Stars raced across the sky, leaving tails of brilliant light streaking behind them. The girl gave a brief glance upwards and prayed silently, one hand resting lightly on the bark of a large oak tree. The forest was illuminated by the full moon, which helped her in finding the way through the dense trees. It also helped the others that were giving chase behind her.

Again she moved on. She was weary. Her leg had a cramp and her hair was a matted mess. Giving out a choking sob, she wiped the tears from her face but only succeeded in smearing more dirt across her cheek which obscured her vision. A tree root snaked up from out of the ground. She tripped and went down hard. Another gasp escaped her lips. Scrambling back up quickly, the girl found that she couldn’t put her weight on her left foot. Clinging to another tree, looking around but not really seeing anything, the sounds of pursuit sounded closer. The girl could feel herself slip into a new state of panic.

Hobbling forward, the girl continued on.

At last, she came to the downward sloping hill that let her know that she only had another two miles to go. She flung herself over the crest, rolled up into a ball to protect her head, and used the speed to make up lost time. The girl hit several large rocks and trees on the way down. Determined to get to safety, she spit out a tooth that had become dislodged upon making brief enemies with the last tree. Unsteadily, she used the tree to clamber up. She didn’t notice the fact that she tore her hand on the rough bark.

Briefly closing her eyes to catch her breath, she nearly jumped out of her skin when a large meaty hand grabbed her shoulder. Whipping around to see who it was, she shrieked. The men had found her.

****

Stars streaked through the sky as the young girl looked up at the night sky through her tears. The fire was already licking the hems of her skirt. She had made a vow to herself that if she was captured, she would never scream. Now, feeling the intense heat, she knew she wouldn’t last much longer. Knowing that pleading or reasoning with them was futile, she continued to gaze upwards. The Otherworld was beckoning her. As the flames finally billowed up her body, she watched amazedly as more and more stars streaked across the heavens.