Once Upon A Child

Run Boy Run, in the Woods Kid

"Grandma! Grandpa! We think we found it!" Henry called as he bounded excitedly into the house.

"You did? Well done!" Charming gleamed, coming down the staircase with the breakfast burrito baby.

"So?" Snow asked anxiously, ditching the soup heating on the hob.

"Well..." He began, retrieving a book from his backpack, "It's not exact, I mean: nowhere in the book mentions a boy, or even a child-"

"Then, how do you know this is his story?" Charming interrupted.

"Well, it's a long shot but, we noticed that a bit of the language in this is the same he writes in."

"The hardest part was narrowing down what language, if it even was a language, he was writing in. But there are a few similar words and phrases in this story as in his work that you gave me." Belle explained.

"And?" Snow coaxed.

The researchers paused for a beat to catch their breaths before sharing.

"He's writing in Ancient Greek." They answered in unison.

The news baffled the couple for a moment. Ancient Greek? Who writes in Ancient Greek anymore?

"Ancient Greek?" Charming repeated, thoroughly confused.

"Ancient Greek." Henry nodded.

"You're sure?" Snow asked.

"Yeah." Henry replied, rolling his eyes slightly at the inquisition as if they hadn't just spent the past week in a library scouring pages and pages of literature.

"Okay, okay," Snow wondered aloud as she paced up and down the hall, "So if you think this is his story, how do we prove it?"

Henry bit his lip whilst he racked his brains, Charming bounced Neal in his arms and Snow continued her pacing.

"Um, why don't we just show him the book?" Belle proposed.

Henry nodded, "That could work."

"Alright then, where's Joe?"

*****

He was running. The dense canopy of trees shielded the moon and starlight from Joe's sight. He had no idea where he was headed, he only hoped it was in the opposite direction to the farmhouse. Should he go back to the group home? He wasn't sure where he should go, only away from here.

It was too dark to see, but Joe could feel the warping roots and vines beneath his feet as he ran. Twigs snapped as his weight fell upon them and bushes were pushed aside as he brushed past. His sweater snagged on an outlying branch which tore the fabric. There were copious slopes, mounds and ditches for Joe to overcome, but he did his best.

The rain continued to pour. Joe's fringe clung to his forehead, constantly dripping water down his face whilst he ran. Amongst the darkness, his vision was now blurred by the droplets slipping from his head, only diminishing his ability to see. That is why he soon plummeted to the ground as his foot tripped over a rotting log. The pine needles and moss helped, somewhat, to lessen the pain Joe felt as he tumbled down the slight incline, all the while the sodden ground sunk into his clothes and added to the bleak feeling coursing through his body.

When he finally came to a halt at the bottom of the hill, his entire front was drenched in a thick coating of mud; his blonde hair smeared in a heavy paste of earth and rain water. His hands too were covered in mud but Joe didn't care, he focused on one thing: getting away from the farmhouse.

*****

"He's not in his room." David told the group as he joined them in the living room.

"What?" Snow gasped, "Where else could he be?"

"I don't know. We'll just have to check everywhere, maybe he went to the barn, maybe he's just snuggled up with Wilby."

"You don't think-" She said, her breath slowing as she came to a realisation, "You don't think he would've ran away, do you?"

"No." David said, a hint of doubt in his voice.

"I'm calling Emma." She replied, apparently not hearing her husband's response.

David kneeled in front of the sofa where she sat, took his wife's hand in his, then gently rubbing it assured her, "We'll have a look for him first, then we can start thinking about that." He kissed her on the cheek before grabbing a coat.

Henry searched the entirety of the first floor, Belle the ground floor and David, with the help of Wilby, outdoors.

"Anything?" Snow asked Henry and Belle as they reconvened in the living room.

"Nothing." Belle answered.

"Sorry Grandma." Henry replied with a shake of his head. "I'll go help Grandpa."

Snow drew a heavy breath, shuffling Neal on her lap.

"I'm sure he's fine." Belle assured her, however empty the statement was.

"It's just," Snow said, her voice quavering, "He's our responsibility. If he got hurt... I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

Belle didn't know Joe very well, in fact she hadn't even met him, yet there was something about studying his work that made her feel a certain closeness. Gathering all information she could remember about him, she attempted to comfort the worrying mother.

"You said this child was quiet. Well, I've found it's the quiet ones in life that will surprise you the most. You have to believe that there's strength in the most unexpected places. He'll be alright, you'll see."

*****

Amongst the relentless rain lashing the ground and the wind rushing through the woodland, Joe was still a quiet part of the nature. Though his breathing was heavy with exhaustion, his thudding steps were softened by the drenched pine needles scattering the woodland floor.

But alas, the darkness once again tripped him up, literally. Joe's boot collided with a rock before he collided with the dirt. Unlike his earlier stumble, he landed on flat ground atop some rather comfortable ferns.

Splayed out on his front, Joe rolled to his side to take a look around. It was still black with his surroundings barely visible, but he noticed a glistening light growing bigger and bigger, as if it were approaching him. It shone incredibly brightly, swaying as it navigated its way through the foliage. It was a pure white spark shining before it transformed into a glowering woman. Her flawlessly flowing robes and silver slippers touched neither forest floor nor soaked plants. She was completely dry.

Her skin was pearl white and her hair, a brilliant raven black, cascaded down upon her shoulders and beyond. A gold tiara with an elaborate flower design sparkled upon her head, nestled between luscious woven locks. She held a lyre (a small harp type instrument) which also shimmered.

A hopeful smile came to pass Joe's lips as the woman halted before him. Looking down upon the poor boy, she proclaimed: "You need not be afraid little one. The witches of old reside in this realm no more. Run no longer. This land provides safety young one. Vega leaves behind a strong boy; she was eternally proud. Find truth in the words Lyra shares, for she has journeyed far to provide solace in this encounter."

She paused to let the message sink in, then calmly began backing away, her light fading. Before she disappeared, she uttered the words, "Your kin watch over you, Ellion."

The mention of his name was comforting and Lyra's message was understood. Yet not once, did her lips move.