Hellhole to Hetalia Heaven [ADOPTED BY @pastalover11]

Chapter 13~ Dreamwalker

Almost 2900 words, excluding the author's notes! Not as long as Chapters 11 or 12, but close!

A breeze was gently blowing, gently rustling my brunette-red hair. The sun was shining, its light dappled by the leaves of the trees I stood under. Not far away, grasses and wildflowers grew in a small meadow, swaying with the movements of the air. Taking a deep breath, I could smell the pine and maple, the flowers, even the faded scent of a recent fox that had walked among the revealed roots of the trees. A pained death cry of a white-tailed deer echoed from the northwest, followed by a young coyote letting out an excited yip.

I follow the scent trail of the fox, feeling as though my senses were heightened as my bare feet take me further into the forest. My heart swells as I look up into the intertwining branches of the trees surrounding me. The shadows grew deeper as I venture further into the forest, the leaves absorbing more and more of the sunlight. A tree just ahead and to my left had branches low enough for me to reach, so I walked to it. Pulling myself off the ground, I reveled in the majestic surroundings. I continued to climb, the smile never leaving my face. The distance between myself and the ground only grew, until I reached tree limbs that bowed under my weight, and my head broke through the leafy canopy.

Eyes closed against the bright sunlight, I breathed in the clean, clear air of the wilderness, feeling more alive than I have since I found out we would be moving. A piercing, threatening, shriek echoed through the sky, followed by the flapping of large wings. The bird of prey called out again, this time louder and closer. The swift beating of its wings pounded into my eardrums, coming from the east. I force my eyes to open, looking in surprise at the larger-than-normal, flying beast headed straight for me. As it zooms closer, I'm able to see that it looks like a large eagle, with eyes so keen it seemed to be peering into my soul.

Its cry pierced through the air again, echoing the creature's apparent aggregation and distress. The speed of the creature's flight didn't slow as it came within a few feet of my position, circling around only a yard away. It continued flying at its breakneck pace until it suddenly alighted onto a treetop branch within my arms' reach. It let out a chirp-like cry at its near-deafening decibel, turning its head this way and that to observe me.

I slowly reach out toward the eagle-like creature, talking softly to it. "Hey, are you hurt? I'm not going to hurt you, what's wrong?" To my genuine surprise, the large bird tilted its head forward and underneath my outstretched hand, allowing me to gently stroke its smooth feathers. It then pulled back, looking at me serenely, seeming to suddenly trust me.

'You have magic, little one, and yet you appear human. How is this so?' A calm, yet majestic, voice sounded in my head. Letting out a gasp, I stupidly replied with, "You just mind linked me! B-but, what are you? Are you a magical creature? Wh-what the...?"

'I am a magical creature, believed to be pure myth. I am a Humility eagle, possibly the last female of my kind. My name is Kaali, now please answer my question.' The feminine voice told me.

"I don't know, other than one of my parents was a magical creature and that I inherited their magical abilities. My name is Zeralina, it's nice to meet you, Kaali." I replied to the Humility eagle, somehow not unnerved by a telepathic mythical bird that was bigger than me. "The last I remember was falling asleep in the house I share with the countries. I don't know how I got to this forest. Might you?"

Kaali nodded her head, her voice sounding in my head again, 'You're dreamwalking, dreaming yourself in a real place at real time.' I nod my, though I'm not sure what she means. Kaali shifted herself, the feathers on her wings ruffling gently. I open my mouth to speak, but suddenly the scenery changed.

I was on the ground again, standing in the meadow I had seen earlier in my dream, bathed in moonlight. Everything looked the same as before, with one exception: it was all engulfed in flame. The tongue of fire reached the sky beyond the tree canopy, the smoke curling up to block the stars and moon. The roar of the inferno overpowered all other sound, even the alarmed cries of the forest animals.