The Ennead ✔︎

W R A T H

(A/N) Here's the prompt: While you are travelling, you reach the Styx River. Careful not to wake the dreaded Dziwożona that guards the only bridge spanning the rapids, you and your travel companion attempt to sneak across. Before reaching the far side you hear a splash. Looking into the water, you watch as your companion is pulled into its dark depths by the haggard Dziwożona and hundreds of trapped souls.

----------------------------------------

"Ugh can't we just set up camp here?!" Leia groaned, dumping her pack on the ground. "No Leia, we can rest after Styx River. We'll be there soon!" Avery replied staring at her tired friend. 

"How long exactly?" Leia asked picking up her pack. "I'm not too sure. But just remember when we get close we have to be quiet so we don't wake the Dziwożona!" Avery cautioned while tying up her black hair.

The girls had started travelling through Zephyr forest about a week ago and they were almost at the end. The Zephyr forest was like a border between the Redlands and Glasscrow. It was full of weird and wonderful creatures and was said to contain some of the rarest flowers.

It wasn't all wonderful though, dark creatures lurked deep within the forest and it was hard to distinguish which plants were poisonous and which weren't.

The girls walked for another 2 hours before the finally made it to Styx River at the end of the forest.

"Where's the bridge?" Leia questioned. "Shh, whisper. We have to be quiet!" Avery whispered. "There's a fallen tree over there! We can use it to cross!" Leia pointed out. "Good idea!" Avery smiled. 

The girls trudged through the long grass over to where the tree lay across the river. "Let's hope it doesn't snap!" Avery whispered before testing her weight on the log.

Styx River ran through the whole forest so they couldn't just walk around it, they'd have to cross it.

---------------------------------------------

Averys POV

I stepped on and off the fallen tree, testing if it could take my weight or not. We had heavy packs but they shouldn't make to much of a difference. 

I didn't want to fall in. Lily pads and moss we're scattered throughout the gluggy green water and overgrown plants hung over the sides, but that wasn't my problem. I was worried about the Dziwożona that lurked in the river. I could only hope that it was further down the river and nowhere near us.

I tightened my backpack before fully standing on the log. "You coming?" I asked Leia. "Yep!" She responded, popping the p. 

She climbed on after me and we slowly began walking across the log.

After about two minutes of trying to not fall off, we were practically at the other side. "Look we're almost there!" I yelled. FUCK. I thought before slamming my hand over my mouth.

All of a sudden I heard a big splash of water. I turned around to see Leia being pulled into the water by an old hairy lady. 

"LEIA!" I yelled throwing my pack to the other side. I ran across the log to where Leia was. She was in the water holding onto the log with one hand while the Dziwożona tried harder and harder to pull her in deeper.

I crouched down on the log, steadying myself with one hand while reaching out the other. "Leia! Grab my hand!" I shouted reaching for her. 

The Dziwożona gave Leia a big yank causing her to let go of the log. I quickly grabbed on to her grazed red hand. She was kicking and trying to shake off the Dziwożna but it wouldn't budge. 

I was struggling to stay on the log with the Dziwożona pulling on her so I sat down and swung one leg over each side while holding Leia's hand. "GIVE ME THE OTHER ONE!" I shouted. 

Leia reached her other hand over towards me and after a few attempts, I managed to get it. "Please whatever you do, don't let go!" Leia pleaded looking into my green eyes. "I won't!" I promised looking at her blue ones.

I tried to slide her up over the log but the Dziwożona was too strong and Leias hands were starting to slip. All of a sudden faces floated around the water, the trapped souls.

"What the hell?!" I wondered out loud.

I was so focused on the faces that I lost my grip on Leia's hands for one second, unfortunately, one second was all it took for the Dziwożona to pull her under. 

The faces disappeared along with Leia and the Dziwożona. The water stayed still and silent. "Leia!" I screamed at the water. 

"No no no, what do I do?" I muttered frantically. If I went in I'd have to deal with the Dziwożona.

I quickly ran across the log and poured out the contents of my bag. I grabbed my hunting knife and peeled off my big puffy jacket, chucking it on the ground. I ran back across the log to where I was before. 

I let out a sigh, "Here goes nothing!" 

I dived into the water knife in hand.

The water was muddy and green which made it hard to see and my eyes burned but I swam down deeper. I had to get Leia.

Flashes of blue light began swirling through the water. It was the trapped souls. Hundreds and hundreds of them began shoving me down deeper into the water. 

I need air.

Something blonde was floating below me and I grabbed it realising it was Leia's hair. I flapped my other hand with the knife around before grabbing onto something that was hanging near me. I pulled Leia up a bit so I could grab her arm. 

The souls had disappeared by now so I slipped the knife into my pants and began swimming to the surface, using what I assumed was a vine to help pull Leia. 

I broke through the surface of the water gasping for air. I quickly slung Leia's body over the log and began climbing up my self.

"Leia!" I yelled, moving her into the recovery position.

Water fell out of her mouth before she started coughing more up. "Oh thank fuck!" I sighed relieved. 

"Gotta admit... I thought I was a goner there!" She coughed while smiling. "Let's just go," I said, helping her stand up. We began walking back along the log when all of a sudden I was being pulled into the water.

I grabbed on to the log while looking back to see the Dziwożona pulling me by my feet. "I'M COMING!" Leia yelled, running over to me. 

She went to grab my hands but I stopped her, "My pants, there's a knife. if you can get her she'll let go!" I said out of breath. 

Jeez, my arms are sore!

Leia reached to the waistband of my pants and slid out the knife. "I'm gonna fall in!" She cried. "Leia if you don't do this I'm gonna be dragged in!" I snapped. 

She nodded before swinging the knife over me but she missed. "Fuck!" She cursed. The Dziwożona began pulling me harder but I managed to pull my body closer to the log. Leia took another swing and managed to get the Dziwożona in the face causing it to scream out.

The Dziwożona let go of me and retreated back into the water. Leia dropped the knife before helping pull me up onto the log.

"Are you okay?!" She asked. "Just dandy!" I replied before standing up. We walked across the log together actually making it to the other side.

"Thank god we're at the end of the forest, I lost my pack in the water!" Leia stressed. "Let's get outta here!" I sighed.

----------------------------------

(A/N) Dziwożona is Polish for goblin.