Ascendant Moon

Chapter One: The Forest

Well, it could have been worse.

    Marwen picked herself up from the dirt after the forceful landing through the fey road. She was in a forest, that much she could tell from the towering trees surrounding her. The undergrowth was thick, weeds and grasses stretched towards the sky, along with small white flowers scattered across the area. At least there were flowers. That was a good sign in her book.

     Leaning down, her fingers clasped the handle of the serrated blade she’d been graciously dumped with. It had been centuries since she’d had to travel to the mortal realm and her knowledge was woefully lacking on what beasts might now be lurking here. Marwen glanced back up to the sky. The light was low and the edges of darkness appeared to be creeping in. It would not be long until dusk then.

    Clutching her blade in a tight grip, she started to walk, branches snapping beneath the boots she’d again been thrusted into before her trip into the fey road. Hopefully she would come across something she could use as a shelter sooner or later. A large hollowed out trunk or log would be enough for the night.

    Suddenly cawing filled the air and immediately Marwen adjusted her position ready to strike at whatever came tumbling out of the woods. The noise grew louder and closer, but nothing appeared amidst the trees. Casting her gaze upwards, she was greeted with a cacophony of black birds flapping overhead, beaks open spewing the racket she had heard. Instead of continuing their path, the birds landed in the trees surrounding her, watching her with dark black eyes. She’d had enough of judgemental stares today. 

     Although it was eerie to have a flock of creatures gazing at her, they did not seem intent on causing her harm. She waited a few more moments without incident, before stepping forward. As she moved, the birds suddenly shifted, moving towards other trees around her position. That could not be normal, even by mortal standards. She may not have in depth knowledge, but for the birds to behave as though they were tracking her? It did not seem right.

     Keeping a wary eye on the beasts, she carried on, growing used to the flapping and cawing now accompanying every step. These creatures unsettled her, but they had not attacked. Yet. The search for shelter had just become more urgent.   

    Marwen continued to trample through the woodland’s undergrowth. At least any sound she made would be lost amidst the incessant bird calls. She had deduced that despite their strange behaviour, they seemed for the most part, a natural animal. One she hoped didn’t sound out of place or odd enough to investigate. From the numbers bouncing and bobbing along the branches, they appeared to be a pretty common beast too.

    Taking care to avoid any flowers beneath her boot, she crept further into the thickest part of the forest. It was secluded, which was good. A clearing filled with wildflowers, the likes of which she had never seen in the fae realm reached her sharp eyes. Her fingers twitched and without a second thought, Marwen stepped closer.

    The flowers were hardy, like the ones in the unseelie court, but that was where the similarity ended. These mortal flowers had petals the colour of snow, contrasted by a centre that looked like a blazing yellow sun. she bent down for a closer look, extending her slender fingers to brush against the petals. Would they be as sturdy as the rest of the plant? Unseelie flowers were hard and unforgiving. Just a few more inches and she’d have her answer… 

     Abruptly, the birds that had gathered in the tree branches began screeching a dreadful symphony, flapping their wings in agitation and hopping back and forth. Marwen glanced upwards, retracting her fingers with haste and rising back to her normal height. Between the bird calls, her ears picked up something else. It was thundering through the forest. No, not it. They. Several footsteps were racing across the ground, coming closer and closer. A pursuit. 

     The realisation caused her eyes to widen as she snapped them towards the tree line. Whatever creatures were coming were out hunting and she could guess the prey. Marwen snorted. She had never been prey in her life, she was not about to start now. Slowly, she withdrew her blade. The creatures were almost upon her, led to her position no doubt, by these damned birds.

      For all the pixies in all the realm, how could she have been so foolish? Those birds had been indicating her location since they first came across her. Well, there was nothing for it now. Gripping her blade, Marwen adjusted her stance. She would take down whatever was coming. There was no chance she would die on her first night here.

     Her eyes narrowed as movement skimmed across the floor just ahead of her. A large shape suddenly lunged through the air, aiming straight for her with open jaws filled with pointed fangs.