Lal was just cleaning her favourite rifle when she saw it.

Scratches running along the rifle's side, three horrid scratches made out of sharp claws.

Staring at those scratches, she began to recall the memory of how it was there...

-flashback-

It was night when she entered the bar, hands occupied with rifles as her cloak fluttered behind her in the cold wind.

Her arrival attracted the attention of the men hanging around. Not minding them, she made her way to the counter with confidence.

"I am entering the Zalinaer Forest. Can you point the way?" She asked as she whipped out a map.

The bartender stared straight at her, his eyes betraying nothing.

With a calm demeanor, he continued wiping the glass in his hand before pointing an area on the map.

Lal nodded her head in thanks and turned to leave.

"Be careful- no man that has gone in there has ever come back alive," the bartender lightly warned.

Lal only smirked at that. She said, "Good thing I'm not a man," before disappearing into the night.

Upon reaching the forest, she entered without any hesitation and was soon attacked by a pack of wolves lurking in the shadows.

She was fending herself pretty well when another wolf suddenly appeared behind her. Using one of her rifles as a shield, she was pushed back to the ground from the force of the impact.

A gash appeared on her right arm which was quickly covered by her blood. Not minding the wound, she shifted her weight and used her momentum to swing her rifles, effectively knocking out the remaining wolves surrounding her.

Huffing a little, she stood up a tad too quick, making her dizzy and off-balanced. Her body swayed dangerously before her knees collapsed beneath her.

Just as she was about to hit the ground, two strong arms wrapped itself around her hips, preventing her from making any contact.

"Woah! I knew it was a good idea to follow you, kora!"

The voice of a happy man penetrated her hazy mind. She knew that voice anywhere.

"Co-Collo...nello..." she rasped out.

"Rest for now, Lal. You need it," was the last thing she heard before blacking out from blood loss.

-flashback end-

Lal just smiled as she continued cleaning her rifles, content with the peace she's experiencing.

"Oh? Isn't that the rifles you really like, kora?"

Lal glanced back to the door to see a blond man standing in the doorway, arms crossed and lips pulled to a smile.

"Yes. Yes they are," Lal replied. Not telling the real reason why she liked them. How the rifle reminded her of that day, that day that she first found love.