Woo! Thanks to all who reviewed, especially DeeSarrachi! I hope this chapter is better! (Mari is not a very careful character if you haven't noticed.)
Disclaimer: Everything in this story except the plot and my original characters (Marion, Ryons, and Stormbreeze and any other random characters I stick in this story) belong to the great Tamora Pierce. And whatever else I'm supposed to say in a disclaimer insert {here}.
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"Well Stormbreeze, we're finally going to Court!" Mari yelled as she struggled to stay on her horse. Stomrbreeze snorted back as if to say 'Be QUIET!' Mari just sat up in her saddle and admired the forest around her. It was still dark, but that was ok because her horse could see the path. After a while, Mari drifted off. She woke up when she fell off her horse.
"Great Mithros! Are you ok?" said a voice that belonged to someone next to her. Mari struggled to try and get her bow, but her horse was so high up, and she started to see spots as she got up. She lay back down trying to get her vision to clear. As she did this a head appeared in front of her face. She would recognize that determined chin and deep set brown eyes anywhere!
"Ry! What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at Court!" she asked him as he pushed his chestnut colored hair back from his eyes. As her vision cleared she saw a pair of bright green eyes framed by long eyelashes with black hair falling into them. It was the other boy whose voice she hadn't recognized. "Hello. Who are you?"
"I'm Lucan of Tirragen," he said as he held out his hand to help her up.
"I think I'll stay here for a little longer," she said. She had the feeling that if she got up she would end up back in the dirt anyway. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I was coming to see if you needed any help escaping," Ry explained.
"Yes, well, I think I did alright. I did run into some trouble when unlocking a door, but one of the people who ran to see what happened was convinced that the exploded door was no concern," she said, thinking of his unnerving blue eyes.
"Yah, up until you fell asleep on your horse! You need to be more careful! Someone or something could have gotten you!" Ry said as he helped her to her feet. Lucan rushed over to her other side to help as well. As she got up she saw black dots across her vision, but was able to stand up with Ry and Lucan's help. "Do you think you can get on your horse?" Ry asked, helping her to walk over to Stormbreeze.
"I think so," she replied, putting her foot on Ry's knee. She pushed herself up onto her horse and ended up lying across the saddle, her head hanging off one side, her feet, the other. "Then again, maybe not." Lucan got on the other side of her horse and together he and Ryons helped to getting sitting right in her saddle. "Thanks," she said as she gripped onto her horse for dear life. Stormbreeze looked around to look at her and snorted. "Oh Goddess," she said as she started to slide off again. Lucan grabbed a hold of her arm again.
"Maybe I should ride with you," said Ry, climbing on the horse behind her. She gratefully rested in his arms as he took hold of the reins. He had always been like a brother to her, always watching out for her. Stormbreeze turned and snorted at the extra load. Lucan mounted his horse and grabbed the reins to Ry's horse as well.
As they rode, the sun peeked up over the horizon and sent light scattering through the leaves of the forest. As they rounded a corner Mari looked up and saw the end of the forest. She suddenly became very awake and alert with excitement. A few minutes later they saw the great outer walls of Corus looming ahead of them, surrounded by rays of the rising sun. Mari jumped down from her saddle as she landed her knees gave out. She quickly recovered and started jumping around and screaming, "WE'RE HERE!!!!!! I'VE FINALLY MADE IT!! I REALLY AM GOING TO BE A KNIGHT!!"
Lucan leaned over to Ry and whispered, "Is she always this enthusiastic?"
"Um…yah," Ry whispered back.
Mari then ran back to Ry's horse and jumped into the saddle. "LAST ONE TO THE GATE IS A SPIDREN'S DINNER!" she yelled as she forced the horse forward. "HIYAH!" Mari was almost out of the forest when a string of web shot out from the forest beside her. Before she could scream out she was pulled off her horse and into the forest by a spidren.
"MARI!"
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And she was so close too! Read next time to find out what happens! And don't forget to REVIEW!! Please??
~Tiptapcandy