2. Faye

2

FAYE

I move through the forest like a shadow, each step calculated and silent. The scent of damp earth and rirzed herb fills my nostrils as I track my prey. A dae, its three-horned silhouette barely visible through the dense foliage.

My fingers brush the fletching of an arrow as I draw it from my quiver. The familiar weight settles against my bowstring, a comfort born from years of survival in these wilds. I've learned to hunt or be hunted, and I don't intend to go hungry tonight.

The dae pauses, its large eyes scanning the undergrowth. Its camouflaged coat blends seamlessly with the mottled greens and browns of the forest floor. But I've been tracking it for hours. I know its every twitch, every breath.

I draw back my bow, muscles taut with anticipation. The world narrows to a pinpoint - just me, my arrow, and my target. I can almost taste the meat already, imagining how I'll prepare it over my cave fire.

A twig snaps in the distance. The dae's head jerks up, nostrils flaring. I freeze, willing my heart to slow its frantic beating. One wrong move and my dinner will bolt.

"Easy," I breathe, the word barely a whisper on my lips. The dae's ear twitches, but it doesn't run. Not yet.

I adjust my aim, compensating for the slight breeze rustling through the leaves. The forest holds its breath with me as I prepare to release.

I hold my breath, waiting for the perfect moment to release my arrow. The forest is silent, save for the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. Suddenly, a ray of sunlight breaks through the canopy, glinting off the metal arrowhead. The flash of light hits my eyes, and I'm no longer in the forest.

I'm back there. The room is dark, lit only by flickering flames. My hands shake as I grip the blade, its weight unfamiliar and terrifying. The metal catches the firelight, and I see my own wide-eyed reflection staring back at me.

Smoke is starting to fill the room, and panic threatens to consume. I press myself against the wall, willing the shadows to swallow me whole. But I know there's no escape. Not this time. The blade trembles in my grip as his footsteps draw nearer.

The firelight dances across the room, casting grotesque shadows that seem to reach for me with grasping fingers. I bite my lip to keep from whimpering, tasting blood.

He rounds the corner, his massive frame filling the doorway. Our eyes lock, and I see the moment rage replaces his drunken haze. He lunges forward with a roar that shakes the very foundations of the house.

I don't think. I can't think. My body moves on its own, driven by years of fear and pain and desperation.

The memory overwhelms me, dragging me in deeper as it comes in bits and pieces. It shifts, and now I'm deeper in the house, the knife still clutched tightly in my grasp.

Smoke fills my lungs, acrid and thick. I can't breathe. Can't think. Screams echo through the burning house, and I realize they're my own.

The knife clatters to the floor as I stumble backward, crashing into a table. Pain shoots through my hip, but I barely notice. All I can focus on is the inferno raging around me, consuming everything in its path.

"Get out," I rasp, my voice raw from the smoke. "Get out, get out, get out!"

But which way is out? The flames dance before my eyes, twisting the familiar layout of the house into a nightmarish maze. I drop to my knees, crawling along the floor where the air is clearer. The heat is unbearable, searing my skin even through my clothes.

A beam crashes down behind me, showering me with embers. I yelp, batting at my hair as sparks threaten to ignite it. Panic claws at my throat, threatening to paralyze me. But I can't stop. I won't die here, not like this.

I force myself forward, inch by agonizing inch. My hands are raw and bleeding from the rough floor, but I barely feel it through the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Another scream tears from my throat as flames lick at my heels, spurring me on.

Somewhere in the chaos, I hear a deep, guttural roar. It sends a fresh wave of terror through me, giving me strength I didn't know I had. I surge forward, desperation lending speed to my movements.

I bite back a sob, forcing myself to keep moving. The smoke is thicker now, making it impossible to see. I'm completely disoriented, unsure if I'm heading towards safety or deeper into the inferno.

My lungs burn with every breath, and spots dance before my eyes. I'm going to pass out. I'm going to die here, trapped in this burning glacies. The thought fills me with a rage so potent it drowns out even my fear.

I blink hard, forcing the memories back into the recesses of my mind where they belong. The forest swims back into focus, and I see the dae still standing there, unaware of my inner turmoil. My hands are shaking, but I've learned to shoot through worse.

Taking a deep breath, I steady myself. The scent of rirzed herb grounds me in the present. This is now. This is real. I am no longer that terrified child, but a survivor who has carved out her own place in this unforgiving world.

I refocus on my prey, letting the familiar routine of the hunt wash over me. The dae shifts slightly, presenting the perfect shot. Without hesitation, I release my arrow.

It flies true, a whisper of death through the forest. The dae doesn't even have time to startle before the arrow finds its mark, piercing its heart. It crumples to the ground with barely a sound.

Relief and satisfaction flood through me as I approach my kill. This will feed me for days, maybe even allow me to smoke some meat for later. As I kneel beside the dae, I murmur a quiet thanks to The Hunter for this blessing.

My knife slides easily through the dae's hide as I begin to dress it. The routine motions are soothing, helping to further banish the lingering echoes of my past. This is my life now - wild and free, answering to no one but myself and the rhythms of the forest.

As I work, I can't help but feel a sense of pride.I've built a life for myself out here, learned to not just survive, but thrive. Every day I live is a victory, a flaunt to those who thought they could break me.

The forest around me is alive with the sounds of other creatures going about their day. A karasu caws overhead, no doubt eyeing my kill. In the distance, I hear the low growl of a likar on the hunt. But I'm not worried. I know how to avoid their territories, how to make myself invisible when needed.

This is my home now, and I know its secrets intimately. As I finish dressing the dae and prepare to haul it back to my cave, I feel a sense of contentment settle over me. Tonight, I'll eat well and sleep safely, far from the reach of those who would seek to cage me again.

I settle into my cave, belly full from the dae meat I've roasted over the fire. The flames have died down to embers, casting a soft glow across the rough stone walls. I stretch out on my bedroll, muscles aching pleasantly from the day's hunt.

As I drift towards sleep, something nags at the edge of my consciousness. The forest feels... different. I strain my ears, trying to pinpoint what's bothering me. Then it hits me - silence. Complete and utter silence.

No chirping of night insects. No rustling of nocturnal creatures. Even the wind seems to have stilled. It's as if the entire forest is holding its breath, waiting for something... or someone.

A chill runs down my spine, and I sit up, suddenly alert. In all my years out here, I've never encountered another person. The forest has been my sanctuary, my private domain. But now...

I shake my head, trying to dislodge the uneasy feeling. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. It wouldn't be the first time my past has made me jumpy. Still, as I lie back down, I can't shake the thought that my solitary existence might be coming to an end.

"You've been lucky so far," I mutter to myself, staring up at the cave ceiling. "But how long can that luck really last?"

The silence of the forest seems to echo my question, offering no comfort. As exhaustion finally pulls me under, my last conscious thought is a grim realization: my luck might be about to run out.