Do you ever have that eerie feeling that you're being watched?

Birds were chirping. The flutter of wings bursting through the trees stirred Eris' mind. Angry squirrel barks over stashed nuts made her brow furrow. The itchiness of the grass prickled her skin awake.

It took a pissed off howler monkey to penetrate her stubbornness and force her eyes open. Groaning, Eris rolled over wondering where her bed sheets had gotten. Why was her mattress so hard and itchy? She flung out a hand, searching for the button to turn her clock off and get rid of the infernal noise.

Did mom switch it on me? She wondered, sleep making her slow. What the hell is that smell? Mom's putting too much Rain Fresh in the laundry again. Wait…since when did the Powerpuff Girls scream like monkeys?

Eris froze in the motion of rubbing her eyes and slowly peeled her fingers apart. Explosions of greenery made her head throb. Her hands moved to her caved in cheeks as her mouth fell open and groaned aloud.

"You're kidding me! How could they just leave a girl outside all night??"

Already planning out her chew out session on how it's not nice to leave your friends passed out in the backyard, Eris staggered to her feet. The action was instantly regretted.

"Oh geez…" she moaned, clutching her head. It felt heavy, clouded, and hurt like hell. "Oooh man…someone tell the construction people to lay off the jackhammers…"

Stumbling a bit, she managed to make it to a tree and grab onto a hanging vine before falling. The back of her neck tingled slightly; Eris turned quickly and as soon as the world stopped spinning nearly screamed.

An enormous ebony wolf sat not six feet away. It looked calmly back with cautious reserve. Heart pounding, Eris made sure to move slowly. Was it actually there? It wasn't moving, just staring at her iridescent yellow eyes. Carefully bending her knees, Eris picked a rock from the ground and swiftly chucked it at the wolf. It watched the stone bounce and land with a dull thud.

Well that worked wonderfully.

They stood motionless for several minutes. The wolf never moved its eyes from her. Eris became agitated. This was getting creepy.

"Aren't you going to rip me to pieces? Or at least growl or gnaw on me a little?" The wolf didn't respond except for a few blinks.

"What, no bark, or snarls, or anything? I thought wolves were all territorial and crap? What a weird one you are…" Eris stood up slowly, partly in wishful thinking that her hangover would be more lenient.

Becoming more daring, she took a few tentative steps forward and. No movement ob the wolf's end until Eris' foot snapped a twig in half with a loud crack.

An animal similar to a weasel burst forth from the underbrush, scared from the foreign sound of the stick. Eris let out a yelp of surprise, hopping from one foot to the other, attempting to avoid squashing the rodent.

The trees swayed; Eris' stomach sent an acrid taste to her mouth. "Ugh, that was gross," she contemplated eating grass to get away from the awful flavor.

There was a whining noise; Eris looked around and found the source as the wolf. It was lying its belly, head low and lids at half mast. Eris felt a rush of sympathy for the poor beast; it looked like it was suffering from a stomachache.

Taking a better look, ignoring the fact that she was in mauling distance, Eris noticed something besides the strange behavior. A thick band around the wolf's neck was blinking; a small, red bulb was flashing in a steady rhythm. But why would a wild wolf be wearing a collar? Was it being tracked like on one of those National Geographic shows?

Eris examined her surroundings closer; an array of trees circled the little clearing. From palm trees to evergreens, it was a strange sight to see. Various types of fruits, flowers, and strange insects inhabited every niche. IF she listened closely, there was the sound of a gurgling creek.

Eris' eyes went wide, "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore…"

The wolf whined quietly again, the bulb blipped brighter. There was a twinge in Eris' stomach and an odd pulling around her neck. Her hand went up and instantly noted a new addition to her being, complete with a glass bulb that pulsed warmly against her palm.

"What the hell is this? Where am I?!" she was starting to panic, trying to remember what happened the night before. There were numerous lumps on the back of her head; she guessed those weren't helping her memory much. Bits and pieces came back, mostly of being scared witless and demons trying to kill her. Images of a fear-stricken fox worried her even more.

Another animal, a brightly colored bird, flew out of a tree in a flurry of wings and feathers.

"Francis of Assisi I am not," Eris frowned and watched the bird. At least until it exploded in a puff of feathers.

The laugh was stuck in her throat, a suspicious feeling taking over control of her body. Narrowing her eyes, Eris stalked forward. There was an irregular glint where the bird's feathers still floated in the air. She clawed at a wall of vines; they fell away curiously easy and Eris found a clone staring back at her.

The patterns of this strange jungle-forest were there but non-consistent. The puzzled figure in the dirty kimono wasn't the only element out of place.

"God, I look terrible," Eris shook out her hair with little luck in making it appear normal. There were bruises on her arms and legs, and uncountable shallow scratches on her face and everywhere else. The kimono was ruined beyond repair.

Both Erises turned their eyes upward; there was a smear where the bird had hit this mirror-wall. They snorted and shook their heads. "Really shouldn't laugh at that…"

Sighing, she dropped her bloodshot eyes back to her reflection. Eris found herself regarding the collar with contempt; the feeling had surreptitiously sprung up. The bulb blinked brighter in altering shades of blue and a searing pain shot through her throat. Eris gagged, nails digging into the skin around the edges of the thick band. As she tried to swallow and pull at the same time, she felt something long and solid move inside her windpipe. A rising panic forced out another yelp.

Her shoulder fell against the mirror as she pulled on the collar more, straining her neck back. There was a metal spike imbedded into her reflection's neck. The bulb blinked on in a mocking cheery yellow now, located at the base of the protruding spike.

Droplets of blood ran down from the punctured skin. A clear liquid mixed with it around the metal thorn, released from the material itself. It eased the pain on contact, but the feel of the foreign object remained.

Eris' eyes stung with tears. Where am I? She'd never been so scared in her life. There was no one to help her now.

There was a jolt from the collar; more spikes were set off into her like a human dartboard. Eris' power to scream was severed. A deafening screech resounded throughout the wildwood as her nails lacerated the surface of the mirror, drowning out the doglike wail coming through the trees.

Her breath coming out in rasps, Eris saw shards of glass drop to the grass, little rainbows being born from the refracted light. The once smooth plane of the mirror now sported deep furrows, chips still dangling from the ragged edges.

Horrified, and yet strangely empowered, Eris goggled at her hand, fingers still flexed and splayed against the glass. Long, clear, salient; her nails retracted as she tentatively removed her hands. Her palms were rough and turning a dark color.

Eris looked through the bracken and boughs. It was all a blur in one moment; a dotted line of carpenter ants stood clearly outlined on their way to work. A deer serenely munched its breakfast of crisp grass, the dirt particles still clinging to the roots ground between herbivore teeth. The sound made Eris' ears twitch. She could smell the sleek scent of wildcat prowling nearby.

She blinked. A patch of blue sky became the focus. Through the plotted thin mist of clouds and object took form. It was solid, foreign, and man-or demon-made. As the clouds moved on and dissipated, the shape became defined: a ceiling beam, rivets and all.

Slowly taking a deep breath, Eris smelled the distinct presence of metal, putting a tang on her tongue. Her teeth began to hurt, Eris noted as she chewed the inside of her cheek pensively. A soft rustling broke her time of thought. By way of the mirror she could see the wolf sluggishly padding by, tail flicking in a quiet greeting as it passed.

I just read an animal's body language, she thought, brushing an extended claw over the mirror wall once more. And so I see now.

Eris breathed slowly, her neck still throbbing. Spidery rivulets of blood trickled down from the choking wounds. The animals would soon catch the scent on the air, the prospect of food driving them to chase. Here she was, with no defense. There was nowhere to run, even if it was probable to outrun whatever came after her. The only way out was through that wall.

Animosity flared again, Where there is a will, there is a way! Eris' arm tensed, swung, and connected with a shattering glass wall. A deep crater of fractures appeared from the force. The burning pain in her knuckles, purple bruising already mixing in colorific harmony with blood, gave her a sadistic satisfaction.

And my will is the only way.

Sometimes you just have to break stuff.

She sent another wail at her reflective opponent, seeing her face fracture into thousands of tiny pieces. The shower of glittering fragments would have been beautiful if it hadn't hurt so much. A warm river ran down her face; it wasn't tears.

Eris' reflection proved to be a formidable foe. Her fury upon herself scratched the surface, but wasn't enough to break though.

I will not be the princess in the tower anymore! The screaming fueled her purpose driven mind. I can't wait for death and rescue at the same time.

The devastated mirror gave a shudder; Eris smiled predatorily. Whatever they're doing to me…it's working. I'll give them first hand experience of just how well.

The bulb turned a bright orange. Eris neither felt nor cared what its effects were. As the wall fell in a wave of glass, Eris lifted her poor hands to her lips and licked the coppery tasting blood.

Her eyes flickered, relishing the crunch of the fallen wall under her feet as she walked into the metallic scented darkness beyond.

I win.

AN: Sorry for the horrifically short chapter. (Ugh, I can't even call this a chapter!) But since I'm having difficulty finding a lot of time and inspiration for this last part of RTR and it's taking me forever, I decided to be nice and present you with at least something to stave your blood lust.

Which brings me to an issue that's seriously pissing me off. Don't EVER jerk the author around with pissy "Update now or else!" reviews. I'll update when I feel my material is ready to be read. Bitching does not make me write faster, especially when I have a life mostly devoted to school at the moment. I write for my own pleasure, and post my writings in hopes that it will bring pleasure to others. If I continue to get snarky emails and reviews I'll shut the whole project down.

This is not pointed at everyone! The culprits know who they are. But cookies and cake for the rest of you! Constructive and well-spoken reviews I do appreciate a lot. hugs

I'm sad that no one joined my LJ community though. sad face Did I ever mention in the last AN I'd post snippets of future chapters in it? Heh. URL is: www. livejournal. com/ community / erraticpetals / (take out the spaces! And if the underscore between 'erratic' and 'petals' doesn't show here, well…there's an underscore there. XD )

Rushed Review Replies XD:

Sun Priestess: laughsHorribly long, and now horribly short. I am teh suck, yes? The next one should be back to normal length, hopefully. I also have a problem with torturing my characters. Somehow they always survive. Heh. I'm glad you like Eris! She's…well…I don't know exactly what she is at the moment. She's really being messed with right now. snickersThank you for being a kick ass reviewer! X)

Spatial Monkey: Mysterious fruit you say? Hmm…hides basket of mysterious fruits I'm happy you liked the action scenes. They were a pain. Blah. I'll check out your schmoo sometime!

Foxy-Kitsune55: Actually I live reeeeally far away from Jersey. Sorta. Yeah. Anyway, thanks for liking the story! Hope I didn't disappoint too much with this hack job chapter. Lol

InuKurama: ME TOO! hugs Youko plushie till the eyes pop out

EverKitsune: Oh you know I missed your review. winklol To tell the truth I was worried how people would respond to the Will twist. It fluctuates from cliché to really cool in my mind. I really don't know what to think, but he's here to stay!

Kitsune Kit: laughsI guess you should have knocked on wood! Sorry 'bout that.

The Fire Youkai Paige: Thanks! pokesdid you get a new AIM screen name or something? I never see you on anymore. sad face

Diana-sama: Happy to be a munch in your butt. XD I try to make Kurama seem as in character as I can, but sometimes a fox just won't bend with the creativity. He can be such a handful. Hehehe.

Koroga: dissolves into tearsOoooh my gosh!! I love you guys!! You're all wonderful, truly you are. hugs everyoneI was feeling pretty low until I received your review, and nothing could have cheered me up more. bowsI hate that this chapter was so small, but I hope it is to everyone's liking nonetheless. I'd sing for you…but I think you'd rather have me stick to writing. laughs

DudettRin101: Thanks so much for liking it. I love it when people have so much energy for my stories. :)

Ladyblabbermouth: I suppose that's a good thing! laughs

LOOK! My first FLAME!! XD
From: fuck you ( )
"You don't know what yu-yu hakusho is and your story sucks ass!"

prances around with lighter fluid Ffffire! Ffffffire!! BWAHAHAHA!! lights it up and opens bag of marshmallows Anyone wanna join me? Flamey Fire Party!! Yay!

Hikari Yume: yeah, Ieyoshi's a product of my own twisted little mind. He's a prick. An eeevil evil prick.

Danie: gigglessame here, same here. And teh cliffies shall rule the world!!one

Ookami Aya: Well she's not dead yet. wink

Crystalkioko: Yay! Questions! 1. BTL means "Below the Line". It was part of this "better teen living" thing we had to do in health class last year. It was dumb and we still make fun of it. Heh.
2. Yep! I suck and didn't catch that until you said something. Cookies for you!! gives cookies
You read it in school?? laughsThat's awesome! For this I shall read your fic! Because you rule.

Sakura-chan: hands over water bottleWhoa there hun! lol Start out with slow cackles and make your way up.

Dolphingirl132173: wide eyesthat's a scary thought, that it is.

Samantha: Thanks!

Ladyblabbermouth (again. heh.): deffinately know nothing about French, so thanks for pointing that out! I shall make sure to correct that in future chapters.

WildRashi: So close to the end, I would band my head into a metal door if I ever did that. lol

WhiteTigeress326: You and me both. Ugh. glares at passing boyshehe.

Thank you everyone for being so patient with me. You rock. smiles