Entwined

Chp 3. Alina 1

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I awoke to Genie's paws scratching at my shirt, trying to nuzzle her way underneath. I couldn't even blame her. Despite the cabin we were currently in, the cold of early winter was biting.

"I hate to break it to you baby, but we've got to get up." Her head poked through the neck opening of my shirt with a whimper.

Her voice echoed through my mind as she spoke obscenities that'd make a grown man blush.

"We can't stay here any longer, you know this Genie." With a growl, she crawled down my stomach and out the bottom of my night shirt.

"We don't know this place Genie, we don't fit in and that is glaringly obvious. From what I can gather-" with a paw hitting me in the face, I was silenced.

There's a man outside, hush.

She bounded off the bed and snuck outside through a hole in the floorboards.

This was our life now.

On a whim I decided to run away from the cult that was our town. It was a superstitious place. One where I was treated like the ruin of the world. The whole of the town lived like they were from some midevil time period. Scared and nervous I ran away.

I had seen glimpses of what life was like on the outside through travelers who passed by or got lost. I had spent my early teen years living with a family who had taken me in. They showed me the modern world, they saved me from the torture I had endured in my hometown.

But still, I was always a bit odd, as much as I tried to acclimate to the modern world, I always stood out at least a little bit. My red hair a bit too bright to seem natural. My accent so odd I had to re-teach myself how to speak properly. And then there was the ability to understand the animals around me. More than not I was stuck with a headache due to how loud the animals around me were. They all called out to me looking for a type of solace in me.

And looking for a way to fit completely into the modern world of technology, I went looking for a witch. As insane as it seemed, it seemed like the only option I had. As soon as I walked through her door I could feel a buzzing of some form of electricity in the air. The same type that surrounded the border of my hometown.

"You're not supposed to be here." She had said.

"Your soul is not of this time period. Though it is unusual that you managed to find your familiar hundreds of years in the future."

The lady addressing me was tall, her hair black as the night, save for the hair on the sides of her head, which was so white it seemed unnatural.

She was also unnaturally beautiful. Almost as though she didn't belong from this earth. Not one imperfection. Not in the slope of her nose, the cut of her jawline, she even had beautiful full lashes.

"You must leave, my sister will meet you on the other side." And before I could so much as utter a syllable, a shimmering water like oval appeared in front of me. It called out to me, and then sucked Genie along with me into it.

Genie popped her head back through the hole in the floorboards, her red face dusted in dirt and snow.

He's gone. That witch lady really should've left better instructions before she threw us through that floating water hole. I could feel her annoyance through the bond.

"Yeah, well we're stuck here now, aren't we? Just have to make do with what we've got."

And how are we supposed to do that? You've dyed your hair a dozen times, hidden yourself in a cloak in fear of being slaughtered. Somehow the stories of your old village has followed you, even as we've gone back in time.

"Fuck me if I'm supposed to know. But we'll make do, as we have been doing."

As the last word left my lips, a crow flew through the chimney, weird but not as much as my recent forced time travel.

It cawed and lifted its neck, revealing a tiny piece of paper wrapped in a ribbon around his neck.

I walked over to the bird, and gently untied the ribbon.

He flew over to a chair and began grooming himself as I unfolded the paper.

Dear Alina, it has come to my attention that my sister had a run in with you in the modern world. You are quite the spectacle I must say. A baby girl with the power to transport her entire village into the far future. I am quite thrilled to meet you, young one. Unfortunately you will have to wait until I find the bonds to mend you. Until then, I want you to follow Juny, the crow I sent you. He will lead you to a safer place. The travel will be long and tiring, but I have faith in your capabilities.

I wish you safe travels.

-Koria

"What is it with these women and their cryptic words?" With a sigh, I folded it up and began on the light packing I needed to start on.

And pray tell, what did that message say?

"The portal witch's sister wishes for me to follow Juny, her crow, to a safe house of some sort."

Oh. Well that sounds not strange in the slightest.

"Yeah, I know."

And we're trusting this ... because?

"Because why the hell not? Now lets get a move on. Come Juny, lead the way." The bird flew towards my shoulder, and leaned towards the way of the door.

"Give her a chance, Koria is a good woman." I just about screamed as the bird spoke delicately into my ear.

You'd think you'd be used to talking animals by now. Genie laughed.

"In my head, not out loud!" She continued with her laughing as we made our way out of the tiny one room cabin.

A/N

This part feels a bit weird, but so am I! So hope it fits the story...

Anyways, lemme know how you felt about this one!

Vote and comment so I can learn and know your take please 😊

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