"Acantho!!" Lonán's voice wheezed out as spines, like bones jutted from the earth and towards Zinta. Some piercing flesh as others surround her, like a bubble.

    "You brat!" She shouts, her face distorting in a flick as her tail now splintering sway in twos, then threes, until six luxuries tails cocoon her. "I am so tired of humans!"

    "And they seem to be tired of you!" Another arrow flies through the air, and narrowly misses her digging into the earth at her feet. Jumping into the air the ground below her feet splits open, roots straying high into the sky in chase.

    But as they only reach a decent distance, she lands upon one of them and her tails open. Blue and reddish wisps fly towards in rapid succession, erupting the wall into flames. Leaving nothing but ash in its wake.

    Getting up, I let a sigh fall from my lips before taking a gulp of air and bolting forward. Mace in hand, I slam it against the pillar of spikes as Zinta jumps down growling loudly from her throat. Dashing forward she buries her claws into my shield.

    "Get out of my way foul Guardian!!" She hissed, her claws pulling away metal as her forest green eyes fall away to crimson hues, her bark brown hair falling away to matching fiery locks.

    Another arrow flies through the air as I bury my foot into her chest and thrust her back.

    Catching her footing the arrow nicks her side and she wheels around to the archer.

    "Sacnite why would you even return!" Zinta shouts taking her attention from us and to the archer from the village.

    "I returned to protect my people... even at her cost I will not let you tear my roots from the earth." Sacnite hops down from the far wall her feet burying into the dirt as jutting vines all but rupture tearing through till encasing Zinta in a fiery cocoon.

    From within the center the Groves Tree ruptures in white lilies, the petals flowing about till blue flame began to lick at them.

    "You truly think you can stop me!?"

    Flames erupt from the roots, burning through the cracks and devouring them like fuel. The ever burning fire growing all around her.

    With a wave of her hand the flames push forward, digging through the earth and up towards us. Rushing towards Lonán, I raise my shield and pull him between it as the flames drive passed, searing the edges till almost a molten red.

    "We won't be able to beat her like this!" Lonán shouts, looking down at him he lifts his hands in defense. "Look we got to cut the flames, I— I think I can pull it out of her." He continues waving his hand between us. "But I don't know what it'll do... two main guesses is either cut off her source of power, or have an even angrier Kitsune on our hands."

    "Might as well try!" Sacnite shouted her silhouette slipping through the flames. "Cause I don't have much more time in this body!"

    Confusion hit Lonán's face as he looks from ahead towards the still roaring flames to Sacnite's silhouette that disappears.

    "Okay then..." looking up at me he seems to gulp. "I have to get behind her." Removing one of his gloves, and tucking it inside his cloak. My eyes snap to his ash darkened fingers. Shifting my gaze back to his hooded face he gives me a curt nod.

    Gritting my teeth, I bury my heels into the dirt and push off. Trudging through the flames Zinta's features slowly come into view. The look of confusion crosses her features and as we come into distance, I shoot up and slam my mace into the ground in front of her the flames licking at my armor.

    Zinta jumps back from the swing, the flames falling away. A silent curse filled my brain as my eyes move back to where I thought Lonán was. But as a loud screech rips through the air, I whip my head back around.

    Plummeting to the ground the woman's body shrinks down into a bright blue flame. Before a black tiny fox juts through the open grounds, arrows falling from the sky in chase. Until a deep almost agitated sigh pulled from her lips as she walks passed us.

    "I'm sorry that we let her get away..." Lonán breathes out body shaking as he tries to stand straight. Clearing his throat, he pulls on his glove.

    "She has lost her power, that is all I can ask." Turning towards us a look of sorrow crosses her eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop this from happening. I—I had no strength, no faith..."

    "She took it all from you, your face, your name. But I think you'll be okay."

    Sacnite's worry melts a bit a soft smile coming to her face.

    "And I will be the first." Another voice comes from her throat, and for a second we both just kind of stare at her.

    "Oh, yes, I forgot your body." Her eyes glow a soft gold before fading back to bright hazel.

    "Thank you, both of you." Taking a step forward she takes one of our hands and smiling. "After you left, I couldn't help but hope for something good to happen, and I heard them again, and well you saw what happened." Releasing our hands, she throws her hands out. "From now on you both are welcome to our village."

    The world vanishes, distorting, and reshaping until the front of the village returns and with it the lush forestry regains its glow, slowly warping the village until people old and young stepped from their homes, cheers raining down.

    The feeling was wonderful, but as I look to Lonán whose head is tilted downwards eyeing the ground underneath him and I knew we had no time to celebrate.

    We only have 5 more days to reach some destination only he knows, I am until then to hold as his right hand.

    Until the final day comes upon us.