By Livia Cahill
“I told you we’re not supposed to,” Blue worried aloud, teeth gnawing at her lip.
“Since when did you care about what we’re supposed to do?” Red said, pulling her hood over her dark head of hair.
“I don’t know… it’s just creepy looking. I have a bad feeling about it.” Blue rubbed her arms and pulled her own blue cloak closer around herself.
“So? It’ll be fun!” Red’s toothy smirk flashed in the darkness.
Blue continued, “This whole thing is giving me horror movie vibes… like something crawled out of my nightmares.”
“Exactly. Don’t worry. It’s a full moon.”
Of course Red would use the full moon as a sign of safety instead of a bad omen. Blue was quiet, thinking of an excuse that would get through to her sister.
“Blue. Blue look at me.” Blue turned to Red, her golden hair opposing her sister’s black.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. Just call out and I’ll be there. Nothing can touch you when I’m with you.”
“This isn’t a Young Adult novel, we’re not the stupid protagonists who walk into the Deep Dark Wood full of wolves and mysterious creatures alone.”
“So? The protagonists have more fun.”
Blue huffed, “You know that’s not what I meant—”
“It’ll be fine, Blue. The darkness is our friend.” And with that Blue watched as Red grew fangs and claws. Blue couldn’t help the twinge of jealousy that arose in her at the sight.
“Fine, but let me sharpen my knife first.”
Red stopped herself from insisting that she was enough of a weapon. Blue needed to feel safe on her own terms, besides it would only confirm Blue’s accusations of ridiculous protagonist behavior.
“We can stick to the old growth if you want,” Red said as her sister began sharpening her knife on a rock.
Blue stopped and looked up at Red. “How is that better? You know what they say about the old growth!”
“Yeah, yeah, but there are fewer humans around those parts. No hunters.”
Blue stiffened at the mention of hunters, then relaxed and lowered her gaze. “Do you think that’s where the lights come from,” she asked under her breath.
Red looked out into the wood, searching for something that couldn’t be found. “Must be. That place practically oozes magic.”
Blue looked up, eyes alight under the moon. “You think so?”
“What do you think they are?”
“I thought they were fairies, but now I think they’re will-o-the-wisps. I’ve been reading about them, they’re said to be beings or remnants of beings, here to guide the living through the darkness, or into it.” The fear was gone from Blue’s face despite her ominous words. Red smiled, there was the sister she knew and loved.
“I’ll race you to the wish tree!”
“Wait! Promise me you'll be careful,” Blue said, her eye’s wide and searching Red’s own. “I don’t want to risk losing you again.”
“Blue, you know I can’t make a promise that I can’t keep.”
“Just promise—”
“Last one there is a rotten toadstool!” Red yelled as she sprinted toward the trees.
“Hey! That’s not right! You have to wait for me!” Blue called, her human legs helplessly slow compared to her sister’s.
When Red disappeared into the darkness Blue followed the sound of her sister howling at the moon.
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