"Isn't that the fun of it all? danger? the unknown. Getting closer to what your heart desires than what everyone els wants from you?" He asked "There are those to protect you from those dangers as well. If you give them a chance. Not all you meet are wolves in sheep's clothing."
She looked back up at him. "And what if they are wolves? What then? What if all your heart desires is a little house in the forest, where you can stay with the animals and the trees?" She kept her eyes on him, wondering if he had an answer for her.
He stopped and faced her "then who's there to stop you from achieving that goal? If it doesn't harm you or those close to you, who's are they to say no?" He asked with a tilt of his head.
She hesitated, meeting his eyes cautiously. "So the path doesn't matter. It's just a direction, but it's so much safer to just accept it." She twisted around him, careful not to brush by. She kept walking, a little more tense than before.
He glanced over his shoulder at her retreating form and smiled softly, heading into the woods nearby"As long as you're not heading backward, no the path does not matter." his disembodied voice, speaking only to her. Shadows and shapes crept along the edges of the woods
She shivered again, pulling the cloak tighter around her shoulders. She was jumpy, flinching at the shadows and unsure of her path. The whole forest seemed like a mirror image of itself, strangely easy to lose yourself in. She kept putting one foot ahead of the other, unsure of where she was going or how she would get there.
Shadows of animals crossed her path trying to lure her away from the path, taunting her with sweet words of protection and her deepest desires. A few yards away adark black wolf sat neatly in the middle of the path "what will you choose?" it asked gently as she approached
Her eyes widened, and she took a step back. She was almost shaking, terrified by all the shadows and voices she couldn't quite hear. "I-I don't know. I don't understand, what is this?"
It stood up a stalked towards her "It's what you think the underworld is." it half growled. fluid smoke fell from its fur as if it was made of the element. "what you percieve this place and those who inhab it as. Now wich path will you take?" it asked again
She looked back and forth between the two shadowy paths, running a hand anxiously down her braid. "Whichever will get me out of this place."
He at in between the two paths lazily "thats for you to find out." he deadpanned, giving no hint as to where she should go. "I do remind you again, don't forget who can help and will kill."
She raised a worried eyebrow, turning abruptly and choosing a path. She started walking, keeping to the center and flinching away from any shadows and outstretched plants.
"come to us…." They said, trying to reach for her
"Get out of your head Persephone. It won't do you any good if you keep that mindset." The wolf told her, trotting along side her.
She looked down, relieved to see the wolf again. She kept her pace quick, trying to get out as soon as possible. "Forgive my anxiety, I'm extremely-" She flinched away from another vine before continuing. "Unfamiliar. With all of this."
"I understand that. but it's not as bad as you think." He explained gently "all the horrors you think you see aren't real. The faster you learn that, the better."
"Oh." She tried to calm her breathing down, slowing slightly. "So I ought to just ignore them?"
He nodded "yes, that'd be best."
She nodded, slowing down even more and focusing on the ground.
"Block out all the negative thoughts and emotions about this place." He suggested, walking along side her
She looked over to him, running a hand over her hair once again. "I'll try. Where does this path lead?" The tremble was gone from her voice, and she walked a little more confidently. She was slowly growing used to this world, her mind singling out the similarities to her own world, and molding both worlds together into one.
"good, you're learning." The wolf said with a nod "this path leads to those thoughts never explored. Thoughts you don't want others to see or thoughts you have stored away for another time. Are you sure you wish to continue? We can turn back now if you're not ready."
Perrie paused in her step, taking in a deep breath. "No, I think I want to see whatever's out there."
He nodded and led her fowards "he's not that bad." The wolf muttered as they walked
Her step faltered once again, almost causing her to trip. "He who?" She asked, her mind flashing to Hades and back to the wolf.
" the one who just crossed your mind is he." The wolf said glancing up at her
"Oh. Do you know him well? He seems…" She trailed off, searching for the right word to describe him. Cold… Strong… Dark… Different… Nothing fit him quite right, so she let her thought disappear into the air.
"I know him well enough." He glanced up with a grin "like him?"
"What?" She startled, looking down at him with shocked eyes. Was the wolf… Teasing her? "No. I mean, I don't not like him. I don't think."
He tilted his head and laughed lightly "then how come he's popping up in your thoughts?" He asked, glancing around to the trees where figures of Hades among other people popped up
She looked around, realizing how familiar the images looked. "Wait… Are those my thoughts?" She said, avoiding his question.