Louna sprinted through a dark forest, frantically trying to find a hiding place as the haunting laughter of demons chased behind her. She had been so lost in her own anger that she hadn't thought of grabbing materials that could help her create a barrier when she needed protection. She only had her teeth and claws as a weapon, but there were so many demons chasing behind her that she knew she wouldn't win in a fight. So she chose flight.

Keep moving, keep moving, keep moving!

Her chest feel tight, and her legs grew stiff. The night felt endless. Would she really die on her first day alone? After everything she had been through in the last year itself, would this really be the end? Against her will, Louna's body came to a stop. She huffed as she tried to catch her breath, squeezing her eyes shut and keeping her ear sharp to hear the demons behind her.

"You should keep running."

The sudden voice almost made Louna jump out of her skin. She quickly spun in a circle, scanning the perimeter to see if she could find the person it belonged to.

"You won't find me there, mon amie." The person chuckled in amusement to Louna's reaction. "But should you continue forward I will provide you a sanctuary."

"Sanctuary?" Louna growled, baring her threateningly large fangs for just in case the stranger could see her. "Why should I trust someone I can't even see?"

The stranger chuckled again before speaking. "Touché. But it's me or the demons, and you don't have long to choose. Through the trees straight ahead I have opened a rift. It will lead you to my home. Make sure you get there safe, won't you?"

"Wait!" Louna called out, but the stranger did not reply. They had left her alone in the forest withd demons quickly approaching. Giving a growl of frustration, Louna gathered herself and started into a sprint. Between the demon and the stranger, she probably had better chances to survive with the latter. She just hoped that it wasn't a foolish decision.

The rift came into her sights as a glowing light. It was at least forty feet away, in the hollow of a tree, when the ground beneath her feet shook violently. Louna stumbled, immediately falling, unprepared for the next rumble. The demonic energy around her spiked to frightening levels. Reluctantly, she turned her head to watch as giant roots crawled towards her legs. Louna felt shivers crawl up her spine, and she scrambled to get back up as quick as she could.

She was close to the rift! She could make it before those roots could grab her! All she had to do was keep running!

Louna closed her eyes when she reached the rift. Eager to get through, she leapt in hopes that safety was on the other side. She had expected to immediately touch the ground, but for a few seconds she felt herself fall, then land in a hard thud on all paws. She opened her eyes and stared ahead, hearing a pop sound behind her.

"You have a guest on your leg."

Without acknowledging the voice, Louna looked down and saw a slithering root wrap around one leg. She shook her leg, hopping about as she tried to get it off of her. After a few moments of struggling, she reared her head around and pulled it off with her teeth – making sure she bit completely through to kill it. The slithering root went limp in Louna's mouth, and she immediately dropped it.

"A rather humorous entrance, I would say."

That voice again! But this time it was close. Louna's attention was drawn to her new surroundings. Was she was on a plateau? Red railing surrounded the edges of it. Around her… were those clouds? Was she… in the air? Louna took a few steps back, almost regretting through the rift. If she was seeing clouds from a plateau, how high up was she?

"Welcome to your new home, Louna."

Louna quickly turned around, almost forgetting about the stranger with the realization she was in the sky. Her eyes took in quite a sight. The palace before her was very large. The details put into the building were perhaps a bit… over the top in Louna's opinion. But she supposed to anyone else it would be exotic.

Her eyes traced the details of the building before she found a man in bright colors. She nearly had to do a double take for his appearance. His kimono was a rich pink, though loose on him. His purple hakama looked to be loose as well. Atop his head, Louna noticed a headdress similar to the design of an eagle. The white cloak with red tips could almost be mistaken for his hair, but Louna noticed golden strands loose under the headdress. Her eyes finally landed on his footwear. Single heeled, red sandals that made Louna squint her eyes as she tried to understand how he balanced in them.

"It is impolite to stare," he told her, though his tone of voice was light. Much as it had been in the forest.

Louna sneered, unintentional, but more from being wary than scolded.

"Who are you?" she asked. "How do you know me?"

The man hummed and waved open a little green fan he had been holding in one hand. "My name is Waka," he introduced. "And prophecies would be your second answer."

Louna squinted her eyes even more. Prophecies? Anything was possible, but she wasn't sure she was willing to buy someone having visions about her.

"Doubting me is okay. Everyone does at first. Let's get a tour of your new home, shall we?" A playful smile – much to Louna's displeasure – tugged at the corners of his mouth. His emerald green eyes almost twinkled.

Louna was very uncomfortable.

But he, this Waka-prophet, turned and started through the entrance of the palace. Louna, hesitant but seeing no other choice, slowly followed behind him.

This the Tao Troopers headquarters. You'll be mostly in their care as you stay here. The troopers are asoldiers for the Queen, so many of them are well trained and…"

Waka's voice became a noise in the background as Louna took in the sights of the palace, or headquarters, as Waka had addressed it. It was just as exquisite inside as it was outside. Louna did not understand what most of the gadgets she saw were, but it looked like Waka was a collector of some sort.

"You stopped listening to me, didn't you?"

Louna nearly collided with Waka when he stopped in place. She quickly stepped around him, managing to avoid knocking them both over.

"Uh…" she started, not wanting to admit he was right. "Sorry…"

"It's fine." He was still too light hearted for Louna's approval. "I know this is a lot to take in. This is your first time away from the Oina, so I should have expected you'd be distracted."

"How did you know where I'm from?" Louna was growing impatient. He had not explained much to her aside from the headquarters.

"Prophecies," he answered with a sly wink.

Louna glared at the odd man and resisted the urge to growl. Instead, she gathered up what calmness she could find in her voice and spoke each word with an aggressive enunciation.

"If you are a prophet, then I am certain that you know what I have gone through. If you're going to be someone I put trust into, then I need proper answers."

"Okay, mon aime. Relax." Waka lowered a hand to place on her head, but Louna released a growl that gave him second thoughts. "I can tell you everything I know once you've been shown where everything in the headquarters is located. I will meet you in the mess hall in about an hour. Does that sound suitable?"

Louna almost appeared to be frowning as she thought it over. What was the point in waiting? Was he up to something? Should she be nervous? Was he just wasting her time?

"I suppose that will do," she answered quietly, suspicious of his intentions.

"Good. I'll leave you in the care of Kazuki. He's very friendly."

And friendly Kazuki was indeed. Maybe too friendly. He chatted away about Louna's stay, how excited he was to have someone else in the palace. She learned all about his family – a wife who he was newlywed to, and a child soon on the way. She would have found it sort of cute how he gushed over them if she could have kept her attention focused away from seeing Waka. Numerous questions were taking over her thoughts. It was almost overwhelming! And frustrating since Kazuki would not shut up about his family!

Louna! She thought to herself, surprised at her own irritation. It was not Kazuki's fault, and her frustration was not something she should take out on him. Calm yourself!

"Are you ok?" Kazuki asked her. He stared with a look of concern.

"Yes," Louna answered, hoping her voice did not reveal her impatiences. "Why do you ask?"

Kazuki continued to stare at Louna, causing the large canine to eventually break her eye contact from the unease it gave her.

"No reason," he answered with a small shrug of his shoulders. "But here we are. This is the mess hall. Captain Waka should be waiting for you."

A/N ;; I may revise this one in the future. It wontw change too much. It's lacking a certain element to it.