Tales of Aridia

The forest

It was still dark, but the moon had settled beyond the clouds. I rested on my bed my mind racing with thoughts. I thought I was going crazy, and rightfully so.

I remembered the pendant I had lost in the forest, how it glowed brighter than the sky. I wondered how it had gone missing. It didn't matter anymore, it was gone, and there was no getting it back.

I paused for a second, fully aware that what I was about to do could cost me my life. The urge to be with the pendant was strong, stronger than my will. Eventually my thoughts concluded, I was going back into the forest.

Preparing, I wore clothes more suited for the occasion. I turned my bedroom light off to be more discreet and hurried downstairs. With my mother still asleep I grabbed a knife from the cutlery draw and hid it in my sock. The knife was only small, but I needed to take precautions.

Carefully I opened the door, allowing a stream of light to pour in. Listening I checked if my mother was awake. It was silent. I took my chances and ran out of the house leaving the door slightly ajar.

Running back into the forest I pondered if I should go back. I knowingly took a dangerous risk, but I was too far into the forest now to turn back. "Hello?" I whispered. My movements were stiff and minimal, afraid I would attract the attacker.

The leaves whispered amongst themselves. I knew they were mocking me. Laughing at my insanity. I ignored my imagination and pushed on. Eventually I approached the lake.

On the banks was an outline in the mud, the outline of a body. I knew it was mine. I jumped down with a thud, my feet slightly slipping into the water, causing it to ripple quietly. "Who's there?" I asked. Still the forest stayed silent, not saying a word.

And then, something moved. It was only a second perhaps, that I had seen it. The yellow eyes of something in the distance. I stepped back cautiously, stepping on something behind me. Twisting around slowly I picked up something covered in mud and dirt. I rubbed it off with the sleeve of my coat and looked in amazement.

It was the pendant.

Mesmerised by the beauty of it I was distracted by the thing creeping up behind me once more. Something snapped, making me jump. However I did not turn around, I stared away from whatever was behind me. I was mortified. Eventually I turned my head, and came face to face with what I had been so sure I had seen.

The eyes yellow as gold and fur as silver as the moon. However, it was not real. At least it didn't seem real. It's body was transparent, I could see the forestry through it's skin. Reaching my hand out shakily I stroked its face. As expected, my hands slipped straight through, like there was nothing there.

It circled around me once, and then bowed its head before me. It dragged its big paws up the banks and sat above me, staring down. It kept staring, it's eyes not leaving mine. I assumed it wanted me to follow it, so I too climbed up the banks.

The wolf whipped around and padded down the path, it's paws leaving marks in the mud. The wolf got faster, it's tail swishing behind. I tried to keep up but with every step it got faster. Soon enough it transitioned into a sprint . The running was too much, my body couldn't keep up and neither could my mind. I was giving up. I panted similar to the wolf and gasped for air as my legs stretched out in front of me.

The wolf stopped suddenly causing me to be thrown on the ground. I landed with a crash. The fall had caused the knife in my sock to slip out of place and it pierced into my ankle. The blood was visible through my white socks.

The wolf crouched down sneakily, ready to pounce. It remained still, watching. I peered through the long grass to see what he was staring at. I couldn't see anything, whatever it was it was masked by a circle of trees.

In the quiet of the forest a haunting scream whistled loudly. And then came the sound of fighting, shouts and cries were let out constantly. In fright I curled into a ball not knowing what to do. I wanted to run, but I was drawn to the wolf, I couldn't leave it's side.

The noise grew nearer, like it was coming up behind me. I frantically tried to get on my feet but I was grabbed suddenly. A hand came out of the darkness and smothered my mouth. I screamed violently, grabbing at the wrist that held me.

"Robyn! It's only me," it said. The hand lifted from my mouth and I gasped for air, Max stood towering above me. The wolf had gone, it faded into the breeze. I gazed at where the wolf had been sitting, confused and dazed. "Robyn!" Max shouted. He couldn't get my attention, I was too sunken into my own thoughts to hear him. "We have to go, please Robyn. There are people after me let's go!" He shouted, pulling me up to my feet.

I caught onto his final words. "Who's after you?" I asked, bewildered. His eyes dropped and he looked away from me, his words had disappeared from his mouth and he fell silent.

Grabbing my hand forcefully he whisked me away. I pulled back, fighting his strength. Quickly I pulled out the knife that was in my sock. The end was slightly dipped in blood from my ankle. I pointed the knife at his neck shakily and waited for him to speak. A darkness grew over his eyes, similar to that I had seen in Jayden.

No one spoke. Behind him I could see something, two yellow eyes. The wolf sat there quietly, watching intently in the silence of the forest.