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Journey Through the Dark Woods ~@Dedicated to Bonnie Whited, my most loyal friend, who will always risk the Silver Bullets, and without whom this story would not exist.@~ I: Keara In this world, I am seventeen, young and basking in my world of mundane normalcy. In another much different world, one that I have never really - even in my wildest dreams- conceived of, I am more than I would ever have thought. Perhaps that is why, when first I opened my eyes on that fateful morning, I had had no more planned in my day than to buy a flower, perhaps two. I can't say why I had felt such a strange urge towards this but, having nothing largely important to accomplish, I dressed and approached the outside world. You must know that I am not very fond of the human race, with all their noise and pollution; and although I, with defeated shame, admit to being one of them, I try to avoid them at all costs. The sun was bright, and hurt my eyes, but it felt better to get away from my apartment. After all, being a writer requires more than sitting around and studying. It thrives upon life experience, and upon the knowledge of man. As I write this, I can remember vividly how the sky grew clearer, and how deep inside, I could feel the energy of something unknown stir deep within me. I was increasingly nervous in the presence of the many people, of the crowds and roaring, beast-like cars. As you can imagine, I was quite relieved when I arrived at the bustling store corner. There were many flower shops, as you can imagine, in London, so I naturally had my work cut out for me. However, my search was rather short, as I arrived at a particularly colourful, and somehow intriguing, flower shop. The windows were very large, filled with a vast array of both common and exotic plants. I rushed in, the familiar aroma of nature flowing in upon my senses. I stood back, amazed at what I saw; the floor I stood on was carpeted in lush grass, and trees-saplings mostly- stood erect in the corners. Dare I mention the flowers- Oh, the flowers! There were more than would have been in any Queen's gardens; perhaps in the Garden of Eden itself! My brain was overloaded, and I had no idea what I should choose to decorate with. "Ah," I whispered, spotting an employee watering a rose bush grumpily. "Do you work here?" She looked up at me through narrowed, dark eyes. "What does it look like?" I took that as a yes, my face flushed. "Then would mind terribly- helping me find a flower?" I asked. She frowned at me in extreme dislike. "Take your pick," she growled, turning back to her work. I did not give up so easily. "Look, I'm sorry to trouble you, and I'm sure you're quite busy- but I just can't decide on what flower to get, and I-" "Morning glories," she interrupted. "Pardon?" "Morning glories. Get some." I was getting quite frustrated at this point. "If you don't like it, then do it yourself. I hate plants," she said. I followed her as she began to move about and water a cluster of maple saplings. "If you hate plants so much, then why on Earth are you working here?" I inquired, growing impatient with her dismissing attitude. She was not much older than me, if at all, and I noticed her dark hair was cut only in the back, with long bangs. "I'm trying to earn something that you... Ugh... Mortals call 'dough'," she replied in her American accent. "'Mortals'? Aren't you one?" I wondered aloud. She looked at me as if I was an utter buffoon. "No, I'm not. Duh, what did you think?" She crowed. "Well, I assumed that you were a human-" I began. "Well, I'm not. And I'm also working here because I'm trying to find a girl." "A girl? Why are you looking for her? Perhaps I can help." "Ha! You? Help me?" She sneered, moving on to a different cluster of trees. "I don't even know what she looks like, or what her name is. You couldn't help me, even if I let you." I decided to leave. However, as I pushed open the shop door, her voice echoed out after me, not urgent; but nonetheless, beckoning. "Nashta kudradi un kapor nia fasura!" She chanted, and at first I couldn't understand, but I found myself answering, as though I had always spoken the strange tongue. The girl looked at me in awe, a smile slowly spreading across her moody face as she slowly stepped toward me. "You're the girl I've been searching for," she said. "You passed the test, and now I can take you with me!" I felt a sudden, icy panic crawl down my neck. Was she going to kidnap me? Would I never see my Grandmother- my only living relative- again? "Take me where?" I asked, trying not to reveal my fear. "You'll see. But first I have to finish this watering." "But...How do you know I'm the girl you've been looking for?" I cried, forgetting to keep cool. She acted as if it was quite obvious. "You speak the Celestial language. Only Earth Guardians speak it...Well, besides me. I just find them and open up their powers. Now I have to awaken your magic, and you can go about your business of saving the Earth and all that." She replied, as if that answered it all. "Uh...Right." I was incredulous. What kind of psychopath had hired her? "I don't think I'm the right one, so...I'll just be off now." With that, I rushed out of the shop quite a ways, trying to shake the inevitable feeling that I was being followed. The sun was harsh upon my person, so I sought out a rough patch of shade, which was kindly provided by some trees. I heard a husky barking sound, deep and guttural in my head. I pivoted around just in time to see an old golden retriever-lab mix gazing innocently at me through a chain link fence, adjoined with a beige flat. "Why, hello," I cooed, stooping to caress the playful beast's head. It smiled and eased toward me in a friendly fashion. "Yo!" A familiar, boisterous voice called, "Bet you thought you could get away, huh?" I turned to the dog, who I -stupidly enough- had suspected to be talking. "Oh, so now you think I'm a dog. You sure know how to flatter people," the voice grumbled. I looked around, but could see nothing. "I'm behind you, girlie. Oh, that's right! I've forgotten that you can't see me." "What on Earth-" I stammered, desperately searching for the source of the voice. "Is this 'candid camera' or something?" "Oh, that's rich," she chuckled. Wait a minute! She? I realized that it was the girl from the flower shop-- the nutcase. "Juniper at your service!" She said with over-sarcastic flourish. "I can't believe how clueless you Mortals are! 'Candid camera!' Ha!" I blushed deeply, clenching my fists. I began to imagine what kinds of things Juniper might have in mind, and I began to run from the driveway of the flat. SMACK! I felt something large and flat hit my face, like an invisible wall of some sort. I struggled to push it away, but to no avail. I was stuck. "Now, I need you to come with me to begin your training, so don't try anything smart," she growled. I felt along the transparent wall, frightened and bewildered. I began to pound my fists against it, until I flew through it and clattered to the Earth. Blushing, I gathered myself from the dirt and brushed back my hair- which had been odd since I had been born (It is red with blonde bangs, like fire. I have never been able to taint it with dyes or the like). I gasped as I saw Juniper- or what looked vaguely like Juniper- sitting casually on the hood of a car in the driveway. She was different, somehow, as though she had put on an explicit costume very quickly. She had certain features that were similar to a cat's, as well as a realistic tail- and toes that protruded from her purple boots. Her hair looked longer, too, and now was a flaming orange, with...Ears? This was too strange for me. "A-All right, all right," I grumbled, shaking, "I'll go with you. But- where are we going?" "To the Dark Woods, of course." I watched her as she leapt from the hood of the car, and followed without struggle. After all, I was a responsible adult. I could take care of myself, couldn't I?" I felt a quiver of fear as I answered myself, and followed Juniper back to where "her" flower shop had previously been.
