When a Young Heart Loves (The Secret of Moonacre Fanfiction)

A De Noir Tour and a Feverish Night

Dressed in her blue riding habit, and feathered hat, Cat made her way to the forest from the manor. There she found the worn-out path, now overgrown from its little use, and began her trek to the De Noir Castle. Lizzy and Jane were back at the manor keeping Maria busy. Cat was using directions Loveday gave her. One that went through the forest and another, through the main road.
Though Loveday warned Cat to stay on the road, Cat was feeling adventurous and decided to go through the forest. Besides, the road took longer and she had Wrolf by her side. With him, she knew she would be perfectly safe.

Loveday instructed her to head northwest and stay on the path, it was about an hour's walk. At first, her walk was like any other. The woodland creatures rustled ahead of her. The bright sunlight overhead illuminated the forest floor. The cool summer breeze made her walk pleasant. She liked the cooler weather of Moonacre. In Spain, the summers could be hot and humid, making walks through the countryside for a corseted young lady rather difficult.

It wasn't until her path came across a dense area of the woods, that she began to reconsider her choice. Branches packed around her head and forced her to use her parasol as a shield. Bushes pushed against her bustled gown, raising her dress at odd angles. Cat fought to push her skirts back into place, grunting as she shoved her feet through the shrubs and continue forwards.

She was fighting against a particular stubborn bush when Cat shrieked as her hem tore on the branches. It was one of her favorite dresses! The now torn fabric tangled itself on the brushwood.

"Oh no... no, no," she bent to free herself but only managed to make the tear bigger.

As she stood up, her hat got knocked off her head and a branch jammed into her hair. More tree limbs reached out and caught her hair. She pulled and tugged, trying to free herself. In twisting and turning, another set of branches wound themselves in her gown's lace.

'Where do all these branches keep coming from?' She asked herself. She tried to use her parasol as a sword and smack away the branches. The fabric of the parasol tore and got jammed between the branches. Next thing she knew, she was trapped, tangled in the trees and bushes with a black lion who could do no more than watch over her.

Cat groaned in exasperation; 'No wonder Maria wears those dresses.'

"Wrolf! You're a smart lion, go find me David, please!" Cat commanded.

Wrolf tilted his head back to her.

"He's the youngest of the gang, looks a bit like Robin, has curly hair too. About this high," Cat said trying to describe David to Wrolf. She realized how silly she looked, stuck in some trees and talking to a lion as if he could understand-but as if he did, Wrolf roared and went on his way. Cat hoped he understood.

David was sitting on the castle wall keeping watch. Loveday had sent him a message, warning him to expect Cat. She told him Cat was intent on traveling through the forest instead of the road. The boys were in the library meeting with Charles. Only Richard knew what he was up to and was making sure to keep Robin busy. They didn't want Robin finding an excuse to leave Moonacre for 'business'.

He fidgeted with his hat. He didn't like the idea of Cat going through the forest. Even he who knew the forest got lost at times.
'And with those dresses!' David thought. He didn't understand why girls were so bent on wearing such clothes. Clearly, they were not fit for the countryside, or anything for that matter! David's thoughts were interrupted as he saw a large looming black figure bounding through the forest. He placed his hand on his knife. He readied himself to pounce down. Then a figure burst through the trees, it was Wrolf. He spotted David and roared before running back into the forest. David jumped off the wall and rolled his landing. He ran after Wrolf, hoping nothing was wrong.