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Elysia’s hot breath filled the cold as she walked through the thick and heavy snow. It was much harder to traverse on foot instead of paws, but this was something she felt necessary. Being in her “human” form was slightly tiring, considering she spent most of her time as a fox. She didn’t need to be human in the Tundra. She couldn't hunt or move as fast, almost like the human part was a setback to her true, agile abilities.

This time, though, she stayed with the struggle. The pure inconvenience to prove to herself she’s ready to leave home. The tundra, and her small clan, was all she ever knew. Only stories of a civilization out there living in walls. It wouldn’t seem pleasing to most– her family often spoke of the fights, dirtiness, and unpleasantness the Sanctuary had. It was no place for a “girl like her.” Elysia would be safer within her clan until the day she died, but that was the problem.

Until the day she died..? Staying in the same place. With the same people. Nothing new coming about, just the same, old routine. Wake up, hunt, rest. Wake up, hunt, rest. It was madness. Although she preferred staying as a fox, her other instincts were strong. Telling her the whole new world she has yet to discover. It’s the simple fact that she knew how tough this journey would be by herself, on foot. However, her desires triumph. To make herself known to the world. Living in a metaphorical, cold bubble wasn’t her destiny.

Ever since the shifter was a little girl, her caretakers would often give her bedtime stories. Tales of the Knight saving the Princess and restoring peace back into their realm. Elysia had no interest in being the Princess. To wait to be saved, no. That was far too weak for someone like her. A young woman full of ambition. She had to be the knight: strong, dutiful, and courageous. It was all Elysia dreamed about. Saving others, putting herself to use for a bigger cause.

And so she walked. Her fur coat was so thick the wintery winds couldn’t penetrate. However, her nose was as red as a rose. Her breath was a thick fog into the coming night, that only blew back on her face. She needed to set up somewhere. The traveling bag, almost as heavy as her, was seriously weighing her down. The dreamer staggered every now and then– tripping on herself, having to pick something back up that fell out of her bag, or take a few moments of break. One thing kept her going: the thought of seeing the open gates to civilization.

The gates that represent a new freedom and ideas. It wasn’t something Elysia was going to give up on. She sped up her sluggish pace, leaning forward, and running. She ran like her life depended on it. The shifter could go a few more days without food, and even in her human form, she could run nearly as fast in her other body. As the winds nearly broke the surface of her skin, she could only hear one thing in the back of her head,

“If you set foot out of your home, do not come back.”

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Hello, I am Bug. I like to write lore content for Elysia. This is one of my small pieces as I'm continuously fleshing her out. But this is certainly my shortest one. If this is the wrong section, sorry, I'll move it!