Chapter 1: The raven and the pearl

Everything seemed calm as the sun was setting in the west and a fresh autumn breeze blew through the thick forest of southern Canada. For many animals, it was now time to return to their caves, dens, and nests to get enough sleep for the next day. Only a few insects still buzzed around, utterly carefree until the nocturnal creatures would wake up to hunt them down for breakfast.
Thanks to the wind, a small brown leaf, no bigger than a small child's hand, lost its grip on a branch and gently swirled back and forth through the air. Before it could hit the ground, another stream of air caught the leaf, blew it away, and a raven with feathers as black as the night and sparkling blue eyes landed on its place between the roots of a large old maple tree.
He scanned the surrounding area closely as if he was looking for something very important. But whatever it was, apparently there seemed to be no trace of it here just now. Nevertheless, the bird would wait, not bothered by the cold and the wind that rifled through his feathers and as long as it would take.

After a few minutes, however, he began to scratch his claws through the dirt, to fight the boredom, which was getting to him. By that he used his left claw while holding a small object to the ground in his right. It was a very important item that he knew he couldn't lose. Not until he faced the one he had been searching for all along and who was about to pass by any moment.

Suddenly there was a snap in the undergrowth, causing the raven to turn his head to see what was going on.

A tall creature stepped out from behind the trees onto the clearing, looking like nothing the raven had ever seen in his life before. Was this the one he was looking for the whole time? This odd creature standing right in front of him, wrapped in strange colored leaves and a tuft of long brown fur on its head?

For a brief moment, the raven did nothing but stared directly into the creature's olive-green eyes with his own sapphire blue ones. Then he blinked and rose into the sky. Leaving behind a very confused looking young human girl in her early twenties.

(A few minutes earlier)

''Why don't you visit the lake in the nearby forest. It's such a great place to relax.''

Grinding my teeth, I stepped deeper through the thick forest and thought back to the wonderful advice of the receptionist of the hotel I checked in a few days ago. Surely, she had been right about the place. It was indeed nice and relaxing to sit there in the midst of nature, just with the sound of animals around me and no other person bothering me. I truly enjoyed sitting there on the shore of the lake, reading a book and listening to some music on my cell phone. Everything was just fine. Except for the fact that I had forgotten to check the time and got lost on my way back.

Seriously, how could I've been so stupid? Going into a, to me, unknown forest in a foreign country without either a map or a flashlight or something like that. Did I expect that it would be like a stroll through the park or what? I should have known that something like this would happen. Especially after the problems I had, finding the lake in the first place.

It was bad enough that my sense of direction was as bad as that of a pebble, but the advancing darkness just made it worse. It practically reduced my chances of finding a way out and increased the inevitability of having to spend the night alone in the forest. And that without a tent or sleeping bag.

The only things I had with me were the clothes on my body and a bag around my shoulder with some snacks, a water bottle, a book and my cell phone inside. There was nothing else to keep me warm in the cold night. My light brown jacket was too thin, just like the black sweater I wore underneath, as were my dark aubergine jeans.

Furthermore, my water bottle was practically empty, my cell phone battery at 0% and a single apple and some biscuits my last food supplies. How frustrating.

Nevertheless, I knew it wouldn't help me complain, so I did my best and continued my way through the thicket.

Several times I wiped away strands of my long dark brown hair, which the wind kept blowing cheerfully into my face as I stumbled across the roots and branches lying on the ground covered in colorful leaves.

From time to time I flinched at the sound of unexpected noises like the call of an animal or the cracking of wood, like when I broke a branch by stepping on it. With the expanding darkness around me, my surroundings began to scare me a little. More than ever, I wanted nothing more than to get out of the forest.

But then I joyfully found an opening between two trees and walked through, hoping that this was my way out. Instead, I came to a small clearing bathed in moonlight. ''How beautiful'', I thought, even though I was a little disappointed, and looked around until I spotted a small black bird right in front of me between the roots of a large maple tree.

For a moment, I did nothing but stare at the bird as it stared back with its strange blue eyes. I wasn't sure if it was a raven or a crow, but it seemed to be something extraordinary. Never had I seen a raven or a crow with such eyes. Those I had seen all had black eyes, not blue ones.

Slightly puzzled, I held up this competition until the bird suddenly blinked and flew away. Still perplexed, I watched him fly away until he was gone. Then I sat down by the maple tree to rest my feet from all the walking.

As I sat down, I noticed something shiny under a leaf right next to me. Curiously, I wiped it aside and picked up a tiny pea-sized pearl with a lovely sapphire blue color that reminded me of the unusual eyes of the black bird. Had he lost this pearl here? If so, where did he get it and was it a real pearl or just a fake?

Various questions went through my mind as I studied the pearl and rolled it between my fingers, but much less did I know what to do with it? It sure was beautiful, the little pearl, but since I wasn't really into little things like bugs or jewelry, I didn't feel like keeping it with me. But before I could decide what to do with it, I heard a fluttering sound above my head and looked up into the sky. To my delight, I noticed a few bats flying above me through the night. Unfortunately, as quick as they came, as quick, they disappeared again.

I sighed, still looking into the dark sky and watched the stars appearing one after the other. Just for the moment, I allowed myself to ignore my miserable situation and just stared further into the starry sky hoping to see at least one more bat. But instead, I noticed something else. A bright light streaking across the night sky.

''No way!'', I called out in astonishment. Never in my life had I seen a shooting star. What luck!

Although I was completely lost, the day didn't seem so bad after all. First the relaxing afternoon at the lake, then bats and now a shooting star. However, I knew I couldn't remain here all night, but I wanted to observe the sky just for a little while longer. Maybe I was lucky to discover more shooting stars or maybe even another bat. But nothing. ''I wish I could meet a bat,'' I said sighing deeply and at first didn't notice something weird happening to the little pearl in my hand.

Then without warning, the jewel began to shine in a bright blue light. So bright as if someone was flashing a flashlight right into my face. Confused about what was going on, I closed my eyes tight so I wouldn't go blind while holding the pearl as far away from me as possible. But the light grew bigger and brighter until it completely enveloped me with its bluish radiance. In addition, I started to feel a headache coming up, followed by another sharp pain in my left hand in which I was holding the pearl. It felt like someone just stabbed me with a hot needle.

I wanted to let go of the pearl and get away from the pain and the light but for some strange reason, I couldn't. It wasn't like I couldn't move or anything. Just that my hand wouldn't let go of the pearl. Instead of opening, my fingers closed tighter around the pearl as if they did not want to let go of it at any cost. No matter what I did, my hand stayed that way and didn't listen to me at all, while the pain grew stronger every second.

Eventually, it got so bad that I began to feel dizzy and collapsed right onto the ground in the middle of the forest.

AN: I really should go to bed now since it is pretty late, but I wanted to upload the edited first chapter first.

I didn't change much except some grammar. And I think the next few chapters won't change much as well.