I've made up some of my own characters and such, but Narnia and its creatures from the books are copyrighted to C.S. Lewis.

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Dani took a quick sip of the hot chocolate she embraced, allowing the warmth to engulf her senses and provide her some comfort. She sat, her legs stretched out, on an old couch in her father's garage. Her eyes were swollen and freshly pink while there were evident trails of tears on her cheeks. Her parents had gone through a divorce recently and she had been living with her father for the most part in America, while her mother moved back to her hometown of London, England.

She never understood fully why they had spilt, or why she had to stay with her father. He couldn't possibly understand the things teenage girls went through, and she hated the fact that she had no one to confide in. In fact, the reason she sat in the garage that rainy day was because of a terrible row that had occurred between herself and her father. She had cried for a good amount of time and rather roughly through it all that she no longer even remembered what had sparked the argument.

Sniffing loudly and then gulping down some more of her drink, she reached for the bookcase near her and pulled out 3 novels. One was Jane Eyre, another The Da Vinci Code, and the third was one of the Narnia books. She didn't look long at it to read which one it was, for she set it back in the book case and sighed angrily. She felt certain that the stories of the four Pevensie children were unfair, since they escaped reality to live in a fantastical world while also becoming royalty. A stupid concept that would give mere young readers the hope and dreams to experience such splendour in their own daily lives.

However, Dani couldn't ignore the fact that she loved reading the Chronicles when she was younger. But now, in current times, she felt helpless and jealous of the fictional characters. It could never happen to her, and thus proved to be useless for her.

"I hate life now. I'd give anything to somehow leave this place…" She whispered to herself, wiping back strands of dark hair that stuck to the dampness of her cheeks.

"How about a piece of cheese?"

Dani nearly dropped her mug as her eyes opened wide and she sat up straight. Justa moment ago she had heard a most amusing voice, high pitched and somewhat distant.

"What? Who's there?"

The only other living thing she could see near her was a bird that was perched on one of the open window sills in the garage.

"I must be going crazy." Dani shook her head and resumed her previous position.

Then, almost immediately, a loud squeal of sound erupted miraculously, and Dani got up quickly and looked at the bird, who had no doubt caused the noise. It seemed to be laughing, somehow.

"'Twas me, of course. Who did you think?" The bird sang.

Dani had placed her drink down and was standing, frozen, staring at the creature. It's head flicked around for a few moments and then it flew toward her. Dani screamed and nearly fell over the couch.

"Oh, now, no need to be frightened," it said while finding a perch place on the book case. "I only asked for some cheese."

"Birds don't eat cheese." Dani didn't know why that was the only thing she was able to say at that moment.

"Why of course we do! We love cheese. I prefer blue cheese, my favourite."

Dani put a hand to her forehead and made a move to leave the garage.

"No, wait!" The bird said, jumping up and down. "I can help you in your distress! I heard your cries for quite a while now…I couldn't help but also catch what you said to yourself…Please, I can help."

"How?" Dani said, surprised at her own interest.

"I can take you to a place of peace and wondour. A place where you can live jubilantly. Ell, if you're permitted. I'm sure you've heard of it…but none of your kind has ever set foot there besides four others, long ago, by your time standards."

Dani laughed. "Right. And I'd like to see Santa Clause while we're on the way, thanks," she spat sarcastically.

"That can be arranged."

The girl's eyes were wide with disbelief now. The bird was serious. "What place is this you talk about?"

"Narnia, of course."

Dani froze yet again for a full minute.

"It's…it's not real."

"That's offensive," the bird screeched.

"But…"

"No buts! I was sent here to fetch you, and whether you like it or not, you're coming!"

"Fetch me? What?"

"Oh, please don't ask any further questions. I've tried to be patient enough already. I believe your name is Dani. I am Tilk and I will show you the way to get into Narnia. But first, I'd like some cheese."