back, again | prince caspian

four

A sudden, uneven jolt pushed through the haze of my dreams, and I felt my body sway before settling again. I groaned immediately, rolling onto my side and dragging the blanket over my head, clinging to the last traces of warmth like a lifeline. My muscles ached pleasantly from yesterday's ride, my mind still floating between sleep and the memory of Caspian's steady breathing as I had dozed off against his back.

"Wake up! Wake up!"

A voice cut sharply through the slow fog wrapping my thoughts.

I burrowed deeper. "Five more minutes..." I mumbled into the blanket.

"No, no, absolutely not," another voice chimed—lower, mildly irritated. "Let me shove her. It'll work faster."

My eyes snapped open instantly.

There they were.

Lucy stood with her hands clasped behind her back, rocking impatiently from heel to toe. Edmund hovered beside her, arms folded, feigning casual innocence. A golden beam of morning sunlight slanted behind them, making their silhouettes look far too energized for this ungodly hour.

"What is happening?" I muttered as I pushed myself upright, limbs heavy and mind slower than molasses.

Lucy leaned forward eagerly. "We had to wake you before you missed anything!"

"And who said I wanted to wake up?" I said flatly.

"We're here," Edmund declared triumphantly, stretching his arms wide as though revealing a grand palace.

I blinked stupidly, the world sharpening slowly. Crisp morning air brushed my skin. Leaves whispered above. The familiar cool scent of Narnian dew filled my lungs.

Right. We had arrived.

A beat of silence passed. Edmund and Lucy exchanged a small, uneasy look, their confidence wavering just enough to spark something mischievous in me.

I stared at them. Hard.
They stiffened.

"Well?" I raised an eyebrow.

"...We're here?" Lucy offered meekly.

I remained still, letting the tension thicken.

Then—

"Run," I said.

They screamed.

"STOP—TORI, NO!" Edmund yelped as he bolted straight through the underbrush, kicking up leaves.

"I didn't even want to wake you! It wasn't my idea!" Lucy squeaked as she sprinted after him, nearly tripping over a root.

"Oh? Not your idea?" I called, speed building in my steps.

Edmund looked over his shoulder, wild-eyed. "Who doesn't want to wake up!?"

"Me—when YOU TWO do it!" I shouted, already halfway to catching him.

The forest filled with our chaotic laughter. Birds fled. Squirrels dove into bushes like traumatized witnesses.

"Oi! Maintain your distance!" Lucy shrieked, her voice cracking as she circled back toward the camp.

"What's going on here?" Peter's voice boomed from behind, all authority even when deeply amused.

"Oh, this is going to be good," Peter added, folding his arms.

"Tori's about to rampage," he observed casually.

"Oh, don't encourage it," Susan groaned beside him.

I slowed my chase just enough to glare. "Nothing is happening... yet."