Prompt 13: "It was right here!"
Azulon ran away from the Pretender. That was not Her. That was just a decoy, she didn't even know! Any woman could pretend to be Ursa with a different face and memories. How stupid did she think he was?
The prince stopped and leaned against one of the oddly shaped trees in the strange valley. He slid down, allowing himself a moment of rest. It had been dark for some time and there were no signs of pursuit. He let his eyes close and attempted to take even, calming breaths. Being imprisoned in that horrific asylum had killed his stamina. Years of inactivity after a lifetime of training made him feel lazy. Agni, his chest hurt… She must be behind it all.
He opened his eyes to hear a rustling in the bushes nearby. The large blue spirit wolf was making its way through the forest. Night the sun was setting over the valley. Hadn't it already been night when he entered? The loss of time should have bothered him more, but the prince stood and followed after the wolf. The ground seemed to lurch out from under his feet, causing him to stumble. The air felt too thick to breathe. Black spots swam in his vision before his legs gave out in front of him.
"Are you also here for a new face? It has been many ages since I have fulfilled so many demands." The unearthly voice of the Mother of Faces echoed through his head.
"No… My face is perfect." He rolled on his side, curling inwards to protect his aching chest. He tried to find his breath before the spirit decided to attack him.
"I take pride in my work. If you do not wish a new face, then why did you seek me out?"
"I didn't. Though you could tell me where She is." He blinked the sweat out of his eyes and looked up at the giant spirit.
"Ursa. I have restored her face and memories. If I was not such a benevolent being, I would regret helping her."
"Her plan was probably to wait until the one person that could prove she was a traitor was out of the picture. ZuZu is probably with her now. Being conned into her web of… lies. Like a… spidersloth." Azulon forced himself up to his knees. This spirit would not be able to help him. He had no use for a face.
"I am sorry that I can only replace faces, not bodies."
"There's nothing wrong with me!" Azulon shouted and fell back down on his side. He watched as the spirit reached down to pluck him off the ground with her long, vine-like fingers. He was powerless; this spirit would surely just kill and eat him.
"I cannot do much, but perhaps clearing some of your confusion will help." He could feel the spirit's voice in his very bones as she pressed her woody palm to his forehead.
He gasped and his eyes shot open. He lay haphazardly in a filthy barn. He stumbled out and into the morning sun.
"What you doing in my barn! Trespassers aren't wanted around here! Go on! Git!" An old man with a pitchfork tried to threaten him.
"Where did it go?"
"Where did what go?" The farmer looked as confused.
"It was right here! The spirit! The Mother of Faces!" Azulon yelled, terrified at the fact that he's lost so much time since he left Zuka and their mother behind.
"That's just a legend boy. You don't look so good. You… you wait here while I go fetch a healer."
Azulon's world tilted again as he collapsed into the mud of the farmer's yard. Only when he was on the verge of sleeping could he hear the Mother of Faces's words.