The Rejected Luna is Reclaimed

: ALONE I

wisted branches of the trees amounted to giants, reaching out to hopefully grab hold of her clothes. The soft rustle of

How could he say that? He had taken her heart out and threw it away like trash. She had seen herself there by his side, sharing h

taste was bitterness. Why was Laura so comforting to her? Was she genuinely smiling? Was she celebrating Claire's fall? She felt sick: the thought twisted in her gut. Laura had been t

elf not to cry. Fear wasn't going to get her; she had to live. And one part whispered, maybe she needed

elp her, she looked around. The trees stood so high above her that they had rough, gnarled bark. She remembered her fa

alked earlier when she could remember seeing berries. It wasn't enough if she could find some; at least she would not feel so weak. She

everywhere. She was careful, and some were sweet; some were bitter. Her survival depended on it. Hoping, she

ll and vulnerable. He had found a small nook between two large rocks that she huddled in the hopes it would shield her from the cold. She squeezed her eyes shut to ig

ng. A pang of sadness came to Claire. Close to her parents, she had always been until her need for Jona had made

ered her with fear. Well... What if it was a wolf or something worse? She had heard the stories about wild animals

oked into the underbrush. Claire panicked, thinking this could be dangerous. If the boar got threatened, it could qui

The ground underneath her shuddered as the ground moved closer. There

heart was still beating, and Claire let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. That had been too close. It was a

n, that if she did not find a better place to sleep, she probably wouldn't make it until mo

t want to think about what might happen if she got too cold or if the boar got back. She didn't

from the worst of the cold. In the end, she hesitated and wondered, Is it a good idea? What if it was home to ano

ive. She let her mind drift off to sleep as she closed her eyes, but her body almost didn't drop itself into rel

s passed, however, and fatigue set in. At last, her exhaustion got the better of her, and s

light was cast into the cave. Sore from the ground, Claire sat up.

ngs filled the air; the forest felt different in the morning. Taking a deep breath, she caught a

. But she was still lost and alone in the woods. What would she do for food? Where

antial than she supposed and would get back whatever it took. But deep down, an unknown fear

ing. So she kept moving to get answers. Will s