I felt like panicking. "I don't want to stay here. I want to stay with my dad and brothers. I want my own freedom to do what I want, not to stay locked up in this mountain all the time." I almost begged while crying.
There's no way dad would let this happen. I don't want to be here. I want to go home. I start to cry the more I think I will never see my family again.
"You will be in training to become a priestess. You will eat, pray, and sleep with us. It makes sense that you live with us." He tries to comfort me but I really don't want to leave my family.
"No! I will not leave my family!" I quickly stand up, turn and run off. I don't know where I'm going and I didn't care. I just needed to find a way out. I need to find my family.
"Lyria, come back!" I can hear the head priest calling for me but I dare not turn back.
"Stop Lyria, come back!" His voice is fading but I can still hear it. I run with all my might. I take several turns before coming back out to the opening with the tree. I run to the tree desperately.
"Please help me, I don't want to stay here. I want my family." I was breathlessly crying to the tree to help me.
"I need you to trust me than child and hold your breath when I tell you to." The tree lifts one of its roots that were in the pool, picks me up then brings me into the water. I think I know what it wants to do and of course, I trust it.
I nod my head ready to go under the water.
"Now!" The Tree says quickly.
I take a deep breath before I'm quickly plunged into the water towards the bottom. It doesn't stop there but instead speeds up and it goes completely dark. I close my eyes trusting the tree to keep me out of danger. We're moving too fast and before I start to run out of air I'm pushed above water. It was startling and I got dizzy from the quick movements.
Once I'm able to focus again I realize I was brought to my underground hideout. I cry again from relief. The root that was around my waist is now petting my head trying to soothe me.
I smile and pet it back in gratitude. "Thank you." That was all I could think to say. I crawl out of the water and fall to my knees. Guess I'm still shaken up from everything that's happened so far. Not long after that I must have exhausted my self more than I thought because in the next moment, I lay down and fall into a deep slumber.