It was her first kiss, and it wasn’t pleasant.

It was demanding, rough, and frightening. Darius’ teeth raked against her bottom lip and his tongue lapped against hers. Natalia fought against his dark magic, which attempted to slip from his tongue and into her body, with the intent of binding her powers to his. Mustering her strength, Natalia bit his lip until it drew blood. He gasped and recoiled, pressing one hand to his mouth while still clutching her arm with the other.

“Get off of me!” she bellowed.

The air crackled again. Using all her strength, Natalia was able to banish Darius’ dark magic from her mind, and she had her footing once more. She pushed hard against his chest and they each backed up several steps. Her ankle, once throbbing, was now healing fast as she pulled the surrounding forest’s mana into her body, creating a shield of protection around her to keep his influence out.

“Easy now, little queen,” Darius said with a bloody smirk, his own dark magic gearing up for a fight. “You have no idea what you’re doing. You have  no idea what I can do.”

But Natalia’s bright golden eyes were finally seeing him, and the world, for what it really was: cruel, hateful, and manipulative. 

But she also saw herself finally, too. And she was dangerous.

“No, Darius,” she growled, like a cornered fox prepared to do whatever it took to survive. “You have no idea what I can do.”

Darius had always underestimated her. He’d been so cruelly confident that the little queen, a mere puppet on strings, would someday bow to his will. He would have her, and her power, all for himself. After all, she’d never put up a fight before.

Well, she was now.

Darius’ dark magic was little match for the bright, shining fire of the north star that emanated from Natalia’s very soul. It grew and grew like a chemical reaction, banishing his shadows. She raised one hand, palm facing up, and produced a white flame so blinding that Darius stumbled backward, shielding his eyes.

“You will not know me, see me, touch me, or hear me,” Natalia chanted, weaving a spell most-powerful. “I will slip unnoticed from your gaze. You will never find me again.”

Darius’ skin was burning. He choked on the gravity of her power. Blood from her bite dripped down his chin and puddled to the ground at his feet.

“Natalia, stop—!"

Her voice took on a booming, echoing sound, and she roared: “By the fox gods’ holy fire, I cleanse you.”

That same blinding white light crashed over him, and all at once, it felt like he was splitting in two. Darius screamed and writhed on the ground, as his power was siphoned away, slipping into the earth like spilled ink, and disappearing, purified, back into nature from where all magic came. He roared in agony, cursed her in every language that he knew.

When the light from her spell finally dimmed, Natalia gasped and stumbled, but remained standing. She was completely drained of energy, of power, but her magic would replenish in a few days. Unlike Darius, who would now be powerless for at least a few weeks. 

That should give me enough time, she thought. 

But where to go? She wasn’t sure. She just knew that she had to get away, and finally, she felt strong enough to do it.

Panting, she let a small, satisfied smile cross her lips. “You’ve only,” she gasped, “a thimble’s worth of magic right now. I recommend you use it sparingly.”

“I w-will get y-you for this, you bitch,” Darius vowed, his body still in agony, his blood still flowing freely. “I w-will have you and your magic. I will hunt you to the ends of the earth!”

But Natalia was already fading from his sight. Her curse was starting to take shape, and he was suddenly unable to see or hear her very well. Still, she had a few parting words for him before she completely disappeared from his sight.

“I don’t think so. You see, as far as you’re concerned, Darius Blackthorn,” she taunted, “I no longer exist.”

Natalia ran through the forest again, her ankle healed and her determination only doubled by Darius’ attack. The bells from the Solarium were ringing out now, echoing down through the forest. 

They were sounding the alarm. Soon, everyone would be looking for her.

Her poor parents… they would think something terrible had happened. That she’d gotten lost or hurt. The Elders would lie to everyone, make up some scheme. Get people on their side instead of hers. 

Would she ever be able to come back? Would she ever want to? 

Natalia turned right into a thicket of evergreen trees and alpine ferns. As she ran, she whispered a tiny incantation—it was all she could muster up after what she’d done to Darius—to help her become someone entirely new. Her hair changed color, brightening from its fox-red hues to a golden blonde. Her robes turned into a pale, sky blue peasant’s gown, and she magicked her eyes into a brilliant green—as green the alpine ferns swirling about her feet as she ran.

By the time she finally descended the mountains and the morning light of dawn broke, Natalia Ellwise was gone. In her place was a plain, blonde peasant girl, with threadbare clothes, a cloak, and not a single penny to her name.

She hesitated at the border of her clan’s land. As soon as she crossed over into human territory, her magic would no longer protect the mountain. At least, that’s what the elders had always said. And if they were telling the truth, every innocent Vulpine witch would be vulnerable. Humans and rival witch clans could ascend the mountain without being diverted or illusioned away, and who knew what would happen then?

Can I really do this? She asked herself. Can I really leave them to fend for themselves?

Natalia’s heart was heavy with guilt, rage, and despair. How could the Elders have put her in this position? How could they force the burden of protecting everyone she loved upon her shoulders alone? No doubt that was the point. Threatening the safety of her parents, her childhood friends, and all the kind, deluded people of their clan, would certainly keep anyone obedient and in line. 

But she could not stay. Not anymore. She wouldn’t allow herself to be caged by duty, or let her powers be used to murder innocent people—even if they were humans.

Let them protect our clan, she seethed. I won’t do it for them any longer.

With one final step, Natalia whispered a tearful goodbye to her parents, and crossed out of Vulpine lands into human territory, unsure that she would never return.