A Stranger in My Father's Castle

Ch. 2

                   Once I was changed into the brown dress, it was already getting late, so Luke decided that we should just stay the night at the clearing so we don't end up lost. Luke set out to collect firewood and water for us while I was left to make supper. I scavenged around the campsite for signs of small animals, like rabbits and squirrels that I could trap. I found tracks leading to a small wooded area, so I set up a few traps. I then proceeded to gather rocks in order to make a fire ring. I then unloaded my small cooking pot. After about 2 hours, Luke came back with a bucket of water and a bundle of wood. We sat and talked until it was time to check on the traps that I had set earlier. We made our way over and were happy to find that they all had caught something. Then we got to the last one. The trap was sprung but it looked like the animal was pulled down from it. I thought that it was weird, but Luke didn't seem bothered by it so I didn't question it too much. All of a sudden a brown shape shot out from a nearby bush. Whatever it was rushed by me and I screamed. Luke started to run after it and soon was out of sight. I no longer wanted to be by the trees so I hurried back to the camp and waited for Luke there.

                  Time passed by and I started to get worried about Luke. Maybe he was eaten? Was the shape that big? Maybe he fell in a hole. I should go look for him! I went to leave, when Luke walked out from behind the horses.

                  "Luke!" I screamed, "Are you okay? Are you hurt? What was that?" All he did was smile and walked towards the fire. Was his jacket moving? "Aren't you going to answer me?"

                    "I'm fine" he chuckled "It was nothing to be afraid of. I even have a gift for you." The smile he gave me when he said that made me worry what he was going to give me, so I walked slowly towards him. The whole time I was trying to see what he had hidden in his jacket. Once I got to him, he pulled out a little bundle of brown fur.

                    "What is that?" I asked him, backing slowly away. I didn't feel safe with it because if that was the thing that stole from my trap, it eats meat. Then my eyes met with bright blue eyes and a little pink tongue. "It's a dog?" No, correction, a PUPPY! I never had a dog before! Mother kept a few cats in the barn and one in the house to keep mice away, but they were the closest I have had to a pet. I took the little puppy from Luke and sat by the fire. I cuddled with the puppy while Luke cooked the meat we caught. We ate it with a few pieces of bread and I gave what we didn't eat to the puppy. We found out that he was a little boy and I decided to name him Prince. If I was a princess, why not have a prince. He even fit the role with how he held his head up high. The name suited him.

                     Once it got dark Luke and I sat around the fire and told stories. Luke tried to scare me with some ghost stories. I'm not normally one to get scared by children's stories, but being out in the open really got to me. After a while, Luke fell asleep in his blankets on the other side of the fire pit and Prince was curled up on the side between Luke and I. I tried to fall asleep, but every time I was almost asleep something would rustle, or a twig snap. Sometimes it would be prince crying and scratching in his sleep or maybe even Luke tossing or talking in his. I was even afraid of the leaves blowing. I needed to get a grip. *THUMP* Okay that's it. I was done.

                    "Luke!" I whispered, "Luke are you up? Can I sleep by you?"

                     "Well I guess I'm awake now!" He told me, a bit bitter. But then he looked at me. "Are you okay? What's the matter?" I must have looked awful.

                     "I can't sleep." I told him truthfully, "I keep hearing things. I really miss home." and with that I started crying. He took me in his arms and hugged me. Then he did something that stirred something inside me, he laid down and put the cover over us. "What are you doing?"