Phoenix Fire || Fairy Tail [1]

𝐢. 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬

𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜: 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙖𝙪/𝙧𝙖
❛ 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥  ❜

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A symphony of chirrups and whistles echoed throughout the forest, the very air humming with the presence of life. Warmth and light permeated the environment, the forest brimming with vitality - emanating a welcoming sensation. The fragrant scent which always seemed to accompany rain had pervaded the forest and with it came a burst of new life. The shadowed figures of birds chattering in the trees were just barely noticeable, twirling through the air from branch to branch with the grace of a dancer.

A slender, dark-haired woman made her way through the woods with fast, certain steps, not unlike the predatory movements of a hunter. The dappled sunlight highlighted her startlingly bright eyes, like an eternity of sunsets and sunrises condensed into twin pools of crimson.

Red was a lot of things. Perhaps the shade of the girl's eyes was a sign of something. An unending war beleaguered her heart. Beautiful and chaotic. The intoxicating hues of a glass of aged wine, the colour of freshly spilt blood...

The colour of passion, of love. Of shame, and regret, and rage. Of violence and sleepless nights. The colour which bloomed in the sky at sunset. The colour of dying embers after a wildfire. 

Unpredictable, forever changing.

Red is emotion, and emotion was something presently absent from her heart.

Perhaps it was due to her cautious nature; she had loved and been hurt, and now she refused to allow the same pain to be inflicted on her once again. She would no longer subject herself to the agony which came with trusting people, with loving others.

But with the absence of love, came an absence of all other emotions. The shadow of her past hung over her like a thick cloud of darkness, clinging to her as if they were two foes chained together, forced to make peace. Instead of making amends, though, she was running away – even though her demons would be dragged along with her.

The leather-bound book in the woman's hands was returned to her satchel with care, her fingers unbuckling the strap before she tucked the ancient tome within. Bright crimson glared harshly at the flawless blue summer skies, which seemed to be mocking her on this particular day. 

Why was it that the world always moved on without her? Why was it that she was left to gather what remained of herself and crawl onwards through unfamiliar landscapes? Why was it that Fate despised her in particular?

Her eyelids flickered closed as the female took a deep breath, dark hair falling forward to cover the left side of her face. Her warm complexion seemed to stand out more when her harsh gaze wasn't visible. For all she knew, this would be her last chance to relax – soon, she would be forced back into the light. Back into the presence of other people, of potential enemies and potential friends.

She wasn't sure which was worse.

Gradually, her eyes fluttering open, the woman heaved the slightest of sighs.

She crouched down beside her supplies which had been placed at the base of an old oak, the gnarled roots providing support for the large rucksack that was resting there. Grass had taken over the small dips between the roots, a soft shade of green that could only be a sign of new growth. The woman's dark clothes seemed even darker against the warm, golden-brown hue of her skin.