Wow! Tons of reviews and favorite/follows! I'm so sorry it's been so long. Thanks for all the suggestions, they really did help.
Lily: I'm not sure who Natalie is going to crush on, but trust me, there will be cousin rivalry of some sort.
Guest: I've almost definitely decided that Natalie is going into the Trial by Tale, but I'm not a big fan of the whole "Good Girl loves Bad Boy" thingy that seems pretty popular in this day and age. Fascinating character, though. I had never imagined Dracula as a fairy tale, but I suppose he is.
LiteBryte: I'm flattered! Well, she probably will have a date to the Winter Ball and about the other thing, I'll have to take some time to think of a boy who would have a legitimate excuse to waltz on in like that. But overall, Natalie just isn't into boys.
elllie bel: I do plan on creating some more flaws. Interesting idea, though. I will probably do something like that.
Anonymous3777: In my opinion, Skye is too nice and just too unattached to the "physical world" to be so petty. I was thinking Miriam or Grace. Almost definitely Natasha and her gang.
Fiona: I have considered that, or an animal. Still not sure.
(Other) Guest: I'm actually not sure if she's gonna decide to grow it back yet. She might just want to keep it short. You see, sometimes I don't feel like I'm in charge of this story or any of the characters, kinda like a dream. It feels like I simply meet them and then sit back to watch the show.
Without further ado, the long awaited next chapter! Actually, this is just a filler chapter. I'm still working on the next actual chapter. (:
Gavaldon
The next day was a tragic day for the villagers of Gavaldon. They had failed again.
The sky was crowded with rain clouds which rumbled groaned. Everyone was watching with sad and solemn faces as the families of the newest missing came forward. Each had paid the bookkeeper to make a poster for their child. They, like everyone else, knew it would make no difference anymore; they were gone to a fairy tale world forever.
The reason the missing posters continued to be posted was to strengthen their determination to stop the School Master, to make sure their children never truly vanished from this world, to give a name to the children who would someday open their storybooks and find them, but most of all, to give the villagers hope.
Natalie's father, John, was the one who put up the poster. As he did so, he felt regret fall upon him like a wet blanket. He shouldn't have left his little girl alone; he never should have. His mind began to roll over every memory he had of her, and he felt even more ashamed. He had always been proud to have such a smart girl, but he had never told her that. He had neglected her from the moment she was born, working to turn Thomas into a strong young man; he had left Natalie to Natasha. Now, all the memories of her father that Natalie would have, would be of the tall man who loved his sons and cared for them more than his daughters.
Natasha cried freely. This was the second time she had lost family member the School Master, that was more than anyone. It just didn't feel right. Didn't feel fair. Dread clung at her as she prayed that, when their time came and went, she would still have her twins.
Thomas kept his eyes on the ground and remained silent. He ground his teeth to keep from crying. Natalie, little Natalie, was gone forever. He thought of all the girls who were spirited away, who grew into gorgeous young women, who found Happily Ever After, and hoped that one day he could add Natalie to that list. He thought of how Mother had always shown them her sister, how often she retold the story of her kidnapping, and knew that that would someday be him. He wondered if his luck would match his mothers, to lose a sibling and a child, and hoped not. Thomas remembered four years ago, when he was eligible, the complete terror and hopelessness. He remembered being scared into tears, and almost laughing with relief when the other two children had been taken. He, and everyone else he knew, had always been terrified on that night, but none of them had ever been taken. He tried to imagine the terror of someone being dragged into the woods, Natalie's terror, but couldn't. for one moment, he let himself wonder what Natalie would be doing, what it would be like to be a Prince, rescue a Princess, rule a kingdom, and then let the idea fade from his mind. That was Natalie's destiny, not his.
Jack held Josephine's hand tightly as they cried together. He hadn't said anything since last night. All that was going through his mind was when the shadow appeared out of nowhere, all he could feel was Natalie's hand being ripped out of his, all he could hear was a mix of Natalie's last scream and Josephine's wail. He blamed himself. If he had acted quicker, held on tighter, or chased after Natalie, she wouldn't be gone.
Tears continued to roll down Josephine's face as she gazed at her sister, the sister she would never see again. She loved Natalie; Natalie was her role model. Josephine had never known anyone, including her parents, who had been so kind and smart and understanding and brave. Natalie had always been perfect to her, but now, Josephine wished that she hadn't been. Because even her sister as a selfish, mean, bully,
Was better than no sister at all.
A.N. So, yeah, this is a sad-ish chapter. I'm trying to see what it would be like to still be in Gavaldon the day after. I'll probably do more like these as the story progresses. Like, at the end of the entire story I'll . . . . never mind, it's a surprise, (:
So yeah! R&R! Comment, suggest, or flame about me taking too long. Whatever you want.
And thanks again for all the marvelous reviews! They made me so happy! :D
Werewolf Cub is out!
