Death Princess

Chapter 4

"For my bastille soldier who howls at midnight,
Whose true powers shines in the moonlight.
My strength is yours, be my might.
Use the fire, be my sight."

Yeniya wiggled her toes as she felt running water tickling her feet, awaking her from her dreamless sleep. Placing a hand above her forehead, she squinted as the rays of sunlight blinded her temporarily. Her body sprawled in the mossy grass, she inhaled the earthly, musky scent of the forest. In her foggy state, she could feel her body relax. Her breathing slow and even, her heartbeat calm.

Time seeped by slowly, moving at a seemingly tortoise-like pace. And Yeniya had no enticement to move; she was quite contented from where she was.

The quietness had given Yeniya to freely imagined anything she'd wanted to. It was a gift that only the woods could give her. A sigh escaped her lips, eloping on the still air.

In most of her imaginations, she'd often picture a world with no pain and sadness. A place where sorrow and anguish had ceased to exist. A world where no one had to die.

"Life will always be nothing but death, Yeniya. Just face it," She said to herself. The world she saw was a pit of shameless deeds embellished by sadness, guilt, shame, greed and pain. Her gift had taught her that.

Yeniya grudgingly arose from her reclined position, pushing herself towards the streaming river where her feet were submerged. She could feel the coldness of the gentle waters, the fishes nipping at her toes. Glancing at the nature around her, she couldn't help but admire its beauty.

The awe-inspiring scenic bank was too compelling, too inviting to simply go untouched and unexplored. The urge to strip and enjoy the calming pleasures of the whitewater was all too great, a sudden want to swim came to her mind.

Hands on her shirt, she prepared to strip. For all she knew no one was there. The shirt was already pulled halfway, exposing her belly button when she heard a twig snapped. Yeniya froze, the deed undone. She whipped her gaze over the tall grasses that separated her and the river from the forest, and there, she saw a subtle movement behind the greenery.

Oh god, That twig might just have saved me from further embarrassment. And danger.

Her hands on her thighs, she feared a man to emerge from the shadows, but it was a wolf. A very huge wolf! It was what Polly had told her about! She knew that she would meet these wolves soon or later but she did not expected to be that soon.

The wolf emerged from the shadows, his cream colored fur brushing the ends of the bushes.

Yeniya's whole body suddenly became cold and her legs were planted on the ground as it slowly walked towards her, growling. Fear paralyzed her as her body refused to cooperate with her. Are these wolves human friendly or not?

In the corner of her eye, she saw a sharp long stick. Better be ready than not!

If she'll be able to get her hands on it, it could somehow protect her from the vicious monster who was baring its teeth at her. Whether it was friendly or not. But clearly it wasn't because it was growling furiously at her. Could I make it? She thought, eyeing the stick.

Now all that was left was a choice. A choice to run and get the stick or to remain motionless and watch the events unfold in front of her.