Iku had come for her in the night.

Iyabo would have loved to say it came as a surprise, but she had felt his pull for days. Weeks even, of unexplainable chills and shadows flitting just out of sight. She was dreaming now. Darkness. Light. Was this what death felt like? It was almost...pleasant.

---

She awoke with a start, body pressed to the firm, cool ground. It was night, no - dusk. Taking a moment to orientate herself, the panther meandered her way to the water's edge and began to drink in great gulps, staring as ripples distorted her face until she was quenched and all became still. Her own amethyst eyes stared back.

One paw reached to pat the surface, tongue flicking to swipe the droplets gathered there. It was damp. It was real. Slowly, slowly, her lips peeled in an unearthly smile, turning tail and stalking into the reeds where the scents of prey pooled. Iyabo the Phantom was alive, and she was hungry.