The Royal Deal

st hadn’t realized she had followed the grove deeper into the forest towards the mountain.

When her sack was full, she looked up and realized she had gotten turned around and didn’t know where she was. I forgot to tie on ribbons in the grove, she thought as she began to panic.
The sun was almost gone and soon it would be dark.

The slope of the hill should lead away from the mountain, she thought.
However, the hill seemed to slope away in several directions from the place she stood.
She started walking in what she thought was the right direction, but with the darkness creeping in she just felt like she was walking in circles.

She seemed like she had been walking forever.
The heavy sack of fruit was hurting her shoulders, and her breath was weak at this higher elevation.
She took a break for a moment, to stop her legs from shaking, but didn’t dare rest for too long.
The night was now complete and she was still lost.
She didn’t want to go deeper into the forest but didn’t know what else to do.

If she waited until the morning, Pauline and Erina will notice that she wasn’t at the café and start looking for her.
Also, if she waited until the morning, she might be able to see the Veolense mansion in the daylight.
Amethyst found a jumble of boulders that had a small space in the middle where she could rest and wait for day.

How do I always get myself into these situations? she thought.
This seemed to be the story of her life and didn’t look like it would change any time soon.
She stood up and walked in a circle around the boulders.
She had to keep moving.
It was much colder near the mountain, especially at night, and if she fell asleep, she might freeze to death.

She took the water bottle out of her pack and took a sip to quench her burning throat.
She didn’t want to drink too much, just in case.
As she raised the bottle to take another drink, she saw a flash of light through the trees.
If there was light, there must be a person.
Her heart jumped at the thought that she might be saved!

Amethyst quickly shoved the bottle back into her bag, hefted the sack full of fruit onto her shoulder, and started moving towards the light.
It seemed like the light was just past the next tree, but when she reached the spot where she assumed it to be, it was still further on.
It was almost as if the light was running away from her.
Amethyst was scared that whoever was moving ahead of her might disappear, so she quickened her pace, following a strange light into the night.