What happened before dawn

Caitlin’s eyes were fixed on the side of the bush where the leaves had moved and she could sense that someone was there, but most importantly, she could perceive the scent of blood in the air. The person must have been wounded, she thought, but still, she felt wary as she took daring steps towards the direction. The person seemed to have stopped moving as she got closer and then she brought her hand forward to part the shrub.

Her eyes went wide immediately at who she saw and she called, “Bathilda?”

Bathilda stared back at her, writhing, as pain dominated her face and her hands trembled as she brought it close to her left shoulder where she pulled out the arrow which had hit her. “Aunt Caitlin,” she called faintly as she struggled to breathe.

“Bathilda!” Caitlin was surprised to see her here in the forest but also covered in blood. “What happened? Where is Kathryn?” she asked.

“All dead,” she whispered, “they killed everyone.”

“Who did?” she asked, already feeling a mix of anger and pa