The Ringmaster's Keeper

Chapter 29: Musk and Honey

It was cool when I woke up. I opened my eyes to see the same forest that I fell asleep in. The pine needles stuck to my face as I sat up. It was dark, with no animals to be found. I sat on the ground wondering what had happened as it all came back to me. I looked around. Still. I slowly stood up with the aid of a nearby tree. I felt drowsy from just waking up. Things were blurred. I rubbed at my eyes and looked around again. Things were still blurry. I started walking forward not knowing, or caring, where I was going. Had they worried about me while I was gone? Were they out in he forest right now looking for me? Who knows... The dead pine needles eventually thinned out to reveal a soft green carpet of grass. It was then that I realised I had stumbled into a small meadow. I studied the flowers that were scattered evenly throughout the meadow. They were all a dull grey/blue colour in the light of the moon. I sat down onto the grass with crossed legs and absorbed the tranquility. I picked one of the flowers and brought it to my face, studying its scent. It smelt like honey, mixed with musk. It was an odd smell. From what I could tell in the moon light, it was a dark purple like my crystal. I held the flower side by side to my crystal. They were an identical match. I took one more whiff of it and stuck the long stalked flower behind my ear. I slowly got up and breathed in the pine wood smell. I began walking again. I kept walking until I found a familiar building. It was the same log cabin that had been home to the creatures named Jayden and Molly. I walked up the small flight of stairs and and onto the front porch. I looked into the small window to the right of the door and it was dark inside with no sign of life. I tested the handle which was unlocked and gently pushed the door open. The door made a small squeak as it revealed the insides of what was once the building that held me captive. I walked in without thinking and closed the door behind me. I heard a small scuttle as I saw a mouse flee into a hole in the wall. I stood looking around the small living room. From what I as told, the creatures would be hibernating, so I was confident that I would be safe. I lightly walked across the room, hoping that the wood wouldn't give me away. I stood in front of the bedroom door and adrenaline suddenly pumped through my veins. I'm pretty sure this one was Jayden's. What if they weren't hibernating? What if they were waiting for me on the other side of the door, waiting. Waiting to kill me. I pushed that thought to the back of my mind and slowly opened the door. It was dark inside like the other rooms, but was empty. I walked in and did a 360 check of the room. I let out a sigh as I realised that it was empty. I walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, trying to calm down the thumping of my heart. I lowered my back to the bed and put my arms above my head, my feet still assuming the sitting position. I looked at the wooden ceiling. Observing the grains of the supporting beams that kept the roof up. I felt so tired even though I'd just slept. I closed my eyes and waited for day to come again. Until I heard the wardrobe door open.