Into the Forest

The moon floated high now. The tall trees glittered in the moonlight. They surrounded us on all sides. Glaring at me. Looming over me. Trying to scare me away. With every quiver of the wind, the trees would rustle.

'You're late! Late, late, late, late!' they seemed to shout.

Oh well. Like everything else in my life, it was up to the mercy of our Great Emperor.

Sarcasm did not put me at ease.

My stomach churned along with the carriage wheel. My mind wandered to the future again. My future.

I don't want to be hand delivered like some sort of trophy. To marry a child of a man as evil as the Emperor went beyond bruising my ego. It was worse. Marrying into their family felt like I was betraying everything I had fought for. Like I had wasted those three years.

But my rebellion has crippled the chance at negotiating better terms.

"Should I just be cold?" I think aloud, petting Kyu. "What do you think, boy?"

The dog sits up and nuzzles past me, apparently wanting to switch to the window seat. These kinds of nights were his favorite. They were mine too.

"Mmm, you're right… I don't think they care about what I think. They might think I'm crazy and lock me away somewhere." I smiled. "If that happens… we couldn't enjoy nights like these anymore."

I scuffed his neck, thanking him. I needed to keep my freedom. I may not have my pride, but I still have my honor. If I play nice, I'd be able to take opportunities. Small victories…

"Would you like an apple Princess?" I heard Pah call from the front.

"Yes, please," I'm starving! "I haven't eaten since this afternoon."

Pah slowed the horse down, reaching back, first handing me his small knife.

"You can keep it until we stop," he told me rummaging in the brown sack for an apple, "Last one!"

Just as I reached out the window, we hit a bump, and the apple went flying… right into Kyu's mouth!

"Kyu! Give!" I commanded.

He faced away from my angry, grasping hands. I could hear him crunch the apple hungrily into pieces, his drool and bits of apple falling into the seat.

So frustrating! This dog chose a good time to stop listening!

"I'm sorry," Pah said. "All that's left in this bag is pellets for the horse, and beer, for me…"

"Kyu, you little…"

Kyu the bastard, was ignoring me. Too busy licking his chops in satisfaction. Fine. You want to be sweet? I'll be sweet right back!

"Come here Kyu," I beckoned, my voice was sweet like honey, while my hands were fluttering the knife between my fingers.

I will eat, even if it means I have to fillet this dog!

BUMP!

Uuuu… Not my shoulder again…

---

When I was younger, I used to love those stories where princesses were swept off their feet by a prince.

My mother loved those kinds of stories too. She was an author, you know. She read a lot of these stories to me before bed.

My favorite kind of prince was the dashing kind. These tall, dark, and handsome men would swoop in and carry the princess away, away, away…

My aching shoulder and rumbling tummy told me I needed that right now. An escape from my future.

I don't even know anything about my fiancé! What does he look like? Is he strong? Tall? Was he just like his father?

This is making my head hurt… I wish my world was simpler. My perfect man would be someone like Kyu. Direct and to the point. Honest too. Honesty is always good. Not like anyone related to the Emperor could be honest....

As I stewed in my gloomy thoughts, Kyu's ears perked up. He went from loudly huffing the chilling air, to deathly silent. His little body had tensed.

"What—"

The horse whined and Pah cursed loudly. We came to a rough stop in the middle of a clearing. I hid the knife in my sleeve, uneasy.

"What's going on up there?"

The forest surrounded us on all sides, but at a slightly wider berth. This patch looked artificial. Like someone had cut down an area of trees to make rounded arena.

"Dunno, a kid just ran out in front—Urg!" Pah's voice was suddenly cut off. I heard his body THUNK against the carriage.

Kyu was growling. I could see men coming out from behind the trees. I saw three on this side. All of them carried weapons. They wore patchworked leather hide, dyed a blackish green.

They were in a sort of formation, the tallest one leading, while the other two were a few feet behind him, supporting his flank.

Bandits! Or is this an assassination attempt? This could be an opportunity

"Kyu. Duck!" I commanded, pointing at the man in the center. He looked like their leader. A good target.

Kyu burst the door off its rotten hinges. I followed close behind him, like we practiced. He leapt at the tallest figure taking him down.

I jumped over them, heading straight to the forest. I could lose them there!

"Grab the girl!!" Their leader shouted as he wrestled with Kyu.

The slim man on my right hesitated; good, you're not a threat.

The left man on the other hand, responded immediately. He dashed, his bulky frame giving me a false sense of security.

I threw my knife, aiming for his eyes. He flinched, dodging awkwardly.

I kept running, and running and running.

---

Huh? They're not following me?

I leaned against a mossy tree, nursing my shoulder. All this running and jumping had clearly agitated it. The burning in my chest hadn't gone away either. It was so hard to catch my breath.

Shit, why'd I run so hard? The air up here is too thin. But I can't afford to stop. I have to keep going… This forest can't go on forever.

There was a slight rustling from the trees above me. I saw two glittering orbs slink towards me.

They growled.

Eh, wait, lights can't growl, can they?

I tried to tense myself, but my legs had turned soft. I looked up again, and the orbs had gotten closer.

Is that a tiger?