"Monster" by Reuth Dekel

“That’s four” Shawne smiled and licked his chin, tasting the blood. “It is disgusting”
Karina said “you disgust me” she wanted to add, but held her tongue. Shawne just
gave her his most adorable grin, diverting his head as saying “What did I do?” he
tossed the dead wolf into the river. Karina did not even look at him; she was too
busy examining a gentle wild rose. As much as she loved roses, they could not
bear her inhuman touch. “Come on, Kari; let’s play your favorite game”. She
nodded, repressing the sight she witnessed, putting the memory behind a shutter
together with the others. Shawne paced towards her until she could smell the stench
of death from his body. He was much taller than her, much stronger too, but she was
not afraid. They needed each other. He is the body, she is the mind. Suddenly she
leaped six cubits high, concaving her back. She roared eerily, a roar that made the
sleeping birds fly away in fright. She landed on her feet cushions so softly, that it
barely made a sound. Shawne jumped and roared too, but as he landed the earth
trembled. He weight even more than he looked. Then they waited. Two minutes later,
a light was seen from a distance. “Now?” Shawne whispered. “Wait” Karina replied.
The light came closer; it was a torch light, carried by a thin figure. Karina signed,
and the two monsters leaped on the closest tree, hiding in its foliage. The figure was
almost underneath them, and then it stopped. It took off its hood, revealing
light brown hair and pointy ears. She sought, like every time, the source of the
roars. ‘How beautiful, as always’ Karina thought ‘my wild rose’. She heard Shawne
suppressing a laugh. “That Elf is so stupid” he murmured “won’t she ever stop
looking after imaginary monsters?” Karina stabbed her elbow in his arm, yet he
continued “Kari, I have an idea. Ever tasted elfish blood?” Karina was shocked.
How could he think of hurting such a marvel? She never told him the real reason she
liked this game. It was not for the laughs, the excitement or the danger. It was only
because of that Elf. “Sit still, stupid, elves are off limit” she whispered. The elf
lowered her head in disappointment. She really wanted to find the monster tonight.
And it sounded so close! She put the hood back, and walked away. When she was no
longer in sight, Karina and Shawne landed on the ground. “You know, that is so
fun!” He sniggered “but we really need to go back now, the sun is coming back, and
the men will come with it”. He reached his hand towards Karina, but she just stared
at the soil. “You go ahead, I want to do something. Alone” she added. Shawne
looked at her, disturbed. She was never so sad, but he knew that she is smarter than
him. ‘If Kari wants to stay alone, let her’ he thought, and left for their home.

Karina looked at the corpse of the wolf, floating in the dark water. Then she turned
her head, and saw once again the wild, beautiful flower. She grabbed the rose in her
hands, pressing it so strongly until her flesh was cut and she bled her unearthly
blood. To the touch of it, the rose withered. Karina loosened her grasp and cried for
the first time in one hundred years.