Unlikely Encounter
Pillars of smoke painted the sky black as the villagers set fire to the tranquil forest in hopes of flushing her out, but Willow stayed where she was shrinking further into the hollowed tree. Her emerald eyes reflected the wall of flames that swiftly inched closer devouring all plant life in its path, beads of sweat streaked down her face as the temperature began to rise steadily this was bad. She was trapped with nowhere to go if she tried to flee the hole she’d be shot by archers and if she tried to dig, she’d be eaten by the flames and she couldn’t afford any more injuries.
Her eyes flickered down to the dagger wedged in her side just the sight of the ghastly wound sent waves of agony coursing through her veins, she rests her head back on the bark of the tree gasping for breath.
The smoke began to settle strangling her with invisible talons she bit down on her lip as tears welled in her eyes, with shaking hands and sweating palms she gripped the dagger firmly mentally preparing herself for the pain.
Counting down backward she ripped the blade from her flesh grunting rather loud, tears spilled down her cheeks blurring her vision as she attempted to apply pressure to the wound.
She pressed three fingers to the gash and began chanting as crimson streams oozed through her fingers covering her hand in a red sheen, closing her eyes for a brief moment she focused on her spell. She could feel her mana slowly leaving her body her legs trembled under her weight she'd been in this position for hours, slowly yet surely a blue light erupts from her index finger engulfing the wound.
The blood began to dissipate as her flesh merged back together leaving nothing but a bruise on her dark skin, taking a deep breath she sighed one problem down two more to go. Sweat began dripping off her at an alarming rate damping her clothes, she could hear the roar of the flames as they licked at the base of her hidden tree. Taking a deep breath she covered her nose and mouth with her tattered scarf slowly standing up she exhaled, leaning back she threw herself from the tree just as it burst into flames.
Rolling on the ground she jumped to her feet as the archer's loaded their crossbows thrusting her hands in front of her, she mumbled a quick spell. Ice formed in her palms shooting from her fingertips in a thick white vapor that swallowed the forest whole, she let out a pained wail as pain surged through her side.
Clutching her side she winced in pain the forest quickly became eerily quiet her head became a swivel turning frequently in every direction, calming her breath she prepared for the worst as chills racked her spine. Her head snapped to the left of her as the whistle of an arrow cutting through the air drew her attention, she leaned back in enough time to see it fly by her face gingerly grazing her cheek.
With a flick of her finger, she created an impenetrable barrier made of light her head began to pulse and throb, she took shallow breaths as the world around her began to spin and stretch into darkness.
“ oh great lord grant me the power of flight”
She crumbled to the ground as feathers began to sprout from her forearm, her body shrunk and twist in odd jerky motions as her feet became talons. Her mouth became a beak and her long curly ravenous hair turned into black feathers as the barrier began to crumble, she completed her transformation.
As angry villagers flooded the tight huddle Willow took to the sky spreading her wings and catching the wind under them, she tilted her wings upward flying into the clouds for cover her eyes began to droop as the fatigue from her strange day settled in. She dove below the clouds flying just above the treeline her closed for just a millisecond, she felt a tree branch snag her feathers as she skimmed the trees waking up and shaking herself she flew higher.
But it was no use dancing with sleep because soon enough it would overcome her however she just needed to get to the closest town, regardless of her body's aching pain she forced herself to fly further even if her eyes continued to droop.
Flying low to the ground she swore she could see the outline of a distant town she just had to make it, her wings ached and her body silently protested blackness began to consume her vision but she had to make it.
Blinking her eyes three times she saw her body slowly turning downward she tried to pull up but her body refused to follow her commands, she watched in slow motion as her body pivoted down crashing into the stump of a tree.
She hit the ground with a thud as fire surged through her veins her entire body was sore and in dire need of rest, shifting back to her human form she tried to stand but her legs turned to jelly and she collapsed into sleep's sweet embrace.
A soft crackling sound roused Willow from her sleep she covered her mouth as she yawned blinking the sleep from her eyes, she arched a brow as she looked around at the unfamiliar bedroom she stared into the fireplace watching the flames dance along the charred wood.
Stretching caused another yawn to be chased from her lips pushing aside the wool blanket draped across her body she stood up, glancing over her body she noticed that she'd been changed into a nightgown.
It was a royal blue color with gold loops around the neck and sleeve area, the dress hugged her waist tightly but became loose towards the bottom.
Her sleeves hung loosely off her shoulders and her messy long curls were tied into a singular braid that laid over her shoulder, she let out a relieved sigh as her body ached no more walking to the large wooden doors she gave the circular handle a slight tug.
The door swung open with an unpleasant squeak revealing a small handmaiden in the doorway, she smiled at her with sparkling sapphire eyes and a dainty white smile. She wore a white scarf tied across her ash-blonde hair, her attire was mostly brown with the only difference being her long white sleeves. She beckoned me forth with a warm smile
“Good day my lady my name is Charlotte and I'll be ya handmaid, for now, his royal highness request yer presence in the dining hall”
She picked up her dress and did a cute little courtesy and walked away Willow swallowed nervously, her throat suddenly becoming bone dry scratching at her braid she dragged her feet as she walked down the dimly lit corridor.
Dinner with Royals wasn't exactly what she had planned so much for staying off the radar maybe she was overreacting, dinner with the king or queen sounds fun what could possibly go wrong?
