I can't keep running forever
The young woman's chest burned like wildfire as her eyes darted around the darkened woods, searching through the fog for some semblance of shelter finding only felled trees and rotting foliage, there was no sound, only her labored breathing filled the empty silence. Her mind warped her reality as her vision was invaded with clouds of barely transparent black and red, swinging vines became venomous snakes, eyes stalked her from behind every tree. The air was damp and heavy, rain was to fall soon.
The howl of rabid dogs echoed through the forest, reigniting the fire that kept the woman running. Thunder boomed and rain fell like stones as she hurdled overgrown roots and slithered through knots of thorns. Each footstep heavier than the one before as she ran deeper in the woods. A small rabbit's foot encircled by a heart of rose thorns bounced on her right thigh as she ran. Her only shield from the elements was a roughly weaved mess of vines, leaves and moss that draped over her body, the rest of her body was either coated in mud or stuck with webbing from the forest. The wicked cackle that rang from the dogs that chased her faded into silence as the canopy above her grew thicker, blocking out what little light came from the moon. Her breath became heavier, the fire in her chest singed her throat as she slid between the roots at the base of a hollowed tree.
Finally, shelter
Her breathing slowly came to a steady pace, the fire in her lungs wilted as the scars in her throat became numb as her eye lids threatened to close. She pushed some of the dirt beneath her against the cracks and holes of the roots, making pseudo shelter for herself before laying her head against the softened damp wood, a deep sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes.
"Dreams are such a fickle thing are they not?" Whispered a feminine voice through the prismatic darkness. The young woman's eyes shot open as she scrambled to stand up beginning to dig at the walls of dirt she had created. The soil wasn't there anymore, replaced by stone and root encasing her on all sides.
What happened?!
She rubbed her eyes clear and glanced around for the source of the voice as her head rang.
"Looking for someone?" It taunted again, the echo bouncing "poor little girl, lost in the woods" the ground beneath the young woman's feet began to ripple like water. She continued trying to dig, scraping her fingertips and nails against the stone. A wicked cackling ripped it's way into the woman's ears like the shattering of glass "You're mine! All mine!" The voice boomed.
Leafy tendrils wrapped around the woman's ankles and began dragging her into the rippling ground, she kicked and grabbed at the snake like vines attempting to pull them off in vain. Tears fell like raindrops from her eyes as her legs were crushed beneath the dirt, then her waist and torso it wasn't long before her body from the neck down was buried.
No no no! This can't be happening!
She tried to scream but her voice would not ring, her mouth and throat filled with soil, her vision blackened until nothing but darkness remained.
The young woman shot awake, her heart pounded like the drums of war as damp her eyes opened, she hacked and spat clutching at her throat as her breath returned.
A dream? But how?
She sat there eyes widened, she dug her way out of the hollow tree, the sun had risen, although there little light in the forest. she slid out from the tree's hollow base and began walking again, the mud splashing beneath her feet with each step.
Her stomach groaned and twisted, the hunger of emptiness filled her head as she took in the forest that surrounded her. Unlike before, the sound of rushing water and the song of birds filled her ears, the rustling of bushes followed by small furry critters running about the woods.
The night was over, she had survived, her sister warned her of these woods, how they were enchanted and forbidden. She said that the Wylds should never be entered. But the woman felt like she could learn the patterns of the trees and vines, yes her sister was right, the forest is ferocious and deadly.
But why?
Why was it that during the day the trees remained docile? The trees still moved in unnatural ways, the bushes and vines would still slither and breathe. Why did it matter that the sun soared above them when their canopy blocked out most of it's light?
The young woman's pace slowed when came across a cottage, a small structure that looked too natural to have been built, roots grew from the corners and vines bound the walls together, the roof was moss and leaves, the sweet smell of freshly baked pie followed by a strangely colored steam snuck into her nostrils making her stomach growl even more.
With shaking legs she approached the door of the cottage.
This is a really bad idea, but I'm so hungry..
Her hand raised towards a small dragon shaped metal knocker on the door, "h-hello?" She called through the quivering of her lips, "i-im lost and hungry"
SLAM! The door swung open a tall woman answered, her shoes were wooden, she wore a long dress of silk with a multicolored floral pattern made of roses and daisies, her white hair held up by a crown of flowers, her face was soft looking, her bright blue eyes looked down at the young woman.
"Why hello th- oh my!" She gently pulled the girl inside, "you must be freezing! Come in you poor thing" the tall Woman rushed towards a tub made of petrified wood, filling it with water that began to steam without any visible source of heat. "Here," she said with a smile, "bathe yourself, I'll grab some food" the tall woman stepped into another room.
What is up with her? Doesn't matter, I'm far to hungry to worry anymore.
The young woman slipped out of her thrown together vines and stepped into the warm water her eyes never leaving the doorway the stranger walked through, she scrubbed the mud from her skin and hair, she wanted to trust this woman, but something was off, like she's hiding something. As the young girl finished washing the stranger returned with a slice of pie and a small dress.
"It should fit you," said the woman, "what's your name little one?" She asked, setting down the warm steaming pie on a table just outside of the tub and folding the dress beside it.
"I don't have one," the girl replied "my parents haven't named me yet." The girl looked to the floor through foggy eyes. Her mouth watering as the scent of the pie filled her nose.
"No name? Well that simply won't do!" replied the woman, her eyes wide with confusion, "my name is Magda" her eyes fell upon the small rabbit's foot, a strange smile fell upon her face as she reached for it.
"Hey!" The young woman shouted, snatching the foot from the table, "don't touch that! It's from my mother," her hands bled from the thorns. The thick crimson liquid dripped into the tub as she pulled herself out of it, slipping on the dress, "t-thank you for the clothes.. and the food" she said as she stabbed the pie with a small twig and brought it to her mouth "but I really need to leave now"
I don't trust you, go away now please
"Hey now" said Magda, "I was just curious, i apologize," she took a step back "little nameless girl, you're quite feisty" a grin creaked onto the woman's face "But I'm afraid you can't leave now" a distant cackle echoed from the forest outside as the woman's face began to crack like aged wood, her hair morphed into a knot of leaves and twigs, her arms now vines reached for the young nameless woman.
Shit!
The young woman darted for the door trying to force her way through when another tree creature stepped in front of her, grabbing her by the arms and dragging her inside. The cottage walls began to rot, mold and spider's webs slowly faded in, as if hidden by some mask before.
"Sisters?" Called another voice, though this one was oddly familiar, "have you caught our meal?" She continued as an old woman followed in, her hair was black as pitch and fell like frayed seaweed, wrinkles and cracks covered her face, her eyes were outlined in red and black, her laugh sent waves of nausea through the young woman's head.
CRACK! Lightning struck the cottage as the three creatures closed in on the girl shaking the floor and walls, seeing an opportunity for escape the young woman sprinted for the door only to be tripped by a stray vine just outside the door.
"You can't get away from us that easily" mocked the monsters, their footsteps creaking closer as they laughed.
"Get away from her!" Shouted a male voice as multiple footsteps thumped in the distance, the woman looked up, two boys ran towards her, metal plates of armor clanking against each other as they moved, drawing their swords. The three monsters hissed at them and scattered into the woods, thorned vines swooped down to slash at the two only to be cut down by their blades of silver.
The young woman crawled towards them, ignorant to the absence of the monstrous creatures,
"Hey, are you okay?" Asked one of the boys Their expressions showed compassion. The two looked almost identical, amber skin under freshly polished armor, their hazel eyes almost shined in the darkness of the forest, one had short black hair and a smooth face, the other had skin like stone, and grey hair, they both looked like young adults, "I'm hazel" spoke the one with black hair, the other stayed silent as he offered his hand to pull up the young woman. "What's your name?" Hazel asked
"I don't have one." Said the girl shyly as she stood on her own, her hands closed away from the two. "T-thank you" she stuttered, looking to the ground.
"Don't worry, we won't harm you" replied hazel, "nameless or not, you're clearly lost," he chuckled, "if we hadn't come when we did, those wood wraiths would of had your life" the girl nodded knowing he spoke the truth,
"Wh-whats his deal?" She asked, noticing the boys aren't much taller than she is "he looks l-like a statue." She said, slowly reaching for the boy's face
"Yeah, Arthur had a run in with a baby basilisk In his earlier years" the boy explained, "it petrified his throat and and most of his upper body" the two boys turned around, "follow us" said hazel, "the capital actually isn't that far from here, a days hike at most," he smiled, "for someone who's survived this long, outside, I'm sure you could use some actual rest,"
The girl begrudgingly followed them, her eyes never leaving their backs, "w-what city is it?" She asked. "Sister said there's nothing out here but woods"
"Vesyn" replied hazel, "a city hidden away from others, hidden by rumors and enchanted woods" he chuckled "as you've likely experienced" hazel turned back, handing the girl a small paper, "here," he said, walking backwards, "if you've survived long enough to make it where you did, you'll be perfect here." He smiled before turning back and continuing his pace.
The paper oddly made out of some rough leaf like material danced an image of a tree separated into five sections, each with its own symbol, at the base of the tree stood a shield and sword, above that in the trunk and branches stood a bow and arrow and a staff, and finally at the top in the canopy was a black feather. The words 'Protect the Wylds' were scrawled across the top in intricate lettering.
"we've been walking a while, how much longer?" Asked the girl as she slowed her pace, keeping distance from the two boys,
"Not much further, just through those bushes and we're at the city" replied hazel as the sound of music slowly flowed like water through the girl's ears, her nostrils filled with the scent of savory meats and sweet pies. The ground slowly began to harden with each step as light peeked through the dense foliage just a few feet ahead. Arthur pulled away the veil of vines as Hazel stepped through,
"Welcome to Vesyn, city of outcasts.