"My deep, dark heart breaks upon the shores of light

Over and over, like the tide.

And just beneath the surface, where the rays play

Among the shadows;

I will find the strength to rise"

Flashing by in the growing darkness; trees bathed in strips of moonlight, blurred together. Running through the night, Runa barely noticed the sweat pouring down her face and body. Pursuing her, at a faster pace, was a pack of wolves. She was wearing an odd black dress with a high collar and low neckline.

Appearing just ahead was a clearing and a stone cabin. Darting into it could be a mistake. There was no other choice, however. Running into the cabin she almost fell through the door. Closing it behind her, she saw a small candlelit room. Breathing out heavily, she saw a shadow move. Quickly, she chanted aloud and waved her arm. A blue light appeared in front of her like a shield just as a fiery ball exploded upon it, knocking her down.

Appearing from behind a curtain over a closet, a small woman in a cloak looked at her.

"What happened?" she asked, smiling. "Don't you like wolves?"

Examining the room, Runa stood to her feet.

"I guess I'll just have to find something else for you to play with."

Rubbing both of her palms with her fingers, the small woman began to chant in some strange language.

Reaching into a pocket, Runa drew out a spider. She called out "Nano ebushi yu," and threw it at the woman. Instantly a web formed over her mouth and stopped her from chanting.

Drawing out a dagger, the woman rushed at her. Falling on the floor, they began to wrestle over the dagger. Runa knocked it out of her hand and sat on top of the small cloaked woman, choking her. The woman threw Runa off of her and tried tearing the web off her mouth but got her hand stuck to it.

Suffocating, the small woman reached with her other hand for a candle and began burning the web away and screaming as it also burned her flesh. She gasped for air just as Runa tried to drive the dagger into her. Dodging Runa's attack, the small woman rolled over and stood to her feet. Then she ran out of the cabin.

While chasing the woman, Runa also looked for the wolves. Standing like huge spikes in the earth, a large range of cliffs jutted up in front of them and Runa tried to find a path through them. She was trapped. Then above her on the cliff she saw the woman's wolves. They began to howl. Runa ran straight back and passed the woman.

Jumping off the cliffs at her command, three large wolves chased after Runa. The small woman shouted something, and the ground began to crack open in front of Runa. She jumped. Barely leaping to avoid it, Runa watched as the ground opened up and swallowed the wolves instead of her.

Cursing, the small woman turned on her. She knocked Runa down, attempting to throw her into the pit. Struggling with her, Runa could see the woman's face clearly.

"I'm the next initiate," the woman said. "You don't have what it takes."

She held Runa down and Runa began to get angrier. "The hell I don't!" she yelled.

She pushed her away, and they both stood totheir feet beside the hole in the ground. The woman rushed at her again andRuna dodged. Falling forward, she hit her head on a rock really hard and wentlimp. Runa cautiously approached her and kicked her. The woman didn't move. Runagrabbed her by the cloak she wore and dragged her body to the edge of the holeand pushed her in.