The sound of leaves crackling under foot most definitely gave away her position. Why did fall always have such loud, noisy leaves? You couldnâ€™t sneak around anywhere in the fall. Even if you were in the middle of a field, you still managed to find nice, crisp, noisy leaves. Besides the noisy foliage, the day was starting out well for the girl of perhaps less than perfect virtues. There was a nice thick fog around her, and the air was fresh and cold. Later, there would be sun and deep blue skies, but right now, in the early dawn of a forest, there was nothing but gray fog and silence--<span style="font-style: italic">CRUNCH</span>â€“except for those blasted loud leaves.<br/><br/>One might very well wonder what a young woman who appeared no older than twenty-two was doing out in these parts so early in the day. Oneâ€™s curiosity might heighten when they noticed she was carrying a sword in one hand and was wearing what appeared to be menâ€™s clothing. Certainly, the gray woolen shirt and pants were warmer and gave her more freedom than any dress, but the question remained. Why?<br/><br/>She doubted she could even comprehend her actions herself. The past few days had all seemed a blur, a blur of fur and childrenâ€™s wails and fire. She wasnâ€™t even sure she was still alive. Maybe she had died and been sucked into some bizarre world. It mattered little though. Whether she was awake and alive or dreaming and dead, there was a foe in this forest, one she would not rest until was dead.