In the Land of Rea

In a time far from ours, neither future nor past, lies a destiny foretold to happen. And yet, it doesn't matter why or how such things happen, it just matters who makes them happen.

 

All Mira wanted was a friend, really.  But even so, being alone in a desolate world seemed to make her grow to hate everyone around her. "Filthy." She muttered to herself as she stared from atop the very kingdom she had claimed to be hers. She stared off into the deep pitch black world she dared to suffer in. "Even the air here is filthy." She spat, beginning to walk down into her forest. She smelled in the grungy toxic air surrounding her, and bowed at the now sunless sky. 

Mira had grown lonelier over her few years alive, but that was enough to know that nobody could ever truly bring this place back into the light. She had never really known what had happened to turn everything to darkness. The only time her ears had heard even the slightest word, was what her mother said to her before she betrayed her. 'You'll be safe here, my darling.' She had said. 

Just as her thoughts trailed back to her mother, she heard a Kumiho. You didn't have to hear a Kumiho to know one was coming, you would first hear the cry of it's prey and by that time you'd better be long gone. Not Mira though. She had grown quite cocky of her strength and decided to have her first encounter with one of these 'Kumiho' She had heard so much about over the years.

She slowly but steadily crept over to where she heard the cry, trying hard not to trip in the dark. Upon seeing the Kumiho, Mira realized she shouldn't have come. The dark, dying trees surrounding her seemed to have been sliced to pieces, and the smell of blood began to burn her nose.  And yet, the Kumiho standing before her glowed with purity. "Why hello there little one. What brings you to my new land?," The Kumiho teased, skulking closer with every word. "Oh, don't tell me a short little little Al-mi like you rules this land?" The Kumiho smirked, and by her voice Mira decided he's male. The Kumiho's words seemed to spin around in her head, and Mira wondered why she was referred to as an 'Al-mi'.  

"Well, this," Mira gestured with the long deep black horn on the center of her forehead "is my forest. My hill and my den." as soon as she said that her posture seemed to become more serious. The Kumiho cleared his throat and stared down at Mira with his intensely colored purple eyes.  "I would love to kill you, you stupid little runt." he hesitated "But unfortunately, I'm not allowed to do so." 

The Kumiho stepped back and glared at her, but Mira didn't care. Mira spoke "Look, I'll give you half my land if you answer me a few questions, alright?" I have plenty of land, and besides, I need some answers. 

"OK. Fine. But you may only have ten questions." The Kumiho said, rather reserved.

"Fine, but first, please introduce yourself." Mira said, carefully avoiding anything considered to be a question. 

"I am Lord Ancient's follower. I live only to serve my master. I have no name, for Lord Ancient has courteously assigned me a number. I am #3274; and you?"  His answer seemed forced and very rehearsed. "I am Mira." She said, sounding far more unsure. "And.. my first question is," She thought for a second before answering "what am I?" Mira asked staring at the mucky ground covered in scattered patches of grass. "What am I..?" She asked again, silently and more to herself. 

 "Well," the Kumiho started "first off I'd like to say two things. One: I do not sympathize for you, being abandoned by your mother at such a young age." His eyes seemed to change to a darker purple as she spoke. "And two: You are confused as to what to call me. Call me #3274, for that is my name." 

Mira was stunned 'Can he read my thoughts? No. That isn't possible.. I've never met a creature who could do such things..' 

"OK.. #3274.. you still haven't told me what I am exactly.." Mira stated a little irritably.

"You, are an Al-Mi." #3274 could tell she was confused, so he continued "An Al-Mi is a large yellow rabbit- like yourself- with a large, black spiral horn on it's head. Very territorial, nasty creatures. Widely feared."  #3274 seemed to spit as she spoke of the Al-Mi species. 

"I.. I see.." Mira understood now. She was always hated, even as a child. But she didn't care. The whole world could hate her and she wouldn't care.. Too bad that seemed to be the case. 

Mira began observing the Kumiho more closely. She knew that she should fear his presence, some part of her senses screamed 'RUN!'. But, ignorantly she stayed.  The scarlet colored fox-like creature seemed to shift on his feet as Mira stared at her. The blood surrounding them both lost it's scent.. It was about to "rain". 

"We must part ways soon." The Kumiho told her. 

"May I call you Scarlet?" Mira asked.    

"Fine. But only when we are alone. Now, we must leave here. Musn't waste time." Scarlet said sadly. 

"Alright. When shall I see you again?" Mira questioned.

"Tomorrow, that's when me and the other followers will be coming to mark your land as ours, just as our agreement states. Half of your land is now ours, and only eight questions remain." Once again his answer seemed staged but had a smirk hidden behind his clear emotion. 

"Yes." Mira agreed to this just as Scarlet scampered off into the dark depths of whats left of her forest. "Goodbye." She whispered silently before hopping off into her remaining territory, beginning to consume everything she had just been told.