She cursed as she took another step, her sack getting caught in a few branches. Looking back she untangled her sack. The wind was playing with the leaves, shadows dancing over the green forest floor. 

She had been trailing a narrow path ever since she gleft the camp. At first she had run, desperate for a head start, but then she had fallen to a trudge, preserving her energy as much as possible. Now she was barely able to keep on walking due to the thick undergrowth, as if the forest itself was holding her back, grabbing at her, preventing her from reaching the city on the cliff. Fellsan, their kingdoms' capital.

She had known, the moment she had woken up in her tent, Mason sitting next to her, that she would have to run. She could still feel it, the energy inside of her. Coiling and restless. When her grandmother had come bursting in, she had told her only that which she had already felt within. She was different. She did not belong with them. Her parents were not her real parents. Her tribe was not hers to keep. 

Her grandmother had apologised, tears in her eyes. She had explained how her parents had found her one day, laying on their mattress, a thin blanket covering her tiny body. How they had convinced the queens guard that she was their own. They had saved her life. Unidentifiable children were not welcome.

A surprised gasp left Panema's lips as her foot got stuck behind a root, almost losing her balance. She looked down and froze. The roots were moving, curling themselves over her foot, latching themselves onto the rope she used to bind her shoes. She kept completely still, her breath caught in her throat. Impossible, plants weren't able to move. Her eyes widened. Unless someone was nearby. 

Bending down she looked back, all the while trying to pull her foot free, fighting with the roots. She couldn't see anyone, but she knew they were there. She felt them now, just like when they were in her tent. It was fainter this time, but the feeling was the same. A soft tugging at her core. 

She hissed as the roots wound tighter. Fine, if they wanted her shoe, they could have it. She directed her focus to the rope and undid the knot on her lower leg holding her shoe together. She pulled her bare foot from the fabric and immediately took a few paces, wanting to be away from the coiling ground.

She heard the rushing then, of humans walking through the forest. Plants brushing their bodies as they closed in on her. She didn't need more of a warning than that.

She ran, fighting her way through the plants, branches grabbing at her clothes, scratching her bare arms and getting caught in her hair. She could hear them behind her, fighting their own way through the forest as they ran after her. They went too fast. Panema was panting, roots grabbing at her ankles, her sack bouncing against her back in a sickening rhythm. She was too slow.

'There!' someone shouted from behind. 

Too close. 

Fear wrapped itself around Panema's heart as she made her legs go faster. The wind was whistling in her ears as she darted across the winding path. She dared a glance behind her when she heard another shout, closer this time. What she saw then almost made her stop in her tracks. 

The earth was boiling, dirt shooting up to reveal a maze of roots, twisting and turning towards her. They tried to grab on to her, but a soft voice whispered she could be faster. She danced out of their way as she felt the energy rising inside of her. Avoiding the vine before it was even there, the wind pushing her forward. She took hold of her power, focusing on its presence. Wanting it to stay, break free from its containment within herself. She felt it spread through her body then, filling her limbs with heat. She smiled, all the while fleeing from her enemies. She felt whole again, her power flowing through her veins. She would make it.

She hit the ground before she realised what had happened. Dirt filling her mouth and dark spots covering her vision. Raising her pounding head from the ground she looked over her shoulder at her feet, both entangled in a mess of roots and vines. She rolled over and sat up, wiping her dirty hair out of her eyes and throwing her sack off her back. The vines were spreading up her legs quickly, binding her to the earth. Cursing she fumbled her fingers underneath the vines, pulling as hard as she could, but the more she struggled, the more the vines seemed to dig into her flesh. 

'Knife,' she breathed, searching for its usual spot, strapped to her thigh. Her fingers merely brushed the hilt as a root got hold of her wrist. She didn't bother to stifle her scream as another vine caught her around her chest, pulling her down. She squirmed as they coiled over her, but she wasn't strong enough. 

She was almost completely covered when the guards found her, her eyes narrowing at their appearance. She noticed that they bore no marks of any struggle with the forest. They were decent earthworkers then. Not that she had expected anything less from the queens guard. 

They were standing at her feet, a straight line among the chaos of roots and vines covering the narrow path, and her. They didn't look at her, but instead turned their faces backward. She took in the guards standing before her, surprised to see more than the original four which had been in her tent. 

All of a sudden, they stepped aside, creating an even narrower path next to them, bowing their heads. Panema couldn't see who was coming, but the forest around her went quite. Heat rushed inside of her as the stranger got closer, her energy rising again. She tried to move, little drops of sweat sliding down her body, but the roots kept her bound to her spot. 

Panema's brows rose as the man stepped into view. He was young, much younger than the guards he commanded. She looked him over. Waving bronze hair glinting in the sunlight, still neatly combed back after the chase. His broad shoulders were covered by a black coat, golden buttons running down his chest, a sword at his waist. His dark red pair of trousers confused her though, for the usual colour for a commanding officer was dark green. 

As she looked at his face her breathing stopped. Her gaze was met by piercing amber eyes, the sun setting them aflame as they roamed her body in turn. She studied his face. A soft colour of brown enhancing his strong jaw and dark brows, indicating he spent a lot of his time outside. His thin lips were set in a firm line as he studied her. 

She twisted again, hissing at the vines cutting into her bare arms. Her energy was restless, dark spots already blocking her vision. 

He didn't say anything as his eyes wandered back up to her face. He nodded once, his eyes not leaving hers, and the guard behind him threw up his hands, pointing them at Panema. And Panema screamed as the power inside of her broke free.