Chapter three

Ziaani's POV

Ouch. Where am I?

I stood up, looking around in confusion. One moment, I had been near a waterfall—then suddenly, I was back in the woods. But something was off. They looked... different.

Noooooo! Why now?! I shouted, panic rising in my chest.

I ran through the forest, desperately trying to find my friends, but then I realized—I was lost.

What? No, no, no, no. This can't be happening.

I spun around, trying to figure out where I had come from. Was it this way? Or that way? Every direction looked the same. Suddenly, I heard a rustling in the bushes. My heart pounded as I turned toward the noise and cautiously stepped closer.

Out of nowhere, something wrapped around my leg. Before I could react, my body was yanked into the air. I lost balance, flipped upside down, and my head slammed against a rock.

Everything went black.

A loud noise jolted me awake. My body ached, and a sharp pain shot through my leg.

I groaned. "What the—owwww!"

"Shhhhh!" a voice hissed.

I tried to focus, but I couldn't see anything in the dim light. "Who's there?" I called out.

A rough hand clamped over my mouth. "Shut the fuck up," the stranger whispered urgently. "You'll get us caught."

I froze, my breath hitching in my throat. Slowly, I nodded, and she removed her hand.

Silence stretched between us. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. Finally, she spoke again.

"Okay, they're gone. Let's get to the others." She grabbed my hand, tugging me forward.

I yanked my hand back. "Wait, wait, wait! What's going on? Where am I? Who are you? I have to find my friends!" My voice rose in panic.

She scowled at me. "What are you talking about? And why are you wearing that? We're in a war, in case you forgot!"

"A war?!" I echoed, my confusion deepening. "Where am I?!"

She sighed in frustration. "I don't have time for this. You'll report to the queen about—" she gestured at my clothes "—whatever this is."

"The... queen?" My stomach dropped.

She narrowed her eyes. "Wait. I've never seen you before. Are you new? If you are, what the hell are you doing in the middle of a war? You're supposed to be in training!"

She grabbed my hand again, but instinctively, I pulled away. The sudden movement threw me off balance, and I tumbled backward into the river behind me.

Cold water engulfed me. Gasping, I struggled to pull myself up, shivering as I reached for the riverbank. A hand extended toward me, and I grabbed it.

"What the fuck?!" The girl recoiled as soon as she saw me.

Her eyes widened in a mix of fear and confusion.

"Who—what are you?" she whispered.

I hugged myself, trembling. "What are you talking about?"

"You're... you're a hum—"

Before she could finish, a sharp sting shot through my thigh. My vision blurred. A wave of dizziness washed over me.

Then—darkness.

When I woke up, pain pulsed through my head and leg.

"Ouch," I groaned, wincing.

I looked down. A deep bruise had formed on my foot. Then, suddenly, the memories came rushing back.