SIDONNIE’S POV


    Clutching the herb basket I use whenever I want to go pick herbs, I stride purposefully toward the


    looming Mountain of Canth, relying on Athena’s map which she gave as a guide to navigate every step.


    The journey unfolded as I boarded a bus, reaching a specific point which marks the transition from


    wheels to legs the threshold of the wooded expanse that leads to the heart of the mountain just as the


    map describes.


    At first, my legs felt numb and heavy as a result of a long time of sitting in the bus but after a while, it


    began to bnce and my steps began to


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    get steady. With another look at


    the map, I headed north of the direction I was.


    Alone on the pa


    path to the Mountain of Canth, I prayed and hoped that everything went well all through. It didn’t take


    quite long into the journey when an eerie sensation crept over me – an unshakable feeling of


    someone’s presence behind me, elusive and unsettling. I looked behind me to see if it was what I


    thought but I didn’t see anyone. I tried a couple of times but I couldn’t see anyone, yet, the feeling of


    someone tailing behind me didn’t leave.


    Fear gripped me initially, prompting attempts to validate this haunting sensation. I veered off course,


    following detours outlined on the map that led forward in my journey; yet the mysterious presence


    persisted, cleverly concealed by those trailing me. Anxiety set in as I was left with the disquieting notion


    that unseen eyes were watching my every move, hidden in the shadows of the journey.


    Before my thoughts went too deep, I remembered Athena’s words offort before she sent me out


    here which was that the goddess shall watch over my every move. I knew she always looked out for


    me and might have sent them to apany me in case anything happened.


    Something in me told me not to bother and focus on getting the task done and head back. I continued


    my journey and after about an hour of trekking, I finally got to where I was headed, I got to the flower


    and herb garden just a few feet away from the Mountain of Canth. From where I stood, I could see the


    mountain but since that wasn’t where I was headed, I ignored it, though a bit curious about what was


    up there.


    I began searching for the White Dasier following Athena’s description, checking every leaf and flower


    that looked just like her description.


    Frantically searching yielded no tangible presence. Every flower and leaves I picked seemed to look


    alike as I picked them but none of it had the alluring fragrance Athena


    mentioned. Definitely, that was a sign that I picked the wrong one.


    Overwhelmed, I opted to pause, taking a moment to rest while my eyes scanned the surroundings for


    the White Dasier. Fueled by determination, I tapped into my wolf powers, calling upon my heightened


    senses to find the flowers.


    Just as expected, it worked quite well. I was able to find it in batches at a distance from where I sat


    down to rest.


    “I finally found you.” I grinned with happiness from ear to ear as I stood up hurriedly to go pick a couple


    of them up. I removed the white handkerchief I carefully hid in my clothes, wrapping it around my nose


    before I bent to pull it out from the ground.


    My hand reached out to grasp it, a sense of relief washing over me. However, before I could


    aplish my mission, something distracted me. A sudden rustle of leaves. attracted my attention not


    far from where I stood. I froze immediately and I saw a group of arm men, armed and ominous,


    emerging from the shadows.


    I studied their appearance, trying to figure out who they were, but I couldn’t. All I could tell was that they


    were the beings who have been trailing me since I embarked on my journey.


    “Who are you guys?” I asked in panic.


    “Well, well. Looks like our little wanderer found what she shouldn’t have.” One of them spoke in a


    masked and unclear voice. I tensed, realizing the gravity of the situation. The masked men encircled


    me, and right then, I knew I had gotten myself into some sort of trouble or should I say that trouble


    decided to follow me?


    Moving cautiously in the small circle, I studied them more. They were about six in number. They had


    weapons with them, ranging from wooden guns, thorny leather ropes, thorny bats and even wolfsbane.


    “Who are you guys?!Why did you follow me?! What have I done to you?!” I yelled at them with obvious


    fear reeking out of me. I was all alone in the dark with no power to fight six men at a time.


    “Seems like you’ve really got some nerves. Well, it won’t be bad to tell you who wants you dead before


    you die. Since you really want to know, we were sent here to kill you by Alpha Raina. She wants you


    dead and her wish is ourmand.” One of them. exined and immediately, they allunched an


    attack at me.


    In a desperate bid to escape, I swiftly dodged the weapons severally but the masked. men moved with


    relentless determination, shadowing my every move like agents on a


    18:45 Fri, 1 Mar


    deadly mission. Their pursuit rendered my efforts futile, the stark contrast in strength evident as they


    overpower me with ease.


    I maneuvered around them skillfully, attempting evasive actions, weaving through the… trees as they


    chased after me relentlessly. But they mirrored my every step, their persistence unyielding. It was like


    they could see through my every step. This went on and on for a while with the leathered rope hitting


    my keg with it’s thorns, sending pains through my whole body.


    My strength, formidable in its own right was less inparison to the coordinated forces of the masked


    men closing in on me. The woods became a battleground where I wrestled for my life continuously with


    my blood beginning to gush out.


    As the threat reached its peak, with one of them poised to slit my throat and another wanting to stab


    me from behind, a sudden change ured with a thud marking a turn. of events


    The assants dropped to the forest floor, breathless and lifeless, all still.


    Limping, I cautiously approached the fallen figures with my eyes wide with a mix of relief and curiosity.


    It became clear that their demise was not of my doing since I didn’t touch them but an intervention from


    someone else. Someone unknown and unseen, had be my unexpected savior in my direst


    moment.


    “Who is there?” I stood up on my feet, throwing my question into space while looking around for the


    possible sight of anybody.


    Hey, you need to take it easy, love. You don’t want to get infected.”


    That voice, so familiar and dreadful. It was no other than Alpha Carlyle.