As soon as the soldiers had gone Xeranus began to desperately tug on the ropes straining against them with all her might but it was no use. The guards had bound her well so she tried fraying the rope that looped around the rock twice. It was loose so she tried to move the rope in such a way to saw through it. But the rope being connected to the ones binding her made the necessary motion incredibly difficult.

She had some time so Xeranus pulled on the rope till it was taught then stepped to the right in such a way that the loop of rope rubbed against the rock smiling to herself she stepped back to the left then the right.

Crack boom

Ignoring the distant wing beats but quicking her steps and arc of efforts the sound of the rope beginning to fry bringing a flare of hope to her breast.

Crack boom!

The rope was so close to snapping Xeranus could almost taste freedom soon she will be free soon Menlek would pay and… not looking where she put her next step sent her tumbling forward. The sound of her hitting the ground was as loud as the Shrikes wing beats to Xeranus who scrambled to her feet cursing colourfully that would make her mother force Xeranus eat soup

Crack boom!!

Finally, the rope audibly snaps and Xeranus could barely control her elation. Freedom was at hand she gave a tug of the rope so it would fall away but the rope did not fall away. Starting to panic tried to fry the rope some more reasoning that there was some more rope that had not broken. But instead, she heard the distinct sound of metal on rock. That sent a spike of panic through her Xeranus heart sounded as loud as the creatures' wings.

Crack boom!!!

The longer she continued to do this with not much success Xeranus grew more desperate with every attempt to work the metal in the rope. The climbing fear as the wingbeat drew closer was not helping as well as a strong feeling of nausea that was growing unbearable.

Feeling weak and collapsing to her knees to double over reaching bile that left her breathing heavily. But paradoxically she was beginning to feel even more alive than ever but at the same time sluggish. “What's wrong with me” muttered Xeranus to herself trying to climb to her feet before collapsing to her knees again.

Before she could attempt to move her body-sized up and something within her mind shattered and darkness took over her just as a loud crash of something large landed behind her leaving Xeranus to wonder if this was the end.

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The Shrike was eyeing the kneeling woman with trepidation normally the giant midnight black heron would begin to peck strips of flesh from its prey until it was full as it always had done. However, this woman was causing the shirke great distress as the animal felt a colossal power coming from such a small thing. Deciding that the woman was not worth eating, the Shrike spread its wings for takeoff only for a great force to slam the shrike to the ground. Letting out a screech of panic the beast trashed wildly trying to break free from whatever that entrapped it. Subtle yet swiftly the shrike's neck twisted with a sharp crack.

The beasts corpse was still twitching when the woman jerked to her feet and walked towards it with a twitching loping stride. Her face had begun to grow more angler cheekbones slightly higher while her eyes glazed over had turned golden with slitted pupils. The woman licked her lips reviled a glimpse of her k9 teeth lengthening. When the woman arrived at the still cooling body fell to her knees and began to tear into with nails that were rapidly growing and thickening into claws and began to feed

Xeranus felt as if floating the room she looked upon was a slightly blurred by light fog making things indistinct what she could make out however were the squire paper walls, with floral decorations the dark polished wooden floor the distant sound of water with the occasional rhythmic thunk from somewhere along with a strong smell of smoke. It was quite peaceful and Xeranus could feel the onset of weariness beginning to overcome her before a sharp cough resounded through the room.

Xeranus spun round to face the source of the noise and came to face a figure kneeling two meters before her in a red gold long sleeve dress that flowed around the figure like water before billowing around it like a calm pool. However, Xeranus could not make out its face apart from it being pale having flowing black hair it was holding a long silver black pipe that the fog seemed to waft out of shrouding the figure in a blanket of fog that made it hard to look at. Xeranus thought she could see something waving behind it. But as she took a wobbling step forward the figure spoke making her take a step back.

“So child you have awoken to your heritage it has been a while since one has,” said the voice feminine regal and yet with a slight edge of amused mischief.

“W-w-who are…” asked Xeranus trepidation bubbling within her “what is this place the last thing I remember is losing my consciousness when the shrike landed” there was a pause with the drag of the pipe and the breath outward that was accompanied by a cloud of fog

“Who and what I am and where you are child is not important for now but you have the far more pressing matter” another drag and more fog that seemed to shroud the room in white that coalesced into shapes then into the familiar landscape. Letting out a gasp that she shielded and taking a sharp step backwards in horror. Before she was the shrike lying on its side its head twisted at an angle.

But what drew her gaze was the person by its side ripping into it with thick half-inch long nails, that then was swiftly brought to their mouth that was bitten into before inch long canines aided in ripping the flesh sending blood flying onto simple leather juken and trousers as well as matted silver hair that beheld two silver vulpine ears that sat diagonally on each side between the forehead and top of the head while two tails the same colour as the hair and long as a man is tall waved behind.

“Don't be afraid child” spoke the figure whose voice suddenly came from behind her making Xeranus jump with a scream of a surprise landing awkwardly she slipped and landed heavily on her rear while the figure looked down on her giggling that was followed by a puff of smoke that formed into a man on a rowing boat who rowed around them before dissipating with an audible pop there was silence for a few heartbeats then.

“DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY” roared Xeranus who had been tied up to rock nearly escaped only for the hope of it to be snatched from her then past out with the knowledge that she would be eaten all then to be shown a vision of something horrifying that could be to happening to her.

Still giggling the figure took a drag off her pipe “I surprised you for two reasons child one is obvious” pausing for a moment then letting loose a giggle “the second well…. You will have to find out the next time we meet again”

And with that, before Xeranus could react the woman blew a cloud of smoke into her face making her feel tranquil and pass into dreams before darkness took Xeranus thought she saw golden eyes and a mirthful smile