Flora and Norah walked side by side through the tall silky grass with the gentle rays of the sun blessing them with warmth, and a distant crisp breeze blowing on them to contrast the sun. The hums of grasshoppers leaping from grass stalk to grass stalk and the tweeting songs of birds filled the silence between the two.

After walking for some time a mighty tree was coming into view. The branches stretched from the strong tall trunk as if they were arms. Layers of pale pink flowers dangled from each branch, swaying in the wind like locks of hair. Little yellow birds chirped as they hopped from branch to branch eating any dead blossoms that were on the tree. Each jump they made petals rained down on the ground to blanket the roots and grass below the tree. Norah ran up to the tree and stared up at it in awe, the tree gave off a feeling of serenity that eased everyone around it and a small bunch of petals floated down on Norah’s head. A lonely petal floated down then landed on her nose making her sneeze.

“ This is a Sakura tree, it’s home to Mirai, the Vulpecula constellation. For this millenia.”

“ Woah...it’s beautiful.”

“ Finally she has arrived,” said a voice that echoed throughout the Sakura tree.

Norah looked around the tree confused, she flapped her feathered wings to fly up into the tree. She stood on a branch, pressing her hand against the trunk, and a fox shape began forming on the branch in front of her. The vixen became clearly visible with her orange pelt shimmering in the sun and her galactic tail constantly moved around flowingly. The vixen’s aqua green eyes seemed to be studying Norah with a soft smile forming on her muzzle.

“ So Mirari is your name. I suppose this is the part where you unlock my full power.”

“ Indeed. I assume you already know which side you’re going to fight for.”

“ I do. I believe that my decision is a decision that can lead to both immortality and peace. I mean I don’t get why they were different options. I mean one leads to the other.”

“ Not true, young one. Just because everyone lives doesn’t mean there will be peace.”

“ I’m sorry but I disagree. My mind has been made up.”

The vixen nodded in understanding then Mirai’s surprisingly silky soft tail reached out to Norah, touching her forehead. Norah’s eyes began to roll back into her head, sending her off to sleep, but it didn’t feel like she was sleeping; it felt as if her soul was entirely awake. A cold fire flared through her blood, the chilled flame coursed throughout her body sparking a sense of power. The power pulsed and throbbed through every muscle in her small body. But as the power surged so did fear.

Norah then began to slowly drift down to the bottom of the sakura tree with the help of Mirai. Flora kneeled down to Norah’s side then picked her up gently.

“ It’s alright Flora, I will return the girl to her friends,” Mirari commanded.

“ As you wish,” he carefully set Norah back on the petal blanketed ground, Flora began walking away. Mirai touched Norah’s shoulder with her tail, causing Norah to float and follow the vixen.

Quiver’s long ginger hair flowed similar to the movement of the sakura tree in the wind with her nervous pacing. Sean and Taurus sat on opposite ends of the log watching the elven woman pace side to side waiting for Norah to return.

“ Quiver relax, I'm sure Norah is alright, you worry about her too much.”

“ Birdbrain shut it, it’s fun watching the lassie stress out and pace like a college student on finals week.”

She rolled her eyes in disgust and sat down next to Sean waiting for Norah to return.

“ I’m sorry but I worry for her, she’s still a child. She’s been through a lot and I don’t want her stressed out anymore because once she gets back we’re leaving.”

“ Quiver, please don’t do that. She has the destiny to fulfill, the Gods and angels are counting on her to-”

“ To what? To kill Azrail? Bring ‘ peace’ back to the world, a world without death will be nothing but chaos. You all are more naive than we thought,” Taurus interrupted Sean glaring at the two. Quiver looked back at Taurus, the Hellhound’s muzzle was scrunched up baring his fangs at them. His one brown eye eerily faded to a soulless yellow and his scarred left eye stared at them with loathing, his ears pinned back. A deep snarl rumbled from him making the hair on their necks stick up in fear. Out of instinct, Sean wrapped his arm around Quiver pulling her close to him to keep her away from the feral hound. The eerie green flames began to smolder on Taurus’s scruff as his snarls got deeper and his loathing gaze got stronger.

“ Mutt this is an A and B conversation so C your way out of it. You should know that Azrail is a cruel heartless rat.”

“ How mature of the almighty angel race to insult like a weed dealer, and nice dad joke. You can say anything ye can about me but I won’t tolerate insults thrown at Azrail. Heartless yes, but he isn’t cruel,” his voice once again changed into that sadistic tone that made Quiver’s heart drop.

“ The Kingdom of Tartarus is a literal Hell! Souls are being tortured and overworked like pack mules! Face it he needs to be stopped!”

“ Aye, it’s Hell down there because that’s where the evildoers go as punishment! And get off yer high horse the Kingdom of Heaven is no better with Vita ruling with an iron fist! She brain-”

Two galactic fox tails sprouted from the ground and constricted around Sean and Taurus lifting them off the log, Miari looked up at them growling a little at Taurus. Quiver ran over to Norah and held her in her arms, sighing in relief.

“ Thank the Gods, Norah’s Okay!”

“ Excuse me?! Who in the name of Vita are you?! You dare attack an angel?!”

“ Miari it’s been a while hasn’t it?”

The vixen set the two down and walked over to Taurus then whispered something in his ear that made him calm down. Taurus’s flames calmed down as Miari nuzzled into his white chest fur, as some sort of greeting. After a few hushed whispers the Hellhound calmed himself completely and stayed by the log.

Norah began groaning as she blinked her eyes open, glancing up at the bright starry night with a crescent moon reigning over the grasslands below. She then looked at Sean and Quiver who were sitting beside her with her sister holding her close to her sister’s chest. They both wore nervous and anxious expressions on their faces that made Norah’s stomach tighten with regrets, guilt, and dread all mixed together.

“ Sis… Mr. Sean… I-I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused. I never meant to make you all worry…I just got upset and I wasn't thinking..”

“ Norah, none of us were mad. I'm sorry I lost sight of you. If I had paid better attention that wouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

“ What did the fox say?” Sean asked eagerly.

“ Her name is Miari, she finally told me what I was really a part of. Then she uh awakened my full power to me and I felt powerful… it was scary how powerful I felt…but I’m positive I can defeat Azrail.”

Taurus snarled in hatred at Norah he spit at their feet then began to walk away. Norah then ran to Taurus, grabbing his tail to get his attention. He turned around snarling with his eyes fading to the cunning yellow eye.

“ Forget it kid. I ain’t stayin’ with you lot if you’re goin’ up against Azrail. I’m loyal to him first in more ways than you know.”

“ I thought… you would stay with us… stay with me! We can free you from-”

“ I am free lass. I’m free to leave and go home,” Taurus disappeared as he walked away into the hills. Sean stood at Norah’s side.

“ Norah, don't let him bring you down. He’s nothing but an evil mutt. You shouldn’t waste your time on him. He never really cared for you. He was just going to use you,” Sean said gently.

“ We should uh all freshen up and rest. But I don’t know where,” Quiver added, trying to change the topic. Almost on cue near them, a tree’s trunk opened up and Flora walked through revealing himself.

“ Well, I can fix that problem. Come with me, please. I’ll take you all to my temple.”

“ We will gladly take that offer, thank you, Flora.”

Flora nods, smiling then walking back into the hole in the trunk with the three following behind him.

On the other side of the trunk, they appeared in front of a large temple that had columns supporting the roof on the outside with vines drooping from the roof and winding around each of the columns. The interior of the temple had vases of plants, some were like monstrous venus fly traps, at every corner with marble floors and columns keeping the roof up on the inside, the pale walls were accented with floral patterns made of emerald and jade.

Norah’s eyes were basically sparkling in awe of this gorgeous temple. She began running around rambling on and on about the beauty of the temple. Quiver silently chuckled then began to trail behind Norah as they explored the temple with Sean silently walking from behind.