[UPDATE IN PROGRESS] Onmyou-Pocketville: Fallen Dusk

Chapter 14: Back Home

Malorie and Tia found themselves in a mystical valley. Dark, sharp-peaked mountains in the distance pierced the gradient indigo sky as the sun rose from the horizon the duo was facing. There was also a rather enormous scarlet torii right in front of them that framed the sunrise.

Then, somebody else was approaching the duo. Both Malorie and her Chosen Pet turned around to see a large but elegant deer sprint near them, but not directly at them. It was tan, with numerous white spots on its pelt despite being an adult. These were the characteristic features of a Sika deer. It also sported a long brown mane like a horse, which had an uncanny resemblance to Malorie's own hair.

The doe slid on her hooves as she put a stop to her prance near the duo, but far enough so neither of them would flinch.

Malorie and Tia's snouts went agape as they looked at the deer in awe and wonder. However, Tia seemed as if she were less confused than Malorie.

"Goodness, I forgot the saddle..." the doe murmured in dismay as she stuck her head down for a brief moment.

Malorie blinked as she remained curious about the deer in front of her. "Is there anything you need? Oh, and who are you?"

The deer then turned her gaze at the duo. She had dark brown eyes that gleamed like chocolate diamonds, and a pair of apple leaf-shaped ears below her extravagant antler imitations.

"My name is Nara. I'm the lead deer of the Antlered Guild, and I've been sent by Queen Ami to assist you two." She looked around with a wary expression after her ears twitched from picking up a distant and suspicious noise coming from somewhere in the valley. However, the duo she was with weren't aware. She then looked back at Malorie and Tia. "Hop on my back."

Malorie stepped back with concerned eyes. She hasn't gone riding ever since she was ejected off the back of her pony and got injured as a result when she was at the young age of seven, due to a strange, unnatural phenomenon that somehow startled the horse. She also noticed that Nara didn't have a saddle, deeming her even more unsafe.

"But...why?"

Nara slowly dipped her head even lower, closer to Malorie. She whispered, "Listen, there is something suspicious going on here, and if it happens to be an entity or entities too fast for a biped to outrun, then you're doomed if you try to get away on your own. Hop on my back, and you will be safe. Besides, I'm very fast, but then you have to hold on to my ears. I forgot the saddle."

Without any more hesitation, Malorie hopped on top of Nara, her legs splayed on each side of the doe. As she leaned forward to grab ahold of Nara's ears, she looked down at Tia. "Do you need help getting up?"

"No no, I got it." Nara's imitation antlers started glowing. Tia was picked up and levitated by a pinkish aura that surrounded her entire self, and she was eventually placed in front of Malorie. "Now, hold on tight because we're going to get a move on!"

Nara galloped as fast as she could across the path of cut grass, through the big red torii. She kept her chocolate-brown eyes on where she was heading as the duo she carried on her back braced themselves, just in case. Tia was enjoying the ride, her green eyes widening with awe, whilst Malorie's heart pounded in her chest in a gradually fast pace and each of her breaths shortened and quickened as she continued to grasp on to Nara's ears. She also kept Tia close, acting as if she were her "protective big sister". The wind pressing against her sleek ginger pelt did not help at all.

In the distance, several explosions of dark purple smoke occurred throughout the valley. It seemed as if the pouches that were causing them were being thrown from the summits of the mountains. The smoke eventually covered much of the torii behind Nara.