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October Prompt Day 4 - walks in the forest
A/N: I was blessed by the presence of my new kitten while I wrote the last of this piece. Also, I’ll try to post my writing a bit more often since I’ve really gotten out of habit with it
This is set in a world I’m dying to introduce. @pagesofcursive and I wrote a short story a while ago and are working on writing a second draft. We’ll be posting the introduction, character info, snippets, and answering general questions on @eve-and-briar very soon
For now, enjoy this short story!
Genevieve supposed one of the things she missed most about her life before busybody adults shoved their noses in her business were walks in the forest.
Branches scratched their bare arms and thinly covered legs as they crawled through a hole one of the more mischievous royal hounds had dug through the shrubbery. They’d pop out the other side, hair frazzled and decorated with giddy smiles. The forest would stretch before them, calling in its mystery.
Branches scratched their bare arms and thinly covered legs as they crawled through a hole one of the more mischievous royal hounds had dug through the shrubbery. They’d pop out the other side, hair frazzled and decorated with giddy smiles. The forest would stretch before them, calling in its mystery.
Dappled green shadows patterned the deer path that curved away from the palace. Genevieve tugged Gwyneth ahead, giggling and stumbling over tree roots. Birds sung above, their sweet melodies filling the forest with life. In Genevieve’s opinion, it was a far superior sound to the stuffy orchestras she was seldomly subjected to. Fragrances of wildflowers, berries, leaves, and just pure, wild, and free life made Mother’s perfumes aptly seem like pathetic renditions of the smell of outside. She’d trip occasionally, ripping her hand out of Gwyneth’s and scraping it on the rough forest ground. It was amazing. The adrenaline rush made her feel alive as she picked herself up again, snickering with her sister standing above her, who was mock scolding her.
They’d build crude forts out of sticks, leaning them against the tree. They’d play as witches, gathering random fruits and flowers and mixing them with stream water in a hole they’d dig.
But then she’d been pulled away from training, people saying it was unfit for someone of her station to be mingling with soldiers and knights. Her uniforms were confiscated, and Gwyneth could no longer sneak away from her. Luckily, she’d pilfered a practice sword and continued drills in her room after she was put to bed. No more free time, and near constant supervision to prevent misbehavior. But it got worse. To some degree, it got better, but being kidnapped by the witch’s dragon was the most awful thing that ever happened to her. While she was free to do drills, wear what she wanted, and generally occupy herself how she wished, the place she had to do it was torturous. She was stuck in an abandoned fortress, where her only view was at the top of her tower. Woods spread below her window, taunting her with childhood memories of walks in the forest.