Never Bend

Prologue

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My vision...
Life continues whether we want it or not,
She continues to flow like a torrent.
Be ready to navigate murky waters,
Because she will carry you away
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The light of the crescent moon softly fades over the forest. The air is softly caressing her cheek deprived of its usual essence. The magical vibrations it usually carried was missing.

Alone at the entrance of a subterranean refuge, I felt lost in this unfamiliar forest. Sturdy roots anchoring the ground growled and trembled around me changing the shape further ahead were the galleries were located a few minutes ago. The tree seemingly unperturbed at the entrance linger at the edges guarding a secret, creating an aura of mystery. The surrounding area is noticeably different from all the places I have come across in the last few days.

Mu head spins left and right. This location is different from all the others I travelled along these past few days. Here, the bare trees and conifers remain silent, a net contrast to the usually rustling of the forest she grew with. Each had its own behaviour. I knew them all, having befriended them back home. As the only child in the area, I had the opportunity to do so. They rarely communicate with magicians, even the influential ones. I was fortunate to have such knowledgeable companions.

Here, in this distant land, the trees stand still, as if some magic has long since washed their souls clean. I wonder who possesses such magic and why it was done. After all, every witch needs nature to restore her source of power. Where I come from, we nurture nature...

'What is this place?'

My eyes fill with water a property I ignore I had, and anxiety invades my body. This entire journey has been an adventure. The woman, whom my Dad asked me to call my mother, instructed me to remain here, hiding with the other kids. She had to go back and look for Dad; I miss him already.

While other children cry, I remain composed and do not allow my emotions to control me. I believe that crying is a sign of weakness and can corrupt the magic within. Afraid of letting her influence my already broken heart, I pull away from the others and stand in the moonlight.

Suddenly, a pair of hands grab my clothes. I attempt to run, but strong arms hoist my body into the air. I inhale, preparing to recite an incantation, but a hand covers my mouth, preventing any action.

My heart races uncontrollably in my chest."Shh," the person whispers in my ear. "Your mother will arrive shortly. She instructed you to remain concealed. Why are you here?" He asks in a stern tone, moving back to the other children.

I notice his dilated pupils with a red crescent growing in them. His wolf is ready to show itself when needed. It was unusual behavior for an adult metamorph to show such distress. Why is he so stressed about this journey? After the trip down the waterfall in those sealed barrels, we didn't have any more adventures.

The sudden movement ahead startles me, and I instinctively slap at his arms, wanting to break free. Men and women are walking backwards on their fours out of the hole. The cackling sound is increasing as they do and the ground beneath shakes tirelessly following the rhythm of their chants. Among them is my mother. The tree roots reach to one another hovering the ground beneath and closing the space that is slowly disappearing until there is no entrance at all. After another psalm, a long silence invaded the forest. The adults remain on the ground exhausted. After all, how were they to recover energy in this land deprived of magic?

Before she could wrap her head around the question, the children, who had been hiding until then, run to the man's legs, trembling with fear.I step back a few feet, feeling trapped by the commotion. They were not to be disturbed after all. They magic had to be properly contained within them to avoid any harm to their allies.