Layla

  I decided to go out of my way to visit the Fairy Ocean. I knew there was not going to be any fairies around, but it had the healing power of any fairy, thus the name, Fairy Ocean. Luckily it was only a few miles out of the way.

  Suddenly, a familiar voice filled the air. Two, in fact. I stopped Clupint and tied him to a tree. Hiding myself about fifty feet away from the horse and the monkey, I tried to decipher whose the voices were. After I was safely tucked away, I realized who it was as soon as they came into view.

  The two soldiers.

  This time, the soldiers weren't talking about me. Ten other men followed them all dressed the same. Their black steeds tossed their heads and stomped their feet impatiently. The tallest soldier had signaled everyone to stop.

  "Someone did. I know it!" The commander exclaimed angrily. Someone did what? "If we are being followed, it will be one of your heads." The men stroked their necks protectively.

  Had they heard me? Was that what he was angry about? Luckily I wasn't in a bush with thorns this time. But leaves were easy to rustle; the most tender touch could make a noise that would give me away. I sucked in my breath. But I couldn't hold my breath forever! I felt myself turn purple as I watched the angry man.

  "We will not move on until the culprit is found." The commander was clearly determined.

  Then what I feared happened. I let my breath go, panting loudly. Of course I was heard. I had no doubt that I was going to be pulled harshly out of my resting place.

  Please let my dress be really dirty! I prayed. They can't know who I am!!!

  I drew my hands close to my mouth and started whimpering as I was held half off the ground by my arm. I made my eyes bulge out of my face.

  "What have we here?" The commander sniggered.

  I made my voice stammer. "P-p-lease, I d-didn't mean, I wasn't doin' nothin', t-truly!"

  The robust men burst out laughing. I had fooled them. Pride swelled up into my throat, but I swallowed it. I couldn't give myself away after duping them so quickly.

  I started to chew on my tongue. I watched the commander as his laughter turned into a shriek of disgust. "Get out!" He took me by surprise. But the fierceness in his voice left me no choice but to scurry off, leaving my carpet bag in the leaves.

  I ran off about half a mile before jumping into the safety of the trees. But I had to get back to my carpetbag! I wasn't worried about my animals; the soldiers had already passed them. But if they found the carpetbag I was done for.

  My hands caught spider webs as I dug my way through the trees. The leaves crackled loudly. Nervous, I stopped. I couldn't make a scene. I didn't want them to know I was coming back, that I had left something. They would most certainly hold me captive and find the carpetbag. They would find the spotters, and my sword and scabbard that were packed into the bag. Then they would most certainly know who I was.

  A bee buzzed past my ear. It left a trail of thoughts for my mind to catch, thoughts of hurrying so I could get the bag and be on my way to the waters. Thinking about my wound caused it to start pounding. I brushed my hand over it to feel how it fared, clenching my teeth in anguish. It was doing no better.

  Finally I spotted the place where I had left my bag. It was about sixty feet from where I stood. The soldiers were even closer. One soldier started nearing the carpetbag's hiding spot! "Hey, sir, look!" My stomach tossed itself over, leaving my face green as he pulled it out of the leaves. Waves of doom washed over me.

  "Must be the girl's. Stick it on the back of my horse," the commander replied.

  "Can't I see what's inside it?" he begged. I shook my head back and forth, violently, until it ached with all the powers of darkness.

  "No! We don't have time, you dimwit. Now do as I say!" He kicked at his horse impatiently.

  So they had the bag, but had not yet looked inside. Fate was working neither my way nor their way. I held my breath and followed the pack which was headed in the opposite direction of the waters, of course. Fast, too. It did not take long for my feet to start aching. Huffing and puffing, I jogged after them in the woods as quietly as I could. The soles on my boots started flapping, and rubbish started filling my shoes. I could feel blisters forming, but I could not stop to mourn. I had to get my carpetbag. If they found out it was me, it could endanger all of Tentaleigh! I could be held for ransom or something worse. But my head was too drained to think of anything worse. I just knew that I had to get it back.

  A root stuck itself out rudely right in front of me, knocking me to the ground. My ankle twisted all the way around, but I didn't hear it snap. But it hurt like it had. For a second I thought I saw my life flashing before my eyes, but then I realized it was just helpless tears streaming down liberally. And it was just a sprained ankle. Thoughts of dread and anguish tried to push away the pain with little success. I looked at my ankle, trapped under the root, and twisted all the way around. It was swelling noticeably, and the circulation was sure to be cut off if I didn't get it out from under the root.

  If I tugged, I would scream from torment. But if I didn't, I wasn't sure what would happen. I was on my own. I had to make my own life or limb-saving decisions. My ankle was already the size of an orange. I winced every time I looked at it. But nonetheless, I had to look at it as I pulled the root from the ground to free my ankle.

  Remembering that I was on a mission, I looked up to see how far the soldiers had gotten. They were grapes in the distance. Why was I thinking about food?

  "No! We are late already." I heard them shouting in the distance. "We have a whole day to make up. We won't stop. Not tonight!"

  My heart fell to my feet. I would have to run to catch up! My ankle throbbed as I forced it to move. I tried walking on one foot, but I nearly fell over. I grabbed a vine to keep my balance, and regrettably it was full of thorns. My hand slid down, still with a firm grip on it. The pain tingled in my hand.

  I stumbled as fast as I could, rushing one leg and letting the other go as sluggish as it pleased. My good leg caught under a vine that rested snugly in the ground and tripped. Not wanting to twist the other ankle, I slammed my bad leg down to keep myself from falling. A surge of unbearable pain shot up my leg and knocked me to the ground. I put my fingers in my mouth and bit as hard as I could. My head started throbbing, and my stomach whipped around in circles inside my body. Distant voices started up, but I could barely make them out. Everything started fading.

  "Fine! ?double time in the morning. Tomorrow then? fast? now go?"

  And I drifted into an agonizing swoon.