Chasing Dreams

Prolouge: The Forest

"The night sky hangs overhead like a sadist's boot, stretching out the moment of terror before it falls" - Glen Cook

The thunder cackled in the stormy night as the clouds swirled as if in a dance. The pitch-black sky brightened for a moment before retreating back into the everlasting darkness. The girl huddled near the small fire she had built close the entrance of the cave. The girl knew it was a foolish thing to do; the fire was a beacon leading any dangerous creature straight to her. But she didn't care.

The warmth of the fire wrapped itself around her and she closed her eyes. At least for a moment, she felt safe. A blast of wind whipped its way through the cave, blowing her long brown hair around her round face. The girl stared into the shadows, the lightning allowing her to glimpse the top of the trees engulfing the forest and the small houses that made up the distance.

Most importantly, the girl stared at the house near the edge of the town. The house had a brown roof and four square windows in front, each with wood panelling. The window to the left was the window that entered her room. The window to the right was her parents'. She shut her eyes. She didn't want to think of that life. That life, she knew, was gone and like the howling wind, would never come back.

She turned her face back to the fire and stared into the golden flickering flames that danced before her eyes. She wondered when she would feel loved again. She wondered if she would ever be accepted for who she was, what she turned out to be. Her heart felt heavy in her chest as she heaved herself into a standing position, stomped out the fire, and continued up the mountain.

•

She sprinted up the snow-covered mountain, pushing through the unwavering wind slapping her face. If she had the time she might've stopped to glance back at the village that lay behind her. She might've halted to admire the beauty of the shimmering snow that flew through the air, controlled by the wind. If she'd paused, she might've noticed the pair of narrow, yellow eyes that tracked her from the bushes.

But she ran. She ran because she knew there was no point in living in the past. She ran, the concern for her friends the only thing propelling her forward. She bolted up the mountain. Past the abandoned rabbit hole she and her friends had once explored. Past the tallest tree in the forest, that even after the daring and teasing, she had refused to climb.

The memories whirled through her head, almost daring her to return home. But she pushed her memories to the deepest corner of her mind as she spotted the small cottage ahead. Smoke swirled up into the clouds from the brick chimney and she could almost feel the warmth of the fire inside. She almost fainted from relief as she trudged through the snow to reach that door. A door that once she passed, she knew she would feel safe.