Chapter 1: An Average Day
Clouds lolled across the vast, open horizon, dotted with rolling hills. A sweet, subtle breeze blew over the stunning scene. This is the perfect place, at the perfect time. Elfyn thought as he observed his surroundings.
His eyes glanced over to the sleeping child at his side. Is it already late? The watch at his wrist read 7:13. This is bad. Very bad. Lili, Elfyn's sister, had her head tucked into the thick, pillow-like weeds, and her thumb in her mouth. He moved over to her. "Lili, wake up. We have to go home now." She slightly stirred, but remained asleep. Elfyn rolled his eyes. How hard can it be to wake an 8-year-old up? She always wakes up at the sound of a cookie jar opening, no matter how late.
He tried to awaken her once again. "Lili. Lili, come on. Stop pretending to be asleep." A slight smirk came upon her face as she realized that her brother was not fooled. "But I don't wanna leave." "Sorry, but it's supper-time. Let's go."
Lili sighed and got up. In a singsong voice she asked, "Can we take the forest path to-day?" Elfyn played with the thought for a moment, and came to a final decision. "Sure, but I bet that I can beat you there!" They ran, laughing, over the hills for a few moments, but then slowed to a walk to catch their breath.
They never heard it coming.