It was a silent night in the mountains, the clear, starry sky watched over the young healer Yasuko. With her wicker basket, she walked through the forest in search of rare herbs. She knew every corner of the mountain, but that night there was something different. The air was heavier, filled with a strange smell and an unusual stillness.

As she walked forward, her foot caught on something. She stumbled, almost falling, but caught herself. When she bent down, she found a figure lying on the ground. It was an unconscious man, with pale skin, closed eyes, and strange clothes, marked by red that she did not recognize. He was sweaty and cold, with an unbearable smell, like decay.

Although surprised, Yasuko crouched down and touched his cold skin, realizing that he had no pulse. Her nature as a healer made her act. "I must take him home," she thought. She carried the body, feeling a growing discomfort, as if the tension increased the further away she went from the familiar paths.

When she got home, Yasuko laid the man on a futon, assessing his condition. He seemed asleep, but nothing seemed natural. She felt she should not draw attention to herself and worked quietly, preparing an herbal infusion. She noticed the strange marks on his face and neck, which were not human. Yasuko then began to realize that something was very wrong, but she still did not know what it was. The creature did not wake up, but it was far from dead.