Chapter 3: Shape-shifters
Long past the tribe now, miles away from Elara's warmth and hospitality, Nienna trudges on, her feet aching and her stomach growling. She sighs, feeling a pang of loneliness and frustration, as she continues on her journey. She rummages through her backpack, searching for something to eat, but her fingers come up empty.
"What the-" she mutters to herself, confusion and concern etched on her face. It's barely been a week since she left the village, and she was so sure that there was at least a bag of dried meat left. She remembers packing it herself, carefully wrapping the strips of meat in a piece of cloth and tucking it into her backpack.
She searches the crevices of her backpack again, her fingers probing every nook and cranny, but there's nothing. No dried meat, no nuts, no fruit. Her stomach growls louder, protesting the emptiness.
Just as she's about to withdraw her hand, her fingers touch something squishy. Something that makes her shriek in fright as she hastily throws the bag away. She leaps back, her heart racing, as she stares at the bag in horror.
What was that? She thinks, her mind racing with all sorts of terrible possibilities. Did something crawl into her bag? Did she accidentally pack something alive?
She takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and cautiously approaches the bag. She picks it up, holding it at arm's length, and peers inside. The squishy thing is still there, nestled among her clothes and supplies.
The head of a creature pops up from the depths of her backpack, and Nienna flings it farther away with a shriek, her heart racing with surprise and fear. She had never seen anything like it before - it shone bright purple and was hairless, with darker purple spots on its sides. It looked like some kind of lizard, but it wasn't scaly...or was it? The skin seemed smooth and glossy, but as the creature moved, Nienna caught glimpses of tiny, shimmering scales that seemed to shift and change color in the light.
"Shoo...um...shoo away creature!" Nienna says, trying to sound brave but feeling a little silly talking to a...whatever it was. The creature cocks its small head to the side, regarding her with big, round eyes that seem to be taking in every detail of her appearance. Then, to Nienna's surprise, it lets out a burp - a small, ladylike burp, but a burp nonetheless.
Nienna's eyes widen in realization. "So you ate my stuff!" she exclaims, feeling a surge of indignation. "You slimy...spirits...I've really lost it, talking to a...whatever you are!" She throws up her hands in frustration, feeling like she's gone crazy. Who talks to a strange, purple creature that's been living in their backpack?
The creature seems to take no offense at Nienna's outburst. Instead, it regards her with a calm, almost intelligent expression, as if it's trying to communicate with her. Nienna feels a shiver run down her spine as she realizes that this creature might be more than just a simple animal. It might be something...else.
She sighs, picking up her backpack and slinging it back over her shoulders. The creature may look cool, but she doesn't have time to figure out what it is or why it ate the rest of her supplies. She's got more pressing concerns, like finding food and shelter before nightfall.
As she continues to walk, she hears the rustling of leaves and turns to see the little creature scuttling after her. "You...go away, there's no more food," she says, her hands planted firmly on her hips. She's not sure why she's talking to the creature, but she hopes it'll get the message and leave her alone.
The creature doesn't seem to regard her words, though. It keeps following her, its little legs moving quickly as it scuttles across the forest floor. Nienna shakes her head, feeling a mixture of frustration and amusement. What is this thing, and why is it so determined to follow her?
At first, she tries to shoo it away, waving her hands and making loud noises to scare it off. But the creature is undeterred, and eventually Nienna gives up. She's got more important things to worry about, like finding food and shelter, and she doesn't have time to unpack the reason why a strange purple thing is scuttling after her.
As she walks, the creature follows, keeping a steady distance of about ten feet. Nienna starts to feel a little like she's being stalked, but she tries to shake off the feeling. After all, the creature seems harmless enough, and it's not like it's trying to hurt her or anything.
Still, she can't help but wonder what its motives are. Is it just looking for food, or is there something more to its behavior? And what is it, anyway? A lizard? A snake? Something entirely different?
Nienna pushes the questions aside and focuses on the task at hand. She's got to find food and shelter, and she's got to do it soon. The creature can wait.
She continues to walk towards a clearing, her eyes fixed intently on the map spread out in her hands. The sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground as she studies the intricate markings and symbols etched onto the parchment. Her goal is to find the next town on her way to the Valley of Shadows, a place where she can rest, replenish her supplies, and gather more information about the mysterious valley.
As she walks, the trees thin out, and the clearing comes into view. It's a small, circular space, surrounded by a ring of tall trees that seem to stretch up to the sky. In the center of the clearing stands a massive stone monument, covered in moss and lichen. The monument bears an inscription, worn by time and weather, but still legible.
Nienna's eyes widen as she reads the inscription, her heart racing with excitement. The monument marks the intersection of two ancient trade routes, and the inscription provides valuable information about the surrounding terrain, including the location of nearby towns and villages.
She studies the inscription carefully, committing the information to memory. According to the monument, the next town on her route is called Brindlemark, a small settlement located at the foot of a nearby mountain range. The town is said to be a hub for traders and travelers, and Nienna hopes to find supplies, shelter, and valuable information about the Valley of Shadows.
With renewed determination, Nienna folds up her map and tucks it into her belt. She takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of her pack settle onto her shoulders. The journey ahead will be long and challenging, but she's ready. She sets off towards Brindlemark, the mysterious creature still scuttling after her.
Her journey takes her to a rickety old bridge, spanning a deep and narrow chasm. But to her dismay, the bridge is broken, with several planks missing and others hanging precariously from frayed ropes. She steps back, looking around for another path, but there's none. She's about to turn back around to see if there's a way to navigate around the chasm without passing through the town when a voice calls out to her.
"Young lady?" The voice is old and wispy, but it carries across the chasm, and Nienna turns to see an elderly woman making her way towards her. The woman is carrying a heavy load on her back, and Nienna immediately rushes to her rescue, taking the bag from her.
"Tidings to you, ma'am," she greets, smiling warmly at the old woman. The creature behind her lets out a loud hiss, and Nienna sighs, trying to kick it away. But it doesn't budge, and instead seems to be glaring at the old woman.
"Fiery little thing, isn't it?" the old woman laughs, eyeing the creature with amusement. "I'm so sorry, I'm not with it," Nienna scowls at the creature, trying to apologize for its behavior. But the creature just shrinks behind her, its eyes still fixed on the old woman.
"I see you're trying to get past," the old woman nods at the broken bridge, and Nienna smiles sadly. "Yes, but I see no way across." The old lady laughs, a deep, throaty sound, and starts walking, expecting Nienna to follow. And follow she does, eagerly, as the old woman leads her around the chasm and onto a narrow, winding path.
"My parents walked these roads before these bridges and modern contraptions," the old woman says, her eyes twinkling with memories. "Come with me, I'll take you to Brindlemark." Nienna beams eagerly, grateful for the old woman's help. But the creature isn't having it, and tries to drag her back by her leggings.
"Stop it," Nienna hisses at the creature, trying to shake it off. "If you must follow me, then be good." The creature lets out a disgruntled chirp, but eventually gives up, following Nienna as she continues on the path with the old woman.
As they walk, the old woman chats amiably, pointing out landmarks and sharing stories about the local history. Nienna listens, entranced, feeling like she's stumbled into a whole new world. And the creature, despite its initial reluctance, seems to be enjoying the journey too, scurrying along behind them with a newfound sense of purpose.
They continue moving towards the oddly shaped trees, their twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The creature scurries up Nienna's body, perching on her shoulder and making high-pitched noises of fright. Nienna frowns, trying to calm it down. "Quiet," she whispers, continuing after the old lady.
"Are we any closer?" she asks, her voice laced with a growing sense of unease. The old lady nods, turning to her with a smile that seems to have lost its warmth.
"Of course, dearie, just a little further," she says, her eyes glinting in the fading light. Nienna's instincts scream at her to turn back, but she presses on, following the old lady deeper into the heart of the forest.
The shrubbery around them rattles and rustles, making it seem like the trees themselves are closing in on them. Nienna's skin crawls with unease, and the creature on her shoulder lets out a terrified squeak.
"M-ma'am," Nienna mutters, trying to get the old lady's attention. But the old lady doesn't turn back, she just keeps walking, her pace steady and relentless.
Suddenly, the old lady stops, turning to Nienna with a smile that sends shivers down her spine. "Here we are," she says, her voice dripping with malice.
Nienna looks at her in confusion, and the creature on her shoulder lets out a frightened chirp. But before she can react, the old lady's body begins to shift and contort, her face elongating and her eyes turning a glowing shade of green.
Nienna's eyes widen in horror as the old lady transforms into a younger woman with a sinister smile. "Come on, you're supposed to be a challenge," the woman sneers, her eyes glinting with excitement. "The boss will be so proud."
Nienna tries to turn and run, but it's too late. A group of men emerges from the shadows, their faces twisted with cruel grins. They surround her, their hands closing in like a vice.
"Tie her up to the tree," one of them growls, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure. "No mistakes...I heard she's a slippery one."
Nienna struggles and kicks, but there are too many of them. They overpower her, binding her wrists and ankles to the twisted trunk of a nearby tree. The creature on her shoulder lets out a terrified squeak, but Nienna can't even move to comfort it.
As the men step back, admiring their handiwork, Nienna realizes she's in grave danger. She's been led into a trap, and she can guess what these people want from her.
Turns out the broken bridge was just a ruse, a clever trick to lure her into their trap. And now, she's being taken back to her uncle's palace, forced to return to the very place she had been trying to escape. The thought sends a chill down her spine, and she can't help but wonder what her uncle has planned for her.
As night falls, they cross the bridge, successfully bypassing the town and taking her further away from freedom. Everyone is tired, and they tie her up, pitching their tents and retiring for the night. Nienna is left outside, her wrists chafed and sore from the rough rope.
She sighs, feeling a sense of despair wash over her. But then, she starts to hum a soft melody, a lullaby her mother used to sing to her when she was a child. The familiar tune brings a sense of comfort, and she closes her eyes, letting the music wash over her.
She's on the second verse when she hears the rustling of shrubbery, followed by the scuttling of feet towards her. Her eyes snap open, and she's about to raise the alarm, but then she sees the little purple creature emerging from the darkness.
She sighs in relief, a small smile playing on her lips. "Hey...never thought I'd be happy to see you," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. The creature chirps happily, its big round eyes shining with excitement.
And then, to Nienna's surprise, the creature starts to use its teeth on the ropes binding her wrists. She frowns in confusion, wondering what the creature is doing, but only for a moment. As the ropes start to fray and loosen, she realizes that the creature is trying to set her free.
Her hands get a little freer, and she helps the creature, using her fingers to loosen the knots. Finally, the ropes are cut thoroughly, and the creature moves on to the ones restricting her legs.
Nienna watches in amazement as the creature works tirelessly, its teeth gnawing through the ropes with ease. She feels a sense of gratitude towards the little creature, and she reaches out, gently stroking its head.
Now free, Nienna gathers any supplies she can get from her former captors into her backpack, making sure to move quickly and quietly to avoid alerting them to her escape. The creature, now her unlikely ally, scurries alongside her as they make their way through the darkness.
They move stealthily, trying to put as much distance between themselves and their pursuers as possible. Nienna's heart pounds in her chest, her senses on high alert as she listens for any sign of pursuit. But the night remains quiet, the only sound the rustling of leaves and the distant hooting of owls.
As the hours pass, Nienna begins to feel the weight of her exhaustion. She's been walking for what feels like an eternity, her legs aching and her eyes heavy with fatigue. But she knows she can't stop now, not when she's so close to freedom.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the first light of dawn begins to creep over the horizon. Nienna's heart lifts as she sees the outline of Brindlemark in the distance, its buildings and towers rising up like a beacon of hope.
She heaves a sigh of relief, collapsing onto the grassy ground in exhaustion. "Thank the spirits," she groans, her body trembling with fatigue. She looks over at the creature, which is watching her with big, round eyes. "And thank you," she coos, reaching out to scratch its head. "I owe you one, little guy."
The creature chirps back at her, and Nienna laughs. "Hmmm, I can't keep calling you 'shoo'," she chuckles, scratching the back of her head. "You need a real name. How about Ember?"
The creature's eyes light up, and it puffs out its chest in pride. Nienna smiles, feeling a sense of affection for the little creature. "I take that as a yes, then," she says, laughing.
As she looks at Ember, Nienna feels a sense of gratitude and wonder. Who would have thought that a strange, purple creature would become her unlikely ally? And what other adventures lay ahead for them, now that they'd escaped their captors and made it to Brindlemark? Only time would tell, but for now, Nienna was just happy to have made it this far, with Ember by her side.
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