Fear.

Complete, nervewracking, mind-numbing fear washed over her like an unstoppable wave of ice cold water.

She could see absolutely nothing in the darkness, and her mind kept telling her to run - get away! Escape from this horrible, all-consuming darkness!

But Rhen couldn't move.

She could feel her body though, strangely numb as if she was submerged in icy water, but she could not move even a finger.

Her heartbeat was the only thing she could hear, and at the moment, it was loud as war drums.

Pain welled up in her chest, and she thought her heart might burst - but so be it! As long as she could escape from this unfathomable darkness! This incredible fear, which threatened her with madness!

'Breathe,' she managed to think to herself through the fear.

'Take deep breaths, find your focus. There has to be a way out of this. Chase the fear away!'

She took in a deep breath, which made her lungs sting painfully due to the impossible cold around her.

Ignoring the feeling, she took in another breath, concentrating on that and only that.

Calm down.

Calm down...

Slowly, the horrible fear began to lose its grip around her, and Rhen closed her eyes.

Somehow, she felt like it was brighter when her eyes weren't open. When she couldn't see the utter darkness which surrounded her.

She stayed like this for a long while, and managed to calm herself somewhat by only focusing on her breathing.

Suddenly, a breeze. Cold like in the peak of winter.

The smell of frost and pines and dirt reached her nose now, and Rhen finally dared to slowly open her eyes.

The night sky loomed high above her, stars blinking calmly on the great, dark canvas.

Pine trees reached for the heavy, grey clouds which covered parts of the sky, and a cold winter breeze pushed some snow off of the branches.

A little bit of it fell right next to her, and she blinked slowly, surprised.

There were no pine trees in the northern woodlands.

And it was not winter. Snow should be impossible.

Carefully, she sat herself up and let her gaze wander, taking in her surroundings.

She was in a forest, yes... but not one she knew.

The dirt road and the carriage were all gone, replaced by a natural trail covered in a fine layer of snow.

Suddenly, she realized how much she was freezing, and Rhen hugged herself as she sat there, staring at the strange scenario she had somehow ended up in.

Where in the world was she? And where was Victor? The carriage, the guards?

Getting onto her feet, she looked around again.

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No signs of anyone or anything nearby. There was only the woods and the small, natural trail.

Deciding that following this trail was the only reasonable course of action, Rhen carefully began moving.

Staying there wasn't an option; it was far too cold since she was only wearing a tunic with a fine leather vest, thin, black leggings, and a pair of light boots.

These were summer clothes, and they failed to protect her against this cold.

"Damnit..." she muttered and rubbed her arms, trying to get a little bit of warmth.

It was cold enough that she could see her breath in front of her.

A bunch of thoughts began running through her head as she walked; what was this place? How exactly did she get here? What had been with that darkness earlier? And where was her brother?

Too many questions and no immediate answers.

Perhaps she could find a settlement or village nearby, where she could ask around?

Crack!

The sound of a twig snapping somewhere behind her.

Startled, Rhen stopped in her tracks and turned around, half expecting her brother to have found her. Now, that was a comforting thought at the moment!

Unfortunately, the sight that met her now was not that of Victor.

Instead, she found herself face to face with a creature unlike any she had ever seen;

It was easily six feet tall, standing on its hind legs. Wild, black fur covered its vaguely humanoid body, and a pair of long, sinewy arms hung loosely from its broad shoulders, each arm ending in a large, wickedly clawed hand.

The creature's head was that of a large wolf, with a long snout, standing ears, and yellow eyes.

Only these eyes were full of malevolence... and hunger.

Rhen gasped at the sight of the beast, and took a few stumbling steps backwards, away from it.

The wolf-beast kept its gaze on her, and took a single step forward, baring its long, yellow fangs in a horrible, threatening snarl.

"No..." said Rhen, her voice trembling now not only with the cold, but with fear.

She took another step back, and the monster followed, before it lowered its stance a little, clearly getting ready to pounce.

Rhen turned then, and ran.

As fast as her legs could carry her.

The creature snarled behind her, and she could hear it give chase, its feet thumping against the snowy ground. Fast.

"Help! Please help me!!" she shouted as loud as she could, hating the fact that she had not brought her sword on the trip. That, at least, would have given her a small chance at defending herself!

Why had her mother insisted that weapons were not needed!? That the guards would be more than enough, and that nothing would happen to them?

Cursing under her breath, Rhen changed direction, speeding in between two trees and continuing.

'Make it harder for the beast.' she thought to herself,

'That is all you can do right now. Run, and use the surroundings!'

It was foolish and she knew it. The wolf-beast was a hunter, and would not be fooled by such.

She heard it snarl again, this time somewhat more excitedly.

In her heart, she knew that she had only seconds left before it would catch her.

Thinking quickly, and desperately, she grabbed a fallen branch from the ground, spun around, and swung it with all the might her body could muster.

The creature was close, and by some incredible luck, the branch caught it right on the side of the head.

It yelped, but did not stop its movement.

Rhen felt the air get slammed out of her lungs as the much bigger creature crashed into her, sending her tumbling to the ground.

A triumphant howl left the beast, and it swung its long arm at her.

Raising her own arm to shield herself, Rhen cried out in pain as the creature's sharp claws tore into it.

Blood gushed from the deep wound, and she saw an insane, hungry gleam in her enemy's eyes.

It moved down towards her then, parting its jaws in order to lock her in place with its powerful fangs, likely to make it easier to tear her apart.

Certain that this was the end, Rhen met the insane gaze of the creature, attempting to steel herself for this painful death... only to see the creature's head light up in flame, and its body catapulted off of her, landing with a heavy thud on the ground next to her.

"Rhen!" she heard her brother's voice, and turned her head to look at him as he ran towards her.

Pain ripped through her wounded arm then, and she winced as he reached her, sliding over the ground onto his knees, grabbing her by the shoulders and shouting something she could not hear.

"Victor..." she heard herself say, as she felt her consciousness fade.

"I think I'm... hurt..."

Darkness returned to her world. But this time, it was natural.