The first thing I felt was that my clothes were dry. Well, not completely, but less soaked than I could remember.
My brain rattled in my head. I was still in the snow. My eyelids snapped opened. Trees extended above me.
What the..?
The trees were 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮. I sat up straight and took note that I was still in Darkwood and not dead.
𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵.
I didn't know which one I wanted more.
A couple of feet in front of me, the trees were swaying like crazy. I did a quick 180° turn and the trees where I was lying were still. It was like we were in some sort of bubble.
But how did I get here?
I looked at the snow and saw drag marks. Because there was no wind here, the tracks couldn't be covered. Someone dragged me here.
Claw?
I started to panic as I looked around frantically but settled when I saw him not too far away, sleeping. 𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. He got us safe. Gratitude filled my heart for the wolf.
My eyes flickered to something else imprinted in the snow. There were footprints on the surface of the snow.
That's 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦.
All of my footprints sunk into the snow.
After a moment, I decided against waking up Claw and to just go by myself. That pup did enough for me already. I stood up straighter and pushed my platinum blond hair out of my face, behind my shoulders.
I walked in the direction of the footprints. What confused me the most was that it was human footprints. That was completely unusual. No one came out here - except for me.
"Bloody hell."
I couldn't understand why it was so still and calm due to the fact that this was 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥. I started to think that it was all fake: the stories and myths and creatures. Probably just told to keep people out.
I was so indulged that I didn't hear the whispers until they turned into murmurs when I got closer. I stopped and pulled out my bow and arrow. Carefully, I looked around me but there was nothing.
Or rather no one until I looked forward and saw what appeared to be a hunched over old woman covered in a black cloak.
I almost jumped out of my own skin.
I could've promised she wasn't there when I looked, a couple of miles in front of me. My breath shortened as my heart picked up speed.
A strange combination.
Was this a disguise? Was she here to kill me? Was she even a she?
I took one careful step forward, never having my eyes leave her horrid figure. She was doing something with her hands. If she knew I was here, she made no indication of it. The words she was saying became more and more unclear.
"Destiny's child." She loudly stated and looked up at me.
I stopped moving and looked at her horribly sickening face. It was 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴. It was like her skin melted and had gross things all over.
I almost puked right there.
But what really stunned me was what she said.
"What?"
I didn't move towards or away from her but stood where I was, my bow and arrow raised.
"Curious little one," she said after. I didn't know what to do. "Just like Annebeth."
My hold on my weapons tightened.
"How do you know her?" I demanded.
No one had seen her for years.
"I know everyone," she said, smiling.
I almost 𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥.
It was like a threatening smile with rotten, yellowed teeth. I took a chance.
"But what do you mean by destiny's child?"
"Young one," she referred to me, "you have a special place in this world."
I freaked out when her eyes turned a milky white and her voice turned ghost-like. Her hair was floating too. I didn't know what was going to happen, and Claw was far behind me.
What the heck do I do? Run? Would she kill me?
"Do you want to know your destiny, child?"
Did I want to know my destiny? My future? I had no clue. Was there even a right answer? I didn't know what to say, but looking at her, I didn't want to say the wrong thing.
"Yes?" I said carefully, and I had no idea what I just bargained for.
She did some movement with her hands and faced them towards me and blew. Misty air escaped from her mouth. A small snowflake appeared in my sight.
I watched it with interest and my arm stretched forward until it landed on my fingertip.
I screamed.