Elena had been walking for hours. The afternoon sun, though hidden behind the thick canopy of the forest, cast a muted golden glow through the trees. She was exhausted. Her legs ached, her throat felt dry, and hunger gnawed at her stomach despite the small amount of food she had eaten earlier. Every step forward felt heavier, as if the forest itself was trying to keep her trapped within its depths.
The air smelled of damp earth and pine, mingled with the distant scent of something animalistic, something she couldn't quite place. Every rustle of leaves made her flinch, her senses sharpened by the fear of being discovered. She kept glancing behind her, half-expecting to see a soldier emerge from the trees, his sword drawn, ready to drag her back to the palace.
But there was no one. Only the trees, stretching endlessly in every direction.
She felt disgusting.
Her dress, now dirtied from the long trek, clung uncomfortably to her skin. Sweat mixed with dust left an unpleasant layer on her arms and face, and her short, unevenly cut blonde hair stuck to her forehead. It was strange not to feel the weight of her long locks brushing against her shoulders. As she ran, a trembling hand through the choppy strands, she felt oddly exposed. This wasn't her.
The realization hit her like a punch to the stomach. She wasn't Princess Elena anymore. She was just another girl lost in the woods.
She swallowed hard, pushing down the lump in her throat. This wasn't the time for weakness. She had to keep moving.
Hours passed. The deeper she went, the more disoriented she became. The trees all looked the same, the path impossible to distinguish. She could be walking in circles.
A wave of panic gripped her chest, cold and suffocating.
"I can't be lost. I can't." her voice, hoarse from exhaustion, barely broke the silence.
She clenched her fists, forcing herself to breathe slowly. She had to think. The sun was still visible through the trees, though its position had shifted. If she followed it westward, she might find the edge of the forest.
She started walking again, her movements sluggish but determined. She would not break. She could not.
Then, she heard a sound.
She froze, her pulse pounding in her ears.
It was footsteps. They weren't distant. They weren't fading. They were coming toward her.
She turned sharply, heart racing, hands trembling. And then she saw him. It was man. A hunter.
He stood a few paces away, partially obscured by the trees. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair pulled back into a loose tie. A bow was slung over his back, and a quiver of arrows rested against his hip. His clothes were rough and worn, the earth-stained boots of someone who spent his life in the wilderness. But it was his eyes that struck her the most: sharp, assessing, yet not unkind.
He was staring at her, frowning, as if trying to make sense of the sight before him: a disheveled girl in servant's clothes, alone in the middle of the forest.
She felt her chest tighten.
If he was a loyal subject to the queen, she was doomed. If he knew who she was, he would turn her in. And yet, she had no choice.
She was too lost, too weak to keep going alone.
__Elena: "Please…"
Her voice cracked, and she hated how desperate she sounded.
The hunter's expression didn't change, but he took a cautious step closer.
__Hunter: "You're lost."
It wasn't a question. She hesitated, her mind racing. She had to be careful with her words.
__Elena: "I… I need to get to the other side of the forest."
His gaze swept over her, taking in her short hair, her dirty clothes, the fear in her eyes.
__Hunter: "You're not from here."
__Elena: "No." her throat tightened.
He studied her a moment longer. Then, with a sigh, he glanced at the sky.
__Hunter: "It's late. You won't make it before nightfall."
The thought sent a shiver through her. Another night alone in this place? She wasn't sure she could handle it.
__Elena: "Please, I… I can't stay here."
The words tumbled out before she could stop them. For the first time, something in the hunter's expression softened.
__Hunter: "Follow me."
She hesitated. She doesn't know him or his real intentions.
__Hunter: "I won't hurt you."
She still doesn't trust him but she has no other solution. If she stays here, she will be lost forever. So, with slow, unsteady steps, she followed as he turned and began leading the way through the trees.
They walked in silence at first. The forest felt different now: less hostile, less suffocating. Maybe because she wasn't alone anymore.
After some time, the hunter spoke again.
__Hunter: "You have a name?"
__Elena: "Lena." she hesitated before answering.
__Hunter: "I'm Elias."
They kept walking, weaving through the underbrush. Elena tried to memorize the way he moved: quick but calculated, his steps sure even on uneven ground. He knew this forest well.
After a while, her exhaustion caught up with her. Her feet dragged, her limbs heavy. She must have slowed too much because Elias stopped and turned to look at her.
__Elias: "We're almost there."
She wanted to nod, to keep going, but her body had other plans. Her vision blurred, her legs wobbled, and before she could catch herself, she stumbled forward. Strong hands caught her before she could hit the ground.
__Elias: "Hey."
She forced her eyes open, barely registering the concern in his face.
__Elena: "I'm fine."
__Elias: "You're exhausted."
She wanted to argue, but she didn't have the strength. The hunter let out a low sigh and adjusted his grip, steadying her.
__Elias: "Come on. Just a little further."
She nodded weakly, letting him guide her.
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The
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Twilight
Kiss
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Elena followed Elias through the thick undergrowth, her body protesting with every step. The forest was vast, seemingly endless, but at least she was no longer wandering alone. Even so, doubt gnawed at her. She didn't know this man. She didn't know where he was leading her.
But what choice did she have?
She stole a glance at him as they walked. He moved with ease, effortlessly weaving between the trees, his boots barely making a sound on the damp earth. He carried himself like someone who had spent his whole life in these woods, someone who belonged here unlike her. She didn't belong anywhere now.
__Elias: "So, Lena, what are you doing in the middle of the forest all alone?"
Her heart skipped a beat. She had known the question was coming, but she still wasn't ready for it. She needed an explanation, something believable, something that wouldn't make him suspicious.
She hesitated, then lowered her gaze, letting her voice waver just enough.
__Elena: "I was working as a servant in the city."
She swallowed hard, choosing her words carefully.
__Elena: "But… my master was cruel. I couldn't stay."
It wasn't entirely a lie. She had been a "servant" living in gold prison. And she had escaped from someone cruel. Just not in the way he thought.
Elias didn't react right away. He simply walked in silence, as if weighing her words.
Finally, he exhaled:
__Elias: "So you ran away."
__Elena: "I had to." she nodded, keeping her face blank.
His jaw tensed slightly, but he didn't press her further. Instead, he reached into his satchel and pulled out a waterskin, handing it to her.
__Elias: "You should drink."
She hesitated for only a second before taking it. She hadn't realized how parched she was until the first drop touched her tongue. The cool water was a relief, soothing the dryness in her throat.
__Elena: "Thank you." she handed it back, murmuring a quiet,
The hunter nodded but said nothing.
The hunter didn't speak much after that, but every so often, he glanced at her, as if trying to figure her out.
They continued walking.
Time blurred as they moved through the trees. Every step was an effort, her legs aching from exhaustion. The damp air clung to her skin, and the weight of her dirty clothes felt unbearable.
Then finally, after what felt like an eternity, the trees began to thin. The air felt different. Open.
And then, in the distance, she saw it.
The road.
Relief flooded her chest so quickly it nearly knocked the breath from her lungs. She had made it.