The moon had barely moved when Milly stopped by a small clearing deep in the woods. Her stomach growled so loud it startled a few nearby birds.
"Okay… step one of adventure: don't starve to death."
After an hour of tracking, she spotted a wild boar rummaging through the bushes. With a swift motion, she leapt down from a branch, her reflexes sharp despite her messy form. The boar didn't even get to squeal before her blade-like claws struck true.
She sighed, wiping a bit of sweat from her forehead.
"Sorry, buddy. Survival first."
She skinned the boar carefully clumsy but determined then pierced the meat through a long branch she sharpened herself. The campfire crackled softly, orange light dancing against her dark-red eyes.
As the aroma of roasted meat filled the air, Milly made a makeshift bed out of leaves, moss, and a few dry twigs she piled together. It wasn't comfortable, but it was hers.
When the boar was done, she took a cautious bite.
Her tail (which she forgot to hide) flicked slightly in satisfaction.
"Not bad for my first hunt…" she murmured between bites.
After finishing, she leaned back, watching the stars peek through the trees. The forest was quiet just the sound of crickets, fire, and her steady breathing.
Then, out of nowhere, she began to hum a melody.
Soft, melancholic, but warm.
The kind of song that sounded… ancient.
Her lips formed words she didn't remember learning.
"To the flame, I return…
To the ash, I belong…"
The melody echoed in the clearing like a forgotten lullaby. But halfway through, her voice faltered. Her hands trembled. A sharp pain shot through her skull, like something clawing at the back of her mind.
She clutched her head, gasping, eyes wide.
Images flashed—faces she didn't know, a silver light, and a crimson void.
"Wha—what is… that?"
Her knees buckled. The world tilted.
The fire blurred into streaks of red and gold
and then everything went black.