Chapter 4: The warrior child

"Atreyu!" I shrieked happily, running and throwing my arms around the young man before me. He faltered for a second before laughing happily and picking me up and swinging me around.

"I missed you too Ali!" His voice was so wonderful to hear, it was like listening to a chorus of children laughing; so warm and happy.

He carefully stopped and let me down, but didn't remove his arms from around me.

That familiar warmth of his I'd always loved.

"I've come back." I smiled warmly at him and could almost feel more tears springing forth.

Atreyu merely smiled that smile and chuckled as he took my hand and pulled me away from Falkor.

"I can see. And I know someone else that can see to." Atreyu gazed in front and I followed his line of vision, gasping and smiling wildly at what I saw. Or better yet. who I saw.

"Artax! Oh my gosh, you're just how I remember boy!" I ran towards the familiar horse and hugged Artax' nose happily, planting a kiss on his mane, which he neighed and buried his snout in my shoulder as a reply.

"I missed you too." I giggled and stroked Artax lightly on the side of his head, looking into those deep eyes that knew exactly what I meant.

Out of the corner of my eye, whilst I was reminscing silently with Artax, I could could Atreyu just watching with a large smile on his face. I turned to him and smiled back.

"You've changed." I watched him study me slowly, his movements a little different to how he was when I last saw him. He had grown into a young man, no doubt about that.

"So have you. Though you still haven't grown much," he strolled over and rubbed my head playfully like he'd always done, "you're still a cute little shorty."

"I still see you haven't had a haircut yet." I stuck my tongue out like I was 5 again and loved his loud laugh.

"If I remember correctly, you used to think I was a girl with this hair!" He exclaimed through laughs, his hands on his hips, looking like he didn't have a care in the world; definitely Atreyu.

Naturally, my arms flew around his neck again for yet another hug. I tried not to cry, but the tears just rolled down my eyes onto his shoulder.

"I'm glad you came back." Atreyu whispered against my ear, his tone low but his own arms encircling my shoulders made me feel safe and secure.

I don't know how long we stayed that way, but Falkor's pleasant chuckle drew me out of the trance and I pulled back to gaze at him.

"I hate to get in the middle of such a nice sight, but I'm afraid I have to go. Places to fly and people to greet." Falkor said cheerfully and scrunched his eyes at me like a wise old man.

I slowly came towards him and gave him one last hug.

"Don't worry, you'll see me again. But, before I go," he twitched his ear to get my attention, "I have a scratch right there."

I chuckled and scratched his ear vigourously, memorising his moan of relief as the itch went.

Slowly, I stepped back, Atreyu coming to stand by my side as we watched Falkor take off and fly high into the sky and over the mountains.

"Come on," Atreyu said, walking back to Artax and mounting him, "we have somewhere to go now also."

"Where are we going?" I looked at Atreyu's extended hand and took it, hoping onto Artex' back, my arms slipping comfortably around Atreyu's stomach.

"You think I would come get you just to leave you here? My family can not wait to see you again." Atreyu said and before I could let out a happy reply, he snapped Artex' ranes purposefully hard and Artex rode off as fast as he could go.

"Not so FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAST!" I squealed, burying my face into Atreyu's back and clinging onto him for dear life, the second time I'd done that today.

"The quicker we go, the quicker we're there!" I heard him laugh over the wind rushing past my ears, "if you can survive a flight on Falkor, i'm sure you can survive a ride on Artax!"

I peeked open my eyes, knowing he was somewhat right and shuffled my head to get a better view.

The landscape whizzed past my vision and I clung onto Atreyu, excitement bubbling in my stomach as we finally neared a familiar sight.

His village that I once thought of as a second home.