Picking their way through the dense undergrowth of the forest, Alice was bombarded with hundreds of questions from the curious Elfrigg.
"Did Ezra really save you from a human? Was he scary to you at first? How'd you two escape? Did the humans fight back? How far did you have to fly to get here?"
Ezra snapped his head back to glare at the little faun and spat, "That's enough Elfrigg, geez! Don't you ever shut up?!"
Elfrigg smiled smugly at Ezra's irritated face, "Nope! I could go on like this for hours!"
Elfrigg ducked away from Ezra's swat at his head, giggling hysterically and sticking out his tongue.
Alice watched as the two boys bickered, not noticing that Marvel had trotted up beside her.
"So, Alice is it? How'd you get involved with humans?" Marvel's sudden voice made Alice start.
The young girl blushed with embarrassment at her fright and reluctantly stammered, "I-I'd rather not talk about that...." no way in a million years would she talk about a sensitive subject like that to a complete stranger.
Though memories of her past did flood into her thoughts, horrible images of her getting beaten and abused both physically and emotionally, but she shoved them into the back of her mind.
Suddenly she felt an unbearable dizziness wash over her and her knees locked. Alice stumbled a bit, bumping into Marvel.
"Whoa there!" the satyr quickly caught Alice by the shoulders, holding her up as he turned to the others.
"Uh guys, I think she fainted?" he called to the squabbling boys.
Ezra and Elfrigg stopped chasing each other and looked over at Alice. Elfrigg pattered up to Alice and examined her wounds. The bandage had loosened and now blood was leaking out from underneath the wrap, soaking the cloth with crimson.
"Ick! Blood!!" the little faun boy gasped, covering his mouth with his hands.
Ezra quickly rewrapped the wound then picked Alice up and walked on, upping his speed from walk to trot. The two satyrs followed close behind. Ezra's yellow eyes were fixed on the journey ahead, leaping over stray roots and fallen trees. Leaf litter fluttered around his feet as he trotted faster. Alice groaned a bit in pain as she was slightly jostled around in Ezra's arms. The whole time he ran his expression was blank and distant, even though he kept glancing down at Alice's face to check on her. Elfrigg noticed this and decided to tease him a bit.
"Worried about your new friend, eh Ezra?" Elfrigg giggled, though he was a little anxious about Alice's current state.
Ezra's only response was a curt hiss at the boy.
They soon came to a large clearing at the edge of the woods and stepping out from the trees they came upon a quaint little village full of bustling faerie folk. Sprites zipped to and fro on glossy insect-like wings, tiny pixies played tricks on other townsfolk, and bumbling dwarves and brownies scurried impatiently through the crowds.
Unfurling his wings Ezra flew up and over the throngs of faeries, looking around in search of his destination. As he flew, Alice slowly started to wake up.
"Eh...wha-what?!" Alice jolted.
Ezra groaned in annoyance, Great she's awake.
