"Grandpa!" Linda leapt through the portal that led from central park to Wendell's castle in the 4th kingdom and lunged for Virginia's father, Tony. Tony smiled warmly as his only grandchild gave him a sudden embrace and returned the gesture. She then withdrew as Wolf and Virginia came through the mirror. Wolf looked distracted to Tony as he bounced on his heels. Virginia smiled at her father giving him a tight hug. "O dad its nice to see you again." Tony grinned at his daughter "Nice to see you too"
Suddenly Linda's voice called out "Uncle Wendell it's a pleasure to see you again". Tony turned his head hearing Linda's strange greeting to see the king as he walked into the room. He looked disheveled and distant, his right hand tightly clutching a small piece of parchment. 'I wonder what's eating him?' Tony was curious since the king usually was much more cheery. Wendell looked about the room and smiled as he heard the familiar voice of his niece which broke him from his trance, Virginia and Wolf were there as well, 'good' he thought. "Hello Linda" then nodding his head in Virginia and Wolf's direction " Virginia, Wolf, Tony if I could I would like to speak with you, now if possible?" he was hopeful that they would say yes but as he said the words he watched Wolf visibly diminish.
"Could this wait till the morning Wendell" Wolf was pleading with his eyes, begging to be able to run and disappear into the night. "What about me? Am I included in this little meeting in the morning?" He stole a glance to see Linda looking both annoyed and pleading. Wendell could hardly stand the puppyish face on her and sighed loudly "Fine then but please be back around sunrise, both of you." Wolf nodded and Linda smiled. He turned on his heels giving Virginia a kiss and he and his daughter left the room and disappeared around the corner before anyone could say another thing. "If there were any track coaches around those two would have been recruited in an instant." Tony said. Wendell sighed again and looked at Virginia 'Perhaps I could at least tell her' Wendell thought. "Umm Virginia, Tony"
"Yes Wendell" they answered at the same time. "I was wondering if perhaps you could meet me in about an hour in my study." Virginia nodded "Sure Wendell but what is this about?" Wendell sighed again "I think it may have something to do with your husband and daughter." Tony began spit out questions faster then Wendell could even decipher. "Aretheyindanger? Iftheyarethenwhydidyouletthemleave? What'sgoingon?" Tony was clearly worried as was Virginia. Wendell was sighing for the what felt like the hundredth time. "I'll tell you everything in an hour. Now if you excuse me I have something I need to attend to." he smiled as he left and went down the hall leaving a confused Virginia and Tony.
In the Second Kingdom
"Queen Riding Hood?" a servant stuck his head through the doors that led to the queen's private chambers. He was nervous and prayed that the queen was in a semi-passive mood. The members of house of red was known for their extreme temper.
"Yes?" Queen riding hood appeared around the corner wearing her traditional cloak of red. She seemed calm but the servant still was nervous. "I'm afraid I have some bad news your highness." She looked expectantly at him.
"It's about the wolves" her face contorted with disgust. "Those beasts have become more and more troublesome thanks to that no good Wolf." she spat out the last word like it was rancid milk.
The servant shivered "Well funny you mentioned him because he's part of the problem. You see there are rumors that you and Wolf have some form of family relationship." The queen's eyes grew big in worry before she could recompose herself.
"That is foolish, the house of red would never associate with wolves." though her voice lacked the usual confidence that it had. "Yes your majesty but if the wolves do believe the rumor then Wolf's daughter may be brought before the throne. Especially since your only successor is your son and the house of red can only have a queen as ruler." The queen growled.
"Yes that would be bad. Your dismissed." She sighed as she turned away from the door. The servant fled from the door with a sigh of relieve. 'If anyone found out about Wolf's relation to me then my entire kingdom will go to ruin. I must find a way to stop this.' she paced the room uneasy thinking until she paused at the balcony the full moon hung heavily in the sky.
Wolf and Linda had left the castle in record time. Wolf smiled at his daughter and grabbed her in his arms spinning her around. Linda smiled and pulled out her redish brown tail so that it wagged back and forth freely Wolf doing the same thing. The two darted through the trees like fire was licking at their heels howling in pleasure and enjoying the night. They collapsed upon the ground exhausted and stared up into the dark sky. The cool light of the pale moon shone down through the forest.
A snap rang through the forest and Linda jumped in fear as did Wolf. Shadows began to detach themselves from the trees and surrounded the two. The next event happened in a blur. Linda only really distinguished a thud which rang through the trees as her fathers form crumpled to the floor and a throbbing pain in her head a second later as her legs gave way and blackness consumed her.
Authors Notes:
Sorry this took me longer to write thanI thought. It was harder to write thanI thought. Hopefully the next chapter comes sooner! Please read and review.