"Senka, wait!" Chrysanthus called after me, still halfway down the large hill.

"Cmon, Chrysanthus was almost there! Wall faster!" I called put looking over my shoulder pausing briefly for him to catch up.

"you... You need..... To stop and eat" Rysan panted out heavily beside me propping himself on his knees from running the incline.

"no, I'm fine Rys, I'll eat when we get there, cmon" I insisted.

I took one step forward before Ryans large hand gripped around my wrist pulling me back a step, letting out a light groan I looked down at him as he pulled a pouch of dried Inmanis Mimobdella eggs.

"eat, or I'll pin you down and feed you like a baby bird" he demanded attempting to sound threatening

Rolling my eyes, I pinched my lips trying to hold back my giggle, Rysan and I both knew he stood no chance attempting to pin me, yet it didn't change the serious expression on his face.  Popping and egg in my mouth I stepped forward heading back down the part, a loud thud from. Behind caused me to stop and look back over my shoulder.

I could feel the edges of my lips pull into a tight smile as a burst of giggles passed through. His lips pursed into a thin line Rysan lifted his head from the mud pushing himself upon his hands. Grumbling to himself he lifted himself on one hand looking back at his legs, his foot trapped under a burly tree route protruding from the ground.

"eat," he demanded glaring at me once more as he yanked his foot from the root.

Shaking my head I couldn't wipe the smile from my face from the amusement. I'd spent most my life with Rysan and although hed always been taller it wasn't till his growth spurt that his limbs became just a little too long for his body. He was constantly stumbling and getting caught on things, he found it annoying, but it was always amusing to me.

Taking another egg from the leathery pouch I popped it in my mouth the dried crunch crumbled in my mouth a mixture of sweet and sour bursting over my tongue. It took a few moments for Chrysanthus to regain his composure and reach me. When he finally did I plucked the reddish dying twig from his hair.

"Can we go now?" I hummed looking over him with a smirk.

"Glad I amuse you. Princess." he snarked pretending to storm off.

Rysan and I continued down the path for what felt likes ages in the sweltering sun until the small woodland village peeked through the trees. A jolt of excitement washed over me as I took Rysans' hand in my his instantly latching around my I took off running dragging me behind him. I could feel Rysan stumbling behind me as I pulled him with me.

Slowing down from brisk pace to a stroll my eyes scanned the empty village, doors and windows shut tight, candles snuffed and eerie feeling washed over me as I came to a halt Rysan at my side his grip tightening as he pulled me closer.

"This isn't right when I left this village was overflowing with people, preparing for the full moon festival..." his voice trailed off.

A slow creek echoing through the silence caught or attention. I watched as Chrysanthus' attention was pulled in the direction, his face contorting slightly before nudging me slightly in the direction. One of the home's doors had opened just enough for a small child's head to pop out they face splattered with mud their light brown locks in a mess, a look of pure terror filling their big brown eyes as they darted up and down the street. With panicked motions, the child waved their hand out the door urging us to hurry to them.

Neither Rysan nor I took a second thought scurrying towards the house the child yanked on my cloak forcing us into the house before shutting the door quickly and scurrying into. the farthest corner. We stood for a few moments watching the young child cower in the corner. Pushing my hood off the top of my head I made slow and cautious moments towards him.

"it's alright, we won't hurt you, what's your name?" I questioned softly crouching in front of him.

"Bruin.," he spoke barely above a whisper.

"well Bruin, I'm Senka, and that there that's Chrysanthus" I introduced calmly.

"where your.parents kid," Rysan asked blatantly.

Bruin didn't speak but with a shaky hand pointed to a door. Tucking some stray hair from his face I stood up following Rysan into the room. We were hit instantly with the scent of rotting flesh, I could fee my stomach churn and we slowly approached the bed.

Ryan drew back the curtains causing us both gasp, I couldn't help bug gag at the scent protruding from. the rotting flesh in front of me covering my face my eyes slowly made there way past the faintly moving chest to.the pair of brown eyes forcing them. selfs open.

"he...help u... Us" the woman, Bruins mother gasped

"It came with the moon... it... It killed them... Anyone in its path... My father... It tried to get me to... But... But she saved me and and it got her..." Bruin whimper darting into the room and clinging onto my leg.

Instinctively I crouched down scooping the young boy in my arms in an attempt to soothe him. My hands gently stroking his back as I hushed him. I could sense Chrysanthus' movements, around the bed. He was going to try and help her the best he could even if to ease the pain.

A few moments passed before a muted clicking sound buzzed around us, ever slightly growing. Something about the sound was unsettlingly familiar. Pausing for a moment I listened closer confusion filling my thoughts as my heart sank, slow pulling my eyes from the child to acknowledge that Rysan recognized the horror in the sound.

"it... It can't.." I breathed to him, he shook his head softly. "it's not possible.." I added knitting my brows

"Cessair" Rysan mouthed as the sound grew.

Closing my eyes tightly I let out a heavy breath. I knew he was right,  it was my brothers doing. It was the only thing that made sense. Letting my arms drop from Bruin I pulled away, the young child fear growing in his watery eyes looked up at me pleading.

" I need a favour from you a Bruin." I insisted softly reaching back into my hood gently scooping Esho from his hiding spot.  "This, this is Esho and he is very very important to me. So I need you to watch him for me okay?" I questioned carefully. placing Esho in his shaming hands.

"Sen.." Ryan mumbled " don't... It's not your fight" he insisted.

" If it involves my brother. It is" I demanded rising to my feet.

I didn't stop to let Chrysanthus try to warn me it was dangerous, to.change my mind, because if I let him speak I would have. I knew what was waiting on those streets, it's power, its insatiable appetite. I'd seen its kind take out some of Idrolars' best soldiers. The thought of going alone against it was petrifying however at the same time I knew. Now that it had tasted human blood it would never stop, it would decimate village after village town after town and never stop growing it would become truly unstoppable.

Stepping out into the hot sun bouncing off the desolate streets I slowly unsheathed my sword, holding tightly onto the grip as I silently crept through the streets. Unlike the poor souls of the village and other attackers, I had one advantage. Myself like many Idrolar children we're trained to fight by killing its offspring. Although almost a hundred times smaller as hatchlings, they shared the same blindness and over adapted hearing.

"here Yingi, pst pst here gigantic beast of nightmares my brother unleashed on these poor innocent people" I called out barely above a whisper.

The clicking grew louder rattling the loose stones and windows before coming to a sudden halt. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up sending a shiver down my spine the overpowering scent of copper and decay filling my lungs. Closing my eyes I let out a slow shaky breath.

In one swift movement my hand gripping tightly around my sword I spun on the pads of my boot ducking as I rose my sword. A force of cool air brushing against as the beast whipped its long tail cover with millions of tiny poisonous spikes and one long thick dagger like one at the end.  It's tail pressing against my sword the beast leaned in.

I held my shaky breath, fear growing as my eyes laid on the beast. Not just a Yingi, but the queen mother of all. It's semi-translucent exterior a pale white its eyes, useless a crimson red. It's six gigantic legs towering over any I had seen before.

Whipping its tail the beast forced me back causing me to stumble into the street. I could hear my sword clatter against the stone slid out of reach. Scambling to my hand and feet I darted for my sword. Slipping on the loose gravel. I scrambled to reach my sword panic swelling inside me.  The Yingi let out a screech before the sound of its tail whipping through the air.

I inhaled a sharp breath, cornered on the ground, I knew what was to come. Every warrior's worst fear, I was trapped no matter which way I tried to scramble, her tail would Perice me.  Holding my arms in front of my face I shut my eyes tightly waiting for the hit. For the unbearable pain to overtake me, to join my sister.