lost in the forest

It's getting late and I'm getting scared. The sun is about to go down and I haven't even made my way to lady Chang's yet. I'm lost. I've must've taken a wrong turn somewhere because this path leads me closer to the forest than to where I want to be.

I need to get back. Mother will worry and I don't want to get eaten by a fox.

I rushed through the never-ending trails that seemed to fork and branch into different directions. It felt like I'm trapped in a maze walking endlessly without progress.

I paused to look up. The sky has already gotten darker so I gripped the box tighter in between my arm and body.

I decided to take the path with lesser vegetation, when I wound up by the ditch instead. I sighed, annoyed with myself when a strange noise grabbed my attention nearby. It sounded like somebody is walking around and that alone was enough to send me running for my life.

I chased my way out, long skinny legs drumming on the ground. It's hard to see, slamming into branches and getting cut by sharp strands of grass that felt like blade on my skin. I kept running until my luck ran out, running into a fallen branch that cracked at the weight of my foot making me lose my balance.

"Owww." I winced falling to the ground. I grabbed my ankle cradling the pain. Thank goodness the pain only lasted a few seconds and I was able to get up easily and carried on my way.

I barely made a few feet when I felt a sudden snap on my leg sending me stumbling through the weeds. I must have hurt it when I fell the first time.

Owww...it hurts, I grimaced nurturing more pain too focused on myself to realized what's happening around me.

Then I saw him....

A man stood by the clearing, his long garnet hair down to his back. There's a wall of thick fog hovering around him as though he is an apparition. An illusion. I couldn't quite tell whether what I witness is real or not, but I'm certain of one thing, he is not human. Everything about him screamed I need to get out of here!

Could it be?

Could it be that I have finally met the infamous fox spirit?

I stared at him, getting hypnotized by his presence. The longer I looked, the deeper I got pulled in. Is this how his victims felt before they got eaten? Complete and utter helplessness?

I can't break away.

The hazy fog began to move, it fanned across the forest traveling closer until it swallowed me whole.

My body became relaxed. I felt the sting of magic began to work coaxing into a strong stupor.

I'm so sleepy. I could fall asleep right now.

****I fell asleep. ****

I don't know how long have I've been out when I felt human warmth on my shoulder. Someone is shaking me, trying to wake me.  He kept shaking steadily until I'm slowly pulled back to the surface, bringing me back to my senses.

"Wake up, Hana!"

Huh?

"Wake up Hana!" He repeated. His voice was low and contained but it carried an unmistakable weigh of panic.

"Wake up, Hana!"

My head is too heavy to respond.

"Wake up, Hana!" He called my name over and over until I conjured enough energy to open my heavy-lidded eyes.

"Wake up, Hana! I have to take you back."

Who?

My eyes opened getting used to the darkness when I realized the man calling my name was none other than Yoon. He carried a lantern raised on one hand. His face unusually expressive. He even looked scared.

"Yoon?" I breathed still trying to get a sense of what's happening.

"What were you thinking?" He sighed in relief once I answered. "What were you doing leaving the house so late in the afternoon? You know how dangerous it is?"

I stared at him too dreary to say anything.

"Good thing I found you right away. Who knows what could have happened?"

I lifted my head while Yoon knelt inches from me. His face was so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath through his open mouth. He's checked my pupils and felt the dryness of my lips.

I don't think he's ever touched me until now.

"I got lost." I mumbled.

"I know."

"I was scared."

"I'm here now, nothing's going to get you,"

I laid my head back down. "How'd you find me?"

"I followed the fresh trail of footprints through the woods." Yoon showed me a very rare smile. "It wasn't hard to find you. I left as soon as I found out from your mother you were making late deliveries. I thought how reckless and stupid you could be making a trip like that? I chased after you but you were already way ahead."

"So the footsteps I heard was you."

"That's a possibility."

"You scared the crap out of me."

"I didn't mean to. I was trying to protect you."