| abstract | - The infamous fog that filled the tranquil village casted haunting shadows which danced to a silent tune. Its thickness obscured houses and swallowed light, slowly reaching for the souls of the village's inhabitants who slept peacefully. Unfortunately, the stars heavenly shine failed to pierce the village's dense mist, accompanying the brisk atmosphere citizens grew accompanied to. Wind howled through empty streets while trees danced in obedience, creating a hush whispered that echoed across Kirigakure. During this hour, the village began to settle down before falling asleep. Releasing a frightening silence broken only by an occasional stray scurrying across the streets and into an adjacent alleyway for shelter. Kirigakure had entered an era of relative peace where children played freely during the day and slept peacefully at night. However, the village still suffered from various political taints including tensions with Konohagakure and more importantly, a sever increase in both human and drug trafficking. Citizens attempted to avoid the evilness plaguing Kirigakure by avoiding the darkness that shrouded the monsters. But they found the monster's influence had recently surpassed the boundaries of night, by crossing into the sunlight. "Hanahime! Hanahime!" A women panicked, running outside her house and onto the misty streets of Kirigakure. She kept her kimono tied tightly with a matching sash and wore sandals that she obviously grabbed in a rush. Her hair, due to speedily bursting through her door, was unkept and still wet. "Hanahime, where are you!?" She cried, her voice trembling at the horrifying thought of losing her daughter. Yet she remained strong while searching for the girl, continuously beckoning for a sign of life. She prayed silently, hoping an angel of fate would appear with her little girl in it's arms. Especially considering the fact that her own home vanished in the distance, seemingly swallowed by the seemingly endless mist. She searched the various locations she knew Hanahime to linger and explore in her free time. Ranging from a closed shop to an empty park. Hanahime's mother franticly searched the alleyways, unafraid of what could unveil itself before her. Either way, she made sure to refrain from traversing the darker locations known for their suspicious activities. Instead, she remained on open streets and in the public's reach. She desired to keep searching, never stopping until her little girl appeared once more in her arms. Unfortunately, she seemed to lose faith with every step taken. She started to worry about her son, who probably yearned for his mother's protection and reassurance. Besides, her husband would arrive home anytime and he could potentially help with the search while she watched their other child. And so, she decided to return home quickly and quietly, filling her conscious with positive thoughts and promises to keep her willingness to continue forwards. She demonstrated the navigation in the mist that citizens tend to develop after living in Kirigakure their entire lives. The women possessed enough knowledge of the streets to refrain from getting lost. My husband should return any minute now. I'll have him alert any shinobi patrolling the area. Maybe they found her! She's probably home right now with Kenji-kun waiting for me. Hanahime's mother started to smile. Hanahime please forgive your silly mother for getting worked up. As she opened the door, the frantic woman found her husband cradling their son lovingly. It was a mere fantasy she wished to be true, sorrowing as it may be, reality crashed onto her, as if the ocean crushed down on her. And the waves beat all the way to her heart, as it took away her spirit. She fell towards the floor, only luckily to be caught in the arms of her husband, while the grieving woman wept. He whispered lovingly to her, but she was deafened to it, despite that he promised that their daughter is fine; reassuring that she was at a friend's, albeit it was long beyond their child's curfew. The couple immediately called for help, sending them to check the girl's friend who denied seeing her since she left earlier.
- Without a Trace is a secondary quest found outside of Oxenfurt added by the Hearts of Stone expansion pack.
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