Sonje by Sie!
Flinching awake as if she'd just been gutted—a fish-like gasp struggling through her tightened larynx—she grabbed a handful of foliage in each of her claws, grasping desperately for reality. It took a long moment before she remembered who and where she was; that she was not being overwhelmed by an army of shadowy creatures, threatening to take her to a much-dreaded underworld. Sonje swallowed the harsh lump in her throat, releasing her grip on the grass and leaves and easing her breaths into something more shallow.
Early morning light filtered down through the trees, and she pushed herself up from the tree she'd been sleeping uncomfortably against. The coals from last night's fire were still warm, but out, and the wolfdog scuffed a little dirt on them before quickly gathering her things and climbing upon a slightly weary Jagga's back. She was eager to get away from the spot, to forget the horrid visions that were the main reason she didn't sleep very well these days. Weaving her ride through the trees at a slow walk, Sonje thought a song would better help to calm her nerves. So she sang, her voice surprisingly high and clear—a pleasant bell:
"Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man, they say murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree
"Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree
Where the dead man called out, for his love to flee
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree
"Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree
Where I told you to run, so we'd both be free
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree
"Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be,
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tr—Oh!"
She'd quite unknowingly rode into a clearing, occupied already by a man and his long-furred cat. Her horse's sudden hesitation had been her only notice of him, and she'd nearly finished her song before she even realized what she'd done. Tugging Jagga to a stop, she eyed the dark male curiously, her pale eyes meeting his surprisingly blue ones for a long moment before she noted the pad in his hands. "Sorry to walk up on you like that. I wasn't paying much attention..." she said after a pregnant, uncertain pause in which she made her gray mare turn sideways. If he proved unfriendly, she'd simply gallop away. After her nightmare earlier that morning, she wasn't eager for confrontation that day.
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