Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 57 - The Cabin In The Woods

Mary Margaret walked quickly through the forest again, the wind howling and the leaves blowing wild. This time a cage with a bird in her hand.
"Do you hear that? Your flock." she said to the bird.
Suddenly she came to a halt by the steep hill. Below lay dozens of fallen trees.
She placed the cage down next to her and stared down at the destruction. Suddenly there came a thunder bolt above and she tripped and began to tumble down the steep hill. Suddenly the earthen ground beneath her disappeared and she rowled off a giant cliff. Luckily she grasped some tree roots and held on, as soil and stones tumbled down into the river hundreds metres below. She cryed and screamed as she hung on for dear life.
Thunder crashed as she continued screaming and whimpering in fear. She attempted to climb up the cliff, but the roots only tore with her weight.
Suddenly a hand grasped her arm. "Here." said David leaning over the cliff.
"David?" she cryed in relief.
"Grab my hand."
Mary Margaret grasped his hand.
"Hold tight." he grabbed a stick to hold himself up and then quickly pulled Mary Margaret up.
"Come on."
She began to help herself up as she grew closer to the top.
Finally she got to her feet and fell into David's arms. David held her close.
"You really think I'd let you come out here alone?"
Mary Margaret said nothing and breathed deeply.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks."
She began to walk away and ran up the steep hill. David glanced down the cliff again then followed her up the hill.
"Where are you going?" he called.
"I came to find the flock." she explained, not turning to him.
"And I came here to get you before you got hurt. We have to go."
They reached the path as the rain began to pore from the heavens.
"No!" she said, running to the cage and picking it up.
"Doing this on foot is not the best plan."
"The gate was closed."
"I know. I saw. It's too late. We have to go."
"No, but the......." she started.
"Mary Margaret, it's not safe." he interrupted. "We need to get out of here. Come on." he pulled her away and they ran together in the pouring rain.

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Grumpy and Stealthy ran through the dungeons followed by Snow.
"Wait, wait! Stairs!" she said indicating to the stairs behind them.
"No, we sneak out through the courtyard." said Stealthy.
"No, it's safer if we climb over the curtain wall." argued Snow. "Trust me, hiding from royals is my life."
"No, the courtyard is clear now, but it won't be for much longer."
Snow looked at Grumpy.
"Sorry, lady, Stealthy got me this far." he said.
The dwarfs continued to run through the dungeons.
"Grumpy. Grumpy, wait!" she said, standing alone.

Grumpy and Stealthy sneaked into the lifeless courtyard.
"Halt! Those two are prisoners!" shouted the gaurd walking toward them, accompanyed by King George.
"Grumpy! Run! We can make it." said Stealthy, beginning to run.
"Stealthy, no!" cryed Grumpy as he saw the gaurd up on the curtain wall holding up his bow and arrow.
The gaurd shot the arrow and it flew straight into Stealthy's chest. He screeched in pain and fell slowly back against the pebbled courtyard.
"No!" he screamed.
Grumpy fell to his knees next to him. Tears in his eyes. "Stealthy! No!" he cryed.
"Where is the girl?" said King George marching towards him, now a group of gaurds behind him.
Grumpy raised his head and glared up at him. "What girl?" he muttered.
"Kill him." said the King.
One of the gaurds drew his sword and Grumpy knelt up straight his arms outstretched.
The gaurd held up the sword and was about to lash it when Snow appeared next to a pile of hay.
"Looking for me?" she asked.
The King and gaurds looked around at her.
"Let him go........" she said and then held the flaming torch she was holding above the hay. "...........or this place will burn."
King George stared at her as she lowered the torch.
"Be gone, drawf." he said, staring at Snow.
Grumpy stared at Snow in disbelieve.
"Go, Grumpy." said Snow.
The gaurd next to him kicked his shoulder and he ran away through the courtyard, taking one last glance at Stealthy's motionless body.
"Now, Snow White." said King George.
Two gaurds came from behind her, grasped her and took the flaming torch from her.
"We need to talk."