I groaned, feeling something nudge my head, I pondered what it was, whatever it was I needed my sleep, that was so important right now. I groaned once again feeling it, I really needed this sleep, I was so tired and my body ached.
I was in my chambers fast asleep so what could possibly be nudging my head?
I felt a wet content... wait was that a tongue? I flashed my eyes open, gasping, Luna breathing on my face.
"Luna?" I said in confusion, what was she doing here in my room? I rubbed her gently, are horses allowed in the chambers. The sunlight hit my face, I groaned blocking it with my palm, wait I was within the castle the sunlight shouldn’t be too much.
My eyes adjusted and then I gasped as the realization struck me, I sat up instantly, looking around in panic, I was within the woods and it was quiet so quiet. I groaned when I felt like my head would spin, I had a bruise against my forehead, I was sure it was all red.
I remember now... after I parted from Mint I rode along the path as fast as I could, I turned back for a minute when I thought I heard a branch snap but it was nothing, the next thing I knew was, everything went blank, I must have hit my head against a branch when I wasn’t looking.
I messed up! Wait, the path...
"The path," I said looking around, I couldn’t find it.
"Oh no, no, no!" I panicked, Mint had warned me that if I stray from it I would be lost.
"No" I panicked more, it was gone, I was lost, what was I going to do.
The Nightshades could be anywhere now, I knew Mint would hold them off but still I had to figure a way out of here so that I can get help.
"Luna," I said rushing to her, she neighed, the sweet thing... she didn’t run off when I fainted, she stayed with me.
I quickly climbed on her, I stumbled multiple times before I could, I hated my height every second.
"Let’s go, Luna, let’s find a way out of here".
I may be lost but I had to find a way to get out, or else Mint bravery would have been for nothing, I had to try, I had to be strong.
¤●¤
There was a sudden turn to the wind, Cedric could feel it and also an unusual presence he wasn’t sure of, yet.
They were back at the tents, but they didn’t meet with the ladies, Mother has told me they went for a ride.
"It’s almost sunset... where on earth are the ladies?" James said, they arrived an hour ago and they still weren’t here.
"Finally there they are," Dalton said.
Cedric turned, his eyebrows flicked.
"Why just Lady Danette and Camille," Lawrence said puzzled.
They watch as they get down from their horses approaching them.
"Where is Sylvia?" Cedric asked in a simple tone.
Danette frowns.
"She rode ahead, we thought she was here already", she sounded like it was an obvious fact.
"Whatever do you mean dear... you two are the first to arrive from riding," Mother said.
"Mrs. Hartford she’s supposed to be here," Danette said for certain.
"Are you trying to tell me... she rode ahead and none of you bothered to be in her company", Cedric’s tone was dark.
Danette shivered at the sound.
"Her dark knight was definitely with her Lord Cedric," Camille said with a smile against her lips but he didn’t even bother to look at her.
"She got a bit offended by Lord Cedric and rode ahead, we thought she would have returned" Danette explained.
"Cedric I’m sure she will be here soon," James said.
"It’s getting dark James... her dark knight is wise enough to tell her to return" Lawrence reasoned.
He was right, her dark knight would have done that.
"Something doesn’t feel right" Cedric murmurs walking out of the tent.
"Cedric!" Lawrence called rushing to him.
"Dear goddess, where could she have wandered to," Mother said, sounding worried and offended at the same time.
"She does not wish to be in the company of us, maybe she is enjoying solitude"
"Cami!"
"What?"
"You were the one who got her offended, she should have been with us if it weren’t for you!" Danette said furiously.
"Are you blaming me now?"
"Enough Ladies!" Dalton barked.
They kept quiet, bowing their heads in apologies.
"Your daughter-in-law is quite a handful" he adds, turning to Mother.
Cedric straddled his horse.
"I will come with you," Lawrence offered.
"There’s no need Lawrence, in case she comes back send a magic signal to me," he said leaving no room for question.
Suddenly Cedric felt the direction of the wind again, and this time he fully recognize it, his eyes turned completely black, the green color disappeared, his looks turned murderous, he stared at a distance.
"Do not follow me!" he said with gritted teeth, referring to the guards.
"Cedric!" Lawrence called but he just rode off.
His eyes trembled, that look Cedric had all of a sudden, he had never seen it in all his time he knew Cedric, he shivered, the air was suddenly so chilly, he pondered why.
¤●¤
"I don’t see it, I can’t find it," I said in a panicked tone looking around.
I had no clue where I was, it seemed like I was deeper within the woods this time.
I looked to the skies, it was sunset, soon everywhere would be dark, my heart pounding loudly, more than I could bear. The panic within me became more prominent. I held my chest tightly trying to calm my breathing, I was becoming more terrified right now, unable to think of anything or what to do.
I heard the movement of trees, I gasped while looking around with a start, it came again... again and again, it was a very far distance but I should know better... I rode in speed as fast as I could, to get away from that sound, to be far from it, because I knew it could only be a danger.
I squeaked when I flew off my horse, coming in contact with the ground as I rolled down the landslide, I squeaked again when my body fling to the edge, I quickly held onto a branch before I would fall to my death.
My gaze lowered, the streams flowing but there were rocks within them, if I were to fall I wouldn’t make it.
"Luna!" I called, but I didn’t hear her.
I sobbed looking back down and then back to the branch I held, it was thick and big, able to contain my weight.
I panted holding onto it as firmly as I could, I took a deep breath, before reaching for some plants wrapped around, they were thick so I knew it would hold me... but I thought wrong, it snapped but thank the gods I was still holding onto the branch or else I would have fallen.
My hands were killing me, I could no longer sustain my weight, I needed to climb up before my hands would give out, I tried again, gripping unto the plant, it was my only hope, I groaned deeply, forcing my body up, but still holding unto the branch in case of the plant snap again.
I was finally halfway up holding onto the ground tightly, forcing my body fully up. I panted before moving away from the edge as far as possible, rising to my feet.
"Luna!" I called, she was nowhere to be seen, I was sure both of us rolled down, she must have fallen in another direction and now she was nowhere to be seen.
"Luna!" I called once again, tears leaking from my eyes.
I was all alone now and I was scared.
"L-Luna?" I sobbed my eyes on every corner.
I heard the tree bent again in a distance, In a panic, I ran as fast as my feet could carry me as I took a harsh breath and looking behind, I gasped when I was yanked backward, My cloak was caught in thorn, I groaned yanking it towards me, the action caused it to rip.
And then the wind blew strongly around, I froze remembering what Mint told me about the cloak blocking my scent, would this rip cause them to find me? I was about to find out.
The noise came again, mortified my gaze shifted to the tree, my breath caught when I saw one of the Nightshades, against the tree.
With a spin, the figure was down against the ground, the shape, a muscular figure, which could only mean, it was a man. On all black clothing, long sleeve black shirt that covered his hands, black pants, black riding boot, his hair was covered in clothing also along with his face, but his eyes weren’t, like a headgear, he had black eyes also, what struck me was his skin, it was dead white, the whitest I have ever seen, and I could see tattoos at the corner of his face.
"You’re quite the prey"