“This is creepy,” Bette said looking around the forest. She looked up as the horse led the way. The trees were all dead and almost an eerie shade of black. Their protruding branches arched inwards as if trying to grab the travelers in between.

“You normally don’t travel in this part of the forest, Bette,” Shane said.

“Midland has worse,” Tina commented.

“Do you see that cabin over there?” Shane said pointing to a cabin that was directly against the green wall of the boundary.

“Yeah,” Bette said.

“That’s the only entrance to the bridge,” Shane said, “it is guarded by a blind witch by the name of Tasha. She cannot see you, but if you let her feel your sword she will know you’re the seeker and let you through.”

“What if she’s dangerous?” Tina said.

“With all due respect mother confessor,” Shane said respectfully, “if you tell her who you are, she would be too scared to do anything.”

“Why is that?” Bette asked.

Shane opened her mouth to speak, but Tina stopped her right away. “We don’t have time,” she said quickly.

Shane nodded in understanding and let Bette lead the way to the cabin. “Why don’t you tell her?” Shane whispered in Tina’s ear.

“I’m dangerous, my power is so horrible,” Tina said, “once she finds out, I know she won’t want to be near me.”

“First of all, you obviously don’t know Bette,” Shane said, “and second of all, why do you care what she wants, isn’t your sole job to protect the Seeker?”

Tina blinked, her face turning a light shade of pink, as she quickly ripped her face away from Shane. Shane blinked in surprise and was about to say something but a loud screech rang out in the air.

“What the fuck?” Bette said covering her ears.

“Oh shit!” Shane cried pulling out her sword, “gars!”

Bette and Tina looked up to the three gars flying directly at them. “Shit!” Tina said pulling out her knives from her boots.

“Your knives won’t do shit,” Shane said, “put them away and run!”

Bette maneuvered her horse in front of Tina’s protectively as she pulled out her sword. Tina kicked the horse and he neighed before zooming off towards the cabin. Shane swung her sword viciously as the gar flew down on her. Bette tried to imitate the movement but swung to late and flew off the horse when the gars talons hit her shoulders roughly.