Chapter 4-The Mystery of Doomwood

"Look at her form! She's turned into a half-wolf!" exclaimed Talon with fear on his face.

Yes, I deliberately appeared with this despicable figure. I could see clearly, the tense faces of those people.

"AAAA!"

"Look! Seraphine is being pulled into the forest! She's not allowed to come out!" exclaimed Nymeria with bulging eyes.

Talon and everyone's faces were tense. They were terrified. Slowly, they stepped back as I continued to scream and whimper in pain.

My body was caught by an enormous hand-shaped wisp of white smoke. Then, I was trapped into a large blob of water, lifting me high until the heads of Talon and the others looked up. I pretended to choke until bubbles came out of my mouth. Afterward, I was dropped to the ground.

"Ny... help me," I whimpered, crawling on all fours while clutching my large belly.

Nymeria stood there with her eyes fully rounded. She didn't say anything. Yes, I could tell that she was both shocked and frightened by what she was seeing right now.

"AAAAA! Talon! Ny!"

I shouted as the ground began to devour me. I sank slowly, and I ended with my arms reaching up. Hoping that someone would reach out to help me. However, I already knew that none of them would save me.

"Oh!"

Talon and the others were stunned to see that I had been swallowed completely. Fenwyn hid me behind a bush. Yes, the earth spirit wanted me to see the end result of this charade.

"HOARRR!"

"Get out of here!"

Talon shouted in panic and asked everyone to leave immediately. I smiled with satisfaction. Lyara was great with her closing act and powerful flames. She transformed into a giant-like form that wanted to capture Talon and the others.

Yes!

We managed to drive them away so they wouldn't come near Doomwood again. Thus, my future baby and I would be safe without being disturbed by them.

"Thank you," I said happily as the spirits surrounded me.

"All thanks to you, Seraphine," Thalindra replied.

"No, it's not. Without you, they would have kept coming back to ensure my death."

A feeling of relief washed over me. Apparently, I could trust the spirits. Although they were not human, vampire or even werewolf, but... they cared about me.

"You don't need to worry about your rudimentary transformation. Rather, you should focus on controlling the natural elements. You have more potential to do so without disturbing your fetus," Lyara said.

"Okay."

I stood up slowly. The show was over. It was time to change my destiny. Maybe I wasn't meant to live with the herd, but here I was. In the cursed forest, Doomwood.

I explored the forest, as the spirits had requested. Honestly, I was a little anxious and my vigilance was heightened. My sense of smell, hearing, and instincts are getting stronger.

Is it because I'm pregnant, or... because the magic of this forest is strengthening my senses?

What is it? The sound of water?

I heard the sound of water splashing not far from where I was now. My energy was a little depleted due to the crazy action to drive the traitors away.

The morning air in the Doomwood forest was refreshing and calmed my frantic heart. The longer I stepped on my bare feet, the more I felt the peace in the silence of the forest.

"Lake!"

I exclaimed in amazement when I found out that there was a large lake in the mysterious forest.

I walked closer. The water was very clear at the edge. I touched the clear water with my toes slowly. It was cold, but it felt fresh. I squatted down and drank it directly. It was really refreshing.

Wait, I felt like I was being watched. My face, which was reflected in the water, suddenly moved.

Sure enough, "AAAA!"

I, who was crouching down, fell down. I crawled backwards quickly. Panic, that's what I'm feeling right now.

"You... you're ...."

"You're Doomwood's new resident? You look strange. You look like a wolf, but... half human. What kind are you?"

I swallowed. That creature, just like the elders in my pack had told me about. Yes, she was a mermaid.

"I... I'm ...."

"Are you the one who made a fuss outside earlier?"

She knew it!

The figure of the mermaid told by the elders is very similar to the red-haired woman in front of me. It's just that... she's not as beautiful as she was told. Her ears are like fish fins. She has gills on her neck and fins on her back that extend all the way to her tail. Her legs were a large, scaly tail. It reflects light when the sun shines on it. Its hair is long and shiny, like it's waterproof because it doesn't look wet.

Her face... mm, how shall I put it?

Her teeth are sharp like a saw. Her skin was pale, probably from living in the water. It has two webbed hands like a frog. Its eyes are large and have no petals, it doesn't blink. And its upper body is not covered with scales or shells. Yes, that's what this mermaid before me looked like.

"I asked you a question, half-wolf."

"Ha? Oh, yes. Sorry, about the commotion earlier," I replied nervously.

"I'm Mirella. You?"

"I'm Seraphine."

"The lake is my territory, Seraphine. As long as you don't pollute it, I'll let you drink or bathe in this place. However, if you misbehave, I will not hesitate to drag and drown you for my food."

"I understand."

Mirella immediately threw herself into the lake. She was... quite terrifying. My heart was pounding. This was my first time meeting a Mermaid. Her presence, however, made me happy that I was not alone.

"Oh!"

Again, I was taken aback as Mirella suddenly appeared after throwing three fish that almost hit me in the face. I stared at her intently. Her unblinking eyes made me feel hypnotized to approach her and... wait, what was I thinking?

"As a welcome. You need fish. You're pregnant. See you soon."

I smiled. Although she was very mysterious, but Mirella was a good person. I, who had missed the taste of meat, immediately ate the three living fish. I ate them with gusto, leaving only the bones and head.

"It's delicious," I said with satisfaction and lay down on the grass, not far from the lake.

I looked up at the sky, which was blue with beautiful white clouds like cotton wool. The big trees shaded my view as the lush leaves moved to and fro like they were dancing. The air was cool with the sound of leaves rubbing together, sounding like the song of nature lulling me. I let a gust of wind hit my body. Slowly, I closed my eyes.

"Seraphine ...."

"Hem?"

Oh, I fell asleep!

It was a stroke of luck that Aerion called out to me. I looked around where the sunlight was beginning to be obscured by large clouds. I felt the rain ready to drench the forest again. Immediately, I got up and intended to return to the cave.

Wait, what's this premonition?

I felt the presence of another figure. No, it's not Mirella. She smells different. Mirella smelled fishy like fish.

I turned my head, looking around the lake and in the forest. I sensed a threat. Are there other creatures in Doomwood? If so, this was bad!

Immediately, I ran as I clutched my stomach, which was churning again. Apparently, my fetus also sensed danger.

Who was it?

I caught a glimpse of a fast-moving black shadow among the trees. I just realized that my form had returned to human. The fine hairs on my hands bristled, I got goosebumps. I could sense a threat in the darkness of the forest.

Someone was after me.