“Dad is going to p-punish you! Come b-back with m-me now!”
The dampness and chill of the night had turned Maeve’s lips blue, and it took Finn a moment to decide it was better to go back with her. He sighed and put an arm around her tiny shoulders, looking rather disappointed by the change of plans. They had only taken a few steps when the air changed.
A strong, warm wind blew from the Forest; the sound of tree leaves stirred by an enormous force reached them. Both siblings halted and turned to the woods, terrified and fascinated.
At the edge of the Forest, the trees swayed to the rhythm of the footsteps of a colossal creature. Maeve’s eyes shone, noticing that right in front of them, the terrain had changed. A huge hill, covered with shrubs and young saplings, stood among the trees that, a few moments ago, were motionless.
The hill shook sluggishly, advancing deep into the trees. Maeve felt her brother’s arms tighten around her, and she looked at him.
Finn was ecstatic. His eyes sparkled, reflecting the moonlight which shone only for a moment before hiding again behind the clouds. He whispered, trembling with excitement.
“Maeve! Do you see it? It’s a Wandering Hill!”
CHAPTER II
FIRST GLANCE
Regn
They had been running for days now, escaping the fray. Regn was fast, as much as his older brother, but both of them slowed down because of exhaustion. Their mother’s voice called ahead. “This is no time to drag your feet, boys! Keep up!”
The war between the half-breed tribes had gone out of control, affecting many in that region of the Forest. Out of nowhere, the fierce mountain tribe came down to claim the territories of the valley. The village of the River and the tribes of the hills maintained their defenses, but it cost innumerable lives.
The fire had razed the battlefields, and extensive areas became nothing but ashes and dust. The massacre reached beyond the half-breed lands, and elves intervened to help stop the conflict. Rumors saying the last battle approached became louder, and soon after, the northern tribe attacked with all their force. Destruction and death seized many within the Forest.
The nomad half-breeds stayed out of the fighting. Territory and power were none of their business. Despite their efforts, Regn’s family failed to escape in time, and the dangers of battle forced them to risk breaking the law.
They should not enter human territory; they should not abandon the safety of trees.
Unfortunately, trees did not grant safety at the moment. While hoping to dodge both fighting sides, they tried to hide outside the borders. They were a small group, his father, his mother, his older brother, and him.
Regn pressed a hand against his chest; the piercing pain forced him to stop. He gasped, squeezing his eyes as fear stiffened his limbs. In a blink, his mother ran by his side, rubbing his back.
“You can do this, sweetie. Take a deep breath.”
The calming sensation of her soothing hands gave him a bit of peace, and he inhaled deeply before joining with his father and brother up ahead. Despite their stealth, humans discovered them. As soon as they spotted his family, a sizable crowd closed on them, torches and swords glistening in the dark. The clamor of battle alerted the humans who lived near the border, and a large armed group gathered to defend their lands. No one had any idea about the reasons for fighting, but the fear of invasion was enough to scare them. Upon discovering them, the farmers only perceived a threat, and they did not hesitate to end them.
His father’s voice could barely be heard over the clamoring. “Go back! Run!”
Fear dulled Regn’s senses, and all he could hear was the screaming. His father and brother stood up against the danger to allow him and his mother to sprint for the trees.
With his legs about to burst, he kept his eyes fixed on his goal. They were almost safe. His mother ran behind him, the last barrier between him and the humans who now chased them.
Arrows showered all around, the first trees within reach. His mother encouraged him with a ragged breath. “Run, Regn! Don’t stop running!” A piercing scream chilled his blood. His mother was on the ground, immobile. Regn tried to reach for her, but an arrow flew by his face, rippling his hair. The terror in her eyes shook him to his core. “Run, don’t stop!” She struggled to get up, but Regn obeyed her, horror taking hold of his limbs, pushing him to move forward.
The loud human voices bore in his memory, along with one last desperate scream.
He ran until his exhausted legs failed under his weight. Regn fell to the ground, gasping for air. Trees now surrounded him while he tried to catch his breath, and this newfound quietness made him feel uneasy.
The humans did not cross the border, and the half-breed battlefield now lay empty and silent. He pushed himself up and sat on the damp dirt, looking around, looking for his mother.
But he knew she was not there.
She never reached the trees. He smelled the blood.
Regn couldn’t find the courage to retrace his steps and search for her. The human territory was still close, and the terror too recent. He lost track of time until the sun peeked through the branches, waking up the smallest creatures that hid during the anguishing night. There were no signs of anyone else around.
Regn hugged his legs and stayed there all day, frozen by fear and uncertainty.
He was alone.
His family disappeared.
Before the sun went down, hunger and cold forced him to get up and walk without a destination. He didn’t have the strength or the zest to hunt, so he ate some berries and drank water from a stream. Regn walked through the night, far into the Forest. His overwhelmed mind left his feet in charge of choosing the direction.
His world
