Forever Chained

"Forest Girl! Forest Girl!"

I peeled an eye open and glimpsed the black cloak of one of the witches that'd marked me. One of the bitches that began all this.

I was tempted to find a rock and bash her head in. But this happened to be the one that sobbed she was sorry. That she was so tired.

Now I understood. Didn't mean I forgave her.

She was rushing at me with a tightly rolled scroll in her fist. She was covered in sweat and her hair was greasy and limp as though she'd been running for days.

She's been looking for me.

"What is it?" I sat up. Long hair disheveled from sleeping in the leaves with wet hair.

The girl skidded to a halt and gasped at the sight of my camp.

I twisted to see the smoky remnants of last nights fire and the dark, bare skin of the being sleeping behind me.

Van. He stayed.

The woman shrieked, threw the scroll at me, shouted profanity and bolted.