To the Waters and the Wild

It was a strange evening, the stars had just crept out of their chambers in the sky, the forest path was bathed in moonlight and the trees were gilded in silvery light. Owls let out milky hoo's and small white foxes danced under the canopy by the light of twinkling fireflies. She felt as though the trees were watching and could almost feel their eyes upon her as she stepped over their arched roots. Everyone knew to be in the forest after nightfall was an eerie experience, for you see, the people didn't understand the magic in the lands and were terribly frightened and suspicious as people often were.

As the girl continued down the path she could hear faint laughs and the sound of music, she was captivated and felt almost under a spell as she neared the source of the echoes. As she stumbled on, compelled by a strange longing, she forgot all about What Ifs and Never Shoulds. No, she cared not for things such as those, for you see she was consumed by Wonderlust. A great and terrible thing that never stops to rest. 

Soon she could see a blazing fire through the low hanging branches before her and as the music grew louder she tread closer. Raising a pale hand to push a branch out of the way, she stepped through two trees and out into a clearing. The spot was lit by the full moon and through the branches strange shadows were cast down below on the hill ahead . A fire was atop the hill and shadows of dancing figures circled about it, their movements like the wind. 

Typically the doe-eyed girl was timid and lacked courage, but tonight, for the first time in a long time she was Brave. She walked up the hill, eyes to the fire and heart beating to the dance. When she reached the crest she saw them. Beautiful, regal creatures. Some had borrowed features like fox tails and owl eyes and others could have been made of stardust they glowed so brightly. Suddenly the strange troop stopped their dancing and laughing and bird singing and stared at the girl. 

The group looked upon her for a moment, some cocking their bunny eared heads and others tapping their dainty claws on their lips. They all thought her rather plain, even for humans, she had dirty blonde hair and downturned blue eyes and was terribly pale. She was really anything but remarkable, but that didn't matter. She saw them, and that meant something. Should we steal her away? Was a general question that lingered in their minds. Would she scream loudly? Some thought to themselves. Would she scream at all? 

Finally, after the instantaneous examination one of the old ones stepped forward. With long silvery hair and amber eyes she could have been crafted from marble. 

"Hello child." She said, her eyes soft but cold. 

The girl replied with a quiet greeting. She passed, for this was a test you see. A test of bravery. The woman smiled, slightly. 

"Would you care to dance?" She asked, motioning to the dancing fire.

"Oh yes." The girl breathed, for she could think of nothing better. 

Dance she she did, soon her shoes had holes in their soles and her hair was out of it's plait. Soon her eyes were aglow and her cheeks were as crimson as autumn's leaves. Soon she was free. They all danced about her, forming a rotating circle around the fire, faces lit by the light. Before long the darkness grew weaker and quiet signs of morning filled the clearing. The dance would soon be done.

It was dawn when they took her, under the hill through a door, long skirts trailing in the morning dew. She clasped a handsome fox boy's hand and didn't let go until she was safe inside. And she never screamed- not even once.





image from here: http://weheartit.com/entry/4348923