KiAera held the light-blue crystal in her hands, examining its shimmering surface. She hesitated for a moment, her retractable ears flicking back slightly as she considered what Rina had said. But hunger gnawed at her, and Dariel had assured her it was safe. Her thumb brushed over the smooth edges of the crystal, and her stomach growled.
"Well, here goes nothing," she murmured, raising the crystal to her mouth.
The moment her teeth made contact with the surface, an explosion of energy burst through the air—an electric, crackling sensation that shot through her spine. But it wasn't the crystal's power.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
APeX: [244]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
It was Rina's.
A low, guttural growl emerged from the Yitxune, her eyes glowing an unsettling silver as her celestial aura flared violently around her. The energy shifted from calm and regal to something savage—uncontrolled. KiAera could feel it before she even turned her head. It was a predator's fury.
“You dare?” Rina's voice was no longer calm. It was filled with primal rage. "I told you not to touch it!"
KiAera barely had time to react before Rina lunged, her form blurring with speed as her claws shot out toward KiAera's throat. KiAera stumbled backward, instinctively trying to dodge, but Rina was too fast. Her sharp claws grazed KiAera's shoulder, sending a burning sensation through her as she cried out in pain.
"Rina, stop!" Dariel's voice broke through the chaos as he rushed forward, trying to grab the Yitxune's arm before she could strike again. "It's just a crystal! This isn't worth it!"
Rina shook him off with a snarl, her predatory instincts fully unleashed. Her once-dignified form now seemed terrifying, her tails bristling with an overwhelming, chaotic energy. "Stay out of this, Dariel! She doesn't belong here!"
KiAera scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to summon her own strength, but the pain in her shoulder, combined with the raw terror coursing through her, made it impossible to focus. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Rina didn't respond with words. She responded with another attack. Her movements were precise, fueled by an instinct KiAera could barely comprehend. She was faster, stronger, and completely intent on eliminating KiAera.
KiAera tried to fight back, claws swiping at the air, but it was pathetic compared to Rina's calculated blows. Her body felt heavy, her movements clumsy as the Yitxune closed in again, forcing her to retreat with each strike. It wasn't a battle—it was a hunt. And Rina was the predator.
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Desperate, KiAera turned and bolted toward the trees, her legs carrying her as fast as they could. She didn’t look back. The sound of Rina's growl echoed in her ears, followed by the pounding of her paws against the earth. The Yitxune was chasing her, and no matter how fast KiAera ran, she could feel Rina closing in.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[MereSwiftness] - Beast - TECH: 1% > TECH: 2%
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Dariel's voice called out in the distance, his words muffled by the sound of her own heartbeat. "Rina! Stop, this is insane!"
But Rina wasn't listening. Her only focus was KiAera, and KiAera knew it.
She pushed through the underbrush, her breath ragged as she weaved between trees and ducked under low-hanging branches. Rina's energy was relentless, and the farther KiAera ran, the more hopeless the situation felt. Her legs burned, her body aching from the wounds Rina had already inflicted.
Just as she thought she might be able to escape, a sharp shadow swooped down from above. Before she could react, talons wrapped around her torso, yanking her violently off the ground. KiAera gasped, her eyes widening as the earth beneath her disappeared.
She was being carried through the air—fast.
Her eyes darted upward, and there it was: a Sparwaro.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Name: Sparwaro
APeX: [33 Units]
Attributes: [Wind] [Brawl]
Variant Grade: [Common]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Its spiked wings flapped powerfully as it ascended, its small but dangerous body covered in sharp-edged feathers that cut through the wind. The creature's talons gripped her tightly, but not enough to break her skin.
Panic surged through KiAera as she struggled in the bird's grasp. "Let go of me!" she shouted, writhing as much as she could without risking a fall from the dizzying height. But the Sparwaro didn't flinch, its fierce gaze set on a distant peak as it carried her farther from Rina's reach.
Behind her, KiAera could faintly hear Rina's victorious scoff echoing through the trees. "Good riddance," she sneered, her voice full of disdain.
The chase was over—for now.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
The distant sound of arguing reached KiAera's ears as she was carried higher. Rina's voice, sharp and angry, carried on the wind.
"You always do this, Dariel!" Rina snapped. "Every time we encounter someone new, you insist on helping them. First that girl, A, and now this... Merekit?! You know how dangerous this world is! They can't be trusted!"
Dariel's response was harder to hear, but his frustration was evident. "Not everyone is out to get us, Rina. You can't just keep chasing people off!"
"You've seen what happens! A was just the start of it!"
KiAera's ears perked at the mention of this mysterious A, but before she could dwell on it, the Sparwaro let out a sharp cry, jerking her back to her immediate situation.
The wind whipped through her fur as the Sparwaro continued its flight, carrying her to an unknown destination. With each beat of its wings, KiAera felt her body grow heavier, exhaustion from the chase and her injuries settling in.
Whatever this strange, spiky-winged bird had in store for her, she could only hope it wasn't as predatory as Rina had been.