The sun still rode high overhead, casting vibrant golden rays through the lush forest canopy, illuminating Lili's path as she hurriedly ran barefoot along a winding, narrow forest trail. Her basket full of plump, bright-red strawberries bounced slightly in her grip, and behind her trailed the heavy cloak Art had left her. It was far too large for her small frame, dragging noisily over twigs and leaves as if stubbornly resisting her attempt at adventure.
Despite her excitement, a gentle undercurrent of nervousness pulsed within her. She'd never ventured this far from her lakeside sanctuary, and a small part of her desperately wanted to turn back. But the idea of finding civilization, seeing the world again—the possibility of tasting real food, perhaps even hamburgers, fries, donuts, and sugary soft drinks—pushed her forward with growing determination.
"Real food again," she murmured dreamily, nearly stumbling as she imagined biting into a hot, greasy burger from McDonald's. "Oh, God, how I've missed it!"
It had been a rough eight years, surviving alone in the forest. Her diet had consisted mostly of berries, smoked fish, eggs from her chickens, and edible herbs. In the harshest winters, she'd even resorted to chewing on tree bark—something she never wanted to experience again.
"I'm never eating bark again," she promised herself, grimacing slightly. "Not even if someone dares me."
As she jogged along, Lili couldn't help but drift into nostalgia. Memories flooded her mind—Amber's mischievous smile and occasional kindness, Frank's steady and reassuring presence, Frank's warm and welcoming parents, his lively children, and even the stern yet familiar faces from the police force back home. Strangely enough, even Chad—the arrogant bully who constantly called her "Hodor" or teased her relentlessly for being awkward—seemed appealing now, a connection she would gladly embrace just to feel normal again.
"Maybe even Chad wouldn't be so bad," she admitted quietly, her voice tinged with longing. "Even if he's still an annoying jerk."
Absently, her mind wandered to simpler pleasures from her past life, like gliding effortlessly down the streets on a skateboard, or pedaling swiftly on a bicycle. Both seemed like magical luxuries compared to her current barefoot dash through the forest.
"A skateboard or bicycle sure would be nice right now," she sighed aloud, gazing briefly at her dusty, tired feet. "Stupid medieval forest, why couldn't they invent roads or sidewalks?"
Lost deep in thought, she barely noticed the large fallen tree blocking her path. Without slowing, she leaped gracefully into the air to clear it—but just as she soared upward, something tugged sharply at her cloak.
Her eyes widened in panic. "Wha—!"
In an instant, she was violently yanked backwards, mid-jump. She landed heavily on her back, the impact forcing every last bit of air from her lungs. For a dizzying moment, she stared blankly upward, the world spinning as bright stars burst across her vision.
"Ughhh..." she groaned weakly, gasping for air. "Damn cloak... stupid tree..."
Slowly, breath returned to her aching lungs. With a frustrated grunt, she sat up, glaring accusingly at the tangled cloak still caught stubbornly on the fallen tree's gnarled branches.
"This cloak is way too big," she grumbled irritably. "Art must be some kind of giant. Stupid, oversized cloak."
She carefully untangled it from the branches, her fingers trembling slightly from the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. Deciding quickly, she tied the cloak securely around herself, adjusting and tightening the fabric until it no longer dragged behind her.
Satisfied with the makeshift adjustments, she stood proudly, examining her new attire. The cloak now hugged her small form, transforming her appearance dramatically—she imagined herself as a stealthy ninja, dressed entirely in sleek black.
"Yeah, that's right," she said confidently, striking a playful fighting pose. "I'm a ninja now—deadly and mysterious, the shadow of the forest."
Feeling somewhat more secure and heroic, she picked up her basket of strawberries once more. Without another thought, she dashed off again into the unknown.
Yet after a few more minutes, her earlier confidence began to fade as reality caught up with her. Her hurried pace slowed, her brow furrowing in worry. She suddenly realized with unsettling clarity that she had no idea where she was going. The trail she had been following had vanished completely, swallowed up by the dense undergrowth, and she could no longer see even a hint of Art's or his master's tracks.
"Oh no," she muttered anxiously, stopping abruptly. "Where did the path go?"
She turned in a slow circle, scanning the unfamiliar forest nervously. Every direction looked exactly the same—endless trees, endless greenery, endless confusion.
"Great," she groaned softly. "I'm officially lost. So much for ninja instincts."
Sweat dripped down her flushed cheeks, her breathing quickening again—not from exertion, but now from growing anxiety. Still, stubborn determination rose swiftly within her. Refusing to surrender so easily, she tightened her grip on the basket, squared her shoulders beneath her newly tied cloak, and picked a random direction.
"Fine," she declared firmly to the silent trees, "if Art can find his way, so can I. Maybe. Hopefully."
Pushing forward, Lili resumed her trek deeper into the unknown forest, relying purely on instinct—instinct that was, admittedly, not particularly good. But her resolve, fueled by dreams of civilization and warm memories of friends left behind, propelled her onward into uncertainty, adventure, and whatever awaited her beyond the comforting familiarity of her lakeside home.
The hours passed steadily. Above her, the bright afternoon sun began its gradual descent, casting elongated shadows across the forest floor. Lili jogged through the dense woodland, her small feet increasingly sore from the rough terrain. The cloak—now tightly secured around her small form—felt warm and comforting, though sweat trickled steadily down her brow and back.
Her pace slowed slightly as the landscape around her changed, becoming more challenging and uneven. Soon enough, she stood at the foot of a steep forested hill. Staring upward, her heart sank slightly; the slope ahead looked impossibly daunting to her already tired legs.
Yet a stubborn voice inside her echoed strongly, reminding her of Forrest Gump—an inspirational figure from her past life. "Run, Forrest, run," she whispered encouragingly to herself, grinning a little despite the exhaustion tugging at her limbs. "If Forrest can run across America, I can climb one stupid hill!"
Gathering her courage, she began the arduous ascent, grasping branches and roots for support as she climbed. Each step forward burned her leg muscles, sweat dripping steadily from beneath her oversized cloak. To distract herself from the physical discomfort, she summoned another hero from her memories—Luke Skywalker, the legendary Jedi Knight. She remembered how Luke had persevered, trained rigorously under Master Yoda, and never once gave up despite overwhelming odds. The thought spurred her forward, determination flaring in her eyes.
"Come on, Lili, you can do it," she murmured between breaths, picturing herself as a Jedi on a heroic quest. "Luke wouldn't quit, and neither will you. The Force is strong with you—well, hopefully."
As her climb continued, her breathing grew heavier, and her pace slowed further. Determined to boost her morale, she decided to rely on yet another cherished memory—a catchy song from her past life. At first, her voice trembled softly, uncertain and hesitant, but soon it grew stronger, echoing determinedly across the quiet forest hillside.
"I would walk five hundred miles, and I would walk five hundred more…" she sang breathlessly, her voice gradually finding rhythm and strength with each step. Her confidence surged with the melody, pushing her steadily upward despite the exhaustion she felt in every muscle.
Each lyric reminded her vividly of the joyous companionship she'd once known—Frank, Amber, even Chad, who used to mock her endlessly. Somehow, even the memory of Chad calling her "Hodor" now brought an odd sense of comfort, reminding her of simpler, easier times.
"Just to be the girl who walks a thousand miles to fall down at your door!" Her singing became louder, defiant against the aching protest of her legs, each note infused with stubborn determination. Her voice echoed through the stillness, mingling with the rustle of leaves and distant bird calls.
Eventually, after what seemed an eternity, she finally reached the top of the hill. Exhausted yet victorious, she paused to catch her breath, hands resting upon her knees, eyes closed briefly in relief.
When she opened them again, the sound of gently flowing water caught her attention. Immediately her heart soared—streams and rivers meant civilization was near, or so she'd always thought. Hastily moving forward, she peered down the other side of the hillside.
Below her, nestled within a small forest plateau, was a clear, serene pool of water. It bubbled quietly from deep underground, and she saw that a tiny stream trickled from this smaller pool down to a larger one at the hill's base. The sight filled her with renewed excitement. Surely this meant people couldn't be far away.
Carefully descending to the small plateau, she approached the hillside pool. Here she dropped to her knees, catching her reflection briefly on the water's clear surface. She drank deeply, savoring the refreshing, cool taste. Pausing momentarily, she recalled hearing, long ago, that pools like this were once considered sacred and could grant health and longevity. Deciding she had nothing to lose, she whispered softly, "Please grant me good health and a really long life," before taking another sip.
Feeling refreshed and a bit calmer, she rested for a moment, sitting cross-legged on the grass beside the small pool. Her heartbeat slowed, and peace filled her briefly as she nibbled a strawberry, grateful for her makeshift snack.
However, her tranquility was soon shattered by the distant, muffled sounds of horses approaching from somewhere below. Her heart raced with sudden anxiety, and she quickly lay down flat upon her stomach, peering cautiously over the edge of the plateau, trying to identify the newcomers.
Below, she glimpsed figures—rough-looking men riding into the clearing by the larger pool at the hill's base. Their clothing appeared medieval, ragged and intimidating even from her distant vantage point. Fear crept swiftly into her thoughts. After her humiliating defeat at Art's hands, she knew immediately that confronting these men would be foolish. Nervous, she remained perfectly still, quietly observing their every movement, wondering anxiously who they were and why they'd come.
Hidden quietly behind the cover of thick bushes, Lili lay flat upon her stomach, her small form pressed into the soft grass as she peered cautiously down from the hillside plateau. Below her, at the larger pool, a group of rough-looking men dismounted from their horses. They wore rugged medieval garb—ragged tunics beneath dented armor, helmets scratched and battered, and weapons dangling carelessly from their belts. Their accents were harsh, unmistakably British, echoing up clearly to where Lili hid.
"Bloody hell, I've about had enough of wandering through these damned woods!" growled one of the mercenaries, kicking irritably at a stone near the water's edge. "We've been lookin' for days now and haven't seen no sign of a cabin or lake anywhere."
Another man, wiry and gaunt, stepped forward nervously. His pale, sickly appearance and thin frame immediately reminded Lili of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. She decided instantly to call him "Bob"—a fitting name for someone so strange.
Bob sniffled nervously, crouching low by the water, rubbing his thin hands together anxiously. "Maybe—maybe we're lost, precious? Lost forever in this nasty forest?"
"Shut it, Bob!" barked a taller mercenary, glaring at him irritably. "Duke Leo gave clear orders, didn't he? Somewhere in the middle of these old hunting grounds—The Deep Wood, he called it—there's supposed to be a cabin. Deep Wood Lodge, or some nonsense. We find that cabin, we find the woman and her daughter, then we take 'em to the Duke unharmed. Simple, innit?"
Bob whimpered softly, clearly intimidated. "But—but there's so many trees, and nasty rootses, and tricksy paths! How are we to find them?"
The leader—a broad, scarred brute whose face looked perpetually angry—sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Because that's our job, Bob. It's what we do. We're mercenaries, remember? Duke Leo says jump, we ask how high."
Lili listened closely, wide-eyed with curiosity, yet deeply confused. Despite the obvious clues, she remained entirely oblivious to the fact that these men were seeking her. Her mind simply couldn't piece together that the woman and daughter mentioned were actually her and her own mother. Instead, her thoughts spiraled into absurd speculation.
"Who are these weirdos?" she murmured softly to herself. "Are they cosplayers or something? But why British cosplayers in the middle of nowhere?" She shook her head, dismissing the ridiculous thought. "Or maybe really badly-armed British criminals? But then why medieval costumes?"
Then she paused, reconsidering. After all, Art—had carried a sword and spoken of lords. Could she possibly have traveled back in time? But surely not. If these were truly medieval times, wouldn't she have seen something genuinely exciting by now? Like dragons, real knights—not arrogant jerks like Art—and perhaps even cool, massive castles with high walls, like in Game of Thrones?
Her brow furrowed stubbornly. "No way," she whispered determinedly, shaking her head again. "If this was medieval England or something, I would have totally seen dragons by now, right? Or at least a castle or two. And my father wouldn't send these ruffians, anyway. My dad is awesome; he'd probably show up riding a spaceship from the stars or something cool like that."
Meanwhile, down at the pool, the mercenaries continued arguing, oblivious to Lili's internal confusion. Their leader paced irritably, barking orders impatiently. "Enough resting! We're behind schedule. Saddle up, lads—we circle 'round this blasted hill again. Maybe we'll spot this damn lodge this time. Duke Leo'll have our hides if we fail."
Bob whimpered again, hopping anxiously from foot to foot. "Y-yes, yes! Precious Duke would be very angry. Very angry indeed, he would!"
The group mounted their horses begrudgingly, turning their steeds around the forest hill's edge and heading off in the direction that—unknown to them—led directly toward Lili's peaceful lakeside home.
As their voices faded away, Lili slowly rose from her hiding spot, brushing dirt and grass from Art's cloak. A spark of worry flickered briefly inside her; whoever the men sought might indeed be in trouble. She hoped silently that whoever this mysterious mother and daughter were, they would be safe from these unpleasant mercenaries.
Yet, more importantly for Lili, the mercenaries had provided a crucial clue. They had come from the direction of the small stream that flowed from the larger pool further into the forest. Clearly, civilization must lie in that direction. Perhaps a city, or at least a village with actual food and people who weren't dressed in confusing medieval costumes.
Hidden safely within her leafy refuge, Lili waited anxiously until the men's voices had faded entirely into the distance. Casting one last suspicious glance toward the direction the mercenaries had gone, she squared her shoulders bravely. "Good luck, Bob," she whispered mockingly. "Hope you find your 'precious' cabin—just not mine."
And once absolute silence enveloped the forest again, she carefully lifted her head, brushing dirt from her cheeks and Art's oversized cloak.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she rose slowly and grasped her basket of strawberries tightly. Gathering every ounce of courage she possessed, she crept carefully down the hillside, her eyes warily scanning every shadowy nook as she approached the larger pool where the rough men had rested.
Reaching the bottom, she paused briefly, glancing around with caution. The pool was serene once again, as though the mercenaries had never passed through. The gentle ripple of water was her only companion. With renewed resolve, Lili turned toward the direction from which the men had initially come—a small stream flowing gently away into the deeper forest.
"Surely this is the right way," she whispered to herself, tightening the cloak around her slender shoulders. "Civilization must be close. After all, I've already come so far and found these strange medieval cosplayers... It can't be much further now."
For a moment, worry flickered within her thoughts—what if these frightening men had gone to her home, to her peaceful lakeside nation? Yet her fears were swiftly dismissed, replaced by confident reassurance. "Nah, Terminator's there," she reminded herself firmly. "He'll handle them easily. Chickens make a fine army, after all."
She grinned a little to herself at that thought, comforted by the absurd yet strangely reassuring image of her valiant rooster defending her kingdom from such brutish invaders.
Strengthening her resolve, she marched onward, quickening her pace. The daylight slowly faded into twilight, casting long shadows that danced eerily through the trees around her. Her basket of berries steadily grew lighter, her stomach occasionally grumbling softly as she snacked to keep up her strength.
As the forest darkened, clouds gathered overhead, blocking out what little starlight had begun to peek through. Soon, a gentle drizzle began falling, quickly turning into a steady, cold rain that soaked her cloak and chilled her tiny body.
"Oh no," she groaned miserably, pulling Art's cloak tightly around her shivering shoulders. "N-not rain. C-can this journey g-get any worse?"
She pressed onward determinedly despite the growing darkness and slippery footing, carefully hopping from rock to rock along the stream. Her mind wandered briefly to Art and his infuriating smirk, his arrogant strength, and the humiliating spanking she'd suffered at his hands. Embarrassment and anger burned hotly within her chest again, though strangely, beneath it all lingered a confusing warmth she couldn't quite understand.
"D-damn you, Art," she mumbled, her cheeks flushing hotly despite the cold rain. "I-I swear I'll get y-you back someday…j-just you wait!"
Lost in these thoughts, her foot slipped suddenly on a slick rock beneath her. She cried out sharply, tumbling forward and landing painfully in the shallow, icy water of the stream.
"Oww!" she whimpered, her eyes welling with tears as she pushed herself upright, shivering fiercely. Her berries had spilled around her, now floating sadly away downstream.
Frantically gathering what berries she could salvage in the darkness, she carefully crawled from the stream onto the muddy bank, her little body trembling with exhaustion and cold.
Finding an ancient, sturdy tree nearby, she huddled beneath its large roots, carefully wrapping herself tightly in the damp cloak. "S-so c-cold," she whispered softly, her voice small and miserable. "This a-adventure thing r-really isn't as f-fun as I thought it'd b-be."
Slowly, her eyes drifted closed, fatigue overcoming her as she curled tightly into a tiny, shivering ball. Just as sleep began to claim her, the soft rustling of leaves nearby made her heart leap nervously.
Her eyes snapped open wide, fear gripping her briefly—until two familiar shapes cautiously emerged from the shadows, followed by four small pups trotting behind.
"S-Scar? Sleemo?" she murmured weakly, a relieved smile trembling upon her lips.
Without hesitation, the fox family nestled warmly against her, their soft fur offering much-needed warmth and comfort. Lili sighed deeply, relaxing fully into their comforting presence.
"Thank y-you, guys," she whispered softly, exhaustion quickly pulling her into gentle sleep. "You're r-really the b-best family ever."
And beneath the protective embrace of the ancient tree roots, surrounded by the warmth of Scar, Sleemo, and their pups, Lili drifted finally into a peaceful slumber, dreaming softly of warm homes, friendly faces, and a world full of adventures still waiting to be discovered.