TeBeautySlayer-1

    Themsunhadjustpeekedoverthehorizonwheirredawake.Risingearlywasahabitingrainedinhersincechildhood.Oneshecouldn''''''''tshake,evenafterfourteenyearslivingamonghumans.

    AsMoxihadooldher,somethichedintoherverygenes.Ungeable.

    Whatwasthatwain?

    Ah,right.Instinct.

    Reya''''''''searliestmemaditch.

    Backthen,shedidn''''''''tevenhaveaname.ReyawaswhatLutergaveher.

    Whenhereyesfirstopeheworldwasablur.Herfrailbodywascoatedinawarm,stickyfluidthatgunfortablytoherskin.Thesurroundingswerequiet,serehswayingshadowsoftrees.Notfaraale,human-shapedsilhouetteymotionlessinthegrass.

    Astrangebird''''''''scrysuddenlypiercedtheair,andherfragilelittlebodytrembled.Drivenbyinstinct,shecrawledtowardthatsilhouette.

    Thefewstepstookay.Twigsandgravelscrapedherdelicateskin,leavingtrailsofclearfluidbehind.

    Atst,shecurledupbesidethefemalecorpseahenightthere.

    Thatwomanhadbeenher"mother".OrsoReyahadalwaysbelieved.Likeeverynewborureinthisworld,thefirstimageimprinteduponherbecameindelible.

    ItwasthesamewithLu.Hehadbeeher"father".

    Herslenderlegsslippedfrombehesheets,barefeetsinkingintotheplushrug.Shecastagncebackatthepristiebedding,asifstnight''''''''sstrugglehadneverhapp