"Father, where have you been? I was worried when I didn't see you today" Mara asked her father with worry as he made himself comfortable by Poppy's side.
"At the old valley, there was an inspection that was needed to be done."
The women looked at each other in suspense as they said together "Inspection?"
"Yes." he responded grimly.
"But, what for father?", Mara curiously questions
"There was a suspected Fae attack there but we're not sure yet"
"Fae attack! oh no! we're not safe here!"
"Calm down Mara, father said it's suspected Fae attack but they're not sure."
"But what if is does turn out to be a Fae attack?!!what would we do?!"
"Don't worry, we'll know how to handle them when the time comes, but it's shouldn't stop you from enjoying yourselves during the festival." he said as he noticed their frowns. They looked at him and smiled as he stood up to go upstairs, "prepare yourselves, it's almost time for it to start."
"But it's still afternoon."
"I know Poppy but better earlier than late" and he turned to go. On getting to the stairs, he turned to them like he forgot to tell them something,
"Girls, I don't want any of you to go outside during the festival, we all know that's it's not an ordinary festival", he continues "there will be a lot of spirits around us that moment and we all know how dangerous that can be if we're out of the village. Please, I'm saying it's again, don't leave the village." he said while looking at Poppy, she bends her head down as she and Mara replied okay.
" I hope you know he was talking to you mostly." Mara said to Poppy as their father disappeared upstairs.
"And why would you say that?!"
"Oh please! don't pretend you don't know why."
"Okay, I won't leave the village I promise."
"Hmph!" Mara could only scoff at Poppy's assumed promise said as she left her in the living room to go to the kitchen.
The night came by quicker than ever. The streets were decorated with orange, red and yellow lights. Flowers of the same colors hung up from roof to roof of stalls where festive items were sold, the square bursts with loud music and people danced and chatted across the street in happiness and the atmosphere matched very well with the festival. Poppy was standing by one of the stalls holding a mug filled with malt liquor, she looked around the place and saw the people chatting happily, something she couldn't be part of, her mother had died during this festival and after all the years, it was something she couldn't forget. She left the stall and walked into the crowd of people, and outside the crowd stood Fred's parents happily talking to Samantha, the beauty of the town. With her rich, soft blonde curls and good skin she was the ideal woman Fred's parents wanted as a daughter in-law and not some woman like her parading herself in leathers. She compared herself to Samantha, she looked more womanly in her green dress and Poppy, well she couldn't say more for herself.
"Poppy where've you been we've been looking for you" her tan skinned friend Florence called her from behind. She turned around and saw her along with Eva coming to call her. She smiled, walked towards them and they hugged themselves.
"Pop's, you okay?"
"Yeah," she fake smiled at them.
The two girls looked at each other and then at Poppy, she arched a brow at them, questioning their gazes, but they just shrug their shoulders.
"So what are you guys doing here?!"
"what else if not to call you."
"For what?" Poppy questions, quite confused.
"Fred asked us to help him bring you to the doran coast for your meeting." Eva told her
"Ohh..., I remember" but why couldn't he come himself?, was he embarrassed of her if he took her in front of his parents? she couldn't think more of it as she sighs tiredly, they left the crowd and walked away from the streets but as they continued to walk Poppy remembered her father's instructions. She didn't want to disobey him but she wanted to see what surprise was being held for her that would prevent Fred from bringing her himself.
"Poppy!"
Poppy turned with fear, as she knew who's voice was that, Mara stood there with a shocked expression on her face, Poppy ran to her.
"I'll be back soon"
"Poppy, father said..."
"I know, but I'll be back soon, it's the doran coast"
"What... Poppy!"
"Please, Fred's holding something for me there"
"Ugh! Poppy!"
"Please, I'm begging you Mara."
Mara saw the sadness in her eyes and mother she hated seeing such, She breathes out harshly glaring at Poppy.
"You better be back soon!"
Poppy smiles and hugsher second eldest sister "thank you." she whispered in her ears and runs off with her friends while Mara stares at their backs and asked herself if she had just made the right decision.
They got to the coast but no one was there, the girls were confused mostly Poppy, as they stood by the beach side.
"Well, where is he?!" Poppy asked slowly getting annoyed.
"We... don't know?" Eva responded slowly.
"You don't know! you two brought me here because you said that he wants me here or isn't this the place?!" she asked while trying not to raise her voice.
"Pop's calm down, it's here but maybe his not done yet".
"Really?!" Poppy asked astonished.
"Yes!" both girls said together. Poppy walks away from them swiftly with enraged steps.
"And where are you going?" they choursed their question together.
"HOME!"
"Aw... come on Pop's, let's wait a bit" they persuaded her but she didn't want to listen.
"While we play hide and seek..." and then Poppy's face lits up, she turns with speed running towards them.
"I'll go first!" she squealed.
"Nah-uh, your not going to hide. Last time you did I found you two weeks later".
The girls laughed at the funny memory and then they started to play. They took rounds till it was time for Poppy to hide, she ran far from them and hid between the rose bushes as they counted one to ten. She giggles to herself as she waits for them to find her.
Suddenly, a blue light shone by her side. She turns to see something like a fire fly flying around her, she giggles in silence as the thing landed on her nose, then it took off with the speed of light. She followed the thing as fast as she could with curiosity in her mind about what it was.
The thing led her to a garden with a pool that glowed with magic, something she didn't like. She was about to turn and leave when she heard a shimmering sound, she looks and saw the oak tree in the middle of the pool glowing, more of those creatures came out and flew towards the canoe at the edge of the pool like it was awaiting her. She entered and paddled to the tree and stepped on the grass, she walked towards the oak and went closer, a hole was in the middle and something was glowing in it she looked inside and saw something like an orb. Reaching for it, she tried bringing it out to take a closer look the same time the creatures entered into the tree and before she could realize it, she got dragged in.
She came out of another oak tree in a forest staring around scared and as she walked ahead she looks around, wondering where she was when suddenly, she heard the force of animal feet thundering on the hard ground, each step was an earthquake as she tried to find her footing, she waited, steadily and...she grasped!!!
WOLF!!!! and it's was running towards her fast. Memories of that night rushed into her head like a flood as she remembered her mother, being ripped apart bit by by. She had no time to think of it as she wanted no fate, she reached for an arrow, aim just as it jumped over her and Bam! it landed dead at her back but things just grew worse as two dark skinned faes appeared from nowhere that were cheering happily became grim when they saw her, and from grim to utmost shock as they sighted the dead wolf. Poppy turned to see it but instead she saw paws turning to fine soft hands, fur to soft skin in a green dress, blonde hair and wolf ears to pointed human like ears.
She kill a Fae! a female Fae!.
"Murderer" the dark skinned female Fae thunders at Poppy with smoke fire in her amber eyes.
OH NO!