Danielle stared at the new girl who was crying not far from where she sat in a similar situation. When the brunette had appeared out of nowhere she had been facing away from Dan but the way she crumpled and sobbed there were tears undoubtedly falling from her eyes. Dan had actually stopped crying out of curiosity. It was the one thing other than tears that Dan seemed to never run out of.
She was curious for example as to how she had gotten here. Here had happened as Dan had walked out of her bedroom to go find more tissues. A beautiful grassy meadow was not the upstairs hall she distinctly remembered. Oddly enough Dan's makeup bag and jewelry box and appeared on the grass in front of her shortly after her appearance. She left them there while going to inspect her companion.
A small tap on her shoulder startled Susan. She regained her composure quickly though wiping the tear from her cheeks. Turning around slowly she met the eyes of a girl with tear-dried cheeks. The girl seemed about Susan's own age with big blue-gray eyes and slightly frizzy, wavy, shoulder length blond hair. She had a pleasant, oddly calm face that almost radiated curiosity.
"Danielle," The blond said confidently sticking out her hand. "Dan, or Dani for short though."
Susan was almost startled by her abrupt American accent. Susan hadn't met many Americans.
"Susan," She said slowly picking up some of the curiosity from the other girl.
"British?" Dan asked almost immediately after Susan finished her name.
"Yes, actually. And you're American?"
"Right on," Dan replied nodding. Then she gestured to the meadow around them. "You know where here is?"
Susan took her surroundings in for the first time. It was a simple countryside meadow. A tall oak stood not far from where they sat and a pink-blossomed tree not far from the oak. A brown hare sat nibbling on something at the edge of the grass. Susan looked back at the blond and shook her head.
Dan shrugged and crossed her legs Indian style. Susan took another chance to examine the girl. Her outfit was peculiar in that she wore an oddly woven sort of blue britches and a large black hooded jumper.
"So, what's your story?"
Susan almost felt pried upon as the girl asked. Susan was used to opening her mouth to be heard but it felt uncomfortable sharing her family's death with a stranger. It was private to her in a way she couldn't explain. But then again if this all was just a dream then there was no hurt in explaining her pain. It was beyond her why she would have chosen an American girl to come and comfort her. Not to mention she didn't know anyone named Danielle. This all seemed so strange to her.
Dan stared at the odd Brit wondered if she would ever answer her question. Dan decided to end the awkward silence but filling it as quickly as possible. "Well… I don't know how we got here, but in my opinion I probably just tripped over one of my brothers toys leaving my room and fell down the stairs. Then I blacked out from the fall and am dreaming of a pretty straight-haired brunette crying because I always wished I had pretty straight hair like the brunettes at school. Not to mention I always thought accents were pretty cool. That explains the British nationality. I have to admit though that it's odd my subconscious would choose British over say Irish or Scottish, which would have been my obvious choice.
"Goes to show how much the subconscious mind differs from the conscious one. I'm not even going to try to explain the dress because I really have not idea on that one. I've always been a bit of a tomboy myself. I'm boy crazy. What can I say?"
"Then why am I crying?" Susan suddenly asked strength had replaced uncertainty in her eyes. Dan stared at her for several seconds after being cut off.
"I think the way my eyeliner is all over my face can answer that." Dan smiled as if there were no other explanation needed. She suddenly stood up and offered her hand to Susan.
Susan just stared at Dan as if the other girl should explain her actions quickly. Dan shrugged and walked over to another part of the meadow before picking something up and heading in a different direction. Susan sighed and stood up. She very much did not want to be left alone and Dan seemed good-natured enough.
"Where are you going?" Susan half yelled picking up her bow and quiver only to notice her horn as well. Susan strapped them all to her body before running after the other girl.
"To find somewhere to make myself more presentable." Dan replied as soon as Susan had caught up. "I mean what if we run into some cute dream boys. I wouldn't want my makeup all messed up. I might scare him away before I even got introduced."
Susan sighed and inwardly agreed. She felt like she could connect with Dan on that matter.
They walked in silence for several minutes before Dan took off into a run. Susan let out an exasperated groan before heading after her again. It was several minutes before Susan was finally running equal with the other girl. Then Dan began to sprint ahead as if challenging Susan to pull ahead. Susan's breath was ragged but she kept her pace. It was several more minutes before she collapsed where Dan had stopped at a small creek.
Both girls lay on the ground panting. Dan sat up for that she was leaning on her elbows.
"I love to run when it's not forced on me," Dan smiled despite her lack of breath. Susan grunted in reply.
"If this is a dream then why are we out of breath?" Susan finally asked after a number of seconds of silence and between haggard breaths.
"I must dreaming or pinch me to waking," Dan returned pinching Susan hard on the arm.
"Owe!"
"Did it hurt?" Dan asked seriously as if the odd girl hadn't heard Susan cry out in pain.
"Yes!" An indignant Susan sulked.
"Then we may not be dreaming. Try pinching me." Dan held out her arm expectantly.
Susan pinched it as hard as she could in search of revenge.
"I guess we're not dreaming then," Dan sighed and sat up all the way. She gave no other inclination that it had caused her pain. "It's more important than ever that we look out best isn't it?"
"What are you going on about now?" Susan wasn't sure she liked this adventurous young woman and wished she'd find a happy medium between never shutting up and the awkward silences.
"Well if we're not dreaming then the cute boys will not be dreams either and I don't know about you but I don't want mascara all over my face if and when boys show up." Dan had a box and bag in front of her. She unzipped the bag and pulled out a course handkerchief with pink designs.
She dunked the handkerchief into the water and used began to wash her face. When she seemed satisfied with her job she reached over to her bag and pulled out a mirror. After careful examination she gave her face a few more good scrubs then offered the mirror and handkerchief to the on-looking Susan. Susan took it and began to repeat the process herself. Their faces clean and refreshed Dan noticed Susan's quiver.
"Oh so not fair," the girl whined sitting down her legs crossed Indian style again.
"What?" Susan knew she would probably find out anyway.
"You get a bow and arrow and what do I get? My makeup bag and jewelry box! What am I supposed to do with my makeup bag and jewelry box?" Dan was pouting but had noticed the horn and grabbed it before Susan could stop her. She gave it a fierce blow before Susan could wrestle it back.
"What if someone heard that and is coming to give us trouble!" Susan yelled.
"Don't worry I wouldn't have blown it if I didn't still think this was a dream," Dan shrugged laying back into the grassy hillside and closed her eyes.
Susan fumed standing up fear playing on her features as the distant sound of hooves and dogs yelping sounded in the distance. She glared down at Dan.
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Frou Frou owns the phrase "I must dreaming or pinch me to waking", from their song I Must Be Dreaming which Dan quotes in this chapter. Thank you Aangsgal you were my inspiration in finishing this chapter. Just after I uploaded this chapter I realized that from the summary it might appear that this was a romance and that the pairings were unclear. I'd like to clarify that this is not DanXSusan and that I will reveal the male portions of the pairings later.