ELYUSIAN

The wind blew gently and ruffled Elyusian's hair in the process. Her long silken black hair was tied back in a ponytail and the wisps tucked back behind her Elfen ears. Using her spare hand, she wiped the strays out of her eyes, then shifted the bunch of firewood she had been carrying up onto her hip.

Night was descending, she had to get home soon before darkness made it too difficult to see the path. The forest loomed over her, a breeze rose again this time sending a chill down her spine.

Shadows bounced on the ground in front of her...she gulped. Maybe she should just start heading back now, yes, it would be for the best. She had collected enough wood to see her and her father through the next couple of days at least. Winter was approaching, cooler weather. An owl hooted above her, giving an early call to the approaching night.

Grabbing the bunch of sticks in both hands, she lifted it above her head and rested it on her shoulders. Slowly and steadily she walked forwards. She suddenly felt very jumpy. Also, she had been gifted with an overactive imagination, which was a hindrance in times like these.

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Elyusian picked up her pace, the wood straining against the leather ties that she'd restrained the bundle with as she walked faster.

Reaching the clearing that lay on the outskirts of her village, she stopped to rest. The sky was now near complete, a bluish hue rose about the trees and stars filled the sky. She dropped the wood to the ground and rolled her shoulders to ease the strain in her muscles.

Wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, she let out a long sign.

“Almost home now, not far to go.” She whispered to herself.

Her attention was drawn to a red flash in the sky. She squinted in it's direction, trying to gauge it's distance in the thickness of dusk. Her heart beat faster, and she quickly bent down to pick up the bundle of firewood again.

Suddenly, out of the woods beside her came a young woman, running as fast as the wind, completely naked apart from large patches of dirt and leaves, strategically placed. She was looking back over her shoulder and running towards Elysian.

Elysian noted that she had bloody scratch marks covering her body and her skin was orangey red but as she got closer Elysian was surprised to see it change.

Turning, the young woman caught Elysian’s eyes, a flash of terror sparked within them. She shouted and motioned for Elyusian to start running.

“Run!” The young woman cried. “Run!”