The smell of mead and sweat was heavy in the air. Lutes and shouts thundered through the air. A destructive beast had been recently defeated by the cities favorite royal, Prince Delrik. I sat in a corner observing those in the celebratory mood with my icy eyes. My auburn hair draped over my face, so I was hidden. Lost in my own world I did not notice that the tavern owner had dropped down in front of me.
“May.” I glanced up at him, my hair caught on my small, pointed ears, “Why the gray cloud?” he questioned
I looked at him, smiling slightly at his odd analogy, “You should know why, Ono. They flatter and worship him, even though we all know he didn't kill the beast,” I waved my hands annoyed.  “He just sent a group of hunters out, made them do it, and took the glory,” I grumbled.
“Yes, we know, but at least be happy about that free drink of yours,” he pointed out.
“I was never complaining about that,” I smiled, and took a sip of said drink.
“Off topic of the prince, any new bounties come in?”
“Yeah, here. The guards came in and dropped this off,” he passed a piece of parchment. It read:
WANTED ALIVE
The shape-shifting beast of Arceg Forest must be captured and brought to the castle immediately. Reward 1,000 gold pieces for capture.

Below the guidelines was a sketch the creature's appearance. Ze had pale eyes, and long hair cascading past hir shoulders.
Looking up I wondered aloud, “Why would they want it?” I gave the paper a questioning look like it would give me the answers.
“Don't ask me, they’re the ones with the bounty.” he paused standing up, “Now, if you aren't going to party along with the rest of the drunks, at least try to smile.”
I looked up at him with a big, goofy grin. “How’s this?” I asked through the smile.
Laughing he nodded, walking back to the bar answering to the pesky drunks grunting for more. I watched him head back to the bar, then looked back at the bounty one last time deciding to leave. Gathering my things, I made my way out the door.
Outside of the tavern I heard shouting. I didn’t want to involve myself, but the shouting seemed different than a normal argument. It came from my left. Turning I looked around the corner, trying to see who it was.  Surveying around the wall I saw a woman. She was alone talking to herself. Her hands waving wildly.
“No! Let’s just charge in and take it all!” she paused. Her muscles loosening.
“No you imbecile, we have to be quiet. We don’t need the guards on us.” Another pause. She tensed like she was pleading. “Nhom, help me. Stop it you two, we do not need to do this. Just calm down and stop talking.”
I instantly knew there was something off about this woman. She was talking to herself, but not, it was confusing to think about.
“Hey!” I called, “Is something wrong?”
The woman jumped at my call, and turned. “O-oh, yeah, everything is alright.” Her voice then changed slightly. “Actually you might be able to help us-uh I mean me.” she frowned. “No, I do not need help. Just carry on your way,” She turned quickly mumbling to herself.
“You asked for help. What is it you need?” I inquired, walking closer.
The woman paused, then turned back slowly, facing me. I noticed that she was taller than me, and that she had bright green eyes.
“I uh… well I don't have anywhere to go.”
Suddenly, her eyes went to a pale grey. “Please can you spare some gold?” she begged.
Her eyes changed back. “No! Sorry.. I ...I'm just going to go.” she spoke weakly.
I stood there shocked from what the woman had done, but then remembered that she needed help. “Wait!” I caught up to her. “Here.” I pulled out a few gold coins, holding them out. The woman stopped and turned to look behind. She stared at down me, surprised that someone offered help.
“I can’t,” she backed up shaking her head.
“No, I insist. You said you had nowhere to go.”
The woman looked at me, the coins, and then back to me. With a look of shock she hesitantly grabbed them “Thank you.” the woman smiled down at me.
I nodded in acknowledgment, then turned and walked away. I heard the woman start to mumble to herself again as I turned the corner, heading towards the city gates. Passing the guards, I made my way towards the stables. Upon reaching the stable gates to the pens I spotted my friend Elyon.
“Oh! Hello May.” the stable master greeted. “Nanao is in the back.”
“Thank you.” I handed him a bag of gold for payment. Opening the gate I called for my pet, “Nanao!” I stood there waiting for him to show. Soon enough a creature popped out from inside the barn. It bounded over. Nanao looked like a dragon, but small and stood upright. He was the same height as I was, with dirt brown scales, small horns, small clawed arms, legs like a horse, with small wings protruding from it’s back. I giggled at his excited nuzzle of a greeting.
“I missed you too bud, c’mon let’s go.” I turned with my strange beast at my heels.
“Goodbye friends, see you again soon.” Elyon spoke in his thick accent.
I returned the wave, and headed towards the forest to see if I could find the bounty beast. They stood on the outskirts of town, and is a dark place. It’s of full things that were even darker than itself. I had always wondered why they built the city next this forest, but didn’t bother to care. Pulling out my bow, I prepared for anything, and headed farther in. Nanao was at attention behind me, making sure that I was not going to be harmed. Little light was able to disrupt the darkness of the forest, and the forest was almost absolutely silent. Farther ahead of me light could be seen. It wasn’t the light of a will-o-the wisp, it seemed to be the light of a campfire. I stopped in my tracks, put my bow on my back, and crouched down. I moved slowly forward to see what waited. I slunk through the shadows hiding within bushes. I soon reached the edge of a camp, and stopped. I scanned the area around. There were men in royal uniforms, and in the far corner a large elaborate tent, the royal flag hanging off it. It was obvious that this was where Prince Delrik, and his men of hunters were camped. I thought of how dumb they were being, with their bright fire. This whole forest was full of bandits and terrible beasts. I knew the prince was on his way to hunt the shapeshifter as well, but I was determined not to let that happen. I left the camp behind, and began my hunt.
After searching the forest close to an hour Nanao started acting strange. He stopped, and froze.
“Nao, what’s wrong?” I questioned. He was beginning to worry me. He tilted his head up, listening to something I couldn’t hear. A flash came from ahead of us. I turned my head for a moment, but when I looked back Nanao was gone. I saw that he was heading to where the flash of light had come from.
“Nao!” I rushed to the his side concerned. Why was he acting like this?
Another flash came brighter as we grew closer to it’s origins.
“Nao, you okay bud?” I asked following behind. He had started walking faster reaching a trot. I continued to follow him until we reached a cave. I tried to grab Nanao, so I  could scope out the area, but he was determined to go into the cave. Nao became frustrated, and bucked my hand away going into the cave. I stood stunned at what he’d done. What was in this cave? Suddenly there was a screech which shocked me from my stupor. It had come from the cave. I rushed into the cavern my bow in hand. Inside were paintings and carvings covering the walls. I had never seen anything like these. I guessed that these were ancient symbols, because the more I looked I saw a few familiar ones.
Remembering why I had rushed in I ignored any further distractions. I headed deeper into the strangely decorated cave. Ahead I began to see candlelight, and losing any natural light from the suns. The candlelight then flickered, and shadows grew on the wall. I quickly hid in the shadows that ran along the wall. A person in robes rushed past where I was hiding. The cloth brushing against me. My heart pounded in my ears, but fearing they might come back I pushed forward. The cave began to widen and grow in height, so I made sure to stay along the wall. Warily searching through the cave I eventually spotted Nanao. He was in a large room, but he wasn't alone. He was slouched down, bowing to a woman in front of him. The woman stood on dais with a stone pedestal before her. She was slightly taller than I was, with bloodshot, blue eyes. Wild brown hair draped around her head, but I noticed her ears came to a rounded point like mine. The freakiest thing about her though was that she was perpetually smiling. She stood before a crowd of people, all smiling and wearing yellow robes. Behind the smiling woman in a cage was a small figure, it had shiny skin, with little features to distinguish its gender. I guessed that was the shapeshifter the royals were so intently after. It was hunkered down and shaking in pain. Blood ran from multiple cuts along hir body. In front of the crazy looking woman on the stone podium was a bowl. I noticed everyone was quieting, so I watched.
“My followers, we have finally reached the end of the first stage of our plan. After all of hard work that has been done, it will be not have been in vain. We will soon have peace and we will thrive.” pausing she looked around. “With our gathered ingredients we will continue with the next step. Using the shape-shifter’s,” She gestured to the creature, “mine,” to herself, “and soon a special guest’s blood, the ritual will finally be completed,” she then rested her hand on the podium again.
A cheer rose from the crowd of smilers.
She grinned back. “Now, now. This is because of you all. Celebrations will be held later, for I will now introduce our special guest,” the woman then turned and looked directly at where I was hiding.
“Dearie, please come out.”
I sat there not wanting to reveal myself. My heart beat like the drums on Summer’s Eve.
“Oh don’t be shy. You have no need to worry.” The woman gestured towards me, trying to lull me forward. I continued to sit there, but my body began to move on its own. I stood and walked out from my hiding place, headed towards the stage. Fear had plastered itself on my face. Everyone’s eyes followed. Watching me intently as she faced the crowd. The smilers stared creepily at me as I stopped to stand next to their leader. I looked inside of the bowl and saw that it was already two thirds full of blood.
The scarred woman turned towards me her smile larger than normal, “Oh,” she sighed “you don’t know how long I have waited for this. It is so good to finally meet you in person.”
My face contorted in surprise at her statement.
“Now this may sting a little.” The cult leader then pulled out a blade carved with the same symbols as the ones at the entrance of the cave. I stood not able to move a single muscle horrified at what she was going to do. The woman looked at the blade admiring it, then grabbed my arm and yanked it over the bowl. She then slid the blade across the palm of my hand. I cried out in pain as blood poured in the container. Nanao jumped at at the sound of my cry, released from the trance the crazed woman had put him under. Roaring he tried to jump onto the stage, but the smilers grabbed him wrapping ropes, trapping him once more. I couldn’t do anything to help him, as I cradled my hand. The woman grabbed the bowl, and bought it to her lips. Before the bowl reached the scarred woman’s mouth though, it was smacked out of her hands.
The shapeshifter had freed themselves while everyone was busy restraining Nanao. The shapeshifter then changed into a unicorn and attacked the woman. With the witch distracted grabbed a bandage out of my bag wrapping the cut on my palm. After it was tightly wound and tied off, I grabbed my bow prepared to fight. Nanao was now released from his ropes, because the smilers were busy trying to save their leader. Since the smilers were so busy I decided to help pick them off. Nanao had freed himself from the few stragglers trying to keep him restrained. After all enemies lie on the ground, and the shapeshifter had passed out, I went to bind the creature for bounty. I healed any major wounds of hirs, as much as possible with the little restoration magic I knew. I then went to care for my injured pet. He had a large gash in between his horns, but that was all the he had gathered. As I was finishing any healing jobs needed, a groan came from the witch that lie on the ground. I pulled out my bow again and nocked an arrow aiming it at the woman. She turned and looked saw me standing weapon aimed.
“Oh come now dearie.” She looked at me hurt. “You wouldn’t hurt your big sister now would you?” She smiled.
I looked at her in shock. “What did you say?”
“Did Mummy dearest never tell?” Her grin fell, but soon returned. “Well I must be off, but it was good to meet you dear sister.” In a cloud of smoke the witch disappeared. I stood there in fear and shock. While I stood there struck dumbfounded the shape-shifter began to wake up.
“Ugh, what just happened?” the creature said as ze held hir head.
“I have an older sister,” I answered weakly still staring at the spot where my apparent older sister had once been.
  “Oh.” Ze sat there. “Well then I am going to go,” ze said, as ze realized I meant the crazy witch that had captured hir. As the shape-shifter went to get up ze realized that hir hands were bound.
“What’s this for?” Ze tried to gesture.
“You are not leaving, because I have a bounty to finish.”
“Oh come on, what did I do to get on the most wanted!” ze grumbled. Soon shouting was heard in the cave, and royal guards came charging in with the prince in the center of their group.
“Beast, we have come to bring you to where you belong!” Delrik spoke.
“You too?” The creature on bounty shouted.
I whipped towards the prince and his men, weapon at the ready. “Hey! No, this is my bounty. You’re not taking this!”
The prince and his men looked around at the room before them, seeing the carnage and mess that had happened merely minutes ago.
Delrik looked back up and returned, “Well, I guess we are at an impasse then.”