Moon Goddess

Chapter Nineteen

The updated chapter nineteen: 

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The days stretched into monotony as Poppy trained with Sam behind the cottage, her fists and feet striking the trunks of trees in relentless repetition. The once-sturdy bark bore the evidence of her frustration—deep gouges, splintered wood, and scattered leaves. The rhythmic sound of her attacks echoed in the clearing, the sharp thwack of each strike mixing with her steady breaths.

Sweat dripped from her forehead, slipping down her temples and soaking into the collar of her shirt. She barely noticed. The sting of exertion was a welcome distraction from the storm raging inside her mind. Her life had unraveled in ways she couldn't fully grasp, and with every shattered tree, she tried to piece together who she was supposed to be.

She twisted her hips, throwing a sharp kick into the trunk before stepping back, breathing hard.

Then—

A rustle.

Poppy's sharp gaze flicked toward the trees at the edge of the clearing. The forest, still and quiet just moments ago, suddenly felt occupied. She rolled her shoulders, pretending not to notice, but her keen hearing picked up the faintest whisper of excited voices. Small ones. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.

"You're not as sneaky as you think," she called out, her voice carrying easily through the clearing.

Silence.

Then, a guilty giggle.

A moment later, two small heads peeked out from behind a thick tree trunk. Wide eyes stared at her—one belonging to a little boy no older than six, the other to a girl who was maybe a year or two older. Their faces were smudged with dirt, their clothes slightly oversized and worn, but their excitement was impossible to miss.

Poppy sighed dramatically, planting her hands on her hips. "If you're going to spy on someone, at least try not to make so much noise."

The boy gasped, nudging his sister. "She saw us!"

The girl scowled at him. "Of course she saw us, dummy. It's really her. She's fast."

Poppy arched a brow. "Fast, huh?" She tilted her head toward the tree she'd been using as a target. "Think you could do this?"

The kids exchanged a glance, then the little boy shook his head so hard his messy curls bounced. "No way! You hit too hard. The trees move when you do it!" he came ever so closer his eyes full of amazement. 

Pride flickered through her, but she only shrugged. "Takes practice."

The girl hesitated before stepping forward slightly, curiosity overtaking her shyness. "Are you gonna fight in the trial?"

Poppy stiffened, her fingers twitching at her sides. She hadn't expected the question to come from them. Sam, who had just returned with a canteen of water and bandages, stopped in his tracks. His eyes flicked between Poppy and the children, unreadable. After a long moment, Poppy exhaled, running a hand through her damp hair. "Guess we'll find out soon enough."

The girl's eyes gleamed. "I hope you win."

The little boy nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You're way cooler than the others."

Before Poppy could respond, the girl grabbed her brother's hand and yanked him back toward the trees. "Come on, before someone sees us!"

They disappeared into the shadows, their giggles lingering behind. Poppy stared after them, something unfamiliar settling in her chest.