Ravensblood Forest likening sails unto branches in the trees

— Ravensblood Forest. Read only.

"Atka," she whispered into the dark, her breath a swirling and dancing mist in the light of mother Moon. Lysianassa had never felt more alone than she did now. The darkness was oppressive, seemingly clawing at every inch of her exposed body. When Atropos had been at her side, the young Kesuk-Nereides had not been daunted by the task set before them by the gods. It had been a romantic quest, searching for their destiny—what could possibly befall them but victory? If they were tested, how could they possibly fail if they remained together?

But it seemed their destinies were not intertwined after all. Atropos was gone. Perhaps even—No, she thought fiercely, do not think of that. Lysianassa could not bear the thought of remaining separated from her litter mate, and despaired that she could not continue on their quest alone. More than anything, she wished to return home... but she did not know the way, and both Aktaie and Nanuq were likely to be disappointed to find her journey abandoned.

She hesitated at the forest's edge. It was the hour—and season—of Sos, and only darkness awaited her between the thick trunks of the rainforest. To enter, she imagined, would invite his presence to make itself know. Lysianassa shuddered at the thought, and almost turned to seek some other territory. A white blur moved, too fast for her to make out what it was... but she felt warmth upon her cheek, akin to sunlight, and without thought she rushed into the forest. "Atka!"

When she gave up the chase, she was deep enough in the rainforest that she had no bearing on her direction; she was surrounded utterly by darkness and trees. A trick, perhaps, set by Sos so that he might finally sink his claws into her soul. Stay calm, she told herself. Be a beacon of light; you are Atka's warrior. And, though she felt anything but brave, Lysianassa began to move through the forest with deliberate footfalls and her head held high.

After several minutes had gone by, with no sound but her own heartbeat, something large moved behind her with lumbering steps. She paused, every sense alert and every muscle tense. It made a sound, and she peered over her shoulder to be greeted by a vision of Sos. Terror clenched at her bowls, and she loosed a terror-filled cry into the night.

And then she ran. She ran even after she could no longer hear the beast behind her, until exhaustion finally claimed her. Mismatched eyes searched the area for a place to rest, for she did not like the thought of sleeping out in the open. A massive tree—larger than any she had seen thus far in her life—stood in the vicinity, its roots forming a tent-like structure.

It was there that she rested until Atka's light filled the world once more.