Howl (A22)

A22: There are unholy things in the forest

There are unholy things in the forest, but she likes it that way.

She leans further into the horse beneath her, and the grin spreads across her face as the wind caresses her and frees her hair from their loose braid. The distance melts under his hooves and she sheds her persona as she runs further from town. No need to pretend to be a civilized and proper lady anymore. Laughter erupts from her, wild and untamed, loud and unapologetic.

The air around them cools considerably, telling her that the spirits of the forest are awake. It’s too early for the moonlight to be at full power, but the sun is setting and her blood comes alive as the world turns to darkness. She doesn’t slow. The fast footfalls of her horse soften until they fade into silence. Even his color fades to a translucent white as he returns her home into the forest. The warm skin against her hands turns cold and she takes in a sharp breath at the contrast.

The magic of the forest sings in her veins, as they did in her ancestors., as they do in her sisters. The rush has her yelling into the forest. It’s an eerie sound that unsettles the villagers, but she doesn’t care. She yells again, and again, announcing her return and welcoming the spirits to her.

Her family and the spirits have been in the forest for longer than they can remember. The villagers are the ones who declared the land of the forest unholy. They brought their religion and their hatred to the area and claim the land as their own, but she knows the truth. She sees the way that they go about their business. She’s been with them for years, watching them. Judging them. She’s seen enough. She’s made a decision about them.

He slows, and her call changes. She howls, and the forest answers in kind. Her voice is carried by the wind through and beyond their forest. Her instructions are buried in their high pitch, and the resounding call answers with approval.

Tonight, the unholy things leave the forest.