Children Of Myths, Act One: Scotland

Through the Islands

After the almost interminable tunnel, the group of warriors had arrived in front of a wall of thick roots that acted as a door to the outside world. All it took was a word from Eljin for the wood to twist and open to let in sunlight and fresh air.
Artica had to squint and put her arm before her eyes for a few seconds before walking out and emerging into a normal forest.
According to the map, they were in the county of Ross-Shire and the first stop was the island of Rona, then they would take every possible passage to reach the back of Sgùrr Biorach.

"Rona, Raasay and then Skye" Saraide studied the route carefully. "We will have to go behind a waterfall in Raasay in order to the other side of the island. Then we will fly over the coast, take the second circle and finally re-emerge in a series of lakes near the mountain, exactly behind it."

In Artica, a lump was already forming in my throat: "Are the lakes inland?"

"Yes, and they are not deep."

"That's good."

They set out among the trees, while Artica wondered how they could enter a waterfall and reappear in those bodies of water. By swimming? Was there a tunnel like the one they had just went through?
Given there were several members of Brigid's court, Artica couldn't stop thinking that jumping into the water in the middle of a frozen area seemed like huge bullshit, she didn't want to return home with pneumonia.

"It's not those we have to worry about, but the waterfall" Eljin clenched his jaw "It flows towards the ocean."

Bad news. Awful even. With the Finkfolk on patrol, such a portal was practically an invitation to kidnapping for any creature that passed by or stuck its face out.

"Neither Nessa's offspring nor Cruach's human followers can pass through the Circles or Portals, though they know their locations" the Elf leader continued his speech, though his eyes were in constant motion and so were his ears "They attempted to force the portals but were never able to enter, even with Beira's power at hand."

"Then why did you destroy most of them?" Artica had this question in her head for a long time, to be honest, from the very first encounter with those monsters at Loch Long.

"We didn't know how powerful the Witch had become. With the death of Her Majesty Beira, we feared the worst"

"We were terrified that their witchcraft would corrupt them" Saraide stopped with her ears pricked and then glanced at Eljin.

"Did you hear it?"

"Of course I heard it. Fly and climb up the trees. Now"

Those who knew how to fly took flight, the others quickly climbed to the top of the thickest trees whose leaves could hide them. They mainly chose fir trees for the strong smell of the wood and needles in order to camouflage themselves from what moved beneath them.

Horses.

Four wet-maned horses had gathered below them, snorting and making noises somewhere between neighing and a disgusting gurgle as their nostrils flaring rhythmically to sniff out any traces.

They knew there were Sidhe nearby, but the dense landscape and the smell of the pines made hunting more difficult than expected. But while they didn't know how to climb, their riders could without any difficulty, once called.

In the air, Riannon elbowed Artica and drew her own sword.

"Make some snow"

Artica obeyed and then Riri made a tiny cut on her thumb to let a few red drops fall into the small white mound in her friend's hands. It turned red, then was converted into a solid ice crystal and thrown away from their position.