find one page about it, but luckily one of our ancestors was a real enthusiast on the subject. If only you knew how many documents there are and... Rumi, is everything okay?”
Celine paused for a moment and looked at Rumi; she was embarrassed, and she was holding onto her as if she were a stick, her tail tense as if gravity were holding her up.
“I can’t walk properly…when I’m in this state” her voice was twisted and hoarse, almost demonic.
Celine almost jumped when she heard it, she remembered that evening, when Rumi had come to her.
Why couldn't you love me?
I do..
ALL OF ME!!!
She tried to push her thoughts away and looked at her daughter, standing before her in her purest form, who was in pain. “Tell me what I can do?”
“actually *Umpf* I walk on all fours, but I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable, I don't want to seem strange” Rumi didn't look at Celine, she stopped to look at the arm where she was holding on, too tight she didn't want to hurt her with her claws.
“Rumi listen to me” she lifted Rumi’s face with her free hand towards her “you don’t have to feel guilty okay?”.
Celine stood in front of Rumi so she could get a good look at her.
“I know, I was a bad mother, but it's because I was afraid, afraid of breaking the rules I was taught and ruining the bond with Hoonmoon…”
Rumi's eyes were starting to burn and her grip tightened, without even realizing it her marks were starting to turn a purple color.
“I wanted to protect you at all costs, but I was wrong… I made you feel like a mistake but you never were!! I made you hide who you really are Rumi, and Im sorry… because you are perfect just the way you are”
Rumi felt tears running down her face, she couldn't believe her ears... she remained motionless, looking at her, she didn't want to believe it, did she really think this about her?
Celine picked her up and hugged her tightly, and Rumi began to cry on her shoulder.
The light shining through the tree radiated that moment and HoonMoon began to shine around them.
✩✧✦✧✩
Celine followed the scene with amazement and wonder. She remembered that when Rumi was one year old, she crawled like a kitten, and it seemed too adorable to her.
But when she reached the age of 4, she made sure it didn't happen again by punishing her every time she behaved like an animal.“You are a human Rumi, act like one, you are not one of them” how many tears and how many punishments for such a little child.
Celine was behind her now, a 25 year old woman who was 6 months pregnant and walked on all fours, and her tail almost didn't hit her in the face because she was so close to them.
Gods forbid she dared imagine how she must have felt the first time her demon manifested itself after all this time.
she stood next to her to observe her"I can't believe it, how can she walk like that? she really looks like a tiger."
When they got home, she helped her up and carried her to the kitchen for breakfast; she had them wash their hands and faces, and then they began to eat.
It was at that moment that Celine witnessed Rumi's second difficulty: because of her teeth, she couldn't drink the milk in the cup, so like all cats do, she began to lap up the water with hes tongue.
Seeing her in that state, Celine took Rumi's cup. “Wait a second, Gomdori, let's try another way.”
Rumi watched her walk away sadly." i knew I was supposed to eat only the biscuits, now it makes her uncomfortable”I look down
She saw movement in front of her. Celine placed a bowl with floral motifs in it containing warm milk. “You should be able to drink it better now. Be careful, I've warmed up the milk for you.”
She sat back down and continued eating as if everything was normal, Rumi looked at her shocked, took the bowl and started drinking, yes definitely much better.
"Ouch!"
“I told you, it was hot” Celine said without taking her eyes off the newspaper.
✦✧✩✧✦
Before Rumi began to return to her human form Celine made a little close observation
“Can I see you closer? I want to see some things?” Celine was already in front of her but wanted her consent and Rumi nodded.
I look at the horns, two small ones on the central forehead and two large ones on the sides of the small ones, I touch them, they were connected to the skull bone so they certainly didn't fall off like deer antlers.
“Hmm.” Rumi closed her eyes and pursed her lips, her face red. Celine quickly pulled her hand away. “Sorry, Rumi, I didn’t think you were sensitive; I’ll be more careful.”
At that moment Rumi remembered the first time Zoey had touched her like that.
……..
….
..
“Wow, Rumi, they're huge,” Zoey said in amazement as she watched her. “I wonder how many goring you can give now! The demons will surely be afraid of you.”
Rumi looked at her, not knowing whether to be offended or amused by her statement.
Zoey, besides being obsessed with turtles, was a true lover of fantasy, especially monsters. And having a demon friend 24/7 was a blessing from heaven.
Zoey took her notebook and started writing, “Okay, wait a second, I have to draw you…wait…ok! *Ehm Ehm* Rumi, tiger demon.”
“What did you call me?!” Rumi said raising her voice “well I can't just write Rumi damn it!! I need a reference name, tiger is more appropriate I can't put sexy demon” Zoey said passively
"Wait what!!" Rumi's cheeks had turned red, she wanted to suffocate her at that moment
Zoey settled herself on the bed with her legs crossed. “Anyway, I was saying… Age 24, female, height 5'6", appearance… fuckable.”
“ZOEY!!”
“Okay, fine, fine, I'll delete it, there's no point in doing this, everyone knows you're hot! Even as a demon!” Zoey nervously deletes the text
“OK, head: it has 4 purple horns, to be precise two small and two large…but… do they come off? or are they attached to the head?”
Zoey approached, touched the right horn with her fingertips, not applying much pressure.
“ah~”
“oh fuck..”
The two stared at each other awkwardly, Rumi put her hands over her mouth and Zoey still remained with her fingers on the horn.
Zoey immediately turned red from what had just happened, she took notes in a hurry
“Oh my god, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I'm so sorry, damn it Zoey!!, ok, science evening is over!”
She immediately ran towards the door but was blocked, she felt a squeeze on her hand. She turned slowly
"Zoey, it's... it's okay, I didn't know either. I'll be more careful, I promise." Rumi smiled at Zoey, a little shyly with shame.
“No, I’m sorry, I should have asked you first if I could, I’m sorry…” Zoey looks back.
“...so Jinu grabbed you by the horns when you…” “ZOEY!!”
.
….
……
On the spine there were long scales on the back and down to the base of the tail.
As soon as Celine touched her lightly, Rumi turned around abruptly, her horns were sensitive but her tail was even worse.
She growled in protest even though she didn't want to. Only Mira could touch that area, her touch was always so delicate that Rumi never felt it when she touched her.
Celine raised her hand, "You're sensitive here too, I understand. Ok, I'll keep that in mind in the future, especially with the little one."
Rumi didn't want to growl at her but she didn't like being touched in that area, it was worse than when people want to touch her belly... but what problems do they have?
“Okay, observation finished, I won't touch you again I promise, but after this is done…”
Celine started scratching under her chin with gentle movements and the magic happened.
Rumi, unable to resist, began to purr, and her iridescent markings began to shine a pale gold color, and the whole room began to play "Purr....Purr.....Purr" Rumi let herself be carried away by the cuddles. Celine, for her part, was dying inside from the tenderness, how long since she had felt them.
Is she perhaps turning into a cat lady?
✩✧✦✧✩
Returning to her human form, Rumi changed into a loose-fitting lilac T-shirt and baggy Adidas pants. Lacking the strength to fix her hair, she placed two clips on the sides of her head to keep the stray locks from falling into her eyes.
Celine was in the living room with several ancient hunter manuals. Finally, she couldn't wait to find out what was happening to her.
she settled down next to Celine with difficulty, the sofa was old and it sank when you sat down "i when you decide to buy new sofas" I thought Rumi as she tried to get comfortable
On the table in front of them were several books stacked; four were placed in plain sight.
“Last night I did a quick search and found not just one book about it but 4. One of the previous hunters, Ji-eun as she was called, was in charge of writing down everything about demons; characteristic habits and attack strategies.” Celine picked up one of the books and opened it, handing it to Rumi.
Maseutipeu of Gwi-ma's
This type of demon is quite rare to find, usually when there are large hordes of demons nearby; although they have a calm and detached character;don't you dare let your guard down,they will have no mercy on you if you make a misstep.
Their name is based on loyalty to Gwi-ma, initially these demons were gods Jeoseung Saja, but showing devotion and respect towards their king, are “blessed” by him by assuming this form.
They take it when they are in trouble in case their human form is weak for combat or by order of the king to kill humans or other demons
but if they use this form very often they have more difficulty transforming into their original form and remain like this.
underneath was a hand-drawn drawing, a little rough for the time.
it was a human figure on all fours, his face was closer to that of a feline than that of a human,
a thick horn above the forehead, and two small ones on the sides formed large sharp teeth, the figure was hunched over and had enormous dorsal spines, which extended along the back, the tail was long and at the base had tufts, the paws were those of a lion; the claws were nice and thick, the marks were present everywhere, it was truly a monster.
Reluctantly I continue reading
They are often present in the world of the living, they feed on wild animals and fruits, but when this does not satisfy their appetite they can go to the villages to steal souls for their king and then Kill the victim by tearing him to pieces and then eat it.
Rumi stopped reading “Celine, why are there some dots….?” Celine looked at her “I think they deleted them since they wrote other things about it; perhaps as a correction”
Rumi was still puzzled, but I continued reading
When they are not on patrol they wander around alone, studying the territory, but sometimes they are together with another of their kind.
If there are more than 2 of them, they are setting up an ambush, or there is carnage nearby.
maximum attention their claws can tear the skin and it is difficult to heal, since their claws exude poison. (This is used to prevent the wound from healing so as tomake the prey die more easily)
Rumi looked at her hands remembering the day she attacked Zoey by scratching her arm
It took months for her to heal….
she closed her hand into a fist and held it to her heart, still unable to forgive herself for what she had done, especially if it was in the form of a demon.
She continued reading, accumulating information, when she got to the 3rd book, there were several pages that talked about "umm...Celine I can read this later...alone" her voice came out more embarrassed than usual.
Celine didn't pay attention and said yes, since she had already read that part and knew where this was going.
Then there was the last notebook, it was small and black with floral patterns… it looked modern and smelled of lavender…
"This wasn't written by Ji-eun…this…is your mother's notebook." Celine said with a veiled smile, her eyes burning.
Rumi hesitated to touch it, but then took it delicately, afraid of ruining something so precious.
You open it, and inhale the pages, lavender and paper mixed together.
her mother's handwriting was very clean, little smudges of ink here and there, then she read
First month of pregnancy,
Rumi stopped and looked suddenly at Celine “she..she wrate..”
“Yes darling, every month she wrote down what was happening and how her body was behaving,” Celine said, letting out a little laugh.
Being the first to fall in love with a demon, she wanted to leave a message for someone in the future, perhaps her daughter herself.
Rumi began reading step by step, until the 8th month, it was written: "I built a nest and my love helped me build it since I couldn't because of this pest, I think I need a quiet place for the birth. The more I spend time with him the more I learn a lot, it's really true that demons can love someone, even if they no longer have a soul"
Rumi was interrupted by her daughter, who was starting to make herself heard: "Hey darling, you're just like your mother, a little pest."
Rumi stroked her belly where the little girl had just hit her.
Celine meanwhile was observing her daughter in that tender gesture "do you want to feel it?" said Rumi offering her his hand
“oh..Well ” Celine held out her hand a little skeptically. Rumi took it gently and guided her. “Wait a second…”
And here comes a really strong kick: “Nari, this is your grandmother, don’t be so grumpy” there was another kick, but a gentler one.
Celine couldn't believe it. "It's a hurricane, this little creature... I wonder how lively she'll be when she's out here." Rumi snorted, smiling. "Please don't make me imagine it."
The two of them burst into laughter, a hearty laugh.
Celine took Rumi's hands and looked at her "if your mother was here, she would be proud of you, you know"
“Celine…”
✩✧✦✧✩
Rumi was sitting on the porch fixing her hair, trying with all her might to make her usual braid but without success.
"It's incredible, in less than 6 months I can't braid my hair anymore, and yet I climbed a tree the other night!" she huffed tiredly.
Celine hears her from the living room, "You need help?."
“Usually Mira and Zoey help me braid my hair, but with this belly it’s impossible,” Rumi said tiredly.
Nari kicked her right then and there. “I know you’re in there,” Rumi said, looking down at her belly.
Celine laughed under her breath as she saw that scene, “Wait, I’ll give you a hand.” Celine sat behind her and began to braid her hair.
“We are hunters, voices strong”
“Save soul with our song”
“Fix the world and make it right”
“When darkness finally meets the light”