The sun had not yet risen when Alex woke. She decided that they
should leave at first light. She didn't see Hawk anywhere and assumed he
had got up before her. Alex undid all her braids and used the bone-toothed
comb Reyne had given her. She had to stand up to brush it so her hair
wouldn't drag on the ground. Alex never knew why her hair grew so long. She
remembered when she was little her mother tried to cut it to her shoulders
when it had reached her butt. The next day her hair was long again. Alex
was sure it was just her imagination, that she just thought she remembered
it. Hair didn't grow that fast.
"Oh well," Alex thought. Her child hood was full of strange and mysterious. One time she was at the zoo with her class. They were watching this guy on the stage with a wolf. Alex had never seen a wolf in real life before and thought it was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. The animal and the trainer stayed on the stage for a few minutes after the show while everyone was leaving. A stranger grabbed Alex and was going to take her away with him. Frightened she screamed. The wolf broke from its chain and attacked the guy who had Alex. Latter the trainer told Alex that it was odd for the wolf to do that since it was used to people screaming and was too wild to protect people. The wolf came up o Alex and she scratched it behind the ears like a domestic dog.
Alex was too deep in thought to notice when Hawk came up beside her. She jumped when she did notice him, then she smiled sheepishly.
"You wake early," he noted.
"I was always fond of the sun rise. Though, you can't see it in the forest."
"We will be setting out soon. The sun is to rise shortly. Your friend will have to be woken up."
"What of our packs?"
Hawk smiled, "The horses are ready and the packs are on them. We are almost ready to leave.
............................................................................................................
The woods seemed to last forever. Tori had no idea why Alex loved them so much. Every time Tori looked at Alex she seemed like she was in Heaven. She was even talking to that man with the scar. He had Alex's hand in his own, the one with the ring. The ring! Tori had forgot about the ring. It had been quiet the whole time at the camp. Was it dead? Or had the magic run out? Tori wondered how long it would be before they reached Wendell's castle. When they did, would they meet an evil Queen or a friend who would let them go home? If they did meet an evil Queen, would she kill them? Would the Queen give them a chance to leave if they promised not to bug the Queen? There were so many questions and no answers. Tori knew one thing; she didn't like it here at all.
............................................................................................................
The Queen was frustrated. Nothing she did would bring the two princesses into focus. All she saw was a swirl of colors in the shape of two women. But another had joined them. This one she could see. "It is you again my Hunter," The Queen smiled, "Yes, all might not be lost. You won't remember me, but I will never forget you."
A handsome man came into the chambers. He was dressed in an immaculate suit. He was the King, King William. "My love, your army has yet to recover the princesses. Let me go get them for you."
"No, it is not proper for a King to go out. Besides, the Hunter is with them. I do not want you near him. They seem to be headed this way. Let them come. Then I shall destroy them.
"Oh well," Alex thought. Her child hood was full of strange and mysterious. One time she was at the zoo with her class. They were watching this guy on the stage with a wolf. Alex had never seen a wolf in real life before and thought it was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. The animal and the trainer stayed on the stage for a few minutes after the show while everyone was leaving. A stranger grabbed Alex and was going to take her away with him. Frightened she screamed. The wolf broke from its chain and attacked the guy who had Alex. Latter the trainer told Alex that it was odd for the wolf to do that since it was used to people screaming and was too wild to protect people. The wolf came up o Alex and she scratched it behind the ears like a domestic dog.
Alex was too deep in thought to notice when Hawk came up beside her. She jumped when she did notice him, then she smiled sheepishly.
"You wake early," he noted.
"I was always fond of the sun rise. Though, you can't see it in the forest."
"We will be setting out soon. The sun is to rise shortly. Your friend will have to be woken up."
"What of our packs?"
Hawk smiled, "The horses are ready and the packs are on them. We are almost ready to leave.
............................................................................................................
The woods seemed to last forever. Tori had no idea why Alex loved them so much. Every time Tori looked at Alex she seemed like she was in Heaven. She was even talking to that man with the scar. He had Alex's hand in his own, the one with the ring. The ring! Tori had forgot about the ring. It had been quiet the whole time at the camp. Was it dead? Or had the magic run out? Tori wondered how long it would be before they reached Wendell's castle. When they did, would they meet an evil Queen or a friend who would let them go home? If they did meet an evil Queen, would she kill them? Would the Queen give them a chance to leave if they promised not to bug the Queen? There were so many questions and no answers. Tori knew one thing; she didn't like it here at all.
............................................................................................................
The Queen was frustrated. Nothing she did would bring the two princesses into focus. All she saw was a swirl of colors in the shape of two women. But another had joined them. This one she could see. "It is you again my Hunter," The Queen smiled, "Yes, all might not be lost. You won't remember me, but I will never forget you."
A handsome man came into the chambers. He was dressed in an immaculate suit. He was the King, King William. "My love, your army has yet to recover the princesses. Let me go get them for you."
"No, it is not proper for a King to go out. Besides, the Hunter is with them. I do not want you near him. They seem to be headed this way. Let them come. Then I shall destroy them.