Askninjagansevent Ending: Into The Unknown
Birchwood was always harsh to camp in. It was cold no matter the weather, muddy and gloomy the deeper you went in. Only the most professional of wilderness survivors could stand to live in such conditions. Except Hiro, he was by no means a professional at anything, just exceptionally stubborn.
So while Mei tried to lure him inside the van the 2 arrived in with potato chips and a warm, fat cat to hug he insisted on camping outside. He’d set up bait and a motion tracker not far from the site; if the birchwood oni took it then with the first master as his witness he’d be there to get evidence.
Sometime during the night he awoke to a faint beeping, the remote for the motion tracker going off. Something was there.
Scrambling out his tent Hiro grabbed his glasses and phone, his heart pounding like a kid hearing santa come down the chimney. In the excitement he left without waking Mei as she asked. He’d only be gone for a moment, he could surprise her with his world-changing proof in the morning.
He dashed through the woods to where he set up the bait, screeching to a halt when he heard rustling behind the bushes.
He peeked through, seeing a black blob wolf down the slice of chocolate cake left out on a plate on the ground. Wow, the people online were right, the oni really liked cake.
Ok, stay calm, get out your phone dummy. No traps, no tampering with the specimen, just get a good picture and stay hidden. Easy as ramen.
This was it, this was his big moment! He positioned his phone just above the leaves and took a picture. There was a bright flash.
The creature flinched back with defensive growl as Hiro fumbled with the phone. Another accidental flash, the beast snarled.
No no no not the flash. Hiro gripped it tight and turned on the flashlight, popping up from the bush.
“I-I’m sorry to bother you mr.oni sir I’m just a cryptid blogger and I really wanted to know- if...”
The illuminated figure revealed itself as a bear. A very big, very angry bear.
Hiro screamed as it lunged.
He bolted away but it easily kept chase, bashing at his leg and tackling him. Pain engulfed the lower half of his body while the bear let its immense weight crush him under its paws.
It sniffed up his back side and snorted at his hair, it’s hot breath burrowing down like thick must. He lightly felt its teeth nibbling at his head, as if to see if he’d be a better desert. The young cryptid hunter was frozen on the ground with tears in his eyes.
He barely worked up the strength to cry. “Oh god, someone help me!”
Another roar called out, but not from the bear. It sounded too human, but not entirely so either. In an instant something tackled the beast off him and wrestled it. Every time the bear tried to collect its meal the other creature pulled it away or clawed at its hide, using itself as a shield between the two.
The beast slammed its paw against the ground, making the dirt momentarily rise and the rocks shake. With a final snarl the bear retreated back into the woods.
Hiro kept himself hidden until a claw tapped his arm.
“Are you ok?” An almost human voice asked.
Hiro looked up; he didn’t have his glasses anymore, so all he could make out was a fuzzy black figure, but it was enough for him to know who it must’ve been. His heart palpitated a little from the shock.
“Yeah...” He barely croaked. “Are you the, uh-the...oni?”
“Sure.” They chuffed. “But that’s not important. Are you crazy? You’ve could’ve gotten really hurt!”
It stepped away as it scolded him, reaching for something. Hiro felt a tinge of frustration, but let it slide.
“Here. They’re broken, but it’s better to have them.” The oni handed him his glasses.
One lens was completely gone, the other very broken, but he could see well enough. With a slightly better look the oni seemed not much taller than a normal human, scratches all over its shoulders and back, with tangled hair covering most of its face.
“Weird, I thought you’d look...different? Like, scarier?”
They shrugged. “Can you get up?”
“My leg really hurts.” He felt the pain surge when he tried to move.
“Don’t worry, I gotcha.”
They scooped the teen up effortlessly, picking a direction and walking back through the woods. It felt surprisingly awkward, Hiro couldn’t think of what to say for once.
“So, would you mind doing, like, an interview? A lot of people would like to know about you.”
They were quiet for a moment. “I’m trying to stay low. Actually, this never happened, ok?”
Hiro resigned himself. “Sure.”
By the time they were done they arrived at the campsite. The oni gently placed him onto the sleeping bag he’d left only minutes ago.
“Do you need any help? Like, an ambulance?”
“Nah, my friend’s in the van.”
They nodded, disappearing back into the underbrush. Hiro stared up at the stars for as long as he could remember afterwords.
__________________________________________________________
Mei meandered her way out of the van the next morning, Mao Mao following her and running over to cuddle on Hiro’s chest. He was covered in mud and scratches, stinking up a storm.
“Pfft, you look ilke a mess.” She joked.
“I am.” He sighed.
“Hey Mei?”
“Yeah?”
“I think my leg’s broken.”
