INT. MIKA'S HOUSE - DAY

MIKA, a black and white khad-sha, lays in her bed, tossing and turning. She lifts her head up little, before dropping it back onto her bed, groaning.

LKAKA, a white khad-sha, with patches of grey fur, walks in the room.

LKAKA: You're still in bed?? Come on, get up. I've planned some fun stuff for us to do today.

Mika rolls over, looking at Lkaka.

MIKA (tired): 5 more minutes.

LKAKA: Babe, I already gave you 5 more minutes.

MIKA: When?

Lkaka rolls her eyes.

LKAKA: 5 minutes ago. Come on, get up.

MIKA: I don't wanna.

LKAKA: Don't make me drag you out of there.

Mika rolls back over, facing away from Lkaka.

MIKA: I'm not moving.

LKAKA: Ok then.

Lkaka walks over to Mika, and shoves her off the bed with her front paws.

LKAKA: There.

MIKA: Ok, you win.

Lkaka giggles. Mika rolls her eyes, then walks over to the drawer on the other side of the room, which has a mirror above it.

Mika opens the drawer, and pulls out a beaded necklace, and some bead ropes. She puts the necklace around her neck, and loosely ties the bead ropes around the base of her ears, then turns towards Lkaka.

MIKA: How do I look?

LKAKA: Beautiful as always.

MIKA: You can tell me what you really think you know?

LKAKA: And I think you're always lovely princess.

Mika smiles. Lkaka walks over to Mika, and nuzzles her snout against Mika's.

LKAKA: Shall we get going?

Mika nods, and she and Lkaka head out the door.

EXT. NERRDON TOWN SQAURE - CONTINUOUS

Mika and Lkaka heads towards the small lake towards the edge of the town square. They walk past other khad-shas, who greet them kindly as they pass.

Shortly after they arrive at the lake, GESHA, a brown and white khad-sha and ZADR, a grey khad-sha sit next to them.

LKAKA: Hey guys. How has it been?

ZADR: I've been alright. You guys?

LKAKA: I've been feeling pretty good. Had to drag this one out of bed, again.

Lkaka gestures towards Mika.

MIKA: I was tired ok. I've been alright as well. How about you Gesha?

Gesha hesitates for a moment.

GESHA (with anxiety): Things haven't been to great up in the capital. Things have been really tense up there for years. Just last night, a fight broke out by the fountain.

LKAKA: That's... That's bad. Did you get hurt?

GESHA: No. I was asleep at the time. Heard about it on the news this morning.

LKAKA: At least you're ok, physically. Me and Mika have a spare bed at our place if you want to stay for a few days.

GESHA: I'm fine. I... I think I'll be ok.

LKAKA: Are you sure? It might be nice.

MIKA: Yeah. Things seem pretty tense up there. Maybe you should stay a couple days at our place. If I remember correctly, Zadr has a spare room, so you could stay with her instead.

ZADR: Mika's correct. I still have that spare room. I wouldn't mind if you stayed over for a few days.

Gesha hesitates for a moment.

GESHA: I... I think I'll be fine. If it gets worse, I'll definitely stay over at one of your places.

Lkaka wraps one of her wings around Gesha, and nuzzles their snout.

LKAKA: If anything happens, come over as quickly as possible.

Gesha nods.

ZADR: I'll catch you guys later. I have to go meet someone at the library.

Gesha, Mika, and Lkaka wish Zadr farewell.

MIKA: Hey Gesha.

GESHA: Yeah?

MIKA: Me and Lkaka are going to go to the Skel building today to see the new stuff they added. Want to come? It could help get your mind off of things.

GESHA: Sure. That sounds fun.

Mika, Gesha and Lkaka walk in the direction of the Skel building.

CUT TO:

INT. NERRDON LIBRARY - MOMENTS LATER

Zadr steps into the library.

ZADR (V.O.) (anxiously): Something seems off. Why are the lights off. The library should still be open. Probably an issue with the generator.

Zadr walks towards the back of the library.

Moments later, she gags.

ZADR: What in the name of the gods is that awful smell.

She walks around one of the bookshelves, then stops suddenly, eyes widening.

The corpse of a khad-sha lay in front of her, the body stained in with blood. Zadr quickly turn around to run towards the exit, before getting cut off by a strange human-like figure.

ZADR (slowly backing up): Who... What are you?

The figure steps closer, pulling out a knife.

VALERIE: I'm am know by many names little pup, but you probably know me as The Crimson Devil.

Zadr, while shaking, slowly backs up, trying not to step on the body.

VALERIE steps closer, brandishing her knife.

ZADR: No. No. That can't be right. You can't be real.

Valerie laughs.

VALERIE: You're so naive little pup. I am very real. And you and your friend over there...

Valerie gestures towards the corpse.

VALERIE: Are digging in a place they shouldn't be.

ZADR: Please... Please don't hurt me. I'll do what ever you want, just don't hurt me or my friends.

Valerie laughs.

VALERIE: You're not in a position to bargain, little pup. I don't like it when my puppies misbehave.

Valerie steps closer, the knife glimmering in her hand.

CUT TO: