Magic was never easy, according to her mother. Humans couldn’t wield it like the faerie kinds could. Goblins used it because they’d already paid its price with their beauty. That’s why they looked like animals. Mortals had to continually give bits and pieces of themselves until they were lost forever.
Groaning, she sat down hard on her bottom and held her head until the pounding slowed. She was still very light-headed, standing wouldn’t happen for a while without passing out. But at least she could see straight without the world tilting again.
Letting her hands fall down to her sides, she stared at the path she’d been spat out upon.
The ground was covered in beautiful, vibrant leaves of red, gold, and orange. She’d never seen colors that looked so bright. The trees arched over the lane, creating a ceiling of tangled branches and colorful leaves that fell with the passing wind. She could just barely see the sky through the gaps. Bright blue and lovely.
Most concerning, it wasn’t fall in the mortal realm. It was the middle of summer, so she wasn’t sure why it was autumn here.
Another shower of leaves fell down around her head. She shook them out of her hair with a disgruntled snort. There wasn’t anything familiar around her, although it also looked like there wasn’t a way off the path. The trees were pressed so tightly against each other, Freya didn’t think she could fit past their trunks. Only a small child might be able to fit, and even then...
She stood and dusted off her bottom. If the only way to continue was forward, then she best be putting one foot in front of the other.
At first, Freya kept her eyes on the trees. She wanted to make sure no faeries came charging out at her for daring to step foot in their realm. Not to mention she was concerned there would be a gap she missed if she continued on too quickly.
Then she realized the trees all looked the same. No one was coming out of the forest. And the sun was still in the exact same spot on the horizon that it had been when she first arrived.
Frowning, Freya paused for a moment and looked up at the sparkling light through the leaves. “Curious.”
She started forward again. This time, she kept her gaze on the path before her and the faint hint of a shape at the end. A shape that looked suspiciously like another door.
No matter how quickly she moved, the shape stayed in the same spot. A mirage, perhaps.
Freya focused on a tree with a rather distinct curved branch. She watched with rapt attention, forcing herself to stare only at that tree and move forward. But the tree didn’t get any closer, no matter how long she ran.
After what felt like hours, she tired herself out. Her legs quivered. Her thighs ached and her stomach twisted into knots. She couldn’t take another step forward, but she had gotten nowhere with all the running.
Out of breath, she bent at the waist and braced her hands on her knees. She’d never heard of something like this before. Her mother had mentioned no spell that stuck a person in the same spot while they ran. Was it even possible?
Looking up at the tree again, she twisted her expression into a snarl. Then she looked at that damned hot sun in the sky. In the same spot as it had been hours ago. “Why aren’t you moving?”
“I could ask the same of you.” The voice came from right beside her, although Freya was certain she had been alone.
She stared down at the creature to her right, and it took awhile to process what was walking beside her. Or who. Actually, she wasn’t sure whether to call it a “who” or an “it”.
It was a dog.
Or something like a dog.
A black and white dog, with a long snout and soulful brown eyes staring up at her. He walked on his back legs with his front paws held at his sides like a person. A red, crushed velvet suit covered his body as though he were human, but a tail with a white tip stuck out of the back.
At least he wasn’t wearing shoes. There was only so much she could handle at the moment.
Clearing her throat, Freya tried to make sense of what was happening. A dog was standing next to her, wearing clothing far finer than any she’d ever touched in her life, and it talked. Because of course that all made sense.
She was losing her mind.
Freya stared straight ahead of them and took a deep breath. “It’s not real, Freya. This is all an illusion. Something to make your mind break.”
The dog nodded its head. “Possible, I suppose, though unlikely. What illusion would be useful to break your mind? Humans are quick to believe they’re mad, and it would be such a waste of magic.”
“That’s exactly what an illusion would say.”
“Or perhaps I’m standing next to you, solid and fully formed. Really, I don’t understand why humans are so quick to explain everything away. Perhaps your eyes aren’t lying at all.”
She stiffened. “Then this is real? You’re real?”
He looked down at himself, then back up at her. “Why wouldn’t I be real?”
A thousand answers played through her thoughts. Because she’d never heard an animal talk. Because the goblins could easily lock her in this place while she babbled away to a dog who wasn’t even real.
A thousand answers, and yet none of them could explain what this little beast was doing.
She reminded herself this was only part of the journey. Esther needed her and abandoning everything at the first talking animal would be ridiculous. She was bound to see a lot stranger things.
“I suppose you’re right,” she replied. “I can see you’re real.”
“Solid as they come.” He thumped a paw to his chest. “Now, why aren’t you moving?”
She didn’t have an answer for that. Obviously, if she could be moving, then she would. Freya frowned down at him. “I don’t know.”
“Ah.” He looked around her down the path. “Well, I suppose that’s just the path then. I wasn’t sure what you were doing.”
“I’m trying to find my sister.”
“A noble quest.” He planted his paws on his hips and the tiny suit stretched across his chest.
She thought perhaps he was some kind of herding breed. In the mortal realm, he would have been working on a farm. Apparently, in the faerie realm, he was a rich dog who could afford red velvet.
The dog snuffled, a sound that was so familiar it made her blink twice before focusing on his words. “If you’re on a quest, then you’ll have to move faster than you are.”
Freya picked her feet up and started walking. Disconcertingly, as she was speeding up her pace, he was standing in the same spot. Not moving, but remaining at her side. Finally, she gave up trying to walk.
Tossing her hands up at her sides, she replied, “See? No movement.”
“Yes, I can see that.” He tapped his chin with an overly large paw. “What a predicament.”
Freya waited again, certain he was going to say something more. A predicament, yes, it was. But he was a magical creature, and surely he’d have an idea that could help her.
She continued staring at him as he tapped his paw.
Finally, the dog heaved a great sigh and shrugged his shoulders. “Well, good luck then.” He started off toward the woods without another word.
Furrowing her brow, she watched him leave before shouting, “Wait a second! Aren’t you going to help me?”
The dog stopped and looked over his shoulder. “I wasn’t planning on it.”