The Butterfly Girl: A Star is Born

Slow Burn

[Sophia]

Teri led me to the backside of the castle. I didn't realize how much space there was, and it was so dark. If it wasn't for the charm, I don't think I'd even be able to see Teri. We swam for what felt like ages, just looking around. We hardly spoke to each other. I continued to follow her as Teri led me to other areas outside of the kingdom where she said she found the creatures last time. We didn't see anything. We checked the seabed as well, thinking maybe they were worming their way through somehow. But we didn't spot anything there either. Teri kept checking to see how I was feeling, making sure the charm wouldn't wear off too soon. I said I was fine. The outfit was... sorta helping. I didn't feel any warmer, but I was... less cold.

We stopped at a different area at one point, slowly surverying the ground, until I saw Teri's fins perk up and she looked at me. I felt something too. Suddenly, the ground began to shake. But it wasn't just the ground, I could feel the vibrations all through the water. My own vision was shaking. Teri cried out, dropping the trident and grasping my shoulders. After a moment or two, it stopped. We both looked around wildly.

I've felt earthquakes before, but feeling one while underwater? That was... as strange as it was terrifying.

"Sophie, what– what was that?"

"Uh- it's okay! I think it was just an earthquake. I think."

"What? And earthquake? What is that?"

"It's okay, it's completely normal and totally natural! Sometimes, every once in a while the ground shakes. And that's it!"

"That's it, are you sure?"

"Yeah– yeah! It's okay! I this was just a little one. I think we're okay."

Teri stared at me for a moment before retrieving her trident and we looked at the kingdom in the distance. We could see figures swimming frantically. I couldn't hear their voices, or... anything from where we were, but I hoped no one was hurt.

"Ah... I should get back. I need to calm them down before things get crazy. But I can't let them see you. I'm sorry, but you should go back. Wait for me by the shore of the lake, I'll come back for you as soon as I can. Is that okay?"

"Y- yeah, that's fine. Are you sure you'll be okay?" I asked.

"Yes, I'll be fine. If you say this is normal, then I believe you. I have to go. The way back should be right above you. Get back safely, I'll come get you when I can!"

Teri swam off before I could say another word to her. I watched her get smaller in the distance. I pushed myself from the floor and started swimming upwards. I had a long ways to go, but for now, it seemed that the charm was still in effect. When I got to the surface, I could see the carved ceiling, but I couldn't find the tunnel we'd come from. Luckily, it didn't take me long to find it. A black circle admist all the surrounding darkness. I used my wings to push myself through it.

It had to have been an earthquake, right? That felt so weird. I bet Apollo and the twins felt it too. I hope they're okay, I thought to myself as I continued to ascend.

I could see the green hues of the lake coming into view. I suddenly fely some sort of lump in my throat and a large bubble escaped from my mouth. I choked and put a hand over my mouth. My body suddenly felt like it was being squeezed. My eyes stung and I shut them tight as I only focused on going up. I didn't realize how deep the lake was. I almost opened my mouth at the wrong time, but my head finally breached the surface and I gasped and sputtered. I spit out water and tried to pull my hair back, rubbing my eyes until I could finally keep them open. I wasn't too far from the little beach and I used my wings to push me forward. Once I felt my feet touch the sand, I let my wings drag behind me as I heaved myself onto the shore. A gust of wind made me shiver as a new wave of cold struck me and I started jumping around.

How was it suddenly colder out here than it was when I got in? The wet outfit sticking to every part of my body wasn't helping either. I found my flip flops and my bag behind a rock, right where I left them. I quickly pulled out a towel and started drying my face before wrapping it around my shoulders, trying to warm myself up. I couldn't stop shivering. But at least the sun was out. I took a long moment to dry off and warm up. I took off the blouse and tied the long sleeves around my waist. I hoped I wouldn't ruin the outfit by letting it dry off in the air.

When I finally stopped shivering and my ears weren't bitten by cold, I slipped on my flip flops and picked up my bag. I was wearing the towel over my shoulders and I pulled it off as I slung the bag over my shoulder. The skirt was still moist, but I didn't mind. I turned around and stared at the lake. I hoped Teri was okay.

I wondered if I should just sit and wait for her. But... who knows how long that'll be? I thought about maybe looking for Apollo and the twins. I could ask them if they felt the earthquake. After another moment or two, I shook the rest of the drippy water off my wings and heaved them downwards, picking myself off the ground and flying towards the edge of the waterfall. I landed right on the cliff, spinning around and looking at the rest of the lake in front of me. I stared at the scenery for a while. Part of me hoped that Teri would appear soon and I could go back down to meet her. But I didn't see anything for a while.

I took a deep breath in, and realized that I could... smell something.

What was that? Was someone cooking something?

Maybe it was someone in the nieghborhood cooking something in their backyard and the scent was being carried over by the wind? Were they having a pitfire or something, or grilling meats? No, it couldn't be. There's no way that scent could be carried all the way this far.

I started walking to the right, thinking I was getting closer to the smell.

No, it doesn't smell like cooking meat or someone making smores, it's more like... it's more... like...

I looked up to see a small plume of smoke start rising in the distance of the forest, just beyond where I was standing. It was grey at first, until it quickly turned black and the plume rose higher into the air, unmistakeable.

I picked up my feet and started sprinting into the forest, towards the source of the smoke.