After successfully escaping, I slowed down. I came to a standstill, my hands on my knees, weary from my run.
"Ha...phew!" Exhaling, I expressed.
As I continued moving forward, I examined all around. Being wary of my surroundings, I tried to walk quickly to put some distance between myself and the town. I couldn't help but look over my shoulder every few steps as I accelerated my pace. Paranoia was gripping me. The adrenaline rush from my escape began to wear off, leaving me unprotected and exposed out in the open.
I could hear the rustling of leaves in the wind, the chirping of crickets, and the distant howl of a wolf. The forest felt alive, and I felt a sense of awe and fear. I tread cautiously, not knowing what is awaiting me in the shadows. My heart was pounding, but I knew I had to keep going. I took a deep breath and kept walking, hoping I'll make it out safely.
The scenery of the forest during the night was something to be imprinted in my mind. The deep, dark silence was almost tangible, punctured only by the occasional call of a night creature. The stars shone brightly, and the moonlight illuminated the trees, creating a surreal atmosphere.
I knew it was midnight, seeing as the moon was high in the sky. I couldn't afford to waste any more time worrying about things. I had been thinking when I heard a twig snap. I whipped my head towards the sound, terrified. I smiled as soon as I realized what was making the noise. It was the horse that I let loose.
"I'm sorry for what I did earlier today. It was my only way," I said, slowly putting my hand out.
The horse slowly approached me, as if it understood. I ran my hand along its neck, feeling the warmth of its body. In a moment of understanding, the horse eventually laid down. As I sat beside the horse, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and connection. It was as if the horse knew I needed its companionship at that moment, providing me with a comforting presence amidst my worries.
I carefully stood up and sat on its back. I grabbed what was left of the harness and pulled it up.
'Now I can get to my goal faster,' I rejoiced.
We trotted away into the night. I felt the cool nighttime air sweep through my hair. A wave of calmness washed over me. As we moved through the darkness, the rhythmic sounds of the horse's hooves against the ground created a soothing melody. I realized that the horse's rhythmic strides were not only carrying me physically but also helping to ease the weight on my mind. At that moment, I knew that this unexpected encounter with the horse had brought me a sense of clarity that I desperately needed.
We neared the site of my previous death.
"Halt!" I exclaim.
I soothe the horse and tell it to let me down. Holding onto the horse's harness, I inched closer to what seemed familiar laying on the ground. Upon witnessing this, I fell to the ground, trembling. I place my hands on my mouth, trying not to scream. I inched closer to poke it with my dagger. It was real. It was me.
"How is this possible?" I said, confused and trembling.
The same clothes and the same stab wound. The fool had pledged to bury my body, but he had lied.
"Oh, how I have suffered even after death!" I cried, looking at the parts of me that had been ripped apart by animals.
An epiphany occurred to me while I was sobbing. I instantly removed my robe and wrapped it around the corpse. I moved it under a tree to distract their attention.
"Hopefully they'll be dumb enough not to pursue me any further," I said, glancing at my pitiful state.
I turned around, unable to look myself in the eyes any longer. I remounted the horse, and we embarked on our journey. Something felt amiss as we carried on. The forest fell silent.
"Ha! Faster!" I exclaimed.
The wind howled, and the branches shook. A storm was brewing. Dark clouds gathered overhead, casting an eerie shadow over the once-serene forest. The horse's hooves echoed ominously against the now desolate landscape as we pressed on, our hearts filled with a growing sense of unease.
The smell of rain intensified. I spotted a broken wagon in the distance. It appears to have been attacked, and these are the remains. Nonetheless, it was sufficient for the time being to seek cover from the pouring rain. The rain began to pour hard, making visibility difficult. The thunder clashed violently, adding to the atmosphere of foreboding. We quickened our pace, seeking refuge from the storm, unaware of the dangers that awaited us in the darkness.
Even in such weather, we were not safe. Sounds of growl surrounded us.The horse became alert, raising its head and twitching its ears. I quickly got up and sat on the horse.
"We better get the hell out of here," I expressed.
The growls grew closer and louder, sending shivers down my spine. I urged the horse and we galloped through the rain-soaked forest, lightning illuminated the menacing figures lurking in the shadows. The growls echo through the trees, fueling our fear and urging us to escape before it was too late.
Through the downpour, the horse rushed as fast as it could, hooves pounding into the muck. We came to a halt, staring at the cliff wall ahead of us. In a hurry, I turned right and fled. The growls became more distant. We had narrowly escaped the clutches of whatever creatures lurked in the darkness, but the relief was short-lived. As we made our way back through the forest, the storm intensified, rain pouring down in torrents and thunder rumbling ominously overhead. The horse's hooves splashed through puddles, creating a symphony of fear as we desperately searched for a way out of this treacherous maze of a forest.
"Whoa!" As we approached a cave, I tugged on the horse's harness.
We came to a halt and sat a little further away from the entrance inside the cave. The adrenaline faded and the anxiousness settled after a while. Unknowingly I fell asleep against the damp cave wall, exhaustion taking over my body. When I woke up, the storm had passed and sunlight filtered through the trees, casting the forest in a golden glow. Grateful for the respite the cave had provided us.