Days left: 0

Suddenly she was on the surface again. She looked around her, breathing heavily. There was a willow tree, a creek, it was beautiful. Quickly she ripped the collar off of her neck and touched the large burn.

"The power of Christ compels you..." She muttered.

She glanced the collar once more, glaring at it. Man, it hurt like Hevan. She looked at the tree, seeming to dance in the wind. She had never seen one before. Her hand reached out and touched one of the leaves, in awe of its softness. She looked around, wide-eyed and stunned. She hadn't been here in a very long time. She coughed a few times, touching her throat.

She sighed, tracing the scars on her arms as she hugged herself. Very long indeed. She looked back to the collar again, the decorative crosses glistening in the little light coming through the gray clouds. She shook her head, standing up and dusting off her legs. (159 words after legs. Bill Cypher confirmed)(166 words after that) She looked at the collar again. Something about it just... She walked over and picked it up, examining it.

All the pain it caused, they caused flashed into her mind, making her jump and drop it. She stared at its pulsing white light. I was scary... that thing. She picked it up again, trying to ignore the pain in her hand and turned it over a few times. How could it be that something so small, for such ludicrous reasons, could be so pure...? How could it be that it could kill her within minutes if it had the chance? Maybe it was better... if she was dead. Maybe it would benefit the world... to have one less demon to worry about...?  Rain started to fall from the sky as she held the collar up to her chest, so close she could feel the burning sensation on her fur.

I twig snapped behind her, making her hands jerk away and look back. Her ears twitched, looking for the direction of the sound. There was another snap and her ears snapped to it. She growled lowly, leaning down slightly.

Days left: 1

A figure appeared, a docile creature of some sorts with big ears. She dropped the collar and stared at the figure as it continued to get closer, her breath getting faster. She didn't know this, what was she supposed to do?  The surface wasn't like Hell!

"Hello? A-are you hurt? Are you an enemy?"

She glanced to the side, staying silent. Did that... dog... just hiss at her? What? She stayed silent, just staring at it. She steps forward a bit, unsure of what she was doing or where she was going.

It growls lowly. "Answer? O-or I'll... I'll..."

She steps up to the figure, examining it. He was quite frail looking. She looks at him with unamused expression, given he probably couldn't do something even if he tried. She touched his arm gently, examining it. He flinches away, growling again.

"ANSWER ME! Or I'll! I'll! GRRRRR!"

Yeah. Okay. No. She swiftly slams him against a tree, holding him by the collar of his shirt and says in a low voice, "I don't think you can do anything. So why don't you just mind your own business and stay out of my way?"

He whimpers and starts to bleed. Probably from old wounds. Her growls again, muttering a 'sorry' as she lets go of his shirt. He starts to limp away as she notices the blood.

"Hey! Are you okay?"

He just kept walking. "I stay out of way..."

"No," She reaches out and grabs his shoulder, spinning him around to face her. "It's your turn to answer me. Why are you bleeding?"

He stays silent before looking away.

"Did someone do this to you?" Her grip tightens at past memories.

He winces in pain and growls lowly. She loosens her grip slightly, silently apologizing.

"I... don't need to tell you..."

"Your right. You don't."

"Then... let go!" He wines as he tries to move.

She stares at him for a split second, glancing around to each and every one of his features. He was scared, that's for sure. Maybe even more than she was. She let go and walked back to the tree again. She stood there, wondering if she should pick up where she left off.

Days left: 0

She picked up the collar again, holding it gently.

"W-what that?" He asked.

"Nothing." She holds it up to her chest.

"Okay... bye..." He turns around and starts limping away.

She watches him, ear flicking a few times.

Thunder booms in the sky making them both jump. He yelps and runs under the willow tree. He huddles into a ball shaking slightly, snuggling a pink sweater. She dropped the collar and looks at him, then the sky. "What the Hell was that?"

Days left: 1

The dog whimpers, burying his face into the sweater. "I-I'm sorry... don't make me go back... I don't want to die..."

"What!? No! What was that?" She repeats, pointing to the sky.

Thunder crashes again and he yelps. "M-my dad... he's mad at me again! I have to hide! "

She looks up to the sky again, the words "screw you" are evident in her expression. She walks over to the whimpering mess and sits next to him. She repositions his head onto her shoulder and hugs him lightly. "He's not going to get you here. I'll protect you."

He pushes away slightly, sniffling. "H-he'll find me. He always finds me. He... he's going to kill me! Like he killed my mommy! He's going to send me to Hell!" Thunder crashes again, making him jump and snuggle up to her. "D-don't let him take me..."

He hugs her tightly, clutching the pink sweater even more.

She hums, scanning over the creature hugging her. He had done nothing wrong, that's for sure. "I know Hell. Trust me. You won't go there. I won't let him take you..." his father, on the other hand, she was excited to see.

He cries onto her shoulder, whimpering. She hugs him tighter, looking down on him. "What's your name?"

"Chr- ... Cinnamon..."

She hums looking back up to the sky as thunder boomed again. "Seriously. What is that? Why is there water coming down from the sky?"

He tilts his head and hums in confusion. "Water? It's name rain."

"What? That makes no sense..."

"The water," He continues. "It's rain. Fall from sky. It's MAGIC!"

"That doesn't look like magic that I know..." She grumbles. "What's the point? The 'rain'?"

"Wets ground. Ground drinks water. Ground makes flowers from water. Flowers need water to grow and survive. Like human and animal."

"Why does everything need water?" She questions.

"To grow. Everything must grow. Everything must live."

((Can we all just laugh at the fact that Willow doesn't know what rain is and CB sounds like a native for some crazy island?))

"I don't need water... my mom didn't need water... my dad..."

He's left in question. "You no look like creature from here. Are you new? ARE YOU MAGIC?!" His face gets uncomfortably close to hers.

"First off," She pushes his face away. "I'm not from here. Second, yes. I am magic."

"HUUUUUHHHHH!!!!" He gets all excited, giggling as he talks. "My momma said she had magic. I don't think she doses, though!"

Her expression turns dull, "Do you believe her now...?"

"My momma never showed me her magic... if she had magic maybe she'd still be with me..."

She looks down and hugs him tighter. She never knew what it was like to have a mom.

After a little silence, Cinnamon starts to silently sing. She watches, humming along after a minuet or two.

I guess one more day couldn't hurt...

Days left: 2