"Alice! Alice where are you?!" Pickle called frantically.
His body shook with anxiety and fear as he desperately searched for his lost friend. He was running through a dark wood and the only sounds he heard were his shaky breath and palpitating heartbeat.
Oh dear! Where could she be?!! I don't want to lose her like this!! he wailed internally.
A snap of a twig made the tall elf freeze in his tracks. Pickle's heart beat faster and faster as he heard more twigs snapping followed by a soft humming. The humming sounded so cheerful and yet, it made Pickle's skin crawl. The sound was growing louder as it got closer to him. Pickle wanted to run for it but he couldn't move from his overwhelming fear.
Suddenly a large clawed hand clamped around his throat and he cried out.
Jolting awake, Pickle sat up shaking and breathing erratically. His pale blue eyes were wide as dinner plates, staring straight ahead for several moments until he calmed down slowly.
"Oh god...it...i-it was j-just a dream..." Pickle whispered in relief, rubbing at his forehead.
The remains of the nightmare were still lingering on the edges of his mind, making the poor elf shiver violently. He looked around at the sleeping figures who were snoring loudly. At the far end of the group he could spot the form of his master, his top hat tilted to one side as he slept. Oscar suddenly rolled over onto his side, making Pickle flinch. He held his breath until Oscar stopped moving, luckily he had his back facing him.
I really need to get out of this mess... Pickle thought to himself.
The tall elf gradually began to get up as slowly as possible. He dared not rustle any blade of grass as he moved for fear of his master's wrath. Then, he treaded lightly as he weaved in and out between the sleeping soldiers.
This feels like walking through a minefield! Pickle yelped to himself, almost tripping over a stray boot in his path.
"What are you doing up, elf?" a deep gravelly voice suddenly spoke up from behind.
Pickle's blood ran cold and he froze mid-step, praying to the heavens that he was just hearing things. He heard soft footsteps walk up behind him and stop just inches away from his back. He could feel a puff of hot breath snake its way down his spine.
"Answer elf," the voice ordered calmly, but sternly.
Pickle gulped and very slowly rotated his head to where he could see who the ominous voice belonged to.
Oh heavens above! Pickle panicked when he recognized who it was, It's him!!
Apsel, who was a few inches shorter than Pickle, seemed to loom over the elf threateningly. His glowing red eyes bore a hole into Pickle's, glaring menacingly like two smoldering coals. Pickle trembled uncontrollably and shrunk in fear, his heart felt like it would burst out of his chest at any moment.
"Are you deaf, elf? I said, answer me," Apsel growled deeply.
The tremulous elf gulped audibly and tried his best to speak. It took him several moments of him stuttering and whimpering until finally he meekly responded.
"I...I-I uh...n-need to pee..." he replied, Ugh! How undignified, you imbecile!
Apsel stared at him for a moment before stepping back a bit, "Fine, go on, do it. Now."
