Lyra carried her boots along as she wandered across the wide meadows of Hinth. One foot in front of the other, leaving her darkest days behind. 

There were wildflowers in almost every color across the meadows. It filled her soul with joy to walk in such a beautiful place, under the vast sky. She had found her voice in the darkness, a smile grew across her face, she couldn’t believe that she was finally free. 

Until worry hit her. 

She stopped and glanced back, the castle was barely visible in the distance, “Did I really kill someone?” She asked herself, her hand clutching her chest. 

She didn’t want to think about it. He had treated her horribly, and she desperately wanted to go home; to her family, to her own kingdom. Her heart ached with longing for her homelands. 

She stopped again as she reached the end of the meadows, ahead of her was a thick forest. She had studied the maps enough to know that she had to go through here in case anyone would come after her. No one would search for her in this place. These were the dark woods, where everything that avoided the light lingered. 

She drew a deep breath, “You can do it Lyra. The darkness is nothing to you.” 

The moment she stepped inside she felt as if her freedom had been taken away once more, the sky went missing, and the light grew dimmer the further she walked. She held her hands close to her heart, feeling it beating faster and faster. The air seemed thick and dense, as if the darkness was solid. Her breath grew faster as if she was trying hard to breathe. 

There were strange sounds everywhere, wolves howling in the far distance. Lyra wondered if she had made the right choice, she shook her head. It was her choice. Even if something bad happened, it was her choice. 

She stopped for a moment, the path grew darker a head. A beautiful silver moth fluttered around her, settling in her arm. She gazed at it, realizing that these woods actually held great beauty despite the appearance. The trees were ancient, filled with moss. Glowing mushrooms grew everywhere, casting a soft light on the forest floor. 

Lyra smiled once again as she remembered what her mother used to tell her. To always look deeper, not everything is as it seems. 

“I am sorry I misjudged you, dark woods,” she whispered as she reached her hand out to the moth. 

“You won’t be the first one,” the moth suddenly chirped as she climbed onto Lyra’s hand. 

Lyra’s eyes widened, “You can speak? This is lovely. Do you know the way through the woods?” She smiled and lifted the moth to her face. 

“I am a fairy moth. We live in these woods, and not to brag but I know these woods better than the patterns on my wings,” the moth said proudly. 

Lyra gazed at the moth and the beautiful swirly patterns on the back of her wings, “Oh, your patterns are absolutely gorgeous. Ah, but I need to find the way through to Linneria. I would be forever in your debt if you could help me. Pretty please,” she smiled at the moth. 

The moth giggled softly, “Thank you. I shall help you, kind elf. My name is Bea. What is yours?” 

“I’m Lyra. Nice to meet you Bea. Now which way do I go?” Lyra glanced at the small silver moth sitting on her index finger. 

“Follow me, sweet Lyra,” Bea chirped as she fluttered her wings, leaving little trails of twinkling dust. 

Lyra gasped in awe, these woods were truly magical. She wondered why everyone feared this place so. She placed her feet into her boots once again and followed the little moth’s twinkling flutters. 

“Be careful, Lyra. These woods can be treacherous in certain places. You do not want to cross the Lady of the Dark Woods,” Bea chirped as she fluttered her wings. 

“The Lady of the Dark Woods? Who is she?” Lyra asked, feeling curious about what dwelled there. 

“She is the one that takes care of the woods. She is the one who decides who gets to stay here.” Bea spun around Lyra’s head before she flew ahead again. 

“Show me the safest path. I just wanna get home,” Lyra sighed, glancing up at the tall trees; the sky was hidden by the thick blanket of leaves above. 

A wolf howled in the distance, startling Lyra for a moment, “Are there wolves here?” She asked Bea. 

“Only one. He stays to the east, in the darkest part of the woods. He won’t come this way, don’t worry,” the moth chirped and smiled wide. 

Lyra breathed out, she truly didn’t want any trouble. She tried keeping her mind on the path home, but it kept wandering to him. She didn’t want to think about him, not anymore. He was dead, right? 

Rustling, branches cracking in the distance, the sound of the woods fading to a loud shout calling out her name, “Lyra!” 

She knew that voice. 

She had stabbed him, he fell far down. He couldn’t be, could he? Her mind stopped. She stopped. 

“N-no. I-it can’t be…” She muttered under her breath, eyes widening in fear. 

“I know you’re here, my little pet,” he shouted out. 

“Oh, he doesn’t sound very nice at all,” Bea chirped as she fluttered gently next to Lyra. 

“H-he‘s not,” Lyra said softly with a defeated look on her face. 

“Then come quick, I know ways to go,” Bea smiled and flew ahead. 

“This can’t be. H-he should be dead,” Lyra whispered as she hurried behind. 

The wolf howled louder than before and the woods seemed even darker as Lyra followed the twinkling dust of the moth. She heard him still, yelling out her name as if he knew right where she was. 

She bit her lip, feeling her heart beating fast as she tried her best to keep up with Bea. She was terrified that he would catch up with her. She wanted to go home, not back there. The increasingly louder wolf howl made her worried as well, were they going towards it? 

She almost tripped, the ground was slippery with blood. She would have screamed, but she kept her mouth shut. 

There was so much blood. Dead bodies. People without heads. Heads without bodies. She held her hands in front of her mouth.

Bea fluttered around her, “Oh, this is unusual. These guys are usually alive,” she chirped and flew down to the ground, investigating the bodies and heads. 

“Y-you know them?” Lyra stuttered, trying to get her words out again. 

“Yes. They live in the woods, peacefully,” Bea said as she flew back up to Lyra’s side. 

A low growl from the bushes let them know they were not alone, Lyra stepped back, not knowing what to do. The moth seemed so calm despite the gruesome discovery. 

“Lyra, I know you’re near,” the prince’s voice echoed out in the distance. 

From the bushes a wolf stepped out, baring his fangs at them, he glanced at Lyra and then at the little moth, “What is the meaning of this, Bea,” he growled. 

“She is being chased. She is nice by the way, so very nice. Not like you, so mean. But we might need mean. What happened to these guys by the way?” Bea chirped as she fluttered around the growling wolf. 

“They are not my doing. I do not carry a sword that chops off heads. I tear flesh with my fangs,” the wolf growled louder before continuing, “That being said, I would be happy to help a nice bright being like yourself, Miss.” He bowed his head to Lyra. 

“U- uh, t-thanks,” Lyra stuttered, her voice faltering again. 

“There you are, my little pet. I have been looking everywhere for you.” The prince interrupted them, his voice was shrill and malicious in the darkness of the woods. 

His eyes glowed ever so slightly as he gazed at her. She was far too frightened to turn, to even look at him. Her heart pounding away in her chest. The wolf growled at the prince, he knew what he was. Vampire. Many of them dwelled within the woods. Yet none as dark as this one. 

“I suggest you run, Miss. I will set this malicious individual straight,” the wolf howled as he stared at the prince. 

Lyra stepped back, frozen as his glowing gaze penetrated her. He seemed different in the dark of the woods. He looked vicious on the outside too. 

“Let’s go,” Bea chirped and tugged at Lyra’s hair. 

Lyra remembered her bravery and closed her eyes, she swung herself around and jolted through the trees. She was not going to turn back now, no. It didn’t matter that he came. She was not going to lose her voice again. Never before had Lyra ran this fast, the growling of the wolf and the prince’s voice resounded behind her as she made her way through the increasing darkness.