Way out alone.

The deep dark night invited the howling wind. The condescending cold had descended; malicious mist had spread throughout. Within the twisted path leading up the mountain, lay a sole shivering bush.

However, dark, the forest teems with onlookers, laying bare even the most well hidden denizens of backwoods. Struggling, a faint light shines in the distance. Momentarily, an owl's hoot pierces the howling wind, but soon fades.

Moving ever so slowly, an unnatural presence enters. Stealthily, it blends into the dark. A foot slips; a body hits the ground; a figure belts out a grunt; a light is snuffed out. Within the brush, huddle two bodies shivering as one. The wind intensifies into a scowl. A vile essence continues to snake through the forest.

A hand lifts up; a knee clambers up; hands rest on knees; a figure catches its breath. A strained voice cries out, "Aki!" "Ki!"

A claw slashes; A tree falls; A head turns; two bodies dash away.

At first the figure hesitates, but then she staggers towards the two. Having missed, the presence pursues.

Feet scurry; hands join; a claw lowers with a crash; feet jump away.

A gnarled voice shrieks, "Stay still!"

Looking out of the corner of her eyes, the breathless figure tortuously still pursuing shouts out, "No!"

A hand lets go; a body stops, then turns; a beast-like humanoid lunges; the young body barely evades.

Perplexed, the other body stops then looks at her lonely hand. In a bated breath, "Ki-chan?" and finally turns around.

The body senses then looks up; a mouth calls out; the figure hobbles forward; instinctively legs dash towards the figure; the wicked presence halts.

Seeing one of the girls dash into the figure's embrace, the beast-like essence enrages then grunts in disgust. Sensing the scent, it immediately turns focusing on the bewildered body. With renewed vigor, the evil presence suddenly sprints towards its prey.

In a renewed desperation, the figure strenuously looks up and asks the girl, "Where's your sister?" In a surge of despair, the girl turns in the direction of the body off in the distance.

The presence closes in; eyes stare at the darting danger; feet turn; feet launch into the air. Abruptly, a castigating roar launches the body through the brush; foliage scratches arms and a face; the body crashes into a tree, "Thud!"

Confidently, with swagger, the malevolent presence closes in on its prey.

A body lays slumped on its left flank. Vision alternates between blur and focus; an outstretched hand trembles as it moves; lips weakly mouth unintelligible words.

With a grunt, the body is lifted by its chin into the air; feet dangle.

All is quiet except for the scowling wind. Finally, the stubborn moon forces a crack of its light through the obscuring clouds. The crack of light finds its rest on the girls face illuminating her left eye.

Piercing eyes with a twisted growl, "Cursed progeny of the gray one, I shall imbibe your essence".

With much effort, the body raises its chin. Something zips by then quickly followed by another. Yet, another flies past. Unfelt and unnoticed, a couple stones gently bounce off the presence's intimidating form.

"Relinquish your power to me."

Suddenly, with a jolt, the presence belts out an "Arghhh", as a rock miraculously strikes the presence's right eye causing the clawed hand to release the body and the presence to stagger.

As if lifeless, the body drops to the ground with a one-two thud; intermingled within the shadows the other body whizzes past.

Eagerly, a hand nudges the slumped body, "Nee.. Nee", but no response. Panicked, she tries to lift the body by its waist, but its too heavy. Abruptly, it falls back to the dirt.

A menacing, "Grr..." emanates from the shadows.

Desperately, she grabs the body by its wrists and pulls, then strains; finally, she makes progress as the body begins to move.

With all its might, a claw descends; hands release wrists; suddenly, the claw stops; just below, a figure appears; once again, the body falls to the ground.

In one fluid motion, the figure's left hand reaches out to protectively grab the right wrist of the surprised girl to her left while her right hand comfortingly rests on the left shoulder of the girl who is face-down in the dirt with arms splayed out.

Suddenly, the small figure bears its head high, defiantly glaring up at the wicked presence, screaming in exasperation and despair, "Leave us be!"

Condescending eyes beam down on the figure with outstretched arms battling its upward, rebellious gaze.

A bead of sweat glistens on the figure's face; it slowly rolls down, coming to rest at her jaw line. Persisting for only a moment, the drop reluctantly looses its hold. Soon, it disappears from sight.