The Beginning
He was running, faster than he ever knew he could run. His legs were starting to feel heavy, then numb, then heavy again. His feet pounded against the wet ground, silver leaves crunching under them. This was a horrible idea and he knew it. There was nowhere to go but forward, which, as every runaway knows, is never good. You see, every runaway needs to have at least one backup plan. At least, he thought so. And after all, he was the best runaway around. But now, as his eyes scanned his surroundings, he couldn't see anywhere that he could hide and go unnoticed. Absolutely no backup plan. He would have to keep running long after the fire in his lungs erupted. He simply couldn't believe he made the mistake of entering the Silver Forest.
Not that Huck Hood couldn't find his way out, of course. It was just that the silver leaves and the silver tree trunks, silver grass and so forth made it incredibly hard for him to camouflage himself. Normally, if he had fled into the Highlands like he had planned, he could have climbed the tallest tree and hid until Robin and his men had passed. But his father, characteristically so, had seen his son's move sooner than Huck anticipated and cut off the path to the Highlands before he could escape.
Leaping over sparkling logs, ducking under glowing branches, Huck steadily guided his body through the forest. Everywhere he looked, he was met with silver. Under different circumstances, he might stop to appreciate the beauty of it all. But with his father and his men close behind him, he knew it would be a death sentence to slow his pace.
"Huck!" The frighteningly loud voice echoed through the forest, vibrating off of the trees. Ah, yes, Robin Hood frantically searching for his only heir. It only encouraged Huck to run faster, daring the beat of his heart to pulse quicker. "It's no use, Huck! You know I'll find you! I always find you!" He roared.
No, Huck thought, Not this time.
Robin Hood was smart, witty, charming. Truly everything you would expect him to be. He was also notorious for underestimating his equally smart, witty and charming son. Huck knew that right about now was when his father would start to slow down, realizing that his son wasn't going to forfeit the game. He could practically envision his father sweeping out his arm, commanding his men to slow their horses as well. He would look in all directions, trying to see if Huck had left any clues to where he went. He hadn't, of course, for he is not a careless boy.
And then there was his mother. Huck's heart clenched the slightest bit when he saw her face in his mind. He knew it hurt her when he left for she loved him so desperately. That same love had kept him from running many times. Marian always seemed to know when he was forming the thought in his mind, readying himself to run away once more. She tried to talk him out of it every time. She even succeeded once or twice. But Huck had to leave and on this particular day, nothing could change his mind.
But now, after what seemed like hours to Huck, his body was desperate for a break. He darted to the far left in one last attempt to throw off his father. He whipped his head around to check the area, just as his father taught him to do when in danger. Funny how he could use those lessons against him now. Just as quickly as the thought came, it left as Huck's body collided with a solid mass. His weight and balance were thrown to the ground, splattering onto the silver dust. Groaning, he twisted his body and laid his eyes on the object that had ruined his escape.
A girl, in a similar position to Huck, was scrambling to regain her stance. Her auburn curls covered her face as she frantically brushed silver dirt off of her dress. She was mumbling quietly to herself, quickly picking up the belongings she had dropped. A rolled piece of paper, a book and a pocket sized drawstring sack. Huck noted that she didn't seem to have any weapons with her, unless she was hiding them in the satchel she adjusted across her body.
Remembering the circumstance Huck came to a stand, rolling his shoulder back a few times. A burst of frustration at the girl shot through him as he marched towards the girl and snapped, "Hey, lady! What the hell is your problem? Watch where you're-"
But Huck's tongue, along with his heart, stopped once the girl brushed her hair out of her eyes and stared straight at Huck.
