❛ 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆 ❜

23

y/n huddled against the cold stone of the cave wall, her body shaking from a mix of exhaustion and the biting chill. she'd wedged herself into the deepest corner she could find, making herself as small as possible, terrified that a single movement might somehow draw that creature's attention. the hours crept by, and every whisper of wind or distant rustling sent a fresh spike of fear through her, her mind racing with thoughts of that mysterious monstrous form circling above, presumably looking for her. y/n had never truly believed things escalate this much, yet here she was, hiding in a damp cave.

finally, the first hints of light filtered in through the cave's mouth. y/n's muscles ached as she slowly unfurled herself, bracing a hand against the wall to steady her trembling legs. she could hardly believe she'd made it through the night, though a pang of dread reminded her that daylight would bring its own dangers. squinting against the morning light, she crept to the cave entrance, cautiously peering out at the now-dimmed landscape. the castle was nowhere in sight—no trace of howl or that feathered beast from last night.

with a shaky sigh, y/n stepped out, feeling the warmth of the sun prickling her skin, dispelling some of the night's chill. she scanned her surroundings one last time, her heart pounding, before she started walking. the ground was uneven beneath her feet, and her legs felt weak, but the open path in front of her filled her with a desperate determination. moving by daylight felt safer— even if it meant being more visible— anything was better than staying trapped in that cave. she quickened her pace, each step carrying her further away from the haunting memories of last night and closer to a hope of safety that, however fragile, kept her moving forward.

y/n had been trudging forward for hours, her vision beginning to blur and her limbs feeling heavier with every step. her legs trembled beneath her, and her body screamed for rest, every muscle aching from the relentless journey. she felt so close to collapsing, to let herself sink into the ground right then and there, but she couldn't. every time she slowed, the image of howl's castle lurking somewhere behind her spurred her to keep going. she'd made it this far, somehow; she couldn't let exhaustion claim her now. she took a shuddering breath, her hand gripping her side as she pressed on, pushing herself into an awkward jog when, in the distance, she spotted what looked like a small house, a faint silhouette against the rolling hills.

heart pounding, she picked up her pace, moving as quickly as her exhausted legs would allow.

as she neared, she could make out a modest farm with a handful of animals grazing or pecking near the house—a few chickens scratching the dirt and a small pen with a pair of pigs. the sight was almost surreal in her state of exhaustion, and for a moment, she thought she might be hallucinating.

but then, the door of the house swung open with a bang, and two figures appeared—a sturdy man with weathered skin and a woman holding a basket at her hip. they looked to be a married couple, both of them staring at her with wide, uncertain eyes. the man's gaze hardened as he took a step forward as if to shield his wife. "who are you, and what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice gruff but laced with caution. y/n swallowed, forcing herself to stand straighter, though she felt as if she might topple over any second.

"just...passing by..." she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. she could sense the man's eyes lingering suspiciously on her ragged appearance, and the woman's hand tightened around her basket. but y/n didn't wait for a reply; she tried to move past, hoping to continue her way along the faint path leading away from the house when—

"hey, young lady!" the man shouted after her, his voice sharp. "i wouldn't take another step if i were you!"

y/n stopped, a jolt of dread cutting through her exhaustion. she turned back, her eyes meeting the man's stern expression. "what?" she asked, her voice edged with weariness and desperation. "why...?" she added.