Ankaa had been traveling for almost two days straight. Her feet knew it, even as the rest of her body stubbornly resisted. Each foot ached with every step, pounding into her brain and urging her to rest, but Ankaa ignored the sensation. This was not pain.

Tarakan was pain incarnate, and if she did not send word soon from the next village, his men would be after her. This was a distraction that she did not need, not now, so early in the journey.

Her head snapped up as a rustle in the bush caught her attention. Something or someone was there, watching her, eyes like twin lanterns in the fading twilight.

"Who's there?" she called, her hand on her scabbard. "Identify yourself."

A low growl answered her, and instantly, she took her hand from her sword, smiling.

"Anonde ya, Sion." she said, an uncharacteristically happy expression crossing her features.

An unusually large wolf bounded onto the path in front of her, teeth bared in a wolfish smile as he trotted up to her, knocking her over and bathing her face in warm slobber. She took off her gloves and ran an affectionate hand through his thick white fur, pressing her head to his and reveling in the familiar sensation of an old friend, his love and affection for her nearly vibrating against her skull. She had raised the wolf from a sickly pup, long ago, and watched him grow into a capable alpha. He roamed the woods freely now, but frequently stopped by to visit her.

Still smiling his wolfish smile jumped off of her and bounded ahead of her on the path, leading her out of the forest. Ankaa, forgetting her exhaustion, ran with him, laughing as they came to the clearing. He pounced on her once more to wrestle playfully, his teeth carefully guarded as he gently gripped her arm, pulling at her like an anxious child.

Ankaa got to her feet, the town of Taragos now in view. A meadow law between her and the front gates, a stretch of unfarmed land that would take her roughly half an hour to cover. The sunlight was fading, however- the gates would be closed soon. As much as she would have liked to spend time with her friend, there were more pressing things to attend to.

After all, if her mission was successful...she would have all the time in the world.

"Time to go, old friend." she said quietly.

Sion let out a low whine as she started for the village.

Ankaa turned around and smiled, reading the warning in his eyes. "I'll be careful." Leaning over, she placed a kiss on the top of his massive, boxy skull. "I'll see you again."

The wolf barked at her, once, then bounded back towards the forest, disappearing into the tall grass. Ankaa sighed, watching her friend go. He was perhaps the last of the souls who had known her as a child, save one...but that one was as good as dead.

Best not to think of those things.

Ankaa pulled up her hood and walked towards the gates, looking around her.

A voice behind her made her jump. "I kin smell it on ya. You're one of 'em."

Ankaa's eyes narrowed, her hand drifting to her sword. More distractions. Unwelcome ones. As a lone traveler, however, she expected them.

The man just chuckled. "Your kind is fetchin' a high price these days. What say we cash your head in?"

Ankaa turned around, only to find that a circle of men had gathered around her, most of them brandishing a crude weapon. Magii hunters...amateurs.

Sighing, she pushed her hood back. "Congratulations," she sighed, drawing her sword. "You've made your last mistake."

The man just smiled. "Ooooh...and it's a little lady. What say you we have some fun with her, boys?"

~*~*~*~*~