I layed there on the floor, unmoving as I stared at the canopy of trees.
How in the moon goddess name did I get here?
I stood up but then I stumbled and landed back on the floor on my ass. My legs felt wobbly and weak. I stared around, trying to detect where I was, but everything was foreign. There was no sense of familiarity in anything, even the air smelt different from the one I was used to. It was...cleaner.
My ears perked up as I heard the sound of a twig snap. My heart began beating erratically as fear too over.
"Who's there?" I was scared but I tried to hide it. Out of instinct, I tried to shield my body with my hands. As if that would help. I was butt naked. As naked as a dear in headlight.
Suddenly, I heard the rustling of leaves and my heart rate picked up even faster. With shaky legs, I stood up, ready to attack whatever strange thing was out there.
Pfffft. As if I could defend myself.
There was a sudden flash of light and I stumbled back, my eyelids closing involuntarily. I opened them and three women were standing in front of me. If it wasn't for the arrows they had in their hands aimed at me, I would have been able to appreciate their looks.
Ethereal. That was what I could describe them with. They had pale porcelain skin and straight whitish hair that cascaded down their back.
"Who are you?" The tallest one asked, raising her arrow higher, ready to shoot.
I recoiled in fear "p..please don't kill me" I didn't want to die a second time. No please, I couldn't bear it.
They all froze
"You speak zrynth?" The second one said, she seemed to be the leader amongst them.
What in the moon is zrynth? I speak only English.
"That is impossible makia" the third one said to the leader "she isn't one of us. She doesn't bear our mark" her eyes raked over my naked body and I felt more conscious of how very naked I was "she doesn't even look like us. Her hair is gold" she snickered
"But yet she has the tongue of the spirits. How do you explain that sister" makia replied
Tongue of the spirits?
The first one inched closer, steadying her aim at me "how do you posses the tongue of the spirits? Speak before I kill you"
I gasped in fear "I s..swear that I..I have no idea what you're talking about. P...please let me go" I stuttered through my speech. My hands were shaking from fear.
Makia raised her hands "step back vysa. Abominations do not speak our tongue"
With a lithe grace, vysa dropped her arrow and stood behind makia.
Before I could understand what was happening, makia began chanting inaudible words and the two females behind her lowered their heads. She raised both her hands in the sky and a sudden wind began to blow. The trees began to shake and the ground once covered with snow became dry.
But for some reason that I could not fathom, I felt a feeling of peace. My fear was gone and all I felt was calm. Like I was home.
I looked up at the sky and saw that the sky had gone dark, as if it was about to rain. Are these ladies witches? No they can't be. Witches do not look like this, neither do they smell like them.
My eyes darted from the sky to the now fallen trees. In awe. Whatever these ladies are, they sure are powerful.
"What are you?" Makia asked, bringing my attention to her
Only then did I realize that they were all looking at me in awe.
"How are you still alive even after I had summoned the demons of the forest to kill you"
The demons of the what to do what?! Oh my gosh! She was trying to kill me!?
Vysa took a long whiff of the air "You are not a wolf. You smell like one but you are not one" vysa said "you are something other"
Here we go again with the wolf less thing.
"We need to take her to Lylena. She'll know what to do with her" the third one said
"We cannot take her. The last time we brought a stranger to her it did not end well" makia replied
"Modi is right makia, we need to take her there. No one survived your chant unless they have zrynth blood in their veins" her eyes darted to me as she stared with a keen curiosity "she might be one of us"
"What happens if she is not" Makia countered, her eyes studying me like a predator watching it's prey.
"Then we kill her."
What!
My eyes widened in fear "k...kill me?!"
" No one visits the zrynthen and comes back alive. Only the moon spirit can and she is clearly not one." Modi said, ignoring my statement"
Makia snickered "which means she'll die anyways. Good"
Modi sighed "Lylena will not be pleased with this"
"Or she might be" Makia muttered with an evil grin on her face
Vysa scoffed "When is she ever pleased"
Makia smirked "take her. Let's see how this will end for our little puppet"
"Take me where?" I said in panic. I had already died once, I didn't want to die again. Second chances are rare and I do not want to waste mine.
And with that thought, I ran.
I let my legs move on their own accord in the opposite direction. I don't want to die! I don't want to die!
I ran through the fallen trees until my bare feet was touching snow. But then.....a blast of lightning struck in front of me and I went flying back.
Makia was standing in front of me. Her white hair flowing behind her and her eyes white and glowing.
How did she get in front of me. I didn't see her move past me. What the heck Is she?
"You have a death wish" she leaned down and held my head "since that is what you want. I will gladly grant it"
My breath was coming out in heavy pants but all I could think of was I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die! Not again!
And just like that, a scream tore through Makia's lips. She clutched her head as blood began sleeping out of her eyes. She fell down and in an instant she stopped screaming. Unmoving.
She was dead.