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You collapsed in the dirt. The summer forest buzzed around you in the dark. This was it, you failed.
All this time, you tried to be the greatest monster hunter. You wanted to prove of the existence of cryptids, after you saw one at just 13 years old.
But it's failed, and now you know that your death is soon. As tears begin to fall silently from your face, you come to terms with the fact that whatever's stranded you out here is picking it's lips in anticipation right now.
All that's left on you is your gear, but even now a flashlight and hunting knife isn't going to be of much use.
You scream out and cry. Pain hits you as you realized that you've traveled throughout the country, everywhere from California to New Jersey, just to meet your grave. And that's when you hear it.
Rustling in the bushes, and the realization hits you of what's nearby.
The Jersey Devil. Scooting back in the dirt, you aim your flashlight at it. There's no chance of survival, but you at least want to see it. To prove to yourself that they do exist, and that you didn't just misinterpret a bear attack.
Finally it lunges out at you, the twisted beast snarling and bearing it's teeth. You scream out, and it runs up to you, pinning you down. Saliva drips down onto your face as you cry, hitting it with the flashlight, but it's undeterred.
But both of you stop. From above there's some sort of swooping noise in the air. As you look up, you see a large black sillouhette block out parts of the stars, and disappear over the treeline.
That demon is unphazed though, and it looks right back at you growling again. Putting your hands up, you cry, covering your face, until-
It's swept off of you with a yelp. You look over to where it went, and it's off about twenty feet, growling at the air. Trying to catch your breath, you focus the light on it, and then it's covered.
Standing Infront of you, facing away, is a large wingspan. Bug like with some sort of powder coating them. They sparkle like ground glass in the light.
This grey mass stands there, wings spread, as you examine the face like shape on the wings.
"I'm sorry, but you seem to be intruding on my territory." They say in a rather gentlemanly voice.
"Hell you talking bout?" A deeper voice growls, "you get West Virginia, I get New Jersey. That's our deal."
"Well, yes but...the humans mine."
"What?!" It's snarls.
"I'm interested in keeping them alive and safe." It starts walking to the left, you keep the light on in to continue examining it's shimmery features.
"They're a monster hunter!"
"And a damn good one at that." The moth says, "I've followed them since Virginia, and not once have they done something that I had to disagree with. They aren't like all the other ametures that come through here."
"What's the difference?"
"They don't litter or record, the fires they build are always small and properly extinguished, they don't hunt the wildlife, and their means of kill is always quick and merciful."
"Environmentalist cryptid hunter? Give me a break, it's because of them a shotgun landed in the river."
"Yes, but only because you knocked them into the bridge and they dropped it. You're of less worth than them."
"How do you know?" It snaps.
"Because they actually fight fair."
"I'll kill you. I'll rip your wings off and make you watch me kill them."
"So be it." Says the Mothman, and the Jersey Devil runs after him on all fours.
Claws lash out at him, jumping on the moth, biting into him. He groans out in pain, but his wings kick in. Fluttering violently, he raises so far up into the air, before diving down, scraping him against the ground, and slamming him into the trunk of a tree.
Both stay there dazed, and then he dislodges the teeth from his wings. Turning towards you, he gives you an empathetic look.
"Sorry, I just think that we all deserve a fair chance, and I think you agree." He steps forwards and you ready your knife.
"I know it's probably odd... considering that you want to kill me but, I've taken a liking to you, in more ways than one."
You charge at him, and he doesn't flinch, plunging in the knife, he just looks at the cut.
Because you actually hit the devil, who'd been sneaking up behind him, the knife plunges into his stomach, and he drops. Mothman turns and looks at you.
"Scared me for a second there."
"Yeah well, we're the same then. Now why where you following me?!"
He stops, apprehensive about telling you, but he finally spits it out.
"I wanted to see you succeed, and to make sure that you stayed safe. I didn't guard myself, and I...developed feelings for you. You're kind, funny, and smart. I get it if you want me dead though, it's your job..."
You stare at him remorseful, before nudging the corpse with your foot.
"You know...this is really all that I need. How about I just...quit afterwards? And we can take it from there."
He stops, smiling.
"That sounds perfect."
You smile back,
"Then let's starts now."
And you walk over to him, and give him a big kiss.