The (Not So) Perfect Princess

Q has a bad day

“Did that really just happen?” Q asked, sounding about as shocked as I felt. Scout collapsed at the bank of the river, but Eily shook her head.

“We don’t have time to rest,” she explained, and pulled a moaning Scout to his feet. “As fun as kicking that girl was, I have no doubt that she’s sending her muscly henchmen after us right at this moment.”

“She’s right,” Q sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We gotta keep moving.”

“I cannot wait to get out of these woods,” I mumbled. I bounced Nessa up and down gently, trying to get her to calm down. Her sobs were getting quieter, but I could feel her heart pounding away. I soothingly brushed some of her red ringlets out of her face.

“Let’s get moving,” Eily commanded, gripping her bag tightly.

And get moving we did.

The four of us trudged wearily along the riverside, me carrying Nessa. My arms were beginning to ache after about forty minutes and Q offered to hold Nessa for a while, but I knew she freak. But after a while, she thankfully calmed down enough to walk hand-in-hand next to me. Scout groaned loudly, but I think everyone understood him: are we almost there?

“Shouldn’t be too long from now,” Eily muttered. “I mean, this river has to lead out the forest at some point, right?”

“At one end or the other, yeah,” Q answered. “Avani, you got any idea how many acres this forest covers?”

“Probably at one point, but not now,” I sighed, and tugged on Nessa’s arm. She was forever getting distracted by this or that, the fear of Fäbi now gone.

“What’s that?” she asked, pointing into the river.

“A fish,” I said. “We’ve gotta keep walking, though.”

“What kind?”

“I don’t know.”

“What’s that?”

“A squirrel.”

“What’s a squirtle?”

“It’s a—I don’t know.”

“What’s that red thing?”

“That’s a—” I blinked hard. Was I seeing it right? My eyes widened.

“Q, stop!” I yelled, but it was too late. Q’s bare foot landed right on top of the snake, and before I could even blink, the snake whipped backwards and sank its teeth into Q’s foot. Q hollered and kicked his foot out, sending the snake flying.