Authors Note: Neither Zimba nor IceDragon26 wrote this. It was written by
SirAnna.

Disclaimer: SirAnna doesn't own anything, ect. ect. (she also forgot to put in a disclaimer and Zimba was nice enough to do it for her)

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Squires, Mages, and Crushes

Chapter 3

By: SirAnna

I woke up drenched in sweat. My chest was heaving, my ears were pounding, but mostly, my stomach was growling. I had just woken up from a horrible nightmare, yet now all I remember of it is pink, frolicking bunnies. At that moment I realized I had woken up into a real nightmare. The sun had barely risen, I estimated six or seven a.m. I sat on a large rock and deciphered the past events for my extremely confused brain.

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After we had escaped the spidren it was time for an explanation. I sat the hyperventilating Maya and Amanda down on a log, ignoring their complaints of mud on their designer shoes. Soon Maggie and Emma joined us. I had already explained coolly (ok so I yelled) that we were trapped in a land filled with dragons, griffins, spidrens, strormwings, or in other words Tortall. I was about to slap the two present members of the Foxy Five for their ignorance when Maggie stopped me. While Maggie explained the facts Emma and I wandered into the forest. I collected firewood while Emma collected
flat rocks, feathers, and sticks. When we returned Emma sat in a corner and began widdle to a bow and some arrows (she's good with her hands). I laid the firewood (or twigs to start out with) in the needed manner for burning. Luckily I had stolen my sister's
cigarettes and lighter that morning (I think it's a foul habit and steel them to keep her from smoking). As I worked on the tiny fire, Maggie tended to the extremely confused 2/5 of the Foxy Five. When I finally got tired of hearing restated explanations I asked Maggie
to tend to the fire and departed to collect litter for bedding. When I returned Amanda and Maya were asleep, and the rest of us all decided a good night's sleep was the thing we needed most.

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Finally the rumbling of my tummy brought me out of my reflections. I got up and tiptoed over to Emma's "bed." I quietly picked up the bow and some arrows (not that badly widdled I might add) and decided with my new archery lessons I had the knowledge to hit, oh probably, a rock, but I had to try for food.

I ended up getting a bird (kind unknown to my small brain) and also snatched her eggs. I had to set the bird aside for later as I didn't know how to properly prepare it. I ended up making a fire and cooking eggs for breakfast, with the wafting smells waking
everyone up.


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It was mid autumn and fairly cold, so we kept the fire going as it was our only source of heat. We also started making shelters using large sticks leaned up against a tree and then covered with litter. This trick was taught to us at school during one of our many field trips to Cynthia's Woods. I don't suppose they ever thought we would need to use the knowledge in this kind of situation.

While we were making our shelters we were entertained by the most interesting conversation between Maya and Amanda. One of the most fascinating *snicker, snicker* thing Amanda said was, "Did you see me last night? I had to wear my glasses. I looked way too smart, it wasn't even funny." The odd thing is that in fifth grade
Amanda and I shared the Continental Math Award for our grade. Strange how people change.

It was around noon when we heard hoof beats. Maya and Amanda huddled together in their shelter, while Emma, Maggie, and I stopped and didn't make a move. Finally a large horse broke into the clearing. After a few seconds of quiet contemplation Emma yelled, "Lord Raoul of Goldenlake?!"

"Yes," Raoul replied.

"The commander of the King's Own!" I chimed.

"Yes," he replied, again. "We saw your fire and wondered who would be out in the weather this time of year when rain is so unpredictable. Even raiders would find shelter.

Emma and I blushed at his last comment. More people broke into the clearing, and one of them (my mouth went dry) was Keladry of Mindalin, my hero.

"Kel!" I tried to say, but only a scratchy awe-filled whisper came out.

"Excuse me," said Kel.

"You're Keladry of Mindalin!" I stammered.

"Yes, I realize that," she replied, a little sarcastically.

"You killed Blayce!" I said. I knew I had said too much.

"Who? I haven't killed anyone."

"Never mind."

Emma didn't notice Kel, though. She noticed Dom. She blushed scarlet as he rode into the clearing. Emma didn't say anything, but Dom saw her. He got off his horse and walked casually over to her.

"Hello," said Dom. Emma's blush became a deeper red. Then, all of the sudden, Emma was pushed away from Dom by Maya and Amanda.

"Hello. You won't like her she's, well she's Emma," Amanda said.

But Dom ignored them and helped Emma to her feet. This wonderful moment was destroyed by the sound of Maggie's laughter. Emma glared at her.

"Who are you?" asked Raoul.

"It's a long story," Maggie replied.

"We've got time," said Raoul, jumping off his horse to sit on a log. The rest followed suit.

"Ok," and thus Maggie began our strange adventure to Tortall.

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When Maggie finished the King's Own stayed silent. Except for Dom who continued to flirt with Emma, but being Emma she refused to respond to his advances. The members of the Foxy Five scowled because an (and I quote) "ugly bitch" got the hot guy's attention.

Then Raoul commented, "This is all very odd. An alternate universe where we're all characters in books. Seems unlikely, but your clothes are strange, and you do seem sure, and we have seen the yellow monster you call a bus. I guess it could be true. It seems you need Numair. He can help you get back, if what you say is true."

"First we have to find our friends."

"Of course," said Raoul. And thus the day went as follows:

Maggie stayed with Raoul all afternoon. They talked and gathered supplies for us. The things they discussed included poetry (humorous poetry, of course), forms of entertainment (Maggie was appalled they could live without Anime), and who the strange man was that brought us here and why.

Dom taught Emma the basics of using a bow and arrow (now she can hit a rock, too), but he was flirting more than teaching. He would wrap his arms around her to help her hold the bow correctly. Unlike most girls Emma didn't hold back with her skills. She
quickly traveled from "I don't know what the Hell I'm doing" to "so that's how you hold it." Dom's praise was over done though, and I think it included hints like, "If you stay in Tortall you will become better than most people." I think that was a little true yet over exaggerated. Emma may refuse now, but she enjoyed her time with Dom. The members of the Foxy Five sat scowling at Emma, until Maggie recruited them to collect more firewood.

I stayed with Kel. She taught me the basics of using a sword (that means I could wield it without hurting myself more than my opponent). At this time Kel was around my age, fourteen. She was much taller though, and I felt like I was in the presence of one of
the most famed people in Tortall. Then I mentally kicked myself, no wonder I felt that way, she soon will be one of the most famed people in Tortall. Kel also showed me ways to help me progress with my sword work. Soon Kel was whisked away by Cleon, who was traveling with the King's Own for a bit. I laughed as Cleon proceeded with his usual pet names to Kel.

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The afternoon flew by, and before we knew it darkness started to fall. The King's Own decided to stay for the night, and two men went out to find food. Emma, Dom, and I decided to join them. Well, actually Emma and I decided to join them, and Dom couldn't
leave Emma. I ended up returning to camp when they said they were hunting deer. I love deer and couldn't see one get killed. Emma and Dom returned with me.

We had veal that night, but the men were nice enough to ready it outside of camp. I have to admit, it was delicious. Then we readied our beds. Emma, Maggie, Maya, Amanda, and I slept in our shelters, while the King's Own had rolls to use. The members of the Freaky Five had a comfortable, warm night, while the Foxy Five built their shelters facing the west, letting the freezing wind into their shelters. I tried to tell them earlier *wink, wink*.

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When we woke up in the morning the King's Own had left, but they left behind a few gifts. Dom had left Emma a bow and a quiver of arrows. Etched into the bow was "For Emma, Love, Dom." I found a very simple sword with a note. "Dear Julianna, I left you this sword to keep practicing with. –Kel." There was also a horse with a
pack on its back. In the pack we found an abundance of supplies and a note. "Dear Maggie, I'm giving you this horse for your journey. Numair is currently visiting Alanna at Pirate's Swoop. I drew you a map. –Raoul." The map was very helpful. It included landmarks like mountains, rivers, forests, and showed us what the best paths were
as well as lines marking the easiest route and the fastest route. We decided to start out tomorrow morning using the easiest route. For the rest of the day we gathered extra firewood, acorn tops (for whistles to contact each other in case we got lost), and we also
made sure every canteen the King's Own left us was filled.

After that was finished the Foxy Five sat and talked for hours, Emma practiced with her bow and arrows, I practiced with my sword, and Maggie was rechecking the supplies.

Looking back on this event I realize that Amanda and Maya didn't really like Dom, they just hated the fact that a handsome man chose an "ugly bitch" over them. I also realize that Maggie was out of character. She's usually impatient and sloppy, but then she was extremely patient (with Amanda and Maya's ignorance) and organized. I guess crisis really does bring out the true person.