Black Moon Draw

"Get me out of here before it's dark, LF," I order quietly. "I'm not a Girl Scout. I never learned to start a fire, and I definitely don't know how to hunt or eat bears or whatever it is you put in this godawful forest."

A branch snaps behind me and I turn.

Again, the area behind me is empty, except this time, I can almost sense something at my back, like when a saleslady follows a little too closely when I'm at Macy's. I hate the feeling of being watched or worse - of being judged for making a beeline to the clearance racks because I don't make enough for full-priced clothes. It's why I shop first thing in the morning - so no one sees me.

But this . . . this is paranoia. There's no one there, unless they're invisible. I'm not about to put that thought out to the creator of this universe, in case LF decides it's a good idea.

Shaking off the weird instinct, I continue on the path. I'm trying not to think about what happens when dark falls or where I go in the morning, if I don't wake up in my own bed.

"Witch! You must run!"

"Shit!" I whirl and see three men with white trees on their breasts where there was no one before.

"The Shadow Knight comes," the first said grimly, reaching me. "Flee and we will hold him off."

My chest grows tight. "Where do I go?"

"North by northwest."

I look up at the sky. I can't see much beyond the trees. "Which way is that?"

"North then northwest," he repeats with some impatience. "They are on our heels. You must go now."

I don't see anyone following them but start down the path, not about to stick around to meet the man-beast I once admired because he chops off everyone's heads.

"North first!" the White Tree Sound soldier bellows. "Then northwest."

"Can you just point the way I need to go?"

He does and then whips out his sword and prepares to face an enemy I can't see.

North is through the forest. Hiking up my cloak, I trip twice over the oversized shoes before finding my footing. This route is horrible - filled with dips I can barely see in the grainy dusk, brush scratching my legs, and thick tree branches that keep getting in the way. There's no way I can head in one direction long, not with the detours I have to take.

Cursing the knight for pointing me in such a laborious direction, I stop to suck in a deep breath and glance back. I can't see them anymore. There's half a forest between us. The clash of swords tells me which direction the White Tree people are in. They aren't following.