Chapter 1

Uraraka had been running through the forest for what felt like hours. The man-no, it, whatever it was had such an atmosphere and presence there was no way she could possibly have described it as a person. There was no doubt that monster was still on her trail. It felt as though every turn that she stumbled through the woods that thing whatever it was, was clawing at her ankle. Uraraka found herself begging, praying, maybe, that whatever it was would be concluded as a nightmare, fueled by too much to drink in the morning. But her bleeding leg, the pain, and the panic that radiated in her chest begged to say otherwise. It was supposed to be a good night. Tsuyu had invited her for a night out to meet some people to get her out of her shell, but instead the festival broke out into a riot. She had never met Tsuyu at the meeting place and instead found herself face-to-face with a monster with eyes that radiated the essence of the sun. It hadn't taken her more than a breath to realize that she needed to run. That she should have never made eye contact with whatever it was. And in her panic confusion she found herself trampling her way through the woods.

"Girl, come back."

Uraraka glanced over her shoulder, that thing, still on the edge of the woods as though the woodlands were acting as though some form of barrier. She glanced back towards the house now on the edge of the horizon, becoming bigger and bigger the more she ran towards it. It was worth a shot. She paused, glancing over her shoulder, whatever it was, the woods seemed to be some form of barrier to deter it from coming closer. Her eyes slid towards the house. Or whatever used the house as its domain was way more powerful than it. The creature took made a sighing noise before carefully prodding its feet forwards and continuing its pursuit at a quicker pace than before. She turned darting towards the house, finding herself beating on the door. "Come on, Come on." She whispered, knowing that things presence was on her trail. It had made no secret of what it planned on doing with her and she didn't plan on being anything's meal. Not after what she had been through. There was no way she was going down without a fight for such a simple reason. Uraraka watches the lights echoing against the walls through the curtains in the windows. The residents weren't responding-or they were smart enough than to open the door. She took a breath, grabbing a stick. If she was going to die, she was going to at least fight for her own life.

Uraraka's hands tightened on the stick as the monster approached likely deciding if they would need any condiments for their dinner that they wouldn't be getting, "So, you just go into town and decide to eat any unsuspecting civilians?"

The monster shook its head, "I haven't eaten a human in a long-long time. I went into town for the festival. But I took one look at you and I knew, I could just smell it, you would be the most delicious meal I've had in years."

Uraraka took a step back, something about their voice told her that they weren't lying about any of the details. And made her wonder how many other creatures would think similar thoughts. She swung the stick hoping to at least blind the creature who had decided that she was the perfect hunt for dinner. Its reflexes much faster than the average human, it reached up snapping the stick in half. The wood becoming shrapnel that engraved itself into nearby trees and the sides of the house she had stumbled a crossed. Uraraka swallowed. With how much power this creature probably contained, the residents inside probably knew. They lived in the woods. They knew better than to come to the door. She would have to protect them. Uraraka darted back towards the woods. She knew she didn't have a chance of making it back to town if there was anyone capable of helping her. But at the very least she could keep this creature distracted enough that it wouldn't remember this house and the residence inside would be safe. She dug her feet into the concrete preparing herself to dart into the woods.

"Who's there?" A soft-disgruntled voice came from behind the door.

Her heart pulsed, "No matter what you hear stay inside! I'll protect you!" Uraraka took a breath, she needed to run and now. If the resident couldn't listen to instructions, then they would also be in danger. And there was no reason for a higher death count then there had to be. She darted back towards the horizon, wondering how close she really would have made it to the city. If she would find anywhere that would give her help. There weren't many places that she could run to that would keep her safe. Places that wouldn't be able to keep her safe. Uraraka's eyes slid towards the door behind her. Behind her was a living-innocent being completely unaware of what was happening outside their front door.

And she needed to keep it that way. She needed to keep them safe. Uraraka darted towards the center of the field back towards the woods, daring the creature to come after her. They took the bait. Clomping after her once again, seemingly growing bored of the game of chasing her around in the woods. The creature wrapped their hands around her ankle dragging her through the gravel and dirt that lined the ground. Uraraka failed at suppressing a cry of pain as the rocks cut her leg, trying to suppress the panic from her heart knowing that she was about to be eaten. The monster threw her against the trees, dragging her back again. Uraraka took a breath, trying to suppress the feeling of pain and blood trickling down her forehead. The creature dragged her closer bringing her up by her ankle, she felt her hair trying to find its way back to the Earth. And wish she had time to apologize to Tsuyu. IT was supposed to be a fun night out. And now-it had turned into wondering how long it would take for her discovered body to be found in the woods. How long it would take Tsuyu to grieve and finally realize that it wasn't her fault. She would have to watch over her until she was ready to live as herself again. But she wasn't ready to go. Not yet. The words left as a soft hollow whisper, she wasn't sure who she was pleading to, but she knew she didn't want to leave her friends behind. Not while knowing they would find themselves guilty for her clear murder, "Help me."

"Who dare's hunt in my territory? Without bothering to introduce themselves? Do not bother begging for your life." A voice growled.

Uraraka found herself dazing in-and-out of consciousness, the feeling that wrapped around her ankle suddenly slacking. She knew she was falling to the ground. But then a hand wrapped around her hip, warmth pulling her against whatever it was. Trying to ignore the feeling of blood trickling down the side of her head, she glanced towards the fuzzy image of a stoic face, a red-and-white braid wrapped over their shoulder. The last coherent words before she faded into the darkness were a growl of someone addressing another that had overstepped their bounds,

"How dare you come for what's mine?"