Red Spell

Chapter Eight

Hey guys!  Here's chapter eight!  I'd love to hear what you think of the boy from the forest clan and Hannon!  Enjoy!

I felt fuzzy, like my mind was blocked and muffled. The dark was soothing and the cold held me still until I felt a sharp blow to my back. The strange blur in my mind evaporated and I pushed myself up jerkily. I'd been buried in the snow, which explained the cold and dark. In front of me sat the same boy from earlier. He looked as though he'd fallen from the marks in the snow and his by his face I could tell he was shocked to see me.

"What are you doing?" he demanded. I felt light-headed and confused and my clothes were nearly soaked. More snow fell softly all around, but my worry of the disappearing wolf prints was fleeting and unformed as I tried to get a hold of myself.

"How long have you been here?" he asked.

"I don't know."

"Why were you lying in the snow?"

"I don't know."

He looked at me for several seconds, probably trying to figure me out. I was right there with him, but I wasn't having any luck. Then I noticed my bow was gone.

"She took it!" I cried. "That thieving witch! She just wanted my bow!"

"Who? Who was it?" the boy asked. I whipped around, searching for the cottage, but there were only trees. I had no idea where I was, but I was too angry to worry about that. It was the bow my Mam had helped make for me. She had carved little designs into the sides. Da had taught me how to attach the string and now it was gone! I shot to my feet only to topple again from a wave of dizziness and darkened vision.

"What happened to you?" the boy cried, looking around for some kind of explanation.

"I found a cottage and I went in because I thought the wolf was there, but there was only this little old lady. She gave me some tea and I fell asleep. I bet she put something in it so I'd fall asleep and she could dump me after taking what she wanted!" I yelled, thrashing out at the snow. Then I stood up more slowly, leaning on a tree for support. I felt shaky and heavy. I looked down at my clothes. I was soaked through and exhausted. The boy was still watching me as he dusted himself off.

"You're the strangest village girl I've ever met?" he asked.

"This isn't my fault," I snapped. I mentally went over each of my limbs, but everything seemed to be fine except that I was freezing and the energy I'd had from anger was ebbing quickly. I thought about the long walk home and my failure and what a dupe I'd been. Why had I ever thought I could do something like hunt the wolf myself? I felt stupid, probably looked half mad and knew that the villagers were be disgusted when they found out.

"I have to go home," I mumbled, feeling around for my satchel. It was gone too. I scowled and tried to wrap myself up with my cloak against the wind only to notice that it wasn't my cloak. This one was red and there was a hole at the bottom. "Slimy forest gremlin," I hissed.

"What?"

I glanced up to see the boy was still there. His staring made me angry because I imagined him judging me just like everyone else.

"Go away," I sighed.

He snapped his mouth closed and immediately dropped his gaze.

"Then I'll be on my way," he said. He picked up his gear, which he'd dropped when he tripped over me and turned away. I was glad he was going, but it made the forest feel all the more desolate and mocking as his footsteps died away. It left me alone with nothing but the village to think about. I finally persuaded myself to take a few steps, but it then occurred to me fully that I had no idea where I was. The snow had filled in any footprints I could have followed and everything looked exactly the same no matter where I looked. And I had just ordered away the one person who did know where I was. I panicked and forgot my pride.