Awakened and lost

He opened his eyes. The forest around him seemed so unbearably green, everything appeared too bright. He blinked, then looked at his hands and legs. He was naked, sitting on the forest floor filled with leaves and insects. He studied ants for a brief moment, then he felt the movement on his back. He turned and noticed two big black wings growing from it. He cautiously touched them, the feathers were nice and soft. He lay down on them, curiously observing the sky.

From the moment he was born, he felt immense fury in his heart, as if something whispered to him from within. He knew that he sought vengeance, but did not know for what and why. He closed his eyes, trying to understand this feeling better. His head was heavy. He had no past, so why was it so overwhelming? He sighed, fatigue draping over him. He tried concentrating on whom he had to find, but could not remember. He fell asleep.

Suddenly he sensed movement and fear shook him awake. He turned rapidly, prepared to fight. He jumped up, feeling like he could lose his life at any moment. He tried to look frightening, as much as he could in his own way.

"Child," an old monk stood there, smiling. He had a white robe in his hands. "Don't be afraid, I am here to help you. You were re-born, as a tengu, and will be living as a tengu from now on. You might have regrets from your previous life, that you want to resolve. However, I would not seek to find it out, as it has been a long time since you lived."

He stood there, silent, looking at the old man, dressed in white. Unsure whether he should approach him, or run away. He was surprised by his speech, surprised he understood it. The man seemed patient, waiting for him to respond, he stretched out his arms giving the tengu a robe he was carrying.

Tengu did not move, though, his senses told him to be cautious of everything, as the basic reflex for survival dictated his behavior. However, he felt that this smiling, short old man could not be stronger than he. So he stepped forward, then a bit closer. He then snatched the robe and ran back.

He glanced at the old man and tried to dress in the same manner. Surprisingly, it was hard to understand which layer went where. The old man did not try to help him, waiting patiently, his hands folded in front of him. Eventually, he finished putting it on. The upper layers looked crooked, but he had to give up before his frustration got the best of him.

"Good, child, this will do for now. I feel like you will need food and water soon, and the sun will set, making this forest unwelcoming."

Tengu stood there, unsure, stepping from one foot to the other. He heard the monk say,

"I might teach you how to live your life, young tengu. I would say it is beneficial for you to follow me. I promise not to hurt you."

Tengu looked up, old man's eyes were light blue, full of reassurance, he thought. He cleared his throat, speaking with a hoarse voice:

"Do you know who I am?"

The monk looked at him, with some sadness in his eyes, "No, I do not. You might have died a long ago."

"Why do you want to help me?"

"I try to help all souls, no matter if you are a yokai or a human."

"If I go, you will teach me all that I need to know?"

"I will." The monk nodded slightly.

Tengu looked at his feet again. "Then I'll go with you."

"Good. We can come to the temple. I live there with another pupil of mine."

Tengu stood silently for a long time, thinking. The monk did not interrupt. Then, he looked up at the man.

"Who is that pupil? Will he hurt me?"

"No, he won't. He is a person, not a yokai, like you. But he also can see lost souls. Come with me, and you will be able to see for yourself."

"Okay. I will go, but when you die, I leave." He sounded confident, " I need to understand this feeling..."

"Child, you better forget it." The monk's face had a solemn expression.

"Never." His eyes brimmed with anger. He looked at the monk, clenching his fists. "I can never let it go."