Emerald

Chapter 1: Through the Woods

Just a warning.  This fairy tale is NOT going to have a prince and a small town girl falling in love, don't expect it.  I apologize if that is what you are looking for.  Maybe in another story I will write.  Let me know ;)  Also, I will be accepting some requests for short stories.  So, if you have a plot idea and a few characters, comment on my message board, or PM me and I will see what I can do!  Thank you all so much once again for reading, following, commenting, and voting, it means a lot!  Enjoy!

Laila walked down the stairs from her small room in the attic of her family's humble house.  She wore a white t-shirt with the word Aerosmith screaming across the front, a pair of dark jeans, and some old tennis shoes, all of which were hand-me-downs.  Her dog, Sparky, a greyhound, brown, almost a rusty color, with tiny dark spots all over, trailing behind her as she stepped into the living room.  Her parents had already left for work, so she had the house to herself, well, other than Sparky of course.  She walked over to the north wall where she found a leash hanging, which she hooked to Sparky's collar. 

As Laila turned around to lock the front door, Sparky barked excitedly.  Boy did he love his early morning runs!  "Shhhh!  I'm hurrying!"  Laila said to her beloved dog.  She turned back towards the street and lead Sparky behind her.  They walked a little ways further before taking a sharp turn to the left.  The sidewalk gradually faded into a trail leading straight into the depths of the woods.

The two walked past trees upon trees upon trees.  Squirrels chittered in their nests, robins, cardinals, and blue jays sang their beautiful songs, bull frogs croaked in their underwater realms, all of them together, creating a melodic, almost mystical feel.  Laila smiled to herself and Sparky bounded along beside her.  It was a perfect seventy-nine degrees.  The soft breeze whispered through the trees, ruffling Laila's long, brown, slightly wavy hair which was secured in a pony tail on the back of her head. 

They continued onward, beginning their second hour in the woods.  Both were entertained by their own thoughts.  Laila's mind was soothed by the music natured provided.  Not only the animals, but the water in the creek licking the rocks and tiny pebbles on the banks, and the sights.  The grass blowing in the wind.  Waves of it stretching on for what seems like no end.  The smells.  Wildflowers and blossoms.  The sap, slowly dripping out of a small hole in a maple tree. 

Sparky trots along beside Laila, his nose to the ground, occasionally stopping to investigate a new scent.  Laila leads him over to the creek where she stops to rest.  Sparky lowers his head to get a drink, and she crouches on the bank, staring into the water at their reflections.  She sees a movement and directs her gaze towards the source.  A fish.  A minnow to be exact.  Small and silver, sparkling and bright in the muddy water. 

She watches it for a while, mesmerized by it's presence.  Snapping back to reality, she gets up and turns around, only to find a beautiful white creature standing before her.  It glowed.  It was like nothing she had ever seen.  A white horse, so white it shimmered.  It turned to the side and the sunlight bounced off of its long, silky mane, making it sparkle.  It walked on, then stopped and turned back towards Laila and Sparky, urging them to follow.