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Run!

Nalani becomes a “birthday gift” and is on her journey now. She, a witch without much magic power, is to be a gift. How ridiculous.

She got into the carriage, feeling some heaviness in her chest, like it was filled with never-ending water, making her uneasy. Her memory stopped at the words Kabar said to her.

"Of course, my beautiful flower... I will not keep you any longer there; three months only as you said; you know how much I miss you all the time...I will claim you as my Luna when you come back, and if needed, I will cause a war for you. Nalani, I will die for you."

But he didn't come to bid her farewell, making her heart feel like it was being stabbed with sharp needles. "Why didn't he say goodbye? Doesn't he care?" she whispered to herself.

The carriage started moving, and Nalani felt how a sense of isolation starting to cover her whole body.

"I feel like I'm being sent away," she murmured quietly. Looking out the window, she sighed, "It's like I'm being banished to the unknown, with no one to talk to."

She did refuse before. And it’s no use when someone you love almost begs you to do something crucial to the whole pack for him. It’s undeniable especially when he looked straight into your eyes, saying your eyes are like shining green-like summer leaves; he said he loves you and only you he could trust; he said he will die for you.

“Three months will soon pass.”

As the carriage rolled on for a couple of days, they ran out of water. Nalani was parched and worried. She turned to the driver and asked, "How much longer until we reach Mond?" The driver shook his head, not knowing the answer.

“Damn it…” Nalani let out a long sigh. Suddenly, the carriage jolted and rumbled as if it was being attacked.

“What happened?!” Nalani's heart raced as she heard the howls of wolves in the distance. Her eyes widened in fear. "Wolves?" she whispered to herself “here? This can’t be!”

The driver urged the horses to go faster, trying to outrun the approaching threat.

Nalani gripped the sides of the carriage, her pulse quickened, “wha-what is this…?” The howls grew louder, following them through the night. Nalani felt a shiver run down her spine as she peered out into the darkness.

bang

The carriage hit a bump and Nalani was thrown off balance. She clutched onto the seat, her heart pounded in her chest, “I can’t die just yet!” She yelled through gritted teeth. As the wolves closed in, the driver shouted, "Hold on tight! We need to get through this!"

Nalani closed her eyes and started whispering, “Please, let us live! Please let us live!”

The sound of the wolves grew closer, their aggressive growls started sending chills down her spine. And after what felt like an eternity, the howls faded into the distance. Nalani let out a shaky breath, relieved that they had escaped the danger. The carriage suddenly came to a stop, jolting Nalani out of her thoughts.

Anxious to see if they had arrived, she stepped out, only to witness a horrifying scene. Before her eyes, a man attacked the driver, his blade was shining in the moonlight.

Her body froze as if resisting to move, “no!” Nalani gasped as the driver fell to the ground. Instinct took over as Nalani's survival instincts kicked in. Without a second thought, she turned to flee, her heart was racing like a lion in her chest.

"Catch her!" the man's voice shouted behind her, making her skin shiver even more.

She was covered in sweat as she sprinted into the darkness, the pounding of her footsteps matched the racing of her heart. Nalani's breath came in ragged gasps as she pushed herself to run faster; her mind couldn’t get rid of the image of the man's ruthless attack.

“Help! Somebody!” She screamed for help, hoping someone would hear her. The sound of pursuit grew closer, driving her to push her limits. Her legs burned with exhaustion, but she forced herself to keep moving, driven by fear of the dangerous guy.

Branches scratched at her skin as she ran through the dark forest, tears streaming down her face. The moon was casting shadows around her, blinding her path even more.

“Please, someone…help me…” With every ounce of strength she could gather, she pushed herself to outrun her chasers, praying for a miracle to guide her to safety. Nalani ran blindly through the thick forest, her heart pounding in her ears when suddenly, she collided with a man standing in her path.

“Ouch!” Startled, she looked up and found herself face to chest with a man cloaked in the shadows, his bare chest was exposed and muscles rippled beneath his skin.

The man smirked down at her, his golden eyes pierced through her soul.

"What's a black cat like you doing in the woods at midnight?" He asked in a voice as smooth and deep as the old forest.

Nalani's breath caught in her throat as she scrambled to find her words. Uncertainty gripped her, but she managed to stammer out, "I-I was... I-I don't know... Please, let me go!"

The man's smirk widened, his eyes filled with curiosity and something else that Nalani couldn't quite place. He reached out a hand towards her, his simple touch made her hair stand out.

"Running from something, are we?" he mused, "Or perhaps someone? You seem quite eager to escape."

Nalani's mind raced as she searched for a way out of this stupid situation. She knew she had to be cautious, but there was something about the man's presence that both intrigued and alarmed her. With a deep breath to steady her nerves, Nalani mustered up her courage and replied, "I-I don't want any trouble. Please, just let me go on my way."

“Oh?” The man's eyes softened and his jaw relaxed. After a moment of silence, he chuckled softly and stepped aside, gesturing for her to pass. "Very well, little black cat," he said with a mysterious smile. "Run along and be careful in these woods. Not everything you encounter here is as forgiving as I am."

“Th-thank you!” Nalani nodded gratefully, her heart still racing like a wild cat’s after chasing the prey. With one last glance at the strange man, she hurried past him, eager to put some distance between them and continue her desperate flight through the dark and treacherous forest. But to her ‘luck,’ several men surrounded her, “You’re not very fast, aren’t you?”

The man, with blood on his hands, threw a net over her and caught her like a fish in the ocean. “Let’s go, someone is waiting for you.”

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