PRESENT TIME: TREE CABIN: Forêt sans ame.

  Ari groans as she feels something poking her head.

  "Hey, you alive? Shit, I hope I didn't sleepwalk and accidentally kill someone again." A woman's voice says.

  Ari slowly opens her eyes as her vision is still blurry.

  What appears to be Shun in her head stands above her, looking down at her.

  "Shun—-" she whispers.

  "Shun? What is that?" The voice says.

  Ari's vision slowly clears as the apparition clears, revealing a woman with caramel skin and long crimson hair, wearing a ripped cloak revealing the skin of her thighs and belly. Her sleeves are ripped to shreds as the right side of her face is charred, shutting her eye. She has two black horns sticking from her forehead and two black horns slicked back on her head.

  "R-reaper!" Ari mutters in shock as she stares up at Danya.

  Danya tilts her head. "You know who I am?"

  "I don't believe I've ever met you before."

  She scratches her head.

  "Or did I?"

  Ari hisses as pain still radiates through her body.

  Danya looks back down at her. "So may I ask, where am I? And uh—-"

  She looks at the blood Ari lays in and her bruises. "What happened to you? You're pretty messed up."

  Ari huffs. "I should be asking you—- I'm in this predicament because of you."

  "For some reason this entire biome is after you."

  Danya blinks. "Biome? Wait a minute—-"

  She turns her head to look out the blasted doorway to see nothing but trees with monstrous faces down a hill. She inspects the area more as she sees a sword lodged in the ground and a half-melted corpse with its skeleton showing.

  Suddenly it hits her. "How did I get to the Cursed Backwoods?!"

  "Y-you really don't know how you got here?"

  "You were with the other Reaper—- he was carrying you unconscious."

  Danya's eyes widen. "Akuji!" She runs to Ari, crouching.

  She grabs her by the shoulders. "Where is he?! Please tell me?!"

  Ari grunts in pain. "Please—- not too hard—-"

  "I don't know his exact location—- but he was thrown by vines trying to protect you."

  Danya's pupils shake. "I need to find him! Being split up, especially in this place, I won't have it!"

  "W-wait—-" Ari mutters

  "What? What is it?!" Danya shouts

  "As I told you before—- this entire biome is after you specifically for a reason—-"

  Ari coughs as blood erupts from her mouth. She tries her best to speak. "If you go in the state you're in now—-"

  She grabs Danya's wrist weakly. "You'll undoubtedly be killed—-"

  Danya lets go of Ari.

  "Then what do you suggest I do? Just sit here?! I'll get killed either way, we're both damaged!"

  Ari coughs blood into her hand, her voice straining.

  "No—- listen—- if we stay here, we will die. If you run blind, you'll be hunted down first. But if we make it to my village—" She gasps for air, forcing the words out. "—we can get healed. That's the only chance either of us has."

  Danya sucks her teeth. "And where's this village of yours?"

  "I'll lead you to it, but I have a small request—-"

  Danya clenches her fist. "Anything! Just hurry up!"

  "As I protected you, I ask you return the gesture—- I cannot move my body."

  Danya, with a frustrated grunt, crouches down and hooks her arms under Ari, lifting her onto her back in one sharp motion. Ari's dead weight makes her stagger a step, but she adjusts, tightening her grip until Ari's head rests against her shoulder.

  "Fine, whatever! Just tell me where this damn village is."

  Ari shuts her eyes, her claws twitching weakly as she channels what little energy she has left. Her body trembles against Danya's back.

  "East—-" she whispers, voice so faint it barely carries over the wind.

  Danya instantly rushes out of the tree cabin, skidding down the hill as particles of dirt follow in her wake.

  She runs for Peter's great sword that's lodged in the ground and pulls it out.

  "Not my style, but it'll do for right now!"

  Winds start to blow as the chirps of insects grow louder, as if they're screaming. The trees start to rustle as whispers and groans come from them.

  A feeling of urgency washes over Danya as she grips the handle of the sword.

  Her thoughts race.

  I don't have much energy to begin with—- and I can't use magic—-

  Fighting anything won't do me any good—- and I can't afford to use—-

  She stomps her foot. "AHG!" She begins to rush east as the fog engulfs her.

  Not too far from Forêt sans ame, L'abeille continues to fly towards the forest, holding Peter as he dangles in the air, holding on for dear life.

  The sound of buzzing her wings generate makes her body shake. His head rattles as he clenches his jaw, trying his best to ignore it, knowing if he said anything she'd ignore it.

  L'abeille remains laser-focused as her wings cut through the wind. In her head, the only thing she can think of is Danya's capture.

  Once I get my hands on Le Démon écarlate, that fox and this boy will have to die.

  Ma Grandeur will have to understand—- these two are wicked creatures that have no place to exist.

  Flashbacks of her embarrassment in front of Sachi and Ikigai and the Belles ring through her head.

  Trick me—- make me look like a fool—-

  She sucks her teeth as she flies faster.

  Moments pass as they both land in front of the tree cabin. L'abeille throws Peter to the ground as he rolls in the dirt. "Erkk." He hisses as his obsidian sword drops.

  She walks inside the cabin. "Go on, tell me where she's at."

  Peter stands as he brushes off the dirt from his robe. He picks his sword up.

  He peeks his head inside as he thinks to himself. Good—- they made it out—- I have to buy them time to get further out of here.

  "I said where is she? Where is the Death Spirit? You said she'd be here."

  Peter grunts. "I-I don't know. I swear I left them here. We haven't been gone too long for them to just disappear."

  "I told you they were unconscious, remember."

  Stolen story; please report.

  L'abeille's pupils shrink to pinpoints. She fixes him with a stare so sharp it cuts. Her body goes still.

  "Don't play games with me, boy. One wrong move—" She lifts her hand, the faint glisten of honey-venom forming at her fingertips. "—and I'll cut you down. Do you understand me?"

  Chills are sent down Peter's spine as he tries to hold it together. "I told you, I don't know where they are. I left them here—"

  Before Peter could finish, L'abeille taps the red gem on her neck as it emits a red pulse through the forest.

  The Soul Trees start to scream as their green eyes turn blood red.

  L'abeille closes her eyes as images of the entire forest play in her head.

  Each corner where a Soul Tree stands, she can see.

  She focuses more as she detects movement in the east of where they stand.

  "Hm—-" She tries to make out the being that's moving at a high speed, but the fog is too thick in that direction to see anything.

  "Damn—-"

  She turns to face outside as she raises both of her arms. The yellow honey-like substance starts to drip from her pores.

  As it starts with drops, it escalates to waves of it. The goo lands on the floor as Peter takes a step back.

  Buzzing can be heard from the goo as the puddle starts to turn into tiny droplets and begins to float in the air.

  The goo turns into multiple wasps and bees. Peter watches, eyes wide.

  L'abeille lowers her chin, her voice ringing with command:

  "East. Hunt the creature running through the forest."

  Her gaze sharpens, cold and absolute.

  "This is an attack order. No matter what it is—bring it to me."

  The bees and wasps give chase immediately. As the buzzing intensifies in the horde, the force of their wings combined blows Peter back.

  —————————-

  In the middle of the forest, Danya continues to run with Ari on her back. Ari's eyes are shut as Danya rushes in the direction of the village.

  "Hey, wake up! I still need directions."

  Red light starts to beam through the fog as each of the tree's eyes turn red. Their whispers turn louder.

  "Qui est là?!" (Who's there)

  "Qui est là ?!"

  "Qui est là ?!"

  They all shout repeatedly.

  "Agh! I can't be bothered with this shit!"

  Buzzing roars in the distance. The trees' voices grow louder and more distorted.

  "QUI EST LA?!"

  "QUI EST LA?!"

  Danya looks back behind her as the buzzing closes in.

  Her gut sinks as she sees nothing but dense green fog.

  The buzzing comes closer and closer.

  Ari's ears twitch, then shoot upright. Her eyes snap open, the sound of buzzing ripping her from half-consciousness. A flash of memory—L'abeille.

  Her voice comes out weak, trembling:

  "Run—- it's her—-"

  Danya's grip tightens on the sword. "What? Who's her? What the hell's going on?!"

  Ari looks back, her eyes widening as the swarm pushes through the fog, blotting out the dim light.

  "Shit! She's back!"

  Her thoughts spiral. "The illusion— it must've worn off. It hasn't even been an hour! I told him to come back to me if needed!"

  Danya lowers her head and forces her legs to pump harder. The strain rips through her joints, her muscles screaming with every step. Her teeth grind.

  The swarm reaches them as only shadows of the insects can be seen. They surround the duo. The buzzing is so loud their ears begin to bleed.

  "We're fucked—-"

  "QUI EST LA?!" The Soul Trees continue to scream.

  "Keep running!" Ari bellows

  Sparkles begin to radiate from her body as a small amount of energy returns, easing some of the pain.

  "What the—"

  "My legs are killing me! I have to carry you and this giant sword!" Danya exclaims

  "You aren't exactly the lightest thing around you know!"

  Some of the wasps fly in front of Danya. She instinctively puts both hands on the handle of the sword and swings.

  Slicing them apart, a goo-like substance splatters out of them as they're cut in half.

  The goo lands on Danya's exposed skin on her thigh as it begins to burn. Her skin starts to bubble as it blisters and pops.

  "Ah!" She stumbles, trying her best to keep her balance.

  Ari hops off Danya as she has enough energy to move.

  "It's not much, but it'll do for right now!"

  Danya turns to Ari as blood leaks from her thigh. "How can you walk again?! I thought you were immobilized!"

  Ari stays focused on running. "I don't know, and that's not my concern right now! I'm thinking about how to survive this!"

  The red light from the Soul Trees brightens, illuminating a red light through the fog.

  The swarm's buzzing grows louder as the light reveals yellow giant hornets.

  Ari sticks her arm out as she takes a deep breath, trying to calm down and think of something positive.

  Danya, running next to her, grits her teeth as her thoughts race. I'm cornered! I have no choice but to go into Sanguine again!

  It'll put me unconscious again if I lose my mind again—- but what else can I do?!

  The red light continues to shine as it then illuminates over Danya and Ari, revealing their appearances to the Soul Trees.

  "DIABLé!" The Soul Trees scream!

  "DIABLé!"

  "DIABLé!"

  The hornets' eyes then start to glow a crimson red, mirroring the Soul Trees.

  Back at the tree cabin, L'abeille's gem starts to shine a red light as an image of Danya and Ari running plays in her head.

  "Le Démon écarlate has been spotted!" L'abeille's cloak bursts into ribbons, revealing a slim, curvy body. Her skin is made of exoskeleton with black and gold markings over it. Her layer of clothes is a skin-tight bodysuit with glossy black and gold armor over it. White fur wraps around her shoulders and neck where her gem is.

  "Shit, they were found? Already?!" Peter panics as he starts to sweat.

  L'abeille grabs Peter by the collar as she smiles, bearing her teeth. "Let's pay your little fox friend a visit, shall we!"

  "Two birds with one stone, magnifique."

  L'abeille sprouts her wings as they begin to buzz once more. She rushes to where Danya and Ari are, causing a sonic boom.

  Peter's mouth is left dangling open as his screams are deafened by the speed. Saliva flows out of his mouth.

  In the dense fog of the forest, Danya and Ari stop running as Danya's eyes and hair start to gleam crimson.

  "You call me a diablé all you like." She starts to grin as fangs show.

  Her demeanor starts to change as she begins to giggle.

  The wasps surround the two as Ari's body continues to try to focus. "Ignore it, Ari—- Ignore it, positive, positive!"

  "DIABLé!"

  "DIABLé!" The Soul Trees continue to scream as their voices grow more distorted and angry.

  Danya looks up at the wasps as her crimson eyes lock with theirs. "Using my color like that—- shameful."

  She raises her sword. "I wonder, do you all spill the same goo?"

  L'abeille's voice cuts in. "Why, they in fact do, but you won't be spilling any today, demon."

  Ari's body jolts, her ears snapping upright as the sound sends a chill down her spine.

  "No! It's too late!" Her eyes burst open in panic.

  Danya looks up at where the voice came from as she spots L'abeille descending to the ground.

  "And who are you?" Danya asks, unimpressed.

  "What are you even supposed to be? Some Queen Bee?"

  The hornets continue to swarm and surround the area.

  L'abeille lands as she drops Peter on the ground.

  "Peter!" Ari gasps, her eyes widening. She staggers a half-step toward him, disbelief breaking through her composure.

  "Is that you?!"

  Peter slowly rises, brushing dirt from his robe with deliberate movements, his jaw tight. His eyes don't meet hers. Instead, he lifts his obsidian blade, its tip leveling straight at Danya.

  He holds his sword up, pointing at Danya.

  Ari's voice cracks, panic spilling out.

  "Wait—what are you doing?!"

  Peter remains quiet as L'abeille speaks up.

  L'abeille's smirk spreads as she steps forward, her exoskeleton catching the red light of the Soul Trees.

  "Well—- to finally meet Le Démon écarlate in the flesh." Her voice drips with venom.

  "The one Malika swore to destroy in the Livre de révérence."

  Danya tilts her head in confusion. "Who? Sorry, bee, I never heard of this Malika before. You got the wrong girl."

  L'abeille's eye twitches. "How arrogant—- you don't even remember the life you ruined, the man you killed."

  Danya shrugs. "I've killed a lot of men and lots of spirits. You're going to have to be specific."

  L'abeille starts to chuckle as the yellow goo honey starts to drip from her palms.

  "A shame. I wish I could kill you here, but that's the duty of Malika."

  Danya rolls her eyes as she raises her sword. "So what? You and this kid are a team or something?"

  Ari interjects. "PETER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! WHY ARE YOU POINTING YOUR BLADE AT US?!"

  Danya turns to Ari. "You know this guy?"

  L'abeille smiles as she pats Peter on the back. "She knows him very well actually, as he is the one who fought so hard to protect you while you were unconscious."

  "Ironically being the very one to sell you out in the end."

  Danya scoffs. "Really?" She turns to Peter. "So you apparently fought to protect me? But now you point your blade at me?"

  "Interesting." She then shrugs. "Oh well, I don't know you anyway. Killing you won't be a problem for me."

  The hornets close in on the four. The Soul Trees start to scream louder.

  Ari's body trembles as she grows her tail, sharpening it.

  "I didn't put myself on the brink of death just for this!"

  She clenches her jaw as claws start to form.

  "I trusted you—- I trusted you, I protected you—- and this is how you repay me!"

  Peter remains quiet as a stoic blank expression etches on his face. He blinks as his hair and robe flutter in the force the hornets are creating.

  Ari's ears twitch as Shun's words echo in her mind. Her pupils dilate, her breath quickening. "It's truly a kill-or-be-killed world—- he was right."

  All four prepare to battle. No escape for anyone, a battle they all must fight. Some may die, some may triumph. Only one side can come out on top.

  END