Chapter 8

Autumn dashed through the forest in her wolf form, her dark coat blending in the shadows. Beside her, Ember's golden fur shimmered in the setting sun.

Slowing down slightly, Autumn made a detour towards the outskirts of the forest. The trees thinned out and Autumn stopped running. Autumn gracefully sat down, her tail curled daintily around her paws.

Autumn twitched her ears as she heard Ember's soft pawsteps approaching. Silently sitting down, they stared into space, each occupied with their own thoughts.

Autumn's emerald green eyes glimmered with excitement. It had only been a few days since she came to this world, yet so many things had happened. Closing her eyes, Autumn relished in the quiet peace of the night.

"If you don't mind me asking, why are you alone?" Ember's soft voice broke the silence.

Emotionlessly, Autumn replied, "My father was killed when I was 3, and my mother only passed on last month from a sickness."

Wincing slightly, Ember apologetically said, "I'm sorry for asking..."

"No need to be sorry. I've gotten over it." Autumn had never met 'her' parents, and even though she had inherited the body's memories, she felt nothing more than a slight pity.

Nodding, Ember stated, "My parents left me in the care of an old friend a couple of years ago. I'm not entirely sure why, but I know they wouldn't abandon me. Recently I left my home to see if I could find my parents. I know it's been years, but I need to know why they left me."

Ember's voice grew softer at the end, her eyes filled with unshed tears. Autumn blinked, not expecting such a tragic story.

"Well, since we're considered friends now, I'll definitely help you look for your parents," Autumn resolutely declaired.

Autumn hadn't forgotten about her dream of traveling the world, and although she wasn't on Earth anymore, this new world was much more exciting. Additionally, Autumn was reluctant to leave the first friend she had made in the world.

Ember nodded, and with a half-grin she stood up, shaking out her fur. With a wolfish-grin Autumn stood up as well, stretching.

"I suppose we should find a place to rest for tonight. I did purchase a map in the city, so we can take a look at that in the morning and see where we want to go first," Autumn suggested.

Nodding, Ember replied, "I know just the place." Tilting her head towards the inner forest, Ember motioned for Autumn to follow her.

Side by side, they made their way into the shadows of the forest.

The wind suddenly shifted, bringing with it a multitude of scents. Autumn paused, lifting her head and taking a deep breath. Ember looked towards her with a questioning gaze before scenting the air. Narrowing her eyes, Ember growled, "A phantom hawk."

Autumn's eyes widened in realization. Her memory of this world included a variety of animals as well, but having never encountered them, she had some trouble identifying the species.

Phantom hawks were large nocturnal birds, with dark, sleek feathers designed for speed and ambushes. Phantom hawks were about the size of a full-grown doe, but despite their rather large size, they were extremely difficult to spot.

Autumn backed up slightly, cautiously scanning her surroundings. A small movement in the treetops caught her eye. Autumn snarled loudly. Ember's head whipped towards where Autumn was looking.

Under the intense gaze of two Spirit Wolves, a small, scaled sparrow chirped in fear before spreading its wings and flying away.

Confused, Autumn glanced at Ember. Ember returned her clueless look before her golden eyes widened. Anxiously spinning around, Autumn was caught face to face with a large dark figure swooping down towards her. Fur spiked in fear, Autumn ducked and rolled to the side.

Ember swiftly took advantage of the opportunity and leapt onto the hawk's back, harshly pushing it to the ground and locking her fangs into its neck. Autumn scrambled to her paws and tore into the hawk's flesh, trying to deal as much damage as possible.

Under the combined effort of Autumn and Ember, the phantom hawk was swiftly reduced to scraps of meat.

Breathing heavily, Autumn took a good look at the phantom hawk's remains. Being slightly smaller than it was supposed to, Autumn assumed it was a juvenile that hadn't quite grasped its abilities yet, otherwise, they wouldn't have even caught its scent on the wind before they were ambushed.

The hawk's flesh was filled with abundant amounts of energy as it was a fairly high-ranking species. Autumn and Ember both ate their fill before saving the rest to consume in the morning.

The two small Spirit Wolves carefully carried the corpse in a way where its sharp, bloody scent wouldn't rub on anything and attract unwanted trouble.

At last, they reached a small clearing surrounded by thorny vines. Taking a few deep breaths, Autumn resentfully said, "This place was such a pain to get to, it better serve its purpose of warding off trouble."

Ember grinned before replying, "It would've been easier if we didn't need to carry this hawk..."

Autumn nodded in agreement before finding a soft patch of ferns and curling up into a ball. Ember padded next to her and settled down in the soft foliage, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.