Amber of its cruelity

[FLASHBACK — NIGHT, ABANDONED HUT — AFTER KILLING THE WITCH]

Cadrit storms through a creaking door, dragging something heavy — a teenage girl, bound and gagged, thrown down like cargo.

He rips off the filthy black cloth covering her mouth.

CADRIT (low growl)

"So… tell me. Are you scared of death?"

The girl spits out dirt — eyes dull but defiant.

LUNA

"Kill me if you want. I don't care. I've got no reason to live anyway."

Cadrit's eyes narrow — he tilts his head, studying her face like a puzzle.

"Why? Why say that?"

LUNA

"No family. Nobody wants me around. I'm nothing. Just garbage."

Cadrit sits down — huge, monstrous — but his voice softens, almost curious.

"You're like me, then."

He snorts, shakes his head.

"How about you come with me instead?"

Luna blinks — a flicker of doubt in her tired eyes.

"Are you sure? You're not afraid I'll stab you in your sleep?"

Cadrit's lip curls into a lopsided grin.

"I trust you. Not 'cause of your pretty face — but 'cause I see it. Same emptiness. Same reason to live that's half dead already."

He reaches out, big clawed hand hovering near her shoulder.

"Sometimes that's enough. To find something else to live for."

For the first time, Luna looks unsure — but she nods, tiny.

"Okay. If you mean it… then okay."

---

[NEXT — ON THE ROAD — SAME NIGHT]

A creaking old horse trudges down a dirt path under a dead moon.

Cadrit sits at the front — Luna behind him, wrapped in an old blanket.

"This life's an ass, huh?" Cadrit mutters, staring at the path ahead.

Luna leans her head on his back — voice quiet.

"I just wanna be safe for once. If death wants me, let it come. But not tonight."

Cadrit's monster face twists into a rare, soft smile.

"Good to see you talk like that. Kinda funny, not gonna lie."

Luna pokes him in the ribs, playfully annoyed.

"You're weird. A monster trying to be nice."

"Anyways," Cadrit grumbles, flicking the reins.

"I'm going to my work tomorrow. If you wanna stay in that old house, stay. Or come with me — up to you."

[ght

[FLASHBACK CONTINUES — CADRIT'S HOUSE, NIGHT FALLS]

After Cadrit rides away to "work", Luna stays behind in the creaking old house — wooden floorboards, broken windows, but the wind still drifts through. She sits by the open door, feeling the breeze brush her hair.

LUNA (soft, to herself)

"It's been so long since I could just sit and feel the wind. So free… it's good."

Hours pass — the sun dips. Suddenly, a rustle outside.

A cheetah, lean and hungry, appears at the edge of the clearing — yellow eyes locked on Luna.

Her breath catches — she backs up, but the cheetah pounces.

She scrambles out, stumbling into the dusty yard, running barefoot — fear pounding her heart.

Then — a heavy footstep. The cheetah freezes — stares past her.

Cadrit stands there, back from his work, eyes like cold steel.

The cheetah growls, lowers to attack — but Cadrit steps forward once. The beast flinches. Another step — the cheetah bolts back into the trees, gone.

He watches the darkness for a moment before turning to Luna.

"You good?" he grunts.

She breathes hard, nods. "Yeah… thanks for helping me."

Cadrit shrugs, scratches his neck awkwardly.

"S'nothing. Just a cat with spots."

He drops a bloody sack on the table — raw meat.

"I got food. But, uh… can't cook. I just eat it raw."

Luna wrinkles her nose, half-laughing. "You shouldn't. Raw meat can make you sick. It's bad for you."

"Huh? Why?"

"Parasites. Disease. You'll get weak — maybe die. Let me cook it for you, okay?"

Cadrit blinks, then nods like a confused kid. "Alright. If you say so."

---

[A WHILE LATER — INSIDE THE CABIN]

A tiny fire crackles in a broken hearth. Luna cooks — her hair messy, sleeves rolled up.

The smell of roasted meat and fresh mango juice fills the air.

Cadrit watches her from the rickety table, fascinated.

"Smells good," he mutters, sniffing the air like a big animal.

Luna smiles shyly — sets the plate in front of him.

"Try it. How is it?"

Cadrit rips a piece with his sharp teeth, chews, eyes widening.

"Good. Really good. Best thing I ever had, probably."

He stares at her, then at the flickering fire.

"Always thought normal people used magic to make food taste like this."

Luna giggles. "No magic, silly. Just fire. And care."

Cadrit grins back, almost shy. "Good to know."

They sit by the fire, eating together — warmth crackling in the cold night.

---

[THEIR STORIES — OPENING UP]

After a while, Cadrit leans back, picks at the wooden table.

"Tell me who left you behind. You said you got no family — how?"

Luna watches the flames dance, voice quiet but steady.

"I did have a family. Just normal people. But they found out I could heal. Kings and nobles came for me — wanted to own me. When I ran, they killed my father. My mother. Burned my home. I've been running ever since. And now here I am."

Cadrit nods slowly.

"Same as me. My ma pushed me in the ocean when monsters came — she saved me. But I washed up alone. Found out I wasn't human — just an ogre. Killed to survive. Ate to live. Guess it's the same for both of us."

He reaches into his coat, pulls out an old iron key.

"My ma gave me this too. Said it was important. Never knew why."

Luna scoots closer — eyes gentle in the firelight.

"Can I say something?"

"Say it."

"I… I love you." She looks down, embarrassed but brave.

"I really do. I feel safe with you. Like… you're the first person who looked at me and didn't want to own me."

Cadrit tilts his head — the word love still foreign.

"Love… is when someone… really likes someone, right?"

Luna laughs softly, brushes her fingers over his hand.

"Yes. You have feelings too, Cadrit. You do."

She leans in — presses her lips to his. For a heartbeat, the world feels less cruel.

Cadrit's claws twitch — he cups her face, awkward but gentle.

"Then I love you too."

---

[SCARS REVEALED]

As they sit close, Luna touches the needle-like scars on his side.

"What are these?"

Cadrit's eyes darken.

"My father did that. Long time ago. He said monsters need to bleed. Guess I was his monster."

Luna traces a scar with her fingertip — her touch soft as the wind from before.

"You don't have to hold it alone anymore. I'll carry your pain too, okay?"

He nods, pressing his forehead to hers.

"And I'll carry yours."

In that broken cabin, two monsters sit side by side — finding warmth in a world that gave them none.

Together, even if only for tonight — they believe they might be more than monsters.

---