text: [Themes: fantasy]
  
  I must admit, there are some qualities I've come to be fond of
  
  Especially their ability to love and be loved
  
  I've always wondered what it must feel like, a warm embrace
  
  Or what it'd feel like to plant a kiss on a warm face
  
  Of someone you love, for whom you would be willing to die
  
  Whose beauty matches even the brightest biggest butterfly
  
  Yes, it's true, I guess I'm quite envious of that ability
  
  Because when it comes to love, I lack that capability
  
  So I must waste away in this cave,alone, for the rest of my lifetime
  
  But it was nice to talk to you in the meantime.
  
  At that moment, the monster didn't look like much of a monster at all. In fact, it looked more like a helpless lonely creature in your eyes.
  
  > stay with them
  You dropped your sword to the ground and extended your hand towards the monster.
  
  "I'll change your mind about humans, I'll show you just how great we really are! While I'm at it, I'll show you what it's like to have a friend. What do you say? Wanna shake on it?"
  
  The monster stared at you inquisitively before grasping your hand with it's fingers and shaking gently.
  
  You spoke for hours about all kinds of things. You told the monster about your village and the people who live there. You told it about the expectations that were always pushed on you. You brought up your father and all of his feats. You told the monster about how you always thought he was an invincible warrior and loved him dearly, but he always smelled of blood which made you sick. You confided in the monster, feeling strangely comfortable.
  
  The monster began to tell it's own stories as well. The stories of battles it had survived, the humans it had known, and the wars it had seen with it's own eyes. The monster cried often thinking about all the death and sadness in the world. You thought about how admirable that was.
  
  Minutes turned to hours and hours turned to days. You went to the cave everyday to visit your friend. You talked about life and played silly games. You never learned the monster's name since it didn't have one for you to learn in the first place so you decided to name it yourself. You affectionately addressed them as Koletis.
  
  Four months passed by after becoming friends with Koletis. The other villagers started whispering all kinds of ridiculous rumors behind your back every time you left the village. You didn't blame them, they had no idea where you were going and you had no desire to tell them.
  
  One day while you tried to leave your house, your mother stopped you at the door. She demanded to know where you go everyday.
  
  Your mother was a quiet, distant, and broken woman. She hadn't always been broken, but she had always been distant. Growing up she was more like a caregiver rather than being a mother, and as far as you were concerned your father was your only real family. However, you still loved her and would easily die for her if it ever came down to that. The fact that she had asked you where you venture off to, and in such an insistent way, caught you completely off guard. Was this her way of trying to build a relationship with you?
  
  > tell her the truth
  You decided to take this opportunity to build a closer relationship with your mother and tell her everything that's been going on.
  
  You ramble endlessly about Koletis and the conversations that the two of you have had. You tell her of your fascinating friend who speaks in rhymes. You admitted to your mother that you didn't think that all monsters were bad anymore, in fact you thought that maybe a lot of them could be good. You tell her how you wish that father would have met Koletis himself so his opinion of monsters could have been changed.
  
  Your mother just starred at you with her lips pressed tightly into an emotionless expression. Her eyes weren't sad nor were they happy. The only emotion that you could possibly read was...disappointment. She gave you a small nod and walked out the door.
  
  You didn't think too much of it, it was 'mother being mother' you thought. You decided to do some chores around the house before you set off. You made some toast with strawberry jam to share with Koletis, you thought it would be something they might enjoy. Once you got settled you excitedly made your way to the cave.
  
  > Continue
  The closer you got to the cave the more uneasy you felt. A feeling of dread starts overtaking you making it harder and harder to take each step.
  
  Something wasn't right.
  
  You begin running despite your legs feeling like stone, you run faster and faster until you feel like the air itself.
  
  Finally you reach the cave.
  
  Your breathing has become sporadic, your whole body is trembling. Despite your body's warnings, you begin to enter the cave.
  
  "Koletis....?" your voice croaks. No response, just silence. Horrifying silence.
  
  You take a deep breath and fully step inside. Koletis is laying there, and all your worries vanished with a deep exhale. "You're just sleeping! You scared the crap out of me!" You walk towards Koletis but they're still unresponsive. "Hey? Koletis?" You reach out your hand and shake their body. "Koletis?"
  
  With another step you hear a light splashing noise beneath your feet. Red liquid now covers the bottoms of your shoes. "...Koletis?" You're shaking more vigorously now. "KOLETIS?" you scream, but get no reply.
  
  Finally the silence is broken, but not by your friend. "My son, I've killed the monster that's been brain washing you. Let us go home now."
  
  In the corner of the cave your mother stands there, she's soaked in blood that is not her own. In her hand is a knife.... the murder weapon used to kill the innocent creature whom you've grown to love so much. You collapse to the ground and begin to scream and endless amount of how could yous and whys.
  
  Your mother rests her hand on your shoulder. "There, there my son. Mommy killed the scary monster for you."
  
  A terrible concoction of emotions are now mixing within you. Anger, sadness, regret. Alls you can do is let your screams echo within the cave, the cave that was once home to your closest friend. The cave where you felt like you finally belonged.
  
  > get Revenge
  Through the blur of your tears, you see your father's sword in the same spot you left it. You begin to have sinful thoughts, thoughts of revenge...
  
  When you grab the sword you notice it feels different somehow, heavier almost.
  
  "Mother, say hello to father for me."
  
  Before she has a chance to react you pierce the blade through her throat. She makes a series of desperate gurgling noises while shakily reaching her hand towards you.
  
  "W...w..why?" she hopelessly stutters with her last breath, blood from her mouth spatters onto your face, but you do not flinch.Finally her body collapses to the ground. For some strange, the smell is not sickening to you like it usually is. It's a faintly sweet smell.
  
  You take one last look at the cave that held so many memories. Although it had only been 4 short months it had already felt like a lifetime. Nobody has ever understood you like Koletis had, and you knew that nobody ever would. You gently stroke Koletis' fur and force yourself to smile. You knew how much pain seeing people cry caused them so you wouldn't let yourself cry any longer.
  
  With your sword in your hand you make your way down a path outside of the cave. It wasn't a path to your village, it was an entirely new path. You were ready to start a new beginning and leave your old life behind you.
  
  A new and lonely life.