Phoenix Maplewood First Flight of the White Raven

The creature begins moving toward her and Berserkir freezes, fight-or-flight mode engaging. It’s true she’s a seasoned warrior, which means she knows how to pick her battles. She has no interest in fighting some wretched beast in these foreign lands. If she is injured, there is no one nearby to help. And it will thwart her search for Eventyr.

She blinks in confusion when the animal tries to speak. Berserkir doesn’t recognize a single word, though the mocking laughter is easy to interpret. It catches her a bit off guard. Her mismatched ears draw backward, nearly disappearing against her skull, before they promptly press forward again as her neck stiffens.

Berserkir swallows a knee-jerk impulse to growl. Instead, she peers blankly at the hideous creature as she braces her legs, every muscle in her body taut in the instant before she pivots. Kicking up clods of dirt, she gallops into the nearby trees, wondering if the beast will give pursuit.