The Secret of the Shadow Princess

Chpt 1: Keep Going Forward

*Keep Going Forward*

Edited- 4/11/2013

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A young girl, who looked about 16, slowly took a cautious step forward. The girl looked around, taking in the lush forest around her. There were trees that reached higher in the sky than a skyscraper,  their trunks were light brown, very thick which would be extremely hard or impossible to chop down. The ground had fallen twigs, leaves and rich brown dirt which had small patches of bright green grass. The girl looked as she was searching for something, her bright dazzling emerald green eyes snapping everywhere it could. The trees whispered their excited greetings to her. The girl ignored them, continuing her searching. Her cherry-red hair whipped behind her from the warm wind. She wore a black and green checked skirt that ended a bit before the knee, a thin black cape rested on her back that was clipped by a dark brown button. She also wore a white blouse with a black and green striped tie. Her shoes were dark brown boots that were very old and worn out. Tiny light scars were all over her white arms and legs, which you could only see if you looked close enough. A red substance stained her white shirt but the girl seemed oblivious of it. When she stumbled and her steps faltered, she finally realized the pain from the wound on her stomach. She drew in raspy breaths but moved onward. The moon shone bright in the sky, the stars twinkling along. Despite the bright moon, it did not have enough light to stop the darkness of the night. The girl was too used to the dark to be affected by it but she was cautious nonetheless. Shadows moved, following her, but the were not tricks played by the mind, oh no, these shadows moved, making no noise, as they continued watching the girl. The young girl fell but quickly got up again before the shadows closed in. She fought hard to stay conscious as she slowly moved her body forward. The trees whispered furiously, even if you could not understand their language you could easily tell the were worried and concerned, if you weren't as thick as the trees trunk. The girl kept moving on, despite the protests from her body. Her body wanted to shut down but she refused to do so because if she did that would most definitely be the end of her. An internal voice kept her going on, giving her unexpected strength to keep moving. You can do it! Keep going now, the voice chanted. The girl kept going forward, trying her best to ignore the pain from the wound on her stomach.

The shadows came a little closer at every fall the mysterious girl made. Silently, they were communicating to each other. "I want to taste her blood, Master!" one yelled. "No not now. Don't you feel the power she holds? We must wait-" the one who was called 'Master' began but was cut of by another voice "The power? Yes! We all feel it! We all want want to feed, Master. Yes, she must be powerful but we haven't been fed in a long time! And here is a perfect meal that you won't let us have! Are you not hungry as well?" Master growled. Yes, it was hungry as well but it did not want to feed off a human that had power like the one they had once served. "Go back then! Do not touch the human at all and if I find one of you trying to-" Once again it was cut off "Fine! Suit yourself! And she looks like such a tasty meal..." another trailed off, staring longingly at the wounded human. One by one they disappeared, only one remaining.

The girl felt many things staring at her in the dark but she thought they just were animals, though she could not shrug off the feeling of something watching her like she was prey. Of course the forest had many deadly animals but they did not dare to attack her. After a while, she felt as some of the things waching her had gone because she could not feel anything watching her beside the trees and only one other thing. She could feel something watching her because her senses (hearing, smelling, eyesight/etc) were much more advanced then your normal teenage girl.She fought to keep her eyes open as her eyelids fell heavily. She could just see a small old cottage far away. The cottage was dark orange and brown and had dark and lonely windows. There were patches of dried brown and lush green grass, along with small patches of four-leafed clovers. If it was even possible, the girl walked even slower as she got nearer. The more she tried to ignore the pain, the more she felt it. The trees whispered encouraging words, in their language to her, telling her it would be alright, she was safe now. Fresh blood poured out from her wound and the girl let out a small whimper, which was the first noise she had made since she had entered the forest. The Shadows that left reappered looking satisfied.The closer the girl got to the old cottage, the moving shadows that had been following her backed off, because the were not allowed to be near the cottage as there were powerful protection around it.

Instead, they stayed in the dark at the very brim of the wards, watching the girl stumble slowly towards the old cottage. 

Something moved behind on of the windows, but the girl didn't notice because her eye sight became blury and hazy. It's alright now, your safe. You can go to sleep, the internal voice whispered softly to her. When the young girl reached the small stone porch, she fell with a heavy thud on the stone, which made small cuts on her body, floor as the old wooden door was wrenched open and a elderly woman stood in the doorframe, worry and concern etched into her face. "Oh dear..." the small woman whispered, looking down at the girl. Her eyes trailed down towards the wound on her stomach.