When they were little, they used to run around the gardens together, screeching and chasing each other. He usually let her win, since she threw a fit if she lost. She was highly competitive and hated losing. The scenery reminded her of those carefree days. When she looked at him now, she remembered his old self. He’d been small, but explosive and he’d sported a head full of red locks and eyes that glowed with conviction. “How about we play a game?” she asked. 

“A game?” he said as he raised an eyebrow and flicked off petals that floated atop his head. “What kind of game? Like when we were kids?” 

“Yeah. I’ll run and you chase me.”

“But you’re not—,”

She didn’t let him finish before she shot past him. Her feet slapped the ground and she shoved the flowers out of her way. Her heart pumped loudly in her ears and the blood rushed to her face as she sprinted with all her might. All the frustrations she’d felt during the last year evaporated in that moment and the only thing she could think about was outrunning him. A smile spread across her face. It was the first one she’d had in a while. 

She camouflaged herself within the thicket of tall grass and slowed her pace to hide her movements. She crept along like an animal and kept her head low. She didn’t catch sight of him, but a noise behind her launched her forward. 

Maeva dashed forward as the scenery around her blurred in vivid greens, purples, and pinks. She would’ve laughed at that moment, but it took every ounce of her energy to run from Darri. He was a natural born predator and he was quite gifted with athleticism; he’d catch her in an instant if she didn’t completely focus. So she ran. 

Her foot caught on something mid-stride and the world began to spin. She didn’t have time to yelp. She lurched forward and slammed into the ground. Pain shot through her arms and her bones rattled from her head to her toes as her entire body suddenly began aching. A gust of dust blew around her and she coughed as her eyes teared up. Her elbows scraped against the vines and weeds. Maeva groaned and blinked with surprise. Grass and weeds welcomed her in an embrace. She shoved her hair out of her face and forced herself into a sitting position.

What had happened? She planted her hands on the ground and was about to heave herself to her feet when a blur of movement to her left stopped her. A sudden chill ran through her chest and she whipped her head to the side. Weeds and grass danced in waves. She quickly turned to her right. Nothing. 

Crick. Crack. Snap.

The hairs on the back of her neck and arms stood erect. She whirled around and fell on her bottom. A grotesquely shaped being stood a few feet away from her. It was humanoid, and yet its arms and legs twisted at unnatural angles. Its head spun and cracked. Crick. Crick. Two holes of glowing red made up its eyes. Its form withered and misted over in shadows. One second it had a form, and the next it was like it was underwater as its form disappeared and reappeared. 

Its neck snapped to the right. Crack. The eyes were unblinking and situated around a formless shape. It was about half her size. In the crevices and undergrowth surrounding it, it seemed like it could be shade. But she knew better than that. It wasn’t shade and it wasn’t her imagination. She wanted to back away and run as far as she could, but her legs were watery and weak. She blinked with confusion as her mouth dried up. 

The creature’s eyes glowed brighter. Maeva’s breath caught in her throat and a chill swept over her chest. Slowly, ice splintered through her lungs and frost seemed to cling to her lips. The creature continued to stare. Her eyes widened and she brought her hands to her throat. It felt as if ice was getting shoved down her throat to suffocate her. The warmth from her hands and her body died and slowly dissipated until she felt colder and colder. Snap. It took a step closer as its limbs and legs twisted with motion. Her chest felt leaden and she fell face-first on the ground. Her cheek met the coldness of the grassy ground. 

What was that thing? She had never seen or heard of an animal like that. It was almost like…magic. 

But that was impossible. 

Magic had disappeared thousands of years ago.