“Burn, burn, burn! A thought in the back of my head screamed. Run, run, run! My instinct called out to me.”

(«^») Iris Exurrana

8E/438Y/12M/40D 11:32 AM

I gasped in what felt like pain as my vision started flickering. Before me I could see mother as she turned around and slowly walked off into the distance. I fell into a kneeling position gasping for breath as my chest tightened. My heart felt shackled, and like it was slowly shattering. All I could focus on was the fire and the smell of burnt blood. It was suffocating. Consuming. Not just the house but me, even if I was nowhere near it.

Iris…

Iris.

Iris!

(«^») Aurora Faelina Yurriana

“Iris!!!” I shook Iris violently as I screamed her name.

“What..?”

“We need to go!”

“Where..?”

“Anywhere! Anywhere but here!”

She just went quiet.

Raisa looked from Iris to me, “I don't think she understands. Pick her up and carry her. I can find a safe place to wait for the others. Just stay close.”

I nodded at Raisa, and picked Iris up off the ground. When I got a closer look at her face she was sobbing, just quietly.

“I guess it's your turn to be carried… C'mon, you'll be alright…” I whispered into her ear.

I looked at Raisa and nodded at her, and we started running. We ran until we were in the nicer part of Saela. The buildings there weren't just cheap rows of doors, but rather were properly built. Raisa kept looking at inns, taverns, motels, and hotels alike. We searched for an hour before she finally decided on one.

It was a small place, but it was nice. It was painted with reds, and whites. It was decorated with tartan dahlias. Strips of silk ran along the tops of the walls. There were tables similar to one Yalina owned dotting the floor.

Raisa walked up to the owner, an older man with messy, graying hair who wore a pair of aviators. “I need a room for three. I also need some silver fox tea.” Raisa made a circle on the counter then rapped on it twice quietly with her nail.

The man gave her a look and a slow nod, “That'll be 5,000 a day for the room. The tea will be delivered in a few minutes.”

Raisa gave me a look. Oh, right. She just got out of prison she doesn't have any money… a bit begrudgingly I put a pouch on the scale and did the transaction. As soon as we were done the man handed us a key and we went upstairs and into our room.

I walked in and set Iris down on the bed. I sat beside her and set her head in my lap as I spoke to Raisa, “So, what now?”

“I'm writing a letter to A, a friend of ours. If Yalina and the others made it out alive they would've written to him with instructions. I just need to let him know where we are. Just hope to high Hell they made it out because we're next and if Yalina can't take it neither can we.”

“Okay…” I stopped for a moment as Raisa wrote the letter. When she was finished I asked, “What does it say?”

She handed it to me saying, “Here.”

I looked at it.

A, we're in a tight spot right now. Yalina’s house has been burnt down, and we don't know where she and the others are. I'm hoping they've written you with a plan and a rendezvous point. If not what does Shax want us to do?

-Raisa

“A bit short don't you think?” I looked back up at her.

“It's only as long as it needs to be.” She took the letter out of my hands as someone knocked on the door. “Come in!”

A fox lacuna with white hair and red eyes wearing a red and white maid uniform walked in. She was carrying a silver tray with three ornate cups on it. She closed the door behind her and offered us each a cup. Without a single word Raisa handed the maid the letter, and she slid the top of the tray to the side, revealing a small space inside. The maid put the letter inside, closed the tray, and walked away.

“Thank you.” Raisa said sincerely.

The maid turned around before opening the door and did a proper bow, “Of course, miss.”

She then left us at the mercy of our own silence.

(«^») Iris Exurrana

8E/438Y/12M/41D 5:54 AM

When I got up that morning I felt exhausted. The whole night felt like a fever dream. It was like I was half awake the entire time, but I was having horrific nightmares all while not actually resting.

The nightmare was like a time loop. My mother would walk into the flames and I would chase after her only to burn to death and repeat the process. The worst part was that I could feel it. I could feel my body turn to ashes yet I kept chasing her.

When I woke up the sky was still dark. I stared out into the dead, dark city for a few minutes before there were two, light, rhythmic knocks on the door. I took a few deep breaths, and walked over, opening the door as writer as possible.

It was the maid from yesterday, “Breakfast is ready should you want it now,” She said softly.

“Sure.” I said simply.

The maid bowed and left. She quickly came back with a platter like the one from yesterday. She went for the door but I stopped her, “Before you go… Ni seve yir vedrys.” You have my appreciation. The entire phrase wasn't a thing spoken by common people. It was how a soldier said thanks properly.

“Reh ovel ni.” As to you. Again, not spoken by common people. It was how a soldier responded to a greeting, thanks, or sometimes compliments. This time she didn't bow. Instead she flicked her her wrist towards me while folding all her fingers besides her index finger halfway from beside her face. I returned the gesture and she left without another word. The gesture was a salute known only to The Von.

Quietly I moved the smaller plates of food and opened the letter compartment. To my surprise there actually was one. Quickly, I opened it and read it.

After I finished, I gently woke up Aurora. I then proceeded to kick Raisa for five solid minutes until she woke up. Aurora didn't stop me, but as soon as I finished she asked, “Exactly why was that necessary?”

“Because she'll never wake up otherwise. Also, this,” I held up the letter and began reading it, “‘We believe that Yalina may still be alive. We're unsure about anyone else who was there during the fire. If you want to find them Myr is your best shot.’ Right now Saela is more than a bit dangerous for us to be in. We need to get moving, and quickly So, eat and get your shit together.

“We're going to Vyra.”