Haze meandered her way slowly through the desert sun, her measly collection of stones a rather discouraging outcome. She'd been running low on metal ores for her business and needed to harvest some more, but the recent sandstorm had buried too many of them. She wondered why she even continued her job as a blacksmith, pondering whether she should actually step out and follow this crazy notion of immortality. It was so odd, this feeling. So out of place, but so... right. No one in their right state of mind would believe the possibility of eternal life, but maybe that's why none of them ever achieved it.

These thoughts were tugging at her mind as she reached the border of the oasis. Her meeting with that old man all those years ago was surely a sign of destiny. Her perception of fate had changed that day, and she'd begun taking interest in the idea of a predefined future. She chuckled at her own thoughts. "If I find evidence of immortality today, I will begin my search. If not, I will continue as a blacksmith." Such a crazy idea, but she was feeling daring. After all, if she was really serious about this she'd have to take her chances. Besides, the odds of such a thing happening were next to none.

The wind shifted its pattern ever so slightly, a giant unnatural gust from behind. On reflex, Haze spun to the side, blade drawn for defense. She only caught a glimpse of her attacker before deflecting its deadly blow were her obsidian blade. The creature slammed into the earth, sending grass and sand in every direction. "What gives!" She shouted on a whim as the creature quickly corrected its posture, standing at its full height. The being had no mouth. "The hell?"

It twitched forward as a pair of enormous wings burst from its back. A singe swoop brought the beat high into the air, circling over her like a vulture ready to devour its prey.

Haze spun her blade in place, ready for its next move. What was this thing? A monster of some kind, an angel possibly? It had wings in its back, but dressed like a human. No mouth? What could it be? These questions were only second on her mind, her primary concern being her own well being. If need be, she could try to lure him back near the city where the guards could aid her fight. However, she wasn't sure what this entity was capable of.

She'd stay and fight, if that was its intention. Whether this was a mindless animal or not didn't quite matter. If it were to attack again, it were obviously hostile. If not, then it could have been an accident. Regardless of the different possibilities, she'd learned to always expect the worse.