[84.1] Zephyr POV: The Forgotten Fox

[Author's note: This part of the chapter is from Zephyr's perspective.]

Cold! Cold! Cold!

Despite being bitingly cold, a large rush of snow similar to an avalanche pushed me down the mountain without injuring me.

I tried to claw my way back up against the flow of the snow, desperate to get back to the top of the mountain.

Mother!

Alora!

Moni!

Just what is happening!?

The snow pushed me back stronger, showing that my mother's magic was still strong enough to overpower me.

I cried out, "But why!?"

What's happening up there that you don't want me to see!?

My mind swirled as I stopped fighting against the current and let the snow slide me down the mountain.

Today started so normally…

What…

What happened…

All I did was chase after a butterfly and Alora followed after me…

I didn't even know we were so close to the barrier! 

But why…

Why did she choose to fight with my brother instead!?

I don't understand!

I don't understand at all!

And then why-

The appalling memory of blood resurfaced in my mind.

My breathing grew more laborious as my body stiffened.

Mama…

Are you…

Are you okay?

Is… Is Moni okay?

The snow suddenly stopped moving as if hitting an invisible wall. I was thrown off and rolled across the grass. As soon as I stopped rolling, I quickly turned to look up at the mountain and sucked in a breath.

The once luscious landscape was now covered in snow. The snow stopped right where I had landed, not crawling another inch.

I jumped up and ran into the flurries that hid the entirety of the mountain. The wind pushed me back as the snow pelted my face and stung my eyes. I suddenly felt my body rebound from an invisible wall and fly out of the storm. I landed in the grass, shocked by the rejection.

My fingers dug into the soil, "Mama… Why…"

Why won't you let me back up?

I ran at it again, only to be rebounded back.

My body felt limp as I stared up at the vast sky above me. Tears stung my eyes as my vision blurred, "Mama… Please… Please don't throw me away."

Unable to handle the gust of emotions inside of me, I burst into tears. My throat ached as I sobbed uncontrollably and my head pounded as I screamed.

I…

I don't understand…

Why are you throwing me away!?

Could Mother be- 

No! There's no way!

My mother is strong!

She's the Great Fairy!

I'm sure that even if she bled that much-

I suddenly felt sick and rolled over, puking and retching as my body trembled.

Alora…

Alora…

It was a holy weapon…

Does that mean…

Alora did something?

But…

There's no way…

Alora isn't like that.

Alora is nice.

Alora may have a few problems, but she would never kill my mother.

B-Because I'm in love with her.

And there's no way I would be in love with a person who could kill my mother…

Right?

…Right?

But…

If not her…

Then who?

Moni always seemed to dislike Alora and when they were fighting he accused her of having ulterior motives…

So then…

Did she?

Was her plan all along to trick me?

Was it her plan to kill my family?

"There's… There's no way… She… She loves me right?"

Before I realized it, I was in a ball, sobbing as I held my knees.

My mother…

She's dead…

My brother…

He's also dead…

And Alora… 

Alora did it.

Alora killed my family.

And I was the one who brought Alora in…

Which means…

Wasn't it all my fault?

My voice cracked, "I… I got them killed…"

But I…

I thought…

A pair of unrecognizable voices spoke from not too far away.

My fox ears perked up as my sobbing immediately ceased. Fear took control of my body, freezing me as I listened.

Those are…

Those are Holy Priestesses!

I abruptly changed into a fox and sprinted away from the voices. 

I ran and ran until…

"Where am I?"

There was nothing recognizable as I looked around the dark forest. I wasn't anywhere near the border of the mountain and there was no snow to be seen.

Where!?

My fox body trembled as I realized the truth.

I'm on my own.

No one can help me now.

I don't know where my sisters are.

Mother and brother are dead…

And Alora…

My eyes watered as I rushed to find anywhere safe to hide.

I scratched at the ground near a fallen tree until there was a large enough hole to slip into. I hid in that opening crying silently until my stomach rumbled.

When was the last time I ate?

I didn't want to leave my hole, but I was far too pampered to go without a meal. After a few more minutes of hesitation, I crawled out while trembling.

The forest looks so much bigger when you're a fox.

How do I catch food?

How did Alora do it?

My heart trembled with pain at this thought.

Maybe I should just look around…

I made note of my hole and then started walking aimlessly. I never came across any humans, nor did I find any animals. Eventually, I found a pile of bushes with berries growing on it.

I let out a pitiful cry and started plucking them off. As I put them into my mouth, I found they were tasteless.

I finished the berries and sniffed back tears, "I miss Moni's cooking…"

I stumbled back to my new den and tried to sleep. As I did, I tried to make a connection to Astra but failed.

"That means she's either sleeping uncontrollably, unable to connect, or she's-"

I couldn't bear to finish my thought.

I can't handle another one of my siblings dead.

It's better…

Just to not think about it.

I finally fell asleep, but was startled awake by distant voices.

I had no choice but to run again. For several days, when I wasn't running away, all I could do was think about that day on the mountain.

My mind was exhausted and my body was weakened from only eating berries. I was losing fur as I walked from a combination of stress and starvation.

I had no survival skills like Alora, and in this endless forest, I was completely lost. I was lucky to find so many berries, but I couldn't live off them.

Eventually, I couldn't even sleep long enough to try to connect to Astra.

I was slowly losing touch of my senses. 

I dragged my feet until a familiar scent hit my nose.

Alora!?

That's Alora!!!

My heartbeat soared as elation filled my body.

However, as the memory of the last time I saw her hit, my heart crashed to a stop.

What if…

What if that day on the mountain, she just lost control?

What if killing my family was a mistake?

What if it was all a misunderstanding?

Mama said the only way to know is to communicate!

So I just need to confront her!

I rushed off in the direction of her scent and followed it until I started recognizing the area.

It's the cave!

She's waiting for me at the cave!!

The closer I came, the more I smelled her.

I ran blindly, thrilled for a familiar face even if it meant one who had destroyed everything I loved.

I suddenly tripped over something on the ground and hit my face.

Confused, I sat up and looked back. As soon as I saw it, the stench hit my nose.

I let out a yelp and pushed myself away.

A-A dead body!?

My hand hit another.

"AHHH!"

T-There's so many!!!

H-Holy Priestesses and even a priest…

Then does that mean-

I stared at the decaying bodies with my nose covered. Worried one would be her, I forced myself to look into each of their faces. It was hard to tell due to how long they had been dead, but I was certain that none of them were her.

Not wanting to breathe in their stench any longer, I sprinted to the cave.

"Alora!" I shouted as I ran to the entrance, "Are you there?"

As soon as I took a step, a rock caught my attention.

Its bright red surface shimmered in the light.

My heart lifted, "I-It's my rock! Alora saved my rock!"

I skipped over to it and picked it up.

She's really here! 

She really does care about me!

Just as it hit my palm, the surface suddenly turned black. Ominous runes lit up in red.

My heart sank as I stared at it, "This smell… Hephie-"

A sudden magic circle in bright red lit up, completely encircling me. I realized I had been trapped and tried to run away.

However, my body was stretched and pulled as I was sucked inside the rock.

As the rock landed on the ground, the runes faded.

I let out a scream as I opened my eyes to pure darkness. All I could hear was the pounding in my chest as fear settled in.

What…

Where…

I-

"Hello?"

My voice cracked, echoing out into the darkness.

"Is anyone there?"

I found my body normal, however there was a strange light emitting from my body. It illuminated the dark space, but there was nothing to see.

Even the ground was black.

Anxiously tugging at my hands, I walked forward.

I walked.

And walked…

Until…

I couldn't walk any longer.

I collapsed to the ground, staring into the darkness in disbelief.

"...Anyone?"

There was no answer.

I slowly lay on the ground and closed my eyes. I tried to connect to Astra but found I was completely cut off. Panicking, I sat up and tried to use my demonic power.

But even that wouldn't work.

"So I… I am all alone?"

I waited endlessly for anyone.

I waited for anything.

But nothing ever happened.

Nothing ever changed.

I waited so long to die from starvation, but it never happened.

I spent so long in that darkness that I didn't know what was real anymore.

Time passed so slowly…

Or maybe it didn't pass at all.

One day.

One week.

One month.

I held my knees, giggling to myself as I spoke.

"When I get out, I'm going to eat an extra large steak."

Two months.

"It will be really juicy."

Three months.

"REALLY bloody too."

Six months.

"When I get out, I'm never going to eat a vegetable ever again! Screw berries! They are the worst!"

One year.

Two years.

"Maybe… Maybe I will also eat a pile of chocolate cookies."

Ten years.

"I wonder how my sisters are… I wonder if they are looking for me."

Another year…

"I bet they are worried since they can't find me."

Another year…

"I hope they are okay…"

Another year…

"I hope they are still looking for me…"

One hundred years.

Two hundred years.

"Heh… Hehehe!"

Five hundred years.

"I am the Great Zephyr! Humans feared my greatness and locked me up for eternity!"

Six hundred years.

"One day I will be free and I will wreak havoc! Then they'll all be sorry for forgetting all about me!!"

Seven hundred…

Eight hundred…

Nine hundred…

"Everyone shall know the name of Zephyr! I will have thousands of followers crying out my name in fear AND adoration!"

My eyes were crazed as I ran around, chasing illusions in my own mind. For a thousand years, I stayed in that rock.

…And for a thousand years, I was forgotten.