Patty Liu - Silent Reflections

Virginia wandered around the woods near the camp area and tried not to think about the kiss that she had just witnessed between Wolf and Melody. For, of course, she hadn’t seen Wolf push Melody away. She sat down by a large tree and reached into her knapsack. She pulled out a little red box wrapped up in cloth. She unwrapped the box and opened the lid and revealed her beloved little gold ring nestled amid the folds of soft cotton in the box. The little pearl flipped forward and smiled up at Virginia, but when he saw how sad Virginia was, he began to frown.

Oh sweet little Virginia,
What has you looking so sad?
I can feel the love between you and Wolf,
So nothing can be so bad.

Virginia sighed and began to sniffle softly. She began to explain to the ring about how her father was missing and they couldn't seem to find any trace of him anywhere or King Wendell's betrothed. And how now Wolf was in love with someone else and she didn't know what to do. Wolf had always been there for her to make her feel safe but now his attention had been given to that Melody girl.

The singing ring listened attentively and thought for a few quiet moments after Virginia ended her explaination. The little pearl ring could feel that something was not right and natural among the group and he gathered up all his little golden strength to see if he could "feel" what was the unnatural disturbance.

There is certainly bad magic here
Among the people in your group.
For I know that Wolf loves you with all his heart
And he would never purposely hurt you.

Virginia pondered over what the little ring told her. She had known deep down inside that something wasn't right but she had been afraid to look further into it. Someone was definitely out to get rid of her and now someone was using magic to disturb what was supposed to be right. Someone was for sure trying to stop them from making their journey. She must find out what was going on immediately. She snapped the box shut and put it away in her knapsack. She then realized that everything around her had become very quiet. The insects had gone silent. The birds stopped their chirping. The air didn't even seem to move enough to rustle a leaf or a bush. Virginia got the uneasiest feeling about her. She quickly turned to head back to the camp area. But instead, something grabbed her from behind and shoved her up hard against a tree.

Virginia quickly regained her breath and tried to turn to see what was holding her. Then she heard the most horribly piercing scream she'd ever heard in her life. And she suddenly realized it was coming from herself...