As the sun rose over the town, a little girl with dark pigtails and her mother paused their trek across the snowy mountains. The child stared in wonder at the world below. She'd never left the town before. Neither had her mother. In fact, they were travelling West purely on myths, trying to travel as far away as possible in a two day trip- but she wouldn't be telling the girl that. 

 "Let's go," she said firmly, tugging the girl along with her, "Enough resting. We need to get to the Valley."

 "But, why, mother?" The girl looked up at her mother, into her cold eyes. The woman had been distant ever since- well, ever since the other children had stopped playing with her. She wasn't stupid, though she was young, she knew the adults spoke of her behind her back, their whispers filling the night from their closed shutters.

 Last night, her mother, apparently, had had enough, and told the girl to pack a satchel and follow her. They were going on an adventure she'd said.

 So far, all the child could think of was that if adventures meant walking until her feet ached and stomach grumbled and eyes grew heavy and throat burned-- well, then she didn't like them very much at all.

 She wouldn't test her mother though, not when she still felt that steel grip on her arm. Not while the woman had that cold, manic gleam in her eyes. She would follow her mother to the ends of the earth, without question. That's what daughters did.

 But now... seeing as they surely weren't going to the ends of the earth, the young girl decided she would like to know where exactly they were headed. And perhaps sit down and have a drink of water. And perhaps find out what they would be having for lunch.

 "Almost there. Just hold on a little longer." 

 A little longer, meaning hours later, which for the girl felt like weeks, they paused at the start of a beautiful meadow, full of daisies, hyacinths, violets, peonies, dandelions, periwinkles and all manner of wildflowers. The child's mouth formed a round little o as she gaped at the sight before her. Her mother wasn't looking at the flowers though, but at the dark and tangled woods beyond.

 The perfect place to leave a Witch. 

 "Ashlynn, look at me..." she swallowed, suppressing her cringe. "...dear. I left a sack up on the mountain, so I'm going to fetch it," The girl looked crestfallen.  "You may stay and rest here, if you wish. But stay here. I will be back before sundown..." 

 The woman shoved down her guilt at how easy it was to lie to her child, as she embraced her daughter for hopefully the last time. This was for the best, with the rumors spreading around the town like wildfire, and the fact that her daughter was... not normal. She shook her head, turning away and re-scaling the steep incline.

 Ashlynn stared after her mother, feeling strangely that she might never see her again. But that was foolish, what could possibly cause that, except for the fact that perhaps she didn't want her anymore... but, again, she was getting ahead of herself. Sighing, she turned to the beautiful meadow, and ran to go play in the flowers. 

 As she rolled and jumped and twirled, she lost track of the time...  and, before she knew it, the sun had set. But... where was her mother?

 Where was she?

 Oh no... For the floor of tall grass and wildflowers had become one of dense tree trunks and fallen pine needles. Ferns and shadows... shadows everywhere. She turned, a bubble of panic rising up in her throat, when she heard a branch break behind her.

 Ashlynn stilled.

 The silence was thick and tense. Her ears strained for a sound until-

 CrACk

 The sound of twigs snapping grew ever closer. Ashlynn didn't think twice before she took off and ran for her life.

 Ashlynn ran and ran into the denser and darker woods. Suddenly she heard a howl. Then another, along with the crash of underbrush behind her. Stray limbs and branches snagged on her dress and face and in her hair as she fled, jumping over logs and creeks and gasping for breath.

 Suddenly her foot caught on a thick root. She whimpered as her face made contact with the earthen, mossy ground, heart pounding so hard she thought it'd escape her chest.

 Then she noticed that the noises had stopped. The entire Wood had gone silent, as if it were... waiting.

 Slowly, she brought herself to her knees, and took in her surroundings.

 The moon had risen, high above, it's light barely illuminating the small glen she encountered herself in. Her gaze was blurry from crying and the sweat dripping from her brow, but she could have sworn one of the bushes glowed slightly.

 Ashlynn spotted a tall, fallen branch, sticking out from the same bush catching her attention. It radiated energy... but that was silly, it was just a stick.

 And yet not, she thought, cocking her head.

 It pulled her towards it, and she obeyed.

 After a few attempts, she managed to free the branch- no, the staff, she noticed. A knot at its tip glowing faintly... Pulsing. 

 So that's where the light was coming from.

 Having now completely forgotten the fact she was lost and alone in the woods, she stared hypnotically into the white light. And, as if a voice had whispered the command into her ear, she closed her eyes and realized she had that same energy as the branch inside herself. Without thinking twice, she opened herself to the staff-- which glowed as brightly as a second sun, as their spirits and magic melded, becoming one. 

 Ashlynn carefully cracked her eyes open, only to see the entire glen gleaming with subtle blue light, little glowing specks hanging in the air, atmosphere crackling. Something inside her had changed. She could feel it. Just like she could smell all the magic and feel the light and energy in every plant and bug and animal and root. Even the soil glowed faintly with magic. 

 As she inhaled deeply, she realized she could probably control the entire Wood with a flick of her wrist, if she dared. She did not know how she knew this, only that it was true.

 She glanced at the staff, now laying uselessly in the grass. Her staff. As she bent down to reach for it, a strand of hair fell into her eyes... red hair, the color of poppies and fresh blood.

 She bit her lip, and glanced at a puddle on the ground. Bright red eyes stared back at her. Ashlynn jumped back, looking again at the staff-- tip now glowing the same deep red as her new eyes and hair-- suddenly unsure. What had it done to her?

 If she picked it up... what would happen? Her mother would be looking for her. But she wouldn't be able to find her in these woods.

 She didn't trust herself to navigate the Black Wood safely on her own. Her only chance... was the staff. It would protect her. Would guide her through the dark trees and back into her mother's embrace. At least, that's what it seemed to be telling her.

 Ashlynn picked up the staff. Her staff.

 Light erupted. Ashlynn cried out.

 A shadow behind a nearby tree shook its head as the entirety of the Black Wood shuddered, from owl to wolf to flower.

 For the prophecy had come true.

 The Witch of the Wood had arrived.