She noticed that the forest was different this time. The smells and sounds of the forest were more prominent. She stood up and realized that in her dreams she had never actually felt the forest floor like that. She opened her hand and the jewel shard she had found fell to the ground. She bent down and picked it up. Then she heard it. The growling laughter. Tears blurred her vision and her fear spiked. She turned and ran as fast as she could. Fear and tears blinding her as she ran. Pain shot through her leg like fire. She looked back and cursed her stupidity; she should have remembered that damn tree root. She looked up and knew what she would see. Standing there was the silhouette with the burning red eyes. She closed her eyes; knowing this time it wasn't a dream. She heard movement and felt a slight breeze pass her by. After a few agonizing seconds she opened her eyes. No one was there. Then she heard the growling. Maya turned around to see the man and a huge bear. Its eyes even more horrible. Then it laughed and spoke, "Give me the girl, she will be my dinner and I will gain a jewel shard as well." Maya was now completely terrified. A bear was talking, saying it wanted to eat her, she had no idea where she was, and she had sprained her ankle. The bear lunged forward and the man moved with insane speed; killing it with what had looked like his claws. He turned back to Maya and looked her over. "Who are you?" he asked. His voice was deep and smooth, but it held no emotion. "I...um...my name is Maya" she answered. "What are you doing in the middle of a forest?" he asked in that same emotionless tone. He was truly curious about how this human had managed to get here without being killed. Plus, her clothes were like that of the human wench who traveled with his half brother. "I don't know, one minute I'm on my way home from school and the next I'm waking up in this forest" she answered truthfully. He remained motionless; staring at her for what seemed like an eternity. "You will come with me" he said. Then he turned and suddenly began to walk away. Maya sat in stunned silence for a few seconds before speaking. "Wait, why should I go with you, and besides that, I sprained my ankle and I can't walk" she said all in a rush. "If you want to live you will come with me, I have seen humans walk on injuries worse than that" he said coldly. Maya wanted to argue, but she was too scared and tired. Looking around she found a large branch and used it like a crutch. 'So, she's not completely helpless' he thought as he watched her. Slowly she hobbled her way to him. As soon as she caught up he began to walk again. Maya groaned and followed him. "Hey, I told you my name but you never told me your's" she said. "It's Lord Sesshomaru" he spoke calmly. "Lord?" she asked sarcastically. He ignored her ignorant question and walked on in silence. Maya felt like her foot was about to fall off, but it seemed like she didn't have much of a choice if she wanted to figure out where she was.