Hey guys! I know I haven't updated in a while, but I promise I'll be more efficient this week! But what can I say, you can never rush an artist! Jk guys, please R&R!
It was close to mid afternoon that sunny day, just a few miles North of Wendell's castle. Everything was quiet, until, there came a great noise from the estate. It sounded like an explosion of some sort. Then, coming up over a hill, was a young man riding a brown horse. He turned and looked back at the castle a moment, then kicked his steed and ran off at full speed.
Five miles from Wendell's, Virginia slowly followed behind Wolf, who turned around to help her on. They had been traveling all night. She told him, "I can't go on, I'm too tired! I don't get it, I'm usually good at this!" She sat down on a rock and Wolf sat next to her saying lovingly, "My sweet Virginia, you're changing; you have a little pup growing inside of you, things are gonna be a lot more challenging for you. We have to be extra careful!" "Well, this is gonna be hard. I don't know if I can handle having a baby Wolf!" He put his hand on her stomach and reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll be here to help you. I love you Virginia."
She smiled and kissed him relieved. Then suddenly, she and Wolf remembered, "Leora! Where is she?" Wolf got up and called for her, "Leora! Where are you?" He turned back to Virginia and said, "It's alright, I'll find her! You stay here!" She nodded as he ran off. How could they have stopped when they knew Leora was walking ahead of them?
'Don't stay on the main path' Leora told herself. Wolf said that it was too dangerous to be on the main path towards Wendell's castle. So, staying in the wilderness, Leora walked along. She knew that Virginia and Wolf were behind her, but didn't want to bother them. She somehow had the feeling they had a lot to deal with, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
Ever since last night she felt so strange. Leora had never felt like this before. She was extremely hungry for one, she felt as though she was full of energy, and she felt very sensitive to the things around her. During the night, she realized she could see all the wildlife that was going on, everything bustling about. And she could smell it too, she never could smell things that well before. Also, she had an unbearable headache.
Finding a small creek, Leora bent down for a sip of water. Then, she realized what it was. Leora had forgotten to take her pills! Her aunt had always said to never forget to take them; so, Leora took off her book bag and unclipped it, rummaging about for her medicine. She found the bottle and opened it, but it was empty. This wasn't good, she knew that she needed her pills. She'd always taken them, her aunt told her that she needed them to stay the way she was. Leora was a little confused by it, but the way she felt know knew that this was bad.
She tried walking, but the pain in her head was too great. Then, she began to hear pounding. It grew louder and louder and louder. She couldn't take it anymore! Then, she looked over her shoulder and saw a large brown blob coming straight for her. Leora grew frantic and didn't know what to do. Then suddenly, someone grabbed her and threw her to the ground.
Sitting up, Leora shook her head and her eyes came back in to focus. The pounding had stopped, and she looked over at her rescuer. "What happened?" She asked Wolf. "I saw that idiot riding towards you with his horse! He didn't even see you, he was looking behind him the entire time! There are so many morons around here! So inconsiderate!" Leora got up and dusted herself off, then picked up her bag. "Thank you, sorry I got ahead of you guys. I didn't know where I was."
He walked with her back to Virginia and looked at her worriedly, "Are you alright? You don't look so good?" he asked. "I don't know to be quite honest. I've never felt like this before. I...I have a condition. I've always had to take medication as long as I remember. Well, I just ran out of it!" "Do you know what it was you were taking?" He asked. "No. My aunt said she couldn't tell me, just that it would protect me." She looked around at everything, she could hear so well; birds in the distance, warthogs walking around, and even a fox a mile away. "I think you should sit down."
Wolf took her over to Virginia and she sat down, wiping the sweat off of her forehead. "Who was that maniac on the horse? I saw him go by!" Virginia said. "I don't know, but it looked like he was coming from Wendell's castle." Wolf said. "I'll find us something to eat, the both of you stay put! It's dangerous out here!" He went off to find them some dinner.
"This is great Wolf! I haven't had pork in weeks!" Leora who felt much better was finishing the pork Wolf had made. He gorged down his portion as well. Virginia looked at them curiously and ate hers. "So, could you guys tell me about the eighth kingdom?" Both Virginia and Wolf looked at Leora stunned, "Why do you ask?" "The goblins were talking about it, and what I hear from you two is that you found me on the outside of it, that it's connected with this kingdom by land!"
"How did you hear us say that?" Virginia asked. "We were a good while behind you when we were talking." They looked at her curiously and Leora shrugged and said, "I just have good hearing, that's all." Virginia nodded, but Wolf eyed her suspiciously and asked, "You want to know the story of the eighth kingdom?" Leora's eyes widened and she nodded.
Wolf sighed and began, "You know the story of Sleeping Beauty don't you? Well, she ruled the Eighth Kingdom for many years with her husband, King Phillip. It was once the greenest and most prosperous of all the Kingdoms. Then, long after the Sleeping Queen died, her granddaughter took the throne from her mother. Everything was grand until Molefescent, the evil fairy witch that was the enemy of Sleeping Beauty took control of the kingdom. Molefescent took over and is threatened by all kingdoms. Rumor has it that she took over and killed the entire royal family. The true heirs to the throne were never found, and she has covered this once beautiful land with an icy winter that never ends.
"Sleeping Beauties great-granddaughter and only heir to the throne is still missing. Molefescent turned the Sleeping Queen's castle into the Ice Palace. And, she had the famous Ice Mirror, which it is said is the true source of her power. Only a true heir to the Eighth Kingdom throne can destroy this mirror and her icy spell. However, no one believes that there even is a great-granddaughter of Sleeping Beauty. And, even if there was, no one could defeat Molefescent. The Ice mirror was once partially broken, and if a piece of this mirror were to enter your eye, your heart would grow ice cold! You would go into an eternal sleep, never to wake up. The Ice Palace is where Molefescent remains, as the dreaded Snow Queen."
Leora couldn't believe it, it was just like a fairytale story. But apparently, it was real. So, she asked him, "Why does no one think that there could still be an heir out there? Shouldn't the granddaughter of Sleeping Beauty had a daughter or son?" "From what I've been told, Rose, the previous Sleeping Queen, never married. It was rumored that she had a lover, but that would be impossible; no royalty has ever given birth outside of the family. Especially if they weren't married. If she had a child, no one would know about it. There isn't a great-granddaughter of Sleeping Beauty, it would just be too improbable; it would be a miracle if we did, though. But that's only a dream isn't it?"
Virginia held Wolf's hand and said, "I never knew about that. I never knew about that kingdom. Why didn't Wendell tell us? Isn't he going to do something about it?" "He can't," Wolf explained, "No one can. Molefescent is too powerful for anyone. The only one that ever has was the great King Phillip, and that was a long time ago, back when he was a prince. It would have to be someone that was blood-related. It's just how the story goes." Looking over the fire, Wolf saw that Leora wasn't there anymore. He stood up and went to find her.
It didn't take him long however, she was sitting on the edge of a pond looking up at the almost full moon. "Hey." Wolf said as he sat down next to her. She didn't acknowledge him. So, he continued, "Are you alright? From the looks of things, you're still trying to take this all in." Leora finally looked over at him and said, "I'm just a little overwhelmed that's all. I'll be okay." He nodded and then put a hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry about you aunt. I know she meant a lot to you." "She did, but I know she wants be to be safe. Looks like I found the right people." He chuckled and looked up at the moon. "It's beautiful isn't it?" She told him. "It is." Wolf replied.
"Oh, by the way, congratulations on the baby! Must be only a couple weeks right? Virginia doesn't seem to far along yet!" Wolf smiled and answered, "Yeah, not that far. But I'm anxious though! So, when did Virginia tell you the good news?" Leora grinned at the moon, smoothed her hand through her long flowing hair and replied, "She didn't." Then, she stood up and left Wolf sitting at the pond. Strange things were happening.