Chapter 1

It was a bright sunny day. A trio of doves flew over the trees, which glistened green in the morning light. Far from the national forest were suburban houses. A slatted window opened to let light into a room. A lovely voice floated out; the owner was a lovely brunette-haired maiden, dressed in a yellow and white gown with lace all over, and leg-of-mutton style sleeves, gold high heels, and a low ponytail decorated with a white bow. Her name was Arella.

Inside a crib, lay a baby girl with lightly tanned skin, blonde hair, and amethyst eyes. She laughed and lifted her arms as her mother picked her up from the crib. She spun her around lightly before holding her to her chest. She looked down, smiling as her daughter smiled back at her. She was dressed in a purple dress with white trimmed ruffle around the collar. She began to sing lightly to the baby.

"You are my world, my darling,

You're the most precious thing to me;

You are the song I'm singing,

You're my beautiful Lilac!"

As she finished the line, a handsome blonde-haired man opened the door. Upon hearing the door opening, Arella turned and smiled, her daughter cooing upon seeing her father. He was dressed in a pair of grey pants, a lighter grey blouse, a dark blue coat with gold epaulets on the shoulders, white opera gloves, black boots, and a belt around his waist. Clipped to his belt was his sword in its golden sheath. His name was John. He walked towards the two. Arella turned to her husband, smiling as she brushed through Lilac's blonde hair. John lifted Lilac's chin up, happily leading Arella out of the room.

Arella and John walked towards the national forest, Lilac in Arella's arms and John's arm around her waist. The birds, rabbits, deer, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, quails, and turtles inhabited the forest turned and smiled as they caught sight of the human family. They followed behind them.

John smiled as his wife sang softly. The animals couldn't help but join in song as the family walked by. Arella held Lilac close, spreading her other arm wide, showing her daughter the natural environment.

As she finished singing, Arella and John smiled. The group turned as someone began to come towards them. Lance moved closer to Keith not sure of who was arriving. It was a very beautiful young girl about their age, wearing a pure pink dress and had golden blonde hair set in curls and a smile that was worn like it was plastered onto her face.

She walked up to the crib where Lilac lay. The woman caressed the daughter's cheek. Then Lilac smiled and the friend looked happy. Everyone cheered, and the baby gurgled her delight, clapping her tiny hands. The red haired lady then presented the baby child with a gold heart-shaped locket with a swan engraved on it, which she dangles it near the baby's outstretched hands where she tried to reach out for it before handing it in her tiny hands, holding it playfully.

She also had another gift for the baby, and it was a swan plush toy that was 8" inches tall with embroidered eyes. The underside of the swans wings and tail were colored blue and the head features a yellow stripe. The baby instantly gurgled and a huge smile erupted on the woman's face. Watching this tender little scene was not only Arella and John, but the animals.

Suddenly, without warning, someone driving a blue beater pickup truck drove out of the open field and wrapped around Lilac, pulling her away from Arella.

"Lilac!" she shouted. As they all watched, a man with brownish-black hair, amber-brown eyes, a large hooked nose, a hunter-type mustache, and a developing beard. He was wearing a copper-colored vest with a pinkish salmon under shirt with reddish pink plaid type shirt with rolled-up sleeves and blackish-brown hunter boots. His was Sinise. "Whoo, a party!" he said gleefully.

He pulled Lilac close, obviously using her as a shield. He sat on the roof of his truck. He reclined back, smirking.

Arella went into John's arms. She looked frightened and John looked serious. Then Sinise started throwing Lilac up in the air making them looked on worried. He laughs again as she said, "Oh boys!" As 2 Alaskan Malamutes ran up, They ran past all the forest critters and make them jump out of the way then they lifted themselves up and was ready to chow down. Arella gasp she saw Sinise was about to fed his dogs Lilac even John look worried while Arella held out her hand hoping she wouldn't do it.

He lets Lilac dangle at the bottom of his tentacle towards the dogs with their mouths open. John held Arella and they both hoped that Lilac wouldn't become dog chow.

Arella saw a branch where it was tied to as Sinise began laughing. Arella glowered, pulling John's sword from its sheath. She cut the branch that she was looking at earlier, causing one of the tied sails to swing down and hit Sinise, caused him flying and landing onto his Alaskan Malamutes. Lilac went flying as John grabbed a tree branch and swung out to save his daughter. John caught Lilac, before anything else bad happened to her, and swinging back onto the deck and handing the baby to a frantic Arella. "Lilac!" she said, hugging her baby.

Sinise began to start his truck. "This isn't the end, it's just the beginning!" he said.

"After him!" yelled John, and the woodland animals went to capture him. He disappeared out of sight, but his voice echoed. "You'll never find me, but I'll find you, and your precious daughter!" he cackled as his voice faded out.

Late in the afternoon, Arella, John, and Lilac, were standing on the balcony, discussing the events that just happened. They were all still shaken by it. They had not expected to see Sinise, the sea witch Ursula's sister, at their daughters celebration. They had searched all over the town, but had not found any sign of him or his lair.

"Oh, we have to keep Lilac away fromhimh! Until Sinise is found, Lilac can't go in the forest." She took in a breath, and let out words that stung her heart. "And neither will we." Arella looked down at Lilac. She was playing with her necklace and toy. She sadly took the locket and stuffed swan, which Lilac had been cuddling on. She handed the locket and swan back to her friend, who nodded.

Arella and John sadly went back inside. Lilac was asleep on her mother's shoulder as the friend of Arella and John slowly dropped the swan toy and locket, which the latter shined a second before falling downwards in a deep hole in the national forest, never to be seen again.