Jean-

In my dream, I was wandering through a forest, my hair all done up in a hairstyle the I could never do on my own or with my short hair.

I was my current age, which was new, and in a lovely flowy peach dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves.

I wasn't running from anything in this dream, instead, I was looking for something.

Something important, something that I lost.

I found my way to a bridge.

I recognized it though how I couldn't place. Then in a flash I saw the dark haired boy standing over me, sword raised.

I stepped back from the memory looking at the bridge, there was no one here now besides me.

I knelt on the ground and started looking around for whatever it was that I lost.

I knew that if someone where to see me, this wouldn't be very ladylike, but no one was here, so whatever.

I was getting frustrated because I couldn't find it. Was it small or invisible or something? Or was I just blind? This would be easier if I knew what I was actually looking for.

"It's not here," said a gentle female voice. Startled, I got up quickly and turned to find a woman in a regal dress, her hair in a lovely white twist.

"It hasn't been here for many years," the woman said.

I was surprised that her face wasn't blurred like all my other dreams. It was also strange to hear someone speak as all my other dreams have been mute.

The woman had sad eyes and a beautiful smile to match. She looked like she had seen many hardships and was tired, but had to keep up a strong front.

I felt embarrassed for being on the floor like that, because I knew that I shouldn't do things like that, especially in front of someone who looked like royalty.

"What isn't here?" I asked, making a low curtsy.

"I cannot reveal everything just yet," she cautioned. "Knowing the past could jeopardize the future."

Then she gave a soft smile. "It's wonderful to see the young lady you've become, and that you haven't forgotten your manners. Well, most of them," she added playfully gesturing to where I was kneeling.

I was confused. Wouldn't knowing the past help the future? There was something about her that seemed so familiar and so comforting.

"Who are you?" I asked politely. "I feel like I know you."

The woman let out a sigh, the sad smile returning to her face.

"Suffice it to say that I am a guardian," she said. "I have watched over you for a very long time," She walked toward me and took my hands in hers and squeezed them lightly.

"How could you have watched over me and I not know you? Or have even seen you?" I asked.

"I knew you would have questions," she smiled. "You were always so inquisitive. All will be answered in time, but know this: trust your friends, they will be a great strength to you, as you to them. Continue your training and watch for your friend, he will help you."

Now I was really confused. Did my friends know about the magical world and have never told me? She was talking about someone specific.

I wanted to ask more questions, but the woman and the forest were starting to fade away.

"Wait!" I exclaimed, trying to keep my hold on the woman's hands, but she faded away, as did everything else.

"Wait!"

I sat up and looked around. I was back in the RV with my normal clothes and my messy hair.

"Are we there yet?" I asked awkwardly, looking around at everyone.

Max-

"Actually, yeah, we are." I answered as Joyce pulled the rv to a stop.

We'd made it past the payment booth, and followed two different maps to figure out where the best spot might be when Jean shot up where she lay.

"You okay?" I double checked. She probably had another one of her dreams, and I knew they freaked her out.

Macie was pulling out a headphone to look at Jean in concern as well.

Terrence was in the corner eating jerky, but he looked up which means he was at least trying to pay attention.

Jean-

I nodded, trying to shake the fuzziness from my head.

"Yeah, I'm good," I assured. "I'll tell you about it later."

I got up and gathered all my stuff together, I could feel eyes of concern watching me as I did.

I felt awkward about it, but I also knew it must have been weird seeing me yell and sit up like that.

I grabbed all my knives and a simple sword I was borrowing from Wallace. I also grabbed my back pack and filled it with snacks and water bottles as well as my dads hoodie. It was hot outside, but in a cave it would definitely be cold.

Max-

We all got out of the car, Macie putting her headphones away and stuffing them in her backpack.

Joyce looked nervous. "And you're sure you're okay?"

I nodded. "Don't worry, we've been doing a lot training, and it's a good idea to have some one who can get help if we're not back by the end of the day." I assured her.

Joyce wasn't a fighter, but that didn't mean I didn't appreciate all that she did.

I turned to Terrence. "You got the map?" I asked. Terrence waved it.

Macie looked startled. "Wait you can read?"

Terrence nodded. "Don't be jealous now, everyone learns at their own rate." He assured patting her shoulder. "Come among children." He said leading the way into the woods.

I shrugged.

Letting Terrence lead the way I fell into step beside Jean. "Another dream?" I asked looking over.

Jean-

"Yeah," I answered. "Apparently I have a guardian who is royalty of some kind, and I've lost something."

I proceeded to tell him about all the dreams I've had, even the ones before this trip, then led up to my most recent adventure.

"I have a 'friend' that will help me, but not sure who." I added. "So now I'm all kinds of confused and have no idea what any of this means."

I looked at him feeling a little weird confessing this, but, we'd gone through a lot of weird stuff together now, and I wasn't that uncomfortable telling him about it.

"Woo hoo," I said, twirling my finger in the air like a mini party.

Max-

I grinned at her sarcasm, thinking about it a moment. "Jean," I wondered as we followed through the wood. "How long have you been having these dreams?"

I figured if we pegged when they started, we could determine why

Jean-

I thought a moment, trying to pinpoint when they started.

"Well I've had the first dream for as long as I can remember," I said. "But the others started when we were first driving together to meet Darin, or, Jordon."

I looked down at the dirt trail and kicked a rock of descent size and thought some rather unkind things about Jordon.

"That probably doesn't help much."

Max-

Long as she can remember? Well gosh that didn't narrow it down much did it?

I shook my head. "Best I can figure, maybe a fairy took a liking to you when you were a baby or somethin, now it's like...your guardian angel."

It was a stupid theory, but hey, I'd pay to see if someone else had a better one.

"I wonder what's making the dreams become more frequent though."

I held a pine branch out of the way for her as we walked, then continued pondering the problem.

"Well, this looks about right." Terrence said, standing at the mouth of a huge cave.

My jaw dropped.

Dang.

"There's no WAY that's here and people aren't exploring it like crazy." I said shaking my head.

"Milk remember?" Terrence reminded. "To the tourists, this just looks like another wall."

Macie reached into her bag and began tossing people flashlights.

Jean-

I nodded, giving a small laugh at the suggestion. It was possible, but that didn't seem right to me. There had to be more to it.

"I don't know," I responded to his question. "They feel like...memories." I said softly mostly to try and keep coming up with ideas. "But I didn't live in the renaissance period when they wore dresses all the time. If I had, I'd be more than 1000 years old."

We came to the mouth of the cave, and I just stared.

"Wow," I breathed. It was huge. I peered inside and was reminded of the storm shelter back at Wallace's place.

Maybe it was big enough inside that I wouldn't feel claustrophobic again, maybe I would be fine.

I took a flashlight from Macie and got the hoodie from my back pack.

"What are we looking for again? Oh and does anyone want a snack?" I asked before I closed my pack.

Max-

"I'd save those snacks if I were you." Terrence advised pulling out a sword of his. "If something caves in or we get trapped, those snacks become rations."

I swallowed, realizing how real the danger was.

It was possible nothing bad would happen...but it was also possible something could go very wrong.

Macie took a breath, and I looked at Jean giving a nod.

"Together, we got this." I promised.

Macie gave a soft smirk. "I suppose that includes Todd doesn't it?"

Terrence looked over at Todd. "My man." He approved, Todd giving a head nod.

I gave a flicker of a smirk, then let Macie and Terrence lead the way.

Jean-

I swallowed and proceeded to put my goldfish crackers away, feeling very sober and nervous.

I nodded back at Max, grateful he wasn't backing out. Not that I think he would, I was just glad he was here.

I glanced at Macie and Terrence. I had noticed their banter back and forth, it was amusing. I didn't really know what was going on between them, but maybe this was just a step down from wanting to kill each other.

We entered the cave and left the light of day behind. The cave tunnel was as vast as the opening. The space inside the cave itself was gracious, but presuming there was only one way out with many tunnels that branched off from this one, that put my nerves on edge. Knowing that we might not leave any time soon didn't help either.

Max-

The cave was huge, but it was just a tunnel, the smooth floor descending deeper and deeper underground.

The flashlights scanned around as we walked.

It was so gradual, I didn't notice I was seeing things better, that the flashlights were becoming less and less necessary.

"Is it, getting brighter?" Macie commented.

"Yeah it is." Terrence observed voice dark, by now it was illuminated like an overcast day.

"What worries me is where is the light coming from?"

Jean-

The additional light was like a breath of fresh air and relaxed me, but soon I was on edge again.

Where was the light coming from? I soon flicked my light off, no longer needing it, and exchanged glances with my friends.

"Got any bright ideas?" I asked, unable to not use the pun, trying to lighten the mood.

I snickered to myself. Haha, wow I'm depressingly funny, I thought. ...And still single.

Max-

In response to Jean's question Macie studied the walls and ceiling, then shook her head. "Sun stones maybe? If you look closely there's little clusters of light in the stone."

"Either way, we can see, let's move on." I advised and Terrence nodded.

After several minutes of walking we came across a fork in the road, and Terrence scowled.

"I don't like these tunnels." He commented.

"Why not?" I inquired.

"Any of you been into a cave before?" He questioned.

I nodded. "Yeah, family trips have let us go on walk throughs."

"What did they look like?" He pressed.

"They were rocky, uneven," I listed not sure what he was looking for here. "Lots of stalagmites and stalactites, shelves, pools, small entrances and big ones."

"Exactly." Terrence stated. "Now look at this place. The ceiling and floors are round and smooth, no rock formations, it's all the same size, it's too smooth, like-"

"Like something made these tunnels." I realized with wide eyes. "Something big."

I gripped my sword tighter.

"So what do we do now?" Macie asked the group.

"We press forward," Terrence supplied, "and we hope what ever it was, died a long time ago."

GUYS MY LINE IS BACK! ~Twirls~ ~leaps~ ~smacks into wall~ ~proceeds as normal~

Man I'm happy about that. OKAY here's the chapter for this week hope ya'll enjoyed!

More marvelous adventures to come! Don't forget to post comments, favorite moments, predictions or reactions. XD ~whispers~ 'seriously it's the only reason I'm still writing this thing'

My thanks to Katie, Yakall, and NaoSa!

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