This is a short update, but I will try to have another chapter up as soon as possible. Please let me know what you think of the newer chapters.
Ms. Woods was unusually quiet as Kyoko and her treaded through the vines dropping off low branches on their way back to their little sanctuary. Her whole body was stiff and she clutched Kyoko's hand hard. Kyoko was getting nervous. She glanced at the scorching mark on her hand. It didn't hurt, but she felt a strange pulsing sensation in her hand. As if something were pumping there. She clenched her fist and looked away. She gazed upward towards the dancing clouds. It was still morning, but the peaking lights in the skies were a clear sign of oncoming nightfall. "The effects will begin with nightfall," Ms. Woods had said. What did that mean? What effects? Kyoko was confused and anxious. There was an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had a bad feeling about all of this.
When they finally arrived, Ms. Woods made Kyoko sit down on a tree stump that had a soft bedding of weeds and dandelions growing over it. She stood before her, standing completely straight and still, her hands on her sides, clenching and then unclenching then clenching again. She breathed slowly, and opened her mouth, only to close it again. Then she leaned forward and put her hands on Kyoko's shoulder softly. Kyoko sat upright and still throughout it all, not saying anything, but her mind speeding through one thought to the next. Finally, Ms. Woods spoke.
"Dear, do you remember how I was before?" Her voice was calm, but Kyoko could tell this was a careful mask for dangerous words to come.
"You mean, a swan?"
"Yes, I was a swan by day, witch by night."
"And now you're a princess," Kyoko said with a small smile.
"Yes, thanks to you. But I need to explain how that happened to me." Kyoko nodded as a silent approval for Ms. Woods to continue.
"You see, I was cursed. By the Dark One. The man you met earlier."
"Shotaro," Kyoko replied with a scowl. Ms. Woods continued, dismissing Kyoko's outburst.
"The Dark One, he made me like that and now he has done the same to you."
"So I'm going to be a swan?" Kyoko didn't think that sounded that bad. Even if she were to be a witch by night. She was used to being evil from all her acting roles and being a swan sounded so amazing.
"No dear. Your case is much worse I'm afraid."
"Worse how?" Ms. Woods got down on her knees before Kyoko now, and took her hands in her own.
"Have you ever seen a bandersnatch?"
"A bander-what?"
"A Bandersnatch. Vicious wolf-like creatures. Large and bulky. Sharp teeth. A dark grey with black spots."
Kyoko thought back to all the creatures she has seen since she had come here. They all had been magnificent and none fit that description. But then she remembered. That night. Her first night. When she had been chased by Tsuruga-san. She had seen an animal with large paws in the bushes.
"I-I might have seen one. I'm not sure."
"Those creatures, poor souls, were once not much different than you and I."
"You mean, they were humans?"
"Yes. They were cursed to take on that horrendous form. Cursed with the mark of Selenstra."
"…you don't mean I'm going to…"
"Yes. I'm afraid so. Your transformation will begin tonight."
"I'm going to turn into one of those beasts?" Kyoko was now very scared. She stood up rapidly to her feet, pulling Ms. Woods up with her.
"You will," Ms. Woods simply stated, not knowing what else to say. What words could she say to console the girl after being cursed in such a way.
"B-but only at night right?"
"At first yes. But gradually, it will become you. The curse of Selenstra is indeed permanent. And once it is, you will no longer remember being as you are now."
"So I'm going to be stuck like that?" Kyoko asked alarmed. She put her hands to her head and tried to keep herself steady.
"But you have time. If I understand correctly, you have been tasked with something from the Great Caterpillar, yes?"
"Yes, to cure everyone's worries."
"And you've already done two. I don't know any cure to the mark of Selenstra. But if the Great Caterpillar gave you this task, he must know what is right. I advise you to complete this task within the next seven nights. Perhaps this may save you from all of this."
"Seven nights. That works perfectly actually. I have to complete this in seven nights anyway."
"Such an interesting coincidence. Unfortunate, but interesting."
Kyoko suddenly yelped. Kyoko looked down at her paining hands while Ms. Woods looked up towards the darkening sky. As a bright moon shone out, a cry of united howls could be heard in the distance. Kyoko's hands shook as all of a sudden claws began to distend out of them. Yellow and sharp. The backs of her hands began to cover in a light fuzz of grey fur. Her eyes began to see the world in a distorted way. Colors were mixed up. Objects were unproportional. It was like she was in a fun house which wasn't very fun at all. As she opened her mouth and snarl came out. She quickly covered her mouth with her hands, accidentally scratching her face.
"And so it begins," said the swan princess.