Alright, I combined two days, and also left out some things as well. Still, I actually kinda like this chapter...at least we get a little change to the dream here. I might actually be able to wrap this story up sooner that I thought I would.

And that...might be a good thing >.>;

EDIT: Blah, now that I think about it, I think I rambled about the ruins a tick too long...granted, it's my favorite place in the whole game, and I did try and incorporate the real story behind it, but...yeah...Dx

Anyways, on with the story~!

>>>::Scare Shadow::<<<

The Ruins - A place of broken beauty, of solace and despair, a place of songs and cries.

Never sleep within its shadow, they always said.

It will tear out your soul, leaving you as an empty container, a perfect prey for the starved.

The brave few who did dare to sleep within its shadow were never heard from again. Any who stumbled across the crumbling fortress found nothing living there…within the shadows of the Ruins, nothing strived to live, not even the tiniest blade of grass.

But they did find a rather curious sight.

Small, white orbs raced frantically through the air, as if trying to escape from their very selves. And yet, whenever they reached a certain distance from the Ruins, they were seemingly thrown backwards. It was as if the Ruins had a mind of its own, not allowing its victims to free themselves from the misery their mistakes had cost them.

For the longest time, no one ever set foot there again. The deer within the forest learned to respect the Ruins; to them, the Ruins were alive, and were starved of the souls of helpless deer. They believed that one day, the souls would finally fade away, killing the Ruins, and making it safe to venture there again.

However, a small band of stags disagreed with this notion. They believed that the souls would never fade, that the Ruins “fed” them, so that it could continue to sustain itself. They took it upon themselves to end this vicious cycle, and left for the Ruins. Their goal was to convert all of the souls that were residing there, allowing them to finally rest; this, in turn, would kill the Ruins, making it safe to step upon its soil again.

For two days, no one heard or saw the stags. They began to lose hope, feeling that the rag-tag band had succumbed to the madness within the Ruins, and were now souls themselves.

However, before their very eyes, a miracle happened.

The earth shook violently, the trees bending to the will of its cries. A bright light rose from the Ruins, only to dissipate as quickly as it had appeared.

When the deer of the Forest went to investigate, they first noticed that grass and flowers were growing within the shadows of the Ruins. They also found the stags, shaken, but alive and well.

However, there was yet another miracle to be had.

The deer that had gone missing, and were presumed to be the souls living within the Ruins, were standing behind the stags, also shaken, but very much alive.
At first, the deer thought it was a mere illusion; these were their parents, their children, their cousins…their blood.

And yet, when a small, white fawn raced from the crowd, crying out for its mother, and a doe stepped out from within the shadows of the Ruins and embraced the weeping child, a celebratory cry rang from the throats of all who were there. The stags were hailed as heroes, and every deer from within the Forest danced and sang within the Ruins.

Surely, they thought, these stags are the blessing of the Gods! What bravery! What a miracle!

From then on, the Ruins became a popular place for the deer to visit. Often times, they would even sleep within them, feeling a certain peace that had never been felt before. Squirrels and birds, and other wildlife began to inhabit the ruins; even raising families there.

And peace reined within the Forest ever since.

At least, that was the legend told to Myu when she first came to the Forest. However, she didn’t particularly care how the Ruins came to be the way they stood before her now.

To her, it was all the same; a sanctuary, a place where she could have some time to herself. The only time she couldn’t use it as such was in the rut. Because of its quiet nature, does and stags alike found it an ideal place to bond together. It left Myu frustrated, and she refused to set foot there during the Rut.

However, today is different. She feels drawn to it, as if there’s a need for her to be here.

Thankfully, not a single doe nor stag is in sight, and she steps gently onto the stone, a soft “clip clop” echoing throughout the Ruins.

Her sleep the previous night was fruitless; a blank canvas, providing nothing. And yet, upon awakening, she hears a quiet, feminine voice.

Come to me. I am here.

The voice calls to her continuously, and she begins chasing it throughout the Forest, not quite sure where the source of the voice is. When she reaches the Ruins, the voice stops suddenly, causing her to wonder if perhaps she was hearing things.

No. I did hear a voice. It was coming from here.

She bellows, attempting to entice the voice again. But there is no response.

Wandering further inside the Ruins, she glances at the environment around her. She tries to imagine what the Ruins were like years before; a place of misery and insanity, a place where many souls were trapped, doomed to never escape.

A sudden object upon her foot sends her sprawling to the ground.

Stomping her foot angrily, she turns to see another fawn, clearly in a very deep sleep. She has half a mind to kick it in anger. There is no pictogram above its head…it’s a Nameless.

Must be another lost deer in the Forest.

Come, lay with me. I am here.

The voice scares her in the silence of the Ruins, and she almost falls over from the fright it has caused her.

Lay…with this fawn?

Come, lay with me. I am here.

She looks in every possible direction, wondering if perhaps someone is pulling a prank on her. And yet, her instincts seemingly push her to the ground, near this young fawn.

Hesitantly, she noses the fawn. And yet, it does not even flinch.

Is it…dead?

Sleep…Myu…

What!?

As her eyes begin to close, fear tries to keep her alert. But this…voice prevents her from doing so, as it seemingly forces her under.

The sunlight…it radiates through the trees, caressing her tiny form.

A slight breeze wafts through the air, carrying the scent of purple flowers.

And the song…the light, humming noise dances through the air.

The presence…it is still here next to her, ensuring her safety.

But something seems different…the air, it feels…heavy; something is terribly wrong. Myu tries to jerk her head up, to see what is happening. But her head seems heavy, and she cannot lift it.

This heavy feeling…it feels like it’s creeping closer and closer to her. She wants to rise and run, but the humming continues, still carrying its soothing touch.

What is…coming…what…does it want…?

The presence beings to fade. Myu, panicked, tries to lift her head again. But her head still argues, as the humming song continues to echo through the air.

A new scent scurries through the air…it is sweet, but very pungent as well.

Myu…I am…so sorry….

This scent…it’s…

Myu...I am...so sorry...

Blood.

Myu, crying out, jumps up from her sleep, nearly wacking a stag in the face in the process. The stunned stag jumps back as well, bewildered as to the sight before him.

Myu staggers, trying to shake off this feeling of dread and despair. Not to mention…the scent of blood is still keen in her nose. A bump in her leg prompts her to look up at the stag, still very confused. The stag cocks his head in confusion, and Myu, in a dazed moment, taunts the stag, lowering her head in a mix of confused anger. The stag backs away, pondering what is happening to this young fawn. Without warning, she jumps to her hind legs, looking to scare away the stag. The stag, finally getting the messages, bows quickly, before taking his leave. Myu notes that the stag lacks a pictogram above his head.

Just like…

But when Myu turns around to look at the sleeping fawn, it is gone. Myu races through the Ruins, calling out, trying to find the young fawn. But she cannot find it.

Myu…I am…so sorry…

Blood…the scent of blood…and that voice…

What does it all mean!?

She hears a baying noise coming from a distance away. She looks up to see a stag and doe making their way towards the Ruins.

Crap.

She runs, not wanting any part of what is happening. Her mind is spinning, her heart feels heavy, and her soul is seemingly weeping.

But…why?

What happened to me…before the Forest? How did I end up here, and why? Who is the one singing to me in the dream? What…happened to her?

Suddenly, the air feels cold. She glances up to see a thick cloud, hanging over the land. The trees look dead, bats flying overhead. Deer are racing through the Forest, their pictograms providing the only light.

She hears an eerie song slice through the air. A light goes off in her head.

She recognizes this song. While it is not the same one from the dream, it is still something that feels nostalgic to her. When the source hits her, she takes a step back in shock.

A female presence.

A humming song.

Myu…I am…so sorry…

Blood.

Fog.

Wolves.