FFXIVWrite2018 Prompt #3: Adytum
The small shadow scrambled through the forest, the protection of her friends did not hold well enough on this side. The mean ones would find her, and take her, and devour. So she must run, she’d strayed too far. One of her braids was coming undone, they were getting too close. Her ears, sensitive, could hear the silent shrieking. Worse than her older sisters fighting. Worse than the noise the Old Scaled Ones made.
She felt a tugging forward! Pulling her faster, her feet struggled to keep her and her muscles shouted their protests! Then she fell. Low, low, and crumpled to the ground. It was cool and damp and safe. How did she know, she knew. It was safe. Crish made no attempt to get up. Her body had seen no more than a handful of winters and it was quite vexed, too much running.
The screeching could still be heard above, above her head. Much taller than she could ever imagine being. Her body felt heavy, not just tired, heavy so she didn’t move. The small shadow named Crish looked to her side spotting the detangling braid. The pastel lavender plait was puffing up like an angry snake and now covered in soft soil. Her older sisters would be annoyed. She was always covered in dirt.
It was quiet and calm here. She wished she didn’t feel so heavy. Like a pile of blankets covered her, but she could still breathe. Her friends found her and didn’t want her to move. Or the nasty, hungry, mean ones would find her next. Was it really safe here? Yes. She was small enough to fit. Her eyes finally adjusted to the dark. There was a root! Many roots!! She would be able to climb out when this was done. They were still screeching above, above her head.
