Into the woods Lucy runs, holding Smoky tightly in her arms. She throws herself back against a tree, finally stopping to catch her breath. As she slumps down, Smoky wiggles from her arms.

“...what?” Lucy asks, Smokey stares back at her.

“I couldn’t do anything about that thing!” 

Smoky tilts his head.

“Okay sure, I may have made it…But I don’t know how!”

“They all just started screaming and I panicked…Crud, how can I face them after running?” Lucy hides her face between her knees. 

Suddenly, the sound of rustling nearby catches her attention. 

"Did it follow me?" she wonders in panic as dread creeps up inside her. 

“ No…Please, just leave me alone!” Lucy screams and throws a nearby rock. 

Lucy's heart races as she watches the rock collide with something and a black ooze drip onto the grass, causing it to smolder. Lucy was filled with horror as a strange creature emerges from the darkness. Although it resembles a deer skeleton, its body oozes black liquid from every opening except its torso - the only place where skin remains intact. 

Lucy hastily snatches Smoky, recalling that they had been taught about this entity in class; if only she had paid more attention! All she can recall is that anything touched by the ooze dripping from its skull would disintegrate. In order to evade the beast, Lucy is forced to run further into the forest. The bony deer creature shuffles after her in pursuit, its bones creaking as it moves .

    Elsewhere, Lucy's older sister Lavender manages the lunchtime rush at the Leaking Log diner. Lavender bustles between tables, her lilac-hued locks tied up in an untidy bun. She wears her blue and white uniform with black trousers, finished off with a black apron. Her golden earrings glimmering against her violet eyes. She walks up to a table occupied by a lizard person, an ordinary human man and a man with bull horns.

“Sorry for the wait, what can I get started for you three?” 

“Don’t worry about it! We’ll always wait for our favorite waitress,” The human man says.

“From how busy this place is, you look like the only waitress!” The lizard man laughs. 

“Oh yes it sure feels like that, but! Our new waitress, Clare, is doing great!” Lavender looks over to a girl desperately trying to walk whilst trying to balance a tray full of glasses. 

“Can I get you three started with some drinks?” 

“You know us, just three coffees and three hotcake plates.“ The horned man answers.

“So the usuals?” 

“Ah! Wait!” The lizard man interrupts, “I want to try something new. Make my eggs over easy!” 

“You got it!” The three laugh to themselves as Lavender walks off. 

Lavender drops the order off at the kitchen then makes her way over to a woman sitting alone. 

“Apologies for the wait! Can I start you off with a drink?” 

The lady gazes up at Lavender, revealing striking purple eyes. Her complexion blends with her rich brown hair, her dreads pulled up into a bun. She wears a white blouse, a red waistcoat with gold buttons and black trousers concealed under her pink overcoat. A strikingly large purple amulet brandishing an animal paw print prominent on her chest. 

“No worries my dear, some coffee and cream would be lovely.” The woman speaks smiling warmly.

“You got it! Be back shortly” 

Lavender heads back to the kitchen and begins preparing some trays with cream, sugar, and coffee cups. Suddenly, her phone starts buzzing; it’s one of her teacher friends, which comes as a surprise as they rarely call. Feeling concerned, Lavender answers the call.

“Hey Miranda, what's going on? I'm at work.” 

“Lav! Oh thank the Sprites, have you heard from Lucy!?” Miranda asks frantically. 

“What no? Why? What’s happening?” 

“There's a beast roaming the grounds! I've been trying to find her but she's not in her homeroom!” 

Upon hearing this news, Lavender falls silent. "Lav? Lavender did you hear me-?" Miranda asks before being cut off as Lavender hastily ends the call and frantically tries to reach out to Lucy. Ring after ring going unanswered as panic sets in. Lavender paces around praying for an answer. 

“Oi! Lavender! Orders are backing up here! Get off your phone and get moving!” A large angry boar-man barks from the kitchen. 

Lavender walks into the kitchen.

“Please! My sister is missing and there is some beast loose at her school. I have to go find her!” She pleads, tears stinging her eyes. 

“You leaving won’t make her any less missing! We got a full house you can’t just leave!” 

“But sir-!” 

“Not another word!” He screams, shoving a plate of food at her. 

With no other option, Lavender takes the food out to serve customers. A few minutes later, she brings the woman sitting alone her coffee. 

“Sorry, here’s that coffee for ya” Lavender said softly, the woman notices her shift in attitude. 

The lady grabs Lavender's arm before she can move away. “Hold on dear - are you okay?”  

When she asks this, Lavender can't help but let a few tears slip out. 

“I’m sorry-”

Through trembling lips, Lavender lets it all spill out about how somethings happening at her sister's school and how they are unable to find her. 

 "Oh god, I'm so sorry," The woman speaks sympathetically before asking "Are your parents busy working as well?"  

 “No...It's uh...Just me and her-." She replies grimly. 

 “My dear you shouldn't be here!" The woman almost shouts, catching the attention of other customers around her.

Lavender tries to get her to be quieter, “I can’t leave yet, look at this lunch rush-” 

The woman rises from her seat and strides to the kitchen window leaving Lavender stunned, unable to speak a word. The woman briefly converses with the chef, then fiercely proclaims, “So you don’t care about a missing child?”

Instantly, all of the diner's patrons descend into silence as the woman faces them. She posits in a grim voice: "Is it okay to make someone work while they wait helplessly for news on their missing sibling?"

“Oi! Lady! You have no idea how much we need her here. Take a look around!” The chef attempts to justify himself.

Many other customers start whispering among themselves. Lavender tries to silently signal to the woman to stop, however she continues, “But if she were the one who went missing, you couldn't expect her to keep working either.” 

She raises her index finger, from which a soft purple orb begins to form, gradually getting larger and brighter until it transforms into the form of a giant purple serpent. The creature hisses, startling some of the customers while others watch on in awe. The serpent wraps itself around Lavender's feet.

“Wait this isn’t necessary-” 

Before Lavender can finish her sentence, the woman scoops her up and throws her over her shoulder. 

“Who do you think you are?! You can't do this!” The chef exclaims as he flees from his kitchen station. 

"My name is Mezti Fauna! Track me down if you want but something tells me this woman won't be back until they find her sister - safe and sound!" Mezti declares as she steps onto the serpent's back and it swiftly slithers out the door. As many watch in bewilderment, the three regulars sitting at the booth burst out in applause and cheers. 

Mezti rides her serpent down the street and around a corner before finally setting Lavender down, at which point the serpent seems to dissolve and vanish. 

Lavender takes a moment to regain her composure then exclaims, “What was all that?” Mezti gently presses her finger against Lavender's lips as she replies, “Just a bit of theatrics to get you out of there. No time to waste; let's find your sister!” Lavender’s eyes shine with hope as she heard these words. 

“W-well,” she stammered, bringing out her phone. “We need to get across town to Jefferson Way, if we hurry we can make it to the bus stop before-“

Mezti holds up her hand to Lavender, “No no, when you’re with me, we ride in style.” Snapping her fingers and pointing her index finger, once again forming a small ball of light. In a flash, it expands into a giant purple snow leopard. This beast has powerful fangs for breaking ice and a long densely packed tail for smashing down ice walls. Upon seeing the creature, Lavender seems to be in awe. The leopard then bends down allowing Mezti to climb onto its back. 

Mezti extends her hand to Lavender, "Let's go find your sister." 

Despite her horror, Lavender grabs Mezti's hand and is swiftly pulled up onto the snow leopard. She wraps her arms around Mezti's waist as they set off.