Shadows of towering trees surrounded Enya as she ran deep into the forest, the twinkling lights from the castle no longer visible. Her lungs burned and her knees ached. Enya didn't know how much longer she could run, but the farther she got from the castle, the better.

Enya ran with all her might, ignoring the crunching sounds of the branches beneath her, the wind whistling past her ears, the thundering of her heartbeat in her head. Enya ran until she couldn't, her legs giving out.

Kneeling down on the ground, Enya clutched her chest as she tried to catch her breath.

“Where should I sleep?” Enya asked herself, looking around the forest, “If I sleep on the ground, guards might find me. There aren't any caves around either.” Enya's eyes glanced upwards. “It will have to do.”

Securing the bag on her back, Enya placed one hand on a tree and climbed, her body swift and fluid as each branch came into contact. Her fingers gripped without hesitation.

Hah, it's been a while, Enya thought, speaking to the tree. A small smile graced her as she recalled precious memories from her childhood.

Reaching a sturdy branch several feet above the ground, Enya swung a leg over one side, doing the same with the other until she straddled it. Enya sat upright against the trunk of the tree, holding her bag in her lap. She pulled out one of her containers full of water and brought it to her lips. The cool liquid slid down her throat, sending shivers down her spine.

Enya thought back on the night, of her engagement to Rayburn, a man she'd only ever seen as cold, except for at parties. Enya thought of her father, wondering how he could have possibly imagined her marrying a man thirty-five years older as a good thing. The kingdom didn't need another old man. He would die soon after the King. What was the point?

As Enya looked up at the sky, the orange moon fragmented by the dark trees, her thoughts cleared.

Why worry about it now? It's not like Father can make Rayburn king if I'm not around. Enya closed her eyes. As long as I stay away, I don't have to marry him, or anyone else for that matter.

~

Before the Sun rose, Enya scrambled to her feet, heading further into the forest until reaching a stream. Enya knelt down and splashed some of its cool water on her cheeks.

Ahh, that woke me. Enya breathed a refreshing sigh, brushing a sopping strand of blue hair behind her ear.

Grabbing the knife from her bag, Enya stared at the stream. Her hand darted down, stabbing into the hard rocks below the water. A fish floundered about on the end of the knife as Enya pulled her hand back.

In a quick movement, Enya pulled her knife out of the fish and sliced it open. Her effortless fingers cut its scales off in a single, thin slice, avoiding the fins and moving up to the gills. Enya rinsed the fish in the water. She opened it up and pulled out its entrails, chopping off its head before rinsing the fish once more in the water. Enya prepared the raw fish for eating and once it was ready, took a bite.

Enya ate the edible parts of the raw fish, savoring the taste. If she was going to stay in the forest, who knows when Enya would be able to eat? Enya needed the energy.

Finished eating, Enya rinsed her knife off. She filled her only empty container with water and walked along the stream, holding the bottle in her hand.

Enya walked until the Sun stood above her, her skin hot and her hair sticking to the back of her neck. She plopped down on a large stone. Her hand wrestled a container out of her bag and brought it to her lips. Enya took a sip.

Seeing a spot on the ground where the Sun shone without hindrance, Enya stood up and placed her container with the stream's water in the center of it. Enya scanned the area.

A few feet away lied a cave. Enya crept closer, listening for sounds. Nothing. Enya moved away, hoping the cave's residents had been long gone. She could use a place to sleep for the winter.

Enya plopped back down on her boulder and stretched her limbs. Her bones cracked, sighing in relief. Enya stretched her legs, smiling as the Sun beat down on her in segments. The warmth spread to her core.

As Enya enjoyed herself, she heard a scream.

“Damn it!”

From a tree a few feet before her, a boy fell, slamming to the ground.