Chapter 1- Maybe

Disclaimer- I do not own any characters only Cornelia Funke!!

Previously in Inkspell by: Cornelia Funke

"Yes - yes, we're coming with you!" He flung his arms around her neck, but only once he saw

that Silvertongue's back was turned to him. You never knew with fathers. "I'll save him, Meggie!"

he whispered in her ear. "I'll bring Dustfinger back. This story will have a happy ending. I swear!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If only things were so easy, Meggie thought to herself one early morning. The sky was just begining to

change. Usually she would be sleeping right now, if it wasn't for those nightmares! Yes she had them

before, but not one like this ever before. Tonight it had been different- much different. Meggie bent down

a branch that was in front of her, avoiding it's porky leaves. She saw Farid's lifeless body lying there, she

saw Dustfinger's horrifying expression, Megan closed her eyes tight.

Meggie tripped over a fallen tree, falling hands outstretched, into the cool earth. She didn't care anymore,

she hadn't seen Farid in a month at the least! She hated Orpheaus, hated him with such a passion it scared her.

She blamed him for Dustfinger's death. Orpheaus said he could do it! But has he even attempted to write a single

word on a piece of parchment? No! She couldn't do it without Fenoglio. Why was he so upset over Cosimo?

All he did know was sit by the fire grumbling to himself. And Mo sat back as if he was the cause of the fire-eater's

death. He tried to hide it, but Meggie saw the sadness in his eyes. And he wasn't the only one, Resa, the Black Prince.

But out of all of them Farid was the saddest. He walked with a cloud of misery and depression, it lingered in his

movements, his eyes, his personality. It was like his his head was detached from his body, a fish out of water, he

looked as if he no longer had the will to live. And this scared Meggie, because without Farid what would she have

in life? There would be no point to live in the Inkworld anymore, only grief and agony would remain.

Meggie found herself sobbing in the dirt. She had been holding it in ever since Farid stumbled behind Orpheaus.

Even when Farid was here, he kept to himself, not showing any distinct emotion except sadness. The sun was beginning

to rise now. But still Meggie stumbled over rocks, not really caring where she was heading. Soon, she found herself staring

at a pool of crystal-clear water. It glistened the world around her and Meggie had to look twice to see the dirt-worn girl

standing in a thriving forest.

Her hair was matted with dried leaves, dirt and sand. Her face was covered with mud and her clothes looked as if she was

homeless. She sighed, the only thing she recongnized was her eyes, pieces of the skies she remembered Farid saying that

to her one night. Meggie scrubbed the grime and filth away. It took a couple of moments, the mud was plastered to her

face. Her hair was somewhat better, the blonde hair looked a little more well groomed but not by much. At least the fire-

elves won't bother me Meggie thought as she studied herself once again.

Her face looked more sophisticated, her eyes seemed fiery from the red sun shining down her neck. She let her hair grow

out, it was now at the middle of her back (when it wasn't tied into a bun, of course). She didn't know what exactly she

wanted out of her life. All she knew was she wanted Dustfinger back, so Farid could finally reclaim his life. For Farid

Meggie thought. Oh how she missed him! She kept her feelings to herself lately, which was kind of hard. She felt like

she was hiding something from Mo. She hated that feeling, it always gnawed at her until she had to tell him.

Meggie sat down on the shore of the lake, hugging her knees. She felt entirely alone and helpless. Like some tiny mouse

scurrying through the fields with predator's eyes following waiting for the right moment. Meggie wiped the tears away and

headed back towards camp. If she could find it, after all it was the Wayless Woods. Maybe there's hope somewhere. Maybe

Farid will be waiting back at the camp with Dustfinger. Maybe Orpheaus finally found the right words and is reading

his magical words right now! But even Meggie knew that was less than likely. But she preferred to be optimistic about

things- most of the time.