lunam et stellas

chapter one

the train...

Alex ran through the woods, grinning as she saw the old trees she had longed to see for so long. She ran her hands through the creek, whispering quietly. "It's all right, you can come out now."

But the nyads stayed hidden. Alex sighed, and left the stream, running back, deep into the forest. She twirled around, grinning at the way the air nipped her nose. She stopped, watching as the leaves fell around her in a dance.

The woods still seemed as magical as they once had, but there was something missing. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. She took a deep breath and whispered his name.

"Aslan?" Nothing. She sighed. "Aslan?"

A branch broke. Alex grabbed one of her swords, and drew, whipping around towards the intruder. It was a boy, taller than her, but not by much. She sighed, putting her sword back.

"Caspian, what have I told you about sneaking up on me?"

He laughed. "I am sorry my lady, but King Peter requests you come back to the How. We have preparations to talk over."

She nodded, looking back at the trees once more, wishing they would come alive just once. "Alright, I'm coming."

Alex gasped, opening her eyes slowly to adjust to the light. Peter was standing over her, his eyes worried. "Are you alright, Alex? You fell."

She nodded and got up, Peter's hand on her back. "I'm fine, love."

He glared at her, and she smacked his chest, and he playfully stumbled backward. "Ow!"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh stuff it."

An older boy huffed. "Watch where you're going, mate."

He nodded, his cheeks (which were already tinted red thanks to the cold October air) were now fully flushed. "Sorry." He walked towards his girlfriend, when another schoolboy, their age, bumped into him. Peter's face dropped, and Alex knew that Peter was not about to let this go. She reached out to grab his hand, but the other schoolboy whipped him around, standing rather close to him. "Apologize."

Peter scoffed. "You bumped me."

The schoolboy's friends started to walk up behind him, and he crossed his arms. "That's not how I remember it." He turned to his friends. "Is that how you lot remember it?"

They shook their heads, and the other boy turned back to Peter. "Apologize."

Alex had had enough. She grabbed Peter's hand and tried to pull him away. "Come on love, they're not worth it. Really."

He looked back at the gang and sighed. He turned around, walking away with Alexandra. But then they had to bring her into it. "Yeah, listen to your girlfriend mate."

That comment didn't bother him. His friends started to murmur, and one comment Peter picked up instantly.

"Nice arse, love."

That did bother him.

Peter looked over at Alex, who already had her worried eyes set on him. "Peter, really. It's not-"

He set his book bag down and kissed her on the cheek quickly. "I'll be right back." He turned around, and without another thought, punched the one he'd heard say it. Alex gasped, and the boy's friends began to try and pull Peter off of him.

Alex tried to run up the stairs to get literally anyone when one of the group thought it'd be smart to grab her. She flailed. "Get off me."

The boy took a deep sniff. "Just want to have a little fun love."