Chapter 3
The wolf's carcass gave way to a dim silhouette in the darkened gloom of the forest. Rapunzel stood in immense fear, her legs trembling and void of any strength to move. She could feel the incredible sensation of adrenaline leak into her veins forcing her heart to pulse madly. She waited, the sound of panting could be heard just above the falling rain.
"Flynn?" she whispered.
In the darkness she could make out his head turning towards her but no words accompanied the action which only made her anxiety soar. She pried her foot from the muddy ground and took a step forward.
"No, don't come any closer. I don't want you to see this," she heard his voice rasp. Her legs now trembled and she thought they would easily buckle underneath her weight. Flynn began to approach her and soon she could make out his features.
The air from her lungs vanished instantly.
His dark green tunic was bathed in red, he held his side exposing his forearm which now held several layers of folding skin, jagged red streaks painted his arms and blood seeped from his hair.
He winced, "Try not to freak out,"
Rapunzel found herself with her hands cupped preciously around her lips. Her eyes wide she could feel herself approaching the threshold of a mighty scream, however, she held it in feeling as though would alert even more wolves. Before she knew it Flynn collapsed beside her. She gave a quick gasp and came to his side, rain turned his wounds into small fountains of red. Mud began to discolor and she could see he was forming a pool of it at his side.
She turned to Pascal with frantic eyes, "I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do! He's hurt bad, I don't know where to start..."
She eyed the small chameleon who promptly took a tussle of wet grass and placed it atop his head. Rapunzel then shot a glance at her hair realizing the solution but quickly shot it down, "Do you honestly think it will work against something this severe? I know I can use it for small things like cuts and bruises but... but... not like this,"
Pascal then struck a pose of Gothel.
Rapunzel's brows furrowed, "That's different, she's magic, he's not. I don't think it works the same way!"
She turned back towards Flynn who now lied motionless before her, his lips turning a slight shade of blue. Panic began to grip her like a powerful force and she could feel its overwhelming grip begin to strangle her. She needed to think and she needed to do it fast.
She turned him on his back causing the thief to groan in distant agony. She winced at his pain but forced herself to continue. She mounted his waist making sure she did not come into contact with his ghastly wound. She donned her hair whipping the now wet strands in a veil of gold behind her effectively covering Flynn's legs. With an extra lock she covered his abdomen and arms. It wasn't until she readied herself to sing she felt the sudden pang of anxiety hit her. She couldn't pinpoint it but it was similar to the feeling of knowing something was about to hurt. Maybe it was just in her head? Regardless, she needed to act and there was no more time to spare.
She lowered herself over him placing her forehead against his. She caressed his face with her palms reciting the incantation she had memorized faithfully:
"Flower, gleam and glow. Let your power shine. Make the clock reverse. Bring back what once was mine... Heal what has been hurt. Change the Fates' design. Save what had been lost. Bring back what once was mine... What once was mine..."
The gloom of the forest lifted into a brilliant golden glow. A gusting wind shook the trees rocking droplets from their perched branches and blowing leaves into the darkened sky. The glow dimmed and Rapunzel fell to her side as rain continued to drone into the night.