On the Notepad:
1. I have thoroughly enjoyed thinking up this story, and I hope, as of yet, I will not lose my inspiration for it. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, it all belongs to C.S. Lewis. I am not doing this for profit, merely my own benefit. If it were mine, I would be uber rich, and a genius on top of it. Not to mention surrounded by Centaurs, and Fauns, and Talking Beasts, and...
The Emerald Princess
Prologue: Of Centaurs and Foxes
Snow crunched underneath Falin's iron-shod hooves. Tugging briefly on his tied back, black mane, he swished his black tail.
"Dealix, we've been searching for hours. Surely, by now, your nose must be blue?" The Centaur smiled and joked, "Can you even smell anymore?"
From around the corner of a snow-covered pine, a Red Fox appeared.
"I can smell just fine, I'll have you know," he haughtily grinned. "But no one's been in the Lantern Waste for years. I can assure you, the only smells I'm getting are those of pine. Not even Wolf scents."
"Hush," Falin tensed. His pointed ears twitched, but after a moment he snorted and shook himself. "Do remember, Dealix, that we are in enemy territory. Wolves are a very likely possibility."
The Fox rolled his brown eyes in annoyance, but it was clear that he understood the threat. With a flash of red, he leapt onto the Centaur's black coat, and sat on his rump.
"It's been 93 years since the Golden Age of Narnia, and now someone thinks our rescue is at hand?" Dealix huffed. "We certainly aren't going to find a Son of Adam or a Daughter of Eve in a place like this. Nothing's been here for years. I do hope the other scouts are having better luck than we are."
Sighing, Falin reached around and readjusted the saddle pouches across his withers. "Maybe you're right. We've almost covered our entire territory, and then we can report back to Roanon. I doubt one more night will kill us."
As the Centaur began to trot through the pines, Dealix yawned.
"Do remember, Falin, that we are in enemy territory," he said mockingly.
Falin let out a laugh. "Well, I'm sure that cold and numb nose of yours will smell out any enemy that comes too near." He broke into a canter, enjoying the feel of the wind, bitterly cold though it was, through his mane. Looking back over his shoulder, Falin questioned the Fox. "Do you smell anything yet?"
Dealix skillfully maneuvered his way onto the cantering Centaur's human shoulder. Raising his nose, he took a deep breath of winter air.
"Nope." He breathed again, and then almost hesitantly, a third time. "Wait…there's a strange scent…" The Fox frowned and opened his eyes, in time to catch Falin, who was watching him, about to run over something in their path.
"Falin look out!"
The Centaur reared, attempting to stop himself. Dealix, unable to keep his balance, fell from his perch and landed with a thud in the snow. Falin's hooves landed inches away from the "thing" splayed on the ground, and he stared, stiff-legged at it.
"You big idiot!" Dealix roared, struggling to all fours and shaking the cold flakes from his coat. "Next time you get the idea to take your eyes off the road, I'll--"
Unfortunately, it was never found out just what the Fox would do, because at that moment, he noticed what had captured Falin's attention.
"It's a-a…" Dealix sputtered.
"A Daughter of Eve," breathed Falin.
There, in the midst of the Lantern Waste, was a girl of about sixteen. Short, copper hair fell about her freckled face in layers, and her breath rose in small, barely visible puffs. She had an athletic body and muscular body, that lay limp on the frozen ground.
"She's dressed strangely," Dealix muttered, raising dark paws to feel the girl's clothing.
"How would you know how humans dress?" Falin asked. "No one's seen one in 93 years." Frowning, the Centaur stepped forward, and reached a hand down to one of several dark stains on the material, then stamped a hoof sharply. "She's injured," he pointed to the blood spots. "Not to mention," he added, "she's extremely cold, and we must get her back to Roanon."
The Fox observed the girl's blue lips, and her tiny shivers. "Of course. The other scouts will want to return to camp too, now that we found what we're looking for." In spite of the situation, the two friends smiled at each other, and Falin lifted the girl out of the snow. Dealix returned to his spot on the Centaur's black back.
As Falin altered his course, and cantered towards camp, (both eyes forward this time) Dealix chuckled.
"I'm sure Her Majesty, will be grateful for you nearly running her over, Falin. It did save her life, after all."
The Centaur whinned.
"It certainly did."
The Bottom of the Notepad:
1. Pardon the shortness, but it's late and I plan on posting tomorrow. I have an excuse this time.