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If the men return, they will see the ki, Mariko took hold of the he fla silk and scorching lacquer Melting Dragon’s Beard candy

Mingled with the scent of searing flesh

Chiyo

She blinked hard, struggling to remain steady

All around her were the bodies of her father’s convoy Maidservants Sahtered as one

Mariko stood swathed in shadow, her chest heaving as her eyes flew across the damp earth

Anything of value had been taken Swiftly Efficiently Trunks had been e nothing but their tasseled reins behind Ribbons of red and white and gold littered the ground

But Mariko knew robbery had not been the primary objective

The Black Clan tried to h they kneas to marry Prince Raiden, they still carried out their task

Someone with sway over the Black Clan wishes me dead

Cold shock descended upon her in a sudden rush Her shoulders began to wilt Again--as if on instinct--Mariko set theainst the threat of further tears She refused to succue to her fears

Think, Hattori Mariko Keep lance back Two halting steps were all she ht better about the odds of proceeding through a darkened wood, unar herself froe, Mariko , but his shorter wakizashi was still in its scabbard, bound to his waist She took the s only to kick soil across her tracks, she h the forest, without direction, without purpose Without anything, save the need to survive

The darkness around her was oppressive She stumbled on roots, unable to see After a tihtened all the others The snap of a twig or the scuttle of an insect rang through the air with the resonance of a gong When the bushes nearby rustled--steel grinding against stone--Mariko pressed into the bark of a tree, terror finally taking the last of the warrowl crawled froh her like the thunder of an approaching ar over dead leaves

A savage sort of stealth

A nightbeast, stalking the last of its prey

Mariko’s stoers shook as she prepared to ain

She scra on a scree of rocks Each h her as she landed on the forest floor, only to claw back to her feet Her body felt alive, energy rolling beneath her skin in waves, all while her blood coursed through her body There was nowhere to hide The white silk of her underrobe did nothing to shield her fro behind her had beco ever closer When Mariko spun around to face her attacker, two saurian yellow eyes iant snake

The creature that for a jaguar, its body as massive as a bear Without further provocation, the beast rose on its hind legs, saliva dripping fros It threw back its head and howled, the sound ricocheting into the night

Her knees turned to water as Mariko fought to brace herself

But the creature did not attack

It looked to one side, then back at her Its yellow eyes glowed bright It canted its head, as though glancing past her shoulder

Run! a voice within Mariko cried out Run, you silly little fool!

She inhaled, taking a slow step back

Still the beast did not attack It glanced again to the sa in pitch and ferocity