"I'm tired… and a little hot."
The thought crossed my mind as I lingered in the garden, letting the morning breeze brush against my damp skin.
It wasn't surprising. The maids had refused to let me change after drenching me with their usual bucket of cold water. I had walked around for hours in those wet clothes, and now, after the fresh wind of the morning, I could already feel the fever burning beneath my skin.
Still, I couldn't sit still.
I slipped away into the forest, clutching my small basket. If I was lucky, I could gather some fruits to keep for later, something to make the days in the tower a little less unbearable.
~
The woods greeted me with silence and filtered beams of golden light. Birds fluttered between branches, their wings quick shadows against the sky. I searched patiently, filling my basket with raspberries, then pears, their sweet scent clinging to my hands.
By the time it was nearly full, I felt a small spark of pride. But then, I saw it.
A single apple, shining red, dangling from a branch far above.
It seemed almost unreal, like a forbidden fruit meant only for me. I stretched out my arm, tiptoeing, then finally jumped—
"Aaah !"
My fingers brushed nothing but air.
I landed awkwardly on a mossy rock, slipped, and tumbled through a hidden bush. The world spun, and before I could grab onto anything, I fell into a pit concealed beneath the undergrowth.
"Aïe…"
Pain throbbed through my ankle as I landed hard. My basket rolled away, raspberries scattering into the mud.
I tried to stand, but the pain was sharp, cruel, refusing to let me take a step. The walls around me rose high and slick with mud and moss. It was impossible to climb.
"Gaïa !" I called.
My loyal dog appeared above the pit, her hazel eyes wide with worry. She barked once, ears pointed, tail trembling.
"Find something… a branch, maybe ?" I pleaded.
She darted away into the woods, returning with a long stick clenched in her teeth. But the moment I tested it, it snapped uselessly. She tried again, and again, but every branch broke the same.
With a frustrated bark, she jumped down beside me, pressing her warm body against my leg as if to say, You're not alone.
~
Together, we limped along the base of the ravine, searching for another way out. My ankle screamed with every step, but I forced myself onward. Minutes passed, heavy and slow.
Then—
A deep rumble echoed behind us. Rocks collapsed in a chain, rolling closer, crashing against the ground like thunder.
"Run !" I shouted.
We sprinted or at least, Gaïa sprinted, while I stumbled beside her, heart pounding in my throat.
The path curved sharply. I turned and collided hard into something solid.
I fell backward, breath knocked from my chest. My vision swam, and when I blinked up, I froze.