Alright, my three reviewers (lol)
VampireSlayer101: I'm glad you like it so far! :D I hope it goes the way I want it to - hopefully it will be unlike other Peter/OC stories on here :) Not that there's anything wrong with the other stories - I just wanna try to do at least something original with Zooey. Thanks for reviewing! :D
rcknroll: ah. deano. i was actually scared for a second when i read the start of your review! i was about to crawl back under my little rock and stay there :( lol I thought you might like the bit about Elmo the Car hahahaha :P YAY! im happy to have your approval - as always
Rockhardfairies: Amy! :D i'm glad you like Zooey :) ahaha the Elmo bit seems to be a popular excerpt. lmao :P hopefully i can keep it to your liking :)
While they walked, Peter, Susan, and Lucy all asked Zooey about what things were like in the future. It was weird, explaining things that were so normal to her to them. They were so fascinated by all the little things that she took for granted. They were particularly intrigued by iPods - the idea of having a tiny, cordless box that holds thousands of songs was just unreal to them. As much of a fantasy as Narnia was. In turn, the three oldest asked Lucy about Narnia - what Mr. Tumnus was like, things like that. Edmund, for the most part, hung back slightly, staying completely detached from any form of civil conversation. He was a grumpy little sucker and, while she was getting along pretty well with the others, she wasn't sure she was going to like him very much...
"You'll really like him, Susan." Lucy was saying of Tumnus, "He's smart and very talented - he played me some music the last time I was here, it was lovely. He's very good. Oh! And he has so many books - and not just stories! Books about the Narnians - you'd like those. And he makes delicious cakes and tea and..." She trailed off, looking ahead at what appeared to be an open door to a home built into the side of the cliff. Without hesitation, Lucy ran forward.
"Lucy!" Peter shouted, running after her. Susan, Zooey, and Edmund followed.
Upon entering the home of Mr. Tumnus, Zooey's eyes widened at the mass destruction around her. The books Lucy had been talking about seconds earlier were strewn across the floor, tables and chairs were overturned and broken. She heard a crunch as Edmund stepped on a fallen picture. As he stared down at it, Zooey bent to pick it up, looking sadly at the picture for a moment before she noticed that the man in the picture wasn't a man at all - he had the torso of a man, but the rest of him looked...well, like a goat. She set the picture aside, looking over as Peter began to read aloud a note that was posted on the wall.
"The Former occupant of these premises, the Faun Tumnus, is under arrest and awaiting his trial on a charge of High Treason against her imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands, and also for comforting her said Majesty's enemies, harbouring spies and fraternizing with Humans. Signed Maugrim, captain of the Secret Police, Long live the Queen."
Looking over Peter's shoulder, Zooey saw that beneath the signature was a single paw print. She found that to be very strange - then again, up until this point she would have never expected Tumnus to be half human, half goat either. Who knew what, exactly, these secret police looked like.
"Now we should really go." Susan muttered, looking back at the open door anxiously. Again, Zooey felt that familiar panic. This time, however, she spoke up.
"I have no idea where to go!"
"You can come back with us - we'll sort it out later." Susan suggested, turning to leave.
"But we have to help him!" Lucy cried, looking to Peter.
"It's out of our hands now, Lu."
Lucy shook her head, "You don't get it, do you?" She looked from Peter, to her other siblings, to Zooey, "I'm the human!"
"Maybe we should call the police." Peter suggested, seeming unsure and uncomfortable.
Susan snatched the paper from his hand, "These are the police!"
"Besides," Edmund interrupted, "He's a criminal."
Zooey ignored him - yeah, she didn't really like that kid. "Don't worry, Lucy - We'll think of something." She looked behind her at Edmund when she heard a 'Psst' sound. He shrugged, though, and Zooey looked back at the others, frowning, "Who...?"
"Psst!"
Susan's eyes widened marginally, "...did that bird just 'psst' us?!"
As they stepped outside, Zooey could have sworn that the Robin that had gotten their attention looked right at her before flying off. Call her crazy, but it was almost like the thing glared at her. Stop being paranoid. She shook her head, stopping when Peter stopped in front of her. Peering around him, she saw the bushes in front of them move. The other girls moved in behind Peter as well - Edmund just stood back. All eyes were on the spot, waiting to see what would emerge.
There was the collective sound of everyone letting out the breath they'd been holding when a beaver stepped out of the bush.
"It's a beaver." Susan stated and Zooey raised an eyebrow at her, but didn't say anything.
Zooey stepped out from behind Peter, approaching the beaver with her hand held out, "Here, beaver...come on..." She yelped as the beaver bit her, withdrawing her hand quickly. "Ow!"
"That's what you get! We don't want you here, filth!" The beaver yelled, obviously angry at her for something.
Zooey looked at the beaver, frightened, and backed up - bumping into Peter - when the beaver moved toward her, "I'm sorry!" She said, hoping to appease the raging animal - maybe he hadn't liked being treated like a pet. She looked down at her hand: the bite was actually bleeding.
"That wasn't very nice!" Lucy scolded as Peter took a look at Zooey's hand, inspecting the damage.
"Do you think it'll give me some crazy Narnian disease or something?" Zooey whispered, not wanting to piss off the beaver any further.
Peter laughed, releasing her hand, "I don't think so. It's not that bad - you'll be alright." He looked the at the beaver, "What's the matter with you?!"
"She doesn't belong here!" The beaver stated, gesturing angrily in her direction. Zooey wondered what she had done to offend him so.
"Well, neither do we, really..." Susan reasoned under her breath.
Lucy noticed that the beaver was holding something in his hand, "Wait - that's the hankerchief I gave to Mr. -"
"- Tumnus." The beaver finished, distracted for now, "He gave it to me just before they took him."
"Is he alright?" She asked.
The beaver looked around, glaring at Zooey, "Further in." He said before scurrying off into the trees. Peter and Susan followed and, eventually, so did Edmund. When Zooey didn't move, Lucy grabbed her uninjured hand.
"Are you alright?" She asked, looking up at her.
"I don't think I'm invited." She gave the younger girl a weak smile. She didn't know why the beaver seemed to hate her so much...it was actually beginning to frighten her, like he knew something she didn't. Something about this whole situation didn't feel right...maybe the beaver was right: she really shouldn't be here.
The Beaver returned - Peter behind him - when Lucy didn't follow, "Is everything alright?"
Lucy nodded, smiled. "Yes. We're just talking." She started toward the forest, pulling Zooey along with her.
Beaver held out a paw, "No, she stays."
Zooey felt a pang in her chest. Ouch. This beaver really didn't like her. Something was definitely wrong, here. And she had a feeling that she was that 'something'. She looked down at her feet, embarrassed by the rejection. Lucy squeezed her hand, still holding on.
"She's with us." Peter stated, frowning. The beaver's strange behavior towards Zooey also seemed to not go unnoticed by the eldest Pevensie.
"She's dangerous! You shouldn't have her with you." The beaver hissed under his breath to Peter.
"If she can't come, then I'm staying with her." Lucy decided, smiling up at Zooey, who, in turn, smiled at the pair of them, grateful that they weren't willing to just cast her aside and be on their way.
The beaver hesitated, obviously very uncomfortable with the idea of having Zooey around. Finally, though, he sighed, "Alright. She can come, for now." He turned without another word, running into the trees.
Lucy beamed, running after him, "Come on!" She said, tugging Zooey along with her.
Zooey beamed at Peter as Lucy dragged her past him into the trees. He smiled, following them in as they ran to catch up with the others. As they walked through the cliffs, following the beaver, Zooey - for the most part - was left at the mercy of her paranoia. Her thoughts raced, wondering what was going wrong. Everything had seemed so carefree (for the most part) only moments earlier and now...well, now Zooey was starting to question herself and her safety. She was in a world, now, where citizens are arrested for associating with humans. Where she was hated immediately upon meeting Narnians. She was starting to realize that, in this world, almost nothing was impossible. Perhaps the beaver really did know something about her that even she wasn't aware of. She had a hard time believing that she could be a danger to anyone. Yeah, she could be stubborn at times and a bit sarcastic (understatement), but she was generally pretty easy to get along with...
"There it is: Home sweet home." The beavers gesture towards a large dam - although, unlike how a dam would look in our world, this dam looked just like a little wood shack: with windows and a chimney and even a door. It was pretty cute.
Lucy complimented the beaver on his home before another beaver's voice could be heard calling out to them - this voice was female.
"Is that you, Beaver? If I find out you've been out with Badger again I'll -" The female beaver stopped, looking up at them. "Oh...they're not badgers." She took in the four siblings first with a look of awed happiness: "I never thought I'd see this day!" - before her eyes settled on Zooey. She frowned for a moment before recognition dawned on her features. She clutched at Beaver's paw, whispering to him, "Is that...?"
Beaver patted her hand, "'fraid so." He glared up at Zooey - again, she felt uncomfortably out of place.
Mrs. Beaver swatted at her husband, "And you brought her here?! With them?!"
"She was already with them -"
"Beaver!" She scolded, "You know about -" Stopping herself, she shot Zooey a suspicious look before turning her back on the five humans, whispering something to beaver so they wouldn't hear. Zooey and Peter exchanged confused glances, waiting for the beavers to finish talking.
"Of course I do! What would you-"
Finally, a little sick of being treated so badly, Zooey spoke up, "Uhm - she is right here, you know."
Susan nodded her head, "I think you owe us a bit of an explanation - you're behaving very strangely."
Beaver hesitated again, wringing his paws together before giving in, "Well, alright. Not out here - inside." He held the door to the dam open for Mrs. Beaver.
"I'll make you all some food!" She said as she disappeared into the hut. Lucy, Susan and Peter followed.
Zooey, however, stayed where she was - biting her lip and playing with the sleeves of her fur coat. They obviously didn't want her there and she felt weird about just walking in to their home unwelcome. She glanced back at Edmund, for he, too, wasn't going inside. He seemed to be distracted by something.
"Enjoying the scenery, are we?" Beaver blurted, frowning at the pair of them.
Edmund jumped slightly before ignoring Beaver's comment and hurrying inside.
Zooey looked down at her feet, stepping forward just a bit, "Look - Mr. Beaver...I don't know what I did to offend you but I honestly am sorry."
The Beaver surveyed her carefully before speaking quietly to her, "You really don't know, do you?" He concluded.
Zooey shook her head - still lost.
Beaver played with the fur on his chin thoughtfully. "That's interesting." He smiled then, his attitude a little lighter toward her now, yet still hesitant, "Well, maybe there's hope..." He gestured for her to go inside. Zooey beamed at him gratefully as she passed.
"Thank you."
The inside of the dam was very homey and cosey. She took a seat at the small table next to Susan while Beaver went to whisper something to Mrs. Beaver, who glanced in Zooey's direction while they spoke. Once they were finished, Mrs. Beaver smiled at her - her attitude toward her had also changed. It was all very peculiar. "Fish and Chips, Dear?" She asked, holding out a plate.
Zooey shook her head politely, "Oh, no thanks."
Peter leaned forward in his seat, "Is there nothing we can do to help Mr. Tumnus?" He asked, looking between the two Beavers.
"There's hope! Lot's of hope!" Mrs. Beaver chirped, wanting to be positive about the whole thing. The effort was appreciated...
"Well, there's a load more than hope!" Mr. Beaver leaned forward, glaring at Zooey out of habit when she leaned in to listen to what he had to say. He quickly caught himself, though, and looked at the others, his voice low, "Aslan's on the move!"
The five humans all looked at one another, confused. "Who's Aslan?" Edmund blurted.
Beaver started laughing hysterically, "Who's Aslan!? You silly little blighter -" He stopped when Mrs. Beaver laid a hand on his shoulder, noticing that no one else was laughing. He looked at them. "You don't know, do you?"
"No - I don't know about the rest of them, but I'm totally lost right now." Zooey admitted, "With everything. I have absolutely no idea what's going on."
Peter glanced over at her, trying to keep from laughing while he raised a single eyebrow at her honesty.
What? She mouthed, glaring back defensively.
He shrugged, "Nothing..." He whispered, still smiling. He looked back at Beaver, patiently awaiting his explanation.
Beaver stared at them, his mouth open in shock. All at once, he burst into a mini-rant, "He's only the King of the WHOLE WOOD! The true King of Narnia - and he's waiting for ya!"
"Waiting for us?" Zooey repeated.
"Well..." Beaver looked over at her apologetically, "Not you - them."
"Ah." Zooey looked at the others, "Well, that's nice." She muttered, obviously being sarcastic.
"Why would he be waiting for us?" Lucy asked, curious.
"You bloomin' joking!" Beaver groaned, exasperated, looking over at Mrs. Beaver, "They don't even know about the prophecy!"
"Then tell them!" Mrs. Beaver scolded.
He sighed, "Look: Aslan's return, Tumnus' arrest - it's all happening because of you!"
"You're blaming us?" Susan exclaimed, offended.
Mrs. Beaver stepped in to keep the peace, "Not blaming you, dear! Thanking you!"
Beaver leaned forward in his seat to explain, "There's a prophecy: 'When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone sits at Cair Paravel's throne, the evil will be over and done!'"
Susan frowned, "You know, that doesn't really rhyme..."
"I know it don't! - You're kind of missin' the point!"
Mrs. Beaver intervened again. She seemed to be the more patient of the two creatures, "It has long been foretold that two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve," She pointed at Ed and Peter, then at Susan and Lucy, "- will defeat the White Witch and restore peace to Narnia." She cast a nervous glance in Zooey's direction. Zooey caught it and figured that there was something else to it - something Mrs. Beaver didn't really want to explain.
Leave it to Lucy to break the ice there, though: "What about Zooey?"
There was a tense silence as the prophecy sank in and they waited for the Beavers to answer Lucy's question. The quiet seemed to drag on as Zooey waited for her Narnian destiny to be revealed. When Beaver spoke, he spoke so quietly that Zooey had to strain to hear what he'd said:
"We'd hoped it was just an urban legend..." He sighed, looking down with his a paw on his forehead, clearly distressed. Mrs. Beaver took his paw in hers, patting the top of it supportively. Zooey felt awful for causing the Beavers so much grief - they had seemed so excited when they told them about the other prophecy.
"Hoped what was an urban legend?" Peter pressed.
When Beaver looked up again, he looked directly at Zooey, "'The Fifth'."
stopping there for now while i try to come up with how i wanna write the big reveal of Zooey's destiny.
whatch think? Good? Bad? Review? Yesss.