Shiori Kashiwazaki

The forest was a suffocating mix of shades of green and brown, but to Shiori, it was just a menacing blur. Her frail body ached with every step, and the back of her white sleeveless blouse, adorned with a furry collar and blue details, now had tears that exposed a bit of scratched skin. The black gloves that covered her forearms to her shoulders were dirty with soil, and the bottom part, a grayish-blue shorts, was torn at one thigh, revealing a superficial wound. She had narrowly escaped the Orcs' ambush. Their guttural sound, mixed with the heavy thud of their hooves, echoed in her ears, even though they were a little further back now. Her breath was short, the adrenaline beginning to give way to exhaustion and pain. Then came the cough. A dry phlegm at first, which quickly turned into a violent fit, tearing at her throat. She doubled over, her hands pressed against her chest, as breaths refused to enter her lungs. Shiori fell to her knees near a rock, her body trembling, unable to stand. Her long hair, which ranged from dark purple to light lavender at the tips, swayed as she struggled to breathe, the white wolf ears on her head drooping and unprotected. She tasted something metallic in her mouth, and when she tried to speak, more coughing came, followed by a thin trail of blood. The sound of the approaching Orcs grew clearer, closer. She could hear their hoarse voices and brutal laughter. Panic chilled her veins. With a final effort, her voice came out weak, almost a whisper, but heavy with despair. HELP!! SOMEONE!! But the scream wasn't enough. Her wide eyes caught the green shadows moving among the trees, growing larger, clearer. Terror gripped her, and she gathered all the strength she had left into a single, desperate plea, her voice raspy but echoing through the forest. SOMEBODY!!