Chapter 2

I followed Ozcar through a small door in the back of the dilapidated factory building. Upon entering the pungent reek of stale blood and seminal fluid bombarded my olfactory senses. A powerful wave of nausea overtook me, and I had to grab onto a nearby oil drum to keep from falling to my knees.

"Many of your kind have met their end here," Ozcar commented, his whiskers twitching in agitation. "It is not surprising that you should be overcome. However, we don't have time to let this slow us down. Now that we are out of sight, I can take you to the Forest Goddess' temple. Take hold of my tail. Hold tightly now!" I did as he asked, and instantly, my surroundings became a whirling blur of light and dark. After a few disorienting seconds of this odd sensation, the ground was thrown back beneath my feet, and I stumbled forward, nearly crushing Ozcar beneath me.

"Woah!" He cried, darting out from under me just in time. "We'll have to work on your teleportation preparedness!"

"Where are we?" I asked in wonder, gazing at the still, peaceful grotto I suddenly found myself in. We were surrounded on all sides by tall trees, but we were standing in a large clearing, about twenty meters across on all sides. There was a small spring in the center, and it was bubbling and gurgling softly in the background. Other than that, the area was featureless. It appeared as though we had arrived in a large, nondescript forest.

"This is the temple of the Forest Goddess," Ozcar explained, trotting up to the spring and staring eagerly into the water. "You'll have to jump into the spring with me if you wish to continue. But I have to warn you - difficult tests await you before you can gain audience with the goddess. You can only succeed if your resolve is strong enough, and you keep your head."

"I'm still not sure what I'm getting myself into," I remarked, stepping forward and staring curiously at the spring. "What happens if I fail?"

"Then you become a servant to the Goddess and will never be allowed to leave this temple," Ozcar replied gravely. "From that moment on, your humanity will disappear, and you will become a forest sprite, living only to tend to the needs of the goddess and her temple. Very few people are given this opportunity, but even fewer have their desires granted."

I took a few moments to take that in. It sounded like some kind of RPG video game. Could it be real? Goddesses, sprites... those were the stuff of legends and mythology. But then again, so were kitsune, or fox spirits, like the one I was standing next to. I sighed. It was a difficult thing... to risk never seeing my family or my friends again. Not to mention the fact that if I didn't show up for school on Monday, I'd get suspended for the last time, and I'd never be able to make it into high school with my friends. My friends... they reminded me of the reason I'd started this whole business in the first place. As long as the sex beasts remained they were all in danger. Miki wasn't the only girl from our school who'd been attacked, and unless something was done, she wouldn't be the last. I sighed again and clenched my hands into fists. What the hell? Being a forest sprite would be better than being raped by a sex beast, after all.

"I'll do it," I said at last. "If it'll help make me strong enough to fight the sex beasts, I'll do whatever it takes."

"Excellent!" Ozcar cried. "In that case, let me transform into a more suitable shape for our journey." He leapt up into the air, and with a small popping sound, he instantaneously transformed into a humanlike creature. He had a shrewd, youthful face with sly, slanty eyes and a pronounced black nose. He still had his furry ears and bushy tail, but despite these differences, he looked very much like a human. "That's better," he sighed, stretching his limbs a bit and swishing his tail. "I prefer this form the most. Unfortunately, I can't assume it while I'm in the human realm."

As I looked at him with obvious interest, he shot me a mischievous grin. "Are you ready?" He asked me.

"Yes," I agreed. "What do I do?"

"Take my hand," he ordered, offering me a slender hand. The nails on his fingers were well-pronounced and decidedly pointy. "And we will jump in on 3. One... two... THREE!" Together we leapt into the center of the spring.

I barely had time to hold my breath before the cold water swallowed me. When I opened my eyes to see, I was amazed at the sight I found. Inside the water it was as clear as any air, and it felt just as light. All around me were strange plants and animals, and I couldn't even see an end to the cavern we found ourselves in. I suddenly heard a voice ring inside my ears, and I nearly exhaled all my air from surprise.

"You don't have to hold your breath," it commanded. "This water is enchanted. You can breathe." It was Ozcar, and I looked at him in surprise. He took a couple of deep breaths to show me that he was telling the truth, and I - reluctantly at first - exhaled and then inhaled the strange liquid. Sure enough, I felt no discomfort in breathing the light substance around us.

Ozcar tugged at my hand and pointed at what appeared to be large grouping of fish and other animals a great distance below us. He tugged again, and showed me that we could swim, and that I was to go down there.

"That is where the Forest Goddess resides," he explained, speaking aloud. "We have to swim there if we are to gain an audience with her. From here I must leave you. You have to get there on your own."

"I see," I responded, amazed at how simple it was to speak while submersed. "Will I see you again?"

"Oh yes," he replied. "Assuming you make it to the goddess, that is. I will meet you there." Without another word, he let go of my hand and took off like an arrow toward the waiting congregation below. Steeling my nerves, I began to swim after him.

"I wonder what kind of tests he was talking about," I thought to myself. Before I had taken more than six strokes, I suddenly felt something warm, soft, and slimy wrap around my ankles. I looked up to see a large octopus - bright red and at least twenty feet long with its tentacles extended - pulling me towards its center, its beak clicking menacingly. I shrieked and kicked my legs, hoping to startle it into letting go of me. Unfortunately, it seemed to have no such intention, and before I had time to react, it had wrapped tentacles around my legs, arms, and neck. It was quickly apparent that I was no physical match for its powerful arms, and although I struggled with all of my might, I knew it was of little use.

"The octopus will let you go if you remain still," a strange, feminine voice said calmly within my mind.

"Who's that?" I cried, shrieking again as the octopus suddenly snaked a curious tentacle under my skirt.

I got no reply. And the octopus was becoming increasingly interested in what I was hiding underneath my clothes. As I thrashed about in protest, it coiled its tentacle around the crotch of my panties and pulled them down to my knees. While it did this, it slid another one into my shirt and began probing inside my brassiere. I cursed and swore at it, all the while struggling harder and harder as the situation became more embarassing and uncomfortable. This was no better than being entangled in a sex beast's tentacles!

"If you don't stop moving, it may investigate you more intimately," the voice continued, a hint of humor tugging at the edge of her voice.

Shuddering involuntarily, I decided to try what she suggested and stop moving. At first this only prompted the octopus to take advantage of me even further, rubbing the tip of a tentacle against one of my breasts, and rubbing another against the lips of my vagina. Biting my lip and quelling my desire to fight back, I allowed it to continue, until it suddenly disentangled itself and pushed me away in a disinterested, almost disgusted sort of way. As it swam away, I quickly pulled my panties back up and swam as hard as I could for my destination. What kind of test was that, anyway?

I continued to swim without incident for the next several minutes, noting with satisfaction that I could swim very quickly in the light water. When I was only a hundred yards away, I began to discern the vast multitude of animals and fish that were swarming around a single object - a large, golden throne, upon which sat a woman. She was looking directly at me, and I got the distinct feeling that it was becoming too easy all of the sudden. I realized I was right when I was nearly torn in two by an enormous shark that rocketed out of the maelstrom of animals. I barely had time to push out of the way as it shot upward, teeth flashing menacingly.

"Who dares approach the goddess?" He bellowed at me, turning around in a wide arc and swimming back at me, his mouth open wide. "Mr. Finn won't let you pass this easily!"

"Woah!" I cried, kicking him in the snout with one foot as I swam frantically out of his path. "Watch it! I need to see her, all right?"

"Not all right!" He barked. "You'll have to get through me first!"

"You've got to be kidding," I groaned, eying him warily as he turned again to come back at me. "They want me to fight a SHARK?"

His only answer was to charge at me again. This time I wasn't able to get out of his way completely, and he slashed at me with his teeth, catching my blouse and ripping the front of it to shreds. He nicked my left shoulder, leaving a shallow gash at least five inches long. Crying out in pain, I clutched my hand to my shoulder, and I glared angrily at him as he shot off, pieces of my shirt falling off of his teeth as he swam.

"I've had enough of this nonsense," I growled. I reached around behind me with my good arm and grabbed one of my daggers. "Come at me if you dare, shark. You'll find that I have teeth too!"

As he approached again, I brandished my dagger and prepared to strike. As his jaws opened wide and he lunged toward my head, I ducked below him and slashed at his belly, cutting a deep groove all the way down to the edge of his tail. Howling in pain, he thrashed his tail wildly, slamming me in the back of the head and nearly knocking me silly. "Uncle! Uncle!" He screeched. "You can pass!"

Not waiting for him to change his mind, I stuck my dagger in my teeth and swam as quickly as I could toward the woman below. As I got close enough, I noticed that it wasn't just aquatic animals and fish around her. I could also see an abundance of land animals too - deer, bears, rabbits, and even birds and insects. When I finally reached the bottom, they all scattered, leaving only the woman on her throne.

She was beautiful, with long, flowing black hair that shimmered and rippled in the water, and a crown of morning glories and buttercups woven together in an odd pattern. Her gown was as soft and shimmering as a pool of quicksilver, and as she stared at me with calm, powerful eyes, I realized that this was someone of great power. She must have been the goddess!

"Welcome," she said courteously. I realized that it had been her voice that I'd heard in my mind earlier. "You have succeeded in reaching me, which means that you have passed the tests I set before you. You have my congratulations."

"Thank you," I replied, thinking how odd it was for me to thank someone for violating me with an octopus and nearly killing me with a shark. "I'm glad of that."

"I enjoyed your performance," she continued, smiling at me faintly. "Although you were most obviously disquieted by my octopus, you did manage to control your emotions and accomplish your goal despite your embarassment. And you fought well against Mr. Finn. You hurt more than his belly, I'm afraid. His pride will be shaken for quite some time. I don't think he expected to face such a bold opponent in a 16 year old girl!"

I waited patiently, deciding not to mention that my alternative seemed to be getting eaten by "Mr. Finn," and that didn't exactly sit well with me.

"I'm so pleased with your performance that I've decided to make you an offer I don't often make," she continued, smiling more broadly. "How would you like to live here with me? You would become immortal, and you would never have to worry about the sex beasts again. I could even see to it that your mother and father were brought here to live with you as well."

"This is a great honor!" Ozcar cried, swimming up alongside the queen and beaming excitedly at me. "I've never seen her offer this to a mortal before!"

"Are you talking about becoming a forest sprite?" I asked, eying her with a dubious expression.

"Not at all," she laughed, her laughter a rich, melodious sound. "You would still be human, but you would be treated as my guests for eternity. You would want for nothing, and you would be given nothing but the finest foods and entertainment. Peace, tranquility, and happiness awaits you here."

I took a moment to consider what she was offering. Was such a thing really possible? It would be wonderful to not have to worry about sex beasts, diseases, or final exams ever again. And if she could bring my family here, I wouldn't have to worry about being lonely. It almost sounded like a wonderful idea, but I had a sudden, sobering thought. What about all the other girls? Sure, I'd be safe, but I'd be leaving them to the mercy of the sex beasts. I didn't have to think long to know that there's no way I'd be able to live with that for an eternity.

"I'm sorry," I sighed, shaking my head. "As wonderful as it sounds, I'll have to decline your generous offer. I can't abandon my people. You see, I made an important promise to a dear friend of mine, and I intend to keep it. I know it's presumptuous of me to ask for something else of you, but all I want from you is some means of becoming more able to destroy the sex beasts."

I was expecting her expression to turn sour and insulted. But instead it became warm and kind. "Indeed," she replied softly. "And now you have passed your final test. You are truly deserving of my help."

"Huh?" I gasped. "That was a test too?"

"Yes," she replied. "I apologize for deceiving you, but simply testing your levelheadedness and bravery wasn't enough. I had to test your heart as well. Without a good heart, all the power in the world is useless. Now then," she began, standing upright. "Introductions are in order. My name is Jade, and I am the guardian of all of the world's forests, be they of wood, water, or steel. The spirits of your local forests call me 'the forest goddess,' but I have many names given by many people and animals. I have sent Ozcar forth to try and find me someone who might be capable of removing the plague that has gripped my forests - the sex beasts, as you call them. They are alien to this planet, and although I have a love for all living things, theirs is a presence that our world cannot withstand. If they are allowed to continue procreating at such an alarming rate, it won't be long before they convert the entire world into their own mutant species, and the world's populations will be wiped out entirely. Much as it pains me to kill so many creatures, I cannot allow them to live here any longer. So you and I share the same enemy. I will bestow upon you the highest gifts I can offer to a mortal, so that you may better succeed at your task. But first, let me get a proper look at you." She waved her hand, and all at once my clothes disintegrated from my body.

"What the?!" I gasped in mortified surprise. I quickly covered my most private areas, rapidly turning crimson. "Why the hell did you do that?" I demanded angrily.

"Now now, we can't have you hiding everything," she chided, snapping her fingers. Out of nowhere, the great red octopus from before descended on top of me, and quickly pried my arms and legs apart.

"Let me go!" I screeched, fighting back as hard as I could. "I never agreed to be ogled!"

"I need to see what you look like," Jade laughed, her voice giving away her lack of concern for my feminine modesty. "Besides, how can you expect to battle creatures like the sex beasts with such a prudish attitude? You're going to have to train yourself to accept a certain level of exposure."

I only glared at her in reply. She slowly walked around me, apparently taking stock. "Good legs, pretty face," she commented quietly, studying me as she walked. "Posterior is a little large, and the breasts are a little small, but that seems to suit the beasts' tastes anyway..."

I glared at her in indignant fury as my face burned in embarassment. My ass was NOT too big, and my breasts were just fine!

After what seemed like eternity, she snapped her fingers again, and the octopus released me. Before I had a chance to do anything, she waved her hand and a strange outfit magically appeared on me. I looked down in confused awe as I lifted the short miniskirt and fingered the fabric. It looked very much like a sailor fuku like the ones I wore to school, except that the skirt was shorter, and the blouse was cut with a much deeper neckline. If her intention was to make me look slutty, she had succeeded.

"This will be your battle uniform," she explained, sitting back down on her throne. "You must wear it at all times, because it contains magical wards to protect you from impregnation. Even if a sex beast does succeed in filling you with his seed, you will not bear his young."

"Oh, that's a relief," I sighed. "That almost makes up for the whole 'please, come rape me,' message this outfit sends out."

"That's the idea," she chuckled. "You'll use your charm to lure the beasts to you. Then when you can catch them unawares, you must sever their phallus. That is the only way to kill a sex beast. Ozcar told me of your previous kill. You were lucky, in that you didn't know yet. Now it will be different. You have an edge that no one else does. You would do well to share that information with your friends, but I wouldn't divulge the fact that you are taking on the role of sex beast slayer."

"Why not?" I demanded.

"Because," she continued, glaring at me with a look that almost made me shrink. "The Sex Beasts are clever. They will soon learn that they are being slaughtered, and they will go out of their way to discover the identity of their attacker. When you tell people about the beasts' weak spot, be sure to mention that you heard it from a stranger that had wandered into town. You can't draw suspicion upon yourself, because surprise is essential when attacking your enemies. Simply cutting off their phallus isn't all their is to it. There is actually a precise time when they are vulnerable, and that's just after they have ejaculated. Up until that point, their phallus is protected by an inner wall that is impervious to weapons. Once they have climaxed, however, this wall becomes soft, and is susceptible to your attacks. You would do well to remember this."

"I had no idea how lucky I was," I gasped. "What would haver happened if I hadn't waited until I did to cut it off?"

"It would have repelled your weapon, and made Gnozo furiously angry. He wouldn't have killed you outright, because that goes against their principles... they won't ever kill a prospective mate if they can help it. But he would have violated you multiple times - many more than he would have otherwise - and with more force. In the end, it would probably have killed you anyway."

I gulped and tried not to imagine what THAT would have been like. Ozcar nodded solemnly and looked up at Jade.

"Are we going to take her to HAYF?" He asked, his voice sounding hopeful.

"First things first," Jade replied. "She must be taken to Xtesh at the present. She'll need more appropriate weapons than those crude daggers of hers."

"Come!" Ozcar cried, rushing forward and grabbing me by the hand before I could protest that my daggers were NOT crude. "Let's not waste time! The longer we wait here the longer it'll take for you to gain your powers!"

"Goodbye," Jade called after us as Ozcar swam furiously, dragging me along behind him. "Take care, and listen to Ozcar! He will help you!"