Seven nights before meeting the General
In the end, I had come quietly. There was not much I could do. I was no match for a werewolf, never mind four of them. They did not even bind me. Erna did not trust me, that much was for certain, but Alain had been kind.
First we set off on foot. Wounds and blisters littered my body after a trek through dense grass, and a night in the prickly fields.
In the distance, the towers of Tellevine castle came into view quite quickly.
Intricate patterns adorned the castle. It was grand and beautiful, but a horror nonetheless.
We were so close to the emperor, and home was far away by then.
Despite my protests, Alain carried me for much of the trip. I could not keep up. I was still weak, and my legs were far too short.
It was a comfort when we reached the coastline.
Rocky as it was, it still reminded me of home.
The ocean breeze was colder there than it ever had been down South, but it was a familiar feeling.
I waded through the water on the rocky Northern coast. It felt like ice on my skin, but I was cleansed both physically and mentally. I felt freedom even in captivity.
Erna suggested, “What if he is a Siren, and he swims away?” I chuckled at her suggestion. It was not far from the truth. Sirens were magic, just like me. And I did feel a deep connection to the ocean. But I was nothing but a druid. All I could do was heal.
In truth, I should be connected to the forest, the earth, the spirits of nature that were found in trees, the animals that resided in the mossy earth.
But I had never stepped foot in a forest before.
It must have been the sand couch and sea rocket, the lichens and mosses of the dunes that fuelled my magic.
The Northern coast was full of lyme grass, and it energised me.
It brought me back to life. I drew my power from what little vegetation the coast had to offer.
So when we finally left the kingdom to enter the forest, I was wary and on edge.
There was so much life, it was overwhelming.
While the werewolves around me came to life, I shut down.
Unknown plants were clouding my senses, and trees, a scarce sight in the South, were all around us.
They were large and carried an energy I had never grown accustomed to.
Still, the forest welcomed me. It welcomed all of us.
It reminded me that despite our differences, we were all creatures of one habitat.