The group found themselves in a village.. ' Hime village '

It was the nearest village to the forest where Allysanne used to live with Sirius.

The village was empty with a few houses left. It looked as if it was almost on the verge of abandonment and maybe it was.

Toby asked some villagers for the reason and it turned out pretty simple, it was migration for jobs and living.

Sirius remarked that the cottage wasn't too deep in the woods, as he often did household chores in and out of the nearby villages. So after talking to the locals, they parked the car in the village, and from there, it was all on foot.

Toby had heard of Allysanne's death, but he never knew exactly where she had hidden herself. Now that he had reached the forest, he was shocked, to say the least.

The forest wasn't particularly dense, but it stretched vast and wide. It was calm and serene, with sunlight filtering through the gaps between the trees, casting soft patches of light onto the forest floor.

Tall trees stood around them, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze, filling the air with a soft rustling.

Birds chirped overhead, their melodies blending with the occasional crack of a branch underfoot. The scent of pine and fresh earth lingered in the air, making the place feel alive yet peaceful, a space where nature thrived in balance.

He hadn't expected the forest to be so... peaceful. Sirius and Sylv walked ahead, with Sirius carrying her once they reached the forest. Toby followed close behind.

They were being careful, just in case. There wasn't any concrete reason for their behaviour, just a precaution.

" Papa, the forest is big and green! "

" This is where your father grew up.. somewhat "

Whispers of Sirius and Sylvie having a conversation could be heard. Toby was looking around the forest, his gaze keen to find any traces of the cottage.

'The cottage might hold the answers to many things, answers I had been desperately searching for'

A glint shimmered in his eyes.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

*rustle rustle*

The soft sound of leaves shifting reached his ears, and he sensed somehow nearby. Yet they kept their distance, recognizing that they weren't a prey.

The sound of the footsteps, as well as the vague figure indicated it to be a wild animal, but Toby wasn't convinced.

" Be careful " was all he said.

Sirius has sensed it as well, so he gave a silent nod in response.

The group pressed on, knowing it would take time to find the cottage. Sirius vaguely remembered the way, but it had been too long for those memories to be of much help.

Once, there had been a clear path to the cottage, but over time, it had vanished, leaving only trees and grass in its place. Finding the cottage now would take some effort and time.

---

The sun had set, and darkness began to envelop the world. It was evening when I noticed the area thinning out. Though not entirely open ground, it was less dense compared to the towering trees they had encountered earlier.

I sensed the area around me getting familiar and it was not long enough before we stumbled upon the cottage.

I observed the cottage from some distance.

The cottage, worn down by the passage of time, bore the marks of age. Its two cabins nestled together under the soft moonlight.

The path leading to the cottage was lined with wildflowers, while the roof, sprinkled with torn leaves, adds a touch of rustic charm.

Beside the cottage was a small storage room. It contained well-worn jars of herbs, their earthy aromas filling the air, evoking a sense of nostalgia and comfort.

" We are finally here " I muttered, my voice barely audible.

Memories of childhood flooded back, but instead of the haunting image of my mother's death, I felt an unexpected warmth and safety. The memories that surfaced were of the good times, the moments of laughter and comfort spent by her side.

"This place sure looks good, considering how long it's been," Toby remarked beside me, his flashlight already on.

We didn't expect it to take so long to get here, but we had considered the possibility and were prepared accordingly.

There was a wolf pup roaming around, but he ran away after spotting us.

"Now that we're here, mind telling me the reason?" Toby inquired. I realized I still hadn't told him about the dream.

"I remembered something my mother used to have. I had forgotten about it, but it came back to me that day when you specifically asked." I lied with a straight face.

I glanced at his face, hoping to gauge his reaction but I couldn't read him. He had no reason not to believe me, so I moved on.

"Where is it? "

"I don't know. I am not even sure if it's here. " I replied, I couldn't let him know I was following a vision.

"So we came all the way here for a something you are not even sure about? Well done " he responded sarcastically.

"I thought it'd be worth at least taking a look."

" So what does it look like? " He glanced at me. " You don't even remember how it looks like, do you? " He exclaimed.

" No, i don't. I just remember the vague shape." I admitted , shaking my head.

" We should get to work then " he continued with a humourous smirk. "Your mother might have left something precious. Who knows that pendant could very well make you rich over night "

I didn't reply to his antics and let him be.

" We should take a rest first. Sylvie seems tired and we are both exhausted as well. The night is long; we have plenty of time. " I said.

" Alright. I will go and fetch some woods for fire then. "

" Be careful, there might be a pack of wolf around "

" You think some wolves can do me harm? " He snickered.

" There's always a disadvantage against numbers " I continued . " Though I will admit, it would be hilarious if you were to be killed by some wolves. "

He didn't respond and just walked off. It felt good to annoy him once in a while. While he went to collect firewood, I set up our portable tent. It was my idea to bring this, so we carried it all the way here.

Though I had told Toby to rest, I couldn't keep still myself. I kept glancing at the door to the cottage.

So I decided to have a look. I asked Sylv if she wanted to lie down, but she shook her head, refusing.

So holding her close, I stood up walked towards it.

Pushing open the cottage door, the stench of mold and rust hit me at once, heavy and sour.

" It sure is nice to be back " I muttered and went inside.