"..."

I feel something different.

I mean.. 

This place already feels different... but a different sense invades my consciousness.

I realise whats different.

"Mid? Do you hear that?" I ask, stealing glances around the wood.

"No.. what?" Mid frowned, trying to detect what I spoke of.

"Exactly, there's nothing. Its silent."

Mid immediately catches my drift.

We stand side by side, eyeing the silent forest around us.

The trees are hushed.

No more whispering passed in despair.

They too, seemed on edge, and knew they had to be unheard.

A figure clouded sight of the evening sun.

I reluctantly faced towards the sky, where the silhouette stood out in a shade of blood red.

"What is that?" Mid muttered, staring in fearful awe.

"I don't know." I answer, breath catching in my throat.

It folded its enormous bat like wings, falling into a dive.

Mid and I kept still, as it hit the ground ten meters away from us.

It gathered its muscle bound body, furry head slowly raised, black eyes opening, revealing two white slits.

Its jaws twisted into a upside down grin.

Its fangs glistened, at least couple inches long. Its claws slid out, digging into the now silenced earth.

It folded its pale green wings, tucking them against its sides.

It thrust a snout in our direction, giving us a good sniff.

Mid pushed me behind him.

It advanced carefully, eying us like fresh prey, which I guess, we were.

It blinked, trying to figure out what we were.

It got in five meters.

"S...Stay back!" Mid ordered, standing between the beast and I.

I noticed it resembled that of a big wolf. Face broad, sharpened tufts of fur lining around its face, like spikes.

But the Wolf Bat ignored him, trying to manoeuvre around the Dirtman. 

"HEY! I...I'm warning you!" Mid swallowed, trying to hide that hint of fear in his voice. 

But then I realised.

This beast knew what Mid was.

It wanted to know what I was.

It shoved past Mid, sniffing heavily as it took a whiff at me.

Oddly, all my fear seemed to drain. In those ferocious eyes, I found comfort. In those spiky pricks of fur that lined his coat, I found safety.

"H..Hey there..." I found myself smile, bending slightly to meet it face to face.

"Uniqua! What are you-" Mid trembled.

"It's fine, Mid. He's just-"

Then the wolf thing lunged, claws extended, towards me.