The forest path wound its way between the trees in a way which left Mayumi wondering if the locals actually wanted people visiting their town at all. She was getting close though, catching glimpses of smoke rising from the chimneys in the little hamlet as she trudged her way towards them, only to find the path bending round, almost leading her in the totally opposite direction again a moment later.

She'd been told her tribe's village had been deliberately hidden away from the prying eyes of outsiders, and that this was for the protection of them all, but with disturbing rumours being whispered by the few traders they did have contact with the Elders could no longer sit by and wait for trouble to find them. Mayumi had been dispatched to confirm the tales, to find the beasts which were roaming the land and end them before they became a threat her small village couldn't stand against.

With a weary sigh Mayumi rubbed at her wrist, the Devil Heart Stone rooted there aching after her long journey. With all the natural life around her the jewel had been gorging itself with spiritual power and soon would need to be released. Glancing off the path Mayumi spotted a small clearing with a spring running through it and with a smile turned off to set up a camp for the night. Once the fire pit was lit and her bedroll prepared she carefully knelt facing the setting sun and raised her arm above her head and began to loose her arrows into the air, fulfilling her ceremonial duties as she had been trained.