Her sniffles echoed through the silent woods, a haunting lament that spoke of her anguish and despair. But amidst the chaos and the darkness that threatened to consume her, there was a glimmer of defiance in her eyes—a stubborn refusal to surrender to the darkness that pursued her.
Though her body screamed in pain, Ona pushed herself to the brink of exhaustion, her resolve unbroken. For she knew that to stop now would mean certain death, and she was not yet ready to relinquish her hold on hope.
The ground grew uneven with each step, and Ona's foot caught on a protruding rock. She stumbled forward, her heart racing as she tried to regain her balance. However, the rough terrain proved unforgiving, and before she knew it, she lost her footing entirely.
With a gasp, Ona tumbled down a steep incline, her hands grasping desperately for something to hold onto. But there was nothing but loose stones and slippery moss. Downward she plummeted, her cries echoing through the silent forest.
At the bottom of the slope, Ona landed with a splash into a swiftly flowing river. The icy water shocked her senses, and she struggled to keep her head above the surface. The current carried her along, its relentless force pulling her deeper into the heart of the forest.
As Ona fought against the river's relentless grip, she heard a distant rumbling growing louder with each passing moment. Panic seized her as she realized the river was hurtling towards a towering cliff edge.
The river cascaded over the edge with a deafening roar, transforming into a magnificent waterfall that glittered in the sunlight. Ona closed her eyes, bracing for impact as she hurtled towards the raging pool below.
Moments later, she plunged into the frothy waters, her body submerged beneath the surface. For a heart-stopping instant, all was chaos and darkness. By the gods, Ona surfaced, gasping for air as she clung to a rocky outcrop at the base of the waterfall.
Exhausted and battered, but alive, the princess dragged her weary body with trembling arms onto the rocky shore, collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud, her heart still racing from the ordeal.
As she lay there, her breaths ragged and shallow, Ona's gaze fell upon the arrow lodged in her shoulder. The wooden shaft had splintered upon impact with the water, leaving jagged fragments embedded in her flesh. A sharp pang of agony shot through her as she realized that some of the arrowhead still remained lodged inside her.
Despite the searing pain, Ona knew she had to act quickly. With trembling fingers, she attempted to assess the wound, her vision swimming as she struggled to focus. Blood seeped from the torn flesh.
Ona reached for a nearby stone, using it to prop herself up as she struggled to remain conscious. Every movement sent waves of agony coursing through her body. She knew that if she didn't remove the arrow fragments soon, infection would surely set in, sealing her fate.
The princess couldn't help but be transported back to a simpler time, to her childhood spent frolicking in the mystical forests beneath her father's palace walls. She remembered the carefree laughter, the joyous shouts, and the warmth of friendship shared with Didé, her closest companion.
Amidst the memories of blissful days, there lingered the recollection of a different kind of pain, the kind that came from scraped knees and bruised elbows, from daring adventures gone awry. She remembered a day much like this one, when a misstep had sent her tumbling to the forest floor, tears welling in her eyes as the sting of injury bit into her skin.
It was Didé who had sprung into action, scouring the forest floor for miraculous herbs with healing properties. With deft fingers, Didé had fashioned a poultice that soothed the pain and hastened the healing process, his calm demeanor a reassuring presence in the midst of turmoil.
And then there were the wild berries, plump and tempting, their vibrant hues beckoning to them from the bushes that lined their path. In their youthful exuberance, they had plucked the berries eagerly, laughing as they stained their lips and fingers with their juicy sweetness.
But as evening fell and their stomachs rebelled against the unfamiliar feast, they had learned a valuable lesson about the dangers of indulgence. With a mixture of laughter and regret, they had retched together that evening.
"I told you we shouldn't have eaten those berries, Didé," she had said.
"How would we have known they were poisoned? The only way to know is to eat them, Nana," he had chuckled mischievously before hurling one last time.
Nana. That was what he called her. Ona was already the shortened form of her name, Onamalikendu, but Didé couldn't care less. He had said, he called her Nana because she reminded him of someone dear to him he had lost few years back. He never talked about this mystery person. Not ever.
"Ona..?" Didé began
"Mhm?"
"Why are your eyes so different? They're like the color of the ocean, but your skin is dark like ebony wood,"
Ona had shrugged and grinned. "I don't know, Didé! It's just how I was born, I guess. Mother says the gods willed it so."
"Incredible!" Didé exclaimed, his imagination whirling. "So, your ancestors sailed across the ocean and brought back the color of the sea in your eyes?"
Ona laughed, nodding enthusiastically. "Yes, maybe! I do not know. Sometimes people just have different colored eyes, even if it's unexpected."
Didé nodded, still fascinated. "Well, I think your eyes are like a secret treasure hidden in plain sight!"
Ona beamed at Didé's words, feeling proud of her divine blessings.
Dide surpassed Ona in both age and height by a margin of three years. The 12-year-old prince stood tall, his ebony skin glowing with youthful vitality under the golden sun. His features were chiseled and refined, inherited from a line of noble ancestors who had ruled their kingdom. His brown eyes, deep and soulful, held a spark of curiosity and intelligence, betraying a keen mind that was always eager to learn and explore.
His hair, a crown of dark ebonyskin curls, framed his face in a wild cascade, lending him an air of regal elegance even in his youth. With each step, he moved with a natural grace and poise, a testament to the royal upbringing that had instilled in him a sense of dignity and composure beyond his years.
But beneath his princely exterior lay the heart of a child, full of laughter and mischief, with a boundless enthusiasm for adventure. Whether racing through the palace gardens or listening wide-eyed to tales of valor, he approached every moment with an infectious sense of joy and wonder.
With a soft chuckle, Ona embraced the memory, drawing strength from her childhood self and the unwavering support of her dearest Didé.
Her vision blurred, her hands trembling as they clutched at the wound. The world spun around her, sounds muffled as if from a great distance, until finally, in a crescendo of torment, darkness enveloped her, and she succumbed to the merciless grip of unconsciousness.