Twenty Nine chapters, and I'm only in the seventh episode. Interesting…


Enchanted Forest

An arrow smacked into the tree by my head as I darted after Snow White and Red. Red glanced back and saw the arrow. "Wouldn't you expect them to get tired of hunting you after three months?" She asked.

"Four" Snow corrected. "We were running for at least a month before we met you" I was now running next to her, so she turned her head briefly to look at me. "So, how many do you think there are?"

I looked over my shoulder, only seeing one dark figure. "Not sure, at least two, but it's most likely a patrol, meaning closer to five knights are chasing us."

"I see. Should we fight?" Another arrow landed nearby. "You know, forget I asked."

I nodded. "Not an issue, your majesty." Snow tripped on a root, and started rolling down a small hill. I slid down after her, worried about the men chasing us. I hadn't gotten a good look at their numbers, so I was completely in the dark, not something that I appreciated.

"You can't run from the Queen, Snow White!" I saw two guards approaching the women. Red grabbed a low hanging tree branch and kicked out, catching the first guard in the chest. He was knocked back into his partner, and I drew my sword as I reached the end of my descent. I caught the blade of the first guard on mine, twisting my wrist so his was knocked clear of his hand, allowing me to run him through.

I yanked my sword clear as I dodged backwards, given no respite from the fight. I was on even footing when it came to the second guard, and soon we had ourselves stuck in a small stalemate, with neither willing to pull their blade loose for fear of the other's attack. "You betrayed the Queen, Sir Jacques." The guard growled.

I gritted my teeth. "I have done my duty, can you say the same?" I challenged. "The real traitor to the crown is you" He growled, yanking away. He was ruled by anger when he began to slash at me, and that was what finally gave me the upper hand, allowing me to cut him down.

I stepped away from the body, turning towards the girls. I realized that there was an unconscious knight at their feet, and I smiled. Snow White returned it, and I got a very brief one from Red. We heard more feet pounding towards us, and quickly ran to take cover. As we tried to find a spot, Snow saw a wanted poster with her name on it. My charge angrily ripped it down and caught up with Red and me in a shallow cave.

At least three guards passed our hiding spot before the footsteps faded. Red looked at us. "It's okay, they're gone" She said. I listened for a moment, using the somewhat advanced hearing that the wolf provided, then nodded in agreement.

Snow released a sigh of relief before looking at the poster. "She's never going to stop, is she?" When she met my eyes I looked away, not having a good answer.

There was a small gasp from the other woman. "My hood, it's torn" Red grabbed Snow's arm. "You have to go, you have to get away from me"

"We're not leaving you!" Snow objected.

"There's a full moon tonight, wolfstime." Red said frantically. "This hood is the only thing keeping me from turning"

"It's just a tear" I said. "It'll still work"

"What if it doesn't?" Green eyes locked onto mine. "You saw what I did to Peter. This thing, the wolf, I can't control it. I'll hurt you, and Snow" I felt my jaw tightened. Red knew that I would do anything to protect my charge, and she was willing to use it. She looked at Snow "Find shelter, I'll go farther into the woods and find some place to hide. For your own sake we have to split up"

I looked at Snow, and after a moment she nodded. "Alright-but just for tonight. We'll meet up in the morning by the stream. Then we'll find a safe place for the three of us."

"Maybe a nice cabin in the woods" I suggested, attempting to make a joke of it.

"Why are you doing this?" Red asked.

"Doing what?" Both Snow and I were somewhat confused by the question.

"Being so kind to me, you both saw what I did as a wolf, it's what I am"

Snow White shook her head. "I know that's not who you really are."

I placed a hand on Red's shoulder. "I've told you before, we're in this together now." Without losing more time, Red ran into the woods. The red cloak disappeared before too long, and a hand touched my elbow.

"Follow her, please?" Snow asked. "I know the woods well enough now to hide." I hesitated. "Please Jacques, I'll be fine"

Slowly I nodded, then I started to navigate the roots in pursuit of our friend. Red was fast, easily dodging stray branches and brush, but I didn't need to keep her in sight to track her, which helped.

When I caught up with her, I realized she had fallen asleep under a tree with large thick branches. I drew my sword, stabbing it into the dirt nearby, and I sat down slowly next to Red. I leaned my head against the tree, preparing for a long night awake.


Storybrooke

I shook my head as Graham landed another dart in the center of the board. "Seriously, you should take up hunting." I said, smiling at my friend. "You're aim is amazing"

"It won't hold up" Sidney informed me from his booth. "I bet you 20 that you can't do it again, Sheriff."

Graham took a drink from his whiskey, then threw the red tail dart into the deer again. The newspaper's editor groaned as I laughed. "Next round's on him Ruby" Graham told our waitress. He then looked at me. "Another game?"

"You mean you want to know if I want to watch you whoop me again" I translated. Graham shrugged, and I went ahead and pulled the blue darts out, preparing for my shot. "I still don't understand why I bother" I muttered. My first dart was in the outer most ring.

"Neither do I" Ruby called from behind the counter. I rolled my eyes, my second dart moving slightly closer to the center. "You'd think that you'd eventually be able to hit your target at least once Matt."

I tossed another dart. "Well, maybe you should try Ruby, then criticize my aim"

"Alright then." I handed my last dart to Ruby. I watched her take aim, then quickly toss the projectile into the inner ring, almost hitting the deer. Ruby smirked at me, walking away, and I just sighed in defeat. The back door opened and Emma walked in. "Emma, what can I get you?"

"Nothing" Emma quickly walked across the diner. I realized she was avoiding Graham's gaze, but I was distracted by a lovely waitress who was showing more skin than was appropriate back home. I turned towards the door when I saw Graham launch a dart in that direction. It barely missed Emma's ear, and slammed into the wooden from. "What the hell?" The whole diner was dead silent. I wasn't sure if anyone was breathing. "You could've hit me!"

"I never miss." Graham started walking towards her. "You've been avoiding me." Sidney raised a hand with a twenty in it, but Graham didn't acknowledge it. "Ever since last night, when you saw me."

"Leaving the mayor?" Emma added to his sentence. "And yes that is a euphemism. I'm not avoiding you Graham, I just have no interest in having this conversation." I frowned, slowly putting pieces together. "It's your life-I really don't care" Emma went through the door, and Graham followed. I frowned, crossing my arms.

"Do you want a drink Matt?" Ruby offered.

I shook my head. "No. I think I should be heading home for the night." I grabbed my jacket off the back of a bar stool. "See you tomorrow Rubes."

"Bye"

I pulled the jacket on as the small bell dinged to announce my exit. I got my right arm in alright, but my left hand got stuck. I began jerking at the fabric, trying to simply force it over my arm. It was not one of my brightest ideas. I managed to set a ringing pain up my arm. "God da-"

"Do you need help, Mathew?" I looked up, realizing that Dr. Archie Hopper was standing there with Pongo.

I reluctantly nodded. "I always have issues with my arm" I told him. The psychologist nodded understanding. He looped Pongo's leash around his hand and then helped me straighten out the mess that was my left arm. I sighed, looking at the limp limb once our project was complete. "Thank you Dr. Hopper."

"Just Archie please. Would you like to walk with me and Pongo? Or are you in a hurry?"

I shrugged. "I could probably spare a few minutes." Archie smiled at me, and we started to walk down the street.

"I heard from Dr. Whale. He told me he had suggested that you talk to me about your arm." I rolled my eyes. I should have known that Archie had something he wanted to talk about. I may not know his counterpart here in Storybrooke very well, but I was very familiar with Jiminy back in our world. Most of his conversations had some alterative motive, commonly dealing with making a person better. "I am guessing you were never planning on contacting me." Archie continued when I didn't respond.

I exhaled. "No." I ran a hand through my hair. "It's not that I doubt you, I know that you've helped a lot of Storybrooke. It's just…" I was unable to finish the sentence.

"You don't think that you need my help."

"Apparently I do" I said, giving him a wry smile. "At least if I want to pull on a jacket."

"It's understandable if you don't want to talk to anyone about what's happened, Mathew. But it would probably be good for you. Your life will never be quite the same, and having someone to help you adjust would be helpful."

"I have my roommate" I pointed out. "And Ruby's been there."

"And David Nolan." We both stopped walking. "I know that you must have some kind of plan, and that you think you don't need help…but if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me, night or day."

I nodded. "Thank you for the offer Archie. I will keep it in mind. Good night Archie."

"Good night Mathew." I watched the man and dog walk off, having the strange picture of a cricket holding onto Pongo's leash. With a silent laugh, I turned and headed towards my car.


I know, not a particularly interesting chapter. I'm using it to set up for the next bit. I think it's pretty clear which episodes I'm currently in. :)

Please leave a review and tell me what you think, what you want to see, and pretty much anything else.