[u][b]A day before[/b][/u]

Mushu smirked, her teeth flashed a bright white over the darkness of the subtle uniform. She stood on one of the top branches of a pine tree, her lithe form made it easy to do such dangerous things. So she waited, still on the branch, focusing-as hard as it was-on entering the void she had come to love. So as a villager pasted, no, a hermit really; in his dingy clothes a simple wool cloth, seemingly fitted with some sort of animal fur to be exact, and even a proper horse, silver in color, with a black mane. The opposite of a palomino really... it seemed fit for riding, but this horse had muscle, it was hardened and looked as if it was an experienced climber. Tough and powerful. Perfect. 

She didn't jump, she didn't dare reveal herself. Instead she took a quick dive down, barreling through the air somewhat subtly, still silent. And just before the third to last branch, she caught hold. Swinging and pulling herself up with a small frown, she had managed it, though it made enough noise for the poor hermit to look up. Watching the air above him. She was crouched, pulled up against the rough bark. Her breathing had stopped, and though Cricky made his trademark noise, she wasn't discovered. [i]This cricket will be the death of me, I know it.[/i]

Once the hermit was far down the long, cobble road she started as well. Climbing down from the long, steady tree. As soon as she was down she took Cricky out of her pocket, placing him on a leaf and walking on. She was nothing. Making no noise, her footprints were not real, she had no trail and had no one capable of following. It was all too perfect, she was too skilled to be naturally sane, it would have taken years, day after day, pounding her sanity out the door to even think of moving like she did. Almost hovering off the ground.

It took what felt like forever, she moved along with him, never breaking, moving alongside the man yet she was hidden in the brush that was too small for anyone unlike her to make use of. But when he stopped she was on top of him. He went into the forest and she was there, as he looked around she was right behind his back, still unseen in the moonlight that now shadowed the once bright day. And as he felt safe, as he knew there was no one left to bother the poor man. She struck, taking no time at all to finish the man. She snapped his neck, no blood, no fingerprints. No delay, he was gone and no one would know it.

After she had given him a most proper burial she went off, the area she had buried the poor old man was desolated, she had made the smallest of holes in the ground, and she had contorted his limp body to fit him in. It looked nearly untouched, but someone with an eye would know if it were tampered. She had also stolen his clothes, they didn't fit her well but with a few quick adjustments she felt they were fine. And with that she knew, at this moment she had put herself at risk already, the sword was an inch closer to her blackened heart. But she now had a horse, clothing, a small bit of food, but more then anything the horse, that small creature of nature provided a great story. It's build told others she had been through the mountains, and that she had faced the inevitable climates. She was set. 

Lifting her small self up she climbed atop the horse, almost crushing Cricky. It could have been any cricket really, but Mushu had quite the feeling that it was none other then the special little fellow that had hopped into her house one night. "As it goes, a cricket means luck, but I think your a little more then luck little one. I think your special. And as long as you live up to your name, you'll have a place with me." With those whispered words she was off, guiding her way through the pass. 

[u][b]Present Day[/u][/b]

As Mushu entered the tiny, seemingly rat filled town she smiled. It was much nicer then expected really, the scent of fresh flowers, warm bread, and obvious sweetness overflowed her senses. It was too much to bear, yet at the same time delicate and rather great. It beat living in the dampness of the woods, the pine got worse each long, relentless day. So she carried on, trekking forward as her new horse made its living. 

One thing she noted, was that there were guards, armored and wielding their favorite weapons. Ranging from swords to flails, it was more iron and steel then she had seen in most of her life. She had seen entire armories before, full of the weapons that powered Ninjutsu. So, now with a steady hand over the cricket in her pocket she continued forward, not looking nervous but instead she emitted the horrible emotion. It contorted her muscles and made them slightly tense, she felt as if this was a major setup. And without the slightest way of concealing her face, even her weapons, she was screwed. As if someone had already thrown her down in the six foot deep hole, in a wooden box; the poorest excuse of a casket. [i]Screw you Rumpel, if I manage to get my hands on yo-[/i] 

"Excuse me ma'am, if I could have a moment of your time?" Her thoughts were cut off by the question of a soldier. Mushu jumped, looking down at the heavily armed man, he had a paper in his hand. The crude drawing of a fair young woman. "Do you know this woman? Her name is Belle." 
Mushu frowned at that, she showed a true moment of fierce emotion that the guard saw, so straightening Mushu sighed nabbing the paper and shaking her head. "I don't recognize her, but I am deeply sorry for your loss." The soldier could believe the downtrodden words she spoke, and so giving her the parchment sheet he walked forwards. 

Mushu looked over the paper, a deep furrowing of her brows set on her usually gentle face. Her maiden was missing, it didn't say she committed a crime. Though it did say she had been missing for a week...an entire week. Marching towards a fortnight. This was horrid, how would she ever find the girl if she was dead already? It wasn't as if this Beauty was still stuck out there. She had either been raped, murdered, or starved. The possibility of her being out there...was a million to one...and so Mushu-in her absolute rage-crumpled up the idiotic page, throwing it in an ignorantly beautiful, pink rose bush. 

With that she charged out of the magical town, her beast carrying her with little effort, striding along into the woods. Pine scratched her face and made scars bleed again, it did little to stop her though. She wasn't sure when she would stop. Maybe when she found the body of Belle. Then she would feel relief. Only then...