Falling Leaves 20 ??

  Moments pass, as everything falls silent, Peter stares at the ceiling, as Ari dozes off.

  In that moment a knock on the door is heard, Peter jumps up grabbing his sword looking at Ari.

  "Shit she's asleep—-"

  His thoughts race. "Should I answer? Or should I be quiet?! I don't want anything knowing we're in here."

  The knocking continues, as the person tries to open the door.

  But it's blocked by the large table and chair Peter put in front of it.

  "What do I do?! What if they just burst in here?"

  He raises his sword getting in attacking stance, as he tiptoes to the side of it.

  "Okay—- as soon as they burst in here I'll thrust my sword in their body—-"

  The knocking continues as his body rattles, he grits his teeth.

  As suddenly a voice of an elderly woman is heard. "Oh dear—- I hope I didn't lock myself out."

  "An old lady?" Peter mutters to himself.

  She continues to try to open the door shaking it and banging it.

  "Oh what the hell—- I can't do that to her this is her home."

  He takes a deep breath, as his thoughts begin to race once more.

  "Do I trust this?"

  "What if this is something trying to kill us again?"

  "But if it's just an old woman—- I can't do that to her—-"

  He takes a deep breath, as he puts his sword down and starts to move the table blocking the door.

  The door cracks open as Peter gulps, the sound of it creaking fills the room.

  A woman with a hunched back wearing a brown robe with a rope tied as a belt around it walks in, her face is wrinkled, as her hair is grey, she has a bushy tail with two grey fox ears.

  "Another fox spirit?" Peter thinks to himself as he looks back at Ari with her head still sunk in her lap.

  "Why hello there, may I ask why you're in my cabin?" The Fox Spirit folds her hands behind her back.

  "I-I-I—-" Peter stumbles on his words stuttering, his mind shutting down trying to give a good excuse.

  "Well? Can you speak son? Who are you? Where do you come from?"

  Peter shakes his head. "Sorry- we just needed a place to take cover for the night! We're not here to rob you of anything I promise!"

  The Fox Spirit chuckles. "Oh it's quite alright, I know you're not here to take anything. Your aura isn't threatening."

  "But I do wonder why are you here?"

  Peter grabs his left arm trying to stop his body from shaking. "Well—- my friend here is injured, and we needed a place to take cover so we don't die in this forest—-"

  "So please, let us stay the night, the girl you see with her head in her lap, she's been vomiting blood."

  The Fox Spirit's eyes widen. "Really? That sounds terrible." She then turns to Danya. "And who is this woman here? She looks in a worse state, her clothes are ripped and burn marks surround her skin."

  Peter clears his throat. "Oh, that's—- uh."

  "Shit I don't know her name—- and I can't call her Death Spirit or Reaper here—-"

  "That's Emilia! Yeah Emilia Sanchez.."

  The Fox Spirit hums. "Emilia Sanchez? What a strange name. I never heard of such a thing."

  "Oh well I'm not surprised many Spirits come here for refuge. She could be from any biome."

  "Refuge?" Peter asks.

  "Sorry but can you explain what you mean by that?"

  The Fox Spirit closes the door, as she summons a flame in her palm lighting up the room.

  "Why certainly, criminals and rogue spirits always come to this biome for freedom and a place to live."

  "It's been like this for centuries."

  Peter leans closer to her. "Wait? So basically this place is just a breeding ground for evil?"

  "But I was told that this place feeds on negativity? How are these spirits surviving?"

  The Fox Spirit chuckles as she walks towards Ari. "Well, that is true this biome feeds on negative energy and emotion. But ironically that's how these spirits survive."

  "Think about it boy, if everything here is negative everyone is negated, everyone is equal. No power dynamics, just smart thinking enhances survival here."

  She then snaps her fingers facing the painting on the wall, blue sparkles surround her.

  Peter starts to lose his balance, as from his view the room starts to stretch and turn.

  "Woah, woah what's going on!"

  Danya falls off the chair, causing a thud. The sound of wood stretching fills the entire room.

  Ari's ears twitch, as she slowly opens her eyes. "Ugh—- what's going on—-"

  She looks up at the Fox Spirit, noticing her tail and ears.

  "What—-"

  The room suddenly stops stretching, as three beds appear next to each other at the very end of the wall. Each with blue blankets and white pillows.

  The Fox Spirit claps her hands, as candles then light up the room.

  Peter looks in awe. "Wha—-What did I just witness?!"

  Ari tries to stand as she wobbles. "Who—- who are you.." Her voice is low and groggy.

  The Fox Spirit turns to her and smiles. "Oh, rest first dear there's always time to explain later."

  Ari continues to wobble. "Oh—-" She blinks.

  She instantly finds herself in the bed, in the middle of Danya and Peter.

  "Huh?!" Peter yells out.

  "When did we get over here?!"

  Ari falls back asleep as her breathing slows down.

  Danya has her head face first on the pillow as the three of them are all covered.

  The Fox Spirit chuckles. "Sleeping in armor boy? Won't you be uncomfortable?"

  Peter grits his teeth. "Hey wait! I didn't ask you to do this for us?! What's going on with you?"

  He tries to sit up, but the weight of the blanket keeps him in place. "What the hell is this?!"

  He looks up at the Fox Spirit as a grin plasters on her face. "Sleep tight my dearests."

  He squirms in the covers trying to break loose.

  The Fox Spirit stares at him. "How? How aren't you asleep yet?"

  "Odd—-"

  She raises her hand once more as another sheet of blankets covers the three.

  Peter continues to squirm. "Let me out of here!"

  "What—-" she mutters to herself.

  "The spores from the blanket should put him to sleep by now—-"

  "Is his bloodstream thin or something?"

  "Stop this! Just let us go!" Peter shouts.

  "Explain to me what you are? Are you some Spirit with a rare blood type?"

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "I owe you no explanation especially when you're trying to kill us!"

  The Fox Spirit tilts her head. "Kill? No—- I'm simply trying to help that's it that's all."

  "Help us? This is what you call helping?! Trapping us against our will?!"

  The Fox Spirit remains silent, as she summons a brown leather book in her palm.

  "I am here to help and heal, not to trap boy. I follow the words of Malika to give others the same love she's given to the biome."

  The book's pages flip by themselves as the sound of papers flipping come from it.

  "Oh give me a break about this Malika! You told me this place runs on negativity so what good is her love?! What is this the Christ of your world?!"

  The Fox Spirit stands stern. "This biome may run on negativity but Malika is the one who gives love to the cursed and negative. It's through her salvation that we here are saved."

  "The saved who found the path of Malika's love can use their magic, her positivity counters this cursed hell."

  "Oh please, This is what you call love?!" His armor rattles as he relentlessly squirms.

  "This is not how you get others to follow a religion! Or whatever cult this is!"

  The pages stop flipping as the Fox Spirit starts to read. "Thus saith Malika, Keeper of the Cursed Backwoods and Hand of the Daughters of the Star: Through kindness, through love, and through righteousness, shall the cursed be loosed from their chains and blessed with freedom. Love thy neighbor as thine own flesh; for the love of Malika is not for one alone, but is poured forth upon all."

  The blankets weigh more on Peter, as the sound of metal cracking is heard.

  Bits of his armor stab him, as the blanket grows heavier. "AUGH!" He hisses in pain.

  The Fox Spirit then instantly appears next to him smiling. "Now let's see what type of blood you have deary."

  She places her palm on the blanket where his chest is, as a hole opens revealing the cracked armor.

  She looks at his skin as metal shards are stabbed in, but to her surprise—-.

  "Where's the blood? What?"

  Peter winces as he shuts his eyes. "Damn—- I need to find a way to get out of this—-"

  "I need—- a way—-"

  He starts to think himself changing in different forms. "If only I could just, shrink—- something—-"

  The Fox Spirit starts to step back. "W-what—-"

  Peter's body starts to transform as his arms and legs retract his entire body turning into a wisp.

  He floats out of the blankets, as he floats above the bed.

  "If only I could escape—- fuck! What do I do!?"

  "What are you?!" The Fox Spirit shouts.

  Peter gains consciousness as instantly he turns back into his normal body, landing on the bed.

  He opens his eyes as he sees himself facing the Fox Spirit.

  "I'm—- I'm free?"

  "I'm free!" He's excited looking around.

  The Fox Spirit stomps her foot on the wooden ground. "Answer me!"

  Peter turns quickly facing her as he lunges at her tackling her pinning her to the ground.

  "Let go of my friends! Now!"

  The Fox Spirit's pupils start to shake. "Get your hands off me!"

  She begins to squirm under Peter's weight.

  The blankets behind them begin to lighten up and disappear.

  "No! Let us go! I don't want whatever fucked up shit you were planning but I'm not letting it happen!"

  "LET ME GO DAMN YOU!" She screams as she snaps her fingers trying to use her magic.

  Nothing happens. "This is not happening to me!"

  Peter smirks. "Seems like you can't follow your own biome's rules! Remember no negativity allowed!"

  The room starts to return to normal as the candles blow out, wood begins to stretch once more.

  The beds disappear as Danya and Ari fall to the ground.

  The Fox Spirit starts to squirm as her eyes turn black. "I SAID LET ME GO!" Her voice deepens, becoming more ruffled.

  Ari's ears twitch, as she opens her eyes.

  "W-where—- where am I?" She mutters as she sits up.

  Peter and the Fox Spirit's grunts catch her attention as she turns to them.

  "Peter? What are you doing?"

  "Ugh!" Peter continues to hold down the Fox Spirit as he turns his head back to Ari.

  "Ari, this woman was trying to trap us! Crush us under her blanket!"

  Ari takes a look at the Fox Spirit. "I've seen her before—- I've never seen a Fox spirit that looked like her."

  She sharpens her tail, as she pushes Peter off her.

  He rolls across the wooden floor, his armor scraping across it making a screeching sound.

  "What was that for?!"

  Ari ignores him as she focuses on the Fox Spirit aiming her tail toward her.

  "Attacking an old lady like me? That's not very honorable for our kind is it?!" The Fox Spirit sneers.

  "Shut up and tell me who you are." Ari's voice is cold, her pupils slit as she's completely focused on her.

  The Fox Spirit hisses. "Why—- my name is Kitsuna, I've left the village years ago to venture the Cursed Backwoods, to find a home here. I didn't want to just be trapp-" before she could finish Ari interrupts her by wrapping her tail around her neck.

  "AUGH!" Kitsuna chokes.

  "I don't like liars." With one violent twist, she hurls the Fox Spirit.

  BAM!

  The cabin door explodes off its hinges as the woman's body crashes through, splintered wood flying. She tumbles down the hill in a broken roll, vanishing into the fog outside.

  Ari turns back to Peter. "Stay here with the Reaper—- I'll handle this."

  Peter gulps as he watches claws grow from Ari's nails, as her tail grows in size.

  "Y-yeah! Don't have to tell me twice!"

  Ari jumps outside as Kitsuna lays at the bottom of the hill.

  Kitsuna claws the dirt as green fog surrounds her.

  "YOU!" she howls, spit flying. "FINE! IF THAT'S HOW YOU WANT IT!"

  Her skin starts to crack, as black gas seeps through it, her mouth widens as her eyes turn black, as she stands she grows taller.

  Her skin falls apart like clay as a black figure arises.

  "PEUR DU NOIR!!" (Fear of the Dark!!) She screams.

  Peter grabs Danya as he runs outside to watch. "Jesus is that what she's been hiding this whole time?!"

  Steam erupts from its mouth, as her voice grows more distorted as if a radio broadcast is being interrupted.

  "YoU sEaLeD yOuR oWn FaTe FoX!"

  The figure lurches forward, voice splintering into a dozen pitches at once.

  "I'll BeAt YoU tO aN iNcH oF lIfE aNd HaVe YoU tRaFfIcKeD!"

  Ari's eyes stay focused as she remains unwavering.

  "So is this what you resort to when your magical power is negated?"

  "A hideous beast?"

  Kitsuna steps forward. "HiDeOuS? YoU dArE cAlL mE hIdEoUs?"

  Ari steps closer as well as she readies her tail looking down at Kitsuna from the top of the hill.

  "Yes I dare, it makes sense why you'd want to fake being something else I wouldn't want to live looking like that."

  "I'd end it all if I were you—- you know let me just do you the favor."

  Kitsuna's eyes widen as her mouth hangs slightly open in disbelief.

  "I'LL kIlL yOu!" She charges at Ari.

  Ari leaps downward as her tail extends firing straight for Kitsuna.

  Kitsuna tries to grab her tail with her left hand, as Ari instantly swipes it cutting off her hand.

  It drops on the hill as it rolls down it.

  Kitsuna drops to her knees as she screeches in pain. "AHGGGH"

  Ari watches coldly as she blinks slowly. "Stand up—- this battle isn't finished."

  "We're both in a negative mood. No magic, no cheats, just pure combat."

  She lands in front of Kitsuna as she knees her in the face, sending her back rolling down the hill.

  "Gwah—-" Kitsuna lays on the ground panting.

  "FiNe LeTs PlAy By YoUr RuLeS!"

  She grabs her severed hand as she launches it at Ari.

  Ari ducks as it flies straight for Peter.

  "AYE, AYE, AYE!!!" He ducks.

  "WHAT THE FUCK!?"

  Kitsuna rushes up the hill straight at Ari, kicking dirt up at her.

  Ari sticks out her tail fluffing it blocking the debris.

  Kitsuna pounces using this opportunity to land on top of Ari.

  "Idiot—-" Ari mutters as she instantly fires her tail for Kitsuna's open chest in the air.

  "Another one down."

  A jagged grin then forms on Kitsuna's face, as her body starts to turn into gas.

  Ari's tail goes straight through it.

  "Huh?!" Ari grunts looking in shock.

  Kitsuna lands in front of Ari, instantly materializing herself grabbing Ari by the face.

  "EaT tHe DiRt!" She slams Ari's face across the hill, dragging her.

  Peter watching from above grits his teeth. "No—- I can't just let her fight this thing by herself."

  He turns to look back in the tree cabin and sees his sword lying there.

  He quickly runs to grab it, as he looks at Danya lying there.

  "This'll only be a few minutes. You're safe in here for right now."

  He rushes outside to the battle.

  Kitsuna slams Ari back and forth on the ground, as she beats her down the hill.

  CRASH!

  Dust fills the air, as Ari lays on the ground, blood drops from her forehead.

  Dirt covers her body as her ponytail unravels.

  "HoW's ThAt!? HuH hAhAhA!"

  "WhErE's AlL tHe BrAvAdO yOu HaD?"

  She gets in another stance ready to pounce.

  As suddenly she feels a sharp pain cut through her. "AHHGH!" She screams as a tip of a blade digs through her skin.

  "Forgot about me huh?!"

  "A mistake never count a soldier out until he's dead!"

  Ari coughs blood as she looks up at the two. "Why—- I told him to stay with the Reaper—-"

  Kitsuna turns her head looking down at Peter impaling her.

  "GeT oFf Me!!" She screeches, her voice growing more distorted.

  Her body starts to turn smoky as she turns to gas once more.

  Peter's sword falls through her, as he stumbles back.

  Instantly materializing herself, Peter looks up his sword pointing it at her, his gaze locked onto her. "So this is like a natural ability you have? Pretty unfair this doesn't count as magic."

  Kitsuna pants as black liquid falls from her wound.

  She groans, as she drops to one knee.

  "WhAtEvEr YoU aRe, YoU hAvE mY wOrD, I'lL dRoWn YoU iN dArKnEsS, hAvE yOu SuFfEr In ThE cLuTcHeS oF tHe CuRsEd Of ThIs BiOmE."

  Peter chuckles as he points his sword down at her, he shakes a bit. "Huh—- well that wasn't very positive was it?"

  "Try me then—- you won't get far with me. I can bet you on that one."

  Ari on the ground forces herself to stand as blood drips from her head and arms.

  "We have to end this now—- I can feel myself slipping—-"

  Her vision doubles; she steadies herself, tail trembling as she tries to sharpen its edge.

  The screams of Kitsuna echo through the air. "I wOnT gEt FaR? Oh PlEaSe!" She stands getting in an attacking stance.

  Peter guards himself with his sword, as Ari tries her best to stay balanced.

  A battle of weakened individuals all trying to survive.

  END