been rude to her, and Tawny had always lived with the belief that if someone was rude to her, it was because they were hopelessly twisted or stupid, but now…it was strange, really. The rumors that she had heard all portrayed Loki as a juvenile delinquent who brought nothing but disgrace upon his dead parents' name. However, whenever she saw him interact with his grandmother, she could sense the guilt that he felt, and she had the strange feeling that he truly wanted to be helpful, but simply was not able to get over himself in order to do so. Although she was unaware of it, this made Loki a great deal like her.

Of course, the plains were so flat and treeless that no one could hide forvery long. She soon saw a figure approaching from the distance…

…right underneath the Sharden.

"You idiot!" Tawny shouted, racing to the figure, her heart pounding in her ears, "Run!"

As she watched the feathered beast descend upon him, claws extended and beak open hungrily, Tawny vividly remembered the monster that had that had killed her in her own world. This thing…it's like the one who attacked me, she thought, So, that thing was a Sharden!

Her eyes closed and open. She stepped back in shock as she found herself standing in between a man and the dead body of a gigantic black bird. Her heart was beating like crazy and exhaustion coursed throughout her limbs.

"That was incredible!" an unfamiliar voice said, "I thought I was a goner when that thing started