<strong>Yukina</strong><br/><br/>The butterfly circled until Yukina drew near, and then it fluttered just ahead of her, leading her further into the woods. Twilight deepened, the treetops lost in shadow. Birdsong faded and the only sounds were her footfalls and the rustling of the breeze. The smell of loam grew overpowering. Moss clung to the trees and lichens crusted the rocks. Black shapes loomed in the darkness, and as Yukina drew near she realized they were mushrooms, some taller than she was. The forest here was old, very old. Were it not for her faithful guide lighting her way, she could easily have become lost.<br/><br/>The butterfly led her across a tree trunk spanning a ravine, and through a bubbling brook whose waters reached Yukina's ankles. It was heading north and east, she thought; and then it veered suddenly, turning to the south. The gloom lightened and she heard birds chirping once more. It seemed the butterfly had brought her back to the road. But before Yukina could wonder why, the butterfly shot forward as swiftly as if she had fired it from her bow, a blue streak that hurtled eastward towards a ridge. It was about to collide with a tree when<em>something</em>leapt into the air in front of it.<br/><br/>Yukina had an impression of four legs and slavering jaws, and then a fanged maw snapped shut around the butterfly. The light that had been guiding her vanished, but not before she glimpsed a second shadowy figure lurking by a tree; there were<em>two</em>of the beasts near. She heard a low growl, and saw flashes of movement in the darkness as both beasts padded silently through the woods in her direction- sniffing, searching. She believed they had not discovered her, but at this rate it was only a matter of time before they did.<br/><br/>To her right was a dense growth of brambles. To her left, sprigs of a bush with a strong herbal scent: rosemary. Behind her, the ground rose into a small knoll, and atop it was a shallow depression. And all about her were trees. Some were only saplings while others climbed as far as the eye could see.