The sound of crushing leaves and twigs underfoot echoed in Asha's ears as she walked aimlessly away from her home. She often ventured into the woods when she wanted to be alone, for she had a lot to think about. She felt safe there and rarely lost her way. Her head was in a maelstrom of emotions that she found difficult to put into words.
Primarily, she was angry: angry at her mother for not letting her learn how to get stronger, and at Zoran, who knew her mother would say no and made her ask anyway. She was mad at the other kids who teased her for wanting to be strong and mad at the adults for treating her like she didn't understand anything. But most of all, she was mad at her father. Her mother thought she was too young to remember, but she wasn't. She knew what happened and was mad that he left them behind.
Secondly, she was scared; scared of getting stronger. Although she'd never admit it, Zoran was terrifying, with the way he moved and the ease with which he could kill those beasts. She admired and respected him, but she was scared she'd end up alone, just like him. She was also fearful of being weak. Her mother was weak and had lost her father. She didn't want to be like that, too weak to stop bad things from happening.
Finally, she was frustrated. Frustrated by her lack of ability and the fact that she needed others. She wanted to do it all herself but couldn't, and that annoyed her. She'd often tried to copy Zoran's movements and her mother's way of mixing herbs into medicines, but she couldn't do it. She felt useless, like a burden. What if she just wasn't meant to be strong? What if she spent her life watching everything she cared about slip away?
These emotions played havoc with her rationality as she moved deeper into the dense forest, lost in her head and the world around her. The trees grew thicker, and the light dimmed with the setting sun as the triplet moons rose to take its place.
Time passed, and she eventually conquered her emotions, returning to her usual determined and slightly arrogant self. She lowered her hips, steadied her feet, and got into a mirrored stance she'd seen Zoran use during training. She picked up a long, mostly smooth, and pointy stick to act as her makeshift weapon. The tree in front of her became her opponent, and an image of a disgusting man crossed her mind, sharpening her focus.
Silence, stillness, and serenity shattered as she lunged, stabbing outward with a bit of strength. She fell to the ground, a numb sensation spreading through her arms as if she'd struck solid stone.
She looked up at her makeshift tree enemy and grinned radiantly. With newfound energy, she leapt to her feet in celebration.
"I did it!" she shouted to no one in particular. Her makeshift spear had actually pierced the thick, bark-like armor of the tree and left a small wound. She had tried this many times before with no success. This was a huge accomplishment. She'd have to tell Zoran, then her mother, and then all those stupid kids who doubted her and—
Her thoughts stopped abruptly. She realized she didn't recognize her surroundings. The trees acted like labyrinthine walls, concealing her path home. The sounds of birds, insects, and beasts became menacing obstacles. How had she gotten lost? Since when did the woods become so confusing?
Fear, which she had briefly conquered, surged back, overwhelming her. She looked around frantically, trying to remember the path she'd taken. 'Everything looks the same!' she thought, panic setting in. What should she do?
Her mother often told stories about the woods, of the monsters who lived there and their queen, the witch who ruled over it. What if that witch came and took her away? Could she fight back? Could she escape? Why couldn't she remember the way?
She tried to recall her mother's advice about the woods and remembered being told to stay put and wait for help if she ever got lost. But it was getting darker by the second. Who would find her then? Would she end up like her father?
"Hello, child," said a monotone voice, not far from the frightened girl.
"AHHH!" she screamed at the top of her lungs and took off running. "STAY AWAY!"
The owner of the voice followed her, maintaining a comfortable distance. He was completely unbothered by her shrill cries. Asha didn't even attempt to speak to whatever was chasing her. She simply ran, her heart pounding in her chest. Eventually, she tripped on an exposed root and fell into some foliage. Thankfully, the leaves softened her fall, but the stranger had now closed the distance enough for her to see.
He appeared to be a man in his early thirties, with messy gray hair and eyes. He was the tallest person she'd ever seen, and his right arm hung limply by his side. Asha was surprised. The man didn't look like a monster. In fact, he was rather striking.
"Apologies. I didn't mean to scare you. Do you know the way out of this forest?" the man asked, his gaze focused on her.
"Ummm, who are you?" she asked nervously, embarrassed by her earlier panic.
"Me? I am..." The man paused, a flicker of emotion crossing his eyes. "Maveth. My name is Maveth."