Disclaimer: I do not own either the books or the film. DON'T SUE!
Author's Note: This is my first Narnian fic so be nice and bear with me whilst I get to know the characters. I know that this story will probably seem similar to all the other OC of other children appearing in Narnia and meeting the Pevensies but I'm trying to be original and make mine different. Tell me if I'm going wrong.
This is set a couple of years after the defeat of the White Witch so the kid's haven't been on the throne that long. Ooh, also, its set mainly on the movie version of Narnia as that's what I can remember and love.
She was in a forest and she had no idea how she got there. Her ears were assaulted by noise: shouting, barking, screaming, horses shrieking, crying. Around her the trees were alive with men, masked men, with swords and axes and nasty grins. Several times an animal would rear too close to her and she would dodge to avoid it – her own screams ringing in her head. A sweaty palm was clutched tightly in hers, so small it was completely enveloped in her grip. She could not let go. Fate didn't seem to be on her side though as she felt tiny fingers slip from her own with a cry of anguish. The heat left her hand and she yelled with confusion and anger, desperately groping the air for the lost contact. He was gone.
Suddenly, the world that had once been chaotic and scary seemed to melt away and she was left, standing alone in the middle of the forest. They had all gone, vanished as quickly as they had come, into the trees. Her heart still thumped loudly in her chest but she didn't feel like she was alive. She felt empty and hollow. A lump formed heavily in her throat, constricting her airway and making it difficult to breathe. She didn't want to breathe though. All she could think was that she'd lost him – failed him.
With all her energy spent, she slumped onto her knees, hoping never to have to get up again. Her predicament, her life seemed too confused, unreal and foreign. How had all this happened? She held her head in her hands in despair.
Something wet nosed her cheek and she raised her head slowly, unable to quite believe it. A pair of sombre, brown eyes stared back at her – full of empathy and comfort.
"Barney."
Head cocked in a questioning manner, the dog responded to his name. Tentatively, aware of his human's distress, he licked her salty skin and nuzzled her gently. She drew a deep, harsh breath that caused her entire frame to shudder like a leaf in the wind. He whimpered, fearful that she would break. Fortunately, she didn't, she just smiled sadly at him and then threw her arms around his furry neck.
"Oh, Barney," she whispered his name again. Maybe all was not lost. She was no longer alone; she had her faithful companion, her dog. This world was not completely alien. It was time to pull herself together.
Clambering gingerly to her feet, the girl kept a hand on the animal's golden back - that way she could stay anchored and supported. Once upright, she looked around her at the dark forest of ominous trees and tried to remember.
She had been in her bedroom, she was sure of that. She had gone to bed at the correct time, Mother always made sure of that, and snuggled beneath her layers of quilts in an attempt to get warm in the cold night. Then she had dozed for awhile only to wake and hear a noise. Or maybe the noise was what had woken her. As she couldn't quite work out what was making the sound, she followed it from her room. Creaking down the landing she came to the white door that led to her little brother's room. When she had pushed the wood open she had been shocked to find a man in there. He was masked and dressed in strange clothes. That was what she noticed first and then she saw he had her brother's hand and was dragging him from his bed.
"What are you doing?!" she had demanded and dived forward just as the intruder turned and spotted her. His eyes widened and he shouted something intelligible, as her fingers caught her brother's. That was when she appeared in the forest. How? She had not a clue. Neither did she know how Barney, the family pet, had come to be there either. Not that she was complaining.
Looking round, she felt at a loss once more, everywhere looked black and the same. She could see no sign of an end to the continuous blanket of trees. Still, there was only one way to find a way out and that was to move – in what ever direction. Grabbing for her dog's sleek back again she made her way forward.
Having been kidnapped from her own at night, the girl did not have the best clothing for a trek through an unknown forest. She was dressed in a flimsy nightgown and was barefoot. Unfortunately, she had not had the forethought to pop on her slippers. So soon the soles of her feet were littered with cuts and scratches caused by the numerous sticks and stones on the ground. She resorted to hopping after awhile, cursing fluidly under her breath – not that anyone could hear except Barney but she was well brought up.
As the night drew on, the traveller in this mysterious forest became more and more weary, her legs ached and her body was cold – gooseflesh rippled across her skin. Her mind was addled with treacherous and paranoid thoughts as her eyes picked out menacing shadows and shapes in the undergrowth. Each rustle and crunch from nocturnal creatures caused her to jump and her heart beat to increase. Barney was her only relief; his warm, strong presence offering reassurance and protection. Occasionally he would growl at some noise or other in an effort to scare whatever had made it off.
Despite her pet's best efforts, the girl still longed for daylight and the morning that seemed so distant.
Sunlight streamed through the thick canopy, bathing her sleeping face in a warm glow. She flinched slightly, her eyes flickering open as she woke. Somehow she did not remember falling asleep but obviously exhaustion had overcome her. Beside her, his furry form pressed against her hip, Barney lay as a guard to anything unsavoury that would have come visiting in her unconsciousness.
Finding that her limbs ached with unfamiliar pain after the night's adventures, the girl rose carefully to her feet. As she wrapped her bare arms around her ribs; she attempted to warm herself up. It had little effect. Shivering slightly, she patted her dog on the head and began walking again. Maybe exercise and movement would raise her body temperate.
Wincing as she put pressure on her battered feet, the girl padded with dogged determination. She had no idea where she was headed but anywhere would be better than this forest. Maybe then she could find civilisation and call the police so they could locate her missing brother.
"Barney!" she called softly as he went rootling away in the undergrowth. His wagging tail could be seen sticking out from a thicket – waving like a golden flag. Suddenly, before she could register what was happening, the animal let out a frightened yelp and jerked backwards. He barked in the direction he had just come, hackles raised. "Barney? What is it? What's wrong?" The animal ignored her, whining in a high, unsure pitch.
And then a fox prowled out of the shrubbery, his pointed head held high and his russet face full of unhidden contempt. With bright, amber eyes he surveyed the dog barking at him with distaste.
"Aw, Barney, it's just a fox, why are you making such a fuss? Just chase it off," the girl scolded, losing interest.
"I'd like to see him try." The voice seemed to come from nowhere – sly and dripping with mockery. The stranger to the forest whipped round, her eyes wide with bewilderment and fear. There was no one around except for the fox. She stared at him disbelievingly. No, she mentally berated herself, don't be stupid, animals can't… "Just a fox am I?" ….talk. Staring with shock, she was certain she had seen the fox's mouth move.
"I-I…" she murmured, disconcerted.
"Just because I am a fox doesn't mean I'm worth anything less than, say, a badger. They get all the credit. So do the beavers. I don't understand why our kind is viewed with such disgust. We are not vermin!" The indignation in the creature's tone was unmistakable. "I'll have you know my father was a soldier to Aslan himself!"
"But…."
"The cheek! Just a fox!"
"I'm sorry, okay?!" The girl finally made herself heard, shouting over the fox's rant, obviously she'd struck a cord.
"You should be," the creature finished grumpily. However, an unnervingly bright smile flashed across his sharp teeth. He cocked his head, a gesture not dissimilar to the one Barney had completed the previous day. This though, was much less adorable; more calculating. "You look scared? What's wrong Daughter of Eve?"
"I can't believe this is real. Maybe this is all a dream, maybe Rupert isn't missing after all…"
"Who's Rupert?"
"None of your business," the girl snapped, realising she shouldn't be confiding her innermost secrets to a wily fox; especially one who had the ability to speak.
"No need for hostility, human, I don't pose any danger to you…yet," he added with a wolfish grin.
"Where are we?"
"Narnia of course. How can you not know where you walk?"
"It's a long story."
"I have time," the creature replied, "But first, introductions...my name is Sharp."
"Hattie," the girl offered cautiously. She had no idea what was going on but this fox seemed to know what he was talking about – not that he should be talking at all, though she decided to surpass that thought. Maybe he would know a way out of the forest.
"Nice to meet you, Hattie," Sharp bobbed his scarlet head and then turned his snout towards Barney who, throughout the entire exchange, had sat by watching warily, his usually friendly eyes narrowed. "And who are you?" The girl was startled by his address of the dog but realised that maybe here – Narnia, or whatever it was called – it was common for animals to talk. However, Sharp certainly wouldn't be getting anything out of Barney. It could be amusing to watch even so. She crossed her arms expectantly.
As suspected, the golden canine offered no answer to the question posed to him. He merely looked puzzled. Sharp moved closer, his shoulder blades rising alternately as his forelegs dipped.
"What's the matter, dog? Cat got your tongue?!" The fox let out a barking laugh at his own joke but looked severely put out when he received still no reaction. He turned to Hattie. "What's the matter with him?"
"He doesn't speak," she answered with a tinge of humour to her voice.
"Doesn't speak?! How strange! Is he mentally challenged? Or just dumb?" Barney seemed to understand the gist of the fox's insults as he growled quietly, furry coat prickling with irritation.
"He's normal," Hattie retorted, reaching down and pressing a reassuring hand on the dog's broad head.
"Ignorant you mean," Sharp mocked, his amber eyes lighting with delight. He lifted a dark paw and batted at Barney's head. The usually stoical animal snapped, angrily. "And a little violent it seems."
"Leave him alone."
"All right, though what's the point in a dog that can't speak? Pretty useless in my opinion."
"I didn't ask for your opinion," the girl said, coldly, but then realised that she needed to remain on Sharp's good side if she was to escape this forest and find Rupert. "Anyway, I'm not familiar with the area, as you can tell. I need to find my brother, he was abducted by these men and I don't know how to get out of the forest. You seem like a nice…fox….so I was wondering, could you help me?"
Sharp stared at her for a long few seconds, as if weighing up his options, his yellowish-orange eyes unreadable. His ears twitched a couple of times and finally he seemed to come to his decision.
"An abducted brother you say? Well, tell you what, as I'm in a kindly mood, I'll not only lead you out of the forest but I'll also take you to some people who can help you."
"The police?!" Hattie asked, hopefully.
"The-what? No, the Kings and Queens of Narnia of course."
There you go, my first chapter, I hope you liked it and my characters. I especially like Sharp for some reason, probably because he's a bit mysterious and unpredictable. You will see more of him :D Please review! I will introduce the Pevensies soon.