Keep up, just keep up! She yelled in side her head. Running through the snow following her brother a young albino kitsune was trying to get away. Away from her home. Away from her house. Away from her parents. And away from her past. Her paws ached and she was numb from nose to tail tip but she kept on running. The snow crunched under her paws as she continued forward. "Zan we must stop. I need a break," she said to her brother.
"Fine. A short break will do some good for my aching paws any way." he replied loosening the bag that was strapped to his side. He pulled out some water and hard bread and they both ate. "Shina we must get to the next village before sunrise," he told her when they had finished.
"Right then we can rest for the day and sleep," she replied. Suddenly there was a loud snarl as a large wolf jumped in front of them.
"What are you doing here? You're on MY territory! Leave immediately or I'll have to kill you!" it said. Shina boldly stepped forward and approached the wolf.
"Where is the nearest village?" she asked using her kitsune magic to force out the information. "And where is the inn."
"Shina I don't think that will work on wolves." Zan said hesitantly. But then the wolf complied with Shina's request.
"Turn to your left and walk straight till you come to the road," he said, "Follow it east and you will come to the human village. The inn is just inside the gates. Proceed with caution or my pack will find you and kill you."
"Thank you." Shina said and her and Zan dashed off into the woods.
"I cant believe that actually worked!" she said when they came to the road.
"Yeah. I almost thought that wolf would just attack you!" Zan replied.
They continued heading east for a few hours. When they could see the top of the gates above the treetops they stopped. "We need to change before we go in there," Zan said.
"Okay," Shina agreed. The two kitsunes began to change. Shina turned into a tall teenage girl with long white-blonde hair and red eyes. Zan changed into a tall teenage boy with brown hair-not being albino like his sister-, and green eyes. Shina was wearing a knee-length white dress and Zan was wearing a simple brown tunic and breeches. They continued on until they came to the gates. The guard looked them up and down, and went through their bags checking for any weapons.
"Okay, you can pass." he said, just as Zan was about to burst out yelling at the guard for staring at his sisters' chest. They walked through the gate and headed for the inn the wolf had indicated.
When they arrived at the inn Zan went to the front desk and asked for a room and diner to be brought up, as Shina looked around at the numerous paintings that covered the walls. "Shina, can you lend me a few coins please so I can pay for diner?" Zan asked.
"Sure. Here." she answered handing him small leather bag full of coins. They went up to their room and opened the door and found that the room was just as nice as the lobby was. The two beds were made nicely and the furniture was made of the best wood. "It's nice. I like it!" Shina said.
"Yes. It is nice!" Zan agreed. After diner they each bathed and went to bed.
The next morning they went down to the lobby to check out before any one else was up. They had a quick breakfast and set out to continue running. They didn't want any one from their home to catch up with them.
As they were walking through the streets they tried to avoid most of the big crowds so they wouldn't be noticed. Suddenly some one reached out and grabbed Shinas' arm. "Ya know miss, it's not safe to be run-in' around the city with out a guide." the man said, squeezing her arm tighter.
"Let me go!" she yelled. She could see that the man was obviously drunk. "Let go of me I say!" she struck the man on his arm but nothing happened. The man just squeezed her arm tighter and started dragging her off. Just then Zan realized that Shina wasn't following him and looked back to see where she went. He saw her being dragged away by a large heavy built man. He ran as fast as he could and reached them in time to kick the man in the back and watch him fall to the ground. Zan grabbed Shina's hand and ran again in the opposite direction and into the crowd.
"Are you okay?" Zan asked when they were far enough away for him to relax.
"Yeah, I'm fine thanks." Shina replied. Then, "uh-oh!"
"What is it?" Zan asked alarmed.
"It's them. They're here. They followed us. We have to leave now!" she said yanking him towards the Far Eastern gate.
That's the end of part one please comment!