Shifting Shadows

Breakneck Speed

*I must have been screaming and thrashing around because I woke up with my head in Jaskier's lap as he sat crossed-legged on the floor, and Geralt holding my hand gently running his thumb across the top of my hand. What happened?...*

A few minutes had passed, and the room finally stopped spinning. I could now see the two faces clearly as my eyes adjusted to the dimly lit space, their worried expressions made my stomach drop. I rubbed my face with my hand. My hand... I was no longer confined to my monstrous form, I was back to being me. Plain old me. A wave of relief washed over my cold sweat-soaked body- I could feel the built-up tension in my muscles easing. I looked up at Jaskier who was still gently caressing the top of my head and smiled before my eyes wandered to Geralt who was kneeling on the floor holding my small hand in his. Their scents intertwine with one another. The sharp smell of leather and cedarwood clashed with the gentle and aromatic rosemary and lavender- an intricate dance of the two scents filled my nostrils. My eyes soon wandered towards the large windows that lined the top of the walls. I've always been drawn to moonlight, despite everyone saying I must live according to the sun, how it travels across the sky from east to west, like a lazy beast sending its last rays of light across the line of the horizon, before plunging the world in utter darkness. I could see the stars stamped into the night like pinprick designs, comets their tails like aghoul quills across the night, sending apologies for all the unanswered promises from when we once wished upon them. I could feel my eyelids slowly closing as I drifted away into a land of dreams and imagination.

The night was cold and damp, the three of us huddled together on the makeshift bed in the middle of the great hall, filled with soft straw and lined with animal pelts. I was snuggly tucked in between Jaskier and Geralt, the moonlight reflecting off of any uncovered skin glimmering like still water in a lake. Mostly covered in a woven quilt of sorts the heat our bodies generated was enough to keep us warm that night. I was awoken by the sound of a creaking somewhere off in the distance. I sat up propping my body up with my arms, I looked around, the moon was still in its proud spot in the sky. My breath fogged up before me. It wasn't this cold before, was it? Rubbing my face from sleep I wormed my way from between the men. I had only been a week or so since my first arrival to Kaer Morhen but I knew I could not stay here any longer, I saw the stress and grief I was causing them. I grabbed a pelt coat, an intricately woven hooded cape and some thick boots. Quickly putting it all on and headed out of the hall. I took one last look behind me at what I was leaving behind, a man who spared my life despite knowing that I was a feared beast, a place where I was safe and loved. I shook my head and opened the door. The biting wind hit my face, I could feel my cheeks rosied up from the bitter cold as I walked across the courtyard towards the stables. The silence of the night was broken by the breying of the horses as I opened the doors. So many to choose from, I walked along taking my pick, a ghostly white stallion. Perfect. I saddled him up placed all the saddle bags on and lead him out the stables. One last look behind me I saw someone leaving the hall in a hurry before stopping dead in their tracks and looking at me. They yelled something pointed before running back inside.

"Shit"

Was the only words that managed to escape my mouth. I jumped up on the stallion digging my heels into his side. A loud piercing neigh echoed across the courtyard, as the newly christened stallion "Ghost" reared up. More silhouettes emerged from the hall running down the courtyard, I pulled in the reins, and Ghost and I were off galloping across the bridge that connected the mountains and Kaer Morhen. All that was left by the time the witchers arrived at the stables was the ghostly echo of hooves along the stone.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the cold wind hit my face. Galloping at breakneck speed, a smear of white in the dark night. It wouldn't be long before the witchers would be after me. I had some time to think as I hugged tight onto Ghost's neck, I wish I had written a letter explaining myself instead of sneaking out in the ungodly hours of the night. But what was done, was done. There was no turning back now. I needed to get away to stop hurting the ones I loved. It was for the better- I kept telling myself as more tears came, burning my cheeks as they trickled down my face. I must have been riding for hours by the time we stopped, the sun was just above the horizon and the sky was filled with rich hues of oranges and reds. I jumped off of Ghost's back, my backside was aching from the saddle, tying the reins onto a severed branch of a tree incase my steed felt the need to abandon me I began to set up a camp. Soon enough I mustered up a small campfire, the various meats I took from the pantry were now frying and cooking, my stomach growled at me. Hunger was beginning to kick in. Nor did it help that my waterskin was almost empty. Here in the middle of nowhere, with little food, almost no water, and monsters lurking around every corner. It was going to take more than a miracle for me to survive. My eyes were glued to the meat atop the fire, I watched as the surface began going from a pink/red to a mouth-watering golden brown. Despite being stranded, at least I had some food. Things really couldn't get any worse...

*A/N: guess who still has writers block... this bitch, anyhow enjoy sorry for not updating in ages*