I wrote this a few weeks ago for a fanfiction contest at Naka-Kon 2013 at Overland Park, KS this past weekend. We were given a 5,000 word maximum, so I was unable to actually get all the way into the story. However, it still won me first place! I would like to know what you guys think of this and if you think I should continue it. Thanks much and enjoy!

~Yuki~

CHAPTER 1: DISCOVERY

A small breeze whispered through the forest, leaves trembling lightly. Birds sang their greetings to the rising sun, ready to face the day. The first rays of sunlight danced through gaps in the trees. A nearby stream sparkled like a finely-cut gem, a light mist rising off the surface. Tall, sturdy trees creaked peacefully as their early morning shadows embraced one another. Rustles of animals sounded every so often, adding to the music of the woods.

A dull thud and a string of curses startled a nearby bird from its roost, shattering the quiet tranquility. An old, overgrown road ran through the center of the trees, and sprawled in the middle, in the dirt, lay a young woman. Tendrils of dark hair had come free of their long braid, sticking to a sweaty, heart-shaped face. Contrastingly light eyes stared, annoyed, back at the tree root her running shoe had caught on. Sighing in frustration, she stood and dusted the dirt from her front. It was a good thing she had decided at the last minute to wear a light shirt and jeans instead of her new sun-dress; with as many times as she'd fallen that morning, it would have ended up ruined.

Another breeze sent soothingly cool air across her face, causing her to stare wistfully up at the trees. This thought that this may be the last time she ever traveled this path brought a surprising tightness to her chest. Her mother loved this place as much as she did; why she would suddenly decide to uproot them was beyond the young woman. She just couldn't fathom it. Hadn't her mother always talked about how special this forest was? Hadn't she raised her on bedtime stories of fantastical adventures?

Though it was true she was now too old to believe in such things, the forest still felt somehow magical to her. She couldn't help but feel as though she'd stepped into another world, each time she'd crossed into the shadows of the trees. She knew it was merely the large contrast between her usual busy city life and the peaceful calm of the forest, but that didn't matter. When she was here, for a little while at least, she was small again, filled with wonder and anticipation of what she may encounter.

That's why she'd decided to take one last walk before they made preparations to move deeper into the city. Ever since her mother had first told her the stories, she'd spent so many days exploring by herself. She had no actual expectations to find anything; she knew now they were merely stories. It helped ease the tension to be able to go about a familiar task. Her house had felt too constraining since the announcement.

The young woman kicked at stones as she walked, lost in thought as she frowned at the ground. An unfamiliar sound caught her attention, lifting her gaze. She stopped, eyes and mouth wide open. There was no way she was seeing what was in front of her. She'd walked this path hundreds of times, farther than where she was currently standing, and all she'd ever encountered were more trees. She reached out a trembling hand and felt a cool, smooth surface beneath her palm. Two shuddering breaths later, she backed up, nearly tripping over something that she was absolutely certain had not been there a moment before. The moss-covered statue stared unseeingly at her, a wide grin spreading eerily across its stone face. Once more, the woman looked back in awe.

Looming over her was a large, red building, patches of white peeking through where plaster had fallen away. The hands of a massive clock remained unmoving, rusted in place. The young woman could almost feel the chill of frozen time as she stood in the shadows, shivering lightly. Goosebumps raised over her arms as she stared down a dark tunnel beneath the clock. A sudden wind blew through the entrance, causing the sound that had caused her to stop earlier. It sounded as though the building was yawning, . A sense of foreboding settled itself in her heart as she struggled with the sudden appearance of the structure. Logic tried to wiggle itself around the shock in her mind, telling her she'd probably just always missed the path in her earlier trips. She couldn't quite force herself to believe it.

Her indecision nipped at her resolve from earlier, threatening to send her running back home. Back to the bare walls of empty rooms. Back to packing her entire life into stacks of boxes. Back to the mother who made the decision for her, giving her absolutely no say in the matter. Tears pricked her eyes at the thought of leaving. She had set out that day to find something, not knowing at the time what it may be, and now that she had found it, she was just going to chicken out? Shaking her head in answer, she clenched her jaw and squared her shoulders. She took a trembling step towards the yawning maw of the building. Swallowing, she took another. And another. Slowly, but surely, she forced herself through the archway, hugging the wall.

It was much colder than she expected, and she shivered involuntarily. She pressed on, though, and every so often, she stole a glance back towards the entrance. Each time it appeared smaller, and smaller, until it was barely a pinprick of light. To her relief, though, as the entrance shrank, the exit grew. She could already make out a few benches, and curiosity quickened her pace. The young woman jolted to a halt as she left the tunnel, stunned into stillness. A large, empty room lay before her, the dusty benches placed in an orderly fashion. A water fountain occupied the middle of the room, long dried up. Leaves and twigs littered the floor.

She barely registered any of these things. What caught her eye was the sunlight filtering through a beautiful stain-glass window on the opposite wall. Rainbows of color scattered through the room, bringing a touch of warmth to the otherwise desolate place. She walked to stand in the patch of colored sunlight below the window, marveling at how untouched by time it looked. Her eyes fluttered closed as she soaked in the light, relaxing for the first time since discovering the building. Soft rustling could be heard just beyond yet another open archway; she had completely missed it in her awe. Reluctantly, she left her little rainbow and stepped outside into full mid-morning sunlight. Once again, she was moved to stillness.

Waving grass flowed across a hilly meadow as far as she could see. Stone ruins poked up here and there, eroded smooth by years of exposure. A rocky river bed split the meadow in two, a mere trickle of water flowing through it. Something about the vastness of the meadow and the warm breeze filled the young woman with energy. She took a deep breath, the smell of earth, flowers, and clean water tickling her nose. She was nearly vibrating with pent up energy now, and she had the sudden urge to run. Taking off her socks and shoes, she sprinted across the meadow. Her arms spread wide, she ran as fast as her bare feet could carry her, practically flying over the grass. It was soft and soothing on her feet after hours of hiking.

Finally reaching the river bed, she slowed to a stop, collapsing with breathy laughter. She hadn't felt so alive in years! Something about this place touched her soul in a way she'd never felt before. It felt like home here. Sighing in content, she let her feet rest on the wet rocks. What little water flowed through cooled her feet, and she took the chance to rinse them clean. A strange, pleasant tingle worked its way up her body while she washed. She'd always had a deep love for water that she couldn't explain. When she swam, she felt strong and sure, almost like she were a completely new person. Smiling at the thought, she lay back in the grass, yawning as she grew more and more relaxed. Soon, soft snores filled the air, for she had fallen fast asleep.