Your paws barely whisper against the earth as you bound toward the northern ridge, shifting fluidly between forms to move with supernatural speed. The scent of blood grows stronger as you approach, mingled with something fouler - the acrid sting of corrupted magic. You slow your pace as you reach the ridge's edge, flattening yourself against the cool stone to observe unseen.

The twisted figures form a grotesque procession, their elongated limbs moving in unnatural sync. Between them floats a massive iron cage containing what appears to be a captured kitsune spirit - its nine tails limp and its glowing form flickering weakly. The shadow creatures chant in a guttural tongue as they drag their prize toward a yawning cave mouth where purple-black tendrils of energy curl like grasping fingers.

You recognize the markings on the cage - forbidden priest-smith symbols from the mortal realm meant to contain spirits. Worse still, the spirit inside wears the moon-shaped medallion of a shrine guardian. One of the shadow creatures suddenly stops, its featureless face turning toward your hiding spot. You hold perfectly still, not even breathing, as it sniffs the air. After an agonizing moment, it turns back to its task.

From this vantage point, you notice the cave isn't natural - its edges are too precise, the stone carved with the same profane symbols as the cage. The ground around it bears the scorch marks of recent summoning rituals. The captured spirit lifts its head weakly, and for a heartbeat, its golden eyes meet yours through the bars. A whisper-thin thread of foxfire floats toward you, forming the kanji for 'help' before dissipating.