Origins

Alyssa- part 2

I run and run, it's very close behind me. I pull low hanging branches on trees and release them in vain hope that they hit the creature. The beast is agile and intelligent.

I had kicked off my shoes, tore off much of my skirt, and am running as quick as I can. Wiry fur brushes my legs and I trip in surprise. I catch myself, but teeth sink into my leg. My gasp turns into an unearthly scream. I fall to the ground and the beast tears into my arm. I try to push it off but it is heavy and I am weak in comparison. It is very late at night, so no one is here to save me. The monster bites and tears at me. I am going to die. My arms are left bloody and wrecked as the wolf bites my side. It doesn't seem to be eating me at all like a normal starved animal would be, but just biting and trying to rip me apart.

After a few more minutes of pain, the wolf runs off.

I lay on the ground bleeding and with open wounds. At least I won't have to marry that foul king. I'll be dead. I don't have to worry about anything anymore. I begin to make peace with my impending death. The sun still has yet to come up. It seems like it's been hours. I want to see one last sunrise before my demise.

The sun eventually peaks over the mountains and I close my eyes. I can let go now. As I do, I don't. I don't die, but my wounds start stitching themselves up. The bleeing stops, and my cuts close themselves. I watch in awe as my body heals itself. I hear masculine voices and footsteps in the fallen autumn leaves and a man enters my sight.

"Woah, you see that? C'mon!" He nears me bringing two other men.

Even though my wounds are healed, I was bleeding most of the night, so my clothes are probably very bloody.

I try sitting up, but the places where it bit me still really hurt.

"She's alive!" He calls out and rushes to my side.

"What happened?"

I begin to comprehend what occurred. "Uh, there was a wolf." The panic from last night starts to catch up with me. My heartbeat quickens and I breathe heavily and quickly. I feel like I'm about to hyperventilate.

"Calm down, calm down, you're safe."

He helps me lean against a tree. "You're okay, are you hungry?"

I nod my head and he pulls out some food from a satchel. I eat it greedily, tossing my etiquette to the wind.

"So, where you from."

I think quickly. I don't want him to know I'm a princess. He might be a criminal despite his kindness. I don't want him taking me hostage.

"Uh, I'm a maid, of the princess."

"She'll miss you I'm sure."

"No, she doesn't care for me at all. She had me thrown out here to the wolves." I don't care that I'm soiling my good reputation. I want to survive.

"That's harsh, do you need a place to stay?"

"That would be wonderful."

"Ok, do you think you're well enough to travel?"

"I think so, it will be better than just laying here at the mercy of the elements."

"True, come here." He puts his arms under me and I hook mine around his neck.

He carries me to his horse and sits me in front of him. He holds me up and we ride for a couple minutes. This is a very thick and wide forest. We stop at a large tree and he helps me off the horse. I feel incredible. I am no longer sore or in pain, I am free of the marriage because they will all think I'm dead. I feel a pang of sadness for the loss of my maid and coach. It is apparently visible on my face because the man asks, "What's wrong?"

I come up with something hastily.

"Nothing, it's just my fellow maid who was banished with me. The wolf killed her." I tell him softly.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up. You're covered in blood."

"I know."

He calls something up to the top of the tree and a rope is thrown down.

He takes my waist and I shake his hand off. "I can do this myself." He backs off and lets me go.

I take the rope and start to climb. I was never trained to do this at the castle but I will prove to them that I deserve to live. I can handle myself.

I climb, hooking my feet on the knots and pulling myself up. The tree is tall and it seems like an eternity before I reach the top. The man comes up behind me and helps me over the ledge. There is a large man who looks me over and nods to my rescuer. He nods back, something unspoken passing between them.

The man leads me across the bridges connecting the amazing dwellings located in these high trees. There are lanterns providing light in the dim morning sun, and I ask what the man's name is.

"James. What's yours m'lady?"

"It's Alyssa."

"Isn't that the name of the princess?" He asks warily.

"Yes, I was named after her." It's not really a lie...

"Well, it's a lovely name. Do you want to rest or something else?"

"Um, I am a bit tired, is there a place to rest?"

"Yes, follow me." He starts walking along the high up rope bridges. I follow closely behind and he leads me to a partially hollowed out tree. It's very large for being thick enough to hollow out a room in it this high up. He waves me in and lets some cloth door fall, blocking the threshold. There is a small bed and nightstand which I lay on. It isn't nearly as comfortable as my royal bed, but does have a more homey feel to it.

I fall asleep quickly from exhaustion and dream of the beast.