There used to be six of us... Now I'm alone.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀We had a mission to find six separate pieces of an ancient journal that was torn apart during the Wars of the Gears. We all knew that story. What we didn't know was that we're all supposedly destined to find the pieces, put them together, and save the world. You know, like in all the storybooks. Half of them were exhilarated, I mean, they truly believed the whole thing. Personally, I say it's a bunch of bull. Anyway, those of them who believed the tales suggested that we split up and search for each piece individually. Along with me, a few others objected, but we were overruled. Now I'm here, by myself, lost in some dull and dusty fortress of ruins.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Alright Dustyn, keep your focus. Don't freak out, don't freak out. You know what you're doing...right?"  My limbs are tight with stress, fatigue, and every other bad feeling you could think of. I haven't left this spot in the center of the beige cobblestone ruins since all of us separated six hours ago.

•--•--•--•✄•--•--•--•

Your dog is actually a mythical creature and you're its master. You were unaware of this fact until a group of men try to mug you.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I could tell I was being followed by the feeling of steely eyes on my back and my dog's unease.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Shh Chandra," I mutter to her. "I'm gonna try and shake them off our tails."  I quicken my pace, turning down street after street, but to no avail. That feeling of being watched only grew stronger. I keep turning every which way down alleys until I walk straight into a dead end.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Wow, we finally caught up to you."  A cold chill runs down my back as the voice behind me continues to talk, inching closer.  "You're one quick kid."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Please leave me alone. I don't have anything on me, I was just walking my dog."  Beside me, Chandra bears her teeth in a snarl, her amber eyes intense on the men blocking my way.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Good. You have everything we want."  My curiosity overpowering my fear, I turn to face them.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Everything you want? But I have nothing."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"You have her,"  the man growls, pointing a long finger at Chandra. Suddenly, the three other men start to advance on us. With a loud bark, a wall of vines and branches shoots up from the ground, separating them from Chandra and me. Wide-eyed and speechless, I stare down at her. Delicate vines wrap around her legs, and tiny flowers sprout under her paws.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"That's new,"  I whisper before passing out from shock.