So much had changed in a mere few days.

Mira walked through the woods, basket in hand and her hood up over her head. Her basket was full of all sorts of fruits and herbs, miscellaneous items that she had spent the day looking for. The village had been low on medicinal herbs and whatnot, and given the events that had been occurring not many felt safe enough to leave the village. It was understandable, though… Ever since Mira had stumbled upon that creature in that barn, everything seemed to spiral out of control. It was an alarming sight, nothing she had ever seen before. It shook, hobbling about without any rhyme or reason before ultimately leaping for Mira. If had been one of the villagers at the time, things may have gotten out of hand, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t hand with a few cracks of her whip. Although… it certainly did not make it easy for her. After that, there were many sightings in villages all across the land, even in the better protected kingdoms…

[color=turquoise]“Kyuu, kyuu!”[/color]

Mira was pulled back from her dazed state of thought, the high pitched squeaks and the feeling of something nudging at her foot drawing her back to reality. She looked down to see a small foxlike creature head-butting her in the ankle. Its fur was white with its paws and the tips of its large ears fading into an ashy color. It had a large fluffy white tail as well as a bright blue feathery appendage coming up from its forehead, almost like an antenna. Mira couldn’t help but smile at the little creature as it leapt up to rest on her shoulder, sharing at her with its big blue eyes curiously.

[color=red]“Its okay, Rider,”[/color] Mira reassured the small creature, leaning her cheek toward him so as to let it nuzzle her a bit. [color=red]“Just a lot to think about I guess...”[/color]

Her voice trailed off as Rider’s ears twitched, his head perking up as his eyes darted about.

[color=red]“What’s wrong?”[/color] she asked quizzically, though she hardly expected an answer. It was only a moment before Rider’s eyes fixated on something in the distance as he leapt off Mira’s shoulder and assumed a crouched, defensive position, a low growl resonating from the small creature. Mira tried to follow his gaze, one hand on the whip holstered to her side, but before she could even make it out, something suddenly flew toward her. She let out a small shriek, unable to mask her state of alarm as she instinctively upholstered her whip and swung for the mysterious object… But she didn’t make contact. She looked around frantically, though before she could make anything out the object came for her once more. The only difference was that Mira was not caught off guard this time. Without hesitation, she swung her whip upward with precision aim… but still, no contact. This time though Mira was sure not to let it out of her sights. It was still hard to make out, she could barely see the details of the gray creature as it slithered through the air. Was it some sort of serpent, though she could have sworn she saw limbs as it flew… toward…

[color=red]“It’s heading toward the village!”[/color] Mira exclaimed as she began to give chase to the strange creature. [color=red]“Rider!”[/color]

As she called for him, the little creature began running up from behind her, quickly gaining speed and catching up to Mira. In one swift motion, Mira leapt up into the air as Rider ran underneath her, it was at that exact moment that the small creature was engulf in a swirl of azure flames, quickly growing larger and larger before dissipating as suddenly as they had appeared. And it was in that moment the flames disappeared that a larger, ferocious creature was revealed; a large white wolf, with the same features as Rider, with large fangs bared and remains of the azure flames coming from its paws. Mira landed on its back, grabbing the fur behind its neck and holding on as tight as she could as the creature took off, running at an alarming speed.

[center][color=red]***[/color][/center]
The scenery was nothing as Mira remembered it to be; the bright blue sky was now a sorrowful grey, and the village… The village ransacked by [i]them[/i]. The strange grey creatures dancing about through the air like whimsical puppets, yet they were slithering through the air as though they were serpents chasing after the villagers. Attacking them… [i]Hunting[/i] them…

As Rider came to a sliding halt, Mira held out a single hand, gesturing toward one of the creatures as it chased after a small boy.

[color=red]“Fira!”[/color] she exclaimed, sending forth a medium sized ball of fire, soaring straight for the creature and bursting upon impact. So she [i]could[/i] hit them.

[color=green]“M-Mira!”[/color] the boy cried out, rushing to hug her by the leg as she leapt down from Rider’s back. She shot the boy a warm smile, patting him on the head before pulling him away gently.

[color=red]“It’s alright,”[/color] she reassured him, pushing him closer toward the large beast white beast. [color=red]“Rider is going to take you and everyone else out of the village for a little bit while I clean things up.”[/color] She then looked up to Rider, putting a hand on his back as she looked him deep in his bright blue eyes, her expression serious. [color=red]“Get everyone to safety.”[/color]

And with a snarl of confirmation, the great beast led the young boy away, staying ever so vigilant and making sure nothing and no one got near him. Mira turned away and ran toward the center of the village, knowing she could trust her companion. She slashed through creatures as best as she could, casting fire left and right as she went. Whether she actually made contact or merely bought the villagers some time, she did everything in her power to protect them. It was only a matter of time before she made it to the center of the village, spotting a man she had never seen before… or [i]was[/i] it a man? She could hardly tell with his black cloak. For all she knew, it could have been a monster too, for the way the creatures acted around him… it was as if they weren’t any threat to him.

[color=red]“Who are you?!”[/color] she shouted to the man, eying him up and down and paying special attention to the book in his hands. [color=red]“What are you doing here?! If you are of no threat then leave this place.”[/color]

She gave the man but a moment, though it already seemed clear to hear what the situation was. She raised her whip above her head, the length of the leathery line suddenly swirling with flame as she swung toward the figure.

[color=red]“I said [i]leave this place![/i]”[/color]