The Seelie Curse

Chapter 30

Astrila exhales in relief. She doesn't know what's going with Ro, but it's something. The poor girl is terrified. She glances at Kyma for a brief moment to see the other girl with a shocked expression on her face, slightly green with sickness. But Ro is worse. The red-haired girl looks like she's going to pass out, her cold skin beaded with droplets of sweat.

It's almost paler than Kyma's skin is. Ro is going into shock. Astrila bursts into motion. She pushes gently on Ro's shoulders. Ro doesn't resist, letting Astrila push her back against the dirt. Astrila darts into the wooden dome for a moment to grab her bag. When she returns, Ro is trying to sit up again. Astrila curses.

"No, I need you to lie down, Ro. Stay down."

"But I'm thirsty."

Astrila shakes her head. "You can't have water right now. Just wait a little while, all right?"

Ro's voice is weak but steady. "Okay."

"Can you raise your legs?"

Ro doesn't argue, lifting them enough that Astrila can slide her bag beneath the girl's legs. She debates pulling one of the pelts out of it, but the bag needs the bulk. But the girl needs something to keep her warm, she needs some kind of blanket. Astrila sighs. It's worth it. She pulls her arms out of the sleeves of her coat and pictures it shifting back into pelt form. After a moment of hesitation, she drapes it over Ro's body. Ro shivers, raising her head to look at Astrila with alarm.

"But that's-"

Astrila smiles. "My pelt, yes. It's alright. Head down, Ro."

Ro sighs, letting her head tilt back against the dirt. "What exactly is going on?"

"Do you feel better?"

The pelt slides down a centimeter on Ro's chest as she shrugs. Ro pulls it back up as she struggles to find her words. She speaks at last, her voice wavering. "I'm not sure. Could you answer my question though?"

Astrila laughs. "Yes. You went into shock. I need you to stay lying down until you feel better, alright?"

"So I can get up when I feel better?"

"Not that simple. When you feel better, call me. Then I'll come over and see if you actually are better or if you're just rushing it."

Ro shakes her head. "I don't understand. Are you going somewhere?"

"I just need to find some supplies. I'll be fine."

Ro nods, but she doesn't look entirely convinced. It must have been something in Astrila's voice. She isn't wrong, either. Astrila didn't tell her everything. Her magic is picking up on something. She doesn't know what it is, but there is something off in this clearing. Something that isn't right. The winds are too still for the movement of the trees. They feel wary, like there is something there that unerves them. But what could make the wind nervous? Astrila pulls away from Ro, then she moves back to her less than half a second later.

"Keep a hold on my pelt, alright. I don't want anything to happen to it."

Ro nods sharply. "Of course. I won't let anyone come near it."

"Thank you."

Ro shakes her head. "No thanking, remember? But you're welcome."

Astrila nods and steps away from Ro to look around the clearing. Sunlight is streaming through the colourful leaves of the trees all around the clearing, flashes of gold and red all around, punctuated by the small remnants of the green leaves that poke out between them. The golden leaves are bright, pulling at her attention more than the red.

But there is a clump of them that doesn't look right. It's too bright, shining with a metallic sheen to it. Astrila moves closer to it, using the wind to lift her up to the spot of shining gold. There's a patch of red leaves around it, but she can see a darker shade of the colour between them. Astrila moves closer, pushing through the branches to them.

There is a flash of movement and the gold disappears, leaving behind only yellow leaves. Astrila doesn't think, she just asks her winds to make a path. It's a short one, leading her just outside the clearing. There's someone standing in the shadows of the trees. Not just shadows, they seem to have chosen the darkest ones there are. She can just see the hints of someone's outline, a darker spot within the shadow. Astrila steps closer, keeping her voice soft.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Whoever it is, they try to stay silent, but they shift on their feet just enough as they step further back into the shadow that she hears them. She calls out again.

"I know you're there, so you might as well come out."

There is a sigh from the shadows and someone steps out of them. It's an Aos Sí man, he couldn't be anything else with those golden antlers of his. Burgundy hair and blindingly bright green eyes. He has kind eyes, curiosity is filling them at the moment.

"How did you know I was there? You shouldn't have heard me, and I am glamoured as well. It should have been quite impossible."

Astrila shrugs. "Because of how I grew up, my hearing is very good. As for the glamour, this might be why."

She pulls the Ludeag's heart from her pocket. Shock glitters in the man's eyes and he leans forward to look at it. He wisely doesn't make a move to touch it though.
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Hmmmm, who did Astrila find? What do you think of Astrila letting Rowan borrow her pelt? What do you think is going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.