TDoSaW Chapter 2 Snippet #1

There was absolute silence from the forest around them as they stood dozens of meters away from the destroyed house.

Tanjiro Kamado looked around the surrounding, taking in the crushed remnants of coal shed scattered about, like the many branches and even bits of tree trunks that had been split or damaged. As if something incredibly fast had hit them all head on with immense strength. Slowly, his eyes moved to the house itself; to the destroyed front door, able to make out the puddle of blood that leaked from the entrance and onto the grass just underneath it. And as the smell of that ethereal scent mixed with the unmistakable smell of a demon and a bleeding, alive human, his mouth pulled into a deep frown.

"Nezuko," he said, eyes never leaving the door. "Be ready for anything." Nezuko's nose wasn't as good as his, but he had no doubts she knew what was waiting in that house.

Nezuko nodded, stepping to his side. He saw her glancing at the puddle of blood for a moment, eyes slightly wide. Then, she bit her lower lip, and forcefully tore her eyes away from the puddle and back at the house.

Tanjiro frowned. "Nezuko..."

"I...am fine, big brother," she said, frowning firmly. "Have...to help..."

He knew that would be her answer, but he still felt the need to ask. "Alright. If you're certain," Tanjiro said. He looked back at the door, his hand resting on his sheathed katana, and, without another word, began to walk to the house, Nezuko right by his side.

The halls of the house were as cramped as he was expecting, Nezuko having to stand behind him to move through them. But he didn't focus on the blood stained mats, or the wooden walls that had holes and claw marks on them. All he focused on was the soft, whimpering noise he heard as he stood in front of a sliding door, the paper walls ripped and letting him see inside the room. And let him see the child huddled in the corner as they cried.