Bryony groaned. She managed to sit herself up, wincing in pain. Her head was throbbing, her body felt like it had gotten into a fight with a rabid shrew, and she felt more lost than ever.
Footsteps crushed leaves and rushed towards her. She reached for her walking stick, but to her dismay found that she must have dropped it in her panic. How was she meant to defend herself now?
A woman ran through the trees towards her, who upon seeing her, stopped to catch her breath.
"Oh don't worry little miss! I won't let these eight legged blighters eat ye! But could ye help me bop 'em?" Bryony blinked, before suddenly realising the very loud clicks approaching them. She managed to get herself on her feet.
"I- I lost my trusty walking stick! Oh dear, da is going to be extremely upset. How am I meant to bop anything?" she wailed, feeling tears of frustration well up in her eyes. She watched the woman quickly look behind her before putting the crate she was carrying down. She took out an axe and hammer from her bag, and handed Bryony a hatchet. Bryony took it and kept staring at it.
"Slash 'em then little miss!" the woman yelled, preparing herself for battle. Bryony held the hatchet tightly, her knuckles whitening. She never had to use a real weapon before. The closest she ever got to combat was whacking shrews over the head with a stick and chasing them off their father's farm.
"I- I'll pretend they're logs!" Bryony shouted, standing close to the woman. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She was a Puddifoot. She already tried running away from danger. Now it was time to face it head on.
"That's the spirit! Pretend they're gross, skitterin' logs! Chop that wood!" the woman shouted, before four very large spiders broke through the bushes and rushed towards them. Bryony let out a squeak, faltering slightly. Upon seeing the woman quickly dispatch one spider, she steeled her heart and swung the hatchet as hard as she could. The hatchet met its mark with a very disgusting crunch as the spider let out a screech. Emboldened, she swung the hatchet once more, landing it straight between the spider's numerous eyes. It twitched before falling dead in front of her.
She had little time to celebrate her victory. Another spider quickly rushed her, and she let out a scream before swinging the hatchet. Something within her sparked as she swung again and again, hacking off its limbs before delivering the killing blow.
They both paused, breathing heavily. The woman smiled at her, a warm gentle smile that made Bryony smile back. Before they could speak, they heard even more skittering coming from beyond the bushes.
"Get on me back and let's get out o'here!" the woman yelled, crouching and letting Bryony climb onto her back, grabbing the crate and breaking into a sprint.
"Robbers and spiders! I'll take Robbers any day! I was out here trying to catch some that stole from Adso's lodge, but wolves found em first! I was able to scare em off, being so tall and scary like, but then them spiders found me!! What were you doing out here?"
"There was a voice! It was in trouble and kept telling me to come find it. Oh miss, if it wasn't for you I think I would have been led to a very dark place!"
"Best not to listen to any voices out here unless it's has a few dol merry dols thrown into whatever is said!! Mister Tom Bombadil an' his pretty wife Goldberry are the only good sorts I know out here. And apparently there's a bloke with a bakery out here, not sure I believe that though! Yet to find it."
Bryony found herself chuckling as the woman continued to run. Finally, they both broke through the darkness of the forest to the bright sunlight and green pastures of Breeland. Bryony slid from the woman's back as both of them finally managed to catch their breath.
"Phew, you're pretty good at swingin' that old hatchet!" the woman said. Bryony laughed.
"I never caught your name, miss?"
"Tivlyn, and you?"
"Bryony Puddifoot, I'm in your debt, miss Tivlyn." The woman, Tivlyn, let out a laugh.
"Here, let me take ye home," she offered. Bryony shook her head.
"It's quite alright. I can make it back home easily now." Tivlyn frowned before nodding.
"Let me see that wound at least, and then ye can go y'er merry way," she told her, crouching in front of her and slowly touching the deep gash on Bryony's head. Bryony hissed, but allowed Tivlyn to gently clean the wound before quickly wrapping it up with a bandage. She nodded her thanks.
"Alright, ye be careful now. And hey, come meet me at the Knackered Neekerbeeker! Lovely little tavern, full of ale and good company! I think ye could use it after today." Bryony laughed and nodded.
"I'd love to, miss Tivlyn."
They both waved at each other as Bryony lifted the satchel back onto her back, most of the food now lost in the forest. The voice no longer plagued her, and she hoped it would never speak to her again.
The next time Bryony heard voices in her head, she would sternly tell them off and ask them to mind their own business.
