The encounter in the woods
Talia cut through the old overgrown branches with her dagger cutting around to get off her path. The branches clawed and scratched at her face, her hood, it snagged at her dress and pants. It was dark and the witch couldn’t see what was in front of her or behind her, all she can do was trust her compass and travel north. It was night and she thought she is safe traveling in the dark in the Xadian forest, lest she runs into a Sun Fire elves knowing they are populated in the area. Traveling at night was safer knowing no Sun Fire elves around this time. But it was the safest bet to avoid running into any trouble but it didn’t stop her from a non-elfen threat like griffins, Horn Golems, and Jester Wendigos that are present in the forest.
All she can do is walk and walk in the darkened path and only her compass and the stars above to guide her out of the forest. Then she heard something! A sound of running water can be echoed around the hollow tree trunks. Talia smiled, following the noise, running faster and faster deeper into the woods. She was almost close, she thought! As she ran the more she became lost and but the echoes of running water where around the forest! Was she getting auditory hallucination? Did she dream she heard the sound of running water? Perhaps because she was sleep-deprived and imagined it? No, it can’t be right! She was almost close to panicking but steeled herself to catch her breath. Talia breathed in and out in slow steady breaths, panicking will get her nowhere. She turned away from the sound of running water until her left foot caught up to something and she flew.
Her body tumbled, as she rolled down the beaten path of the hill. Tumbling faster and faster, she cartwheeled against the rolling hills, she tried to use her legs to break her fall until her ankle slammed into a rock or a tree and she heard a snap. Talia screamed in agony as a white-hot pain shot up down her ankle and up her spine. When she landed, she continues to scream, no longer caring if anyone heard her wails. She saw stars dance around her eyes and began to feel nauseous and dizzy. Then she passed out beneath the brush.
It was morning when Talia awoke by the blinding rays of the sun. She was in agony when she arose, and her head was killing her. She turned over and vomited as the pain in her ankle was excruciating. She sobbed trying to get up, using the trees as a crutch to stand. She continued to limp and hobble now that the sun was up, she found hope that maybe she can find a dwelling to heal her ankle and get rest.
