Roots nor branches could block my way. My legs felt like they were about to give in, but I had to go on.
The "paths" seemed to be way longer than I could recall and the roads were a lot more trouble to pass over.
I was lucky to know where to find Hazel. Or - well - where she would most likely be.
If I was correct, she had gone to the place where her parents always took her before this forest was taken over by Nevadora in the aftereffects of the war. She used to talk about it all the time, wishing she could show it to me one day.
The only problem was I didn't exactly know how to get there, only vaguely where it should be located.
I could easily get lost in this forest, dark as it was, even on a sunny day like this. The further I went, the more the branches tangled my hair and tore up my dress. It became increasingly harder to breathe and on top of that, the pain in my legs forced me to slow down even further.
How long had it been?
I tried to remember exactly how many minutes had passed since I'd entered the forest. At first, there had still been indicators, I could still see the sun and not only this thick fog clouding my sight. But at this point, I could see about as much ahead of me as behind me- nothing.
I tried not to think about the possible threats, the creatures I had heard about, but as much as I tried, I couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched.
I tried rubbing my arms a bit - I hadn't even realized how cold it had become 'till now that I'd slowed down a little. If I had known I was going for a hike today, I wouldn't have worn such a summery dress.
But I hadn't known, how could I have?
"Oh, what was I thinking coming in here all by myself? I should've listened to An, we should've gotten help." I sighed. "I guess I've never been good at admitting that..."
Cr-crrrreek... cr-crack
"What was that...? Better keep going."
I sped up my pace again, looking around quite often. My heart was bumping in my chest, it almost took over from the sounds around me. I took a deep breath. And another one.
That's when I walked into a hedgerow- and a very irregular one at that- this one had a massive amount of thick pointy thorns.
Walking from left to right and back again did me no good, there was no way around the thing. I did not exactly like the thought of it, but I had to face it, the only way to get past it was to go through.
Bracing myself, I took the first few steps in. With my arms crossed before my eyes like this, it was even harder to see through the mist. For a moment, I didn't think I'd make it, the little cuts stung like crazy and the air became increasingly difficult to breathe in, it even started to hurt.
But when I finally made it out, I was met with yet another surprise.
It took but a second to take in - I covered my mouth as fast as I could, taking steps back in an effort to stay clear of an omen I had not expected to come across this time of the cycle: spores. How hadn't I thought of that sooner? It explained the hurt in my lungs perfectly - so much for taking all those notes in college.
Right in front of me was a humongous tree, a tree that had once been the heart and life of the forest, now spreading its infection of darkness and the scent of decay, of death. Its branches reached all over the place, with leaves of black and pulsing purple to accompany its gasses - gasses that were coming my way!
I backed off as fast as I could, but the hedge had closed in behind me, trapping me like a pixie in a jar. I had to think fast, follow the row backed to the edge and...
~✿~
I awoke to a throbbing pain in my head. It took some coughing, but after a while the fog seemed to clear out of my head. Had I passed out from those spores?
If possible, it was even darker around me than before. I couldn't make out a thing in front of me, the only vague bit of light came from above.
Above... the hedge! It was right there! I must've fallen off of a ledge of some kind - good thing, it saved me from the spores - and it hadn't bruised me that much...? But now what? There was no way of climbing up again, and with that tree still there, going up was not an idea I cared to entertain.
I had already begun to give up hope, when I heard a scream coming from the darkness in front of me. Could it be...?
'Hazel?!' I blurted out, quickly putting my hand in front of my mouth. I took a look around, but it seemed like I remained unheard by any creatures in my current position.
When a second scream sounded, I knew for certain. It was her.
I took a great leap of faith and made my way through the unknown assemblage of bushes, branches and leaves in front of me, until it led me to an open spot somewhere in the middle of the forest. There, I saw it.
It was a big, wolf-like creature made entirely out of shadows. The darkness creeping around it like fire around a torch. And its eyes... they were eyes filled with furious anger.
Whatever it was, it looked at Hazel as though it wanted to rip her apart, piece by piece. And if I didn't stop it in time, it would most likely do so, too.
'Let her go!' I shouted, not even realizing I did so 'till it was too late.
The creature turned and looked at me with its flaming eyes.
'Or I will...' By then, I realized what I had said. 'I might... I... uhh...'
I scared off and took a step back when the creature examined me. It wasn't focusing on Hazel anymore, it had found a new target. Me!
'Hazel, run!' was the only thing I could bring out before the creature burst into a spurt and came my way rapidly.
Without registering it, I'd already put my hand in front of me, knowing it wasn't going to make a difference.
But to my big surprise, it did make a difference.
I started glowing a sort of green or yellow light - Looking back, I'm not really sure which colour it was, the glow only lasted about a second - Anyway, I felt a strong wind going through my hair, almost blowing me back, but I managed to keep myself from falling over.
At last, a Magic Circle appeared beneath my feet and a pulse of energy blew back the creature.
'Was that- Was that me?' I asked, inspecting my hands as the energy started to fade. As soon as it came, it was all gone. All the Magic that had been there seconds before, just gone, leaving me behind in amazement.
The creature tried to crawl back up, but I was too stunned to even notice it.
'Wooh! Way to go, Ehrynn!'
I was snapped out of my little amazement. Hazel stood on the other side of the grass field, waving at me.
'Hazel, I told you to get out of here!'
I wanted to go to the other side, to meet up with her before the creature could crawl back up... but I was too late. It made its way to her before I did, brought its big claw-like arm in the air - and smashed her right into a tree - in front of my eyes!
I didn't know what to do. I wanted to scream, I wanted to run and get to her, I wanted to... but I couldn't do any of those things. I was rooted to the spot.
Instead, the creature grabbed my arms and lifted me into the air. It was almost breaking my wrists with its giant claws. The thing jerked my body against a tree, sending a vibrating pain through my very bones. I had to suppress a feeling of nausea. The second hit made me feel lightheaded too. I didn't think I'd last another blow, but the creature stopped midair. My eyes met with its own. A feeling of pain, of sorrow and despair, of overwhelming sadness - it took a hold of me.
I began glowing again.
At first only faintly, barely enough to notice, but that same glow increased 'till a huge light came from my body, flooding the open space in the forest. The creature was forced to release its hold and merge into the shadows where it came from. The impact when I hit the ground sent yet another shock through my already aching body.
With the creature gone, the forest went back to a state of relative peace, leaving nothing but the destruction it had caused to the forest and an echoing whisper: "Nevadora is rising".
Then everything blurred out.
~✿~