(I'll make this quick. I am lost in the world of words and need HELP to stop my story from becoming ridiculously bad.)

The constant rustling of the forest was starting to annoy Amber. She was trying - and failing - to ignore the fact that she was hungry, not wanting to eat until she found out.

About Ermelinda.

Hunger, however, was relatively easy to ignore. The mix of fear, dread, despair and sadness that was unfolding in her chest was not.

As she walked, she contemplated the blonde hair. Should have covered it up, she thought, fingering the ragged square of fabric that her own wild hair was restrained by.

But these casual thoughts couldn't block the panic she felt when thoughts of fair hair invaded her brain.

She scanned her surroundings, realising that she had been walking blindly. Inhaling deeply, she relaxed - she knew exactly where she was. Then her head shot up.

On the sturdiest tree was a mark.

The top layer of the bark had been stripped. On the pale wood underneath was a suspiciously red triangle.

Amber's eyes widened and she instinctively stepped back. The thumping of her heart sped up.

A rustle.

Amber's head turned in time to catch a silhouette with light hair disappear into the forest.

(And that's it! Is this too many cliffhangers? I only have very vague ideas for the plot after this, so if you have any ideas, please comment! Bookgirl out.)