An arrow whizzed past her from behind, striking a nearby tree with a deadly fwop. Runa didn't have time to look back; she had to keep running, deeper and deeper into the woods. The humans were right behind her; three or four men armed with swords and crossbows, shouting their brutish obscenities. She stood little chance of fending them off if they caught up to her. Why did humans have to be such assholes all the time? Sure, she had snuck off with a bit of their gold and ale while they were snoring, but did that really warrant this cutthroat chase to the bitter end? Runa rolled her vulpine eyes, dashing behind a tree to narrowly dodge another arrow.

Glancing back through the spaces between the trees, she met eyes with one of her pursuers. She stuck her tongue out at him and gave him a taunting wink. Catch me if you can, you metal-clad idiot, she wanted to say.

Around another tree bend she dashed, followed closely by her pursuers. Using her kitsune tail she picked up a clump of half-dried bird droppings, and flung it at one of the men, splattering it directly on the forehead of his helmet with a wet metallic *CLANG*. Runa burst into laughter. This was just as much fun as the humans were irritating.

Runa burst into laughter. This was just as much fun as the humans were irritating.

She kept running, the creek ahead offering a perfect escape. The men were close, but Runa was quicker. As she reached the water, she glanced back, grinning. One of the men, still covered in bird droppings, stumbled and cursed. She couldn’t resist flicking a handful of dirt at him, making him flail even more.

With a swift leap, she plunged into the creek, the cold water rushing around her. The men hesitated on the bank, shouting after her.

"She’s gone into the river!" one yelled.

Runa smirked, diving underwater and swimming downstream. When she surfaced, the shouts had faded. She pulled herself up on the far bank, her fur soaked but her heart racing with victory.

She’d escaped once more.