Now that finals are over, I can work more frequently on both of my in progress stories. If you're a Supernatural fan you should check out my story Rhythm and Rous. Also, please leave reviews, they keep me motivated.

(Natalie)

In the distance I could just make out the little blip of color that was land. Caspian stood at the bow of the ship with his golden telescope in hand. My feet made no sound against the creaky wood of the ship.

Just as I was hunkering down and preparing myself to jump and surprise him, he turned around. He didn't budge when I rammed into him, but merely rolled his eyes.

"What are you doing?" he asked without amusement.

I huffed instead of responding.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Should I let you send us crashing to the hard ground next time?" he asked dryly.

"You're no fun, Cassie." I hopped up beside the dragon head and leaned back to him.

"How much longer?" I inquired.

"You expect me to know that off the top of my head? Ask Drinian," he replied.

"But you're the King," I retorted.

"So?"

I narrowed my gaze at him.

Sage and Drinian approached speaking softly.

"How much longer?" I addressed my question to Drinian this time since Caspian refused to be helpful.

"Oh, I'd say another hour," Drinian said.

"That was my guess as well," Caspian affirmed.

I hopped down, ignoring the sting in my feet. "Ass," I stated before striding off.

I took up residence beside Eustace since he seemed to have his glare down packed. Maybe I could learn from him.

"You reek of fish," he announced.

"Really? I thought it was more of a salt water and stale bread mix." I sniffed my shirt.

"Don't you take anything seriously?" he grumbled.

I looked over seeing bags under his eyes. Was he sleeping? Was he really having as horrible a time here as he put off? I thought it was just a show to keep everyone at bay.

"Sure, but then I'd have to think about things I don't want to," I said quietly. I drew my knees to my chest and pressed my lips together tightly.

"I miss home," he admitted.

"Yeah, me too."

He must've heard the sincerity in my voice because he fell silent. His faded blue eyes glazed over and I knew he was thinking about home. That was something I tried to avoid.

When the ship finally approached the island, I was glad for the distraction. I skidded past Edmund on the gangplank and face planted into the warm sand.

"Natalie, I suggest you get up. Unless you don't mind being stepped on," Sage's nagging voice came.

"Sure, sure," I responded without shifting.

When dinner rolled around, I finally pried myself into a sitting position. "Enjoying solid ground?" Lucy asked as she passed me a bowl of an unidentifiable brown substance.

"Are you positive that's edible?" I questioned.

"I think mine just move." she giggled and I smiled with her.

Sage was making an obvious effort to act like she was enjoying the meal. She shoveled the substance into her mouth, probably in an attempt to get it all down at once.

A small fire had been built on the beach and our small crew was gathered around it. I could make out dense trees in the shadows and wondered what fantastic marvels they contained.

I turned back to my food and dipped my finger in. I licked it slowly before gagging. I quickly spat and wiped my tongue off on my sleeve. Lucy, seeing my reaction, discarded her own behind her.

Just then, a loud burp rang out. All eyes went to Sage who was grinning sheepishly. "Excuse me." she blushed madly as she covered her mouth.

I laughed loudly to break the awkward silence. "Nice one," I congratulated. It was so un-Sage-like that it left everyone baffled and the conversations stilled.

I let out my own burp to ease her embarrassment. "I totally win," I announced.

"Oh, let me try," Lucy said. She swallowed air and produced her own much smaller burp.

Caspian, who had sat open mouthed at all of this, finally spoke. "Lucy!" he gasped.

"I quite agree your Majesty," Drinian spoke up before letting a great burp of his own. Caspian finally smiled and we all fell out laughing as I announced Drinian the champion.

The sun finally set fully and we all moved to make our beds. I had every intention of sleeping beside Lucy, but Caspian called me over.

"You get to sleep right here, little trouble maker."

I blanched at the space beside him. Not because I minded him, but because Edmund was on the other side. He was already asleep, but still.

"Yeah, no…"

Caspian frowned at me.

"Seriously, Nate, please understand that I need to keep an eye on you," he reasoned.

"Fine." I plopped down in irritation.

I curled as close to Caspian and attempted to drift into sleep. When that failed, Caspian offered me one of his boring books to read. It must've worked because I soon found myself fast asleep.

Dreams were always strange happenings for me. I dreamt I was being carried and restrained. Only, I truly was. And when I woke up hovering in the air and unable to move, I screamed.

What felt like a cold, rough hand was pressed over my mouth and muffled my cries for help. Different hands held me aloft. I twisted trying to find my abductor but saw only empty air.

Without warning, I was dropped on the ground. My shoulder collided with something.

Lucy.

Her wide blue eyes met mine. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to her feet. She narrowed her gaze in a defiant manner and addressed our captors.

"Who are you?" she demanded as her hand closed over the dagger in her belt. It was abruptly torn from her grasp and flung to the ground several yards away.

I have no idea how Lucy was capable of movement at this time. My limbs felt like they were made of lead. My throat was knotted so tightly I couldn't breathe.

The meadow we were in was surrounded by strangely styled bushes. The sky was lightening ever so slightly, so I dared hope our friends would wake up and realize we were missing.

"There is no escape," a scratchy voice came forth.

"What are you?" Lucy altered her previous question. Her voice was much stronger than mine would have been if I'd attempted speech.

"We are terrifying, invisible beast," the voice spoke again.

My heart dropped.

Just great.

An assortment of voices chimed in to confirm that they were indeed something we should fear. I lost count of how many I heard and that did nothing to add to my courage.

"You'll do what we ask," one finally said.

"Or what?" Lucy challenged.

I got up now and seized her arm. "Louie, don't upset them!" I hissed.

"I got this," she whispered back.

Well, I'm glad one of us felt confident.

"Or death," the invisible creatures cried.

Lucy's face paled and I figured that now might be a good time to put my plan into action: get on the ground and grovel about only being here in search of a long lost guinea pig named Gertrude.

Before I could act on that, however, Lucy regained her composure.

"Well, we wouldn't be much use to you dead, now would we?"

"Oh my god, Lucy, shut up. I don't feel like dying today," I groaned.

I still had a lot of things to live for: pizza, gummy bears, strawberry ice cream...

I shook myself. This wasn't the time to daydream about food back in America.

"Alright, then we'll just kill your friends."

I swear Lucy stopped breathing.

"What do you want?" I'm surprised they didn't ridicule me because my voice cracked in the middle of that question.

Lucy had her fists clenched at her sides as if she still wanted to fight.

They instructed us to enter a house and read a spell.

"Beware the oppressor. He's very oppressive." And with those words of encouragement, we entered the luxurious mansion. Though the outside was invisible, it was impossible not to see and be awed by the interior. Lavish paintings hung on every spare ounce of wall. Plush chairs and couches filled the walkway and had a few books strewn across their cushions.

Lucy strode forward, full of determination even as the heavy doors shut behind us. I tried my best to remain calm but by the time we discovered a library, I was lightheaded and ready to bolt.

I didn't even notice as Lucy opened a book and reciting a spell. Coldness on my nose drew me back to reality.

Snow.

I hadn't seen snow since I was back home. My siblings and I used to have violent snowball fights. An ache in my gut spread up my torso and filled me with longing.

Kimmy and Jordan were my oldest sisters. They were annoying and thought they were divas, but still fun to mess with. Bryan was my nerdy little brother. He always had me being the test subject for his science experiments. Then there was Nikky, the baby. Mostly I didn't like her because she was always finding ways to ruin my shoes, but now I missed her. I missed them all dreadfully. I even missed our pet rooster, Brady, who had to live under Jordan's bed because he had a phobia of the sun.

My parents were as crazy as the rest of my family, but I wanted to be with them. As much as I loved Narnia, I wanted to go home.

A roar shook the room violently. I rubbed the tears off my cheeks and walked over to Lucy as she read the invisibility spell.

A tall bearded man came into view on the staircase opposite us.

"Um, hello," I called.

Was he the oppressor? He didn't look mean at all. He gestured for us to follow him and he led the way back outside.

Edmund was saying, "What mansion?"

My eyes travelled to the pudgy, jumping creatures that had taken me and Lucy hostage. They didn't look terrifying now. They actually made me want to laugh at how pathetic their hoping walk was.

The "oppressor," who identified himself as Coriarkin, sent them away with a pocketful of lint.

Sage glanced at me and, though her mothering was sometimes overpowering, I fell into her relieved arms.

"There's no keeping you out of trouble is there?" Caspian shook his head at us.

"So it seems." Sage smiled back at him.

Edmund had Lucy caught up in a tight hold. Even Eustace clapped her on the shoulder.

When she was released, she raced over to Caspian and Sage. Edmund shifted on his feet. In a way, I wished he wouldn't hug me. It would make this whole crush thing a lot easier to get over.

Instead, Eustace surprised everyone by stepping forward and catching me against him.

"You're the only blasted friend I've got here," he muttered and I smiled.

Edmund gave me a nod and I knew that was the only recognition I was going to receive from him.

I let myself focus on the hug. Though Eustace's arms weren't strong, and I think we actually did smell of fish, it was comforting and nice..in a weird way.

I feel like this story is writing itself more than I am. Different things are happening than I intended…