Chapter One

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I awoke on soft dirt.

I sat up, examining my surroundings suspiciously. I was in a clearing, surrounded by trees and plants, many green and blue, some other colors I currently had no name for. It mattered not, and I continued to look around with curiosity, excited about finally leaving the all-encompassing darkness.

Looking up, I see a bright blue sky, with small clouds drifting. Two suns shone down on me, one yellow and one, slightly smaller, blue. Blinking away the last of the dots in my vision, I examined myself. I had four big paws, sharp claws and fangs, and gray and silver fur.

I yawned, feeling my tiredness return. But I was given no rest. A resounding crack sounded, and I pivoted towards the noise to see two creatures. They had hind legs like me, but their forelegs were like the elf’s, though bigger and with vicious claws. They whined and barked at each other, snapping the air, and it was then I decided to run, dashing away from the monsters as quick as my tired legs could go.

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The monsters pursued me relentlessly, their growls echoing through the forest as I desperately tried to evade them. Zigzagging around boulders and trees, my heart pounded in my chest as I searched for a safe place to hide. Finally, I spotted a narrow crack between some boulders and dove into it, scrambling up and around until I felt secure - for the moment.

The monsters' incessant noises grated on my nerves, and I knew I had to find a way to throw them off my trail. Spotting another exit, I stealthily slipped away from the gnolls, as I now remembered they were called. A dip in the ground held a small amount of mud, and with a grimace, I smeared myself with the foul-smelling substance to mask my scent.

Trudging through the forest, a sense of hopelessness washed over me until I stumbled upon a thick bush that provided some semblance of shelter. Curling up within its protective branches, I gazed up at the twinkling stars above, feeling a sense of peace settle over me as the suns set below the horizon. May the stars guide me. I sigh softly before drifting off to sleep, finding solace in the night.