Hunter's Return

Chapter 5: A Reminder

Marie's POV

"WHO?!" I asked nearly shouting.

"T-t-the s-shad-dow, t-the l-look..."

"Oh Ranie I think you've gone mad."

"N-no, i-it's r-real..."

"What's real?"

I was so eager, I wanted to die of curiosity.

Ranie on the other hand, looked frightened. Her face was pale and her eyes were full of shock.

That face Ranie made looked familiar... But I couldn't recall when I saw it.

I knew Ranie. She was never frightened. But when was she not?

I tried remembering the old memories, but it didn't work. I can't visualise anything.

"I-I saw it b-before...," Ranie stammered.

Now, she was breathing heavily. Something was wrong.

All of a sudden, Ranie fainted and fell to the ground.

"Ranie? RANIE! WAKE UP!" I yelled.

Ranie did not wake up, but I knew she was alive, I felt her heart beat.

I quickly ran and got a piece of bark as big as Ranie's body and some vines.

I connected the two and made a sled.

I lifted Ranie's body onto the sled.

Gosh it was heavy.

Then I took the vines and dragged the sled with Ranie on it all the way to Fructum.

I knew exactly what to do: go to the castle.

The palace guards knew us well so they let us in without hassle.

The castle of Fructum was very large. It's stone walls were majestic with all the carvings on it and it's stained glass widows gave of color to the whole structure.

I panted as the big black castle gates opened and there waiting for us was Isaac, the prince of Fructum.

As usual, he wore a blue sweater, grey pants, black shoes and of course, a golden crown on his head.

His brown hair slightly moved within the small breeze and his golden eyes looked at me, which were very pleased.

"Your Highness...," I declared, tired of pulling the sled.

Isaac laughed. "I'm not yet a King so don't speak too fancy!" Isaac responded.

"Haha very funny," I sarcastically said.

"And what do we have here?"

"It's Ranie. She... Uh well... Fainted and I don't know why."

"Oh okay. Come inside and I think I could help."

Isaac led me into the castle and into the throne room.

The throne room was really big. Red carpets from the massive doorway let to 3 thrones, one for King James, one for Prince Isaac and one in honor of the queen, who died years before.

But we didn't sit down on the fancy thrones. We sat down in the carpeted floor, like normal people.

"So what happened to Ranie? Well, before she fainted," Isaac asked as he used his magic on Ranie.

"I don't know. Her skin was pale, her eyes were like shocked and she was stammering."

As Isaac used his healing magic, particles floated around Ranie. Soon, she was awake and seated with us in the floor.

"Good to have you back Ranie!" I said patting her on the back.

She looked around, confused. "Yes, I fell better now. Thanks Isaac," the fox said.

"No problem! Isaac said with a smile.

"Cough cough no thank you to me? I brought you all the way from the forest to here!" I objected.

"Thank you," Ranie said sarcastically.

I smiled at my friend.

"So Ranie, tell me what happened back there, I want to know," Isaac said.

"Well..."

(Ranie told the story.)

"So then there was this shadow when I came down there. It looked heinous."

Isaac had his serious face on.

"Then it looked like the shadow looked at me... And then I realized..."

"Realized what?" I bumped in.

"That was no ordinary shadow. That was Hunter," Ranie said with a shiver.