Sudden Dangers in the World

It was another calm and mild day in Yarra, the tiny village in amongst the great western forest, that was starting to cool down a little with the changing season, but today was still a nice and warm one.

Mai walked back from the early market, having traded a few home cooked items from her household, some of her freshly baked goods, which included her recently devised chocolate, which were a big hit and well sort after amongst the locals.

Mai had taken her nice overcoat today, draped over her usual long dress, as the crisp morning air had a little bite in it, but after her short walk and the suns rise, it was unnoticeable now.

I wonder if the girls go into hibernation... since they are all cold blooded...

There was still quite a bit Mai didn't know about her fellow resident reptiles; a trio of large Dragons with impressive abilities and powers, including making themselves into much smaller humanoid forms, that they often stayed in as they currently hung about their big red-wooded home, that nicely overlooked most of the village.

Though they have said that they spent most of their infancy high in the mountains... I bet it'd get pretty cold up there in wintertime...

Waving at a few friendly neighbours along the way, up the short hill, Mai carried some of the newly gathered food items towards the still quiet redwood clad house, but decided not to re-enter it yet, having planed to find a few wild berries in the nearby scrub.

It shouldn't take too long... besides I doubt any of them will be up and moving anyway...

Having a pretty easy life around the little Human village, they had gotten fairly relaxed of late, to the point of becoming almost downright lazy in fact.

It didn't take Mai long to find a good patch of berries, and collecting a few from the small bushes to go with her other things, she was just about done tossing the last of them into her basket, when her 'gift' ran through her head like a noisy train.

Uh... it's always something, but why does it have to be so sudden and random...

A group of Images and sounds whirled in her mind, in a disjointed and almost random set of quick firing pictures, flashing inside her head and giving her a slight headache as well - so it was another one of Mai's supposedly helpful abilities of seeing the future, or at least a probable possibility.

Uh... was that a bear... whatever t was it was quite nasty...

It often took a little time to unscramble what she saw, and try her best to figure it all out, in time to be of any good to her too, but this one seemed quite clear, given the growls, painful scream, snapping jaws and slashing claws of a large hairy wild animal.

What her 'vision' didn't give her was a single clue as to where, whom and when it would happen, but it was scary enough to warrant going for safety immediately.

I've yet to see a bear in this world, but I bet it'd be big and ferocious...

Actually Mai Misaki hadn't been long in her 'new' world at all; un-expectantly transported into this new place that was teaming with magic, Dragons, and presumably lots of other things too. She'd started anew, with her own body and existing knowledge at least, and found the little village she now called home, and life was peaceful, for the most part. 

Originally from Japan, Earth - living life in a modern world, before some deity-like creature, which appeared as a glowing white lady, had made an 'error' that apparently ruined her previous life.

It had been a truly boring and mundane previous life though; with no siblings or family, never having had a relationship, few real friends, with a harsh work environment, long lonely commutes and barely enough pay to get by - actually being 'killed' and reincarnated was mostly a blessing.

Perhaps the wild creatures are about in preparation for the coming winter too...

Thanks mostly to the rare but sometimes annoying 'gift', she'd saved the village almost single handedly a couple of times, kept others safe from floods, landslides, illness, prevented a bloody war and other littler instances, while also dodging a multitude of ways to die, again.

Mai had done quite a bit in the 'new world' already; she'd met the King, a few times, helped a Princess, the Dragons, a noble family, a distant business and most of the locals too. She had the now famed title of 'Seer' bestowed on her too, and she hadn't even been in this 'new world' for a year yet.

Best get back then and warn someone...

As her plans had changed, so she quickly gathered up the nearly filled basket and headed for home, but it was on her short way back that she ran into trouble.

Mai froze when she heard a large rustle sound ahead, and then a big slow creature appeared from the greenery, still a little distance away, but between her and her visible red-wooded home.

Crap...! It's huge too...! What do I do...?

The greyish-blue bear lumbered about a bit, but seemed to be heading her direction.

Do I stay still...? Or do I try to hide...?

The blue-grey animal then noticed her and likewise paused, before making a deep growl and turning to properly face the small woman.

They watched each other for a few quiet seconds, before it snarled some more and flashed its dangerous looking teeth her way.

"Lygawa!"

Mai yelled out in growing fear, but only received a roar back from the big bear.

It's coming my way now...! I need to do something myself...!

Mai rallied her magic, summoning one of her quickest and easiest 'spells' of a fireball - making it big enough to do something, hopefully, as the aggressive animal moved toward her noisily.

Mai let loose her flames; that shot toward the creature, but her magical attack not only scattered harmlessly over it, but seemingly enraged it further.

Oh no - it's really charging at me now - and that big attack I threw at it did nothing at all...!

"Lygawa!"

Mai yelled in panic for assistance from her so-called Dragon protector again, but there was still no sign of her anywhere, as the large scary beast lumbered closer.

Knowing their abilities, she must have heard all this... if she was awake though... She's probably still sleeping in... Nullawhy would be too... What do I do now...? it's too late for anything fancy...!

Actually it was almost upon her then, with teeth and claws flashing - just like her vision had seen, so it was too late for much of anything now.

I don't want this to be the end...!

Mai scampered backwards, but it was almost upon her, breaking into the little clearing she'd used as a path, but she tripped on something in her haste and started to fall.

Someone help me...!