Astrid's POV
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I surveyed the entire environment making sure that no one saw me as I slipped off behind the laundry cottage.
"I-i'd need peppermint leaves, mitoria, and…". I called peering around the leaves until my eyes met what I was searching for and I smiled. "The lifa tree's flower".
I went over and plucked two flowers placing them in the basket where the other leaves were also kept.
"Fairy". I heard Iva whisper and I spun around to face her. I gave a fond smile and waved. She walked up to me.
"H-hello Iva, just got the herbs". I said showing the basket of leaves and flowers to her.
"Come on". She whispered again and waved me to follow her. She held my hand and scanned the environment.
"Coast is clear". She gave a thumbs up and we both hurried off.
"Everyone's always indoors". I mentioned as I did not see a lot of persons outside.
"Uh-huh! After all, the pack houses are far from each other. Everyone tries to mind their business".
I smiled at her humour. She was a little girl yet spoke so maturely.
"H-how old are you?".
"Nine".
Wow! She was just nine.
"Shhh…" she placed a finger over her lips and opened the door to her house. She then signalled me in after looking inside.
"I'll just get all you need".
I walked in and wandered towards the pictures on the wall. I smiled as I stared at photos of Iva.
"O-oh!" I exclaimed and pointed to a particular picture. My brows furrowed as I racked my brain to recall.
"Wh-where did I see her again?"
It was odd, the woman in the picture with Iva seemed oddly familiar. I couldn't quite recall where I had seen her but I just know I had. If only I thought hard, I would…
"Fairy". Iva interrupted my train of thought and I turned, walking to her.
"Here you go". She gave a little pounder to me.
"You'd better do it in my room".
I slowly nodded and followed her down the hallway until we entered a room.
"Th-this is your room?".
"Uh-huh! You think it's lovely?".
I nodded and dropped everything I was holding on the centre rug and looked around in awe feeling like a little girl in Wonderland.
"Plus you have a butterfly as a pet".
I asked touching the glass box that housed the butterfly.
I never had a room of my own and I certainly did not have a shelf full of toys nor did I keep a butterfly as a pet.
I walked over to the window and looked out of it, catching sight of a tree that had several bird nests on it. The birds were chirping and it seemed peaceful.
"Fairy". Iva called. "We should get this done before my parents get back from work".
"R-right". I agreed and sat down on the centre mat. Iva sat on her bed and swung her legs watching me pound the leaves into a paste.
"Are you a healer of some sort?". She questioned and I laughed using a sieve to filter out the liquid from the pounded leaves.
"No, but my mother always taught me how to make herbs and medications when I was younger".
"Uhhh…you mama must be a healer then".
My mother wasn't but I just smiled and nodded. It was best if no one knew where I came from. It was better to keep it secret that I was a witch.
"All done". I raised the bottle of liquid and Iva giggled, clapping her hands and bouncing on the bed.
"Let's get this to your friends"
She nodded and got down from the bed. I walked out of her room and she followed suit. As we did, we hurriedly walked outside until we made a stop in front of the pack house that had a cross at the door.
"Let's go in, Fairy". She muttered and opened the door. I followed suit and we soon came face-to-face with her friends.
"B-but what happened to them?" I asked staring at all the children lying in the beds.
"It was an arrow pandemic". She sniffed. "All I know is that it was sent by an arrow".
"Wh-what arrow? And...and what did it do?".
"I don't know either, my friend Matty touched an arrow that was shot into the territory and whatever it came with, spread to the rest of us".
"The…the rest of you?". I asked moving towards the children who were looking pale. Iva stood still and I looked at her.
"I'd contract it again if I got any closer". She explained.
I never got the chance to ask about the sickness the first day Iva brought me here, I was so shocked and could barely speak.
The sickness was strictly affecting only the children I supposed. I opened the bottle and held the chin of the first child opening her mouth a little. I poured a little liquid in and moved to the next.
I walked back to Iva by the time I was done. She looked at the clock and covered a hand over her mouth.
"Ugh! I have to go Fairy. See ya later". Iva quickly dashed out and I also walked out closing the door behind me.
Immediately I turned, I almost collided with someone.
"S-sorry". I quickly apologized and when I looked up, I almost choked. It was the same woman I had collided with at the laundry cottage.
"Dear?". She looked at me and her eyes fell to my purple crystal pendant and her head turned to the side a little as though studying it.
"I-i have to go". I started quickly and hurried off. Like the first time, I could still feel her eyes burning a hole through the back of my head.
I walked towards the farm where I had to help and work with the farmers. They were doing a farm rotation and I wondered if they noticed my disappearance. I hurried there but found no one.
I slowly sat down behind a tree to rest my head and I suddenly remembered the woman who had offered me some food at the isolated dungeon.
"Wh-who was she?". I questioned chewing on my lower lip.
"Let…let me get this straight. I go to the isolated dungeon and meet someone there unexpectedly".
I wondered back to the woman.
"You recognize me don't you?". She had asked me and that confused me all the more. Why was she asking me that when I had never seen her before?
"A-anyway, it doesn't matter, I'll just take a nap".
It hadn't even been up to thirty minutes into the nap.
"How dare you…" I heard the yell of the scary Alpha king and my eyes fluttered open.
"That curse will remain if you aren't careful".
I mistakenly gasped when I heard that statement but quickly covered a hand over my mouth. I heard footsteps approaching and I closed my eyes clasping my hands in front of me.
"What are you doing here?".
The Alpha king asked and I opened my eyes and quickly got up. I stared round the farm not wanting to meet his eyes.
"I…I was working. I…I wanted to rest. B-but I promise I didn't hear anything". I stammered more than I usually did.
There was a little interval of silence before the woman I had met in the dungeon stood beside the Alpha.
"Go on dear". She urged and I wondered what she was doing there with the Alpha.
I looked at the Alpha for the first time and wondered if the older woman was also a prisoner just like me or if she was also going to farm like me.
I looked back at the woman who gave a small smile and I turned and hurried away running midway.
I went to the laundry cottage where I usually ended the day's work and the place where I slept now.
I opened the door and went in. My mind was clouded with nothing in particular as I stood folding the linens there. I didn't even realize I was done until I put my hand into the basket but got no linen.
"I…I've finished with this". I sighed. "I…I should go for a short walk and get fresh air".
I wanted to sleep but didn't know what was making me want to go out of the cottage. I just let my mind direct the course of my movement.
"Astrid, my dear". I heard the same woman I met in the dungeon and at the farm call. I stopped and turned watching as she approached me. I was so confused and felt creeped out.
I looked over her shoulder and saw the scary AlphaKingg standing in the distance.
"You'll remember me in due time". She whispered with a smile and touched my cheek. "I know you're confused and want answers. You'll find all the answers you need in the little gift I have left for you in here".
She touched my apron pocket and then turned and walked back to the Alpha.
I hurried away and went towards the dungeon. It was isolated which meant privacy.
"Wh-what gift is she talking about? And…and where did she…".
I touched my apron pocket and felt something in it.
"Wh-what in the forest is this?"
I retrieved a little dark red gift bag tied at the top with a gold thread. I stared at it and shook it but heard nothing.
"Why does it also feel like there's nothing inside?". I touched the body of the gift bag and shook my head with a frown.
~Why don't we open it?
I heard my mind say.
"O-okay". I untied the thread and opened the bag peeking inside.
I suddenly fell back as the bag fell from my hands.
I rubbed my eyes only to see pixie dust coming out of the bag. They came out in different colours and soon formed an image.
"W-wait! Is this motion picture?". I asked when the images started moving and changing. It was like I was watching a story of some sort.
I slowly got up from the ground with my eyes still fixated on it. My breathing intensified and I covered a hand over my mouth.
"I…I have to run away. I have to escape somehow".