The trees all looked the same, and it kept getting darker the further she ran. Bea fluttered beside her with a concerned look on her tiny face. Lyra felt like she was running out of breath. Did she have to keep going this fast? She huffed, her heart beating fast in fear. The trees grew thicker around her, branches reaching out like claws. 

“How much further do we run?” She asked Bea, trying to catch her breath. 

“I don’t quite know. It is so dark here,” Bea replied, fluttering alongside Lyra. 

Lyra felt the branches reach for her, the ground grew thick with blood. She tripped over a large beast of some kind, she could barely see what it was, but she felt its thick fur.

“Oh dear, are you alright?” Bea stopped and landed on a branch next to Lyra.  

“Ugh, what- what is this? The ground is covered in blood,” Lyra exclaimed and pushed herself off the forest floor. 

She tried wiping the blood off her hands, but her clothes were equally bloody from the fall. Desperately, Lyra glanced back, making sure the Prince wasn’t following behind. Her chest felt loud and tight at the same time.

“Watch out,” Bea shouted as a sword swung right towards Lyra. 

It stopped abruptly right before her face, “Oh, I apologize. You are not one of them,” he said coldly. 

Lyra’s eyes widened as she saw his jaded face, his eyes were cold and lifeless, “I- one of who?” She stuttered, her gaze wandering back to the sword in front of her. 

“One of those…” He pointed the sword at the dead beast.

“Of course I’m not. I’m Lyra, and I’m lost. Very much lost. There was a wolf who helped me out, and I don’t quite know what happened to it. Do you know the way out?” She could only despair at that moment. 

He put away his sword, “There is no way out… The wolf is a trickster, don’t trust him. He might tell you there is a way, but there is none. You only go deeper into the dark and get even more lost… like me.” His expression didn’t change, it was as if his face was made of stone. 

Lyra felt like crying, but she swallowed her tears. This was not the time to despair, she wanted to go home— to see her family again. She had spent enough time crying, she was tired of it. Lyra had decided to be stronger, had she not? 

“Of course that wolf won’t know, he serves The Lady Of The Dark Woods…” Bea chirped, “But I know the way out, it’s hidden in the in betweens, someone like Lyra can find it.” 

“Lyra?” He glanced at her, “From Linneria?” 

“Yes. I am from there, and that is also where I’m going,” she replied with a puzzled look on her face. 

“I am from Everdale, but I called Linneria my home as well,” his eyes softened slightly, straying away from her gaze. 

He looked at the black fur of the beats that lay dead. How many had he slayed by now? Hundreds? How long had he stayed here? It seemed like years by now. He closed his eyes, did he even remember what the sun looked like anymore? 

“Then come with me. Let’s find the way back. You cannot be that lost in the dark, you didn’t hurt me at all,” Lyra smiled at him, trying to find her bravery again. 

The branches seemed to reach out less as if the trees straightened out again. It was as if the air itself relaxed. He could feel a small breeze hit his face. How it reminded him of the winds of his childhood. 

“I- I don’t know what to say, Lyra. I might take you up on that offer. So far the wolf has not helped me out in the least.” He found her brilliant light green eyes and he felt less cold, as if he had seen the sun again. 

“Now, where do we go next?” Lyra asked Bea. 

The silvery moth placed herself on Lyra’s hand, “Let me see, this place is a tad bit dark, sweet Lyra, but I shall find a way for us,” Bea chirped, “Let us be careful of where we step as well.” 

Lyra swallowed hard, she trusted Bea, there was no reason for her not to. The moth was as sweet as they came. She wasn’t sure if she trusted this man, but he was from her own kingdom, which gave her a sense of relief. Her stomach churned with worry that the prince would somehow catch up with her and drag her back to his palace. 

“We are too deep inside, we must go another way,” Bea chirped softly, fluttering her wings. 

Lyra watched her fly up, a soft glow trailing behind the fairy moth. She glanced back at the stranger, nodding for him to come along. Her feet stepped off the bloody path as she followed Bea. 

“What is your name?” Lyra asked the stranger. 

“Ah, I apologize, I did not introduce myself. I am Iliore of Everdale,” he said as he bowed slightly. 

“Iliore?” She stopped and stared at him. 

How had she not seen it? Was it his jaded expression? Or his darkened hair? She felt embarrassed, yet she also wondered why he had not said anything. They had known each other for many years, had they not? Her heart ached with regret, the knight that had never returned… Was this why? 

“I know you,” she muttered, “We used to know each other.” She gazed at him with bright eyes, trying her best to hold back her tears. 

“I apologize again. I don’t remember much of anything, only my name, where I’m from and that I was a knight.” Iliore tried not to meet her intense gaze. 

“I- I thought you were gone forever, yet here you are. Lost in the woods like I am,” Lyra stuttered, tears rolling down her red cheeks. 

Iliore wasn’t sure how to respond. He felt nothing. He abruptly turned away, something else had caught his gaze. There was someone there, behind the trees. Red eyes glowing in the dark. 

“Lyra… You keep running away from me, my pet,” the prince snarled, baring his fangs.