Consciousness. Well, hearing but just as good. Again I hear voices but these are different. An odd sounding one and a girl. I can feel something like fur under my head. Forcing my eyes open I come face to face with a giant freakin' cat. Not even cat person. Just giant cat.

"Welcome back."

Okay. It can talk. Of course it can. I bolt upright after realising my head was in... His?... Its? lap. After my brain flounders for a second I settle simply on "Hi."

"Oh, you're awake." A melodic voice from behind me.

My neck almost breaks with how quickly I turn. Woah. Just... Woah. This girl is a fucking babe. A little taller than me, long silver hair with a flower ornament and purple eyes. Dressed in a real nice white and purple outfit that shows off her curves and legs and, Damn, those legs...

I think I end up just checking her out because the girl starts to look a little uncomfortable. "Sorry. I didn't mean to stare. I guess you two helped me?"

The girl smiles. Damn, what a smile. "Yes. We heard a commotion and came to see what was happening. I could not stand to see three people beating on one so Puck and I stepped in. I also healed you up."

I realise then that I'm not hurting anywhere. "Um, thank you. Both of you. I honestly don't know what those fuckers would have done if you hadn't shown up." I turn to look at the cat to find a tiny one instead. As I look around confused the little cat floats up to me

"You are very welcome. You are also very lucky we were near." OK. That happened.

I take a deep breath to ward off the extreme freak-out that's building. Gonna have that when I got the time. "Is there any way I could possibly repay you both? I mean, you did save me."

It's then I notice that the girl has pointed ears. An elf huh? Why the hell not? The elf girls brow furrows for a second. "There may be a way. Did you perhaps see a small blonde girl come this way?"

The girl from earlier? I hold up my hand. "Bout this tall?"

Her eyes light up "Yes. She took something important from me."

I think for a second. "Was it a badge or something like?"

Those beautiful eyes light up again. "You saw it? Do you know where she went?"

My face flushes with a touch of embarrassment "She fell on top of me then took off. I'm sorry" Her face falls.

"But I can help you look, if you want. An extra pair of eyes and all that." I'm a sucker for a pretty girl in need of help. Always diving in.

She looks at me for a second, her cat sitting on her shoulder. Suddenly she beams at me "That would be extremely helpful. You have my thanks."

After a quick once over I grab my things and turn. I return her smile "Then let's get outta here." With that we set out, her with something to find and me with no damn idea who she was or where I was. What's life without adventure, right?

About two hours later, after asking what seems like half the city, we stop to rest. The girl's getting more and more anxious over her badge. As I put my stuff down to stretch my shoulders she sits on a wall. Ugh, I'm hungry.

"Forgive me but I have not even asked your name" She says, looking a little embarrassed.

I look at her, my mouth forming its usual grin. "Hey, you've had a lot on your mind. My names Takara Shiido. I'm kinda new round here. How 'bout you?"

She looks at me for a second "My name is... Satella."

I notice her grimace after she says that. Either she's wanted or that was a fake name. Brushing that aside for now I ask "So, I may have noticed your ears. Elf, right?"

Her eyes widen for a second before she moves her hair to cover them, deciding to leave it a moment later. "Half-elf, actually."

I notice her discomfort at that. "Right. I'm guessing that it ain't exactly something you want everyone to know?"

She gives me a sad smile "You really are not from around here, are you? Half-elves are not the most welcome." Oh damn, that sucks.

Before I can voice a reply, though, her cat speaks. "Where are you from, Shiido-san?" Holy hell!

I gotta admit, I almost scream "Bwah! If I'm honest I had totally forgotten you could talk. Sorry bout that." Thinking before I reply I wonder what I should say. Do I want to go with honesty? Would they even know what Boston is? Hell, I'll go with mostly the truth. "I originally come from a land far to the east but moved to one far to the west. I tend to travel a lot though."

My answer seems to surprise Satella. "You travel? Alone? But you are so young. And that is extremely dangerous."

I grin again "One of my relatives taught me how to fight and I've picked up a lot on my own. I can handle myself."

Not untrue in the slightest. During my travels I have ended up in some really rough places and, being a girl travelling alone, usually get someone trying something. You gotta learn somehow, right?

"As to my age, I'm twenty two. Been doing this since I was sixteen." I stretch again before grabbing my stuff. "You rested up? Wanna carry on?"

Satella hops off the wall, looking a little more refreshed. "Absolutely. Let us go."

As we walk I learn a couple more things. Her cat, Puck, is a spirit. Which is pretty damn cool. And Satella can use fuckin' ice magic. Which is beyond cool. We even help a little girl find her mom, which was kinda awesome. And a little sad but I ain't opening that box. We follow a tip from, of all people, the fruit stall guy. Turns out he's the little girls dad. We're walking in the out-lying town now. You really can see the difference. The buildings are more... rustic and the streets are, pretty much, bare dirt.

I see a guy walking down the street toward us and decide to ask him "Hey there. You haven't, by any chance, seen a girl a little shorter than me with blonde hair, have you?"

He thinks for a second "You mean Felt? Last I saw her she was headed to the loot house." As soon he says this his eyes fly open. Oops, I guess he shouldn't have said that. He stammers for a second before parting with a quick "Live strong."

I watch him walk swiftly away and turn to Satella "Well, at least we know where she went. Now all we gotta do is find the place."

She smiles "Yes. It should not be too hard."

She had to say it. It is pretty much dusk and everyone we have asked has either blanked us or lied. Hell, even Puck went to sleep. Eventually Satella stops. "I know who to ask."

"Ok. Who?" I reply.

"The lesser spirits." At that she starts to, what I can only describe as, pray. Lights surround her, like fireflies in the night. I'm mesmerised. As quick as it began, however, it is over. She turns to me with a huge smile "I know where to go."

I smile back, hiding more than a little confusion. "Awesome, lead the way." She walks off swiftly.

We arrive at a large building shortly after dusk has hit. Satella turns to me "Thank you for accompanying me. You can leave if you wish."

I look over at her "Nah, come this far, may as well finish the job. I'll go in first, you wait for a second." I don't want to tell her but my 'Spidey Sense' is tingling. Something feels... off.

She looks at me for a second "As you wish." I put my stuff down and step through the door.

It's dark. "Hello? Anyone here?" Damn horror movie cliche. No answer though. I start looking around when I notice him. A large guy on the ground. Surrounded by blood. I rush over to check him, check if he is still kicking. As I reach him my brain screams at me "DOWN"

I duck quickly and feel something just miss my head. I dive to the side and am just getting up when I feel something hit my back, hard, then pain. Pain I have never felt before. I look down to see a sword sticking out of my gut.

I hear a woman speak "It's too bad you saw this. Oh well. Wrong place, wrong time."

The sword twists. A foot pushes me off. I hit the ground face first with a strangled groan, my blood, guts and life spilling out of me.

"Takara-san? Are you alright?" Shit. Satella.

I want to warn her but no words are happening. She gasps and I hear her move toward me. Then I hear a quiet thump. She falls next to me, no life in her eyes. As I feel my life fading I reach out and grab her hand. My vision fades. I'm done.

Well, one down. And, as it will always be, feedback and criticisms are welcome. This is my first time writing from a first-person perspective and every little bit does help. See y'all on the next chapter.