Sensalia ran through the forest in a daze.  She had a flash of a memory, a woman yelling, telling her to go. The fleeing young woman ran from all she knew. The further she went, the less she could remember of the place she was raised in.

She knew she came from a place in the elven kingdom. A kingdom separated and isolated from the human world; the world she now found herself in. The young human woman raced on through the trees. Lost and alone she felt the memory of her elven home fade. 

A surge of fear gripped her and she froze. Turning back she looked into the forest and grasped for her memory; all she knew was fading in a blur. Memories of times in the forset, laughter. Was the laughter aimed t her? She couldn’t remember. She lookied inside herself, yearning to hold on to the past that was slipping from her mind. A sudden enlightenment came to her, she wanted to belong but her friends stayed the same as she aged in front of them. Were they really her friends?

Her memories faded like wisps of smoke rising in the trees.

Tears streamed down her face. She was angry, hurt. Mostly she felt she didn’t belong. In her mind’s eye, she could see an image of a woman’s face. Somehow it felt wrong like the face belonged to another race, another place. Everything was new, yet strangely familiar. She searched her mind for a clear memory of where she was and more importantly, why.

In the middle of a circular clearing she stood, her chest heaving for air, her eyes looked through the trees, searching.

The further she ran from her childhood home the stronger the energy around her felt. It was as if everything had been muted before. In the distance, she felt sadness. Confused and afraid, her skin tingled with unseen energy. Inside she felt her emotions tumble.

Then came the sadness. an ache ecoing through the trees.

She couldn’t understand why she felt so much sorrow coming from the distance. Unconsciously, her feet carried her toward the sadness she felt emanating from the trees. Behind her, she left a longing, a loneliness, and then it faded away.

The sadness called to her again. She shivered and turned to follow the strange feeling that pulled her. It gripped her now and the woods around her fell dark. Utterly lost, the only thing she understood was the tug of the strong emotion drawing her nearer.

Shadows danced around her animated by bright moonlight. She had visions of creatures reaching for her.  Sensalia hoped it was in her imagination, shaking her head she cleared her mind and focused on the emotion drawing her nearer.

Sorrow and anguish almost vibrated from behind the trees in front of her. Her nails dug into the palm of her hands, she could feel it with every fibre of her being.

Sensalia stepped around the trees and saw him lying there. A deep sadness emanated from him. She gasped with a cold deep breath.

He opened his eyes and stared into hers. An outpouring of raw emotion washed over her, she drew it inside and let it go.

Sensalia dropped to her knees and collapsed.

***

Jarek lay in a restless sleep in the middle of the Wayeburn forest. It had been a long time since he had slept without dreaming.  He kept dreaming of the fateful day ten years prior when his wife died.

In his dreams, he still saw the smoke billowing upwards. The flames flickered in the distance and it became clear his home was the source of the blaze.

He dropped his burden and started to run.

“No! I’m coming, my love!”

Intense fear gripped his heart.

His eyes searched frantically.  

His wife was visible now, lying in a smoldering heap. He crawled low, intense heat pushed him down. He reached for her simmering body. He caressed her hand softly hoping…

She was beyond his reach.

“My love…” he sobbed and retreated from the flames.

That’s when the sadness began. It grew like a weed festering on his soul. It wrapped its sorrowful grasp around his heart and trapped his mind.

He felt a presence calling him, with a start he woke up.

Sensalia’s eyes pierced his soul as he saw her staring at him.

Then she collapsed in a heap and he felt a release. In that instant, his sorrow and pain were gone.

Where was his sadness? He needed his sadness; it’s what sustained him for all these years. It became a distant memory only seconds old.

She lay there, a vision of beauty. Her face looked like it was carved from soapstone by an artistic dreamer.  He began to wonder if this was a continuation of his dream.

“uhhhhg” a groan escaped her lips as she sat up slowly.

“What did you do to me?” Jarek tried to calm his voice. He trembled, shocked at this new release from his pain.

“I don’t know. Your sadness was calling me; I was lost and alone. It was all I could sense in the forest, I had to find you. I had to release you.”  Sensalia let out a deep breath.

“I don’t understand, how could…” Jarek shuddered and turned. “Is this real? It shouldn’t be possible…” He no longer felt the deep sorrow that had held him in its grip since his wife died.

“Who are you?” He took her arm and gently helped her to her feet.

“My name is Sensalia. I, I don’t know who I am.” A tear trickled down her face.

“What do you mean, you don’t know who you are?” Jarek eased her down onto the bed of furs.

“I ran away, I couldn’t stay, I didn’t belong. I don’t know where exactly, or why. I lost all that I knew when I ran, I know the memories exist, I can almost touch them in my mind. But they’re gone… I am so lost and alone.” Sensalia sank deeper into the furs. “I am tired, I feel so drained. The brown-haired girl lay down onto his bed of furs and closed her eyes.

They were the most intense and stunning eyes he had ever seen.  She had given him the greatest gift he could imagine.

Strangely he didn’t think he wanted it. He needed his sadness and pain, it was an old friend. Now it was gone.

He stared into the darkness, his senses awakened. From somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled into the night air. A chill ran down his spine as a second howl answered the first.

Quietly he grabbed his bow and slipped into the darkness. The hunter stalked away from his camp and into the trees.  He saw the tree he was looking for, grabbed the lowest branch, and pulled himself up.

Jarek hid in the branches and saw the wolf stalk through the forest below. He pulled an arrow back with the bowstring and released. The animal merely growled as the sharp metal pierced its hide. A second wolf came into view and sniffed the air.

An evil smell drifted through the trees and he sensed the beast before he saw it. A giant troll rambled behind the two wolves seeking something…

He drew another arrow and released it at the second wolf aiming for its head.

The troll turned, raised his shield, and blocked the arrow. The huge creature growled and walked toward the bowman’s hiding spot.

A wolfs’ howl stopped the troll in his tracks. “I am not done with you.” The troll growled toward where Jarek hid.

The troll turned toward the sound of the wolf and broke a path through the underbrush; right towards Jareks camp. 

Jarek dropped to the ground and set off in pursuit. An anxious feeling of fear gripped him as he followed the foul creature.

***

Sensalia awoke to the sound of a wolf growling in the night. She wanted to run but had no idea where she was, or where to run to. The beast was getting closer and she tried to make herself smaller, she desperately wanted to disappear.

She saw the animal creep into the clearing. It was a huge wolf, its tongue lolling down between its razor-sharp teeth. It looked side to side and howled into the night. A second wolf padded into the clearing, an arrow protruded from his back. They stopped and moved to the side.

She smelled a stench that curdled her mind. It was so strong she was afraid it could reach out and touch her. That’s when the awful beast came into view; his mouth was full of blackened teeth protruding forward in an evil grin. The acrid smell of death rolled from the creature as he looked straight into her soul. He beckoned to her and she felt imprisoned by his gaze.

He walked to her, she lay curled in a ball unable to move. In one quick movement, he reached for her and darkness consumed her.

Sensalia hid inside herself, her fear threatened to overwhelm her mind and her body. She tried not to breathe; every breath of air contained the vile stench of the creature carrying her through the trees. A castle became visible and the troll increased its pace.

She felt the anger within the tower shadowing over the ramparts. Many other emotions surged from within the gothic structure.

Most of all she felt pain.

Pain of the mind reached out to her. So much pain she closed her eyes to block it out.

She woke up with a start as the troll dropped her on the floor in front of the dark figure standing there. Released from its grasp she was freed of the overbearing smell that followed the creature’s every step.

“We found her in a woodsman’s camp.” The growl of the troll echoed in the chamber. “He was hiding in the trees and put an arrow into one of your pets.”

“Find him and put an end to him” The mage turned to look at the young lady.

”You, my dear will be safe if you do as I say.” He smiled down at Sensalia.

It was a predatory smile that made her recoil.  Hunger and anger oozed from his being and she wanted to vanish, to become invisible. Instead, he stared at her as if he could consume her with his gaze.

She pushed down her fear and took hold of her courage. “Who are you? What do you want from me?”

“My name is Malac, welcome to my estate. Don’t be afraid, I want to help you.“ His ancient face broke into a grin. “Open yourself to me and do not fight it. I will only take small amounts.”  The black cloak draped off his shoulders as the wizard opened his palms toward her.

***

Jarek observed the castle from the edge of the forest. He watched as the door opened and the wolves emerged, followed by the troll. Fear grabbed hold of him and he froze. With all his strength he resisted the urge to run, he would save the girl or die trying.

He knew he had one chance to kill the troll. With him dead he hoped the wolves would be freed from its evil spell. The hunter retreated back into the trees, grabbed the nearest one, and climbed the first branches.

He knew he would only get one chance.

Jarek pulled his silver-tipped arrow from its sheath and waited. the wolves prowled forward pacing through the tall grass that waved in the morning breeze. He would have to be sure of the wind and the distance. He could hear his heart racing and he breathed deep to silence the roar he felt inside. 

Closer came his foes. The troll marched with a purpose, the wind at the creature’s back he could almost taste its stench as it came towards him.  He trusted his skill and steadied his nerves. With a steadiness gained from years of hunting in the woods, he took careful aim and released.

The troll cried out with a guttural shout and the wolves sped past it towards Jarek. The soaring arrow flew strong and true, without any time to move the silver arrowhead pierced the troll’s skull and it crashed to the ground.

The wolves kept coming.

He drew another arrow and aimed for the lead wolf. He released with a snap and the wolf slowed as an arrow slammed into its shoulder. A growl of angry pain broke the silence of the moment. The other wolf leaped up at the branch Jarek sat on. It’s frustration and rage echoed in angry howls through the woods. 

Jarek grabbed his last silver-tipped arrow and took careful aim at the wolf below him. A feeling of power coursed through his veins as he released his weapon.

The wolf went down with a final curdling howl. 

Jarek gripped the branch with his legs and hung the bow over his back. Slowly he dropped to the ground and walked toward the troll lying prone in the grass. He drew his knife from his belt and cautiously moved forward, aware his foes may still live. His skin crawled and he stepped forward. 

A sudden growl stopped him and he circled around, his foot-long blade pointing towards the grass around him. 

The attack was swift and came from behind, Jarek had just enough time to raise the blade in front of his eyes as the wolf pounced on him. Razor-sharp teeth snapped at his face, he grabbed the arrow that stuck from the back of the animal and pushed it hard further into the animal’s shank. With his other hand, Jarek drove the knife toward the neck of the creature as it tried to reach his head with its slobbering mouth.

Jarek dug deep inside himself and with every ounce of energy he had, he drove the knife into the bottom of the beast’s jaw. A warm flow of blood rushed into his face and the wolf collapsed in a heap, dead.

Jarek shivered in horror and relief as he pushed the animal off himself. The hunter moved toward the troll, hoping it was dead. 

The vile creature emitted an odour that was hard to approach, he forced himself closer, hoping the troll would not move.

Slowly, step by cautious step, he edged nearer not sensing any movement. The beast lay still, Jareks silver arrow protruding from its right eye. His aim had been sure and true, the archer stepped lightly nearer and saw the key hanging from the trolls belt. His hand reached out and yanked hard, the key released and Jarek jumped back. The troll’s hand reacted and grabbed at him. Frightened, he turned and ran toward the castle. 

Angry groans echoed behind Jarek and he raced to save Sensalia. 

***

Sensalia heard the wolf howls of rage echo into her consciousness.  She shivered and opened her eyes to see the evil Mage standing over her.

I must not give up, she thought to herself. There must be a way to defeat him.

Malac stared at her with a look of triumph.”Your mother had a great power of empathy and it fed my needs for years, She would take the pain and anger from others and feed me with it. Every time I would take a small piece of her until one day she escaped. I heard years later she died giving birth to you. They sent you away to the elves beyond my reach. I have waited so long to taste that power again” The mage paused and smiled.”You will be most valuable. I will take you to your room for now. I must go see what has become of my servant.”

“Wait, I sense something.” Sensalia hesitantly looked up at the wizard. “I sense your pain.”

“Yes, my child there is pain and hunger there as well. Can you feed my pain?” A glint of excitement lit Malac’s eye.

“Just open yourself to me. I think I can find your pain and release it.” The young lady climbed to her feet and stared into the magician’s eyes, daring him to let go.

“I need my pain, but I will let you have a taste of it…” His eyes creased and his mouth spread into a grimace.

Sensalia felt his pain and hatred. She empathically reached out to his innermost anger and carved it aside, searching for his fear. She instinctively found the deepest part of his pain and grabbed on with all her strength.

“What are you doing?” Confusion creased his face. “Stop, I don’t need to feel the… wait, what are you…” Malac yelled in pain.

Sensalia groaned and held on to his pain, she held onto his hate and his fear. It channeled into her, and through her.

Malac stood in a trance, a look of hatred etched in his brow. His face aged as if life was being drained from him. He battled for control and moved toward Sensalia. 

“You… can… not… have” Malac struggled to speak, “you can’t have it, argghh” he dropped to his knees, his eyes glazed over. 

“Sensalia, stop you will lose yourself!” Jarek came bursting into the hall. 

The young women’s scream filled the room and she fell to the floor.

Jarek ran to Sensalia and cradled her in his arms. “hold on Sensalilia, I am here, let go of the pain, give it to me if you must.”

“What have you done?” a distant voice came from the blackening body lying on the floor. “You have taken my hate, my anger, my pain. Without it I am nothing…” Malac sagged back to the stone floor and let out his last breath.

Jarek sobbed as he rocked the weakened body of Sensalia. “It will be ok, He’s gone now.”

A distant easy breath reached back to him.”I know it will” Sensalia sighed and fell into a restful sleep.