Page 12 of Alpha's Fate

Cora

“Tea first,” Lilly poured a bright blue liquid into the delicate cups before us. I had to admit it smelled amazing, warm and sweet. No matter how much I was uneasy about all the papers above us. What on earth could they be for? Were we on earth at all? I didn’t know. Either way I sipped at the liquid gratefully, letting it warm me from the inside out. After being in the cold and dark so long it was a genuinerelief to just be seated and drinking in the sweetness of the liquid.

Interestingly the cup next to me smelled spicy like the apple cider that my mate was so fond of. Maybe it somehow made itself taste different to different people, or perhaps it had been brewed to our tastes specifically, but it was interesting and somehow comforting. Like we were experiencing care before the rest of our tasks in the forest were complete.

Soon soup was set in front of us, savory and vegetable heavy. I could see the carrots and potatoes floating in the broth and I dove in soon after my companion did. It tasted as good as it looked and before I knew it I was full and sated. Whatever was in it genuinely made me feel reenergized and rested without having to sleep at all.

“You must feel better now. Feel free to explore. Take as long as you like! Everything is nice here. Just take care not to go beyond the bounds of the blue forest. There’s a witch out there who will curse you if you approach. Everything else is free for exploration.

“We have to go. We need to move forward, we have a task to complete,” I explained, and she nodded solemnly.

“The artifact, of course. Many people come here seeking it, but none have ever found it yet.” Her voice was sad, wistful as if she had lost someone. “Anyways, stay for a while. Time works different here. When you leave, you’ll arrive just when you need to be.” I was silent and so was my partner. We both just looked at one another for a few moments, searching each other’s eyes.

“We’d best be exploring, then.” He said, standing suddenly.

“Wonderful! Come find me if there’s anything else you need.” She said, standing with us. “I’ll be around.”

“Let’s go,” I agreed, taking his hand, and walking off toward the path. “We’ve got to find the artifact she was talking about. It has to mean something.”

“Yeah. It’s weird that she would mention it, though. And mentioning others have vanished as well, that seems so weird.” I nodded slowly, squeezing his hand. “I think we should just follow the path to the end. Or wherever it takes us.”

“Yeah,” I said softly, walking with him down the soft, moss path. I was thankful that there was never a stone or a stick in spite of the woods around us, the softness nice on my bare feet. Would we get our Packs back? I would need the clothes and shoes I’d Packed away for this very situation.

“Oh, it’s you!” A small girl came running up the path to us, glowing a soft pink with a blue dress on. “Wow, oh wow! Champions of the forest, I heard. Can I have your names?” she asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

“I uh,” I paused. I looked over at my mate hesitantly, suddenly realizing I didn’t remember. I didn’t remember either of them.

“Oh no, someone got them first. Darn,” the girl said softly. “Who got them?”

“Lilly,” my mate said breathlessly. “Dammit. She took our names.”

“What is this place?” I asked, turning back to the little girl.

“I hate her! She always gets them first!” She stamped her tiny foot. “Oh, I’m going to get her.”

“How do we get them back?” I asked, fury rising inside me. This was so stupid, such an inconvenience. We had things to do!

“You gave them to her fair and square.” She answered simply before turning and running off. My mate seemed to want to run after her but I grabbed his arm.

“The witch,” I said softly. “Let’s go see the witch.”

We made it back into the darkness beyond the glowing… whatever it was. It was well into the walk when a silent horse, black as coal, ran past us and lept a fence. I tilted my head slightly- had it been there before? I wasn’t certain. It was rickety and kind of off. The closer we got to the fence the more I realizedit was made of bones. Some of them looked human. Some of the posts were topped with skulls, eyes glowing softly like lit from within by candles. I glanced nervously at the man beside me and even in the dark I could see his jaw was clenched tight.

“I’d say we’re here.” He said softly. Together we approached the gate as silently as possible. As I reached for the gate an old woman, hunched and deeply wrinkled, peered out of a hut in the center of the fence, a scowl on her face. Her long, stringy hair hung partially in her face, obscuring her eyes.

“Who are you that approaches me?” The jawbones that held the gate closed chattered as she spoke and I pulled my hand back instinctively.

“We don’t know,” he answered, and she creaked the door open more.

“Ah,” the gate swung open and she beckoned us forward. “You are not the first to come to me. You seek your names. These I cannot give you.”

“But they fear you. Those people in the mushroom forest fear you. You must have a way to help us.” I protested.

“They’re right to. As should you,” she grinned, her smile far too wide and her deep set eyes glimmering in the light of the skulls, all of which had turned to face us. “What would you do to get them back?”

“What do you ask of us, Grandmother?” I asked, and her eerie grin widened further.

“I am missing my horse. White as snow. Find him and what you need shall be yours.” She held a rope out and my partner took it. “But be wary, for he is difficult to tame. You’ll find him near the water, but heed him not. Do not dare to ride him home.” The door slammed in our faces and I turned to my love, only then realizing how tight I was crushing his hand. I hated this place. I hated it deeply.

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