I felt like I was soaring. I was falling right through the portal. The worlds twirled around me. The colors came in a blur. No, color, not colors. Just one color. Green. Everywhere.
My stomach cried with fear. My dinner from last night came up, but I forced it down. Then, the green was replaced with different colors and I fell onto the ground.
Unbelievable pain soared through me. I felt my ribs. Nothing broken. I looked down. A soft layer of pine needles had broken my fall. I gingerly stood up, testing my legs for damage.
Then, I looked around. I was in a forest of some sort. Tall trees towered all around me. Now what? Halt or Will or someone else obviously weren't here. I squinted to my left.
A light was near by. Now a huge one, but a faint light. Someone was living nearby. I might as well see who it was.
I stumbled, crashing through the branches. It didn't feel like anything was broken, but I had gotten several bruises.
I stopped and peered between the trees. A small cabin. I heard a whistling sound. I glanced to my right. I saw an arrow hit a target. My eyes followed the path of the arrow and I saw a small figure in a cloak.
I peered closer and jumped. It was Will! He'd grown taller, his hair much longer. Then I smiled. It was unlikely Will would ever get taller. He was so short when I first met him.
Will had stopped. He'd probably heard me. He raised his bow instinctively, then called out, "Who's there? Show your self!" I grinned. This would be funny. Shocking to him, but funny to me.
I stepped out from behind a bush. "Well, I hope you're not going to shoot a friend of yours. After all, I did let you stay at my own house. It would be nice if you decided not to shoot me."
Will's jaw dropped so low it probably wouldn't go any lower even if he tried. I laughed at the look of shock on his face. He finally squeaked with surprise, "MINNY?"
"Its nice to see you too, Will." I replied. Then a whole flood of questions poured from his mouth. I'd never heard more questions in my entire life.
"How'd you get here? Why are you here? I mean, I love that you're here, I'm just curious why. When'd you get here? Do you like Araluen? I can't believe you're here! Did you go through the portal? Were your parents mad about the house? Did you miss us?" he babbled.
I held up my hands in surrender. "Slow down, Will! I can only answer so many questions." Then the cabin door opened. Halt came out. "Will, you're supposed to be training. And why are you talking to your self? Young people are so strange."
Then he saw me. His jaw dropped even lower than Will's, if you can believe it. I was delighted at the look of shock on his face. Halt's never surprised at anything.
"MINNY?" he gasped. "The one and only." I winked. Out of his mouth poured questions, just like Will. I told him the same thing I told Will. "Slow down, Halt! And you yell at Will for asking so many questions."
Halt glared at me, then asked, "How in the world did you get here?" Will was bouncing up and down, energized and excited. "Yeah, how did you get here? Tell us!"
So I explained to him how I got here. At the end I said, "Where's everyone?" Halt frowned. "Strangely, they're all on vacation here at Redmont castle."
I nodded. "That is strange. Can I go see them? Can you take me?" He nodded. "Sure, but you'll have to ride on the back of Tug, Will's horse." I nodded. "Okay,"
A few hours later, long after I'd gotten bored of annoying Halt, I met Tug. I went into the stables and Tug snorted at me. I stopped and narrowed my eyes. He stared back into them.
Will and Halt had come by and saw everything. They were watching silently. I stared into Tug's eyes, and he stared into mine. His expression said you want to go, girlie?
I shook my head. "I'm not in the mood." then I winked. Tug raised an eyebrow. I broke down laughing and fell on the ground. Tug snorted, also laughing. Will and Halt just stared at us.
Abelard was easier. I just gave him an apple, and he whinnied. Easy to like and witty. Then we left for Redmont Castle. On the way I looked at everything. Araluen was so new, so different.
I started annoying Halt once again. It was fun when he got angry. Then I asked Halt, "Did you miss me? I bet you did."
Halt muttered angrily, "Not even a little bit."
