Prophesied

Erin woke to beams of sunlight streaming down onto her face. She groaned, rolling onto her back. Taylor rolled over too at that exact moment, but rolled into Erin. Erin came tumbling down from the bed, dragging the blanket with her, hitting the floor with an "Oof."

Taylor yawned, seeming to be woken up from the blanket being ripped out from under her. She looked down at Erin from the side of the bed, and snorted.

"Silly! There was plenty of room on the bed! You didn't to sleep on the floor! Ha ha ha!" Taylor laughed obliviously.

Erin huffed.

"I was sleeping in the bed until you pushed me off." She retorted.

Taylor's expression changed.

"I did? I'm sorry." She sympathized.

"Oh! I know!" Taylor proceeded to roll off the bed, landing with her side pressed against Erin's in the blanket. and getting tangled up in it.

"Now we're even!" Taylor declared.

Taylor attempted to haul herself out with her arms, but to no avail.

"And now we're stuck." Erin added.

Taylor unraveled the end of the blanket closest to herself and dragged the rest out from under Erin, throwing it back onto the bed. She offered her hand, which Erin took, pulling herself off of the ground.

"Now c'mon! I smell something yummy! Loki probably made something really good for breakfast!" Taylor urged.

"Hold on!" Erin put on her denim jacket, which had previosly been lying across the floor, grabbing her glasses as well.

She placed her hands in the pockets, feeling that the stone still remained. Taylor opened the bedroom door, and Erin was immediately hit by a wave of cold air. Was it this cold yesterday? She suddered. Perhaps she had been too focused on everything else to notice.

Taylor yanked open the door leading downstairs and bolted, dragging Erin with her. They turned the corneer into the kitchen, spotting Loki in front of the oven. He had on a pale green apron, a plate of what appeared to be cinnamon rolls sat on the stove. It was now clear what the alluring aroma was.

Loki turned as they stepped into the kitchen.

"Good morning, children. Echo Mist didn't come down with you two?" He asked.

Taylor shook her head, when Echo Mist carefully stepped into the kitchen, Leo at her heels.

"There you are, darling. I suppose we can eat breakfast now."

The three took their seats, Taylor sitting across from Erin and Echo Mist sitting against the wall. Loki snapped his fingers, and four plates, each containing two cinnamon rolls, as well as three glasses of milk appeared on the table with a flash of green light. Taylor's eyes sparkled as Loki reached for his coffee atop the counter.

Echo Mist picked her's up, giving it a curious sniff as Loki took his seat across from her.

"W-what is it?" Echo Mist asked.

"It's a cinnamon roll!" Taylor exclaimed through a mouthful of her own. "They're really yummy!"

"C-cinnamon roll?" Echo Mist repeated.

"Yeah!" Taylor replied. "Try it!"

Echo Mist slowly lifted the cinnamon roll to her face, taking a cautious little nibble. Her eyes widened with shock. She took a much larger bite, eyes sparkling.

"I-it's so good!" Echo Mist cried. "Th-they didn't have a-anything nearly as g-good as this in m-my time!"

Your time? Erin pondered. How old was Echo Mist? She couldn't be any older than her or Taylor, could she?

"I told you!" Taylor declared.

"Is that so?" Loki looked up from the newspaper, grinning. "I take it I did  good?"

Echo Mist nodded, tearing into her second cinnamon roll. Erin bit into her own, savoring the sweet taste and enjoying the warmth. Taylor directed her attention to Loki's newspaper. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of a headline.

"There's been another sighting?!" Taylor gasped.

"Aparently." Loki shrugged. "Foxtrot forest this time."

Sighting? Erin questioned. What of?

"B-but that's where I hang out!" Taylor shuddered. "We were there just yesterday when we found Erin!"

"What sighting?" Erin furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"Someone saw the Shadow Stalkers lurkin' around the edge of the woods again!" Taylor explained.

"Shadow stalkers?" Erin questioned. They must not be very pleasant, whatever they are, to get Taylor this worked up.

"They're these enormous black dog things!" Taylor clarified. "They don't have a face, and they just stalk around the forest, blendin' in with the shadows!"

Erin froze. Dog-like creatures without a face? That does sound horrifying!

Echo mist dropped her cinnamon roll, shivering at the mention of Shadow Stalkers. Loki smirked, picking up on the fear of the three girls.

"Oh, and pets have been disappearing lately. It's definitely the work of those Shadow Stalkers, if you ask me. I also hear they just love to eat children. The tinier the better." Loki finished with a glance at Echo Mist.

Erin stiffened with shock. But I'm a child!

Echo Mist shuddered more, if possible. Taylor puffed her cheeks out angrily.

He's just trying to scare us, isn't he?! Erin realized, copying Taylor's expression, ashamed of herself for falling for such an obvious trick.

"They don't scare me none!" Taylor declared, puffing out her chest.

"Yeah! They're probably not even real!" Erin added.

"Oh darling, they're all but fake. See how scary they are when they swallow you whole." Loki smirked. "Now, if you three are ready, I belive we ought to head to the store. I have a spare room for you, Erin, but it's rather plain. You can pick out some clothes, too. And on side note, Taylor, if they don't scare you none, that means they do scare you. There's a reason you have a D in english."

Erin was swiftly hit with the realization that she would be staying here for quite some time.

"Okay." Erin replied.

"Why don't you shower first? I'm sure Taylor or Echo Mist would be happy to let you borrow an outfit." Loki instructed.

"C'mon! I have somethin' you can wear!" Taylor offered, dragging Erin upstairs.

Erin really wished she would stop doing that. They reached Taylor's bedroom, Taylor darting in and darting back out with a pale green short-sleeved shirt and a light blue pair of jeans.

"Thanks." Erin acknowledged, heading into the bathroom.

   -----------------------------------------------------

The warm water felt amazing on Erin's skin. Once she finished showering, she changed into her clothes, and began to work a brush through her dark hair. She headed downstairs afterwards, spotting Echo Mist and Taylor, now showered and dressed as well. Loki sat in the armchair, reading. He glanced up at her.

"I persume you're ready to go?" Loki asked.

Erin nodded, descending the stair case.

-----------------------------------------------------------

After driving for about fifteen minutes, they stopped at a rather large light brown building with the words Pinemart department store in green. Erin followed Loki through the automatic doors.

The interior was huge, with white walls and a white and green tile floor. To the ls the interior. A few yards in front of them lie several racks of clothes.

"Follow me." Loki instructed the three girls.

He led them into a section twoards the front of the store with a sign reading Women's Clothing above it. Several clothes racks lined the section. Many contained long-sleeved shirts and sweaters, others containing jeans and long pants.

"Pick what you want." Loki stated. "I think a small should fit you."

Erin dipped her head in gratitude before walking off to find a few outfits. A grey sweater with a red fox on it immidiatley caught her eye. She lifted it from the rack. She continued to scan the isles, picking out a light blue long-sleeved shirt and and a white sweater. 

She walked over to the jeans section, picking out a two dark blue pairs and one light blue. She walked back over to Loki, satisfied.

"Your going to need more than that, darling." Loki stated as he placed her chosen outfits in the cart. "Here, let me help you pick something out."

"Okay." Erin shrugged as Loki led her back through the maze of sweaters.

He stopped in front of a pale orange sweater.

"What about this one?" Loki asked. "It kind of matches your eyes."

"Sure." Erin agreed.

Loki paused once more upon seeing a long-sleeved pink shirt with a drawing of a white kitten with pale blue eyes on it.

"This is cute." Loki stated, throwing it over his arm.

Erin picked out a few more sweaters, as well as some more pairs of jeans.

"That should be enough for now. Why don't you go pick out some undergarments? You could probably use a new pair of shoes as well, your's are rather worn down."

Erin gazed down at her black canvas sneakers. This was true. They were quite dirty, and the right shoe had a large hole right in the toe area. She nodded, following him along with the other two girls.

He strided out of the clothing division and through a white expase of tile inbetween several isles. He turned right after a while, into an isle containing socks.

"Pick your poison." Loki instructed.

"Why would you want to poison her?!" Taylor demanded. "She's done nothin' wrong!" She exclaimed.

"It's an expression, you little fool." Loki sighed as Erin looked over the many pairs of socks.

She stopped at a package containing a few pairs of fox socks. A little further down the isle lie a pack of cat socks, which she picked up as well. She picked out the appropriate amount of undergarments and headed back to place them in the cart, where Taylor was still ranting about how misleading the expression "pick your poison" was.

"I mean, if you were gonna poison someone, why let them pick it? Your lettin' em' know your gonna poison em' and..." Taylor rambled on.

"Blithering idiot." Loki muttered under his breath.

He turned to Erin.

"Well, if you have everything you need, we ought to go find you a decent pair of shoes."

They walked only a few isles over into an isle containing boxes of shoes. Erin spotted a tall young girl with boy short red hair and a side bang covering a portion of her right eye, probably around eighteen or nineteen. She wore a black hoodie and black jeans. Loki imidietley dashed over to her, swiftly placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Millicint Daisy Kasidi!" He declared in a somewhat scolding voice as though she were his child. "You haven't called me in nearly three weeks!"

Do they know eachother? Erin thought puzzled.

The ginger turned her shocked yellow gaze to Loki.

"Loki?" she asked.

"You ought to recognize me after I took you into my home when you had nowhere else to go and raised you as my own. Yes, it's me!" He snapped. "Why haven't you called me? I worry about you, you know!"

The ginger hugged Loki without second thought, Loki quickly returning the embrace.

"Sorry, It's just I've had a lot if studying to do lately."

Loki released his grip on her.

"Studying is more important than family to you?" He questioned, a complex emotion in his eyes, possibly hurt.

"No!" She replied. "It's not like that at all! It's just...I'm sorry, I should've stayed in contact with you."

She turned to the three girls.

"Hey, Tay-Tay!" She high-fived Taylor. "How's my old ferret, Echo?"

"G-good." Echo Mist replied.

She turned her gaze to Erin.

"And this is?"

"Erin." Loki replied.  "She just showed up in the woods yesterday, and can't seem to remember anything. I'm fostering her."

The ginger girl's jaw dropped.

"You fostered a child and didn't tell me?!" She exclaimed.

"Well it's not like you tell me much either!" Loki shot back. "Besides, it was four in the mourning when I made the descision."

"True..." The ginger muttered. "Well, the name's Millie!" Millie extended her hand to Erin.

Erin shook it.

"Loki pretty much raised me too, and I survived. But whatever you do, don't go into the basement." Millie put on a very serious expression.

Loki rolled his eyes.

"Heh, just messing with ya. It's the attic you gotta watch out for." She added.

"So...Loki raised you?" Erin questioned.

"Yup." Millie clarified. "I was one of his first students."

So that's how they know eachother. Erin reminisced.

"Well, anyway, I promised Lin I'd meet her and Chris at Chai's in a few minutes, so I'd better get going." Millie turned away.

"Oh, so your little girlfriend is more important to you than your adoptive father?" Loki retorted

"Sh-she's not my girlfriend!" Millie replied quickly, blushing. "She's just a friend!"

"Yeah, sure." Loki replied. "Anyway, you better come over for tea on friday. And call me at least twice a week!"

"Will do!" Millie turned back to Erin. "Nice to meet you, Erin!"

"You too." Erin responded as the ginger walked hurriedly to the exit.

"Anyone would think she's embarrassed to be seen with me." Loki muttered.

Loki sighed, turning back to Erin.

"Find a pair that fits you." He instructed.

Erin scanned the isle, noticing a box with a picture of black and white checkered canvas sneakers. She thought they looked pretty cool. She brought them back over to the cart.

"Try them on first." Loki reminded.

Erin lifted the lid and pulled out one of the checkered sneakers. She pulled off the shoes she was currently wearing and tried one of the newer pair on. It slid right on, but wasn't too loose.  They were perfect.

"They fit." Erin replied, putting her old pair back on and new in the cart. She turned to the direction of the exit,  assuming they had gotten everything they came for.

"And where do you think you're going? " A voice called after her. 

Erin turned as Loki steped in front of her, blocking her way.

"I thought we got everything we came for? " Erin questioned.

"We still have to get sheets for your bed. Come along, now." Loki replied.

Erin followed, accompanied by the other two girls. Loki took a left, passing several more isles. He stopped at one towards the back of the store. Several clear bags of comforters lined the shelves.

"Pick one." Loki instructed.

Erin scanned the vast stretch of sheets. She caught sight of a set covered in little foxes. There was something Erin really liked about foxes. She carried it back to the cart as Loki led them into the next isle. It contained many stuffed toys and a few figurines.

"Choose a few." Loki offered. 

Erin glanced up at him.

"I can get one?" Erin asked, a bit taken aback.

"Well, you need something to occupy yourself." Loki replied, shrugging.

"Thank you! " Erin strides off to pick a few things.

She immediately spotted a red fox plushie, gently taking hold of it. She examined the figurines, two sets catching her eye. One consisted of a brown fox-like create surrounded by a blue cat-like creature with a fish tail,  an orange fox-like creature similar to the brown one, and a yellow cat-like animal with spiky fur.

The second held an orange lizard with a flame on its tail, a blue turtle, a frog-like creature with a plant on its back, and a yellow rabbit-like animal with red cheeks. She picked both of those up as well, returning to the cart.

"You like Pokemon?!" Taylor asked.

"Poke-what?" Erin questioned, eyebrows furrowed.

"Pokemon! It's,  a really cool game, Ruby and sapphire came out just recently! They're the figurines you just picked out! The brown one is Eevee, the blue one is Vaporeon, the orange one is Flareon, and the yellow one is Jolteon. The second set is Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur is my favorite!" Taylor replied.

"Oh." Erin responded,  wondering what to do with all this valuable knowledge.

"Well, I belive we ought to get your school things, Erin. You'll be starting tomorrow." Loki stated.

Erin's heart skipped a beat.

"S-school?" Erin questioned.

I hadn't even thought about that yet! I have to go to school?! I remember barely anything, but I know I hate school! She thought.

"Yes, darling. You need an education, after all." Loki responded.

Erin groaned.

But I don't wanna go to school! 

"It's not that bad." Taylor shrugged. "Odds are, you'll probably have the same teachers as me and Echo. It's a pretty small school. Loki works there too. "

______________________________________

Erin sighed, looking at backpacks. She had gotten all her other necessary school items, and a backpack remained the only thing between her and collapsing into a nice, warm bed. She grabbed a light blue backpack and placed in the cart.

"I suppose we can check out now." Loki commented.

______________________________________

Erin lie wrapped up in a fluffy fox blanket in the bed of her newly somewhat decorated room. She had changed into her fox sweater and dark blue jeans. She heard quick footsteps from the other side of her door, and groaned as Taylor burst into the room. A small pale ginger tabby poked it's head in the door before promptly dashing off.

"What is it?" Erin mumbled as Taylor tugged the blanket off of her.

"C'mon!" Taylor urged. "Let's go play outside!"

"But I'm nice and warm right here." Erin protested. "I don't want to go out into the cold."

"But it'll be fun!" Taylor dragged Erin out of bed, giving her no more opportunities to protest.

Erin sighed. There was no arguing with Taylor. She simply did not have the capacity to reason. They walked down stairs, finding Echo Mist waiting by the door.

"Going out?" Loki called after them as Taylor raced out the door. "Just make sure to be home for lunch. And steer clear of Foxtrot forest! I mean it! Those Shadow stalkers are seriously dangerous!"

"Will do!" Taylor called over her shoulder.

Erin shuddered as she stepped out of the house. She felt the cool grass drag against her ankles as she passed the doorstep. She noticed soft pink and blue flowers planted against the house. She continued to follow Taylor,  leaves crunching under her feet. Echo Mist followed closely behind. Taylor took a left, leading them onto the dirt road.

They continued left on the dirt road, passing large expanses of houses, their yards spanning several meters. The trees thickened as they strided on.  The gravel crunched under their feet as they finally came to a place where the houses ceased and a shady forest began.

"Where are we going?" Erin questioned at last.

"Wolf's Fang forest!" Taylor declared.

Echo Mist jumped.

"B-but th-thats where the sh-shadow s-stalkers live! W-we can't g-go in there!" She protested.

"Relax, Echo!" Taylor dismissed. "Didn't you hear? They've only seen em' around Foxtrot forest lately! They probably moved or somethin'!"

Taylor dashed into the forest, Echo Mist treading after with a very unsure expression on her face. Erin followed, an uneasy feeling in her chest. This did not seem like a good idea.

What if the shadow stalkers come back? 

Vines covered most of the trees, blocking any sunlight from reaching the ground. No wonder the forest was so shady. The damp scents of the forest flooded Erin's senses. Aside from being much darker, Wolf's Fang felt quite a bit colder than Foxtrot did, much damper as well. Perhaps it was the vines blocking out all the sun?

Erin continued to follow Taylor through the cool, dank forest. The feeling that they shouldn't be there only increased as the trees grew closer together and light became even scarcer. There was just something...unnatural about the forest. No breeze blew, and the undergrowth remained eerily still. No birds chirped, and no rustling of branches indicated that life even existed in the forest.

We really shouldn't be here. Erin reminisced, though Taylor didn't seem to take the hint, skipping along merrily as ever.

As they carried on, Erin got the strange sensation that they were being watched. It would just come on randomly, and Erin would turn around swiftly to find no traces that they were being followed, not a leaf out of place. Echo Mist didn't seem to be fairing to well either, constantly alert, jumping when ever one of the girls made the slightest of sounds, such as stepping on a leaf.

Eventually, the trees began to thin out some, and Erin could glance something that appeared to be a clearing. She stiffened as she glimpsed movement towards on end of the clearing. She caught sight of an unnaturally thin fox-like creature, with no visible eyes, it's huge, sharp teeth bared. It had long, silver claws. It was huge, probably taller than Loki.

Erin immediately knew what it must be.

Is that a-?

"Shadow stalker!" Taylor whispered, finishing Erin's thought for her.

Erin turned to see the other two girls with their gazes locked on the shadow stalker as well.

"Don't make a sound." Taylor whispered. "They have really good hearin'."

Erin stood in shock, unable to move. Suddenly, the leaves under her feet gave way, causing her to slip on the damp rotting leaves, snapping a twig in the process.

She pulled herself back up, hoping the sound had gone unnoticed to the shadow stalker. Too late. It snapped its large head in the direction of the the sound, bearing down on the three girls. It tore down the trees with its huge claws, and Erin finally got a good look at it.

It was huge. Probably at least eight feet tall, and around eleven feet long. It was incredibly thin, especially its legs, Erin could see its bones jutting out. It didn't have eyes, but instead two large gaping sockets on both sides of its face, along with two smaller pairs, one above the main two and one below. A strange liquid white substance was pouring from the lower sockets. It's huge silver claws gleamed. It could easily rip anything apart.

"Run!" Taylor shouted, though without purpose as the three girls were already running.

The shadow stalker charged after them, making a strange growling noise. Erin sprinted as fast as her legs could possibly go, heart racing. She felt an unbelievably strong fear as it drew nearer. It wasn't natural. It snapped at Erin's heels, as she quickly leaped out of the way. She didn't know how much longer she could keep this up, her lungs ached, and she'd surely faint eventually.

It snapped at the three again, it's jaws instead catching a tall pine tree that collapsed inches from Erin. Echo Mist was falling behind, wheezing as though her lungs couldn't take the stress much longer. The small girl's knees gave out from under her as she collapsed to the ground, breathing harshly.

Erin dashed back, jumping between Echo Mist and the shadow stalker, surprised by her own courage. Taylor hurried after her, making sure Echo Mist was okay. Erin glanced back at the shadow stalker. It Skidded to a halt in front of them, snarling, fangs bared. There was no running this time. Echo Mist definitely couldn't get back to running at the moment, and leaving her behind was definitely not an option.

You must fight!

Erin heard a voice from beside her.

It's the only way! Running will get you nowhere!

It wasn't Erin's thoughts, and it definitely wasn't Taylor or Echo Mist, but it was definitely there.

You want to protect your friends? Then you must fight! Now! For them! For yourself!

Erin suddenly felt rage build inside herself at the voice's words. This thing wanted to hurt her two companions.  The ones who had found her. The ones who stayed with her all night. The ones who had done nothing wrong.

She gritted her teeth, charging at the shadow stalker. The rage within her burned like an out of control flame. She heard the two girls gasp. Everything around her blurred, she was only focussed on fighting as she leaped onto the shadow stalker's back. 

That's it!

The voice encouraged.

You must give it your all! Fight with the courage you have been gifted!

Erin felt her hands grow unnaturally hot as the shadow stalker struggled to shake her off. The heat became searing, yet it some how didn't hurt her. Suddenly, an open flame appeared seemingly from nowhere into her palms. As though instinctually, she drove her hands containing the flame into the shadow stalker's back.

It yelped loudly, thrashing wildly. Erin leapt off of its back, landing in front of it. She aimed another searing blow at its side, following with one at its chest. It howled, blinded by pain. Erin caught her breath.

This is but one of the many foes you will face, Erin.

The voice continued.

You will meet many with power far beyond this, and you must always emerge victorious.

Erin dove under the shadow stalker's belly, leaping up and dragging the flame from its chest to the end of its belly. It let out a last pained howl, before dashing off, blood oozing from its sides.

Well done.

The voice congratulated. Erin took a moment to collect herself.

What just happened?! Erin pondered.

Had she really just made fire appear from her hands? And what about the voice? Erin turned to her left, where she had heard the voice. She saw a tall woman with brown hair and amber eyes. She was beautiful. There was something... off about her though. She could clearly see the forest on the other side of the elegant woman. She smiled at Erin, before fading into the shadows.

"No! Wait!" Erin called after the beautiful woman. "Please don't go!"

Erin turned back to her two companions. Echo Mist still lie on the ground, Taylor kneeling beside her, both staring with wide shocked eyes, mouths agape. Taylor finally spoke up. 

"How did you do that?! You were controllin' fire! And ya even fought off that shadow stalker! That was so brave!"

Echo Mist pulled herself back up, still watching Erin with a shocked expression.

"I...really don't know." Erin confessed. "I don't remember being able to do that. Then again...I guess I don't remember anything before yesterday, do I?"

Erin glanced beside her once more.

"What happened to that lady?" She questioned.

"Hmmm?"  Taylor fixed her with a puzzled expression.

"You know, the pretty one with the brown hair? Who was talking to me?" Erin added.

"There wasn't no lady near us. Just us three." Taylor replied.

"Why d-don't we head home?" Echo Mist asked. "Th-there's one sh-shadow stalker there c-could be more. Besides, Loki's p-probably made lunch."

"Why don't we not tell Loki about this?" Taylor added. 

The other two nodded, dashing out of the forest.

______________________________________

They reached Loki's house, panting. Taylor threw open the door.

"Hello, children." Loki greeted.

Loki's eyes widened with shock upon seeing there condition.

"Gods, what happened to you three?!" He questioned.

"We were playin' tag in the forest, an' we fell." Taylor lied.

"Mmm hmm..." Loki replied, clearly unconvinced.

He sighed as the three girls stepped into the kitchen.

"Well, anyway, lunch is ready." He pointed at the table holding four plates of macaroni and cheese.

Erin took her seat beside Taylor. Her battle had made her rather hungry. She ate hurriedly as the pale ginger-and-white tabby from before cautiously walked towards them, dark blue eyes focused on Erin, bell jingling from her pink collar. Loki looked down at the small tabby.

"That's Rose." He explained. " She's Midnight's sister. Don't be offended if she flees from you, she does that to everyone. Even me."

On the contrary,  however, Rose came up and sniffed at Erin's hand, before jumping into her lap. Erin looked down at the cat, stunned. She gently reached her hand down to pet the cat. Rose nuzzled against her hand, purring.

"Oh my! Now would you look at that? It seems she's taken quite a liking to you, Erin." Loki commented.

After awhile, Erin had finished shoveling the rest of her food down, and decided to head up stairs, still exhausted from the shadow stalker incident. On her way upstairs, she noticed a few pictures she hadn't seen before. A few of Milly, in some of which she looked to be pretty young, probably around thirteen. One particular photo was of a younger Millie smiling and hugging Loki, Loki hugging her back with an equally happy expression.

She ascended the staircase, opening the door to the upstairs. She entered, taking notice of another photograph of Milly in a graduation outfit, most likely taken in recent years. Erin studied the picture for a few moments.

He must miss her an awful lot.

Erin thought.

She was like a daughter to him, so he's probably really lonely now that she's gone.

The door behind Erin clicked open, and Loki stepped in. He stopped beside Erin, looking at the photograph.

"That was at her high school graduation." Loki spoke, a sadness glimmering in his emerald green eyes.

He sighed.

"I was so proud of her. She'd been through so much change at such a young age, and she stayed strong through all of it. She never tried to give up, not once." Loki added.

"I'm sorry." Erin said sympathetically. "I know you probably miss her."

"Oh, it's fine really." Loki replied. "If anything, I'm glad she's gone. She probably took off at least a thousand years of my life, with all the stress she put me through."

Erin's eyebrows furrowed.

"At least a thousand years?" Erin questioned. "How long do you plan to live?!"

Loki chuckled.

"Well, you see child, I'm not exactly mortal." He smiled down at her.

He sighed, entering the door at the left end of the hallway.

"Now if you'd excuse me, I belive I'll be taking a nap. You children have worn me out." Loki shut the door.

Erin stood in silence for a few moments.

Loki is immortal? 

Erin questioned to herself.

And why is he pretending he doesn't care about Milly? He looked pretty emotional looking at her picture, and he was pretty angry about her not calling him.

Erin sighed, heading into her room and flopping onto her bed. She wrapped herself in her fluffy fox blanket. Rose slid through the crack in the door and jumped up beside Erin in the bed. She pressed herself up against Erin's side.

How did I even fight off a shadow stalker? Those things are huge! And it was like I wasn't even myself while I was fighting it! And what about the weird woman who dissapeared?

Erin thought over the day's events.

Erin stroked the cat's fur, drifting off into slumber.