Written for Goldenlake's SMACKDOWN competition.
Kel dipped her cupped hands into the running stream, reveling in the chill sent up her forearms. Tired after riding through the woods on such a hot day, she considered taking a complete dip in the water. She heard footsteps, but ignored the sound, figuring it was another animal. She slipped her shoes off, but froze when a human voice began to accompany the footsteps.
"You know, I wish all my advisers were horses," the voice said with a chuckle. "You always know when to be quiet."
Kel didn't dare to peek at who her company was, for fear of being seen. She'd heard this voice, many times. "Come on," she mouthed to herself. She [i]knew[/i] this voice.
"It's so nice to get away," the man continued. "Not that I didn't have to nearly sneak out to get here." The footsteps were coming closer. Kel realized that she had to either reveal herself or be found.
Time to find out who this mystery man is, Kel thought as she steeled herself up to step out from behind the trees. I shouldn't be afraid; I was here first, anyway.
"King Jonathan?" was all she could squeak when she realized that the man who was intruding on her space controlled all the land.