What do I have to say for myself…? I've been gone… A very long time. I know. I gave this to my beta like a month ago… And… Well… She got it back to me… But, I had to do a lot of things to make it better in her eyes.

It's been awhile, so here is a rewind:

Woman (later revealed to be Felicity) is chased by a mob. She is captured, and our main character Adele goes and visits her. Against the orders of Claudia, the princess. We left off with Felicity placing her hands on Adele's eyes… DUN DUN DUN!

The Story Hands

Chapter 3

And then, then, I was in darkness. Complete darkness. I felt a bit tingly, and I was really confused. But scared? Hardly...

When Adele's mind had managed to regain itself, she felt a cold breeze almost knock her over. Her stomach lurched, still a bit queasy from whatever Felicity had done to her..

But what did happen?

The breeze seemed to calm down, caressing her face.

It's such a nice breeze. Usually, we only get breeze's like this in the Spring -

Adele's eyes flew open. I was in a prison cell! Natural light couldn't get in, let alone wind! She found herself staring at large sloping mountains all around her. She seemed to be standing in a valley, greenery blossoming from all angles. Pine trees shot upward to the sun. Oaks and willows lazily twirled in the breeze beside berry bushes, lilacs, lilys, and many others. The sound of a river could be heard in the distance.

How did I get here? Am I dreaming? I have to be!

"Oh, good! You made the trip in one piece." Felicity's voice rose over the wind, happier than it had been before. "I do enjoy the mountains," She took in a large breath of air, "much better compared to the rancid stink of the prison."

Adele stared at the old woman in horror. "How are you in my dream?" Accusation rang through her voice, and she couldn't help but doubt her judgment before. Perhaps she is a witch…

Felicity, still in possession of the bizarre laugh, started a hysterical fit.

"Stop it!" Adele cried out, facing the woman in a rage, "This isn't funny! Where the heck are we?"

A few guffaws later, Felicity responded, "Adele, do calm down. You will make the locals nervous."

Suddenly Adele became suspicious of her surroundings. Locals? How… I've never dreamed anything about locals...? My mind couldn't have made something like that up! No… She drew in a deep breath, It must have. This is just a weird dream. Everything will be okay when I wake up.

A hand grabbed Adele's wrist, "Come on," Felicity's voice echoed in the valley, "We have to hurry! The Story Hand Tribe are waiting for you!"

"…What?" Adele shook her head, just as she shook herself free of the loose grasp the old woman had on her, "What are you talking about? This is MY dream! I don't have to do anything with you!"

"No time to explain." Felicity, seeming not to have heard Adele, only snatched her wrist again and tugged the young maid through the valley. "They will be very pleased to meet you! They have been waiting for a very long time, you know. You should have come earlier."

"I should have what?" Frustration unleashed itself through her voice, though she didn't fight Felicity's grip. She certainly did not wish to be left alone here. Even if it was a just a dream.

She was pulled into a long sloping trail, trees towering above her head, their massive branches swaying in the breeze. In the grounds below them, little animals chattered. Flowers bloomed happily, joyfully excepting the small amount of sunlight they received, considering they were tucked under the trees. Nestled away in the shade.

Above them, Adele could see a bright sun, showering all she saw in sunlight.

But how…? That is impossible! This looks like a summer sun! We're in fall!Taking in a deep breath, Adele gave herself a conclusion that was acceptable for the moment, Just a dream. This is nothing but a dream. Oddly, she only slightly excepted this answer to her confusion, doubting any of her opinions at the moment.

Felicity continued to drag her upon the trail, until they had walked at least a mile. Adele was tiring, being a ladies maid meant that she didn't have to do this much physical exercise. Surprisingly, Felicity seemed to be growing more energetic with each passing step.

"No dream should take this long to get somewhere," Adele muttered under her breath. This was a perfectly logical thought, but she was quick to try and dismiss it, after all, it went against her answers.

"Dream?" Amusement and delight were released in that one word, she seemed to be getting happier with every step as well. "You cannot seriously think this is a dream. Have you ever had such a detailed dream?"

With a roll of her eyes, Adele hissed, "I see no details! This is just like a normal dream!" I am not lying to myself! She knew, somewhere in the back of her head, that she was getting irritable because Felicity was dissolving her conclusion. But, she forced this knowledge from her brain.

"Look at that tree over there." Felicity's voice was a very aggravating calm, "Every branch has pine needles on them. Look at each pine needle. Some are older, more brown, than others, while some are a new and lively green. There are the longer, older ones. Several bugs can be seen upon these." Taking in a triumphant breath, she continued, "Tell me, are these not details…?"

Adele thought about this. Never before had she had such details in any of her dreams. She had never seen vegitation in any of her dreams before anyways. But, the sounds, the sights, everything was so... Impossible for a dream.

Embarrassed at how easily she had been disproved, Adele refused to respond. The two walked on the seemingly continuous path for a little while more. Though, to Adele, it felt like an eternity.

They found themselves winding around yet another hill, but the moment it had been done, a strange sight revealed itself. Adele found herself staring up ahead the path's ending. A large village, the only words she could describe it as, lay ahead.

The houses were made of sticks, or what looked to be sticks. For ceilings they had a variety of greenery; grasses, leaves, branches. Mud caked the houses, perhaps it holds the houses together…?

Her voice was breathless with fascination as Adele spoke, "What is this place? Where are we?"

"All in good time, will these answers come, dear." She sounded horribly giddy.

As they came closer, villagers became visible. They were horrifying, terrifying, and fascinating. All at the same time. For clothes, they all had a variety of grasses and leaves. Their lower half, this included men and women, were covered by long grass that fell to their knees!

This went against all of Adele's upbringing! Woman should be covered all of the time, by as many garments as they could. Seeing an ankle was both horrifying and considerably blasphemous.

For tops, Adele shuddered at the sight, woman had a large tree branch that had been warped to wrap around their shoulders. Hanging in tied knots all of the way down, were more grasses and leaves. Men wore nothing on there upper half.

Slight color began to arise into Adele's cheeks, and she avoided looking at these shameless people. It was Felicity's voice that dragged her out of her personal horror zone.

"I am one of them." Such calmness unleashed itself through these words. It seemed so impossible, so horrifying.

Shaking, Adele stopped walking, "You're one of them?" Terror and panic sprang from her own voice, "You are one of those disgusting blas-"

"Stop your judging." Anger shot from her voice, "You sound like the biggest hypocrite I have ever met!" Felicity stopped walking and faced Adele. Her wrinkles had warped into angry lines, her eyes flashed with hatred, "You sounded different from the other peasants! You sounded like you were the one I needed! You are a liar! You've already judged these people, yet, you do not know them! They wear strange clothes, they must be sinful, is that what you think? No! You gave them no chance." She stepped closer to Adele, reaching out her hands. "I was wrong about you." Her voice quivered in disgust as she tried to press her hands on Adele's face.

Backing away from the old woman, Adele stumbled over a root that had not been behind her foot before. "Calm down! I said one thing! You have no right to yell at me. You say I'm the one judging, what of you? You jumped on my throat like a crazed dog starving for food just now." Drawing in a breath to calm herself, and straightening her posture, she continued, "You are the hypocrite. Not I."

They stared at each other for another eternity, in Adele's mind anyway. Their eyes locked in a combat, determined to defeat the other.

Finally, Felicity's voice filled the air around them. "So I am." Sadness tinged the depths of her mournful tone, her eyes were weary and tired. "I have lived among your people for far too long." She turned herself back to the strange houses and people. "You have pointed out my wrongs, hopefully you realize your own."

Adele didn't bother to speak to the woman of the subject, she was beyond sick of it. Instead she announced, "Who… Or what are these people?"

The answer was as confusing as everything else in this 'dream.' "The Story Hands Tribe."

Thanks for reading this! I'm hoping that your reviews will pump me up for this again!

I'm REALLY sorry though! Oh, Backroads… YOU ARE AMAZING! You gave me one of the best reviews I have ever had for last chapter! THANK-YOU!