Only Human Chapter 7

Discovered
The curfew was a success for the time being. The attacks have stopped since no one was leaving their homes at night. Groups of three to five guards were posted around different spots along the districts to keep vigilance and enforce the curfew. Each attack that has happened so far has been marked on a map of the complete Soul Society. Some patterns were emerging, but nothing ground breaking yet. Some of the other captains were getting frustrated with each other for failed attempts or lack of information. Kūkaku has been keeping Toushiro updated on anything she found about the disappearances. Levi still hasn’t completely regained all of his confidence yet, but he was working on it with Toushiro’s help. However the soldier was competing with the young captain’s siblings for his time.
Malana: “Come on, Big Brother! You promised you’d show us your snow powers today!”
Toushiro: “I did?”
Toboe: “A-huh!”
Levi: “Yeah you did.”
Toushiro: “Damn... Sorry, Levi. I can’t help ya today.”
Levi: “That’s alright. I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow, Toushiro.”
Toushiro: “Yeah, ok. Again sorry.”
And Levi left for home. As he did he couldn’t stop thinking about something. The area of the attacks is large, but they appeared to be localized around one area. The Red Meadow. It was odd. The attacks started happening right after they dealt with that hollow that appeared there. Perhaps the answer was back where it all started. Back at the Red Meadow. Levi stopped and pondered for a moment. It was the only place Vegeta hasn’t checked, and all the attacks were around that area. The question is: Did Levi dare to go and find out? He didn’t know where Vegeta was, and even then the likelihood of the prince believing him was slim. He couldn’t go to any of the other captains, they were too busy arguing about the whole thing to actually do anything. And of course Toushiro was busy. Sure he’d believe him, but trying to explain something like this to his little brother and baby sister would take too long with no guarantee of success. There really was no other option. Levi headed to the Red Meadow alone. It was a fair walk and he got there just before twilight started setting in. However he did not enter the meadow. The memories of that day, that day when all his problems began and Vegeta’s anger with him swelled, replayed in his mind as clearly as the sun shined. So vividly that it made him hesitate. He feared the meadow for good reason. The Red Meadow stretched across a vast area of land, a full days walk from one end to another. It didn’t stretch out vertically, but rather horizontally, looping around a forest in almost a sickle shape. One stretch of the meadow was short and the rest was covered by the tall chest high red grass that gave it its name. The cliffs that Levi has had trouble climb were further to the west of his location. He looked around from the edge of the forest, scanning the horizon for anything. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It was starting to get dark however. Getting too dangerous to be out here alone. Levi started to head back. He’d tell Toushiro first thing in the morning.
But when he turned around...
Levi: “*Gasp!*”
Six pairs of gleaming bright red eyes gazed at him! They had him cut off from the forest and started forcing him to back up into the meadow! As Levi backed up, the unknown creatures followed him. When they stepped out into the meadow and the light of the sun, the soldier came face to face with the creatures responsible for all the disappearances. They were no bigger than an average dog, but they well equipped as predators. Dark red beasts with sharp black stripes along their bodies from their noses to the tips of their long tails. A raptor or dog like head and neck with obvious fangs. They walked on their four long legs but their front legs were dexterous enough to be used as hands and were equipped with large sharp claws. Short but powerful bodies. These things didn’t look like anything Levi’s ever heard about. What were they?! But it was obvious that they were the predators behind the attacks... And all six of them were hungry. They kept herding Levi further out into the meadow slowly, toying with the human. Their roars and barks were terrifying. Levi kept backing up, unaware that he was running out of room. They were strategically backing him up to a boulder to trap him. The largest of the six roared and caused a flock of ravens to scatter and fly away. But by doing so, it just sealed its own fate. Just a few miles away, Vegeta was heading back when he heard the raven’s caws. The prince looked up and saw where they were flying from. But there was something more disturbing. The saiyan listened to their caws and heard them shouting: “Danger! Danger! The beasts are back! Human in their sights! Flee! Flee!”
Vegeta: “A human?...”
Vegeta focused in the direction they were leaving. He sensed it clearly. He sensed the creatures... And one other.
Vegeta: “Levi?!”
Quickly the saiyan headed for the meadow as quick as he could. Meanwhile the creatures had Levi cornered between a boulder and themselves. When he ran out of room, the soldier just froze with fear. But he was in luck. Vegeta leaped out to the edge of the meadow and saw everything. He saw Levi and he saw the creatures.
He knew what they were.
Vegeta: “It can’t be- Hunters!!”
There was no time to get help.
Vegeta: “Levi, run!”
When the soldier didn’t move, Vegeta bolted across the meadow! Just when the Hunters were almost on top of their quarry, one was sharply pulled back and thrown across the meadow by the saiyan prince! The other five turned and confronted the large saiyan with roars and barks! Vegeta roared at them and one lunged for him! Vegeta stood up and thrusted his hand into the chest of the creature while throwing it to the side. That one was dead but there were still more. Seeing their pack mate killed enraged the others! They attacked the saiyan with fierce ferocity! Claws dug into his flesh as the saiyan pulled them off of him one by one before they had a chance to bite him! The first one that had been thrown across the field returned but was killed instantly as its skull was kicked in with one bash! One Hunter went for Levi, who was still frozen in place! But the thing shrieked as Vegeta clamped his teeth down around its neck before severing the spine completely! The last three attacked the saiyan together, jumping up onto him from every angle! One was trying to tear his stomach open but it was pulled off and killed! The last two were bucked off and Vegeta immediately charged one! He slammed his body against it and bashed it to the ground! However it was still alive. Just before he could kill it, Vegeta roared out in pain as the other one jumped onto his back and started clawing at him! Desperately the prince reached for it until he finally got a hold of it! He tore it off his back, snapped its neck, and tossed it with maximum strength at the last one, the impact so hard that it alone killed the last Hunter! The saiyan panted as he caught his breath and looked at the bodies. The Hunters were now all dead, but there was a serious problem. These Hunters were just juveniles! Which meant... Vegeta glanced over at Levi who was still frozen with fear, but he was looking up at something else now and Vegeta turned around to see. There... Four mature adults emerged slowly from behind the leaves, angry at the death of their young! The saiyan knew they had to run and now!
Vegeta: “RUN, LEVI!!”
But Levi remained still, still frozen with fear! They didn’t have time for this and Vegeta shoved the soldier to the ground as he screamed at the top of his lungs!
Vegeta: “GO, NOW!!!”
Getting shoved to the ground was exactly what Levi needed to break his fear induced trance! The moment he was on the ground he quickly got up and made a mad beeline for the woods with Vegeta right behind him, screaming at him to go faster! Even after entering the thick woods the saiyan urged the human to keep going as fast as he could! Only when they were a sufficient distance away, and Levi’s lungs about to burst, did they finally stop. The saiyan prince was still on edge and for good reason. But right now, he was even more angry than nervous. After making sure they weren’t followed, Vegeta turned his angry gaze upon Levi.
Vegeta: “What in the hell were you thinking?! Those creatures are DANGEROUS!!”
Levi: “I *pant, pant* I didn’t know!-”
Vegeta: “-Do you even know what would’ve happened if I hadn’t gotten there in time?! You would’ve been-”
The saiyan stopped, never finishing his sentence. Fear, horror and sadness deeply expressed his face at the thought of what could’ve happened.
Vegeta: “... If I say run; you RUN! DON’T YOU EVER FREEZE LIKE THAT AGAIN, LEVI!! EVER!!!!”
A long pause was taken for Vegeta to settle down. But the damage had been done and Levi hung his head down as he shut his eyes.
Vegeta: “Come! We must notify everyone at once! This is more serious than I could’ve ever imagined!”
As the saiyan walked away, Levi slowly followed behind, keeping his face hidden from view. The soldier, who was normally strong and stern with his emotions, couldn’t hold back a few tears this time.