Her true identity is a mystery even to those who believe they know her secret, but in a world like Avelor, where survival is the very purpose of the human race, that secret can become both the greatest enemy and the key to salvation.
Trying to...
It was getting closer and closer. The beats of my heart echoed in my ears like drums as I ran, forcing my legs to keep going. I was too afraid to look back, so I kept running without stopping through the thick, ancient trees of the forest.
"To run, I had to run", I kept telling myself as everything darkened around me, and I could no longer resist exhaustion. A growl announced my end, and I collapsed, unable to move.
No sound betrayed the presence of what was chasing me, but I knew it was there, watching me...
A crack caught my attention, and...
A scream escaped my chest...
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This is how I imagined Iris, but everyone sees her in their own way after all. I hope you enjoy her story, and I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or constructive criticism that would help me improve the narrative. 😊 (I will add the other characters as they appear in the story.
Chapter II
There was only one day left.
This was the only thought in my mind as the last rays of light disappeared among the bare branches of the trees. I had to catch something; otherwise, we wouldn't have anything to eat that evening, and perhaps not even in the following days. The cold autumn wind scratched my cheeks, and my arms felt numb from hours spent motionless in the same tree, waiting for the right moment. I sighed in frustration and prepared to descend when a sound caught my attention.
Slowly, I turned my body towards the direction of the noise, but I saw nothing, so I decided to climb down and head home before it got completely dark. While my father was away, I took care of hunting, but in the past few days, I hadn't been lucky, and the money my father left before he left were gone. Not that any of this would matter anymore.I had hunted tonight just to ensure my mother would have something to eat after I was gone...
I took a deep breath and continued on my way, trying not to be distracted by that thought. I was almost at the edge of the forest when a roar froze me. I didn't have time to think of a solution, and there was no point in running, so I climbed into the nearest tree and stayed there, listening and looking around in panic.
Several minutes passed, and each second became more oppressive as heavy footsteps approached. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, and a wave of fear washed over me. I squinted in the direction of the sound and saw, among the bare branches of the trees, a black shadow advancing towards me. It was too risky to move and pointless to run. The steps were getting closer quickly, and the creature was sniffing as it approached. I closed my eyes and prayed, I didn't know to whom, but I didn't want to believe these were to be my last moments of life, so I carefully took an arrow from my quiver and stretched the bow. The beast was just a few meters in front of me, but I couldn't risk shooting from there; I had to wait for it to get closer.
