Silvestrus's Savior

Chapter 3

She walked forward and the flowered bush pulled out to a doorway. Emalie stepped through it and the bushes closed immediately behind her. She could smell a delightful scent; it was neither sweet nor sour. She closed her eyes and just breathed in the smell. It sort of reminded her of baking homemade chocolate chip cookies with her mom and Kara. Emalie opened her eyes to another pair, golden yellow ones to be exact.  

The creature began to pull its body from the shadows. First, its snout was visible, the nose twitching and sniffing. Then, the head appeared. It was scarred and had patches of fur missing. The body looked like a bear had been through a wood chipper. Emalie felt a scream working up her throat. She opened her mouth to let it loose when the animal started charging. Its mouth had rows of teeth, sharper than broken glass. Emalie braced herself for the end, clutching her sketch book tightly. There was no way she could outrun this thing. Suddenly, the animal flew to the side, hitting the ground. It rolled to its feet, only to fall down, a bright red smile across its neck. A figure leaped off of the dead beast and made their way towards Emalie. The person was taller than Emalie, and gripping a sword, covered in red slime. She backed up until her back hit the unforgiving wall of bushes and trees. The person stopped a foot away from her.

"Who are you?", the stranger asked. Emalie didn't answer, so he said, a little more forceful, "Who are you?"

"M-my name is Emalie. Who are you?", she said, her voice quivering.

The figure reached up and pulled off his hood. His blond hair fell in his stone gray eyes. His skin was light tan, but there were smudges of dirt covering his face and arms, making him look darker than he was. There was a long scar running down his forearm, and he looked about fifteen. Emalie thought long and hard. Where had she seen him before?

"I am Erin, son of Garrett. I come from the Shadowed Hills.", he answered.

Emalie looked at the dead beast on the ground. It faded away into the dirt and dead leaves.

"What's going on here? What was that? And where did it go?", she panicked.

"That was an Avaithyn, a demon bear. They lure their prey in with their hypnotizing eyes. When anything dies here in Silvestrus, it sinks into the ground, and reappears in the Netherworld. You aren't from here, are you?", he said accusingly.

"Silvestrus? Netherworld? No, I am not from here! I was at home in California just a few minutes ago! Where in the heck is Silvestrus?", she screeched.

"Silvestrus is everywhere. Your attire certainly suggest that you live here. But you insist that you do not live here.", Erin explained, clearly confused at Emalie's insistence.

Emalie sank to the ground, hot tears streaming down her face. She wanted to go home, but there was no way she was getting home by herself. Erin moved in to comfort, but she just shuffled back from him. She wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked back and forth, sobs escaping her mouth. Her sketch book was in her tight grasp. Erin moved in again and wrapped his arm around her. This time, she didn't shy away. She cried into his hard chest, her cold fingers gripping his shirt. Emalie began shivering, feeling like she would turn into a Popsicle at any second.  

Erin stood up, reached into his pack, and pulled out a wool blanket. He gently set it about Emalie's shoulders. The wool was scratchy, but Emalie didn't complain, glad for the warmth. Erin walked into the forest, his sword in hand, leaving Emalie alone in the dark. He walked back a few minutes later carrying a pile of sticks and dry grass. He set up a tepee like shape and sprinkled the grass over it. Erin took two stones and struck them together until they sparked, lighting the grass and wood.