Chapter One

Ruby's POV

Horns blared past me as I walked upon the pedestrian path of the bridge on the highway. London was cold; my fingers were frozen and latched to the strings of my grey hood as I clutched them in a desperate and vain attempt to keep warm. Exhaling, my spirits were lifted as my breath came out as smoke and childhood memories of pretending I was a dragon came floating back into my mind. I smiled and closed my eyes as those memories were soon flooding my mind.
My parents were both 'only-child's' in their families. So that mean I had no cousins or aunties to call my own. But I guess it did have some perks. Like a parents undivided attention. I took that for granted. What I should have done was cherished every single moment I had with my parents. Before that fateful day anyway… the day my world came crashing down.

All I knew was that one moment, my parents and I were in our car, which had definitely seen better days, driving along a road, when one day, another car, bigger than ours, had slammed into my vision… literally… The next thing I knew, I had woken up in hospital, a large bandage over my head and a baggy dress on with my parents no where to be seen. I never became one of those sad sobbing girls who wanted everything, parents or no parents. I eventually had to learn to deal with the difficulties of life by myself at an orphanage. Not a damsel in distress, but one who could more than well fend for herself. That what I had become… well, at least I hoped.

BANG.

I coughed, oh gosh, how had I gotten down here? My head felt dizzy, I couldn't speak. Had I fallen over? Then, with as much force as I could muster up, I lifted my head and turned around. Oh. It seemed that I had veered into traffic on my 'little walk'. Oh great, now the man is going to get out of his car and start apologizing and then calling the ambulance. Then I'll go to hospital and then straight back to the orphanage. Exactly I had been trying not to do. No, try to get up, I coaxed myself. Then, out of the corner of my eye, as if in a dream, I swear I saw a tuft of golden hair. I swear I'd seen a lion. But what was a lion doing out here in London? Maybe it had escaped from the Zoo or Circus. Before I could ponder where this Lion could have come from, a cloud of black seeped into my mind and I let my head drop back down as unconsciousness consumed my mind.

"Are you okay, Miss?"

A voice entered my blooming thoughts and I sat up groggily. Bright sunlight filtered through my eyelids. Since when had London been this sunny? It was winter if I was correct… unless I was comatose or something. But I couldn't have been. So what was it?

Opening my eyes, I groaned. Too much light! Squeezing my eyes shut again I counted to five before I opened my eyes again, blinking several times. There. Much better! I sat up, finding myself on grass. Very soft grass… all this was so curious! Where was I? I groaned as I stretched, my muscles heavily protesting with me. I was on a wide, wide field. A couple metres off, there was the edge of a forest. I let my hands drop and my fingers fell on a small shape in the ground. Looking down, I saw a small glass like shape. It was shaped like a tear drop, only bigger than one. Picking it up, I held it too the sun and rainbows were thrown. Now, I don't know if it was the whole 'shiny thing' or whatnot, but I couldn't seem to drop the beautiful object. So I pocketed it in my jean pockets. If I happened to find the owner, maybe I could trade it for something. Standing up, I brushed off my jeans and pulled off my hood, flinging my blonde hair out. Gosh, it was so sunny. Birds twittered in the sky and I looked up to see the sun. Everything looked normal. Only, I didn't know where I was.

"Excuse me Miss, are you okay?"

I looked around, my eyes wide. I didn't see anyone.

Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw a baby bear. My heart clutched in sudden fright before it relaxed. It was only a baby. A cute little baby bear, what was the worst it could do? Smiling kindly at it, I walked hesitantly, but steadily towards it. I expected it to take a step back, but to my surprise; it sat, as if waiting for me.

"What a smart little bear." I muttered, slightly sarcastically, under my breath.

Finally, I reached the bear, my ankle high converse sneakers hidden in the deep grass. Slowly, trying not to scare it, I reached my hand out and rest it on its head. A small smile escaped my lips as it tilted its head towards my hand as I petted it. Its fur was so smooth and soft that before I knew it, I was kneeling in front of it, giving its cute little head a scratch.

"Oh, behind the ears would feel good."

"UGH!" I screeched and jumped back.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

I screamed again as the bear stood on its legs and looked wildly around.

It talked.

The bear talked.

"What? But—I don't… what?"

The bear prodded closer to me and I instinctively took a step back. It stopped with a hurt look on its face.

"Don't." I shrieked and before I knew it, I had shot off, as far away from the bear as quickly as I could. I didn't dare look back, but I felt like eyes were following my every move and so my feet moved quicker. I had no idea where I was going, but one minute I was out in a wide field full of yellowing grass to a dense wooden forest.
My breath was starting to lag and I coughed once or twice. Then, whimpering, I turned my head behind and my foot had caught on a root or something and I tumbled into the ground. Leaves stuck into my hair and twigs to my side. I didn't have to look to know that I was covered in dirt. Coughing and rolling over, I placed my hands on the ground and pushed myself up, looking around.
I froze.

There was something moving in front of me.

Looking directly at the moving figure, I saw a black and white shape. It was a badger.

"Well, aren't we taking the tumble this morning." It smiled at me.

"Oh, my gosh!" I shrieked again, picking my self up and running.

What was wrong with this place?

Animals were talking.

Animals aren't meant to talk. But no, apparently here, they do.

I ran and ran. I had to get away. But where was I going to go? There were no places I could see anywhere. Only land, land, land and land!

I whipped my head around wildly, and then caught sight of smoke rising out a house looking place.

Smoke?

Civilization?

I crossed my fingers and then ran as quickly as I could. I needed answers now! There was a narrow, bridge like dam type of thing to cross before I could get to the house. The water was rushing on either side of the walk way. I looked over to see if it was deep. It was so-so. I wasn't the strongest swimmer and so I made mental note to stray away from the waters and stay directly on the bridge. Finally, I was across it and I darted to the door, yanking it open.

I bit down a groan.

The inside was a normal looking place, furniture here and there, a table in the middle with food spread across it. It would have looked like a pretty general and normal place.

Save for the fact that instead of people… there were beavers.

"Well hello dear." One beaver said.

"No, no, no, no!" I groaned.

I groaned out loud this time and hissed through my teeth.

"What's wrong?" The beaver replied again.

I whimpered.

They started to take steps towards me and my fight or flight instinct kicked in. Now, in my world, my normal world, I would have fought. But I'd never dealt with talking animals before!

So, I ran.