Chapter Text
Through the star lit night, Annie and her 2 other friends walk through the dark forest towards an old marsh they used to explore when they were around 5. The smallest of the batch walked head up eyes forward like a solider from the wall of Maria. Her two friends were a lot less say stoic as their 16 year old friend. They were out and about in the marsh area near their village looking for the local legend of a so called cursed child lurking and prowling the swamp. His appearance changed slightly from account to account but they say he has the dark grey scales of a dragon, claws of a werewolf to talons of falcons and a slight glowing (f/c) in the eyes. But one thing is for sure somethings out there.Her brawny friend Reiner was the one who always wanted to find lost treasures and hunt down terrifying monsters as a knight of the kingdom. But Bertolt the taller lanky one was more into the reading of history, things that don't involve getting killed by traps or mauled by a flesh eating ghoul.
"He..Hey Reiner do you know what we should do if we find the cursed child of the marsh?" Bertolt asked nervously.
The blonde teenage boy turned around and stated proudly;"We'll capture it and show everyone that he does exist and that we're the best. Better than the pros!"Annie just signed and rolled her eyes being the quiet cold friend of the group. As the trio of 15 year old walked and Reiner yapping the trees hid the thing they looked for orange eyes followed them as the walked through the man made trail. When they were out of sight talon clawed feet landed on the ground and the legs started to extend putting the creature at full height, standing at 6 foot 1, the beasts body was toned from the years of trucking through mud climbing trees and chasing prey for years. He cleaned his dirt covered claws and sniffed for his new attentions trail his humanoid face scrunching while sniffing for their scents.Finding it his face snarled ready to see what his new prey had to offer.
Awhile down the road the trio decided to had into the deeper marshes towards an old near dead tree they know. Reiner was the first one to sit his lazy ass down and relax. Bertolt joined him but Annie went to her old spot outta sight by a willow tree that somehow wasn't dead yet. As she relaxed she heard the trees ruffle like something moved. The blonde looked towards the location of the noise but she didn't see anything. She turned back around and closed her eyes and enjoyed the silence. However it was short lived and she heard rather heavy breathing.
Annoyed, she said;"Reiner of that's you I'm going to.." She trailed off as she looked around to see No-one around. She felt a presence above and and saw what she didn't even believe was real. The cursed child of the marsh. It stare right back at her (f/c) eyes filled with intensity as it crawled down the tree its talons scared the surface by its near human hands and it's thick hawk-clawed feet.It's leaped down as Annie fell over onto her ass. It slowly stood up menacingly. She noticed it didn't have any clothes on and she couldn't help but look down and in the first time in a while she blushed and looked away, she looked back as she heard foot steps but the creature was gone she saw her two friends walking up behind the tree.
"Yo Annie, you good?" Reiner asked and he noticed her shocked expression and blush
She slowly nodded and stood up and looked around rather quickly. Reiner and Bertolt both were saying something but it was drowned out by her seeing the (f/c) glow of two small dots in the trees. They quickly disappeared as quickly as she noticed them.
"I think we should head back." She stated quickly before walking rather quickly towards the path back to the village. The two boys chased after her asking question but she didn't answer just looked ahead with wide eyes.
As the group left, you left the tree and looked at them leaving. You're face had a irritated expression as you looked over the three of them. The brawny one would possible but up a good fight if the two of you fought. The tall one would be a easy kill but the small blonde was a mystery small yet her look had fire behind it, and a nice ass to boot. You turned away and headed to the tree the people rested at you climbed inside a opening and curled up into it and started to fall asleep to clear your head for the stalking of the village to see their routines to know when to strike.
The Next Day
Annie couldn't sleep much last night images of the Cursed Child kept playing over and over again in her mind as well as her reoccurring nightmare. She honestly didn't believe it to be true. But it was.
"Well, you're up early." Her father said as he entered the main room of their cabin
"I couldn't sleep well last night." She answered
"Whys that?" He asked getting his boots on ready for a hunt
"I don't know." She said rubbing her tired eyes
"Well, you should sleep again later toda..." He was cut off by a loud inhuman scream echo from the marshes the whole village froze even the dogs froze too.
Out of the dead tree you burst out screaming as the nightmare returned.
A dark room, flashes of experiments, and howls of humans and beasts alike. A man cutting animals and humans open. Tearing of flesh, the stench of blood, bile, and visceral everywhere. And a baby girl...blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, crying. And the man leaving everyone to suffer while he trends to the child.
You're face twists into anger and you run off to the village to well let's say question the teen you saw yesterday.
The whole village was a buzz of activity after hearing that strange scream from the marsh. The local hunters split off half of them stayed in case something went wrong while the other half went put to find what made that noise.
Annie stood outside her father's cabin looking as the hunters left into the marsh. She walked off to find Reiner and Bertolt to tell them what made that noise.
"Where is Bertolt and that asshat?" She said looking for a good 10 minutes everywhere.
She eventually found Armin a kid who she knew in the tavern reading quietly as usual and Reiner was no where to be seen. She walked to him and asked where Reiner was.
"He's probably off training or something." Armin said rather straight forward he always gets like hat when he reads
She left and sighed, walking into the now semi calm crowd she kept searching for her two friends.
With in the tree line your (f/c) eyes looked through the crowd looking for someone or something you can use to sneak in without causing a panic.
Eventually you found a old shack on the edge of the village. Crawling low, you got into it by a broken board and by surprise you found a rather rugged trousers and a worn near black robe. The trousers were a little loose but they would serve their purpose. You threw your hood up to conceal your face and inhuman features before leaving the shed and tried to find the blonde teens scent.
You searched for awhile but eventually amount the smell of sweat, shit, and dirt you found her rather nice scent. After following it, you found a cabin near the edge of the village on the opposite side of where the shack was.
"If I'd known this I wouldn't of needed to walk." You thought before going to the back without looking suspicious.
Seeing an open window you entered into the log cabin to see that no ones home. you crept around inside looking to see what might be here to help with seeing if that blonde has something to do with the nightmare. Outside the blonde person of interest finally found her friends and dragged them back to her cabin to tell them what she saw.
"So you know something about that scream earlier?" Reiner asked rather interested
Annie simply nodded as she walked with the two in tow. Hearing the doorknob move, you leaped into the rafters to hid in the shadows. The three from yesterday appeared and walked to the few chairs by the unlit fireplace. Slowly and quietly, you made your way closer to hear what they say and to get a better look at them.
"Okay, so tell us what you want us to know." Renier said leaning on the near by wall while Annie and Bertolt sat on the chair.
Annie sighed and began to tell them what she saw, Bertolt broke out in a cold sweat, not being used to the sight and speak of monsters while Reiner was cheering.
"HAHA! I fucking knew it existed!" Reiner said fist pumping in the air.
"Be quiet you idiot." Annie scolded him not wanting people to hear him.
"I..it does exist?" Bertolt asked very nervously
"In a world where dead bodies either become undead or drowners I'm not surprised." Reiner said
Before anyone could get another word in a couple village hunters knocked. Reiner answered;"Hello?"
"We're here to ask you a couple questions we found tracks near the path some of the other villagers saw you and your friends took yesterday." A middle aged man asked, the two teen boys left the cabin to go outside to answer the questions.
Annie leaned back into her chair and signed happy shes alone now, as much as she like them she likes being alone more. Seeing a opportunity you crept above her and growled enough to get her attention. The blonde opened her eyes rather quickly and looked up at the source of the noise and saw you. Leaping down from the dust ridden rafters you stood up and stared eye to eye with the girl.
"I have some questions for you." You stated harshly in a slightly deep snake like voice as you removed the cloak
She stared wide eyed for the time you spoke but she gathered her courage and stared back at you with a glare that even made you look somewhat surprised.
"I don't know what you want from me but piss off." She said harshly
Your eye twitched as you open your mouth to say something back;"I want to know why I have nightmares of the dark room and I remember a child probably a baby with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes and you the only one I have seen before with those features before. And i want to know why i exist!" You nearly yell out of rage and lust to know the truth.
Before anyone could get another word in Reiner and Bertolt came back in and both were very surprised to see their 5 foot tall friend starring down this 6 foot monster starring back with (f/c) eyes filled with intensity. Bertolt fainted while Reiner started stuttering before saying or more like yelling;"Its the Cursed Child!" Getting the attention of the hunters that stayed in the village, it also got the attention of the two of you.
Snarling you jumped and tore through the roof and jumped across roofs as people screams and ran to get weapons to protect themselves. making it to the edge of the village before you got hit in the thigh by a arrow shot by a dusty blonde man. Blood dripping you glared at him and screeched loudly before leaping into the forest out of their sight and took cover.
Annie left her cabin and hearing screams and yelling, the village was running around looking for either a place to hide or a weapon. She saw her father running to check on her his graying blonde hair dirty from the marsh. The large man asked;"Are you okay Annie?"
"Yes I'm fine dad." She said as he checked for any wounds on her person.
"Oi Leonhardt!" A Older man yelled being a friend of Mr. Leonhardt
"Yes Rianolf?" He said
"Nice work hitting that freak! Now we got a trail to find him. Get ready and come help get the hounds!" Rianolf said running off half way through his sentence.
Mr. Leonhardt stated:"Annie stay inside with Reiner and help get Bertolt awake and don't come anywhere near the marsh." With that said he walked off towards the rest of the hunters while Annie went inside to help.
Limping, you tried to find a place to hide.
"I'm going to kill that fucking guy! Arrr!" You yelled falling as your right thigh gave out from the arrow. Loosing your mind you ripped the serrated arrow from your leg and screamed scaring birds and woodland animals away from your position. Hearing running footsteps, you forced yourself up and started to run, or more like fast limping. Quickly after you started running, you heard dogs barking and knew this was getting worse for you. Running as fast you can yoou start to slow down from the pain in your leg. Dropping you turn around to get a boot to the face, blacking out you were dragged back to the village to get caged til they figure out what do with you.