Shiruba Prologue


The man entered the orphanage dragging with him an orphan, a very young half-

demon. The dog ears waving madly amidst his short mane of silvery hair gave away

what type demon. As the man had expected, all the other children had

congregated, and were waiting to receive the new addition. He was not welcomed

warmly. Many of the orphans had lost their parents to demons. He saw more than

one hateful glance directed at the little boy who was obviously loathe to even enter

the place. Everyone stepped back as the man called to the caretakers.  

“Who will care for him?”

The women looked worriedly at each other, no  one willing to step forward and

take responsibility for the half-demon boy. Someone towards the back of the

orphans' group pushed to the front. It was a girl, probably 13 or so years old. Her

shirt was a one sleeve, and the absence of a sleeve on her  left shoulder revealed

four parallel scars, as though she had been clawed by a huge animal. Or a demon.

“Since none of these cowards will do it, I take him.”

The man looked at her for a moment. He knew her. She had lost her parents

to a demon attack, and had almost joined them in the afterlife. She was the last one

he would have expected to step forward and claim the tiny monster. He shrugged

and hefted the burden into her arms. She looked into the tiny creature's amber eyes

and said, slow and soft,

“I think I'll call you Shiruba.”