Encountering Danger in the Forest

It was around the time when the sun started to rise that Talia realized how fast time has passed. The castle she was held captive inside was no longer in view. All she could see was trees... and more trees. But she wasn't discouraged. Instead, with renewed vigor Talia didn't know she possessed inside her, she continued to walk aimlessly in the forest.

Not long after she took a few steps forwards, Talia heard a snap from behind her. Her entire body instantly froze as she thought that someone from her father's royal guards had found her after finding the princess missing from the chamber.

Her jaws clenched as fear started to claw at her insides. Talia didn't want to return to that place where she was treated no less than a bird inside a birdcage or a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment.

'Snap, snap.'

The snapping sounds continued behind her.

Talia quickly grabbed the dagger out of the strap around her left thigh and turned around to face it. She didn't care if she found her father or his royal guards standing behind her. She wouldn't go down without a fight.

Talia had already expected to see her father or the guards behind her, but instead of seeing them, what she found standing behind her was something far more sinister than her father or any royal guard.

It was an Undead.

With drool spilling out of its slacked mouth and a form like a huge bat the size of a human, the Undead stared at Talia with brimming hunger; its red glowing eyes had her frozen in place.

Meeting an Undead in the forest was not what she expected. Undead usually live in a dark, murky place near the river banks and if they have someone controlling them, they will stay near their Master.

But this Undead had no Master. It was easy to figure it out when you come across an Undead.

An Undead with a Master had full black eyes with no whites or other color in its eyes. On the other hand, an Undead with no Master and who had gone feral had red eyes, Feeral, was what everyone called them.

Between an Undead with a Master and a Feeral, Talia has better chances of surviving with the former. At least, she could negotiate and speak to the former. A Feeral has no mind of its own.

Before she knew it, her feet were already moving to run away. But Talia didn't even get a moderate space between her and the Feeral when it leapt towards her. Its figure could easily tower over her and its jaw filled with jagged fangs were slowly opened, ready to swallow her head.

It snapped its jaw open, revealing its sharp fangs. It was yellow and three inches in size. With no doubt, one bite from it and Talia would die in no time.

Pulling the dagger and twirling around, Talia slammed her hand with the dagger into the Feeral's midriff. Splatters of black blood were spilled on her face. It was cold and dirty as she had expected. The creature soon howled in pain as it renewed its attack.

Talia, expecting the attack, slid through the Feeral's thin, bony legs and twisted her body to stand up behind the creature. She lurched upward, letting her slender legs wrapped around its waist, which was cold and wet, making her skin crawl at the initial contact.

The Feeral probably didn't expect that his prey had started to hunt him and screamed in anger, But before it could do anything, Talia jammed the tip of the dagger in the crown of its head.

However, it wasn't enough. No mortal wound that could render a human lifeless was enough to kill a Feeral.

But Talia wasn't done either.

Pulling the dagger out, just enough that the tip of it was still inside the Feeral's skull, Talia let her palm run through the sharp blade, slicing her skin. The pain of having her palm sliced tore a groan out of her lips as the smell of her blood seemed to arouse the creature's deep hunger. Soon, the Feeral started to go into a frenzy and tried clawing at her.

With Talia's blood now smearing the dagger, she harshly slammed it back down till the hilt was almost buried deep in its head.

Power pulsed through Talia, throwing her off guard and kicking her in the gut as a huge amount of magic surged through her body. Then, leaving her body in bulk.

"Enri..."

Die.

The Feeral jerked once, and that was it. It didn't produce a shrill scream as its life left its body.

Talia stumbled along with it onto the ground. She felt the ragged edges of the rocks underneath her back. Her hands were trembling, her head was aching, and her heart started to beat slowly.

Talia knew she shouldn't have used the magic inside her body. It was a wrong decision to make. Now, she's paying it with her life.

Her mouth hung open as she gasped for air. She couldn't breathe, just like that time when she first called upon her magic.

'How stupid…'

'Not only was I rejected and a runaway Princess.'

'But I'm also about to die...'

Talia's consciousness faded completely, swallowed up by total darkness, as she lay beside the creature she had just hunted.