Prologue

"Hey mom, can I go out for a walk." I asked. "Sure, just.... Just be back by midnight." She said. My mom was mad at my father because he died. Ironic, right? It's just that I had the best memories with him and then he went off and got himself killed. I'm not crying or anything, I've cried so much in my life that I find it hard too. Another reason why I'm an outcast.
I walked down the street looking for the small, covered up path that I use to enter the woods. I know, I know. It's not smart for a girl to go in the woods alone at night. Or at least says in the really dumb stereotype that girls are weak, but I'm mostly a tomboy, so I don't really give a crap.
I found the path, and now that it's the beginning of summer, it's pretty grown in around the entrance, but I managed to find it because of the vines I braided in a certain way to make an arch. I pushed my way through a curtain of ferns to find the path that had eventually formed after the many trips I've made back and forth through there. It was small, but at least it helps me know where I'm going, so, that's a perk.
I followed the path until it lead me to the brook behind my house, but my house is at the top of a ledge, so that's why I always have to go around. I hopped the unsteady and moss covered stones that lead to another small path across them.
The path was considerably long, but I'm used to it since I do it a lot. It leads to some sort of "happy place" I guess you could say. It had a sort of mystic feel about it. It was small cove of trees with a small field in the middle, with one massive oak tree in the center. And, the thing about it that gave it that strange feeling, is that the leaves on the oak tree were a metallic silvery-blue. I never told anyone because most people think I'm crazy enough, so I don't chance it.
I finally made it there, and climbed up the makeshift staircase that was created by intertwining the branches of the tree. The tree was over 150 feet tall, and a wonderful seat to watch the sun rise or fall. Or to see the distant lightning crackle along the horizon. I made it to the top and sat upon the platform I had carried up there to I could sit comfortably.
I looked up at the now becoming night sky to see the mixing reds and purples of the gone-by sunset. "Dad, I forgive you." I whispered. My words were swept away into the cool night breeze. I shivered. It was actually getting a bit too cold for a night in this season, well then again, I was wearing a tank top and shorts, so only me to blame.
I closed my eyes and remembered all the times my dad had made me laugh, and the ones he make me cry as well. I laughed. "Is it weird that I laugh at my pain?" I asked myself silently. I seem to do that a lot. I guess it’s because I can't cry, so my brain does it to do something.
A raven flew down next to me and meekly gazed down on me from a higher branch. "Hi pretty bird." I said as I returned his gaze. Animals usually came up to me, especially birds, some sort of trust. I shakily stood up on the platform and walked toward to branch. I realized that the raven in front of me wasn’t the only one now. There were six. It was strange because ravens are very rare and hunt alone or in small groups, not six.
I looked around, getting ready to defend myself. This was very unnatural. The moonlight glinted on them to give me a better picture. Their eyes were blood red. The light also revealed that they were dripping blood. The hopped down from the branches, backing me to the end of the platform. “Damn!” I cursed under my breath as my foot almost slipped off the edge. I decided to get brave, or stupid.
Behind me was another tree, and I had a bow and arrow lying on one of the branches. I turned around to face the edge as they continued to close in on me. I jumped and reached out for one of the branches. I fell about 80 feet before I reached it. “Yes!” I yelled as my hand wrapped around it. But, it was too early to celebrate. The branch snapped leaving me in a 70 foot free-fall towards the ground. “No…” I whispered before I hit the ground. Darkness covered my eyes as I felt warm blood dribble down my lip.