XiShi dashed through the woods, utterly devoid of any sense of direction, her heart racing as the ominous footsteps of her captors echoed distantly behind her. In that moment, she couldn't help but appreciate the physical form she inhabited―blessed with the natural agility and stealth of a fox. It was an absurdity; she had no experience galloping on four legs, yet here she was, propelled by sheer adrenaline, desperate to distance herself from her pursuers. Despite the throbbing injuries that hindered her speed, stopping was not an option. The woods loomed long, dark, and deep around her, fragrant with the natrual scent of earth, but oh, how lovely it would be to sit and relax―just not today.

She had ventured deep into the heart of the woods, each step taken with increasing caution as the pain from her injuries intensified, leaving her gasping for breath. Just when she thought she had created a safe distance between herself and her pursuers, fate intervened. In a moment of misfortune, she tripped, her front legs colliding painfully with a protruding tree branch. The impact sent her rolling until her back thudded against the rough bark of a nearby tree, and she let out a string of curses under her breath. Sighing in agony, she couldn't help but lament, God, this is just the worst...

Desperate to get back on her feet, she found herself momentarily immobilized, the searing pain radiating through her body making every movement feel like a monumental task. She knew she should push herself to get up; after all, the sounds of her captors' pursuit grew louder, echoing through the dense foliage. If she didn't act soon, they would close in on her. Steeling herself, she finally managed to rise, taking hesitant steps as the unmistakable sound of rushing water reached her ears and something else , something weird , something  warm ......... that she couldn't quite comprehend, but hey―it's definitely not as weird as being used as a baby making machine. The nearby waterfall offered a glimmer of hope―if she could just reach it, she could mask her scent and perhaps clean her wounds in the process. She recalled that this body could swim, at least for short distances.

But just as she made her way toward the sound, panic struck. Her pursuers had caught up with her faster than she anticipated. How on earth are they so fast? she thought, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. As they circled around her, she stepped back, her heart racing.

" Stop and come to us―like a good girl, you little fox," one of them taunted. Another added ominously,
" Even if you go down there, it won't end well for you. "

Well, to hell with it all―she took a leap of faith and jumped down the waterfall, After all, how much worse could it possibly get?