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 tore through the lush green forest as a storm of arrows sliced through the air behind her. Shouts and curses echoed as the nimble foxgirl leapt from branch to branch, never slowing. But she knew she wouldn’t last—her pursuers would catch up, and her strength was already fading. Skidding to a halt, she turned and drew in a breath, gathering energy deep within her. She had never wanted to use the hidden technique passed down by her ancestors. Power swelled in her chest, heat burning fiercely along her tongue. In a blinding flash, a brilliant flame erupted in front of her. As it roared, thoughts of her parents surfaced, along with the memory of humans driving them from their home. She had always seen humans as cruel and heartless, and part of her wanted to make them pay. Yet deep down, she longed for the fighting to end—for a world where she could live in peace alongside them.