I want to shut my eyes so I don't have to watch the púka's mouth close over my head, but I can't tear my gaze away from the rows of her needle-sharp teeth glinting at me. Right when I'm sure she'll lunge forward and chomp me to bits, a piercing whinny erupts from her throat. I jump back, feeling like my heart just exploded in my chest.

"My jesting frightened you, did it not?"

Her tone is smug. Eager even. I place a hand on the nape of my neck and feel how my pulse is pressing frantically against my palm.

"Yeah." Is all I can say.

So the demon horse also has a sick sense of humor. Lovely.

"I watched the Samhain feast from the trees." She says, sounding more collected. "Not only did you force Naoise of Shadows to retreat, but you also attacked that blood lusting monster when she would kill your kin."

"Orla?" I'm surprised the púka knows this much about the royal Fae. I thought she just terrorized the forest and ate anyone she met. Except me I guess.

"Yes." All humor is gone now as her eyes darken into a deep red. "Her lust for power has poisoned the Otherworld. She knowingly invited the darkness where it does not belong. Now every creature lives in fear of what is to come."

"The faeries in the castle don't seem that worried." I say as disturbing images of the feast flash through my mind.

Her gaze latches onto mine. "They are not the creatures I speak of, strange child. You have not dwelt with the Fae long enough to realize how vast and diverse our race is. This forest alone is home to thousands of creatures."

She turns her head as faint lights start to glow along the nearest tree. Mushrooms and strange flowers peek out from the bark, and I swear some of them have little eyes that blink back at me. I'm so busy staring at them that I hardly notice an indigo colored will-o-the-wisp bob over to me and hover beside my head.

The púka is watching me with her face turned to the side. "Very curious." She murmurs.

A small, winged creature is floating inside the indigo orb. It's large, black eyes twinkle up at me, and I suddenly remember seeing this creature before.

"Hey, don't I know you?" I say.

It's pixie face nods in excitement. "Yes, and your glow has grown brighter."

Then it zooms away through the branches, leaving behind the sound of tinkling bells. The púka is still observing me, and I clear my throat to disrupt the heavy silence.

"So, you were saying something about how Orla made things pretty crappy for everyone?" I say. At this point, I'll do anything to keep the conversation off of me becoming the púka's next meal. Maybe if I can keep her attention long enough, Cináed and Darren can find a safe place to stay for tonight.

Imagining both of their faces sends a jolt through my chest. Was tonight the last time I would hold Darren's hand? Or see Cináed's smirk light up his green eyes?

"Now is not the moment for this discussion." The púka's voice breaks through my reverie. "You have somehow disrupted the darkness. I speak on behalf of every woodland creature, and offer our sincere appreciation for what you have done."

I swallow hard to fight back the sudden lump of emotion in my throat. Maybe I'm still in shock from all of this, but hearing her say that I managed to do something good, when I thought I'd failed at everything, means more than I expected.

She tosses her long, dark mane. "Come, child. I shall carry you to a place of safety."

Turning around, she offers me her back and I hesitate only a second before climbing on. "Um, could we by chance find my brother first?" I say, wary I'll overstepping my bounds.

She starts walking through the trees. "I know where your kin and his faery escort are hiding."

"You do?" I can't hide the eagerness in my voice. "Are they okay?"

The púka tosses her head and snorts. "All of you simple minded creatures believed that the royal horsemen were hunting after you. What you failed to remember is that this forest belongs to the creatures who live here. Ever since the High King's death, I welcome no trespassers. Especially not those whose loyalty lies with Naoise and Orla."

I duck under a branch and decide to lay down on her back, feeling the effects of the adrenaline high leaving my body drained and heavy.

"So what did you do to the horsemen?"

Her tone lights up with amused satisfaction. "I sent them on a wild chase that will lead them straight into a pack of Cú Sidhe."

Before I can ask what a coo whatever is, she continues.

"You mentioned something about a portal, did you not?"

"Yeah. My brother and I want to get back home." I pause, thinking about our future as forest dwellers until the next Samhain. "But I know the portals are closed so no mortals can get out till next year."

The púka hops over a log with ease. "Not every portal."

Sitting up straight, I blurt out, "What?"

"Not every portal has closed. You do not realize who I am, do you?"

Is that a trick question? "You're a púka."

"Yes, little one. Which means I am not bound to one realm as most creatures. I can open and close portals as I please."

The realization of her words sinks in as she adds, "Now hold tightly to me, and let us find your kin."

<<——————>>

Finding Darren and Cináed proved to be the easy part. Convincing them that the púka won't eat them...? Not so much.

"I promise it's okay to come down." I call up to them. They're sitting on a tree branch a good ways up, and Darren's eyes are wide with fear. The last time he saw the púka, she was eating that poor goblin's head.

"How am I to know that you are indeed Roisín, and not an illusion meant to coax us down?" Cináed responds.

Now I'm starting to get frustrated. "This is ridiculous. Just come down!"

"You were right to leave your brother with this faery." The púka chimes in. She hasn't said a word since we found them, seeming content just observing our conversation.

"I was?" I stop and replay what she said again so it can register. "Wait why?"

"He does not trust me, and therefore does not trust you because he assumes I created you as an illusion."

"Yes, but I'm not an illusion." I counter, glancing into the thick branches. "I'll just climb up there and get them down."

"Foolish mortal." I can almost hear her rolling her red eyes. "The faery might try and kill you if you do that. All you must do is relay a memory that only the true Roisín would know. A memory you both shared."

I'm immediately humiliated when the first memory that comes to mind is our kiss in the hotel room. Then I remember the time he stayed with me while I slept in his room on the ship. I can still feel the ghost of his arms around me, and smell the sweet scent of summertime that follows him everywhere.

"I—I don't have any memories." I stammer under my breath, hoping Cináed isn't hearing any of this.

"Lying is not your strongest skill." Is her only response.

I sigh heavily and peer through the leaves above us. "Cináed, remember the day we first met?"

His voice is hesitant. "Yes."

I force my jaw to relax so I can continue. "I wanted to say that you were wrong."

Silence, and then, "Wrong about what?"

"You told me that day that I had nothing to be afraid of, and that you wouldn't hurt me." My voice catches. "But that was a lie. A lie you hid really well 'cause I fell for it. I fell for you."

An exasperated laugh escapes my lips, and I wipe a tear from my eye. The words are tumbling out of me faster than I can stop them now.

"I don't know if I'll ever forgive you for what you've done, but I'm willing to let you try and convince me otherwise."

For a moment, there's no sound from the branches above. Then I hear the rustle of clothes against bark and one foot lowers after the other until Cináed drops to the earth. He takes one slow step towards us, eyeing the púka warily. I slid down to the ground and meet him halfway as he pulls me into his arms.

"Roisín." He breathes against my cheek, and I can feel his fast heartbeat through my tattered dress. My tears are dripping into his shirt, and I sniff loudly.

He pulls away, but keeps his arms around my waist. A sea of emotion is roiling around in his glowing eyes. He's about to say something when the púka nudges my arm.

"We must go now, human."

Cináed flinches like he just heard the púka's voice in his head for the first time through this whole thing. "Go where?" He asks, his tone sharp with warning.

"Get Darren down from the tree." I say, my mouth raising into a small smile. "We're going home."

<<--------->>

Sneaky little púka! She thinks she's so funny scaring Roisín like that. Speaking of the púka, I realized I spelt her name differently (púca) in the last chapter. There are so many variations of her name in Celtic Mythology, but I chose Púka first because I think it's closer to how the word actually sounds (Pooka).

That's a total side note though. What really matters is that our heroine finally found a way home! Or at least, she found a way to get Darren back home. What do you think will happen once they're back? 

I'm sending virtual hugs to all of you for your support <3 More to read soon!