She stayed there for a couple of seconds, eyes on the village at a distance, before turning around to leave. But a rustling sent her senses into alert and she whipped out a small knife from her basket, pointing it to the bushes. Staying still for a moment, waiting for the predator to reveal itself. With bated breath, her eyes lingered from side to side, seeing if the creature was alone. It could be a pack of monsters if she wasn’t careful.

Contrary to her expectations, a snout came to the open then the deer walked out baring itself for her eyes to see. Fur white as snow, shining under the light struggling through the forest’s canopy. Teardrop-shaped jewels hanging itself from his antlers, glowing and golden orbs held her gaze.

She had never seen a deer so beautiful, and unlike any other.

The awe she felt soon was replaced with dread as she got a wisp of uneasy feeling towards to the direction of her home. Without thinking a second thought, she quickly ran. The whistling tone of the wind ringed in her ears as her vision blurred with shades of earthy colors.

She cannot fathom the feeling she had or why was her heart beating in trepidation and fear or why she was running as if her life depended on it. All she knew that she was needed at her home and the feel of urgency had her blood gushing.

She tripped countless of times, stepping on roots and pits but that did not stop her. Then she heard it, a deep bellow pierced her ears and had her hands to the side of her head to protect her eardrums.

This even made her quicken her fast pace. She encountered a familiar clearing, a place she knows all too well.

However, instead of the usual scene, the once standing humble house was now down into shambles. There are a few broken trees, explaining to her what has happened and a giant creature, as big as the size of seven men, was down slumped to the ground, scratches and deep wounds on his back spilling dark blue blood.

“Mom!” She yelled in distressed. “Where are you?!”

Scanning the area as fast as her eyes could take, she quickly spotted her mother on her knees, catching her breath. There were numerous bodies of monsters lying within the vicinity that made her heart leap from her chest. Her mother is in the same condition, only better. Her bright violet garments were dirty and torn, baring her bloody wounds for all her eyes to see.

Desha was clutching her stomach and looks like was about to fall, if it weren’t for the sword in her hand that was supporting her. Her neatly combed hair was now in disarray, nesting pebbles and soil in its tangles.

Adeleine wasted no time and bolted to her mother, wanting to aid her.

Her mother was a bloody mess, literally.

“Mom!” she yelled and knelt down by her side. Desha raised her head to meet her gaze with a warm smile but her pale complexion evidently tells her exhaustion.

“Adel, honey…” she cooed. “You’re back so soon.”

Opposite to her warm demeanor, Adeleine was horrified. “How can you smile like that when you’re injured!”

By the sound of her daughter’s voice, she hung her head low, her hair overshadowing her face. She tried not to let her voice waver, but failed. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to live long…” she inhaled deeply, “a-at least I was able to watch you g-grow.”

Both tried to hold back their sobs as tears welled in their eyes. Adeleine who was experiencing shock, can’t believe her eyes and brought her hands to her mouth.

“Take back what you said! Take it back! I don’t want to hear it!” she yelled at her, grasping her mucked and torn clothes desperately.

“Adel,” Desha called out her name and Adeleine began sobbing uncontrollably. “Please be strong.”

She coughed and blood splattered on her dress. Tugging something on her neck, she shakily grabbed Adeleine’s cold ones and dropped a necklace inside. It clanked as the chains bumped into each other and the coldness of the metal seeping in her skin.

“It was from you f-father. Please take care of it,” she pleaded and collapsed on all fours.

“Mom.” Adeleine sauntered over her mother. Lifting her head and resting it on her lap, combing her golden hair, she mumbled, “Please don’t go.”

Desha tried to keep them open, squinting at the bright light blinding her. Her body feels exhausted and her own heartbeat faint to hear. “Shh, don’t cry, don’t cry.” she lifted her hands to wipe away her daughter’s tears. “Before I go…f-find the box for me. I-t was s-something prec-cious.”

Adeleine understood what her mother is pertaining to and nodded her head, biting her lips to keep her from breaking down even more. She doesn’t want her mother to have her last moments with her in a sobbing mess.

“T-take it as m-my last gift.” She stumbled on her words, finding it hard to curl her tongue. Intertwining her pinkie with her daughter, she muttered, “Just p-promise me you’ll l-ive.”

Adeleine gave her mother her pleas. Wishing she wouldn’t go away, hoping she’d stay, praying that she’ll live. But such words were only taken away by the soft whispers of the wind.

Her mother mumbled in which she leaned close to hear. Desha wants to hear her voice one last time, knowing what her mother would ask as a favor, she listened, bearing the ache of her chest once she uttered the words in melody.

The song of the night echoed through the forest, biding farewell to the people our hearts hold dear. A lament to guide those souls to the moon river, a place where souls reside and flow to the lake of the sun, to be reborn again.

Desha’s eyes fluttered close and the melody carried the sorrow of the one who had sung as they were taken away by the wind, through the forest.

Wails soon followed and the woods fell into deep silence, that only her cries was the only voice ushered. The forest seemed to have lost all its colors, joining the girl’s moment of grief.

Her mother was all she had.

And where was she when her mother is at death's door? Picking stupid mushrooms. What if she left the child alone, would she have been able to get back early? Can she even help her mother if she did? What a pathetic daughter she was.

Time had pass by but she still laid on the dried leaves that blanket the forest floor, combing her mother’s hair that has now lost its lively color.

She hummed the soft melodies of the lament she once sung and ended with her a whisper of farewell. “Until we meet in our next life, mother.“

Following the customs, she dug a hole large enough for her mother vertically beside a large tree. She carefully set her in and returned the soil. Engraving her mother's unto the bark with a knife. Stepping back, she took in the sight of the great tree and knelt down.

She wished her the best for her next life and good things.

Her fist tightened at the silver pendant. The stone glowed and the mist inside swirled and curled into different forms. It was pulsing. It felt alive.

Somehow, she felt it like whispering. I will always be with you.

She used to see her mother gazing deeply at this pendant, softly smiling.

“I'll cherish it, Mom.“ She said as she held it close to her chest before clasping it to her neck and hid it under her dress.

“Check over there!“ An unfamiliar voice yelled at the distance.

This made Adeleine jolt at the sudden intrusion. Out of habit, she reached for her hood and threw it over her head, hiding her black hair from the eyes. She turned around to leave only to be greeted by a sword at her neck.