Golden Butterfly | Demon Slayer x Male Reader

Chapter XLIII

Unknown Year.

The rain poured mercilessly, soaking Y/N to the bone as he stumbled through the dense forest. Every step sent a sharp jolt of pain up his legs and his arm nearly limp throbbed relentlessly. Blood seeped through the crude cloth wrapped tightly around the deep gash, dripping onto the muddy ground. He could barely feel his fingers anymore.

"There's blood! He can't be far!"

The shout cut through the storm followed by a faint light between the trees. Y/N's teeth clenched as he ducked into the undergrowth pressing his back against the bark of a tree.

They're closing in.

He could take them. Even in this state. A few well-timed strikes would leave their bodies on the forest floor. But the moment he did that more would come.

They'd keep coming.

His jaw tightened as his hand gripped his sword's hilt reflexively. Damn them. He didn't even do anything. Not yet.

The wind howled through the forest as he glanced down at his arm. The torn muscle shredded by whatever blade or projectile had caught him earlier was a mess of blood and dirt. The cloth binding it was already soaked through. It wouldn't last. He needed help. Soon.

She'll help me, he thought bitterly, though doubt lingered. If she's not dead already. He always knows where everyone is.

Y/N shifted and tried to move silently deeper into the forest. His legs trembled under him, days of running with barely any food or rest finally catching up. His ankle hurt with every step. His scowl deepened as he gritted his teeth through the pain.

The caw of a crow above made him flinch.

"Damn pests," he hissed at the sound. The shouts picked up again. "This way! He's over here!"

Shit.

Y/N's fist clenched. The urge to cut those damn birds out of the sky nearly overrode his better judgment, but he forced himself to turn and run instead. The wet ground slipped beneath his boots, and he bit back a growl of frustration as his vision blurred with exhaustion.

He barely registered the faint whistle of the projectile before it hit.

A sharp, searing pain exploded in his ankle, and he staggered, falling to one knee with a strangled yell. The cold rain stung his skin as he gripped his leg, staring at the jagged piece of metal embedded there. Blood gushed freely, pooling around the soaked fabric of his pants.

"Fuck!" He tore it out without hesitation, his hands trembling from the sheer force of his anger. The pain nearly made him blackout but he forced himself to his feet leaning heavily on his uninjured leg.

He stumbled forward. He couldn't waste the energy.

The forest suddenly revealed a rushing river below.

He didn't hesitate.

Pushing through the pain Y/N lunged forward and threw himself over the small cliff and into the icy water below.

The cold was a shock. The current dragged him under immediately but he broke the surface with a gasp clutching at his side as his head swiveled looking for a direction to move.

They'll follow.

The thought pushed him forward, his arms and legs moved weakly against the pull of the water. His wounded arm burned as he tried to paddle but he forced himself to keep going. The river would buy him time. It had to.