Who's the real monster?

Leaving

          Talen cleaned up and gathered his things, along with Pixie's eggshell. He couldn't help that he was sentimental, and it was just too pretty to leave behind. He wrote out a message for his family, reassuring them that he was okay but he was going on an adventure and not to follow him. He knew they wouldn't bother to try anyways. He was one less mouth to feed and pay attention to.

          Finally, he was ready to leave, with Pixie nestled inside a special pocket in his bag, so they could hide easily and not have to fly the whole way. Talen gripped the edge of the tunnel, and shimmied his way up the tunnel, pushing his bag first.

          As he reached the top, and his feet left the tunnel there was a loud sharp crack. The tunnel had collapsed behind him! He hadn't thought it would break that easily! He felt a pang of remorse, knowing he wouldn't be able to go back down to his old home, at least not easily.

          Seeing his sad face, Pixie comforted him, flying up from the pocket to his shoulder. "Hey, it's okay, we can probably find another entrance eventually right?"

          Talen grimaced as lied, knowing there was none, "Yeah, maybe."

          They turned to see they were in a cave with a large opening, Talen was glad to see there was no one around, and it was cloudy out so he wasn't blinded as he was the first time. There was a small stream running down the cave towards the old tunnel, he supposed that where the water came from. Perhaps it would carve a path through the stone again, given enough time.

         As they exited the cave, they emerged into a dense forest, lucky, as it would help hide them from dangerous folk traveling around. For the first time he was glad for his mottled gray scales. They would help him blend into the forest.

           There was only one problem, he didn't know how to find Pixies family, or where to start. From the books he had read he knew it was rare to see a Mastdiceae if you knew where to look, even harder if you were only wandering. Maybe they might be able to find Pixie now that they were aboveground?

            Suddenly they heard a thundering sound, they had about to cross a small road, but he quickly abandoned that and scurried behind a large bush nearby. Peering through the branches a running woman appeared. He flinched, almost revealing his position, it was the first human he had seen since he was young.

          The woman looked panicked and was sprinting in their direction. All of a sudden she ducked behind the same bush he was hiding in! Her attention didn't turn to him 'til a group of knights raced on past.

            She stiffened in her spot, then slowly turned till she was facing him. Curiously, she relaxed when she saw him, her shoulders softening as she leaned back.

           Meanwhile, Talen was shocked, the lady sitting in front of him was the girl in the locket! He would recognize those eyes anywhere. He slowly reached for it, wanting to see if she would recognize it.

           When she saw him moving the woman stayed silent and crouched, watching his hands like a hawk.

           Talen pulled out the locket gently, holding by the chain and placing it in the lady's hand, which was now held out for him.

           She had a look of awe and nostalgia on her face as she gazed at the faces in the picture. She closed it and clutched it tightly to herself. Quietly she asked him, "How did you get this?"

           Talen was bewildered, this was his first human encounter since "that one", and he had found the girl in the locket! He answered her, not wanting her to think he couldn't speak. "It's a long story, but it was carried to me by a river." He wasn't sure if she knew he was a Stygimopale but but he didn't want to give her any clues just in case.

She looked at him curiously, then looked at his shoulder, could she see Pixie?

           Sure enough, Pixie had climbed out of his pocket and onto his shoulder. Pixie was looking back at her with the same look.

           She slowly reached a hand towards Pixie, a curious look on her face. Pixie, the naive creature she was, just crawled onto her hand, plopping down comfortably.

           Talen was even more befuddled, what was happening! He spoke up trying gain some information, "What's your name, lady?"

           The woman was smiling now, petting a purring Pixie. He hadn't even known they purred! She answered calmly, "My name is Princess Isabel, and I'm running away from my father."

Oh, well that made a lot of sense.