Chapter Text
You open your eyes to the sound of rustling leaves. Where are you?
You’ve never been in a forest like this before. It looks like the forests from that dinosaur game you used to play before the developers ruined everything. The trees are thick and twist into the sky.
How did you even get here?
You were just walking through the city and… you can’t remember.
A small flock of birds fly overhead. They look like nothing you’ve ever seen before, each feather glistens in the light, every bird a tiny rainbow.
You stand, looking down at yourself. It’s not the city clothes you were wearing before. A white dress hangs around you, a straw belt cinches your hips and stomach. You feel ethereal.
An arrow hisses in the air over your head.
You breath catches in your lungs as you begin to scamper deeper into the undergrowth.
Tossing this way and that, hoping to lose your pursuer.
Their footsteps draw closer, leaves crackling under their feet.
Something shrieks above you. Not an eagle, something far larger. It swoops trough the trees — a blur of blue — and then only your footsteps can be heard in the brush.
You let yourself fall to the ground, hoping the beast doesn’t come back for you.
Back to the silence of the rustling leaves, you remain still for a while.
More feet crunching the leaves.
“You okay there, miss?”
You look up, a man in thick, armoured pelt stands over you.
“Yeah. I’m ok. Just… confused.”
“Figures. You look like you’re new here.” He offers you his hand.
You take his hand, letting him help you up. “What do you mean?”
“Default clothes.” He states, no offering of any more explanation. He leads you through the woods.
You say nothing as you enter a village sat in a clearing. The village is simple, almost medieval.
It’s like you’ve gone back in time…
Your led into the town square, a few market stalls hang around a large statue.
People begin to gather around you.
An older woman steps forward. “Greetings, dear. I am Naniki, the descended of our great founder.”
You shake her hand, something feels off about this.
“Now then dear, it’s time to see what you are.” She stands you before the fountain. “Just reach out to the water.”
As your hands enter the water, some kind of ink creeps up your arms. It swirls into patterns over your arms as hushed whispers echo the town centre.
The woman speaks up. “How… unusual.” She turns to a small group. “Now, why don’t we prepare some accommodations for our new guest?”
As the group scurries off, you cannot help but notice the same tattoo pattern across Naniki’s arms.
“Say,” She turns to the hunter who found you. “Were you able to see the shifters?”
“I watched one of the bastards snag one of my team while we were following… our new friend”
They shot the arrow at you?
Your blood is cold.
Something is very wrong here.
Naniki notices your paling skin. “Are you alright, dear? I know, dying the first time is terrifying. But it’s okay. This place is vicious, but we will keep you safe.”
“I’m dead!?” You cry in terror.
“We all are.” She adds no explanation to ease your mind.
They show you a small cabin tucked just behind the tree line. A place to rest, even as your thoughts begin to spiral.
Down…
… down…
…down.
You can’t sleep. There’s something about this place that refuses to let you rest.
No matter how you toss and turn, you’re not comfortable. So, you stand, sneaking away — out into the inky night outside.
A pair of crimson eyes stare you down.
It’s some kind of humanoid monster.
Neither of you move, chills across your body hold you like a vice.
It lurches back, trembling as if in pain before collapsing forward, almost becoming lupine in the low light.
It must be one of the shifters Naniki was talking about.
You step back in realisation. It stalks forward, slinking towards you.
No way you can outrun that thing.
It jerks to the side, shapeshifting again. It’s huge wings spread before it slams them down into take off.
“What are you doing out of your cabin? It’s not safe out here at night.” A voice calls to you, one of the town guards. “The damn Lunas shifter has ripped away seasoned adventurers from these cobbled streets. It’s a silent killer, should you see its eyes… it’s too late for you.”
“In that case, why don’t you take me back?” You ask, knowing what you saw.
Those burning eyes, crimson and watching. That must have been the Lunas shifter but… why aren’t you dead?
You’re led back to the cabin, left alone by the dying candle light.
There’s a thud at the window. You turn to see those searing red eyes watching you.
You lift the dying candle to the window, but it backs away.
It ruffles what you assume is a thick pelt of fur before patches begin to glow yellow. Its shape is unidentifiable from where you stand, not that you care. Too mesmerised by the glowing spots that you don’t notice the candle finally die.
The beast rears up before rushing forward, banging against the window again, its face pressed against the glass. Red eyes that draw you in… it wouldn’t hurt to close them… for a moment… right?
The next moment, you’re awakening in bed. In the village. At least the Lunas was probably a nightmare, you have enough on your plate right now.
You pull yourself up and out into the town. In the centre, they’re talking about you. So, you stay low, out of sight to listen in.
“ — Theo was swept up by the damn beast last night. He told me — before he vanished — that the miss was walking the town and somehow she’s fine. Not a scratch on her. He said she was staring it down, like a fawn away from its mother.”
“Calm down.” Naniki sighs. “We will deal with her by the evening. Just let nature take its course.”
Your heart pounds, they surely don’t mean… they want you dead?
There’s a lull in the conversation, so you walk into the square, not wanting to risk getting caught listening in.
“Ah! There you are, dear.” Her smile is sweet, like lead. “Not a moment too soon. You ought to go gain some skills. Why don’t you join our hunters for today?”
You nod, wanting to take the chance to run.
The forest is dark, you’re being flanked by the hunting group.
There’s six of you in total.
You keep spotting a pair of bright white eyes in the brush.
You’ve never felt so isolated, the group is silent. They ignore you entirely, at least until you walk too fast.
There’s five of you by the stream. Wait. Five?
The others notice their missing party member too. They cast glances at each other.
“Crap, looks like we’re being hunted by the Solas shifter.”
“Ah great, just what we needed.”
“Maybe he just got lost. Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Nah, I thought I saw the damn thing’s eyes.”
“Why didn’t you say anything!?”
There’s a presence next to you. A large feathered beast, its wings a deep amber. Long feathers circle its face, a crest that catches in the breeze. Its bright, white eyes watching yours.
There’s a clunk of armour as the hunters turn to you, crossbows drawn.
The beast glances to the hunters, then back to you before it clicks.
The next thing you know, you’re far above the tree line. It’s grasping you in its claws as it glides across the sky, like a lantern.
“Holy shit! Please put me down!” You squirm in its grasp.
Its claws tighten around you in response, talons threatening to pierce your flesh.
With a single flap, you’re now in the clouds. Your hands instinctually reach up to cling to the beasts tough skin.
“Just… don’t drop me.”
The beast shrieks as if offended you would insinuate that such a thought would cross its mind.
“Great! Glad you agree!” You respond, mostly to keep your mind distracted from the height you’re now soaring.
It chitters, almost amused. Its wings glitter as the pound the air in the now dying daylight.
You shiver, the air growing cold as it carries you into a mountain.
Smoke creeps over the mountain, floating along side the clouds. A large town, a different one than before.
It places you in the town centre, next to a statue just like the one from the other town.
The Solas shifter perches on the fountains base, its bright white eyes watching you.
“Well, hello there, miss.” A voice calls to you.
It’s an older man, he’s looking at you but keeps glancing at the Solas shifter.
“Um. Hello?” Your hand raises, instinctually petting the Solas shifter as your stomach twists.
“A beast master? How curious. How long have you been in this realm?”
“Beast master? What do you mean?” You respond. “I… this is my second night in this… world.”
“So… you’re new, but you found a skills statue?” He glances at the Solas shifter again. “Where did you spend your first night?”
“Um… I don’t know what the town was called, I think it was lead by Naniki.”
The beast leans into you, forcing itself into your lap as you ruffle its feathers.
“Oh.” His expression darkens. “It doesn't matter anyway. It seems your beast is the Solas shifter.”
It grunts in your lap.
“I… I think the Lunas one was also… well, it didn’t kill me.”
“Ah. I see. Either way, they are some of the most powerful creatures of the region. And you, are their master.”
There’s a moment of silence as you process the information, the only sound is the soft chitters from the beast now in your lap.
And a soft, near-gentle, growling suddenly emanating from behind you.
The Lunas shifter leans over you, it’s gaze boring into you. It’s thick feathers catching in the breeze.
The man clears his throat, reminding you of their presence. “I’ll show you to a cabin you can stay in.”
Both beasts perk up as you stand, following them into the town.
The cabin is small but cozy, there’s just enough room for you. Regardless of that fact, the two massive beasts force their way in. Like they always belonged.
The two jerk and bounce, shifting into a far more human form. Though, they aren’t much smaller.
They stand over you, cornering you into the bed tucked into the corner of the room.
The Solas shifter jumps forward, pulling you into its fur as it slips into your bed. You struggle against it, until the Lunas steps closer.
“Sleep. I guard.” It growls.
You sink into the Solas’ thick fur, not wanting to anger them.
The Lunas purrs before stalking off, out the front door.
You’d go keep an eye on them, but the Solas keeps you in place.
“Pretty.” It chitters.
It sheds its skin, or at least, the large, fur coat it was wearing. The fur is wrapped around you, as he snuggles into you.
“Moon jealous.” It hums.
“Is Moon the other one?”
He nods. “Sun.”
“Aw, aren’t you sweet, Sun.”
He chitters happily. His claws trace you cheeks softly. “Pretty!”
Moon peers in, growling at Sun’s noise — his crimson eyes piercing the darkness. He pouts as he spots you wrapped in the pelt.
Moon huffs before looking away, he’s sat in front of the door like a guard dog.
Sun climbs over you, he nuzzles your face. “Play?” He whispers, trying not to alert Moon.
“Rest now, we can play tomorrow.”
He pouts, but lays his head on your chest and dozes off.
You follow close behind.