We pick up our story in the Great Wood. The day had been unkind to the travellers, strong cross winds swept the land bombarding them in all directions. Yet they soldiered on into the night before deciding to take shelter in the forest. The three of them were visibly worn out, dark circles surrounded their tired eyes. The oldest in the group had taken it upon himself to divide up jobs for the stay in the forest. Though he was only sixteen himself he had seen enough of the world’s horrors to know how to survive on his own. The younger two were to collect fire wood while the eldest was to make shelter... So there they were, three mid teen children on a journey for survival in the Great Wood.

An hour had past before the three re grouped, the moon had reached it’s peak illuminating the clearing in which the camp had been made. The three of them sat by the small fire which had been prepared in such a way as to give off as little smoke or light as possible to not give away their position. Atop the fire a few berries that were gathered on the foraging for firewood lay stewing in a small iron cooking pot. As the stew began to boil the eldest took the pot off the flame and set it aside to cool off a little.

A voice croaked in the shadows, “You know, this forest isn’t safe at night”

“Who said that” the three spoke out as one

“It doesn’t matter who I am, please let me rest and sit with you for a moment” and as the voice had finished a hooded figure stepped out from the shadows and into the clearing, standing perfectly in the middle of the moon. The figure then removed their hood to reveal a beautiful woman with lips red like blood and hair wild like fire. Her eyes were the most enchanting hues of green with specks of grey dotted in evenly spaced intervals. At the very sight of her the travellers shook their heads in agreement and allowed her to stay.

“Thank you ever so much, I am very grateful for this kindness you have shown me” she pronounced in a mystifying tone. “It’s not often you find three travellers in the same place like this, such a rare sight” They enjoyed conversation for a while before deciding it was late and to call it a night. As the three travellers headed into their tent the lady bid her farewells and re cloaked herself and walked back into the forest and disappearing into the darkness.

A scream echoed in the forest, forcing the crows in the canopy to flee from their nesting and bellow in response. The youngest boy awoke with his stuffed llama in his hands, he looked around to find the other two lying still asleep. No danger in the tent. He crawled carefully around his companions and out of the tent. As he emerged he was in full view of the moon, stood perfectly under it’s centre. He gave off a yawn and stretched his arms. He looked around and saw no signs of disturbance before looking upwards to the sky. In the middle of the moon was the lady from before he couldn’t believe his eyes. Her eyes were closed and she was suspended perfectly in the night. He called out to her, and in an instant her eyes opened and began to glow, her eyes gave off a piercing glow, she locked onto his position and raised her arms up to the stars. In one swooping motion she soared from her position and towards the boy.

The next morning the others awoke thinking their friend had gone for a walk. They emerged from the tent to find the stuffed llama in tatters with blood spattered around it. They did not know it but they were now being eyed by the Phantom of the Great Wood