Spirit heart (extended)

I shouldn’t have come here. Not after all of the warnings, not after those awful tales. They told me that it wasn’t safe, that bad things, happen to those who wonder to the winter forest after nightfall... even during the day it was foolish to cross the naked paths of the blue daggers.

I move faster as the image of the terrifying Rune Bears slips through my thoughts and sinks into my hammering heart. But it was too late I had no other place to go. I couldn’t go back... that would mean the death of me. And if death would find me here it would be on my rules, by the beasts that were animals... and not the beasts that pretended to be humans. I was the only one that saw through their facade and now

I had to pay for my mistakes.

I enter the forest deeper and feel the cold wind chilling me to the bone. My grey coat flying in the air and failing to keep me warm. Time passes and I hear twigs cracking and then a rumble as something tears a tree to shreds. I brake into a run, never wanting to stop. The wind speeds up, and my feet tumble as I trip on the ground. I feel warm blood dripping from my face after hitting the hard ground. I look up and see it...

It wasn't hideous or scary... it was beautiful. I blink fast, not sure if this isn’t just a strange dream. The creature doesn’t move, just stares silently at me. I start to get up but then a sharp pain breaks through my arm. I quickly take off my coat as the fire in my skin threats to burn me alive. I scream out, the pain is unbearable. The skin gets red and starts to bleed, forming lines and signs on the surface. I gaze at it and gasp. The pain is gone and so is the burning feeling. The skin is healed and glowing blue. I look at the perfect runes and read them, My finger sliding against the signs.

Courage...Honesty...Care...Truth.

I look up at the Rune Bear. It growls and I can see the same signs glow on his soft, blue fur. The sight is breathtaking. He’s is so beautiful. He lifts his head up as in saying goodbye and then leaves. He’s gone.

The wind calms down.

Now I know my true path.