Chapter 1-3 Hilda

Darkness was all that anyone could see, the pitch blackness held no shapes to indicate what was there. Yet the void was not alone, as noises echoed within. "No, no, no!" A child's voice cried out, belonging to a girl who sounded frantic. "Please wake up! You have to wake up!" Desperation filled her vocal cords, as her cries only increased. The void did not give away who was speaking to whom, but the voice was recognizable enough to know who one of them was. "Please… Please don't leave me…" The child sobbed, as if she was beginning to give up. Whimpering and sniffling mixed together to showcase the hopelessness of the audio within the inky abyss. The noises began to grow distant, as silence took over, leaving one to question the scene that had just played out.

A sudden chill ran through the young girls' body, as she laid in the snow covered fields. Her eyelids opened up to reveal green pupils, staring off into the space she found herself in. The child moved her body, sitting up on her behind while using her arms for support. She began to gaze at her surroundings, trying to gather herself. "Where… am I?" Hilda questioned. The ground was covered in the white powder, making her cold. The blanket was thick, which wasn't surprising given the time of year. Tall trees that reached up to the sky closed in on the child, more than she could have counted. A dense fog rolled around to make her vision limited as to what she could see before her. Hilda finally got up on her feet, turning in a circle to try and figure things out.

"How did I get here?" She asked herself. "The last thing I remember was falling down with Alice… and then… and then…" She trailed off, her memory was fuzzy on the details. What happened after her and Alice fell? Just thinking about it made her head hurt.

The young one had her thoughts interrupted at the sound of a call. "Hilda! Come inside!" The child whipped her head in the direction of that voice. It sounded like a woman, a motherly one. The heart in her chest went still as her eyes wavered with curiosity.

"I know that voice…" She realized. The child began to walk in that direction, trying to find it. Despite the thickness of the fog and trees, Hilda was able to walk through the tall snow towards that voice. As she walked along, she could hear the chirps, caws and whistled notes of various birds, from a raven to nightingales. The ravens seemed to be aggressive, and were using their voices to drown out the other birds. While the nightingales' tunes sound relaxing and encouraging, putting up a fight with their enemies.

It was quite a long trek, since the sleet made it hard for her to move through due to how it came up to her knees. Still, she went along, hearing that voice continue to beckon her. "Come on Hilda, your supper will get cold." The voice sounded both mysterious and welcoming. Hilda was compelled to follow as she moved towards the source, while the gray skies in the woods began to grow darker the further she got. Seeing the night taking over made Hilda hurry in her steps. She had been aware of too many stories to know what happened to the kids that stayed out past dark. Picking up her pace, she continued until she found a river that was pretty shallow yet it was still running. Hilda followed it, finding a small bridge that led to a house. The child walked up to the front of it, just as the door opened.

Appearing in the doorway, was a being that was not human, yet had the features of one. The being Hilda saw was a giant bird with the body of a human woman. She had feathers and a beak, with long wings for arms and large hands at the end of the spans. The feathers were predominantly brown with a few slight gray areas, especially the underparts and throat which were all white. She wore an elegant gown with white fur trim draped around the shoulders, the same fur were on the cuffs of her sleeves and cascading from her elbows. Her dress was a deep navy blue with gold accents, including the 'umbrella' symbol of the four houses that helped found the Village. The bird woman stared at Hilda with brown eyes, and a smile on her beak. "There you are Hilda…" She chimed with a whistle like chirp in her voice. "I see you left the house again without permission." She noted, becoming a bit authoritative in her tone.

Hilda held her hands together at her chest as she was worried she was in trouble. "I didn't mean to be gone for long… I just wanted some fresh air." She tried to explain.

"Hilda, we've been over this. You can't go outside on your own. The outside world is very dangerous, especially with the Lycans patrolling the borders. Which is why you must stay in the house, it's your home and where you belong."

The child tilted her head downward, guilt on her face as she had to acknowledge her mistakes. "...Sorry, Grandma." She referred to the bird woman by the title.

Grandma looked at the young girl, seeing how upset she was made her become sympathetic. "I accept your apology. Next time you want to go out, let me know and have me come with you. You're still very young, and there are those that will prey on you because of your age and naivety." Hilda gave a nod to the older bird woman, agreeing to her request. With an outstretched arm of feathers, Grandma brough Hilda under her wing. "Now, let's go inside. Dinner is all ready for you."

"Okay," Hilda agreed as they walked inside the house. With the entrance of the house, Hilda saw the many shelves and drawers taking up the walkway walls so it was a bit of a narrow gap to move through. On the far end of the door leading into the house, a sink was there with a toothbrush and a stole for Hilda to brush her teeth. The Grandma Nightingale ushered her towards it. "Wash up and then come into the kitchen for your dinner…" She told her.

"Yes, Grandma." Hilda agreed as she went over to the sink and hopped on the step to be at level. She took off her gloves and placed them on the side of the counter, looking over her palms, fingers and backside. They weren't dirty, but knowing Grandma she wanted to make sure Hilda was cleaned up after being outside for a while. The child grabbed the bar of soap on the right side of the sink and then turned on the faucet. She rubbed her hands together on the soap with the running water. After much thoroughness, she set the soap down and turned off the tap.

Hilda hopped off the stool and then went through the archway to the other room. The bird Grandmother was already setting the table for her. A lone wooden chair painted blue was stationed at the table. A shallow bowl with a spoon sat there, along with a white mug filled with water and a box containing pills and a bottle with liquid next to a syringe. Grandma came over with a pot of some stew that was all warmed up. "Here we go… Some Ciorbă de Legume. Nothing like some hot stew for a Winter's night." Grandma mused, using a ladle to pour some of the contents into the bowl on the table for Hilda.

The child sniffed the soup and hummed. "It smells delicious!" She bounced on her seat as she was excited to eat.

"Be careful, it's still hot." The woman warned as she finished filling Hilda's bowl.

The young girl noticed there was only a single set of tableware on the surface, which got her curious. "Aren't you going to have any, Grandma?"

"Oh, I will later. I have a few things to do. Sadly, when you get to be as old as me, you have a lot of responsibilities that eat up your time to the point you… well, forget to eat." She mused, setting the pot down and then taking a seat on the bed away from the table. She stared at the child who took the spoon to use so she could eat. Taking a scoop of the dish, she blew on the hot liquid with chunks before placing it in her mouth and swallowing it. It was a bit sour, but that was expected with this kind of dish. "And make sure you eat the whole bowl, I want you to have a full stomach before you get your medicine."

"Yes, Grandma…" Hilda agreed and took another sip of her soup. All was quiet in the room for a while, as the child kept eating her dinner while the older woman stared at her back. She took notice on how Hilda was eating, almost greedily.

"You sure have quite the appetite tonight…" The bird woman noted.

Hilda slurped the spoonful in her mouth before turning to face the Grandma. "It's been a while since I had a hot meal…" As those words left her mouth, the child lowered her spoon as her mind began to whirl. When was the last time she ate, Hilda thought. Her stomach never growled to indicate hunger, but she knew it had been some time since she last had anything to eat. Her eyes gazed down at the soup in her bowl, it was already halfway eaten as she saw the veggies and broth swirl around in the saucer. Now that she thought about it… the last meal she ate was just like this one…

Her thoughts were interrupted as a weight was pressed onto her shoulders. The bird woman held the child with her feathery hands, looking down at her with a warm smile. Hilda turned her head upwards to see the woman, forming a grin of her own. Despite her appearance, the child trusted this woman as she reminded her of her caretaker. "I spoke with the Raven Queen today," The Nightingale began, which caught the child's attention, as if she already knew who she was talking about. "She has taken quite an interest in you."

The face on the child lit up, like a candle that had just been set aflame. "Really?"

"As you know, she has been wanting another child within her court. I've told her about you and after much consideration… The Raven Queen wants you to become her daughter."

The eyes of the child became so wide, they looked ready to pop out of her head. The corners of her cheeks lifted as her smile spread from ear to ear. "I'm going to be part of the Lords and the Raven Queen's family?!"

"So it would seem…"

Hilda jumped out of her chair, bouncing on the floor as she hugged the Grandma while beaming with joy. "Oh, Grandma! This is the best news I've ever gotten! It's also the best day of my life!"

The Nightingale chuckled as she had her waist be wrapped around by the small arms. The old woman patted the child's head as she joined in with the merriment, chuckling even. "There are still a few things to do before you can become her daughter. But, if all goes well, we can start the ceremony by the end of the week."

Hilda pulled back from the hug and stared up at her Grandma, now having an expression of curiosity. "Ceremony?" She repeated.

"Indeed, it's a ritual at the heart of the Village that will bind you and be proclaimed as the rightful heir. Think of it like… an initiation. It's just a spectacle created by the Raven Queen and the Lords to have you become part of their family. Once it's over, you will become one of them and live among them."

"What is the ritual like?" Hilda asked.

"Well, if I told you that, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" Grandma mused.

Hilda hummed, thinking there was a reason as to why Grandma was not telling her. Then again, she did like surprises. And if Grandma trusted the Raven Queen, then Hilda would trust Grandma. "True…" She muttered as her arms pulled back, thoughts coming and going through her mind.

"Is something wrong, sweetie?" Grandma asked, sensing how sad she was.

Hilda looked downwards, not meeting the elder's eyes as she suddenly had a weight of doubt holding her. "Does the Raven Queen really want me because she likes me? Or is she just doing this for you?"

The bird woman raised a brow and tilted her head, baffled yet attempting to be sympathetic. "Why would you think that?"

"Because all the other kids told me I would never get adopted… They said no one would want me because of who my father was… and outsider of the Village. Am I even worthy of being the daughter of the ruler here? What if no one respects me even with that title? What if even the Raven hates me after a while?"

The Nightingale lowered herself to be at height level with the child, as a winged hand rested on her head. "My dear," she spoke gently to gain the attention of the younger one, who finally looked her in the eyes. "Did you ask to be born?" She questioned.

Hilda thought for a moment, then gave her answer. "...No?" She wasn't aware of how to answer such a question, then again it did seem odd for such a young child to comprehend.

"Exactly… you do not control the circumstances in which you come into this world. We do not get to choose the families we are born into, but if we are lucky enough, we can find a family of our own that we chose to be a part of. And right now, you are that lucky to become part of a family that has chosen you. The Raven Queen picked you to become her daughter. And we both know that she does not do things without a reason. So, if she decides you are good enough to be her child, then she has reason to believe you can live up to that expectation."

The child thought about what her Grandma was telling her, which helped ease her nerves to a degree. The Raven Queen was the leader of the Village, and she had never steered the Villagers wrong before. If she wanted Hilda as her daughter, then she must have thought the child was worthy. "Do you think… She'll like me?" Hilda questioned.

"She loves you already. And can't wait to finally meet you."

"And what about the other Lords? What if they don't like me?"

The Grandma waved her wings. "Oh, nonsense. They were the ones who voted to have you into their family."

Hilda perked, gazing at the older woman in wonder. "R-Really?!"

"They were quite smitten with those gifts you gave them, which helped sway their opinions on you. In fact…" The bird woman grinned wider as she moved closer to the child in a whisper. "They are secretly preparing welcoming gifts for you."

"Gifts? For me?!" Hilda repeated as her glimmer of enthusiasm was returning.

"That's right… but they need time to prepare them just like the Raven Queen will need time to get the Ceremony ready. Which is why you have to stay inside until they are ready to take you in. Okay?" Her words seemed to have been enough to convince the child, who smiled up at the older woman and nodded. Grandma mused as she rubbed Hilda's head. "Now, if you are all done eating, let's get you your medication." The older woman stated as she reached for the bottle and syringe next to the empty bowl Hilda had finished.

The child watched as the bird took the needle and dipped it into the small hole in the cap. Pulling the plunger, she filled the tube with the liquid which caused Hilda to rub her arms. The younger one became fearful as she watched Grandma gather the medicine. "Do I have to take it?" She finally asked.

Hilda felt the other wing wrap around her frame, as the older woman looked down at her gently. "I know you hate the needles and the pills, but we have to make sure you don't get sick. You're still recovering after that accident, and there's a possibility the treatment you got will have some effects. So, we have to take precautions to ensure that doesn't happen. You don't want to end up like your siblings, do you?" The last line made Hilda look up at the older woman, shaking her head to show she didn't want whatever happened to them to happen to her. "I know it sounds scary… but you have been healing quite well. In fact, this will be your last dosage from this point on."

"R-really?" That made Hilda smile with relief.

"We will have to wait until morning for sure… for now, let's take this dosage and see how you fair."

Hilda gave a nod, even though she still hated the medication. So long as she wouldn't take it anymore though, it was a comfort. The child rolled up the sleeves of her coat to reveal her arms, which were covered in white bandages that wrapped around the skin like coils. She didn't need to be told to remove them, as her fingers began to unwrap the fabric and had them lay on the table. The flesh on her arms showcased the small pricks Hilda had to be given, where she was injected with needles many times a day. At this point, she was used to it but the pain always remained. Grandma reached over and began to inject Hilda with the needle, right where her vein was. She winced a bit, as the liquid went into her body which made her skin tingle. Once it was removed, Grandma began to wrap up her arms again with a fresh coat of cloth. She then handed her a glass of water which Hilda used to gulp down the pills.

"There… feel better?" Grandma asked the child.

"I think so…"

"Well, now that you are all fed and got your medication, let's get you to bed so you can rest up. Don't worry about your bowl, I'll wash it up for you."

Hilda didn't mind, jumping off the chair as she was being escorted by her Grandma down the stairs to the basement where the child's room was stationed. Once they arrived, Hilda looked around her room that she slumbered and played in. The walls were made of large stone, but it did not feel cold down here. She had all of the things a child needed to keep themselves entertained and comfortable. It wasn't a grand room, but it was all Hilda's and that was enough for her.

"This might be the last time you'll be in this room once the Raven Queen adopts you," Grandma told the child who ventured further into the area. "So I suggest you take it all in before you have to leave."

The blond girl turned back to the bird woman with a smile. "Thank you for looking after me, Grandma…"

"Well, I couldn't just leave a poor, injured child out there to be Lycan food, now could I? Besides… you remind me so much of… someone else." The bird lady trailed off as she spoke.

Curiosity took hold of Hilda as she asked a question. "Do I remind you of your daughter?"

"No, my daughter wasn't anything like you when she was your age… but I know someone else close to me that was much like you." The Nightingale elaborated. "At any rate, you won't be staying with me much longer, once you are taken in."

Hearing that made Hilda cast a frown over at the older lady, thinking about her words. "I'm going to miss you, Grandma…"

Her words seemed to have struck a chord with the bird, as she placed a feathery hand on her chest while her expression softened. "Oh, sweetie. You don't have to be sad, I told you that this arrangement with me was temporary. The purpose was to get you adopted into the Lords family, but despite that… I am grateful to have gotten to know you. It has been far too long since I've cared for someone else, and it was nice to have someone by my side to talk to and engage with."

"Will I see you again, even if I go with the Raven Queen?"

The Nightingale sighed as she was unable to lie to the child. "I can't promise that, Hilda." She sounded as sad as Hilda was, since the child had grown quite close to the old woman. She was one of the few people in the Village that took care of her and didn't look down on her. The bird lady walked over to the child so she was close to her and patted her back. "I know this experience must be quite scary and confusing to you. But think of how happy everyone will be. You will have a new family to call your own that will love and take care of you, and the Raven Queen will finally have a daughter of her own again. And knowing all of that will be enough for me." Her reassurance tried to calm the child, and persuade her to enjoy this arrangement. Even if she was a bit doubtful on becoming adopted into such a high family within the Village, Hilda couldn't deny how grand it would be for her to become the new sibling of the Lords. If anything, she could consider this an adventure, and she loved adventures!

Finally, with enough convincing from herself and the Grandma, Hilda gave a smile up at her and a nod. "Alright. I am looking forward to meeting everyone face to face." Hilda admits as she never had the pleasure to see the Lords in all their glory. "Wait… does that mean I'll become a Lord?"

"More like the heir to the Village… but it's still a powerful title." Grandma mused. "Now, I have a few things to take care of, so I will be out for a while. When I come back, we'll head to the Village together so we can begin the adoption process with the Raven Queen. Until then, stay in the house and do not let anyone other than me in. Understand?"

"Yes Grandma…" Hilda agreed, as if she was already aware of the rules.

"There is plenty of food upstairs so if you get hungry, eat what you want. For now, get some rest." Grandma leaned over and nuzzled the top of Hilda's head, before pulling away and heading up the stairs. Hilda was left alone in the room with only her belongings.

"Guess I'm all alone again…" The child noted as she looked around the room. Despite there being many pieces of furniture, it felt empty to her. But she didn't complain, since Grandma provided for her and it was a nice set up she had. The child walked over to her bed, sitting on the mattress before laying flat on her back. Her eyes stared up at the wooden ceiling leading to the ground floor. Thoughts filled her head as she spoke them out loud. "At least I won't be for much longer…" She reminded herself. A smile graced her lips as many scenarios were playing in her head. "If only those other kids could see me now… becoming the daughter of the leader of the Village… they would take back all those things they said to me." She mused, enjoying the future she was envisioning. "The heir to the Village… becoming the Raven Queen's daughter and the sibling of the Lords… A family all of my own that will protect and love me."

The grin on her face wouldn't leave at the very thought of her finally finding a place for her to belong. Connecting with other people who would see her as part of their group and raise her like their own. It was a dream the child had for so long, and now it felt like it was about to come true. She laid on her side, thinking about the things she would do with her family. There were so many possibilities that her brain kept her awake. Sleep did not come for the child, but who could blame her? Eventually, she sat up on the mattress that she called her bed, and looked around the room taking it all in. "Can't sleep with a full mind, Grandma told me…" She spoke to herself and the room. Placing her boots on the floor, the child held her hips and had an idea. "Since I won't be staying here much longer, maybe I should pack up my things to take once I'm adopted." Hilda told herself. Then afterwards, she should be able to get some sleep and wait for Grandma to come back.

With that decided, Hilda went about the room so she could gather what she needed. First, she had to get her suitcase. She walked around the area, realizing how much stuff was within the space than she realized. The child walked over to the large closet against the wall, opening the wood double doors to reveal what was inside. The child jumped back as she saw a few mice scurry out from the wardrobe, running away before hiding in the house once more. Huffing from the jumpscare, she managed to collect herself. "Guess the mice are trying to keep warm outside… I can't say I blame them."

Turning back, her eyes landed on the contents within the space. A broom, kitty litter and an umbrella were amongst the miscellaneous objects stored inside, but what Hilda wanted laid on the base. Grasping the handle of the thick suitcase, it was quite large for a young person like her, but it should be enough to carry most of her belongings. She brought the suitcase onto her bed, opening it to see it was empty and had the capacity to hold many things. "Alright! Time to start packing…" She turned around to gaze into the room, eyes landing on everything she could find. "What to pack is the question…"

She decided to walk around and figure out what she wanted to take. On the nightstand next to the bed, sat a picture in a frame. The child held it close to take a look at what the image was, all she could see was a large raven woman, with a golden mask on her face and a ring of the same color in the background. "The Raven Queen…" Hilda whispered, staring at the lady with the black feathers. "I guess I should get used to calling you mom soon…" She set the picture in the suitcase, even though she would be seeing the real thing, Hilda was told it was customary to have a picture of the leader of the Village for protection. At least that was one thing in the bag, but there were still many things she could collect. Checking the nightstand again, she opened the handle of her drawer and found a small journal. Her hands reached for the leather bound book, opening it up to see the pages that she had filled.

"Today I woke up in this strange house. I was laying on a bed that was not mine. I don't remember how I got here, everything is fuzzy. A woman came over to me, she told me that one of the Lords had found me being attacked by the Lycans and brought me to her so she could patch me up. I do remember running away from the wolf men, but I don't recall being brought here by a Lord. Maybe I passed out before I could see who it was? The woman referred to herself as Grandma, so that is what I will be calling her. She handed me a journal so I could write down my thoughts about being with her while I recover.

"It seems this place is my new home now. I have gotten really close with Grandma, she is very kind to me but can be strict as well. Still, I have a good feeling about her. It's been a while since someone truly cared for me. Sure, there was Luisa and Elena, but it felt more of an obligation with them. I do miss them though, I wish I could see them again. Grandma said I couldn't go back to the Village until I was done with recovery. I'm not sure how long I'll be staying here, but I have to consider this my new home. At least it isn't so bad. I get my own room and toys that I don't have to share. And Grandma has the best cooking! I could do without the medications though, especially the needles. They hurt.

"I ask Grandma more about what happened to me and who saved me. She told me the Lord who took me to her wanted to remain anonymous, but they found me just before the Lycans could tear me apart. I was on the verge of death, but they knew she could help me. Turns out, I was not the only one that was brought here. There were a few other girls that had been attacked by Lycans in the past and were treated by Grandma. She told me that all of them never fully recovered. Some died before they got the treatment they needed, others were unable to bare the medications and refused it, making the infections worse. She doesn't like to talk about them, blaming herself for their deaths, so I dropped it. She was determined to make sure I survived though.

"Grandma has been keeping notes on my recovery, she says that I have been doing well and healing much faster than the others. She doesn't want to jinx it just yet, since it's been about a month of me being here. Something that is odd though is that when I looked at myself in the mirror… I noticed there was something off about me. Parts of me had changed. Grandma reassured me it was a side effect of the procedure she used to save my life, but it won't have any negative impacts on my being. I no longer resemble my mother… I wonder if Lusia would recognize me if I went back to her."

A few other pages had been filled out, but those entries were the first of many she had that interested her. Hilda had kept this journal with her for months since she lived with Grandma, and they had helped her write down her thoughts and feelings. "Might not be a bad idea to keep this with me… I can journal down my experience as being with the Lords and the Raven Queen!" With that said, Hilda placed her diary in the suitcase, but still felt she could put more in there. The child walked around again, heading over to a table with paper and tools used for drawing. She smiled down as she saw all the images that she had drawn while being here for many months.

Most of the pictures were just a bunch of birds that Hilda had drawn, from Nightingales, to Ravens, Owls and even a Hummingbird. Those were the avians she had mostly seen in her dreams, never knowing why but many of them brought comfort to her. "Too bad I didn't get my sketchbook and journal from the Orphanage…" She sighed, wishing she could have gone back to get those. Sadly, Grandma had ordered her not to go back to the Village until she was ready. "At least Grandma gives me paper and pencils for me to hone my skills… I think I've gotten better at birds now." She told herself. As she looked over at the surface, many blank canvases were present that had yet to be made. "Hmm… maybe I can do a few more drawings before I pack all of this up." Hilda decided. The child looked around, trying to find a source of inspiration for her next masterpieces.

Her body ended up taking her to the shelf lined with books. "Grandma wanted to make sure I got some education… guess that's one way to pass the time." There wasn't much entertainment in the Village, given how much the Raven Queen had banned certain materials in the area, so their options to occupy themselves were fairly slim. Many of the books Hilda had were ones that taught her different languages found around Eastern Europe. Mostly Romanian, Italian, French, German and Russian with some bits of Latin and Spanish. One book in particular stood out to her the most, with the black cover and golden trimming. Small fingers reached up and held the novel, as the smile grew wider on the young face. "My favorite one." Hilda giggled. It was an old book, but a classic one nonetheless. Of course, it was centered around the legend about how the Village came to be, hence why it was the most beloved story within the community.

The child guided the book over to the table, opening up the pages to see the pictures that illustrate the events of the story. An idea popped into her head, as inspiration took over her hands as they moved around the table to gather the paper and pencils. Lines and shapes were being drawn on the canvases that were originally empty, connecting together to bring life into the white abyss within those sheets. Blacks, grays, and golds filled the papers as they became portraits of the child's mind. After a long while of carefully placing the patterns of the shapes, then shading the background and the objects within, finally her masterpieces were done. Hilda dropped her pencil and looked over at the five images she had created based off of 'The Village of Shadows'.

In one image, Hilda was standing in a grand castle with greenery of trees and bushes for decorations. Drinking from golden cups with a large bat by the child's side. A smile graced the lips of the kid as she couldn't help but speak in a voice that mimicked the characters within the story. "Please, Lord of the Bats, I am but an orphan who is trying to find a new home. I do not wish to disturb you. I will kindly leave this forest, but I am quite thirsty. May I request something to parch my throat?" She spoke in her own voice, before shifting into a more authoritative role. "You have such tasty blood, small child. Your gift appeases me. Come, child. You may quench your thirst as a reward for your offering." Giggles escaped her as she voiced the picture she drew, imagining that scenario happening to her once she met the Lord of the Castle Dimitrescu.

She turned over to another image, this one was of Hilda next to a skeletal figure with cloth around their frame. They were in a graveyard, with many golden threads lined across the page like a web. Hilda was wearing a different outfit than her usual one she had on, a dress the same color as the threads, sparkling in the darkness. "Please, Weaver of the Darkness, I am but an orphan who is trying to find a new home. I do not wish to disturb you. I will kindly leave your graveyard, but I am very cold. May I request some clothes for my frame?" Hilda spoke to the creature in the picture, then adjusted her voice to make it sound raspy. "You have such a beautiful scarf, dear child. Your gift pleases me. Come, child. You may warm yourself as a thanks for your gift." She hummed. The clothing the child had at the moment was scarce, even before she was taken in by Grandma. She had always wanted to be in those fancy clothing the Lords and the Raven Queen were adorned in for so long, they looked beautiful and she couldn't help but envision herself dressing up in them. She would probably have to wear stuff like that, if she was going to be one of them.

Another picture she drew was of herself, she was on a boat within a vast ocean and a large fish with multiple eyes next to her. They were both chowing down on smaller marine life that had been cooked. "Please King of the Fishes, I am but an orphan who is trying to find a new home. I do not wish to disturb you. I will kindly leave your ocean, but I am very hungry. May I request some food?" Hilda asked the Lord in the waters. Then tried to impersonate him. "You have such a talent in cooking, young child! Your gift tasted wonderful! Come, child. You may eat your fill as thanks for the food." Just thinking about the kinds of feasts she would be able to gobble up, that was something she was looking forward to. Sure, the meals at the Orphanage and here were well made, but they were pretty common. What kinds of food do the Lords eat, Hilda had to wonder.

The fourth image was of Hilda next to a large horse made out of scraps of metal. Large gates and towers of iron were drawn in the background, with the child holding the snout of the animal with a golden gear shining on the forehead. "Please, Steed of the Irons, I am but an orphan who is trying to find a new home. I do not wish to disturb you." Hilda told the picture, then trailed off as she remembered an important part of the story. The other three Lords were given gifts by the young girl, and in return they gave her something. But the child in the story never gave the Iron Steed anything, instead the fourth Lord seemed to want to hand the youngling a gift without anything in return. "The Iron Steed is such a mystery… he's not like the other Lords who want something in return. I wonder… if he did want a gift from the girl, what would she have given him?" Hilda couldn't help but ponder, but no answer came to her mind.

The last picture that she had drawn up was of her with the large Raven Queen, holding Hilda in her black wings as the child had a pair of her own, but they were a mixture of multiple colors including black, white, yellow, and green. A smile found itself on her lips as the child stared at the wings she gave herself. "Little Hummingbird, that's what Grandma calls me." It wasn't clear why her caretaker would compare her to such a bird, but they were pretty creatures so she took that as a compliment.

The child stepped back, as she examined her work and was pleased with the outcome. "I think these pictures will be worth giving to the Lords and Raven Queen!" She declared. After all, she saw herself as the young girl in the Village of Shadows, becoming recognized by the Lords and the Queen. If there was a challenge they would present her with, she would face it just like the girl did in the book. Taking the pictures and the story, Hilda brought them over to her suitcase and packed them nice and neatly inside. "There we go…" She hummed, checking the contents of her baggage, as everything were all just pictures and pages. "Not much in terms of variety, but at least it's something. Still… might want to see what else I can bring."

Continuing her search, the young girl scoured around her chambers in the hopes of finding something else she could take with her when she got adopted. There wasn't much left in the room aside from the few pieces of furniture, but she did find a table in the corner of the room, with a small object on the surface. It was a wooden box, with the Village symbol on top. Inside were a bunch of mechanical parts to act as a memory for a song. When she opened the lid of the top, a tune began to play that was a soft yet haunting piano like melody. Hilda knew the keys used for this song well, as she sang along to it. "Go tell Aunt Rhody… Go tell Aunt Rhody… Go tell Aunt Rhody… that everybody's… dead." She closed the lid to make the song cease. "Sad song… but pretty catchy." With the music box in her hands, Hilda set it in her luggage and checked over what she had so far. "Not too bad… I think I have room for one more thing!" She declared.

Once again, she scanned the room and walked around for any other trinket she could find for her to bring with her. In the corner of one of the rooms, the child noticed something that wasn't there before. A mountain of stuffed toys were gathered together, huddled up to form a tower. Hilda went over to the toys, as they seemed to be the next candidate for her to pack for her adoption. Standing before the mountain, a plethora of fauna were at her disposal. Of course, most of them were bird-like creatures from a raven, a hummingbird and a nightingale to an owl, as well as a vulture, a condor and… a phoenix? Hilda giggled. "Grandma really has a thing for birds. I guess everyone has their own hobbies. And some of them are beautiful to look at." There were other creatures as well, all symbolizing the Lords like a bat, a cloaked figure, a fish and a horse. Despite the child not remembering these dolls being here moments before, their presence was welcomed to her as they looked harmless and appeared cuddly.

However, the eyes of the child noticed something that didn't belong within the plushies. A certain feathery face caught her attention, with a black head and orange beak. Curiosity made a hand reach out to try and grab the strange avian that had stationed itself right into the pile. Just as the fingers were about to brush up against it, a loud honk came out from the bill of the bird as it became animated. The child fell backward, landing on her rear as she watched the black avian crawl from the stuffed ones. It was moving, it was alive, and it was running everywhere. Hilda watched as the swan jumped on the furniture from the table, to the wardrobe and then onto her bed in the suitcase. It lowered itself into the compartment, and rummaged through all the things the young girl had collected.

"Stop that!" Hilda cried, but her plea fell on deaf ears as the swan grabbed the sketches that she had drawn and stuffed them in its mouth. Becoming upset, the girl tried to catch the creature in the hopes of retrieving her creations. But the animal was much quicker, dodging her capture and running out of the room up the stairs. "Come back!" She followed the bird, heading up the stairs and onto the main floor. Her head turned in many directions, trying to find the animal that stole her work. Eventually, Hilda's eyes caught the sight of the door leading into the house being open. Webbed footprints were made in the snow, leading out into the forest. It didn't take long to connect the clues together to realize the black swan had left the house. At first, Hilda was ready to go out and catch the thief, but became hesitant as she recalled what her Grandma had warned her about. She couldn't leave now, not when Grandma could come back at any moment with the Raven Queen for her to become adopted. But she also couldn't just let that bird get away with stealing her belongings.

Biting her lip, the child made up her mind and rushed out the door. She had to get her drawings back, and she believed she would not go too far anyways. Her boots made prints into the snow, as Hilda headed out into the wilderness to find the bird. The child panted as she ran out into the forest, looking around for any sign of that thief that took her belongings. It wasn't dark out, though the fog was thick and eerie. Still, she pressed on as she was determined to get back what was hers. Despite the scenery, Hilda wasn't scared. She saw no sign of any hostile creatures, nor were there any noises of someone behind her, following after the child. So it seemed she was all on her own.

After walking for quite a bit, she saw no trace of the swan anywhere. No prints, no feathers, and none of her drawings. Icy breath came from the exhausted lips, as she tried to regain her breathing while looking around. "Darn swan…. It took all of my hard work." Hilda grunted, kicking the snow at her feet in frustration. "Why was it being so mean!?" She had to question as that was all she could do. Eventually, a sigh escaped her as she had to admit defeat. "I guess it doesn't matter now… maybe if I head back I can redraw those pictures before Grandma comes home." That seemed to be all she could do, which wasn't ideal but what other choice did she have?

Turning on her heels, she began to walk back in the direction she came from, heading to her home. She tried to follow the prints she left behind to guide her, but the further she went, the more shallow the marks were to the point they began to disappear. With no trail, Hilda checked around to see if she was anywhere close to her house. Yet there wasn't even an outline of the building within the dense barrier. "Uh oh…" Hilda continued to try and find any sign of her home, but nothing was being seen in the fog or snow. She realized that she was lost, and most likely far from where the house was. "Oh, Grandma is going to scold me for sure!" Hilda whined as she knew she would be in trouble when Nightingale would not find the child in her bedroom.

"Okay, no need to panic just yet, Hilda." She reassured herself, trying to keep her composure. "If you ever get lost, just head in one direction and you'll find someone eventually. But, where do I go?" That was the question Hilda didn't know the answer to. Everything looked the same to her, so no one path looked appealing to the child. She had to go somewhere though, staying in one place for too long was not a good idea. Especially if there were monsters nearby.

"Hoot!" The child jumped as her ears picked up a new noise coming from close by. Eyes darted up into the branches of the trees, where a large owl was stationed all by itself. The white feathers made it stand out in the gray mist, as the blue eyes pierced into Hilda's core when it looked at her. The child stared at the avian, recognizing it as one of the plushies from her room. Hilda was compelled to step forward and get a better look at the avian, who tilted the head at first as it watched her approach. By the time she reached the very base of the tree, the bird spread its wings and flew off. It didn't go too far, landing on a branch in the next tree. The young girl was startled at first, but the bird didn't seem to want to hurt her. Her feet carried her over to where it was, only for it to fly off into another tree when she got too close.

It didn't take long for Hilda to realize the bird must be trying to guide her. "Grandma did say the owl was a symbol of guidance… maybe it's trying to bring me home!" Hilda believed. With a smile on her face, the child began to follow the owl as it flew overhead. Footprints became visible in the snow as they left a trail where she had been, heading forward as the child prayed she would get back home before her Grandma beat her there. Her fears also slowly faded, as not only did she feel happy to be heading back, she also felt safe. It was hard to explain, but she didn't seem so scared while looking at the owl, seeing it as her guardian angel. Even though she had been jogging in the snow for a while, Hilda pressed forward. She couldn't lose any time as she wasn't sure how much distance she covered while chasing that swan.

The owl continued to guide her, bringing her further into the forest. Soon, the fog began to thin out, making it easier for the child to see before her. That must have been a good sign that she was getting closer to the house. She picked up the pace, wanting to get there much quicker. Jumping over some banks of snow, she could see the powder melting to expose the rocks and dirt underneath. This baffled her, even more so when she didn't feel as cold and felt… warm? But it was still winter. She slowed down as concerns and confusion entered her mind, wondering why the snow was melting and it wasn't as cold now. Her feet continued to decrease in speed, until they eventually stopped all together so her eyes could gaze out at the sight.

The child looked ahead, pants escaping her lips as she looked to see the large community she was born and raised in for all of her ten years of life. Small houses were scattered about, but she could make out larger structures like a gothic castle, a few windmills, and a rustic factory to name a few. "...The Village…" Hilda breathed as she was right back where she came from.