wasn’t as warm as it had been the last couple of afternoons. Laying back on the small beach near the lagoon, I dipped my feet
in and out of the cool water.
I didn’t plan on staying here for too long, I knew if I did, the sun would start to set and after my dream, there was no way I
was going to be out here in the darkness.
Anger still lingered at my father’s words.
I understood what he meant. I also understood it was part of my duty as the princess to do as I was told, but it made me hate
this job more than anything in the world. I wanted freedom, I craved it.
Closing my eyes to relax my breathing, I listened to the rushing waters and felt my heartbeat slow, relaxing my entire body.
I fell asleep.
I awoke to discover the forest was dark. The moonlight glimmered off the lagoon water, and it took me a few seconds to
realise I wasn’t dreaming. This was really happening. I had fallen asleep, the sun had set, and I was now in the middle of the
forest, lost and deeply afraid.
I wasn’t sure when I stood up or how fast I ran as I headed deep within the forest. Hoping I was heading in the right
direction to home. I should know my way, these woods were almost a second home to me, but in the dark, they seemed like an
entirely different place.
Noises of creatures hidden deep within the trees along with the sound of an owl hooting as it flew above my head, made my
heartbeat faster. I was sure I could even hear bats, and as tears ran down my face, I felt something tug at my leg, and a scream
erupted from my mouth.
Falling headfirst, I felt something crawl up my leg as I continued to scream. No, no, this wasn’t allowed to happen. This is
all a dream, it had to be. I was still sitting at the lagoon, and it was still daylight.I had to be.
Suddenly, something touched my shoulders and lifted me up right. I couldn’t see what it was, and there was now a
deafening silence throughout the woodland. My eyes were still not fully adjusting to the darkness.
“A lost fawn in need of help.”
A sinister voice carried on the wind as it wrapped around me, and the sense of terror brought the hairs on the back of my
neck up. I was frozen to the spot.
“Come now, fawn—I will keep you warm and safe.”
“I-I.” I couldn’t get my words out.
“We promise it will not hurt.”
We? There were more than one of these weird things around me? I read many tales of creatures that sulked in the dark,
hiding away. Our Goddess of Light could only get rid of so many until she was no longer with us. The creatures would always